ECA Review Local Business Profiles - 2022

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Page 18B Business Profile 2022 Whistle Stop Cafe offers food, coffee, friendship and so much more by Treena Mielke After 20 years of working in the ·oil patch, Chris Scott was ready lo make a lifestyle change and embark on a new and completely different path on his own life journey. “I was tired of the feast and famine of the oil patch,” he said. In July of 2019, Chris decided to take the first step on this new path. He purchased the Whistle Stop Cafe in Mirror, Alberta. He re-located from Campbell River, BC in 2000 to rural Alberta armed with hope, a dream, and a vision for the future. He also carried with him the optimism that with hard work and determination he could make his dream come true. There is no doubt that hard work and determination were constant denominators in Chris’s life, and under the new ownership, the Whistle Stop Cafe flourished. Later, Chris’s sister, Melodie and her family moved to Alberta to help with the growing business. Located at the junction of highways 21 and 50, the cafe became a popular destination for customers looking for a delicious home cooked meal or simply wanting the chance to enjoy a savory cup of coffee and a scrumptious piece of pie. Accustomed to demanding work and long hours, Chris not only kept his cafe open almost 24 hours daily, he expanded the RV park beside the cafe lo include nine fully serviced camping stalls and 15 unserviced sites while continuing to offer food, fuel and camping specials. And, finally, as a way to help people through the covid restrictions, he built a drive-in movie theatre with the space to accommodate about two hundred cars. “It proved to be hugely popular, he said. ·we have had nearly 500 people Home cooked meals, convenience, fuel, propane exchange, RV Park Junction Highways 21 & 50 (Truck Stop), Mirror, AB Open 6:30am-9pm daily 403.788.2221 here just for movie nights!” Chris’s hard work, determination and zeal was really beginning to pay off for the young businessman, when COVID hit and the government-imposed restrictions on indoor dining came into place. The new restrictions shell shocked the entire country and Chris was no exception. Suddenly, he was faced with challenges that he would never, even in his wildest imagination, have predicted. But, sometimes, ii is these kinds of obstacles that cause an individual to defy the odds and fight for what they believe in. And that’s exactly what Chris did. And in the process, the business became less about dollars and cents and more about hope, freedom, and values not only for himself, but for many people who were dealing with their own struggles. “In the beginning it (The Whistle Stop) was an investment, but it became something so much more than that. “It really became a symbol of hope.” Even as he faced legal action and closures, he continued to defy rules and regulations surrounding COVID and fought to stay open. Although reviews were mixed, the core support for his business and what he stood for never waivered. It was during these turbulent times that he realized that the cafe was more than just a place for people to slop and grab a burger. “It was something to believe in. A place to come and be yourself. A refuge, really.” We have had people from B.C., Saskatchewan, Ontario, from all corners of Canada, and even from overseas here.”
Business Profile 2022 Traveling 2022 and beyond Cathy Wiechnik CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) owns and operates XCURSIONS, a full service, accredited and licensed travel agency based in Consort, Alberta. The XCURSIONS team includes travel professionals operating out of Consort, Lethbridge and Calgary. With the world close to the end of the COVID-19 Pandemic, borders have opened up, restrictions have lifted, and travelers are once again free to embark on those journeys that were put on hold. While travel is recovering, and most things are getting “back to normal”, lessons the industry has learned over the past two and a half years have produced changes to how we explore our world. Never before has the expertise of an experienced travel professional been more essential. Over the past year, Wiechnik has traveled extensively, including trips to Mexico, Jamaica, San Francisco, Tahiti, Switzerland, Germany, France and The Netherlands. While the airports, particularly here in Canada, struggled to catch up with the tsunami of travelers early on, the reality is while things are definitely busy in these airports, they are improving daily, and most travelers are getting from A to B without difficulties. These first hand experiences have enabled Wiechnik to advise her clients on what to expect now, and as travel continues to rebound. More than ever before, travel professionals are finding their clients are adding “Bucket List” adventures to their annual travel plans. While trips like a week in sun destinations are still booking quickly, many have decided the time is NOW to take that Safari to Kenya, or extended trip through Italy, or river cruise through Egypt, or expedition cruise to the South Pole, or… This trend is not only Canadian, it is worldwide, so Wiechnik and her colleagues are urging their clients to contact them as soon as possible when they are ready to book these once in a lifetime itineraries. Space is limited. And, those days of “sell offs” are long gone -- the closer you book to your departure date, the higher the prices. Even before the pandemic, advisors including Wiechnik Cathy Wiechnik CTC Page 19B have always recommended the purchase of travel insurance. The unexpected always looms over every trip, no matter how well planned, so protecting yourself and your investment is crucial. XCURSIONS offers Manulife Travel Insurance, and includes insurance options with every itinerary. Over the next two years, XCURSIONS will be offering some exclusive trips. These are private small group journeys, and will include: * “Walking in Burgundy 6 day tour, followed by three days and nights in the City of Lights” *“Ireland and Scotland” *”Italy by Land and Sea” If you are interested in obtaining information about any of these exclusive adventures, or for assistance with any of your travel needs please email cathy@xcursions.ca. Or, you can call 855- 577-3092 toll free. Visit XCURSIONS online at www.xcursions.ca. 403-577-3092 or 855-577-3092 toll-free cathy@xcursions.ca PROFESSIONAL Multi-Media Marketing Specialists can help you wade through the multi-facets of marketing to get you your best bang for your buck! Let one of these reps work with you in your online, newspaper or flyer marketing. (see pages 20 - 22 for more information). Judy cell 403-740-2492 marketing@ECAreview.com Yvonne 403-575-9474 advertise@ECAreview.com Sheree 587-990-4818 contact@ECAreview.com R R R 72 pt East Central R Alberta 60 pt R 48 pt EVIEW 36 pt R R R 30 pt 24 pt 18 pt Targeting East Central Alberta
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ECA Review Local Business Profiles - 2022

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