Traveland RV, one of the largest RV dealerships in Canada, has opened its first location on Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley.
The family owned Traveland RV now has five locations in western Canada, with the other sites in Langley and Kelowna in B.C., and Airdrie and Grand Prairie in Alberta.
Traveland RV took over the six-acre site and facility that was formerly operated by Greg’s RV, located at 5267 Boal Rd. in Duncan, and opened for business on Jan. 4.
Brad Howes, son of Traveland RV owner Dale Howes, said the company had considered a number of sites on Vancouver Island to set up shop, but decided on the Cowichan Valley largely because it is halfway between the Island’s two main population centres; Victoria and Nanaimo.
“Greg [Robson, former owner of Greg’s RV] and his wife Carly have done a tremendous job in building this business from the ground up, and it is thanks to their efforts that we were prepared to serve all our customers on opening day,” Howes said.
“Traveland is proud to carry on in the same family owned tradition that they have based their business on. Many of the same familiar faces that have worked to serve customers of Greg’s RV will be continuing their service with Traveland RV. We hope to continue to be the preferred RV store for all the former customers of Greg’s RV, while welcoming current and future Traveland customers as well.”
Howes said Traveland RV will be working to bring new lines and offerings to its location in Duncan, which had been an exclusively Keystone dealer.
“Naturally, customers will still be able to browse and service a wide range of Keystone products along with some new and exciting lines to the market,” he said.
Asked if Traveland RV had plans to expand into other areas of Vancouver Island, Howes said there are no plans for that at this time.
“We’ll play it by ear,” he said.
“There may some opportunities for us in the Comox area, but we’ll look at that at a later date.”
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Promise Valley Farm & Creamery has opened a creamery which is touted to be the first organic dairy on Vancouver Island.
Caroline Nagtegaal and her husband Mark run and operate the first-generation family farm, which has been in operation for almost 16 years.
Caroline said the farm now serves cream-top milk and whole-milk yogurt which is made fresh from their herd of Guernsey cows.
“At Promise Valley Farm & Creamery, we are passionate about land, cows, and nourishing dairy products,” she said.
“We use regenerative farming practices as we aspire to improve the soil over time without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Our heritage, grass-fed Guernsey cows roam the hills of the farm bringing people milk that is rich in taste and quality.”
Caroline said the whole milk the farm produces is small-batch pasteurized, so the golden cream rises to the top.
“Stop by our milk dispenser and visit our farm store for more of our delicious products,” she said
The farm, located at 7088 Richards Trail, is open from Tuesday to Saturday each week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More information on Promise Valley Farm & Creamery is available on Facebook, Instagram or check out www.promisevalleyfarm.ca.
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The liquor store at the Lion Rampant Scottish Pub in Maple Bay has closed.
But a new convenience store, called Maple Bay Convenience Store is opening up in its place.
Pub owner Bruce Findlay said his retail liquor store licence has been sold and the store closed Jan. 10.
He said the business is in the process of a store re-fresh, and the opening of the convenience store is expected sometime next week.
“We had to do something to save the pub given the continuous unjustified mandates thrown at us and the unbelievable reduction in our revenues, so selling the licence guarantees the continuance of the pub into the future,” Findlay said.
“Plus, we had heard for years from our neighbours begging for a local convenience store. So this decision helped ensure the viability of the pub and provides a convenience store option for our customers.”
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Duncan’s Ancient Art of Stone has won an international award.
Ancient Art of Stone, which has been owned and operated by stone artists Andreas and Naomi Kunert since the studio first opened 10 years ago, has won the “Best Stone Installation in the World” award in the Interior Stone Installation category from the National Stone Institute, an Ohio-based trade association for those in the natural stone industry which represents more than 2,000 members in more than 50 countries.
The institute also operates an industry accreditation program and two prestigious awards programs.
Andreas and Naomi won the award for a one-of-a-kind 30,000-pound fireplace they created in their studio on Boys Road before shipping and installing it in a home in Spokane, Washington.
The couple will be flying to Los Vegas on Friday to attend the National Stone Institute’s award ceremony to accept their award.
“It’s our biggest award yet,” said Andreas, who also created and installed the eye-catching Ravyn’s Song rock mural in a lobby at the Port of Nanaimo Centre in 2008.
“We’re looking forward to receiving it this weekend.”
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Black Press Media is committed to successfully connecting B.C. residents with prospective employers and educational institutions across British Columbia and Western Canada through virtual webinars.
Whether you are a job seeker, career changer, student, or lifelong learner, Black Press encourages you to join them at the Greater Victoria Virtual Career & Post-Secondary Education Event, which will take place from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, to meet with exhibitors, learn more about their organizations, the positions they have available, and how you can engage with their team.
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