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Business notes: Realtor steps up to sponsor young dancers

Christine Ryan, a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty, knows what it takes to be an accomplished dancer.
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The Duncan Pizza Hut location raised $795 toward Pizza Hut’s total donation of almost $105,000 for diabetes research. (Submitted photo)

Christine Ryan, a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty, knows what it takes to be an accomplished dancer.

With a background in dance, Ryan has experienced the stress and strain the pursuit of excellence puts on the body and mind.

So, Ryan jumped at the opportunity to help young Cowichan Valley dancers Brittany Millard and Mara Morris pursue their dream. The young dancers travelled to Portugal in July to compete at the 2019 Dance World Cup Finals.

It was the experience of a lifetime for Millard and Morris who performed well in an event that attracts 6,000 dancers from more than 50 countries and Ryan came through with a generous financial donation to help with the costs of traveling to Braga, Portugal.

“I know how hard you worked to get to this point and I know you both have a brilliant future,” Ryan told the girls.

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Pizza Hut restaurants in British Columbia raised an outstanding $104,912 for the 2019 Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes, a total that earned them an award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

During the nine-week 2019 campaign, the Duncan Pizza Hut location raised $795 for the cause.

“The success of this is especially attributed to the residents of Duncan,” commented Isabella Alvarez, a spokesperson for Pizza Hut.

“It would not have been possible without the generous support of our community.”

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Just when you might have figured the staff at the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce was enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer, it now seems they have been very busy. It hasn’t been all river rafting, golf and wine tasting for executive director Sonja Nagel, member relations coordinator Sandy Ferrin and other staff members at the Chamber.

They’ve been making plans, big plans for the fall.

Integral in the planning process is Alec Wheeler, events and membership manager who has complied an exciting lineup for the 2019/2020 year.

“Our first Chamber Mixer of the season will be hosted at Hand of Man Museum in Maple Bay on Sept. 19,” Wheeler says.

“They’ll be partnering with fellow member, Ecochic Design, on some deliciously catered food and drink for a night of networking and natural history adventure not to be missed.”

October is Small Business Month and the Chamber be marking the occasion with two major events.

“On October 9 we’ll be hosting an all candidates forum for the upcoming federal election,” Wheeler says, reminding us we’ll be into full election campaign mode very soon.

The forum will be held at CPAC and is free and open to the general public.

Small Business BIG DAY returns on Oct. 29 for a second year.

“This one-day professional development and networking symposium has moved to the Ramada Duncan and is even bigger and better than its inaugural year,” Wheeler says.

The Chamber’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Nov. 26 at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club.

“Of course, we couldn’t finish off the year without The Return of the Tackiest of All Tacky Christmas Sweater Parties Party, which will be back at Blue Grouse Winery on Dec. 11,” Wheeler says.

Throughout September, October and November the Chamber programming will include six Lunch N Learns, three Speaker Series Luncheons, five Mixers and a new monthly meet-up called Membership Matters.

Watch this space for more details about upcoming Chamber events or go ahead and phone 250-748-1111 for more information about Chamber activities.