Big Rock Motel

The location is excellent, close to town with beautiful views nearby, and the staff were welcoming and helpful. We stayed at Big Rock Motel in Campbell River on our way to a fishing trip. The room was clean, comfortable, and well kept, with everything I needed for a relaxing visit. Nothing overly fancy, but it felt clean and safe, and was a wonderful stay for the price. I’d happily return next time I’m in Campbell River.

The location was good, and the stay was decent overall. My friend and I were there on August 30th. The coffee filter was dirty, and the floor felt like it needed cleaning, but that was about it. The bigger problem was the person above us stomping loudly, not just walking, until almost midnight, then again at 9am. It went on for about 5-10 minutes each time. At one point I thought they were jumping, and the whole room shook. If that person sees this, I’m sure they know who they are. Please be mindful of other people. Thanks.

My Military brother Ian and I are both Canadian Veterans. After spending a full week in the area supporting and participating in a Veteran healing event, we booked a room at Big Rock Motel in Campbell River. At check-in, the owner initially gave us a room, then abruptly said “no pets” after noticing Ian had a certified service dog for his disability. We explained that a service dog isn’t a pet and is protected under Canadian human rights law, but he still refused. When he saw that we both use cannabis for medical reasons and have valid prescriptions, he said “no smoking on my property” and ordered us to leave. We felt disrespected and treated cruelly. We’d just spent a week giving back to the community and other Veterans, and were essentially shown the door because of ignorance and a lack of compassion. Ian became so stressed that his heart condition flared up, and an ambulance took him to the emergency room that evening. Service dogs aren’t pets, and medical cannabis is a legitimate, legal treatment. Neither should be grounds for denying accommodation, especially to people who have served this country. I hope the owner uses this as an opportunity to learn about service dogs, medical cannabis, and the rights of Veterans and people with disabilities in Canada. Until then, I can’t recommend this motel, especially to anyone with a service animal or medical needs, or anyone expecting basic human decency. I hope this goes viral. People and businesses need to understand that Veterans fought for this country, and we feel like second-class citizens. In British Columbia, hotels, like other service providers, have a legal duty under the Human Rights Code to accommodate people with disabilities and other protected characteristics. That means making reasonable adjustments to services, facilities, and policies so people with disabilities can access and use them without facing discrimination.

A perfect place for fishermen, with the boat launch right across the road. There’s a gas station next door with a washdown area, a liquor store next door, and two great restaurants nearby. The rooms were clean and had air conditioning, and the beds were decent too.