A new hot tub store has opened in Duncan’s Village Green Mall.
Island Beachcomber Hot Tubs recently opened at 14-180 Central Rd. under the ownership of Brian Martin.
The shop sells Beachcomber Canadian Hot Tubs, which has been the pioneer of the finest quality hot tubs for the past 47 years.
Mortin said he has been sold on Beachcomber hot tubs since he moved into the house he bought in Shawnigan Lake 15 years ago, which had one.
“After 30 years in the construction business, I decided it was time for a career change so I decided to partner with the Surrey-based Beachcomber Canadian Hot Tubs to open this business,” he said.
“Island Beachcomber Hot Tubs is not a franchise; it’s a local and family owned store.”
Mortin said it took awhile to secure the ideal location he wanted in Village Green Mall for his business, but it was worth the wait.
“We opened without any advertising, but business has been fantastic so far,” he said.
“There’s a lot of foot traffic at this location, and it’s working out great.”
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The popular Westfalian Bakery, located at the end of a colourful and funky alleyway off of Kenneth Street in downtown Duncan, has closed for the time being.
A sign in the alley from owner and baker Daniel Kim said that he’s sorry to say that the bakery is closed due to unforeseen family reasons.
Westfalian’s Facebook page adds that Kim and his family went to Ottawa to be with his sister at this time.
“There is no scheduled reopening date, but we will update you on Instagram and Google,” Kim’s sign said.
“Thanks you for your understanding.”
Westfalian Bakery is well known for its freshly made croissants, pastries and other baked goods.
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The Malahat Skywalk free shuttle service from downtown Victoria was launched on the Mother’s Day weekend.
To make it easier for visitors to get to the award-winning attraction, the popular free return shuttle service (to/from downtown Victoria) will run until Oct. 12 with the following schedule:
• June 28 - Sept. 1, 2025. The service will run seven days a week, including holidays.
• Sept. 6 - Oct. 12. The service will run on Saturdays and Sundays only.
The Malahat Skywalk, which opened in 2021, is a 32-metre-high spiral tower that offers views of Saanich Inlet, Mount Baker, and the Coast Mountains.
The attraction includes a treetop walkway, an optional slide descent and much more.
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Tim Hortons raised a record-breaking $22.6 million through the sales of Smile Cookies at its locations across Canada this year during its annual fundraiser, in which five Tim Hortons’ restaurants in the Cowichan Valley participated.
From April 28 to May 4, the iconic chocolate-chunk cookies topped with pink and blue icing drawing out a smile were for sale for $2 each at Tim Hortons locations, with all the proceeds from the fundraiser in the Cowichan Valley going to Nourish Cowichan to provide nutritious school-based meals to children, and the Clements Centre for Families.
"We're so grateful for the outpouring of support for this year's Smile Cookie campaign from Tim's guests across Canada,” said Axel Schwan, president of Tim Hortons.
“Thanks to your incredible generosity, we topped our previous Smile Cookie record. A huge thanks to every single Tim Hortons restaurant owner, team member and volunteer who collectively helped to bake and hand-decorate millions and millions of cookies. Your dedication and enthusiasm represents the kind of deep care for our local communities that Canadians can rely on from Tim Hortons."
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A survey launched by Mosaic Forest Management on May 1 seeks to gather public input on a range of topics related to responsible recreation, including illegal dumping, wildfire risks, impacts on wildlife, and gates.
Mosaic welcomes responses from those who have camped, cut firewood, or recreated on Mosaic-managed land located on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, and from those who may have never done so but have thoughts on outdoor recreation.
The eight-minute online survey is open until May 23.
Afterwards, Mosaic will compile its findings and report back on what the public had to say.
“This survey will guide Mosaic's commitment to responsible forest stewardship; balancing public recreation with environmental protection,” said Steve Mjaaland, manager of forest protection at Mosaic.
“By understanding what matters most to those who value these lands, we can enhance safe and reliable access while safeguarding critical habitats and water resources."
The survey is the first of its kind for Mosaic, whose private managed forests generate economic returns for surrounding communities while also serving as destinations for outdoor fun and adventure.
For anyone interested in sharing their take on responsible recreation, gates and all, visit MosaicForests.com/Survey from now until May 23.
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Coastal Community Credit Union has appointed Kent Jesse as its new CEO, effective June 1.
Jesse joined the credit union’s executive team as the chief risk officer in 2022, and brings with him over 25 years of leadership experience in the credit union system.
Jesse’s extensive background spans retail banking, operations, strategy, marketing, and risk management.
Prior to joining Coastal Community, he served as chief risk officer at Innovation Credit Union, where he led enterprise-wide risk management, compliance, and legal functions.
His collaborative approach and proven leadership in transformational initiatives have made a lasting impact throughout his career.
“The board is thrilled to welcome Kent as our next CEO,” said Dominique Roelants, chair of the Coastal Community Credit Union.
“This is an exciting time for our organization, and we are proud to promote a leader from within our own team. Kent has consistently demonstrated the vision, integrity, and commitment to community that align perfectly with our values and strategic direction.”
