Carol Sheehan
Special to the Record
Robert Filberg鈥檚 former office has been transformed.
Located on the second floor of the historic Filberg Lodge in Comox, the room now has delicate crystal vases that sparkle in the sun, vintage silver, and British and Asian teacups, each unique in design and colour are showcased in period cabinets.
From the corner of the room, a porcelain doll beams as a volunteer gently unpacks a miniature Limoges tea set. A hand-blown glass finch seems ready to fly into the nearby garden.
Set against a collection of jewel-toned Thai silk scarves, classic silver broaches gleam with the patina of age. Reflecting the lodge's and park鈥檚 heritage, the shop also stocks seed packets, seedling plants, assorted small artworks, and homemade soaps.
Co-coordinator Valerie Graham and her team of dedicated volunteers can鈥檛 wait to welcome visitors to the all-new Filberg Heritage Lodge Gift Shop. Gleaned from collectors鈥� collections, the items for sale will remind visitors of the era when the Filberg family made the Lodge their home. The shop鈥檚 grand opening is May 6, though some visitors have already peered through the inviting French doors to glimpse the amazing array of items for sale in this innovative fundraiser.
As Graham, who spearheaded the shop鈥檚 new concept, explains, 鈥淔aced with an ever-present need to generate support for the lodge and a tiny budget, we put out the idea of opening with a collection of donated vintage items. We were pretty confident that our membership would come up with some marvelous pieces.
"What we didn鈥檛 expect was the quantity of treasures. Our spirits soared as it became apparent that our efforts were going to be richly rewarded.鈥�
Bringing a wealth of retail experience in fine objects and jewelry, Valerie, as a former co-owner of Graham鈥檚 Jewellers, says she rejoices in the way the collectibles are being displayed. 鈥淎fter being retired for 14 years, it鈥檚 wonderful to look at nice things and see how we can incorporate some of our sale items within the context of the Lodge鈥檚 heritage. And, then of course, it鈥檚 knowing that our team is giving something back to this lovely part of the Comox Valley.鈥�
Emphasizing that she and her team personally selected the pieces appropriate for the gift shop, Graham also noted that, 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 really a difficult task to assemble a collection for our opening.
"Many members and their families were all too happy to see some of their treasures from by-gone years find new homes and at the same time support this priceless piece of Comox Valley heritage.
"One donor told me she was all too happy to see her collection go somewhere where it will do some good 鈥� and belong to a new owner who will love it as much as she did.鈥�
The gift shop concept isn鈥檛 without its green aspect. The ambitious gift shop team has gathered fabric remnants and stitched attractive, reusable gift bags to wrap up purchases.
鈥淎ll these things take a little bit of effort,鈥� comments Graham, 鈥渂ut our team has a heart for the Lodge and its visitors. We want to make every visit memorable and worthwhile.鈥�
All profits from Gift Shop sales go directly to supporting the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park. If people are interested in donating to the gift shop or volunteering there, they are asked to first contact Valerie Graham through the Filberg Lodge office at 250-339-2715. The gift shop cannot accept donations at the door, but are all too happy to make appointments to visit donors鈥� homes.
The Gift Shop will open May 6, just in time for Mother鈥檚 Day, and then from 11 to 4 p.m. Fridays through Sundays until the fall. It will reopen for at Christmastime with seasonal stock.
