It’s a battle between Qualicum Beach and Quadra Island, one that Richard and Elizabeth Rosewell hope will be won here — but they need help to make that happen.
The co-owners of Mildred’s Memorabilia in Qualicum Beach are finalists in BC Hydro’s Energy Fix contest, which solicited entries from five regions around B.C. to vie for a free energy makeover.
Like other business owners, the Rosewells filled out an online questionnaire which asked why they deserved this green award, what energy-efficient behaviors they practice now and what are their energy conservation goals. At stake is a free energy-efficient lighting makeover worth as much as $5,000.
In their entry the Rosewells noted they had a heat recovery system installed, they turn off track lighting when no customers are in the shop and they had some high efficiency windows installed. However, they stressed that the whole concept of their business is environmentally sustainable.
“We sell furniture that would otherwise have been discarded,” Elizabeth said. “We were green before it was popular.”
Rather than the good-looking but cheaply made furniture that is often on offer these days, the Roswells carry quality furniture, some of it 200 to 300 years old, that has stood the test of time.
“The modern way of buying furniture, especially for young people, is to buy flat-backed furniture that is made out of sawdust and glue,” Richard said. “After five years they are falling apart.”
Although she said she would love to change the outdated track lighting in the store, the downturn in the antiques business, coupled with the fact that their once-central location on Hilliers Road has been turned into a backwater by the construction of the Island Highway, has meant they are simply not able to afford it.
For this reason, the Rosewells were delighted to learn they were one of two finalists in this region, going up against the Quadra General Store.
Their battle is far from over however. They now need local residents to vote for them as the business most deserving of victory in the contest.
Residents can vote for Mildred’s Memorabilia by visiting bchydro.com/powersmart/business/product_incentive_program/energy_fix.html.
The contest closes on May 25.