The Little Corner Sandwich Shop that has been operating in Cobble Hill for more than a year will be opening a second location in Duncan in January.
Chris Jameson, who co-owns the business with Clayton Frost, said the growing business started as a food truck that serves popular home-made comfort foods supplied by a centralized kitchen, and the partners plan on the same model for their food truck that will be set up in the parking lot at 277 Government St., next to Ignition Motorsports, starting in January, with the exact date yet to be determined.
Jameson said the plan was always to expand the business, but it’s happening faster than the partners had anticipated.
“We’re having greater success than we thought, and that’s largely because the business model for take-out foods has greatly improved due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“Like the food truck at Cobble Hill, the one in Duncan will be permanently on site and open regular business hours, seven days a week, and it will be 30 per cent bigger than our first truck.”
Jameson said the Little Corner Sandwich Shop usually serves two types of homemade soup a day, and the menu includes homemade burgers, macaroni and cheese, and other delicacies considered comfort food, with a variety of tastes including Mediterranean, Mexican and Spanish flavours.
“We’re really looking forward to opening our second location in Duncan,” he said
••••
Volunteer Cowichan has been fielding inquiries from residents asking if anyone would be interested in offering snow shovelling services for seniors at their houses this winter.
A release from the organization said the ideal people for the task should have WCB coverage, and a fee for service is expected, “although volunteering to help neighbours is a bonus.”
The release said the work may include sidewalks and driveways, but stratas and commercial properties are not part of the service.
People interested should provide their names, contact information and the street area they would like to cover.
“Based on the number of inquires already, it could be a busy season for entrepreneurs,” the release said.
Call 250-748-2133 or email volunteer.crbah@vounteercowichan.bc.ca for more information.
••••
The Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn has been presented with the coveted M.K. Guertin Award, Best Western Hotels & Resorts’ most prestigious honour recognizing top-performing hotels within the company.
The award was announced earlier this month at Best Western’s first-ever virtual convention in front of a large virtual audience of corporate staff and senior leadership, and industry partners and peers.
Hotels receiving the M.K. Guertin Award best represent the vision of Best Western’s founder and demonstrate exceptional levels of quality, guest satisfaction and dedication.
The hotels must also meet other brand standards and membership requirements to qualify for the award.
The Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn is one of only 60 hotels out of more than 2,200 Best Western properties in North America to receive the award.
“The M.K. Guertin award holds a lot of meaning to our brand, as it is named after our founder, and recognizes properties that best demonstrate our foundational commitment to providing superior customer care,” noted Peter Kwong, chairman of the board of directors for Best Western Hotels & Resorts, in a statement.
“It’s a privilege to recognize the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn with this award, as this outstanding hotel team delivers extraordinary guest experiences and serves as a leading example of our brand.”
••••
Vulnerable children and families struggling with anxiety or depression in the south Island due to the Covid-19 pandemic may soon benefit from nature-based counselling sessions at reduced rates through Human Nature Counselling Society.
The organization became a registered non-profit in September with the goal of making these unique counselling services and programs more affordable for people who would otherwise be unable to access them.
“The pandemic is causing so much stress and uncertainty we’ve seen a 50 per cent increase in referrals this year for kids aged 6 to 12,” said the society’s co-founder, and registered clinical counsellor, Dave Segal.
“Children’s mental health has never been more important, or more at risk, and right now we just don’t have the resources to meet the need. As a non-profit we hope to raise enough funds to help at least 100 more low-income kids and their families next year.”
To do this, Human-Nature Counselling Society is applying for grants, and seeking donations from people who care about the mental health of kids in the Cowichan, Greater Victoria and Sea to Sky Corridor communities.
The society launched its first public fund-raising campaign on Nov. 10 with a one-day email appeal aimed at raising $20,000.
Grants and donations will be managed by the society’s board of directors and used to provide counselling services to vulnerable children and families at no cost or significantly reduced rates.
The society’s team of clinical counsellors and youth workers offer group programs and individual/family counselling sessions to help clients learn to manage issues like anxiety, depression, ADHD, and family strain.
Sessions are conducted outdoors in local forests, beaches and parks, making it easy to adapt to the Provincial Health Officers physical distancing requirements to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
For more information, go to www.humannaturecounselling.ca.
