Editor's note: The Gibsons and District Chamber of Commercealong with Coast Reporter are working on a series of articles to highlight the Chamber's theme for 2012 of 'business supporting community.'
I have been writing the past few months about how our local businesses support and help to build our community.
This month, I decided to speak to four different business owners who all strongly support this community.
Wakefield Home Builders in Sechelt have been building homes and commercial projects since 1999.
Lance Sparling and his team have a strong vision of how community should evolve with their deep green, healthy building practices. They employ 65 people and are involved in helping several organizations including: the Coast Rotary clubs, the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden Society, YMCA, Royal Canadian Legion, BC Lung Association, minor baseball and the Sechelt Seniors' Centre.
They give in many ways: financial, donations of labour, project management and expertise, and as well, they have a solid philosophy of three fundamental pillars for giving back: culture, community and conservation.
MarketPlace IGA in Gibsons has been supporting community since 1991. Current owners Bob and Susan Hoy have been there since 2001.
They employ between 85 and 100 people and are always willing to help. Right now they are working to raise $5,000 for the Breakfast for Kids program. They give in many ways: through financial donations, gifts, donations of food, facilities for car wash fundraisers and team sponsorships.
Bob says his passion is with the youth organizations and he is a firm believer and practitioner of the principle: "It takes a community to raise a child."
Kenmac Auto Parts in Gibsons is one of the longest running businesses on the Coast. Owner Shawn Boyd and his family are long-time Gibsons residents. The business was started in 1959 and has been an exemplary corporate citizen. They give regularly to causes in the form of financial support, donations for silent auctions, prizes for events and sponsorship of softball and baseball teams.
Boyd gives a considerable amount of his time as president of the Kinsmen Club in Gibsons, a group that does community service and is working hard to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.
SuperValu in Gibsons has been serving the community for 30 years. Owners Tim and Kim Thompson are constantly giving back in one form or another, whether it is writing a cheque for a worthy cause or supplying food for a fundraiser, door prizes or staff for the Elves Club annual hamper campaign. In fact, they and the staff supplied and helped put together and deliver 800 food hampers last Christmas.
They also work with the Rotary TV auction and the Botanical Garden Society.
We could fill the whole paper with companies and business people like the few I have highlighted here.
I want to thank the folks who took the time to speak with me and thank them on behalf of the community for all they do.
If you look around, you will see that in some way a local business is affecting the high standard of living we enjoy and sometimes take for granted.
Editor's note: Dean Walford is the vice president of the Gibsons and District Chamber of Commerce.
