Life at YWAM Global Gateway

Housing, what to bring, and information about Global Gateway.

What do I need to know about using electronics in Canada?

Canadian electricity is 110V and you will need a North American or multi-adaptor to plug in your electronics.

Are housing and meals provided?

Yes. Living together in community is a great way to get to know people from diverse backgrounds and it is a lot of fun! Families and married couples have a room of their own. Single students and staff can expect to share a room with others in a dormitory-type setting: 2-4 people per room.

We value community by eating together delicious sit-down meals (lunch and dinner) prepared by our kitchen ministry as a large family on base. Breakfast is provided for students at the YWAM base.

Will I have access to the internet?

The base offers access internet to all students, but we encourage students to use the internet wisely and respect others who share the internet connection. If you want to access the internet during your time on the base you will have to bring your own laptop or other device to connect with. 

What is Oliver like? What is the weather like?

The town of Oliver is located in south-central British Columbia just 25km north of the US border. At the south end of the Okanagan Valley it sits in the only desert area of Canada.

The community has a population of over 4,000 people and is labeled the Wine Capital of Canada by Tourism British Columbia. Local industries include wine and fruit production, agri-tourism, ranching, golfing, recreation, retail and service trades.

The area experiences four distinct seasons. Summers are long and hot with average daily highs in July of 29°C/85°F. Humidity is very low. Winters are short and relatively mild with average January highs of -5°C/24°F with little snow. Precipitation averages just 319mm/12.6in annually. There are many activities you can do during the year. In the winter you can ski at  local mountains, Apex and Mount Baldy, or go ice-skating at the indoor rink. In the warmer months the Okanagan Valley has much to offer. You can swim or fish in local lakes and rivers, take a ride on the 18.4km bike trail, or go hiking in the nearby mountains and hills. 

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For more information about Oliver, visit the website: https://www.visitoliver.com/

What should I bring with me?

CLOTHING: Apart from casual wear, bring one set of formal clothes for meetings, church and formal events. Many outreach locations do require a modest skirt/dress pants. Unless you want your casual clothes turned into work clothes we strongly suggest you bring these. There is a wide variety of duties and some are quite messy. For recreation and exercise we suggest you bring shorts, T-shirts,  and runners. Bathing suits need to be modest i.e. full swim suits for girls (no bikinis), swim shorts for guys. For shoes; please bring casual, runners and dress shoes. During outreach you may need to purchase cultural clothing appropriate for your outreach location (E.g. women must wear local clothing in Southern India).

During winter it can get cold (Oct. – Feb.), so bring jeans, sweaters and a jacket. Remember outreaches may be in another climate so come prepared for different types of weather.

Please note: We have an international student body and as such need to consider a larger audience of cultures in our dress (what is OK in your culture might cause offence to someone from another).

BEDDING: You will have a bed during lecture phase, but DTS students will need to bring their own bedding (sleeping bags are best). EFM students are provided with bedding for their schools, but DTS students may need sleeping bags for outreach activities. Please bring this with you unless you prefer to buy it when you get to Oliver. There will be times on outreach where you may not have a bed and will be sleeping on the ground; you may therefore want to bring a sleeping bag and suitable air mattress/mat/Therma-rest with you, though these can also be readily purchased in stores near Oliver.

PERSONAL ITEMS: With regard to personal items, please bring whatever articles of clothing, etc. that you need, limiting it to one large hiking backpack or suitcase. Upon acceptance to a school you will receive a packing list with recommended things to bring. You will have some space under your bed, 2‑3 shelves in a cupboard and a small amount of wardrobe space. Our storage is limited, meaning you will need to be able to carry most things with you during the outreach phase. There is a small amount of storage space provided on base for your things while you are on outreach.

CARS/PERSONAL VEHICLES: If you are planning on bringing a car please let us know. Where ever you chose to park your car, you do so at your own risk. Accommodation is located at our base house and you can easily walk or cycle to where classes will be held. We are located in the heart of the town of Oliver.

Can I bring my family? What are the costs?

Yes, we welcome families! We believe that families, and not just individuals, have a calling in missions to serve together as a family. Please let us know if you are planning on bringing your family. Please also note that school aged children will need to be enrolled in schooling. If you are here for less than one year we recommend enrolling your child in homeschooling from your home country. If you will be with us for more than one year please contact us for more information about schooling options. Please note we do not offer children’s education at this location, but non-educational childcare may be provided if both parents are enrolled in a school. If you require childcare, please enquire about this. More information regarding costs, accommodation, and education for children can be provided by emailing ywamgginfo@gmail.com.

How far will I be from the beach?

The Okanagan Valley is famous for our beautiful lakes and there are many located within driving distance from the base.

• Tuc el Nuit Lake is a small lake located 500 metres, walking distance from the base house.

• Skaha Lake is a mid-sized lake located between Okanagan Falls and Penticton (about a 15-30min drive away).

• Osoyoos Lake is another mid-sized lake located in the town of Osoyoos (about a 30min drive away).

• The largest lake in the area, Okanagan Lake, can be accessed by many beaches throughout the Okanagan Valley ranging from a 30min drive away in the nearby city of Penticton to a 2 1/2 hour drive in the city of Vernon.