-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.

91裸聊视频淢y wife was pregnant with our first child when we came to Canada,91裸聊视频� Daniel says. 91裸聊视频淲e were facing all the odds of being newcomers with no English, no family, no friends and no money91裸聊视频攁nd then opening a business in a foreign land.91裸聊视频�

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 Island91裸聊视频檚 top builders and designers. It91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 was working for 14 years in two of the biggest newspapers in Colombia as a graphic designer,91裸聊视频� Daniel explains. 91裸聊视频淚 was quite good and thought that91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

To earn a living, Daniel accepted a job in construction and admits the adjustment was quite hard initially91裸聊视频攅specially physically.

91裸聊视频淭he funny thing is at the beginning, my hands looked like I was a computer guy,91裸聊视频� he says with a laugh. 91裸聊视频淪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.91裸聊视频�

After learning the concrete finishing trade and getting valuable experience, Daniel decided to branch out on his own in 2008 with Beatriz91裸聊视频檚 help. An accountant and self-described 91裸聊视频渆nterprising woman since her university years,91裸聊视频� Beatriz keeps things running smoothly as the company91裸聊视频檚 administrative director.

91裸聊视频淲e weren91裸聊视频檛 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,91裸聊视频� explains Beatriz. 91裸聊视频淭hey really appreciated the quality of the work and requested more, and word spread.91裸聊视频�

Friends told the couple91裸聊视频攚ho now have three children91裸聊视频攖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.

91裸聊视频淲e have learned perseverance, discipline, optimism and patience,91裸聊视频� Daniel says. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e learned how to read the client91裸聊视频檚 needs so we can come up with a solution. But the most important thing we have learned is to trust in God.91裸聊视频�

In 2017, Daniel and Beatriz took another leap of faith91裸聊视频攙enturing into the application of both tadelakt and Venetian plaster imported from Italy.

91裸聊视频淰enetian plaster is something very popular in Colombia, but when we asked about it here, it was not well known,91裸聊视频� Daniel explains. 91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 hand-applied and very artistic and every one we do is unique,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淲e like creation and we love it when people see the final product and they91裸聊视频檙e like, 91裸聊视频榳ow!91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

Whether it91裸聊视频檚 a feature wall, fireplace, shower, steam room or even an entire house, Daniel creates pieces of art and transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary spaces. He91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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,91裸聊视频� he says.

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

91裸聊视频淲e are eager to transcend geography,91裸聊视频� Daniel says. 91裸聊视频淥ur plan is to continue serving the province and go pretty much wherever our customers need us.91裸聊视频�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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