After beating cancer twice and then opening up the first vegan food truck in Sooke, itB次元官网网址檚 safe to say Shawna Knight really is B次元官网网址渜ueen of the comeback.B次元官网网址�

Knight has always been passionate about healthy living and culinary arts.

She grew up on the Lower Mainland in Aldergrove, and spent many of her days doing outdoor activities such as biking and snowboarding.

After graduation, Knight moved to Whistler where she worked as a cook at Pony Espresso and taught snowboarding for about 10 years. She then moved to Nova Scotia to start a family, but it wasnB次元官网网址檛 long before she moved back to the West Coast.

B次元官网网址淢y heart is with the West Coast. Surfing is what brought me to Sooke, because I wanted to try another board sport,B次元官网网址� explained Knight, who has now been living in Sooke for 13 years.

Knight said she loves Sooke because itB次元官网网址檚 so close to nature, is rural but close to downtown, and is a great place to raise a family.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much to do here, so many beaches, trails, and parks, and itB次元官网网址檚 absolutely beautiful,B次元官网网址� said Knight.

Since living in Sooke, Knight has worked for a couple of food trucks, but had a dream to start her own, so in 2016, thatB次元官网网址檚 exactly what she did.

B次元官网网址淭he main reason I started it was for my health. I have always lived a healthy life, I barely drink, I donB次元官网网址檛 smoke, IB次元官网网址檝e pretty much always been a vegan or vegetarian, so it was such a shock to me when I was diagnosed,B次元官网网址� said Knight, explaining that after having thyroid cancer in 2013, and again in 2015, she wanted to spend as much time with her family as possible.

B次元官网网址淭his business lets me do that. IB次元官网网址檓 off when my kids are done school, and my kids work with me so itB次元官网网址檚 great.B次元官网网址�

Buddha Box is open outside the Sooke Brewing Company Tuesdays to Thursdays from 12 to 5 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays at the Sooke Country Market. The menu features dishes such as black bean and yam tacos, a tofu peanut noodle bowl, and coconut-lentil curry served on organic brown rice.

B次元官网网址淭he menu changes throughout the year because all of the vegetables I use are seasonal, and sourced from local farmers,B次元官网网址� said Knight.

Knight wanted to own a food truck rather than open up a restaurant because of the freedom that comes with it; She can take her business anywhere, and she likes the captive audience it attracts.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a certain vibe that comes with food trucks, itB次元官网网址檚 less formal, and people are drawn to it. Its a conversation starter, and I like the quick connections I have with customers,B次元官网网址� said Knight.

B次元官网网址淚 might only talk to them for two minutes, but anything can happen, whether we talk about food, life, relationships. Maybe theyB次元官网网址檒l see the scar on my throat and share their story, that theyB次元官网网址檝e been through something similar. So it can be quite inspiring, and the people here are amazing.B次元官网网址�

Though it hasnB次元官网网址檛 been easy for Knight to start up a vegan business in a small town, her goal with the food truck is to create a sustainable business, and provide food for people in Sooke that is healthy and affordable.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been down and out, and IB次元官网网址檝e learned that itB次元官网网址檚 not about your successes or your failures, itB次元官网网址檚 about getting back up. IB次元官网网址檓 queen of the comeback,B次元官网网址� Knight said.

B次元官网网址淗aving cancer makes you realize that you canB次元官网网址檛 control the good or bad things that happen to you. Whatever is meant to happen will, so all you can do is surrender and be happy.B次元官网网址�