MEET YOUR NEIGHBOURS —THE CHAPMANS

Welcome to the Westerly! Chris and Julie Chapman keep having to remind themselves they’re not on holiday. On the contrary, they might be at the peak of their working lives: Julie has been with a large HVAC company for over 20 years, while Chris runs his own promotional marketing and advertising company.

Even before Covid, they both worked from home, which until a few months ago was in Ontario. But now they work—and play—from their new place in the Westerly. “It does feel like a permanent vacation,” says Chris. “We sometimes can’t believe we live here now.”

... just a dream come true. It does feel like a permanent vacation.

The pair fell in love with the Island when they visited a few years ago. “Everything was so gorgeous, and the people were so fantastic,” says Chris. Like so many easterners, they mentally filed it away as a great place to retire. Then, in the spring of 2021, they’d just completed some renovations on their Ontario house when Julie suggested they move out west.

“I said, ‘Seriously?!’” remembers Chris. “And she said, “Well, why not?’” They could work from anywhere—so the earlier they moved, the sooner they could start enjoying Island life.

They called a realtor, listed their house, and started looking for waterfront properties on Vancouver Island. Their search led them to the Westerly, and the rest is history. (Okay, it’s a short history, since they only arrived in July, but it’s already proving to be a sweet one.)

They bought the place from afar because they liked pretty much everything about it: the amenities, the golf course, the Wellness Club, Fairwinds Landing, and the unbelievable surroundings. “Coming from Ontario, it was a huge draw to be in this beautiful part of the country,” reflects Chris. The icing on the cake? “Having a marina right in front of us. It’s just a dream come true.”

It didn’t take Chris and Julie long to realize another plus about life at Fairwinds: their neighbours, many of whom also migrated here from somewhere else in Canada. “They’re so friendly, so willing to help,” says Chris. “The people in the building with us are absolutely amazing.”

While the Chapmans miss their young-adult kids, who still live in Ontario, they describe themselves as “super-stoked” about this new adventure that they’re on. When they’re not working, they’re making new friends and getting to know the neighbourhood and the great outdoors all around them. “There’s so much we want to do. We’re going to explore, experience everything, and enjoy every moment.”