TRAVEL FAQ

Start of School Year

When should we arrive at the start of the school year?

To ensure the smooth and prompt arrival of the student body on campus, students should arrive at their designated times. School transportation will be provided free of charge as specified. Please note, families wishing to travel to campus together, will need to find alternative transportation as we can accommodate student travel only.

Unfortunately, the school cannot accommodate early arrivals during this busy time of year.

Please see the orientation week guide for full arrival information.

What about student visas?

It is important to note that student visas are issued at the first port of entry into Canada and not at the final destination. When booking flights, please ensure the layover at the first Canadian destination is long enough to accommodate this.

If you have questions regarding student visas, please contact the admissions team admissions@brentwood.ca.

Leave Travel

When is the deadline to request leave travel?

All leave travel requests must be entered by the Sunday prior to the break.

What if I miss the deadline?

Please notify the student's house parent, or reception as soon as possible. Please provide flight numbers and departure times, as well whether travel is international and if the student is travelling with large amounts of luggage, or sports equipment.

If Brentwood College School transportation is unavailable, alternative transportation will be arranged and the student will be notified directly.

When do buses leave on student travel days?

During the week of travel, bus departure times will be posted in the student houses. Buses leave throughout the day for flights departing from Victoria Airport and at designated times, for ferries to the mainland and Seattle. Most leave days, buses depart campus from 3:30AM.

It is important this information be checked well in advance of the travel day and that the pick up location be noted. Last minute changes and missed pick ups can be heavily disruptive to the rest of the student body.

Students should make sure they have all their luggage and required travel documentation, the night before travel. Students should be at their pick up point at least 15 minutes prior to the bus departure time, to allow for check in and luggage loading. The bus will not wait for late passengers.

Campus staff work closely with the transportation team to ensure the safe departure and arrival of students on campus. Should students make alternate arrangements for travel, it is helpful to notify reception, or the house parent, as soon as possible so that time is not spent trying to locate the student.

Can I take a ferry to Vancouver airport?

Students flying from Vancouver Airport need to leave campus 6-7 hours before their flight departure time in order to follow Vancouver Airports recommended check-in times.

If the ferry is delayed or cancelled, it is important to note there is no other alternative way to travel to Vancouver Airport. Airlines will not compensate for delayed/cancelled ferries and the student may miss their onward flight. There may also be an extended wait at the ferry terminal or airport, especially if the flight is long distance.

Please consider booking directly from Victoria airport instead.

Why do you recommend flying directly from Victoria Airport?

When flying out of Victoria Airport, students only need to leave campus 3-4 hours before their onward flight. If the first flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline may offer to re-route the student and the nearby ferry also remains an option for mainland access. Airlines will also often compensate delayed/cancelled flights (check with your individual airline for details).

Please consider booking flights from Victoria Airport.

What if onward travel is international?

International flights have longer check in times and boarding processes than domestic ones, so please make a note in the travel request if onward travel is international. It is important for us to know when to have the student arrive at the airport.

Can the break be extended?

All early leave and late return travel requests must still be entered into MySchool and are subject to approval, availability and student charges. If travel is outside of scheduled leave times due to unavailability of flights, please include a note detailing this in the travel request.

For absences where two of more days of academics are being missed, approval should be sought from the Deputy Head of Student Life.

For instances where less than two days of academics are being missed, approval should be sought from the house parent.

It is also important to note that early arrivals and late departures approval is decided on a case by case basis. The school cannot accommodate early arrivals during orientation week.

What if the return flight or ferry is delayed?

Please contact the house parent, or reception, so that transportation can be notified. If Brentwood College School cannot service the new time, arrangements will be made for alternative transportation and the student will be notified via email.

What other transportation services are available?

LOCAL SERVICES

Encore Limousine Services

+1 (250) 710-3927 www.encorelimo.ca Rates vary, student billing available if booked through the school

Cobble Hill Taxi

+1 (250) 743-5555 www.cobblehilltaxi.ca Rates vary, direct payment required

IslandLink Bus Services

Email IslandLink www.islandlinkbus.com Rates vary, direct payment required

VICTORIA SERVICES

Beaton's Meet & Greet (Airport Service)

+1 (250) 580-5455 www.beatonsmg.com Rates vary, student billing available if booked through the school

Bluebird Cabs

+1 (250) 382-2222 www.taxicab.com Rates vary, direct payment required

Yellow Cab Taxi

+1 (250) 381-2222 www.yellowcabvictoria.com Rates vary, direct payment required

Uber

www.uber.com Rates vary, direct payment required

NANAIMO SERVICES

AC Taxi

+1 (250) 753-1231 www.actaxi.ca Rates vary, direct payment required

Non-Leave Travel

How do I request travel for appointments or Special Leave?

Requests should go through the house parents. Should the leave be approved, they will then submit a request to the transportation team. Should the school not be able to fulfill the trip due to driver or fleet capacity, the student will be notified and alternate transportation will be arranged. The day before travel, the student will be notified of their pick up and return details via email.

All personal travel is subject to student charges.

Are there fees for Brentwood College School transportation?

Travel at designated times on scheduled leave and return days is provided free of charge. On leave days, Brentwood College School arranges for walk-on outbound ferry tickets, for which a charge of $25 is added to each student's account.

Other transportation requests such as medical appointments and passport applications are subject to student charges. Please see our student charge list for details.

Day Student Bus

How can we sign up for the day student bus?

Day student bussing is offered from Duncan and Langford each academic day, and is included in day student tuition. An invitation to sign up will be sent to day student families in August.

Is there a charge? 

Bussing to and from School, is included in day student tuition. Charges apply to boarding students, wishing to access day student bus services.

Can boarding students use the day bus?

Boarding students may use the day bus with advanced approval from the house parent. This service is subject to student charges.

Where does the day bus drop off and pick up?

Please see our Day Student Bus information page for route information.