Sue Johnston has spent most of her life in the Comox Valley and is known to many as the founding owner of South Country Feed and Supply and as a past board member with the local Women’s Business Network.
After selling South Country in 2008, and a well-deserved five-year hiatus from the business world, Johnston is back on the corporate fast track and ready to move forward in her new role as the Comox Valley representative for Victoria-based Home SOULutions Remediation Services. The company specializes in mould, asbestos and lead remediation from Greater Victoria to the Valley, and every community in-between.
“I have my feet back on the ground and I have hit that ground running,” says Johnston. “When I first met with owners, Roy Piper and Corae Bracken, I knew immediately that this business – although vastly different that anything I have done before – was something I could be passionate about. My heart and home is in the Comox Valley and, because of that, I know there are many beautiful old buildings and homes that contain asbestos. Home SOULutions Remediation can help make these buildings safe again.”
Johnston is referring to the fact that, in many buildings constructed prior to 1991, asbestos was used in gypsum board, drywall mud, vinyl tile flooring, pipe wrap, vermiculite insulation, textured ceilings, stucco and other building products. So small that it can’t be seen with the naked eye, asbestos fibre is recognized as the ‘Hidden Killer’ and is the number one occupational killer in B.C.
“Renovating or demolishing houses containing asbestos products releases extremely fine fibres that can stay in the air for hours,” said Johnston. “While once thought safe, we now know that exposure to asbestos is extremely dangerous. The risk of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the amount of asbestos in the air you inhale and the length of time you are exposed to it. It is vitally important for homeowners and renovators alike to rely on experienced professionals to identify all hazardous materials, including asbestos, before commencing any renovations and then to ensure these materials are safely removed and properly disposed of. At Home SOULutions we understand the dangers of asbestos and we don’t take any risks or short cuts when it comes to your family’s health and our workers’ safety.”
Johnston looks forward to getting reconnected to the business community through the WBN, the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.
“Helping people ensure they have healthy homes and workplaces to enjoy for years to come is a positive SOULution,” she said.
www.HOMESOULutions.ca
