Parting is such sweet sorrow for Nic Chiasson.
The popular owner of Nic’s Cafe on Oak Street sold the business and her final day of work was last Thursday before she begins a new chapter in her life.
Chiasson took over the former Book Nook in October of 2017 and immediately drew the admiration of customers who didn’t already know her for her endearing personality.
“One month shy of six years,” said Chiasson in retrospect.
Her last day, she said, seemed “surreal.”
The time seems to have flown by for the Thetis Island resident, who will be moving to Strathmore, Alberta, east of Calgary, in October.
“My family’s there,” she said.
Chiasson will be reunited on a more permanent basis with her mom, daughter and granddkids.
“They’re pulling at my heartstrings,” she said. “I won’t get this time back with my grandkids. They’re growing.”
Chiasson’s two grandkids are currently 12 and eight years old. Her youngest daughter also resides in Port Coquitlam and “she’s going to be joining us eventually,” said Chiasson.
That will lead to a family reunion in Strathmore where she’s from and it was actually Chiasson’s attendance at a high school reunion in June that prompted her to consider moving.
“It was hard coming back and leaving my family,” she said. “That’s how I knew it was time.”
Patrons will miss Chiasson and she will clearly miss them as well from her experiences in the cafe that overlapped the difficult period of COVID.
“With all of our trials and tribulations, this town has been so supportive through all of our ups and downs and all-arounds,” Chiasson confided. “They’re the ones that keep the doors open. I feel very fortunate.
“I didn’t know this day would come and it would be so hard.”
She’s also indebted to her partner Sjoe van Kleef for being such an important part of the business.
“He’s been here right from the get-go,” Chiasson indicated. “If it wasn’t for him, this wouldn’t be half the place it is.”
The cafe’s new owners are Elisabeth and Noah Bond and son Finn of Jollity Farm on Thetis Island. They’ll be calling it Jollity Farm Shop and Cafe.
“I’m really excited for them,” enthused Chiasson. “They have great ideas.”
Van Kleef was training the new owners Friday as the transition began.
You can check out the Jollity Farm website here.
Chiasson knows they’ll be supported just as well as she has over the years.
“This town is wonderful,” she praised. “I don’t think I’d have wanted to be anywhere else. They’ve been so generous and accepting.”