This week I learned some very exciting news about an incentive the Federal government is offering for first time home buyers from Cedric Wong a CFA (Certified Financial Analyst) from CCW Lending. Today November 1st 2019, the program officially kicks off across Canada, and it’s super exciting for prospective buyers in more rural areas such as the Sunshine Coast, as our medium house price is so much lower than the mainland. It’s currently sitting at $600,300 which means this program will help first time buyers right here on the coast. Are you or someone you know looking to buy your first home? If so, then continue reading below.

Eligibility

The obvious fact – this Incentive is for First Time Home Buyer with annual income of $120,000 or less.

The less obvious fact – since this is a Federal program, based on the Federal definition, some homebuyers can be First Time Home Buyers more than once in their lifetime.

Terms

The Incentive provides 5% of the purchase price (10% for new houses) as interest-free loan towards your down payment.  Note that Homebuyers still need at least 5% (6.5% if including closing costs) of their own money — the Incentive simply boosts up their down payment.

Limit

The limit for the home purchase price is $600,000, due to the following criteria:

Loan size (including the incentive, excluding mortgage insurance premium) must be no more than 4 times the homebuyerÕs income.  Hence, the maximum will be $120,000 x 4 = $480,000.

Loan-To-Purchase Price must be at least 80% or above.  So the maximum purchase price will be $480,000 / 80% = $600,000.

Each homebuyerÕs limit will differ depending on his or her circumstances.  The $600,000 figure represents the theoretical maximum limit that a homebuyer may enjoy. 

Repayment

As this benefit is provided in the form of an interest-free loan, it needs to be repaid.  This shall be done when the house is sold; the Incentive shares the profit or loss (think of the Incentive as your silent partner).  If the house hasnÕt been sold in 25 years, the loan needs to be repaid also.

Details

For any reader who is more inclined to the Incentive’s details, an Operational Policy Manual has been released.

Now we have the Incentive details under the belt, so how does it benefit the homebuyers?  After all, the Federal government says it will spend $1.25 billion (that’s $1,250,000,000) over 3 years to support this program.

Overall, I can think of 3 possible reasons:

Reducing the burden of monthly mortgage payment is the benefit advertised by the government officially.

Back to the question earlier, how much monthly payment a homebuyer with a $120.000 income can save per month?

For most borrowers (5% incentive), the savings will be a little over $100 per month for a $120,000 income household.  This is based on the assumption that the homebuyer borrows the maximum amount (as shown in the calculations below).

Here are several additional facts related to payment reduction:

• The amount of savings can change slightly should interest rate change (e.g. if interest increases to 5%, the savings will change to $140).
• The amount of savings is also directly proportional to their income (e.g. if the income is 20% below the maximum income of $120,000, the savings is also 20% below the maximum savings of $114).
• The actual savings will actually be slightly more (~$10 – 20 per month) as we consider the mortgage insurance.

If a homebuyer is concerned about the future house price and still wanting in buying a home, the Incentive allows the homebuyer to offload this burden partially to the Incentive.

Remember that we can think of the Incentive as 5% / 10% silent partner?  Should the homebuyer sells the property at a loss, the actual repayment to the Incentive will be reduced by the same proportion as well.

It is fair to question why the homebuyer wants to buy a property in this scenario in the first place.  At the same time, one should recognize that not all homebuying are emotionless, calculated financial decisions – there’s more to that.  I’m here to advise — homebuyers call the shots.

Finally, a lesser known, but arguably the most valuable feature of the Incentive is that it can reduce the mortgage insurance premium required for a homebuyer.  This especially applies to homebuyers who want to maximize the amount that they can borrow (borrowers who want to borrow 95%), as these could mean thousands of dollars worth of savings.

In general, if a homebuyer wants to borrow 80% of the purchase price or more (ie. putting less than 20% down payment), banks require the homebuyer to purchase insurance for the mortgage.  The cost of this insurance (also known as the premium) depends on how much the homebuyers borrows.  Naturally – the more the homebuyer borrows; the potential risk for the bank increases; and hence the insurance cost goes up.

As you can see above, the cost, which gets added on top of the mortgage, ranges from 0.6% to 4.5% of the purchase price depending on how much the homebuyer borrows.

You may wonder how it ties to the Incentive.  The beauty is that the loan the Incentive provides does NOT count towards the Loan amount (refer to Operating Policy Manual Section 3.3).

For a homebuyer who borrows the maximum amount (95% Loan-to-Value), the Incentive can reduce 5% (or even 10% for new houses) of the Loan-to-Value, thereby reducing the Premium required for this mortgage.

Revisiting the same mortgage insurance table, a 5% Incentive’s contribution (95% → 90% Loan-to-Value) can reduce 0.9% premium required.  On a $400,000 mortgage, that would mean $3,600 saved.

Note the savings comes in the form of monthly payment reduction, so the homebuyer shall expect to pay $10 – 20 less per month (every penny counts).
More importantly, if the homebuyer wants to sell a home, you may be able to accelerate the entire savings (the “$3,600”) during the sale.

For a more information and to see if you qualify please contact myself here or Cedric at ccwlending.com

oday, I’m going to take you behind the scenes with how we staged this gorgeous property. This is a value added service I offer my clients for free. But, the truth is, I absolutely love home staging.…

Before After

Why Staging?

Staging is a very important part of listing a home as it helps merchandise the property for its potential. With the right finishing touches, you can showcase the stand-out features, and inspire buyers to envision themselves spending time there.

Every time we take a look at a property for staging, it’s all about the end goal. My inspiration for staging has very much been influenced by my husband Ross, who works as a production designer in the film industry. When he reads a new script, he’s always thinking “what’s the end user seeing?” Keeping the end viewer in mind helps him craft vivid worlds, different times and, in some cases, different galaxies but for me its the home buyer being able to see the home in its fullest potential.

This particular cabin is perfect for a first home owner or a family looking for a vacation property to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. So, with that in mind, I envisioned a young, hip professional couple or family with a vintage style, and an appreciation for nostalgic touches.

How to Furnish When Staging

When you’re staging you don’t always want hop on modern trends if it doesn’t fit with the property. In this case, with it being a very original cabin, I wanted to keep its authenticity and really highlight the vintage feel of it.

I have a whole vault of stuff I pull out. For this project, it was very much vintage, old school props and staging materials that really highlight the rustic cabin. I used old clocks from an English train station, and our vintage 1950s radio, which we brought over from England when we moved here. I even added in my personal collection of hats, which create a slightly “lived in” look.

I always love to add finishing touches like throws and pillows to create a cozy atmosphere – especially for a cabin! Throughout the space, I added in Pendleton and Hudson’s Bay blankets. I also found some great furnishings from Blue Magnolia in Sechelt and Ikhaya Boutique in Lower Gibsons.

Also, I often borrow items from my own property if they fit the space. In this case, I used our vintage single twin bed in the second bedroom.

With the wooden tones of the cabin, we wanted to add in some bright accent colours. The rug in the living room is a signature piece and ads in a nice pop of colour and texture to the space. To complement the earthy tones of the interior, I also added in greenery and plants to breathe life into the space and capitalize on a current trend.

With this property, we also took a look at the front garden. There had been an old shed that was taken down and it was a bit of a barren spot. We added in a fire pit and added in some bright Muskoka chairs to demonstrate the potential of the backyard.

Staging With Other Realtors In Mind

Coming from a real estate agent perspective, we get new listings online every day. When we’re looking for a client in specific areas. There could be 20-30 different properties that pop up in MLS and all you get is a little thumbnail image. I’m staging with a hero picture in mind to attract other realtors and make my listing stand out.

I often switch out that hero photo to keep the listing fresh, so it’s best to have a bank of good images that you can swap out so you can keep the listing fresh on MLS.

Before After After

So, there you have it. A window into the staging process – and perhaps some design ideas for your own home too!

Interested in listing your home? I can help. Contact me for a consultation.

The skate scene on the Sunshine Coast is rolling along nicely, thanks to David “Hally” Hallstead, founder of the SCBC Sk8 Skool Society – a non-profit that aims to teach children and youth skate lessons and life skills.

As a Winnipeg native originally, Hally found a supportive community in the city’s skate scene after he was laughed off his basketball team (poor guy). His vision is to introduce Sunshine Coast kids to the sport, while instilling positive values and discovering a sense of belonging.

“At its core, I’m more interested in people than skating. This is about mentorship and life lessons, and also changing the face of skateboarding because it had a pretty negative stigma for a while,” explains Hally, who is an alternative school educator by day. “It’s in the next Olympics. It’s a real sport. I want people to fund it that way and I want people to respect it that way.”

Hally – also known as “Hallywood” – encourages each Sk8 Skool participant to adopt their own alter ego, giving them a chance to express themselves creatively. He considers himself the “principal” of the school, and facilitates peer mentoring amongst the students by empowering them to teach one another.

He makes a special effort to connect with each and every kid in the program, to let them feel seen and heard: “My opening line is ‘Hey, what’s up. What’s your name? Can I try your board?’”

But, Hally doesn’t take credit for everything – he’s adamant that it’s really a team effort.  Hally has assembled the FRGL (pronounced “fragile”) Skate Team. The team, sponsored by Hally’s side project, FRGL Skates brand, is comprised of more advanced skaters who he mentors to become coaches for the newer skaters. They even signed their first girl recently!

The community effort continues as Skate Angels (skate moms), help Hally keep everything running smoothly by assisting with some of the administrative tasks and first aid needs to give him more time with the kids.

“Really at the end of the day I don’t think of Sk8 Skool so much as a class. … It’s a space for kids to [spend time]. We do a life lesson, we do a skate lesson and then we skate. We teach every kid that if you’re better than the kid next to you, then you’re their teacher.”

Sk8 Skool crew has a set of 5 rules they abide by, which I think we can ALL learn from:

1. Character. Community. Sk8 (In that order)
2. You HAVE to do what you HAVE to do BEFORE you do what you WANT to do!
3. Pain can be your friend. (It has a lot to teach you)
4. You learn more from your MISTAKES than your Victories. (But, always celebrate your victories).
5. Remember you are FRAGILE, so you must learn BALANCE!

If you master these lessons, then you will be “ABOVE THE BOARD”

Hally says the most common feedback he receives from parents is not that the kids are better skaters, but rather that they’re better people. Recently, a parent gushed that in just two weeks of Sk8 Skool, their kid was more polite and even washed the dishes more regularly.

But, skate skills do improve in leaps and bounds too.

“We have kids come at the beginning of the summer who have never been on a board before, and then we take them to the West Van skate park at the end of the summer and they’re riding on ramps,” he remarks proudly.

Being a non-profit, Sk8 Skool relies on donations, grants and sponsors. I’m proud to be one of his sponsors, among many other amazing community businesses.

The program costs $100 by donation. Families can also choose to provide a donation that covers the program costs for families who may not otherwise be able to afford it.

This year, Sunshine Coast Community Foundation provided funding to the Christian Life Foundation, which has sponsored Sk8 Skool’s community skate party – a showcase of skate culture on the coast, featuring big name skate brands like Vans, Skull Skates and RDS.

Sk8 Skool runs July 11-26 and August 8-23 with an end-of-summer field trip to the West Vancouver Skate Park on August 29.  Weekly classes are run from on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30pm-5:30pm.

Connect with Sk8 Skool on Facebook or visit their registration site to sign your child up.

Gibsons is abuzz with chatter about the town’s newest restaurant, Buono Osteria . This gorgeous space that overlooks the marina on Marine Drive and is bringing a new brand of authentic, family-style Italian dining to the Sunshine Coast.

Buono Osteria is all about upscale cuisine in a casual atmosphere with a focus on fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. Co-owners Mike Buono and Ryan Kingsberry have meticulously curated a friendly and welcoming dining experience with locals in mind.

Mike, Osteria’s executive chef, is the son of Wally Buono, a first generation immigrant from Italy. You may recognize the Buono name. For many years Wally coached and played for the CFL including the BC Lions. While he’s widely known for his community involvement and dynamic personality, his lesser-known passion for food is ultimately what shaped Mike’s keen interest in pursuing a culinary career.

“Some of my earliest memories as a three- or four-year-old kid are my dad calling me over to taste sauce and saying: ‘Tell me what it needs,’” Mike reminisces. “My love for food was instilled at a young age due to the cultural heritage.”

From wood fired oven pizzas to homemade pastas to a variety of decadent tasting plates, the menu is jam-packed with familiar favourites from the Old Country. While the essence of Italian cuisine remains, Mike adds a personal touch, inspired by his fine dining experience.

“A lot of the dishes are classic dishes for me and my family – things that we did on a regular basis every Sunday,” says Mike. “The tradition of waking up and making the pizza dough and cooking the sauce and the meatballs – that’s just an inherent part of our culture.”

Highlight include the the L’uovo pizza, featuring a poached egg on top for ooey gooey goodness, as well as the Fungi pizza featuring wild mushrooms and traditional fonduta truffle cheese sauce. Meanwhile, the English Pea Agnolotti pasta offers a delicately layered flavour profile – and a very nostalgic taste of home for me.

Kids are welcome in the restaurant. Ryan says that’s why they open early – to allow for a quick stop for food (and a glass of wine for the parents) before bedtime.  The kids will especially love the Margarita pizza, which is packed with delicious unprocessed ingredients and most importantly, lots of cheese.

With such a mouth watering menu (which has gluten free options!), it’s only natural that the drink and craft cocktail menu has been carefully created to complement. In addition to a great selection of BC wines and beers, Buono  Osteria also offers a selection of Amaro based cocktails. This infused herb and botanical-infused liquor- traditionally called a “digestif” – is extremely popular in Europe and makes for a great before or after meal tipple.

The menu is only part of the experience, however. The interior design is stunning. Mike and Ryan worked with my friends at Hanson Land and Sea to build bold wood detailing within the space. In fact, some of the feature pieces are built from a 1,000-year-old log the Hansons salvaged less than 10-kilometres from the restaurant.

The 92-seat restaurant has regular table seating, as well as bar seating near the open plan kitchen, where you’ll have the opportunity to watch food preparation and have a chat with Chef Mike. There is also a gorgeous private room overlooking the marina, which can be rented out for special occasions.

Considering Ryan and Mike only took possession of the space in February, it’s astounding how much work they’ve done to prepare for their launch this month. That’s because their vision for a restaurant began long before they entered the space. Mike and Ryan – both who have long standing careers in the culinary world – began working in Vancouver kitchens together three years ago and instantly clicked.

It wasn’t long before Mike and his wife decided to move to the Sunshine Coast from their home in Vancouver. Mike’s wife had grown up on The Coast, her family was here, real estate was affordable and they wanted a quieter lifestyle.

“The first time Mike showed me the Sunshine Coast … immediately, I knew that this was home,” says Ryan, an Ontario native.  He made the pilgrimage to The Coast soon after and now has an apartment in Gibsons and also a trailer on property up at Earl’s Cove, which he adores visiting often.

What Mike and Ryan are most proud of is the fact that they have assembled an all-star team and worked closely with local residents to build a space for the community.

“Ultimately, we’ve come up with a product that’s custom made for the people here. We love the fact that we’re in a tourist town. The tourists are great, they bring something really special to us,” says Ryan, Buono Osteria’s hospitality director. “But ultimately we want to be a local’s spot that caters to the locals of the town.”

Ryan offers a key insight for any business starting out here on the Sunshine Coast:  “We recognize that we’re in the relationship business first and the food and drink business second. Our success and what is going to separate us from everybody else is the relationships that we have with our community and with our staff.”

Buono Osteria is located at 442 Marine Drive in Gibsons and open Wednesday to Monday from 4pm-11pm. Connect with them on Facebook or visit them online at eatbuono.com.

Contact me

The 101 Brewhouse + Distillery opened its doors in Gibsons in August 2017, staking its claim as one of The Coast’s hottest new establishments.

Joining the ranks of Persephone Brewing and Gibsons Tapworks, who have helped put the Sunshine Coast on the BC Ale Trail map, The 101 differentiates itself from the other breweries by offering a full service menu – for lunch and dinner now – as well as its very own distillery.

The 101’s all star team brings with them a wealth of experience, knowledge and innovation. Restaurateurs Kelly and Chris Greenfield partnered up with renowned local developer David Longman of Longman Developments to launch this project. David has a long list of successful development projects in the region.

Chris and Kelly met in 1999 when Kelly’s parents bought the Troller Pub where Chris was working for the previous owner at the time. Chris and Kelly became partners in The Queens Cross with Chris’s brother Patrick in 2005 and later, The Wicklow Pub in False Creek. In 2013, Chris and Kelly – along with Kelly’s sister, Kim – became partners with their parents and moved the Troller Pub to its current location in Horseshoe Bay. The Troller is a popular spot for commuters and tourists and serves many Sunshine Coast “regulars” on a daily basis.

Having lived for 10 years on The Coast – and commuting to work for most of it – they longed to own and operate a business on our side of the pond. After two years of planning and building with the partnership of David, their dream has come true.

Head chef Christine Deyoung joins The 101 team, coming from her position as regional chef for the Tacofino restaurant group. Christine’s mouth-watering Latin-fusion menu features tacos, Gringas, sandwiches and a variety of delicious starters.

“Everything is new and original and each dish has it’s own flavour profile,” says Chris. You’re not going to taste anything like this anywhere else.”

What brewhouse and distillery would be complete without rock stars at the helm of the alcohol production?

Brewmaster Matt Smith, recently won first place in the German Wheat Beer Category at the 2017 BC Beer Awards. He cut his teeth at Persephone, and jumped at the chance to take the coveted position at The 101 when it opened. He’s crafted a varied offering of beers to whet any whistle, including the Bob’s Auto Lager (which pays homage to the auto repair shop that existed in the building for many years), Outboard Motor Oatmeal Porter and Tall Faller IPA, among other delights.

The 101 distillery creates gin and vodka, crafted by head distiller, Shawn Milsted. He has a background in the film industry, but always had a passion for distilling. He’s since turned his hobby into a career.

The house-made spirits power the ever-changing cocktail menu, created by Kelly. Bricker Bite, Lebowski’s Breakfast and Mai T-IPA,  are just a few of the current cocktail menu highlights. They use fresh and seasonal ingredients wherever possible.

“What we learned early in the process is that [the brewing community] is a really collaborative community, and everyone’s really supportive of each other,” says Chris. “The Tapworks guys came to our city council meeting and we didn’t even know them or who they were. So, it was really cool to have that immediate support.”

As The 101 team looks to 2018, they’ll be expanding their events calendar to include more live music and live art nights. They are also open to hosting private functions and will continue to explore and innovate their culinary, cocktail and beer offerings.

“We’re just realizing right now that you can’t do anything like this without community support. It’s essential to get involved with the community. To listen to people who are coming in,” says Chris. “Everyone has their own story and their own reasons for being here. But, the main thing is that everyone who lives on The Coast loves being on The Coast. They will support and they want to support.”

Learn more about The 101 Brewhouse + Distillery by visiting them online at the101.ca, or Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Location: Sandy Hook

Outdoor:Beaches of Sandy Hook

This summer, Sarah will sit on her new patio with a glass of vino, taking in the stunning views of Porpoise Bay and glacier-capped mountain peaks off in the distance. While she’s owned properties before, this home, perched in Sandy Hook, is the first she’s purchased on her own. As a single mum of two gorgeous daughters, Grace and Ruby, Sarah has made this her permanent view.

Having just taken possession of her new home after Christmas, Sarah hasn’t had a lot of time for it all to sink in just yet. She just knows that purchasing this Sunshine Coast property on her own has left her feeling empowered and accomplished.

“I picked the keys up and I just kind of drove up here and I just sat here,” says Sarah. “It was like a real strange moment for me. It was a real turning point to have done that- to have made that decision and go through all of that myself. It was something I needed to do.”

I met Sarah last fall, when she began her quest for a new home The Coast. She and her daughters relocated to the Sunshine Coast from North Vancouver in 2016, but had been renting previously. She says she was originally drawn to The Coast – and its magical shoreline – after a family vacation several years prior.

“I just remember thinking this was one of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen. It changes throughout the day,” she says. “I just remember being in love with [the area] then – and never thinking for one moment I’d be able to look at that every day.”

Access to nature, the quaintness of rural living, and the stark contrast of affordability made the Sunshine Coast a perfect landing spot for her new nest.

Flash forward to 2017 and Sarah found herself purchasing this brilliant property – one of the first ones she visited with me on our real estate tour. She revels in the feeling of spaciousness and openness that ocean views envoke.

“I have this affinity with the sea and that’s one of the reasons I think why I moved up here. I just felt it was pulling me,” explains Sarah, who originally hails from Shoreham-by-Sea in England.

The family of three is content here. Each of the girls now has her own room, and Sandy Hook park is directly across the street from their driveway. Little Ruby just loves spending time there. The playground slide quite possibly has one of the best views around!

Sarah owns her own craft business called Dorothy Ellen Designs. She makes decorations out of burlap and fabric. She’s also launching a second business, a Sunshine Coast-inspired t-shirt design business called Tugboat and Whale.

While new to the Sandy Hook community, Sarah is fast discovering what a connected and engaged community it is. She’s joined the neighbourhood association and will be spending time getting to know her neighbours – who often spend summer nights picnicing on the beach while the kids paddle and play in the ocean.

For now though, seeing the influx of Sunshine Coast tourists over spring break has gently awoken Sarah to her new life – one that is only just a vacation for some:

“It’s spring break. We’re here. People travel up here for a vacation and they come to this kind of property and they rent this property for a week. And we’re here and we get to do this everyday. And we don’t have to be here for a week.”

For those who are thinking about taking this leap, Sarah wholeheartedly encourages it. She emphatically declares that it’s been worth the effort – and it probably will be for you too!

Interested in learning more about making it work on the coast? Get in touch and let’s chat.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” or so the saying goes. For Sunshine Coast business, Ginger Jars, the bruised and only slightly damaged produce thrown out daily by grocery stores is a diamond in the rough – and the basis for their fresh and sustainable business model: fresh homemade soups, served in reusable glass jars.

Those produce shelves at the local grocery store are stacked with perfect fruits and vegetables, glimmering under the shop lights. But, what many people don’t know is that tonnes of produce are thrown out every week because of small blemishes that don’t impact the taste or nutritional value – only the aesthetics.

Husband and wife Tim and Stephanie first came up with the idea of repurposing grocery store food waste to make food, back when they lived in East Vancouver. Tim is a trained chef and, having worked in the industry for 17 years, he’s seen first-hand the amount of food waste coming out of kitchens. He’s also co-owner of Drift Cafe and Bistro, which I wrote about a few weeks ago. Stephanie has a marketing and communications background.

“Basically, Ginger Jars was born because we both have a passion for seeing food not going to waste,” says Stephanie. “It really didn’t come to fruition until we moved [to the Sunshine Coast] – mostly because there’s room to breathe and think and be creative here.”

The pair approached their local IGA in Gibsons and was soon picking up the culled produce on and cooking up recipes.

Now, the “fruits” of their labour are coming to life. Currently, Ginger Jars has three regular recipes based on consistent produce they receive each week: tomato vegan, caramelized onion and potato, and cream of asparagus. They’re always experimenting with seasonal recipes too.

“I always joke that our vegan tomato soup is like the everyman’s soup because you can take it and make it into pasta sauce, you can eat it cold and you can eat it hot,” says Tim, adding that they plan to expand their food offerings in the near future.
Unsurprisingly, the Sunshine Coast community has been quick to embrace the idea, given the large number of environmentally-minded people who live in the area.

Tim and Stephanie describe Ginger Jars as a “waste management company” and see their business as a contributor to positive social change. They donate 10% of their profits to the local Food Bank and are consulting a newly formed food waste think tank created by Sunshine Coast Regional District. Tim will also be speaking at an agriculture speaker series, hosted by Persephone Brewing.

Tim believes this is the start of a greater momentum:  “Hopefully that means that we can create more problem solving ways to deal with waste on The Coast, but also maybe become a little bit bigger in the sense that we can start helping out government needs as well as local retailers.”

While the couple are new residents of The Coast, they are far from strangers of this area. Tim’s family has had a cabin in Bonniebrook for more than 35 years. When Stephanie had her first-born, she says a “light went off” that convinced them to take the leap and move to the coast.

Now, their family of four spends their days exploring the coastal inlets and islands within a short distance of their home. Here, they can watch eagles soar, marvel at seal pups  and spot starish through the crystal waters in their off-time from the business.

For Stephanie and Tim, the support of the Sunshine Coast community has been amazing for both their businesses and their personal lives.

According to Tim, new business owners should do their research. “Consult the locals. People are pretty open with telling their opinions, which is pretty awesome. But if you don’t consult them, there’s a lot of little things that are kind of unique to the coast that I’ve found you have to be aware of,” he says.

So, two years into their new life on The Coast and they have two children, a five-bedroom home with rental suite, and two new businesses.

Stephanie says, it’s the best decision they’ve made yet: “This will always be our home. It will be the home of Ginger Jars. We’re not going anywhere.”

Find Ginger Jars online at gingerjars.ca, like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram @GingerJarsFood.