Rose Wagner has recently opened Little Bird at 163 Station St. in Duncan just in time for Christmas.
The shop is a combination gift store and card shop, featuring Rogers Chocolates, greeting cards, wrapping paper, soaps, lotions and much more.
Wagner was the owner of Duncan’s Leaf & Petal Flower Studio for almost 10 years before she sold the business in 2015, but the retail industry is in her heart and soul so she decided to open Little Bird.
“It’s been great so far,” she said while serving customers.
“A lot of my past customers have already dropped by and said that they are thrilled to have me back downtown. Besides, a store like this is needed here.”
Stocking Stuffers for Seniors big success
The London Drugs branch in Duncan is now holding its “Stocking Stuffers for Seniors” annual Christmas gift drive.
A Christmas tree has been placed in front of the store in Duncan that has gift tags with the first names of seniors who want to participate, and a wish list of what presents they would like for Christmas.
Seniors from four retirement homes in Duncan, including Ts’i’ts’uwatul’ Lelum, Duncan Manor, Cairnsmore Place and The Meadows at Sunridge Place, are participating this year.
People are encouraged to buy the items from the wish list at London Drugs or any other store, drop it off at London Drugs and staff will wrap them and make sure they get to their intended recipients in time for Christmas.
Last year, 270 gifts were collected for seniors and London Drugs manager Allen Peabody said gifts are already flowing in this year.
“It seems to be so popular this year, that we are considering adding more senior homes to the list,” he said.
Borrow tool, expertise at makersapce
A new “makerspace” location, called STEAM+D Works Makerspace, has recently opened at Whippletree Junction.
A makerspace is a place in which people with shared interests can gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment, and knowledge.
Owner Leyla Nikkel, who is an applied skills teacher, said her location is full of tools for a variety of uses, including carpentry, metal work, sewing and textile arts, and a 3-D printer is also planned.
“We offer the space, tools, and as much guidance as you need to complete whatever amazing creation your imagination can come up with,” she said.
“We also offer classes and workshops on a variety of different maker skills, as well as maker-themed homeschool support programs.”
For more information, call 250-419-2193
Three take home Fan Choice Awards
Three Duncan businesses were popular in the Island Savings’ 2017 Fan Choice Awards.
Of the hundreds of nominations received in five categories between Sept. 11 to Oct. 8, top spots were awarded to the local and independent small businesses that received the most votes from loyal community members and supporters.
Yoga by Lura took top honours in the health and wellness category for Duncan, while Wall Street Clothing won for Duncan in the retail category, and Hair at 60 Queens took the beauty category.
“What a wonderful surprise,” says Janine Wall, owner of Wall Street Clothing.
“Duncan is filled with so many fabulous retail stores so we take this award as a great compliment. Thank you to Island Savings and our awesome community for supporting local business. We vote you all as best customers in a community.”
Mad Dog Crabs coalescing into one store in Duncan
Duncan’s Mad Dog Crabs is merging its two seafood stores back together to form one super seafood market.
Owners Katie and Scott Mahon have decided to close “The Shack” store at the Old Farm Market and are expanding their product lines at its location at 775 Canada Ave.
“We look forward to continuing to provide all our valued customers the best seafood we possibly can at our main store,” the couple said on the store’s web page.
Marigold opening new office at OUR EcoVillage
Marigold Functional Medicine is opening a south-Island office in Shawnigan.
Marigold, which offers integrative medicine for preventive health care and the treatment of complex and chronic health conditions, is partnering with OUR EcoVillage in Shawnigan Lake.
The Eco Village, located on Baldy Mountain Road, is a permaculture education centre on a working farm which was created as a model sustainable community rooted in social, ecological, and economic well being.
Carrie Ingrisano, MS, FNP, and Danièle Behn Smith, MD, are currently holding functional medicine clinics in the facility’s healing sanctuary building on alternate Mondays.
Contact info@MarigoldFunctionalMedicine.com for more information.
thrive now physiotherapy now opening in Duncan
A new physiotherapy centre, called “thrive now physiotherapy” has opened at 103-373 Coronation Ave. in Duncan.
The name is new to the Cowichan Valley, but not the company.
The clinic has been known as South Cowichan Physiotherapy for almost 20 years, working out of Cobble Hill.
Owners Vince Avery and Patrick Jadan made the decision to expand the business to the second location earlier this year.
Manager Lynn Shortt said the centre decided to make a name change to better demonstrate what the physiotherapists see for their clients: an opportunity to live life on their own terms, pain free.
Dental Centre bringing Christmas to needy kids
The Cowichan Valley Dental Health & Implant Centre is organizing a Christmas gift giveaway, called “Christmas Comes Early”, for 20 low-income children and their families at the office in Duncan.
The centre will host the families on Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.
Statistics Canada reports that Duncan has the highest child poverty rate in urban B.C.
“Cowichan Valley Dental Health & Implant Centre understands the importance of early childhood development and familial support,” said a press release.
“If children do not receive adequate support and live in impoverished conditions, they are at risk for performing poorly at school and fail to achieve success in the future.”