-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.

B次元官网网址淢y wife was pregnant with our first child when we came to Canada,B次元官网网址� Daniel says. B次元官网网址淲e were facing all the odds of being newcomers with no English, no family, no friends and no moneyB次元官网网址攁nd then opening a business in a foreign land.B次元官网网址�

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 IslandB次元官网网址檚 top builders and designers. ItB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淚 was working for 14 years in two of the biggest newspapers in Colombia as a graphic designer,B次元官网网址� Daniel explains. B次元官网网址淚 was quite good and thought thatB次元官网网址檚 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.B次元官网网址�

To earn a living, Daniel accepted a job in construction and admits the adjustment was quite hard initiallyB次元官网网址攅specially physically.

B次元官网网址淭he funny thing is at the beginning, my hands looked like I was a computer guy,B次元官网网址� he says with a laugh. B次元官网网址淪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.B次元官网网址�

After learning the concrete finishing trade and getting valuable experience, Daniel decided to branch out on his own in 2008 with BeatrizB次元官网网址檚 help. An accountant and self-described B次元官网网址渆nterprising woman since her university years,B次元官网网址� Beatriz keeps things running smoothly as the companyB次元官网网址檚 administrative director.

B次元官网网址淲e werenB次元官网网址檛 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,B次元官网网址� explains Beatriz. B次元官网网址淭hey really appreciated the quality of the work and requested more, and word spread.B次元官网网址�

Friends told the coupleB次元官网网址攚ho now have three childrenB次元官网网址攖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.

B次元官网网址淲e have learned perseverance, discipline, optimism and patience,B次元官网网址� Daniel says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e learned how to read the clientB次元官网网址檚 needs so we can come up with a solution. But the most important thing we have learned is to trust in God.B次元官网网址�

In 2017, Daniel and Beatriz took another leap of faithB次元官网网址攙enturing into the application of both tadelakt and Venetian plaster imported from Italy.

B次元官网网址淰enetian plaster is something very popular in Colombia, but when we asked about it here, it was not well known,B次元官网网址� Daniel explains. B次元官网网址淭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.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hand-applied and very artistic and every one we do is unique,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淲e like creation and we love it when people see the final product and theyB次元官网网址檙e like, B次元官网网址榳ow!B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Whether itB次元官网网址檚 a feature wall, fireplace, shower, steam room or even an entire house, Daniel creates pieces of art and transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary spaces. HeB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 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,B次元官网网址� he says.

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

B次元官网网址淲e are eager to transcend geography,B次元官网网址� Daniel says. B次元官网网址淥ur plan is to continue serving the province and go pretty much wherever our customers need us.B次元官网网址�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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