Sooke resident Diane Bernard and her gumboots-clad team at Seaflora recently held an early morning beach walk event at Whiffin Spit in celebration of World Oceans Day.
Their guests on June 8 were spa team members from Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria.
Under a typical West Coast drizzle, the group of a dozen or so scoured the inter-tidal zone at low tide, armed with wooden walking sticks and an eagerness to learn. At their lead was the knowledgeable Bernard, also known as the Seaweed Lady in local circles, of Seaflora Skincare, a locally produced face and body care line based on sustainably-harvested organic seaweeds, ocean mud, and marine minerals.
The goal of the morning was to introduce Willow Stream Spa team members to the swath of wild organic seaweeds infused into Seaflora products.
Walking along the inter-tidal zone, guests were invited to observe and to hold fresh seaweeds as Bernard spoke to their many uses and benefits.
Throughout the event, guests learned that though there are more than 500 species of seaweed, they are easily divided into three groups: red, brown, and green. The group quickly realized that seaweeds come in all shapes and sizes – and that some of them make excellent wigs, deluxe boas, and Tiki skirts.
While the event was planned around the introduction at Willow Stream Spa of an exclusive new treatment using Seaflora products, educational beach walks are a regular gig for Bernard.
Adam Butcher, Director of Business Development at Seaflora, was happy with the event’s success.
“Ocean education, conservation, protection and sustainability is a 365 day-a-year commitment for Seaflora Skincare. We are thrilled to have the Willow Stream Spa join us,” said Adam Butcher, director of business development at Seaflora
At the end of the walk, guests were invited to visit the office and production area at Seaflora’s ecologically-built location on Otter Point Road where they received gift samples.
“It was an absolutely incredible morning. We all learned so much and got to spend our morning soaking in the Salish Sea … couldn’t ask for anything better,” said Anita Voorsluys, Spa sales manager at Willow Stream Spa.