The unique taste and flavours of Scandinavian baking are coming soon to Sidney, with an exciting new bakery currently warming up to open its doors.

Opening later this month (July), Sm酶r Scandinavian Bakery will offer sweet and savoury treats from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Visitors can expect rye breads, cardamom buns, heart-shaped waffles and authentic Danish pastries. 

B次元官网网址淭o my knowledge, there's no other bakery on Vancouver Island that is specifically focusing on Scandinavian baked goods,B次元官网网址� said owner Leah Hayward. B次元官网网址淪o I do think there is a real hunger for it. Also, in the community thereB次元官网网址檚 an underserved population who all of a sudden are like, wow, I can finally get B次元官网网址榝ood from homeB次元官网网址�. So there's a lot of excitement there.B次元官网网址�

Inspired by her own Scandinavian heritage and her time in Norway studying for a masterB次元官网网址檚 degree, where she also met her Norwegian husband Trond, Hayward hopes that her new bakery will also serve as a gateway for visitors to learn more about this unique part of Europe.

B次元官网网址淚'd like to showcase the diversity of the Scandinavian cultures,B次元官网网址� said Hayward. "I think a lot of folks have this kind of fuzzy notion of northern Europe in general, whereas there is quite a distinct culture in Scandinavia specifically. Even the differences between the countries and even within the countries, the regional differences, are really amazing and diverse.B次元官网网址�

She also hopes that Sm酶r will offer a place for people with a Scandinavian heritage to connect.

B次元官网网址淗opefully they can come in see themselves and their culture reflected in the bakery, and seek out connection with like-minded others,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think this will be really special.B次元官网网址�

Prior to pursuing her passion for baking, Hayward worked in environmental politics, a career she describes as leaving her feeling B次元官网网址渂urnt outB次元官网网址�. She decided to launch her own business in 2020, when the lockdowns caused by the pandemic forced her to reassess the direction of her life.

B次元官网网址淚 had a three-week-old baby and then Covid happened,B次元官网网址� said Hayward. B次元官网网址淚t was this period of change and self reflection and I realized that I wasn't enjoying my job as much as I could. So I wanted to take the opportunity and switch careers."

B次元官网网址淎nd I decided, that's it I'm going to be a baker now. So I picked up my brand new family and and moved to Nanaimo to go to baking school.B次元官网网址�

After baking school, Hayward and her family moved to Norway so they could introduce son Bj酶rn, to her husbandB次元官网网址檚 family. Whilst there she worked for the summer at a famous Norwegian bakery, gaining more experience and knowledge that would serve her well for the launch of her own business.

Returning to Vancouver Island, Hayward launched Sm酶r in late 2022 from the confines of her own kitchen, before expanding to farmers' markets on the Saanich Peninsula & Gulf Islands in 2023.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been wildly popular,B次元官网网址� said Hayward. B次元官网网址淚 feel lucky to have had a very successful first business experience. People are really excited about this business, which makes me really excited about it, too.B次元官网网址�

Sm酶r Scandinavian Bakery will be located on 2376 Bevan Ave, Sidney and plans to open its doors for the first time on Thursday, July 25. Plans are also afoot for a grand opening celebration in August.

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