Cardino Shoes is expanding under its new owners.
Tierra Lynn and her husband bought Cardino Shoes, located at 165 Craig St. in Duncan, last March from long-time owner Jean Cardno who has retired.
Lynn said that, while this is the couple’s first foray into selling shoes, they have decided last month to open a second Cardino Shoes location in Langford, where the family lives.
“We had a lot of left over inventory in the Duncan store largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we opened a temporary pop-up store in Westshore Town Centre and it was so popular that we opened up a permanent store in the mall,” she said.
The couple also owns Horror Escape, a fun escape room business in Victoria.
“We’re busy but we’re having a lot of fun,” Lynn said.
“We’re also raising a nine-year old at the same time.”
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Cowichan Bay’s Affinity Cider, the newest cidery in B.C., is open for online sales.
Affinity Cider has spent more than three years developing its land and procedures into one of B.C.’s most unique approaches to cider-making.
The 26-acre property located in the Cowichan Bay estuary boasts wild-grown fruit of all kinds scattered throughout the farm.
Owner Tanner Elton and general manager Kieran Holdsworth saw value and opportunity in the vast permaculture several years ago and the idea for character-based cider took root.
Each fall, unidentified and wild apples, pears and quinces are collected from farms and orchards across Cowichan to supplement those harvested from Affinity’s farmland.
They are pressed and blended with quinces to achieve the perfect balance of sugar and acidity.
“Our philosophy that locally sourced fruit should inform the character of the cider led to the complexity of flavours and aromas you find in each of our ciders,” says Holdsworth.
“What makes our cider-making process truly unique is the wild yeast that transforms the apple juice into cider. Depending on what’s harvested in any given year, and what additional fruit we decide to add, results in a nuanced variation each year.”
Shop online at affinitycider.com/shop/ for in-person pick up only.
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The Cowichan Valley could benefit from the decision of Nanaimo-based cannabis producer Tilray to shut down its operations in that city.
A written statement sent by Berrin Noorata, Tilray chief corporate affairs officer, on Sept. 15 said that “with the recent business combination with Aphria Inc. (an international producer and distributor of medicinal and recreational cannabis), Tilray is making changes to optimize operational efficiencies.”
The statement said Tilray will concentrate its B.C. cultivation in the Broken Coast facility in the Cowichan Valley, located on Drinkwater Road, and its international production and manufacturing in Portugal and Germany.
“By focusing local cultivation and manufacturing at the remaining sites across Canada, Tilray will be able to operate more efficiently, save costs, and deliver the highest-quality products to its patients and consumers all while driving growth and shareholder value,” Noorata said.
The Nanaimo facility’s closure will happen in phases and will be complete by spring 2022.
The company said it will work with employees “interested in transitioning and seeking opportunities at our nearby facility at Broken Coast.”
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In 2020, 84 per cent of Paper Excellence’s total energy use was renewable and the company made a direct economic contribution of $1.7 billion in Canada. That information was provided in the inaugural sustainability report prepared for the pulp and paper manufacturing company, which owns the Crofton mill.“Paper Excellence’s core values embrace company citizenship, community support, and bettering of our environmental and social performance year over year,” said Graham Kissack, the company’s vice president of environment, health and safety and corporate communications.“This report embodies those aspirations with an honest and balanced view of our strengths and the areas we can improve.”
The full sustainability report can be found on the Paper Excellence website.
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Riot Brewing Company in Chemainus has temporarily cancelled all events at the brewery, but the business remains open.
A Facebook post from the company said that “given the current state of the world”, Riot Brewing will be stepping back from events for now.
“Due to some unkind patrons, there has been a lot of extra stress placed on our staff, and we feel it would be best if we gave them a break,” the Facebook post said.
“We hope to bring events back soon, but for the meantime, we will be sticking to a calmer atmosphere. Thank you for understanding.”
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The Serious Coffee in Cowichan Commons has closed due to lack of staff.
But Serious Coffee’s Facebook page said the closure should only be temporary until the staff situation improves.
“We are sorry to say that our Cowichan Commons location will be closed for a short period of time,” the Facebook post said.
“We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are excited to open up again and be staffed and well trained to serve all our wonderful customers very soon. Thank you for your patience.”
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Volunteer Cowichan is hosting its third annual Aging Well Seniors’ Expo on Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Cowichan Community Centre.
The purpose of the free event is to bring health, financial, legal, medical and physical-care businesses and organizations, and more, together under one roof to provide a variety of information and services to older adults in the Cowichan area. Healthy living demonstrations, a flu shot clinic, and raffle prizes donated by local businesses are just a few of the events planned for the day.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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