Celebrate Father’s Day with Island Goodness

Father’s Day is around the corner and if you are racking your brain on what to give your dad this year Island Good has you covered! There are so many options grown and made here and Vancouver Island and the rural islands.

But beyond the perfect gift, Father’s Day is also a time to reflect on what fatherhood means—and how family and local roots shape so many Island Good businesses.

We asked a couple of Island Good producers to share what Father’s Day means to them. Paul Gill of Sutra Sauces shared what drives him as a father and Sam Vermeulen from Hazel’s Ice Cream reflected on the bond he’s built working alongside his dad.

Paul Gill, the flavour mastermind behind Sutra Sauces, knows the hustle that comes with being a father and an entrepreneur, “Because I’m a father, whenever I get tired from working 8 days a week, I just ask myself my WHY—it’s my children. All of the sudden, I have the energy to work 13 days a week!”

For Paul, the perfect Father’s Day isn’t fancy—it’s all about community and good food, “My favourite thing to do on a Father’s Day would be to be at the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market, and later enjoying some chicken from Alana’s Acres and some soup from ED’s Soup Shack!”

For Sam from Hazel’s Ice Cream, building a business with his Dad came out of a strong sense of mutual respect and trust that goes beyond the father-son relationship. “When we are talking about business, we can set aside the typical dynamic and focus on problem solving. When we started Hazel’s, the question of “Were you nervous about starting a company with your family?” always came up. I would share the story of when I was in my teens and my dad and I were most at odds and we had to build a deck out at our family cabin. When we had that job to do, it felt like we set everything aside and had a really good day while accomplishing something together. When it comes to running Hazel’s, I was confident that when it comes down to getting something done, we could always just look at the task at hand and remove all the other opinions and dynamics.”

“The best memory of starting Hazel’s was all the pre-business stuff. I love seeing Hazel’s be the company it is now but when it was just my dad and I in the living room, it was really exciting. When a business is in the start-up/idea phase, it’s the most personal and almost like a fun secret to share with your friends and family. I look back on that time really fondly.”

This Father’s Day, shop Island Good and support the local makers, farmers, and producers who pour their passion into creating amazing products—all while supporting their families.

Here are a few Island Good gift ideas for Dad:

• A package of Sutra Sauces for the chef-extraordinaire dad
• A soup pack from Ed’s Soup Shack+ or pasture-raised meats from your local BC Farmer’s Market
• A multi-pack of Hazel’s Ice Cream bars to share after dinner
• Locally roasted coffee, artisan chocolate, or Island-made grooming products

No matter how you celebrate, make it Island Good—because the best gifts come with a story.

Find your Father’s Day favourites at islandgood.ca