02/03/2026
In the early hours of December 12th, 2023,
I woke up with the feeling that my space was ready.
I grabbed my phone and headed to Kijiji with a knowing that I’d find what I was looking for. I’ve always said the only thing that could top my studio at the time was a feature like a large window or a high ceiling.
I was already enrolled at NSCAD, and we were in the middle of packing and moving back to Andy’s home province. I was casually looking for a studio space close enough to Wolfville that I could use for homework, but also accessible to the public so that I could hold appointments and continue making jewellery.
It didn’t take long before I said to myself, there it is. A little shop with huge windows, a beautiful high ceiling, and just enough room for my tools, with gorgeous light through the windows.
I didn’t want to send an inquiry email with a timestamp of 3 a.m., so I scheduled it for first thing the next morning — Andy’s birthday.
The next day, my birthday, I got a response. I arranged for my sister-in-law and her husband to view the space in Windsor on my behalf. Andy informed me that Windsor was the cute town we stopped at the summer before to grab a coffee on our drive back home after the holidays. I vaguely remembered the town.
It was a little while after moving in that I met the owner, Rick. I didn’t know who he was when he poked his head in and asked, “How’s business?” I said, “Great, thanks!” and he replied, “Well then, I’ll have to raise your rent!” We laughed and introduced ourselves, and the rest is history.
It is because of Rick and his team at R&D Dunham Holdings that we’re here today. It’s because of his generosity when I got COVID during Andy’s chemo that we kept Andy safe. I couldn’t be more thankful to have met such a great group of people who turned Windsor into my home away from home, and I couldn’t be more grateful for this little space to do what I love.
There’s a candle in the window for you, Rick. Your legacy lives on here.