Jan's Cafe / Jan Kennedy
Jan grew up on a farm in southern Saskatchewan, working with her family and enjoying the luxury of sumptuous snacks and meals prepared by her Mom, a creative and skilled cook. She particularly remembers the great picnics brought out to "the field", which were a welcome respite from the heat (or the cold!) and the work of haying, harvesting or "cowboying". Her mother's snacks and meals always carried a message of caring and gratitude for the work being done.
Jan moved to Hornby Island in the first days of 1980, intending only a temporary stay, but the land and community of Hornby claimed her within weeks, and a new life was begun! Cooking was a way to make a living on Hornby and Jan worked at The Thatch, Seabreeze Lodge, VOR1Z0, and Club Med (a winter cafe located upstairs in the Co-op Store during the late 80's).
The present "Jan's Cafe was first the "Joy of Cooking Cafe", begun in a tent on the grounds of the old Hornby Island Co-op Store in the early 70's by Joy and Gerry Swatez.
In May of 1989, Jan purchased the business from the Swatez's. At that time, the Cafe building sported uninsulated bare stud walls, rudimentary cupboards, a floor made of plywood scraps, an outdoor deck with a large maple tree growing out of one corner, and a large wooden front flap which was raised each morning to reveal the counter. It has been a continuing adventure to adapt and improve the physical space of Jan's Cafe to serve our customers and staff in best way possible.
For nearly 20 years it has been Jan's delight to serve healthy sumptuous food to her customers. It is her passion that her patrons feel cared for, and have the opportunity to be refreshed and renewed by their visit to Jan's Cafe!
"Come in and enjoy our fresh food, made right here with love!"
