Hospitality is in the fibre of the Centre’s values. We aim to help you settle in, so you can ease into your stay.

Here is a list of things to consider to help make your stay as comfortable as possible.

• Toiletries, such as soap, shampoo, conditioner or items that make you feel nurtured
• Shoes that slip on easily for comfort in your lodging space
• Water bottle & or a travel cup
• Notebook, journal, and/or sketchbook
• Any prescription medication you require
• Flashlight (especially if you choose to have a digital detox)
• Comfortable layered clothing (it is a good idea to check the weather report)
• Swimwear for Westwood Lake (including a beach towel)
• Fan to help keep your room cool and comfortable during the summer months
• Ear plugs (if you’re sharing a room or like a little extra quiet)
• Rain wear (umbrella, jacket, rain boots)
• Good walking/hiking shoes to do the Westwood Lake Trail

Inside the Oak Room provides a shared space for guests to quietly reflect and enjoy the Spiritual Lending Library and the Godden Finger Labyrinth Museum.

A small meditation chapel (in the Main House) is available for prayer and meditation.

Outside eight acres are yours to explore including a reflective pond and wooded area on the property provides a place to connect with nature.

We are graced with beautiful Westwood Lake at our front door to walk around or swim in during favourable weather. The loop around the lake is over 6.7 KM and features a public beach and amazing must-see bluffs.

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Each of our venues has wheelchair accessibility, though some may be a fair distance from one another.  Feel free to call and discuss your needs and consider if you may need an aide or to be placed in a specific guesthouse to support your needs. 

Augusta Guest House has ground-level rooms, and two washrooms (one with a bathtub and one with a stand-up shower both with grab bars).

The Nazareth Guest House also has accessibility access on the side of the building and 6 rooms on the lower level.  The entrance is gravel, so this may not be suitable for some.  This guest house has two shared washrooms downstairs with stand-up showers (one with a grab bar).

A shower chair is available upon request.

Certified service animals are welcome upon request and availability in Augusta Guest House (room 1) and Nazareth Guest House (room 10). These rooms have a single bed and a door to access outside easily.

We are proud of our pure and clean tap water so have no need to offer bottled water. We ask that if you bring bottled water please take your bottle home to recycle.  The Centre Shop also has containers for sale.

The buildings and grounds of Bethlehem Centre are smoke-free. Please respect the grounds and the people using them by smoking off-premises.

Open flame candles are a danger to us and the surroundings; please use battery-operated candles if needed.  Please ask permission if you intend to use open flame candles or will be smudging for ceremonial purposes (**a waiver must be signed at Guest Services in the Centre Shop).

We are able to accommodate vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free diets. If you or anyone in your group has allergies or very specific dietary needs, we ask that you bring supplemental food and store it in the fridge provided in your guest house lounge. If anything requires heating/warming up we ask that you use the microwave that is also provided in your guest lounge.

We do our best to label vegetarian, dairy, or gluten. If you have not identified these needs before arriving please leave these specifically labeled items for the guests that have.

 During your stay please direct any food-related questions or concerns please talk to your Group Facilitator or our Guest Services team (at the front desk).

The Garden Parking Lot is to the left of the main driveway when you enter the grounds. Please park as close as you can to each other. If you have mobility restrictions, please feel free to use our reserved parking near the front of the Main Building. You are welcome to use the carport as a drop off for luggage when checking in. After you have unloaded your belongings, please return your car to the Garden Parking Lot. We do have an overflow Labyrinth Parking Lot to the north of Shepherd’s Hall.

Check in is between 3:00 – 4:00 PM in the main house (foyer) of the Centre. We encourage you to arrive on time, to allow yourself time to settle before dinner is served at 5:30 PM.

When requested we will have keys put on the registration table which is in the Main Building, left from the Main Enterance. Program Facilitators will also receive a printout sheet for your guests in each room for check-in and out.

Any guests who arrive early, are more than welcome to wander around the Centre, or lake until the check-in time, if they need to store personal items until check in, they can ask the Guest Services team.

For any guests who are checking in after our Check-in time, they can call 250-754-3254 and one of our Residents can come help check you in.

Each guest will get one key for their room and one key for the building on a lanyard.

If they forget their key in their room they can come up to the gift shop and ask for help. For guests without the Main House key, they will only have access to their Guest House after 9 PM.  If they need in the Main House they will need to contact our Resident.

If a guest accidentally leaves without turning in their keys we will immediately message the Organizer for the event to let them know and ask if we should contact the individual or if they would like to contact them. If they do have the key we will ask that they mail the key back.

Mealtimes will be marked by ringing the bell. To ensure you are enjoying our buffet at the peak of freshness, please arrive for meal times when you hear the bell.

• Breakfast is from 8-9 AM
• Lunch is from 12-1 PM
• Dinner is from 5:30-6:30 PM

This is an all-you-can-share, family-style buffet. After one serving and after the entire group has gone through you’re welcome to help yourself to a second helping (just be sure to take a new plate each time).

Outside of these times, the dining room is closed for cleaning and preparing for the next meal.

Optional snacks for requested groups are reserved in our Main foyer or in the Second Dining Room, from 10 AM -11 AM or 2 PM – 3 PM.

If your group has requested bagged lunches, they are available after 10AM on departure day.

These times should be requested during the booking process or let our Guest Services Coordinator know a minimum of 3 weeks in advance of your arrival date.

Guests are welcome to use the coffee/tea station in the Main Lobby, there are also small tea stations set up in each guest lounge. Microwaves and Mini-fridges are also available in each guest house lounge. Please be sure to put your name on any/all items.

Bethlehem has complimentary WIFI in all buildings.

Quiet Hours are observed between 10 PM-7:30 AM.  Be mindful of loud ringtones and conversations, we ask that you use your cell phone in the main foyer or in your car to respect the quietude of others. 

During your stay here you may encounter people who are in ‘Silence’. As a spiritual Centre, we take pride in honoring this practice. Please see our Guest Services team in the Centre Shop if you would like more information on the practice of silence.

If your group is at the Centre for more than 7 days, we will arrange a date for the linen to be changed. If this applies to your group we ask that you have your pillowcase with any sheets or towels to be cleaned outside of the room by 9 AM. Housekeeping will collect all the dirty items and drop off clean linens later in the day. If you choose to have the housekeeping team go into the rooms and remake beds, please let us know so we can arrange staff. Otherwise, linens will be left in the guest lounge.

If you have an urgent need after hours you can call our Main Line at (250) 754-3254 press 5 to reach our Work-stay Resident on duty.

Room check-out time is at 10:00 AM. On the final day of your stay, we ask that you place your used bed linens and towels in your pillow case by 10 AM and leave them in the hallway.  If your group begins with a morning session, please speak to your group host or coordinator for the check-out time.

Guests are welcome to stay after room check out.  Your belonging can be stored in your Guest House lounge, in the main house foyer, or in your car until they are ready for departure.

All items left at the facility after 60 days will be donated to the nearest thrift store. Items that need to be mailed will be charged with the cost of shipping.