Residents of The Foothills - Dave & Danielle

Welcome back to our next feature of Residents of the Foothills, a blog series where we introduce you to the people who make this community special. In this edition, we’re excited to introduce Dave and Danielle—one of the first couples to build their home here in the Foothills. Find out what inspired them to build here, what they love most about living here, and how they've experienced the community's growth in our discussion below.

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How long have you been a resident of the Foothills?

Danielle: We've been fortunate enough to call The Foothills home for the past three years.  

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Did you build or buy your home?

Dave: We had the wonderful opportunity of building our home ourselves. As a general contractor, it was a very exciting experience to put the tool belt back on for my own personal build. 

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What is your family’s favourite part of your home and why?

Danielle: Well, there are three. One, the kitchen, it's the heart of our home. We enjoy spending time cooking and eating together as a family. The open-concept design makes it perfect for entertaining guests, and we often find ourselves gathered around the island, chatting and enjoying meals together. Two, our bonus rooms. We have a dedicated gym area where we exercise regularly, and an office space for working from home. And three, the library. We love reading and feel very lucky to have been able to create a space dedicated for the family to enjoy books together. I love our routine of reading to our children each night, and we try to add to our collection regularly. 

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You were an early resident and have seen a lot of growth at The Foothills in its community, what is your favourite thing about calling The Foothills home?

Dave: One of the best things about living in The Foothills is the sense of community. Everyone is so excited to be here, and we've had the opportunity to meet many of our neighbours and build great friendships. There's a real camaraderie among the residents, and it's wonderful to be a part of something special.  

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What excites you the most about the future of the neighbourhood?

Danielle: We're excited to see The Foothills continue to grow and see what the future Village has to offer!

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What do you each do for work?

Dave: I'm an owner of Dogwood Mountain Homes, a custom home building company. We specialize in creating beautiful, high-quality homes that reflect our clients' unique styles and needs. Danielle is a physiotherapist at a private clinic downtown Nanaimo. She loves being able to work in the city and has just a short commute home to our rural community.

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What part of the surrounding nature does your family use the most - hikes, walks, your own backyard? 

Dave: We're incredibly fortunate to live in such a beautiful location. We love spending time outdoors, whether it's getting out on our bikes, hiking the nearby trails, or hitting the slopes at Mt. Washington. As an avid boater and fisherman, I'm never far from the water. Within a short drive, I can launch my boat from several different marinas and spend the day fishing for salmon or exploring the coastline.

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What’s the one thing you most want to see in the future Village?

Danielle: One thing we would love to see in the future Village is the addition of some locally-owned restaurants. A delicious sushi place would be a fantastic option for the community!

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