WHO IS CLIFFSIDE CIDER: THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE BUSINESSMay 19, 2021News
Cliffside Cider – Managing Partner, Cece Leclair
Written by Stacy Thomas
Photo by Angela Bliss
They were brought together by chance, but when it’s right, it’s right. And for Cece Leclair and her partners Boyd Folkard and Rob Weys, it was right from the very get-go; chance meetings at another bar seeded a powerful working relationship that is inspiring, creative and ambitious and has given Squamish one of its favourite little secret spots.
Folkard and Weys met and forged their business partnership at the bar of the now-closed – That Irish Place, where Leclair happened to be the bar manager. The two men had just opened Cliffside Cider, Folkard’s brainchild, and Leclair was an Ontario girl who recently moved to Squamish with a backpacker’s spirit to experience all the outdoors here have to offer.
Maybe it was this adventurous spirit that drew the three together, but whatever it was, there was an unmistakable spark, and it’s this continued energy that has pulled them through the pandemic and sees them coming out stronger and stronger after every challenge.
“It’s all opportunity for growth for us,” says Leclair. “We’re moving at rapid speed now.”
Folkard was an addictions counsellor for youth for 25 years before starting to focus on the craft industry 12 years ago. Weys is a local entrepreneur who started several businesses himself before meeting Folkard and throwing his weight behind his craft cider dream.
Beyond just business partners, the two have been life-changing inspirations for Leclair, encouraging her to explore her potential and get involved in the community.
“They both just really say yes to life,” she says. “We meet once a week and talk about all the obstacles; we’re always laughing at the end of the meeting and realizing that really anything can be fixed and moved past, and it’s always an opportunity to grow and be better. You can’t really grow unless you fail.”
At 23, Leclair had no business or team management experience before she was brought on as a partner. In fact, she attended school for policing before she came west and her life was pulled in a completely different direction. But she’s jumped into entrepreneurship with both feet, joining the downtown BIA, volunteering and finding passion for the craft industry, which is so different from the beer industry in Ontario.
“I guess that’s just me. I’ve just always wanted more for myself,” she says. “I love running a team of people who are stoked to come to work every day, and I love the small craft beverage industry. I just think our little gem of a spot has really inspired me to grow more in all the places that I never thought I would.
“One of the most beautiful things that I’ve watched over the last years, is seeing people embrace their passion and go into work and squeeze their heart into everything they’re doing. They’re not just making a big batch of whatever to serve and make money, they’re taking hours upon hours to make small batches of amazing products.”
Not to say the trio “thinks small” per se, but their vision has been small-scale from the start; they pride themselves on being the neighborhood hidden gem, and for the first two years they were truly a locals’ only joint, off the beaten track and tricky to find if you didn’t know where to look.
“We always had a concept of wanting to be a local hidden gem and found the most perfect little spot on the edge of town that suited exactly the feel and vibe that we were looking for. We always say if you can find us we’re stoked because you took the extra time to come search for us in our little hidden nook.”
Tucked away in an alley behind 2nd avenue, steps away from downtown but still hidden from view. A risky choice? Maybe. But with a vision of a local’s secret hideaway, the location has been a boon.
It was a slow build for the first two years as locals discovered the sweet little cidery down the alleyway, and the pandemic, while challenging, was actually a kickstart with delivery service taking off. And when the latest no dine-in order was announced, they went straight out, bought the biggest tent they could find, and went to work optimizing one of the biggest patios in Squamish.
Their loyal local customer base has not let them down; they keep on coming back to support and lift this little spot through to where they are now: busier than ever, developing new products, thinking about expansion.
But even with growth on the horizon, they’ll never lose that comfortable homey spirit, the feel of the little hidden place that you have to do a bit of work to get to.
“We just wanted a place where people could come and hang out and feel like they were at home,” says Leclair. “A lot of our regulars say they feel like they’re sitting in their living room, they feel really cozy and happy every time they come.
“We just want to keep that vibe going.”
Cliffside Cider – Managing Partner, Cece Leclair
Written by Stacy Thomas
Photo by Angela Bliss
They were brought together by chance, but when it’s right, it’s right. And for Cece Leclair and her partners Boyd Folkard and Rob Weys, it was right from the very get-go; chance meetings at another bar seeded a powerful working relationship that is inspiring, creative and ambitious and has given Squamish one of its favourite little secret spots.
Folkard and Weys met and forged their business partnership at the bar of the now-closed – That Irish Place, where Leclair happened to be the bar manager. The two men had just opened Cliffside Cider, Folkard’s brainchild, and Leclair was an Ontario girl who recently moved to Squamish with a backpacker’s spirit to experience all the outdoors here have to offer.
Maybe it was this adventurous spirit that drew the three together, but whatever it was, there was an unmistakable spark, and it’s this continued energy that has pulled them through the pandemic and sees them coming out stronger and stronger after every challenge.
“It’s all opportunity for growth for us,” says Leclair. “We’re moving at rapid speed now.”
Folkard was an addictions counsellor for youth for 25 years before starting to focus on the craft industry 12 years ago. Weys is a local entrepreneur who started several businesses himself before meeting Folkard and throwing his weight behind his craft cider dream.
Beyond just business partners, the two have been life-changing inspirations for Leclair, encouraging her to explore her potential and get involved in the community.
“They both just really say yes to life,” she says. “We meet once a week and talk about all the obstacles; we’re always laughing at the end of the meeting and realizing that really anything can be fixed and moved past, and it’s always an opportunity to grow and be better. You can’t really grow unless you fail.”
At 23, Leclair had no business or team management experience before she was brought on as a partner. In fact, she attended school for policing before she came west and her life was pulled in a completely different direction. But she’s jumped into entrepreneurship with both feet, joining the downtown BIA, volunteering and finding passion for the craft industry, which is so different from the beer industry in Ontario.
“I guess that’s just me. I’ve just always wanted more for myself,” she says. “I love running a team of people who are stoked to come to work every day, and I love the small craft beverage industry. I just think our little gem of a spot has really inspired me to grow more in all the places that I never thought I would.
“One of the most beautiful things that I’ve watched over the last years, is seeing people embrace their passion and go into work and squeeze their heart into everything they’re doing. They’re not just making a big batch of whatever to serve and make money, they’re taking hours upon hours to make small batches of amazing products.”
Not to say the trio “thinks small” per se, but their vision has been small-scale from the start; they pride themselves on being the neighborhood hidden gem, and for the first two years they were truly a locals’ only joint, off the beaten track and tricky to find if you didn’t know where to look.
“We always had a concept of wanting to be a local hidden gem and found the most perfect little spot on the edge of town that suited exactly the feel and vibe that we were looking for. We always say if you can find us we’re stoked because you took the extra time to come search for us in our little hidden nook.”
Tucked away in an alley behind 2nd avenue, steps away from downtown but still hidden from view. A risky choice? Maybe. But with a vision of a local’s secret hideaway, the location has been a boon.
It was a slow build for the first two years as locals discovered the sweet little cidery down the alleyway, and the pandemic, while challenging, was actually a kickstart with delivery service taking off. And when the latest no dine-in order was announced, they went straight out, bought the biggest tent they could find, and went to work optimizing one of the biggest patios in Squamish.
Their loyal local customer base has not let them down; they keep on coming back to support and lift this little spot through to where they are now: busier than ever, developing new products, thinking about expansion.
But even with growth on the horizon, they’ll never lose that comfortable homey spirit, the feel of the little hidden place that you have to do a bit of work to get to.
“We just wanted a place where people could come and hang out and feel like they were at home,” says Leclair. “A lot of our regulars say they feel like they’re sitting in their living room, they feel really cozy and happy every time they come.
“We just want to keep that vibe going.”
