July 4: Cheese!

Twenty-two years ago you had to hop on the ferry to Vancouver to buy high quality gourmet foods, especially cheeses. In 1991, Eric McLean identified the market niche and he and his wife, Sandy, quit their jobs and moved to Nanaimo from Maple Ridge. Drawing upon a lifetime of experience in sales and marketing, Eric opened McLean’s Specialty Foods in April of 1992.

On July 4^th PROBUS members have the opportunity to hear Eric talk about cheeses and gourmet foods, as well as taste some of the specialty cheeses for which his shop is renowned. He’ll talk about the ways he has contributed to making his adopted city of Nanaimo “the best it can be”, a passion which has won him the Downtown Friend of the Year Award as well as a commendation from the Mayor and Council of the city.

Those who have seen Eric behind the counter (sometimes sporting a kilt), will be surprised to hear that in his spare time he plays not the bagpipes but the guitar. He co-founded the Nanaimo Blues Society in 2004.

Come and meet Eric and check out some delicious specialties from his Old City Quarter shop.