Wapasu Lodge aka Camp Kearl

I just wanted to say a few things about our camp that we stay in. It is called Wapasu Lodge and is operated by the PTI group that I think is a subsidiary of Fluor Daniels. It has 3 wings (East, Main and West) and houses around 6000 people at any one time. These people include employees and management from all of the various companies who work up here as well as the staff and management who run the joint. So quite a varied group.

Most of the people here are men. There are women but they are far less in number so maybe 15-20% of the total (my estimate). We live in long mobile home type units that are stacked 3 high with each broken into about 40 units. The units are about 8'x12' and are furnished with a wardrobe (with hardware for a lock that you supply yourself), a dresser, a bed and small built in desk with chair. There is also a sink with vanity in the corner and a television installed over the dresser.

Regarding washrooms you have to share with your neighbor. The toilet and shower are in a little hall type thing between your unit and your immediate neighbor's unit. It is a space only slightly wider than the toilet with the camode at one end and the stand up shower at the other. The shower head is a crappy thing that sprays what amounts to mist so anyone who has been here before brings their own and swaps it out for their stay. They just have to be sure that they hide the old shower head in their locked wardrobe or housekeeping will take it and then charge you for replacing it when you finish your stay and then take yours home wih you.

Each camp has 2 kitchens for eating dinner in, 2 bag up rooms for packing your lunch in, a cardio room, a weight room, and several common rooms that are used for open jam night (some of the boys bring guitars and play country music), karaoke night, yoga, judo, or for watching the UFC fights. There is also a snack room that has coffee, soup and some minor deserts and is open 24/7. The front foyer of each camp has a couple of staff on at all times, an ATM machine, tv's on the wall, a small convenience store, etc. In the main camp they also have a Tim Hortons Donut and coffee shop. So all the basics are there.

I mentioned that there are 3 wings. They are laid out in a horse shoe shape and each has a 'brass alley' leading to the buses that stage in the middle. The buses come and go in coordinated waves. All bus activity is regulated by the red 'x' or the green check mark over the alley doors that tell you whether you can go through or not. If one is watching from a distance they would see the lines slowly forming on one side of the alley as the workers queue together followed by a tsunami-like outpouring as the sign turns green and everyone rushes to get a good seat on their respective buses. If you are at the end of your line your bus may be full and then you have to catch the overflow bus which leaves 10 minutes later and may get you to work after the start time. If you are past the prescribed time and the light clicks red you are in some trouble. You then have 3 options: 1) call in sick; 2) call work and they may send someone to pick you up; 3) wait for the later bus and arrive just before lunch. All of these options suck so one wants to be at the bus line early if possible.

I have to run now as we are almost there!