Businesses at Paisley Courtyards host community celebration

Written By KIRA WRONSKA DORWARD

On Sunday Oct. 6th the women (and man) of Caledon East's Paisley Courtyards got together to honour their customers and celebrate their vibrant business community-within-the-community. For those not already in the know, the businesses of this corner of Caledon East next to Tom's include It's Roxie's Boutique, Aroma Touch Day Spa, Carusi Hair Salon, Inkey Music School, and Caledon East Travel.

It's Roxie's Boutique

“We decided on having this event to give back to our community,” said Roxie Debreau-Mountain, who has been a business owner and familiar face in the Caledon community for twenty-two years, since running the Inglewood General Store. She opened her new boutique, It's Roxie's, in Caledon East a year ago. “We all work together, referring each other and keeping our client base local,” said Debreau-Mountain, who is sporting a recent hairstyle from her friends at Carusi's Hair Salon.

Keeping it all in the Caledon East family, the parking lot that connects all these businesses was abuzz with music and performances provided by Inkey, flowers donated by Glen Echo Nurseries, hot dogs provided by the Noto Brothers Butchers, and desserts provided by Four Corners bakery. Each business owner in turn sat down with The Citizen to discuss their products, services, and what they're all about.

Aroma Touch Day Spa

The newest kid on the block is Jyoti Hallan, the new owner of Aroma Touch Therapy Day Spa. Hallan, a single mother of two teenage boys, took over the business at the insistence of her sons when the former owner, Angie, had to step down last year for health reasons. Her sons, who help with her business, are he “biggest support. They always pitch in.” Of her new business, Hallan says, “it's growing. It's a good place for a business here.”

For herself, Hallan is enjoying the quiet of the small town. “I love small towns,” she says, “and I love my clientele. They're very good, very loyal.” Hallan, a former chemical engineer who has been in the aesthetics business since 2014 when she got her diploma in advanced aesthetics. 

Her day spa offers a range of services, including but not limited to, facials, body treatment, makeup, waxing, threading, and semi-permanent makeup. However, Hallan's specialty is mobile makeup, for special events such as parties and weddings. 

Aroma Touch will be offering special packages for Christmas, including holiday-season facials. To get in touch or book an appointment, please call 905.584.5928, visit www.aromatouchdayspa.com, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Carusi Hair Salon

The most well-established business of Paisley Courtyards, Carusi's has been a fixture of Caledon East since it opened in 2002, and expanded in 2006. Owner Albina Racco-Carusi and her niece and Manager Nancy Racco are part of a team of eight stylists whom Racco-Carusi is proud to say “have been with me for a long time. They are a very talented team that I am very grateful for.” Her stylists include Gillian, Charlene, Helen, Lisa, Gurminder, and Elena, making for a formidable group of hair stylists committed to the latest trends and styles.

The salon specializes in colour, but also offers a range of services and styles such as balayage, extensions, and highlights. They are also a family-friendly business, “with hair creations for the whole family.”

They plan to offer Christmas gift packs, and encourage those interests to follow their creations on Instagram (@hairbycarusi) and Facebook. To book an appointment, please call 905.584.5950, or email carusihair@hotmail.com.

Inkey Music School

Providing the entertainment out in the Courtyard is Nick and Lisa Carione of Inkey Music School, who have been in business for 21 years, mostly in Caledon East. With private lessons “right across the board” for beginners and intermediates in vocals, piano, guitar, bass guitar, and drums, Inkey has something to offer everyone. “It's not just lessons,” says Carione, “we also have performances [during the year] like InkeyFest. We have bands that perform, and YouTube videos that we do.” T

he Inkey School performed at CultureFest last weekend, and will be performing at the end of the month for Caledon Public Library's “Block Party” at Robert F. Hall. After Christmas, there will be a performance in March, and of course InkeyFest on June 20 to close out the year's performance.

With five instructors offering classes on a variety of levels, Carione emphasizes that “it's not a class environment. It's not structured, so it's catered to the students' [needs]. In the beginning, we like to get them to love music,” with private one-on-one classes. More advanced players take part in group sessions or “band jams”.

Caledon Travel

With ten years of agent experience to her name, Aussie travel Specialist Naomi Rogers is well-versed in matching her client to their perfect vacation. “I'm passionate about travel,” says Rogers, “and I saw there was no one [running a travel service] in Caledon East, so I thought it would be a good location, and it has been,” she says of her office at 15976 Airport Road, just across from the Esso and beside the CIBC.

Rogers does custom planning for her clients, including individual, family travel, and all-inclusive cruises (which, incidentally, is what the month of October is all about- cruise month). That means there are lots of giveaways this month, with all cruise lines having promotions, that include free perks like AirCanada's BoGo offer, seat upgrades, and seat selection. And if you're planning to book for the holidays, Rogers advises doing so well in advance. 

“Really, whatever someone is looking for, we can customize it for them. I find people like having someone to be available and help with problems. When we plan travel, I really care that my customers have a good experience. I work hard to make sure they have a good experience, and that makes a difference.”

To contact Caledon Travel, email nrogers@tpi.ca, or visit caledontravel.com.

Part of the beauty (apart from the aesthetic services) of the Paisley Courtyards ladies (and gentleman), is that it is almost a one-stop-shop for luxury services and goods. One can book a cruise at Caledon Travel, prepare for their vacation by shopping for cruise wear at It's Roxie's, then get a facial at Aroma Touch and a hair-cut to match at Carusi's. It's all just a few steps away. These women aren't just local shopkeepers; they are a community within a community working together to promote each other and serve the women of Caledon.

After the success of Sunday's event, the Paisley Courtyard merchants are happy to announce they will also be hosting a Christmas Open House the first week of December.

“Next year,” says Debreau-Mountain, “we look forward to welcoming more local shopkeepers joining us.”