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WHO IS FOX & OAK: THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE BUSINESS

June 10, 2021News

Fox & Oak – Co-Owner, Brittany van Dyck

Written by Stacy Thomas

Photo by Angela Bliss

 

Brittany van Dyck and her husband Chris were the owners of a busy visual effects studio in Vancouver when they started looking around for a new place to live.

They had been splitting their time between Canada and New Zealand while he worked on The Hobbit, and they loved the landscape there – The Hobbit had been his favourite book as a child.

When she became pregnant with their third child, the travelling back and forth on the plane stopped being possible, and the couple started weighing their options.

“We looked into the closest thing to New Zealand from Vancouver and thought, let’s try Squamish,” says Brittany. They moved in 2016 and promptly fell in love with the area. Leaving East Van was hard, she admits. But small-town life has proven to be the lifestyle they were looking for after all. 

“Being in a small town has blown my mind. It’s pretty special. Everybody knows each other, we’ve seen so much love and so much support for each other in general.” Having sold their visual effects company, the van Dycks started looking around for a new business to start. It was a chance encounter at a local games night that led to the coffee and doughnut shop they are running today.

That fateful night in 2018, they met Luke and Tessa Roderick—both local food and beverage stars—and they hit it off immediately, and over a game of Carcassonne the foursome hatched the plan that turned into Fox & Oak three years later. The Rodericks had the food and beverage skills and experience they lacked, and a passion to open a coffee and doughnuts shop. The van Dycks had the business know-how. It was a perfect match, with each person bringing their unique experience to the table; Tessa is a red seal baker who previously worked with Tall Tree Bakery, and Luke is a coffee aficionado who learned his chops at the famous Stumptown Coffee Roasters in Portland, Oregon.

“We got pretty lucky, finding each other, because we independently all have separate skills that we offer,” Brittany says. “I think it’s amazing that we all carry a different weight, and that feels easier for each of us because those are our skills, but our passions as well…that’s the beauty of the partnership. We all feel like we have our dream jobs.”

Brittany, who was raised on Thetis Island and went to high school in Whistler, calls herself the “hippie” of the bunch, and she’s perfectly happy in her role as the lead on engagement and design of the space. The pandemic derailed things for awhile, and she can’t wait for when she is able to fulfill their vision of the café as a bustling, cozy community hub with intimate seating and games nights. 

“My greatest passion is serving and bringing people together,” she says. “Design and aesthetic play a big part of this for me, as I believe the environments we meet in provide the warmth and security to feel safe and welcomed. From the first week our family moved to Squamish, I wanted to help create this for our community and we have been so grateful for the support and enthusiasm we have been shown since we were able to open our doors.”

 

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CONTACT

PO Box 2597,
Squamish, B.C. V8B 0B7
info@downtownsquamish.com

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Thank you to the #downtownsquamish merchants that Thank you to the #downtownsquamish merchants that attended our first Power Lunch event of many more to come! What a great turnout. 

Thank you to our Mayor, @armand_hurford for speaking and updating us on all the things happening and on the radar to further support our downtown catchment area. 

Thank you to the @clevelandtavern for allowing us to use their space.

And thank you to @peakprovisionsgrocer for providing the delicious lunch!

Stay tuned for details on the next Power Lunch.
Looking to furnish your new home? Stop in and visi Looking to furnish your new home? Stop in and visit @annasinteriors 🛋️ They've been furnishing homes in the Sea to Sky for 34 years now. #SupportLocal #DowntownSquamish
Hitting the road for the Easter weekend? Check out Hitting the road for the Easter weekend? Check out the styles over at @teagandgray 🌸 All of the spring you need for an Easter weekend ✨ 

Get road trip ready with an outfit and @rains bag at Teag & Gray 🖤 Right in the heart of #DowntownSquamish
We are excited to bring you a series of Power Lunc We are excited to bring you a series of Power Lunches throughout 2023, with the first on THIS Thursday, March 30 from 11:30 – 1pm at the Cleveland Tavern. ⁠
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PLEASE REGISTER BY END OF DAY TODAY, MARCH 27 TO GUARANTEE YOUR LUNCH!⁠
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Join the BIA Board and other members for lunch by @peakprovisionsgrocer at the Cleveland Tavern, followed by a quick update from your BIA Executive Director and a presentation from our invited Guest Speaker, Squamish Mayor, Armand Hurford, followed by discussion and audience Q&A.

Please note, this event is for downtown merchants only at this time.
Tulip Season @billieshousesquamish 🌷 Tulip Season @billieshousesquamish 🌷
@1914coffeecompany ☕️ If you’re passionate a @1914coffeecompany ☕️ If you’re passionate about a good coffee or looking for the tools to make a good coffee at home - Mike at 1914 Coffee is your guy. Go grab a coffee and chat with him!
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