Two recent North Island transplants are proving to be mighty neighbourly.

Alan McEwen and Nicole Ridsdale decided last year to move to Alert Bay from Niagara, Ontario. 

“We both had worked in the restaurant industry for years and after Covid we thought that a change in scenery and life was due,” says Nicole. 

“We fell in love with the community, people, culture and views of Alert Bay and have decided to make this our new home,” she said.

The culinary duo started Candid Chefs back in Ontario where they were boutique caterers for weddings and events as well as providing take-out and re-heat meals at home. 

“This business gives us the opportunity to do multiple things and not just stick to one concept,” Nicole explained. 

Last year, they were running the Alert Bay Lodge. Now they have started to offer take-out meals and catering services at the Legion.

What’s in a name?

“Candid defined means truthful, straightforward, frank, blunt. That sums us up. After years of catering, weddings and growing as people, we took a hard look at ourselves and thought if we are going to run a food business, we want to be ourselves. To always be honest, straightforward and when needed blunt. We also have a lot of fun,” she said.

Alan and Nicole have an extensive background in the hospitality industry. 

“Alan has mostly worked in high-end winery restaurants. Whereas, I have owned a few restaurants, a food truck, and a catering company,” she said. 

“If you ask us what we like to cook at home, it’s something comforting and made with love.”

As for what Legion patrons can expect, the menu will change almost daily and “we want to bring in some new ideas for the island like Greek chicken plates, meat pies, pork belly tacos, homemade pierogies and cool, fun sandwiches.”

Alan and Nicole moved to Alert Bay at the beginning of April.

“Our initial plan was to work the season and then travel and see where the world took us,” Nicole said. 

“But we fell in love with this place and want to make this our forever home,” she continued.

“I had a pretty serious health scare and made a promise that when I was healthy, I would start a better life for myself. 

“These past few years we realized tomorrow isn’t promised. We are on the pursuit of happiness,” she said. “We did research for months and when we could, we sold everything we owned and got on a plane to see where life would take us starting in Alert Bay.”

Since arriving, they have been enjoying walks and wildlife watching. 

“What we like most is learning from the community here and getting to know more about the culture on this side of the country,” Nicole said. 

“We have never laughed, smiled and felt more part of something than living in Alert Bay. We very much miss our families, but we are happy here. We are so grateful to all the people here for being so welcoming and supportive.”

As part of their commitment to their new community, Nicole and Alan are doing a fund-raiser to help the Legion replace its roof.

“We look forward to playing pool every Friday at the Legion. Through making friends in the past few months, we learned that the Legion needs a new roof; and needs help raising funds to do that,” she explained. 

“The Legion is so important to the community. From a place to be social, to a space for celebrations of life, births, it’s a community hub. 

“We don’t want to lose it. People need to know that the Legion needs help. We want to shine a light and do what we can to help,” Nicole said.

“What we learned living here is wealth isn’t determined by how much money you have but by how much you can give away. We have wanted to give back in some way to this community. With our experience, we felt that we could do something because it is so important not to lose it,” she said.

There was also no take-out food on the island past 8 p.m. “The community has been begging us to do something. We proposed that if the Legion would want us to offer food, we would donate 20 per cent of our sales and all beverage sales to ‘Raise the Roof’.” 

Candid Chefs will also be hosting larger events to raise more money such as possibly bringing back meat draws, hosting Mother’s Day Brunch, and Super Bowl events, etc.

To start, food will be available for take-out only Fridays and Saturdays starting Jan. 23 from 4-10 p.m. or so. Customers can feel free to eat in when the Legion is open.

The menu will be posted daily on Facebook: Candid Chefs.