Things are Hunky Dory with Lyell Shields

By Karen Graham

Lyell Shields offers a taste of his smoked fish. Photo: Karen Graham

Lyell Shields offers a taste of his smoked fish. Photo: Karen Graham

Brianna of Hunky Dory Smoked Fish. Photo:  Karen Graham

Brianna of Hunky Dory Smoked Fish. Photo: Karen Graham

After a thirty-five year career in Canada’s television and film industry with large and independent film makers, Lyell and his wife Jeanne moved to a quieter life in Millbrook.  Both are active volunteers in the community, and while committee work is fine, Lyell began looking for something where he could take responsibility and make things happen.

He had a tradition of taking his granddaughters to the annual Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, but since they have out-grown their interest in agriculture, three years ago he attended on his own.  Part of his routine was to purchase smoked fish from a booth operated by the Purvis family.  This time as he made his purchase, he offered to sell their product locally.  They were interested, but needed assurance of a significant volume to make it worthwhile. An experienced business operator, Lyell decided to do a trial run before committing, and in January 2014 with 15 pounds of smoked fish in a cooler, he set up his booth for the first time at the Saturday Peterborough Farmers’ Market and promptly sold out…

 

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