Running a thriving feed and tack business is just horse sense for Meredith Dean, owner of the Trading Post Feed and Tack store in Cassidy, south of Nanaimo.

The store sells what its name implies, but if the sign on the front of the building doesnB次元官网网址檛 catch the notice of motorists passing by on the Trans Canada Highway, a horse mannequin named Cantelope nearly always does. Dean dresses up the horse in costumes for almost every occasion and holiday and sets it out next to the highway in front of her store.

Over the years Cantelope B次元官网网址� so named because it B次元官网网址渃anB次元官网网址檛 lopeB次元官网网址� according to a story on the storeB次元官网网址檚 website B次元官网网址� has been decked out in Christmas and Halloween outfits, decorated for St. PatrickB次元官网网址檚 Day and ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day and was even wore a homemade space suit and helmet for the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

Most recently Dean took a cue from the COVID-19 epidemic and dressed up Cantelope as B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, attired in a white blouse under a bright pink sweater, a red and white necklace, homemade pink and red pumps and a blonde wig. A speakerB次元官网网址檚 podium with fake microphones completed the set-up.

Dean chose to pay tribute to Henry out of admiration for the doctorB次元官网网址檚 calm demeanour during her daily pandemic briefings broadcast over the past few months.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 so calm and reassuring and when she tells you to do something you just want to do what she says,B次元官网网址� Dean said. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 kind of like a mom. Everybody loves her.B次元官网网址�

The image of Cantelope dressed as Henry posted on the storeB次元官网网址檚 Facebook page drew a lot of attention.

B次元官网网址淭here was over 23,000 views of that,B次元官网网址� Dean said. B次元官网网址淭hat was the absolute most weB次元官网网址檝e ever had and the comments are amazing, how much everybody loves Bonnie Henry.B次元官网网址�

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Passersby stopped in daily, sometimes even taking the effort to take the U-turn route at Nanaimo Airport on the divided highway to double back and take selfies and snaps of friends and family with the horse.

B次元官网网址淪o many people have stopped and taken their picture. WeB次元官网网址檇 say, hey weB次元官网网址檝e got a customer, but no, theyB次元官网网址檙e just getting their picture taken with Bonnie Henry,B次元官网网址� Dean said.

Dean said friends of the doctor even stopped in to take photos, and confirmed that how Henry appears on TV is how she is all the time.

B次元官网网址淲e were a little afraid sheB次元官网网址檇 be offended if she saw herself, as a horse, dressed up, and the hair, but they said, B次元官网网址極h, no. SheB次元官网网址檚 got a great sense of humour,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Dean said.

As of Monday, Cantelope switched costumes for FatherB次元官网网址檚 Day, into a black wig, black moustache and coveralls and a smaller horse, Honeydew, is beside him wearing a pink wig and a tutu.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a father-daughter thing,B次元官网网址� Dean said.

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