Jens Hertha
D-Original Sausage Haus Hailing from Germany, Steveston wasn't the first Canadian stop for D-Original Sausage Haus co-owner Jens Hertha.
He originally moved to Kamloops eight years ago and started a cat-skiing business with two other German business partners before making the journey to the village, a place he had become enamored with after visiting on vacation in 2001.
A banker by trade, his career transition into meats happened during a love-at-first-taste experience.
A German friend introduced Hertha to hand-made sausages from his dad's commercial meat business that literally left him speechless.
"I was like, 'Wow, I haven't had these in a couple of years. Where can I buy it?' and he said I can't, all he does is business-to-business supplying to restaurants, BC Place, et cetera," said Hertha.
For the next two years he had sausages on his mind, before finally deciding to start D-Original Sausage Haus with his current partner Thorsten Stock last Febuary.
SHABNAM GOTO
Papillon Paradise Spa Shabnam Goto didn't have a typical childhood.
Living in Iran until she was nine years old, her father, a contractor, took his family and moved to Japan where Goto has lived for most of her life.
Her parents later separated and Goto stayed in Asia with her mother and two sisters until deciding to reconnect with her father and step-mother who owned and ran Papillon Spa in Steveston.
"My step-mother was getting tired and had back problems," said Goto, who also worked at River Rock Casino before taking over the shop last year.
"She was kind of closing it down but didn't want to because she worked so hard at it, so I thought maybe I can give it a try."
With no training as an esthetician, Goto only managed the store at first. She recently completed a course that now allows her to perform eyelash extensions
SASHA SHKOLNIK
Juvelisto Jewellery Boutique
An artist since the age of 15, Sasha Shklonik found her way directly to Steveston almost two decades ago after emigrating from the Ukraine with her husband and children to escape a failing economy and unstable lifestyle.
She opened the Juvelisto Jewellery Boutique two years ago and sells customized jewellery.
"I've lived in Steveston for almost 18 years and I love it," said Shklonik. "I think it's an amazing place and has a huge potential for art.
"I was thinking of opening my own business one day and it just happened I was walking by the street and saw a small shop for lease.
"I thought it was the right time and the right place."
She discovered the town after taking a short tour with some friends from the local Russian community and immediately felt at home.
Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, she attended the jewellery art and design program at Vancouver Community College and worked for high-end jewellery companies in the Lower Mainland.
