-Words by TESS VAN STRAATEN Photography by DON DENTON

For Daniel Caicedo and his wife, Beatriz Carmona, Victoria is a long way from their native Colombia, and their flourishing Victoria Restorations business is something they never could have envisioned when they immigrated to Canada 16 years ago looking for a better life.

香蕉视频直播淢y wife was pregnant with our first child when we came to Canada,香蕉视频直播� Daniel says. 香蕉视频直播淲e were facing all the odds of being newcomers with no English, no family, no friends and no money香蕉视频直播攁nd then opening a business in a foreign land.香蕉视频直播�

Specializing in Venetian plastering, concrete finishing, heritage restoration and the application of tadelakt (limestone) imported from Marrakesh, Daniel and the Victoria Restorations team are now sought after by some of Vancouver Island香蕉视频直播檚 top builders and designers. It香蕉视频直播檚 all the more impressive given that Daniel had no construction experience before moving to Canada, and never thought he would work in the construction industry.

香蕉视频直播淚 was working for 14 years in two of the biggest newspapers in Colombia as a graphic designer,香蕉视频直播� Daniel explains. 香蕉视频直播淚 was quite good and thought that香蕉视频直播檚 what I would do here. But there were no doors open to me. I knocked on the door many times at [a local newspaper] and was expecting to work there, but nothing happened.香蕉视频直播�

To earn a living, Daniel accepted a job in construction and admits the adjustment was quite hard initially香蕉视频直播攅specially physically.

香蕉视频直播淭he funny thing is at the beginning, my hands looked like I was a computer guy,香蕉视频直播� he says with a laugh. 香蕉视频直播淪oft and I had no calluses. After starting construction, I had calluses and blisters, and now I can work with anything and they never show up.香蕉视频直播�

After learning the concrete finishing trade and getting valuable experience, Daniel decided to branch out on his own in 2008 with Beatriz香蕉视频直播檚 help. An accountant and self-described 香蕉视频直播渆nterprising woman since her university years,香蕉视频直播� Beatriz keeps things running smoothly as the company香蕉视频直播檚 administrative director.

香蕉视频直播淲e weren香蕉视频直播檛 able to do a lot of marketing at the beginning, but through friends at the church who used to own companies that did construction, we started working,香蕉视频直播� explains Beatriz. 香蕉视频直播淭hey really appreciated the quality of the work and requested more, and word spread.香蕉视频直播�

Friends told the couple香蕉视频直播攚ho now have three children香蕉视频直播攖hat it would be very hard and cautioned them against starting a business. But they did it anyway, guided by their strong sense of faith and a willingness to put in all the hard work and effort to make it a success.

香蕉视频直播淲e have learned perseverance, discipline, optimism and patience,香蕉视频直播� Daniel says. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e learned how to read the client香蕉视频直播檚 needs so we can come up with a solution. But the most important thing we have learned is to trust in God.香蕉视频直播�

In 2017, Daniel and Beatriz took another leap of faith香蕉视频直播攙enturing into the application of both tadelakt and Venetian plaster imported from Italy.

香蕉视频直播淰enetian plaster is something very popular in Colombia, but when we asked about it here, it was not well known,香蕉视频直播� Daniel explains. 香蕉视频直播淭hey would bring people in from Vancouver or California, so we got curious about offering it as a plus for our clients to give them something unique and a more high-end look and finish.香蕉视频直播�

Travelling to Italy, England and Morocco for training, and to Colombia to learn about gold/silver leaf applications, Daniel discovered his passion.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 hand-applied and very artistic and every one we do is unique,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淲e like creation and we love it when people see the final product and they香蕉视频直播檙e like, 香蕉视频直播榳ow!香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Whether it香蕉视频直播檚 a feature wall, fireplace, shower, steam room or even an entire house, Daniel creates pieces of art and transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary spaces. He香蕉视频直播檚 travelled to the Lower Mainland to work on luxury projects and to other parts of Vancouver Island, including Nanoose Bay and Ladysmith, and undertook a massive project on one of the Gulf Islands that took three months to complete.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 exciting to know we are getting to do some of the most luxury projects on the island and to have the opportunity to do unique works for each one, and to see the faces of our customers happy and thankful for the beautiful look of their special space,香蕉视频直播� he says.

As word of mouth spreads, and the business continues to grow, Daniel and Beatriz hope to expand even further.

香蕉视频直播淲e are eager to transcend geography,香蕉视频直播� Daniel says. 香蕉视频直播淥ur plan is to continue serving the province and go pretty much wherever our customers need us.香蕉视频直播�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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