BMSC Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

If you are not driving a personal vehicle, you can book bus seats (or charters) through West Coast Trail Express (from Nanaimo or Victoria), or contact Lady Rose Marine Services for details on passenger ferry service between Port Alberni and Bamfield.

The Bamfield Health Centre is located at 353 Bamfield Road.

Regular business hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. Phone: 250-728-3312 (Nurse also on-call 24-hrs)

The nurse sometimes leaves the Centre to make house calls or deliveries, therefore it is recommended that you call ahead from BMSC before going to the Health Centre, even during Business Hours. Also, note that there is no cell phone service directly outside of the Health Clinic. The closest cell phone service spot is just South of the Centre at the top of the hill on Bamfield Rd (above the hotel/pub).

The village of Bamfield is also on the 911 system. 911 dispatch can task the appropriate assistance in any emergency.

https://www.islandhealth.ca/our-locations/hospitals-health-centre-locations/bamfield-health-centre

There are two grocery stores: The Market (east Bamfield) and the Bamfield Mercantile and Marine, (west Bamfield) – both stores sell liquor. There is a café, a restaurant, a pub and hotel, a building supply and home hardware store (some rain gear), a marine supply store (some rain/camping gear – they also patch flat tires!), 1 automobile gas bar, 2 marine gas stations, 2 campgrounds, 2 community parks, and several B&B’s.

There are no banks in Bamfield. There is an ATM at The Market and some businesses offer cash back.

Check out the Bamfield Chamber of Commerce for more details about businesses in Bamfield.

Each Building (including accommodations) on campus is equipped with wireless internet.

Pets are not permitted at BMSC.

For field courses that require students to be transported by boats, SVOP, Marine Radio Operators, and First Aid certifications are required.

Boat checkouts and safety training by BMSC foreshore staff are also required prior to the start of your course.

“Foreign boaters” should link to Transport Canada Visitor Information

Click here for details

Fall 2021 Faculty and TA’s:

We at the BMSC are excited to potentially offer full use of our Cope fleet for the 2021 Fall Program. This is based on B.C.’s Restart Plan and on B.C. Health Guidelines and restrictions being lifted prior to or during Fall Program. Once BC Health Guidelines permit, boat training and use will be provided to students who hold a valid PCOC certification and 2-day First Aid + CPR-C course (see above). It is necessary to obtain these certifications before arriving at BMSC for the start of the Fall Program, as it is not feasible once the program has begun. Operating boats at BMSC is entirely optional.

See our Accommodation page for details.

At the Instructor/TA meeting at the course start, sign a Declaration Form and hand to University Programs Coordinator to show your intent on making a travel claim. Submit all inbound receipts to the UPC. All car rentals, ferry reservations, airplane and bus tickets must be in your name. Keep all Boarding Passes!

Kitchens in cabins and Seaside dorms are fully equipped, with fridge, stove, microwave, and coffee makers. Additionally, utensils, pots, pans, glassware etc are all provided. You may also choose to eat in the cafeteria at staff rates.

Instructors, TA’s, and the University Programs Coordinator are responsible for student safety. A First Aid certificate (any 16 hour, Standard first aid with CPR-C) is recommended for course Instructors and is required by all TA’s. The course instructor must have First Aid if there is no TA for the course. Please provide the UPC a copy of your First Aid certificate for your personnel file.

Instructors or TAs must have WHMIS training if chemicals will be used during the course. Training is available online through UVic. You must receive 80% or better on the quiz to receive a certificate. Students using chemicals in the lab must have completed WHMIS, or be supervised by someone that has completed WHMIS training. Contact University Programs Coordinator if you need to complete WHMIS.

If you plan to eat all of your meals in the cafeteria, please let the front office know and they will communicate this with the kitchen prior to your arrival.

If you would like to eat in the cafeteria occasionally, you must notify the kitchen in advance by signing-up on the bulletin board in the cafeteria (to the right when you walk into the cafeteria).

You must sign-up before:
10am for lunch,
12:30 pm for dinner,
7:00 pm for breakfast the next morning.

If you did not sign-up in advance, but would like to eat in the cafeteria, you can do so if there is food left-over ½ hour into the meal.

To pay for individual meals, sign a Pay Slip to notify the office staff. Once you have collected your main course, there is a Pay Station just before the drinking glasses. Sign the Pay Slip and insert it into the green box. You will be invoiced for your meals.

Meal Times:
Breakfast: 7:30 – 8:00am
Lunch: 12:30 – 1:00pm
Dinner: 6:00 – 6:30pm

When your class is in the field for a bagged lunch, or away for a camping trip you are welcome to choose to eat with the class rather than preparing your own meals. Remember to let the kitchen know, so they know to prepare food for the extra people and be sure to fill out the Pay Slip to pay for your meals.

The kitchen is equipped to accommodate many  dietary needs and allergies.

For more information check out  BMSC Food Services.

Please make your needs known to the University Programs Coordinator before arriving in Bamfield.

You can purchase stamps and send mail via the Main Office at BMSC.

Mail arrives three times a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) on the Francis Barkley. It will be sorted alphabetically and placed into communal boxes outside the main office by 5:00 pm.

Mail can be addressed to:

Your Name
C/O BMSC
100 Pachena Road
Bamfield, BC
V0R 1B0

Letters can be mailed at any time in the mail slot outside the office door. Stamps are available from the office.  There is a post office next to the store in West Bamfield.

Accommodation 

All of the housing facilities are conveniently located within walking distance from the teaching facilities, offices and the cafeteria.

Housing facilities are equipped with emergency response devices including smoke detectors, emergency lighting, telephones, and fire fighting equipment.

As part of a room and board package, groups will stay in one of our housing facilities:

Buchanan Lodge:

Rooms – Each room has two bunk beds that can accommodate up to 4 people, with a total of 98 beds. Rooms are cleaned and maintained by housekeeping. Linens can be provided on request. Each room has two desks with high speed Internet connection.
Shared bathroom and laundry – There are several showers and washrooms on each floor (all individual rooms), a coin-operated laundry is located on the ground floor. There is also another coin operated laundry facility in the cafeteria.
Support for people with reduced mobility – the second (main) floor of Buchanan Lodge has rooms and bathrooms suitable for people who use mobility aids, however, the exterior terrain near the building is challenging. Speak to a BMSC staff member for more information.

Seaside Dormitory:

Rooms – Each room has two bunk beds that can accommodate up to 4 people, with a total of 32 beds. Rooms are cleaned and maintained by housekeeping. Linens can be provided on request.
Shared bathroom and laundry – There is a shared washroom/shower between every two rooms (all showers and toilets are in individual rooms, sink space is shared). There is coin operated laundry facility in the cafeteria.
Common area – Kitchen and lounge are available for all seaside residents (separate entrance from bedroom wings)

Fully equipped cabins:

Rooms – Cabin size varies from two to five rooms. Many rooms have a bunk bed that can accommodate up to 2 people. Cabins are normally reserved for longer-term stays, throughout which housekeeping cleans the rooms periodically. Linens are provided.
Shared bathroom – There are showers or bathtubs in each cabin. There is also a coin operated laundry facility in the cafeteria.
Common area for socializing and activities – Each cabin has a fully equipped living room and a kitchen with cooking supplies (stoves, refrigerators, cookware, dishes, etc.).

Learn more here.

The kitchen is equipped to accommodate many dietary needs and allergies, but they do require advance notice.

For more information check out BMSC Food Services.