Sandy Fawcett hopes her candlesandpalms cafe will become a community hub.
By Julie Plante
Sandy Fawcett is the owner of the candlesandpalms cafe in Highland Creek Village, and I found her to be warm, energetic and welcoming. When I asked Sandy the significance of palms in the cafe name, she held up her hands with palms facing me and said, “Everything in the cafe is made by people’s hands. Handcrafted by someone’s palms.”
She acquired the cafe in January 2023, took six months to renovate, had a light opening at the end of May and was fully open in June. Sandy was born and raised in the community and now lives eight minutes away from the cafe.
Prior to this, she had her candlesandpalms business. Sandy has always loved candles and has happy childhood memories of coming home to the scents of candles, which her Mother also loved. When she became an empty nester three years ago, she was able to focus on making her own organic soy candles.
Her son, Shane, flew the nest to attend school in Niagara. Sandy’s husband, also Shane, helps out when he can as he has a full-time profession of his own. So, it’s safe to say that the three loves of Sandy’s life are her two Shanes and candles. She also promised her father that she wouldn’t let the Fawcett flame burn out.
Before opening her cafe, Sandy was a vendor at all types of markets year-round, and has also worked with the National Women’s Hockey League and the Toronto Sick Kids Foundation providing and donating candles for gift baskets. Upon smelling her baking and fruit line of candles, customers often mentioned that the candles made them hungry. So it was partly her customers who gave her the idea to open the cafe.
As well as Sandy’s candles being featured for sale at the cafe, other items made by community members, such as facial and body scrubs, mugs, jewellery and more, are displayed on shelves on one of the walls. As Sandy likes to say, “Please shop local”.
For the food aspect of the cafe, Sandy works with several bakeries who supply the baked goods. Food items such as bagels, sandwiches, a daily soup and other delicious temptations are also available. Beverages include organic coffee, lattes, mochas, espresso shots, specialty teas, hot chocolate and other refreshments. Healthy milk options such as oat and almond are there, too. The cafe does not have a specific menu.
Sandy is very big on supporting the community and has a vision of the cafe becoming a community hub. To this end, she works with the Meta Centre on Morrish Road, an organization working with special needs adults. Every Thursday morning from about 10:00 to 11:30, three to five adults come to help serve and clean up the tables, which Sandy feels gives them a real sense of purpose and belonging and helps them to get work and life experience.
Also, a local real estate company holds weekly meetings at the cafe so they can enjoy the inviting space – the cafe’s decor is very simple, minimalistic and modern – and the cafe’s offerings at the same time.
Why not drop by to say hello and show your support? The cafe is located at 400 Old Kingston Road, 905-391-9470.