Daytripping Fall 2023

Now we’re in ALVINSTON, WYOMING, FOREST & CAMLACHIE
The
h
Forest Florist
FALL
A
V
O
U
R Witches, ITE
TE IME OF YEAR
and Country Accents
Because
Halloween
is included!! d!!
1 Victoria Street, FOREST
519-786-2339 • 1-866-786-2339
www.forestflorist.com
Witches Pumpkins, Ghosts.
Orange tones with browns & rusts to
warm up your interior with floral decor
Close behind is " ”
Start following us online in October for
new displays. Fresh table flowers & plants,
artificial greens, trees & traditional decor
to create the holiday of your dreams.
Order early for pick up or delivery.
Gift Certificates, Rogers Chocolates, Cards,
Pictures, Lamps, Rugs, Mugs, Placemats
Mon-Fri 9-5 • Sat 10-3
Stop & Shop in
DOWNTOWN
FOREST
Check out our downtown - browse
our shops, enjoy a meal at one of
our fantastic restaurants or take in a
movie at the historic Kineto Theatre!
Make a day of it in Forest!
Oct.19: Celebrating Women
in Business
Nov. 24: BLACK FRIDAY SALES
CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK
Garden of Wisdom
Keep up to date with
Event & Shopping
Information on our
website, Facebook
and Instagram!
Submitted by:
Eve Stickland
“
Three grand essentials to
happiness in this life are something
to do, something to love,
”
and something to hope for.
Joseph Addison
As reported by
www.hashtaglocal.com
Williamson Farms Country Store
Chris Williamson
just couldn’t resist
the temptation. After
convincing herself she
really didn’t want to
open Williamson Farms
Country Store in Forest,
ON, she went ahead and
did it anyway. “I bought
the building 13 years ago on New Year’s
Eve,” Chris proclaims. “It was a store
that had been closed for many years and
I looked at it, but said I wasn’t going to
buy it because it wasn’t really something
I wanted to do.” However, the real estate
agent visited Chris just before Christmas
to tell her the price had been reduced.
So the store that she didn’t want to
buy, was purchased on New Years Eve.
Today, Chris runs the store alongside
her daughters, Gwen Williamson who
helps with their website and sales, and
Nicci Podolinsky who helps with day to
day operations.
Over time Williamson Farms Country
Store has developed into
a one-stop shopping
mecca. “We created a
store of niches. We carry
a little bit of everything
for our small community.
There is a lot of stuff
in 2,200 square feet
of space.
We don’t waste an inch,”
says Chris - and she is not
exaggerating. Williamson’s
features children’s gifts,
clothing and accessories,
games, garden products,
gift baskets, greeting cards,
home décor, meats, maple
syrup products, Canadian
foods, and wall art among
other products.
“The priority was
always to focus on locally
grown foods,” says Chris.
When the store opened,
Chris wanted to feature
Williamson Farms meats and maple
syrup, as a way of a creating an income
for their family. “It was important to us
to feature farm fresh products, because
farming is a seasonal income. We have
evolved to the point where we have a
small commercial kitchen so we can
do homestyle baking and homemade
fudge in the store and that has proven
to be a real draw to the store.”
Williamson Farms Country Store is
open seven days a week in July and
August. In the winter, they are open
Monday to Saturday. For Nicci, selling
has been in her blood since she was
a child. “My parents sold sweet corn
from the back of their truck when I was
very young,” Nicci says. “We’ve had
the on-farm retail store for more than
30 years. People used to walk into that
store when I was 12 or 13 and ask, ‘Are
you the little redheaded kid who used to
sit in the back of the truck eating sweet
corn?’ I have been selling one way or
another my entire life.”
Nicci and Chris have prioritized
building a great rapport with their
customers. “We just try to be as honest
with the customers as possible,” says
Nicci, 37. “If we have forgot something
or made a mistake, we own up
to it and tell people if they can
give us 10 minutes, we’ll make
sure everything is right.” While
running the store, making and
baking products, and working
on the farm keeps them busy,
the mother-daughter duo still
prioritize having a good time.
“Working at the store is a lot
of fun. The customers are fun,
the products are fun and even
shopping trips for new products
is fun.”
Photo Credit: Sierra Hart
Photography
• Collecbles • Giware • Kids Toys, Games & Books • Fudge
• Maple Buer Tarts & Baking • Williamson Farms Beef & Pork
• Local Honey • Cheese • Local Cider • Williamson Farms Maple Syrup
Open Monday to Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-5
Check Social Media for extended Christmas hours
14 King Street West, FOREST • 226-520-0144
www.williamsonfarmscountrystore.ca
FALL/WINTER
2023-2024
“Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding.” -Albert Einstein
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