is a peaceful retreat property, located on two acres of oceanfront land on Denman Island, one of British Columbia's Northern Gulf Islands. Our three ensuite rooms are newly renovated and are ideal for sabbaticals, working holidays and relaxing vacations. Each room includes access to your own private Nordic Spa Thermal Therapy experience. (Find out more...)
Your hosts, Mark (artist/photographer/image editor/printer/art publisher) & Mitra (artist/photographer/gourmet cook) have lived and worked here since 2003. "Sharing what we have here with our guests has been both rewarding and lots of fun! The folks who come here do so for the peace and quiet, the nature, to be by the ocean and unwind. Everyone goes away feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and even a little healthier. This has inspired us to offer Thermal Therapy to our guests and give them a reason to come here all year round."
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"...The staff is friendly, considerate, and lovely to chat with. As a woman traveling alone, I felt incredibly safe and well-received at Manna House." |
Manna House on Google Earth ↕
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"As a single female traveler I was a bit nervous but once I got there I realized the set up was incredibly private and safe because your staying in a house that’s been converted to several units so you get the best of solitude and the safety of neighbours nearby." Olivia C, Ocean Spray, Aug '24 Manna House is professionally managed : 24/7
Either the owners and/or managers are always in the adjoining building, available to be of assistance. *COVID 19 : Protocol & Cleaning Regime
All cleaning is done to comply with strict COVID-19 protocols; after deep cleaning, frequently handled surfaces are sanitized, and the guest is the next person to enter the room. We regret that Manna House is not suitable for children or pets.
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About Denman Island
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Denman Island (Indigenous name Taystay’ich) is off the East coast of central Vancouver Island on the traditional, unceded territory of the Pentlach people including the K'omoks, Sliammon and Qualicum First Nations. Denman is home to approximately 1,400 year-round residents. The island is notable for its thriving artistic community, festivals and stunning natural environment.
Denman is a relatively small island (approximately 51 square kilometres or 19 square miles) and features a mix of farmland, apple orchards, residential lots and forest. There are arbutus and second-growth western red cedar and Douglas-fir groves. It's also home to some of the Coastal Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone's original forest, which you may enjoy at the Lindsay-Dickson Nature Reserve. (Only 1% of this ecosystem remains in its natural state in Canada.)
(► Visit Denman Island for more information) Denman now has a quarter of its land protected as Provincial Parks, Regional District Parks and a handful of other designations, which is the highest percentage of any of the Gulf Islands. The Denman Conservancy Association Protected Lands map is the most up-to-date showing these, and the made and unmade road network on the island. This makes for a lot of hiking trails!
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One of the Safest Places on Earth!
Denman Island has to be one of the safest places to roam on the planet! There's no crime, so we have no police (unless they pass through on their way to Hornby Island). There are no bears or cougars (at least, rarely, because it's a 2-mile swim, which is why we have so many deer), and there are no poisonous snakes. Para-medics are on call 24/7, as is the Volunteer Fire Department.
Open Day at the Fire Hall ↕
Sail on the World's Longest Cable Ferry
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Crossing Baynes Sound between Buckley Bay on Vancouver Island and Denman Island West, the ferry runs basically every hour during the day, with less frequent sailings in the evening until 9:30pm off-season and 11:00pm during the summer. It's a 10 minute sailing, but add 5 minutes for unloading.
BC Ferries Current Schedule, Denman - Vancouver Island ► |
The Baynes Sound Connector is the first and only cable ferry in the BC Ferries fleet, replacing the MV Quinitsa in February 2016.
The crossing of approximately 1900 metres is the longest cable ferry crossing in the world. Built by Seaspan in its Vancouver Shipyards at a cost of CAD$15M; 258-foot-long, designed for 150 passengers and 50 vehicles. |
The Weather
Denman Island traditionally enjoys mild and largely dry weather in spring, summer and fall, with most rainfall from November to January. Average regional summer highs are in the mid 20°C range (70°F) and winter lows a few degrees above freezing. What's wonderful about Denman is the micro-climate. Denman is in the rain-shadow of Vancouver Island's Beaufort Range; it might be pouring over there, while here on Denman, there's bright sunshine!
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March Many Weathers
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Storm Approaching from the North ↕
Sunset in the West, lighting up the sky in the East (180° panorama) ↕
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The Wildlife
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You don't have to put much effort into observing the wildlife around here, it's part of the scenery and it often comes to you! This is a 2 acre lot that has been carved out of the forest next to the ocean, and the wildlife doesn't seem to have noticed, the animals just continue to go about their business. It may be a cliché, but it really is a privilege to live so close to nature, and we do get a kick out of sharing it with guests.
Orcas feeding off our beach at high tide, Feb. 11, 2023
Humpback whales, orcas, otters, sea lions, seals, deer, bald eagles, herons, ravens, humming birds, squirrels and tree frogs, are just some of the creatures observed on, from and above these 2 acres this year (2023).
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Association for Denman Island Marine Stewards (ADIMS)
We have many vibrant volunteer organizations, but ADIMS deserves a special shout out. ADIMS works tirelessly to keep our beaches and waters clean and protected, and has been instrumental in educational and lobbying campaigns that have led to bans on single use and micro-plastics.
If you visit Denman Island and feel grateful for the experience, remember that everything depends on the waters that surround us. If you'd like to express that gratitude, please consider donating to ADIMS (you get an automatic tax receipt), and you can stay connected to Denman Island by becoming a member! https://adims.ca/donate
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"We advocate for the protection of the Baynes Sound and Lambert Channel and surrounding waters... ADIMS pursues positive actions that show respect for and commitment to our marine ecosystem." "We are dedicated island dwellers who advocate respect for marine creatures and the ocean they live in. We believe in accepting responsibility to help protect, conserve, restore, and maintain the wealth and beauty of the life that surrounds us." https://adims.ca |
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The artwork is from our collection and represents an eclectic cross-section of contemporary pieces that we published by over 50 artists from Canada, the US and Argentina, as Mima Fine Art Publishers Inc. & Mima Gallery. In 2008 Mima became the art supplier to 'The Bay' (The Hudson Bay Company, founded 1670) in downtown Vancouver, followed by the Victoria and Nanaimo stores in 2009. That lasted three years, followed by 30+ stores and galleries throughout BC, until we folded Mima in 2016. The continuing online "Closing Sale" consists of ex-stock. (Click here for the full story...) If you've looked at the website and are interested in purchasing an artwork, we'd be happy to show you the real thing, by appointment.
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See the entire collection, on sale, at www.mimagallery.com ►
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Art by the hosts Mitra & Mark : Although some is displayed in the rooms, most of it is stored in the main house and is not included in the online "Closing Sale". If you are interested in buying, having seen examples on the walls or something online, please make an appointment with Mark to view the actual artwork.
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"Blue Lake", 21"x 11", Natural Inks, Mineral & Vegetable Colors, Gold, Silver, Copper, Bronze on Rice Paper | www.MitraGhaffari.com ►
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"Calligraphy of Birds, vol. 1 no.19", Photograph on Fine Art Rag Paper | Photography by Mark Prior ►
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Fine Art Printing, Image Editing & Consultation Services for Photographers, Artists and Corporate Clients. |
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Specializing in large prints for exhibitions & architectural installations; printing on aluminum, paper and canvas. |
We settled in British Columbia in 2003, when the digital revolution was still in its infancy. Our relatively remote location meant investment in reliable fine art digital printing equipment. Two years later, we co-founded Mima Fine Art Publishers & Gallery to promote other artists' and photographers' work alongside our own by creating fine art giclee editions. Since then the art market has changed dramatically with the demise of the high street gallery and rise of the Internet, and so we’ve evolved into providing image editing and printing services for self-publishing photographers and artists. We replaced Mima with Print Art Photography CA in 2016 to better reflect the new nature of the business. By now we’ve reproduced and printed many thousands of artworks and photographic editions, a few of which are now hanging in the Manna House guest rooms. (Find out more...)
Denman Island from Union Bay ↕
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