By Steve Hubrecht
Life is pretty sweet these days for new Candyland owner Erik Bearden.
Bearden has been expanding the iconic store — a staple of downtown Invermere for decades — since he became owner two years ago. This summer saw a new outdoor sidewalk patio outside the business, and soon you’ll be able to try Candyland’s latest offering: candy-flavoured dental floss.
“It’s very rewarding. We have really nice clients. There’s never really a bad day at a candy store,” Bearden told the Pioneer.
Bearden took over the business from previous owner Sophie Fehst in 2022. He had been running the Valley Dogs hot dog stand just outside Konig Meat and Sausage Co. (near Candyland) for a few summers. Some days Bearden’s daughter Margot (who was two at the time) would hang out with her dad at work for a bit. Invariably Margot would wander into Candyland where Fehst would give her lollipops.
From those lollipops “we built up a friendship,” outlined Bearden. When Fehst decided to sell Candyland, Bearden and his wife Sarah were a natural choice to take over.
In the ensuing two years Candyland has grown, adding a coffee bar, new ice cream offerings, slushies, the patio, local freeze dried treats (freeze dried Skittles are popular) and — very soon — candy flavoured dental floss.
The floss should be in the store later this fall. Bearden discovered it during a recent visit to the dentist. The dentist showed Bearden the floss, as well as some chocolate-flavoured toothpaste, upon learning that Bearden owned a candy store.
Bearden’s son Arthur became suspiciously quiet. Looking down, Bearden saw that Arthur had made short work of the chocolate toothpaste. Bearden realized that if candy-flavoured toothpaste or floss could be a hit with his son, it could be a hit with anyone.
This summer, the family-run business had grown enough that the Beardens could hire some extra staff and take a few hours off here and there to enjoy summer in the valley.
“It’s been great. From Canada Day to Labour Day, it’s normally been 70 days of all-hands-on deck chaos. It was nice that this summer was at least a little bit more relaxed,” said Bearden.
Like so many others, the Beardens, originally from Winnipeg, were lured to the valley by the outdoor lifestyle it offers. That, and the warmer winters.
Bearden was working an office job for a software company one particularly cold Winnipeg winter. “It was very cold and depressing,” he recalled. On an extra icy day he watched three separate rear-end car crashes occur on the slippery street just outside his window in the span of just a few hours. “I thought ‘this is just not the way to live’,” said Bearden.
A few months later, in summer of 2018, Bearden got a job at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and the couple moved to the valley. They have tried moving back to Winnipeg twice since (once when Margot was born, and then again when Arthur was born) to be closer to extended family. But each time they’ve been drawn back to the Columbia Valley. It’s clear that the valley is meant to be their home and, with Margot four years old and Arthur at age two, they’ve put down roots and bought a home in Radium Hot Springs.
“We love the fact that, living here, you’re not stuck in that cycle of earning and consumption that’s common in big cities. Recreation and leisure here doesn’t mean shopping trips and gym memberships. You can live a full life, fishing, hiking, snowboarding with your family. It’s amazing,” said Bearden.
The couple still runs Valley Dogs with a business partner (“It’s like hosting a backyard barbecue all day long,” said Bearden) in addition to Candyland.
When they are not dishing up hot dogs and candy, the Beardens get outdoors as much as possible: the Stanley Glacier hike became a new family favourite this summer, and in winter you’ll find them sliding down the slopes at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort ski hill.
Bearden extended a thank you to local residents who shop at Candyland. “Without their support we wouldn’t be here,” he said.
