In Focus | David Beaudoin of Squeaky Cheese

David Beaudoin is one of the more intriguing In Focus features we have presented on this site. He runs the Kebek Cheese Distribution Co. with Squeaky Cheese products – a brand that he has worked hard to make fun and attractive. David is an inspiring visionary who sees cheese as metaphor for the message of hope that he tries to spread every day through the way he lives his life: healthy and wholesome. David hopes that this consciousness and awareness will be extended through his life and choices to help create a better future, igniting the spark within the people that he meets. David is particularly over the moon about his new little son, 'Zan” and wants to see the education that he spreads today make a great tomorrow for his boy and family. Today David and Squeaky Cheese are In Focus.

What do you always find yourself saying?
“Change is the only constant”

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
I would spend a day with Sandy MacKay, just to be inspired by all that they do with their family, and how they are so happy in the present moment every day. I miss you, I will have to make this happen!

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
To say the truth, I did receive many awards in the past for many accomplishments, and looking forward, I am not after any awards, but rather some natural rewards, such as the line up of kids running behind the squeaky cheese van, yelling: “We want some Squeaky Cheese”. Or people telling me how much the music and entertainment provided to them and their family was the best they ever had.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
I would sit down with Walt Disney, get a morning of brain storming on the character in the new Squeaky Cheese story book, and then get an afternoon putting the story together, then have a dinner talking over his personal stories, adventures, and learning's. Disney is quite the inspiration in creating a magic world, with character bigger than nature that touch people’s emotions to an extent that no one has been able to reproduce yet. This took place while providing a great atmosphere for everyone in the workplace that is fair, pleasant, and well compensated, so that everyone wins.

Who inspires you?
I would prefer what inspires you? Then I say: the Ocean, the waves, the forest, and music.

What are 3 things on your bucket list?
Once my little man “Zan” is a little older and more aware, get at least six months off, living in a small cabin on the beach, to surf, dive, fire spin, play music, dance, do crafts, and breathe, everyday, in a Spanish speaking place.

Start up a new business that is about entertainment, education, high-end glamping, and tours between Kelowna, Chile, Québec, and Australia.

Have a caravan, travelling around North and South America that grows from every location visited. The goal is to bring inspiration, smiles, dreams, education, music, and love of the arts to the communities that we travel to.

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
The Big Cheese

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
I would have chose to go to my last day, and reflecting on my life’s journey. However, if given the choice I would choose not to foresee it, just because that way I can still create my life from my heart, rather than constantly know that I should do this because of what I saw. Living day to day with my heart is the key to my happiness.

What are you passionate about?
The spread of consciousness, our increasing awareness about life, the sharing of knowledge, so that our day to day becomes better for everyone in the future. I am passionate about educating, and getting the best out of people. Accompany people in finding the old spark inside them, often covered in dust, and then help them make it shine again… I really love that! I am passionate about anything that can lead people to have more power for themselves, more self confidence, more trust, more love, more light.

This is also why I love cheese so much. Cheese comes from milk, which is one of the only foods that have everything in it to keep humans growing healthy. Therefore, cheese should be made from milk of well-fed, well-treated animals, and with real milk only. Real cheese and artisan made with unconditional love for all living things.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
Everyday seems to be my favourite day, especially now that I see my little “Zan” changing so much everyday. Everyday going to the beach, listening to the waves together, and me telling him stories about what the waves are telling us. You should see his eyes looking into mine, ah…. I am in love with my little man! Ummmmm… Everyday, this is so special to me!

What has been your proudest accomplishment?

Because having a dream, going after it, and making it a reality is something I have done often, I have been very proud of many accomplishments in my life, but my proudest is everyday, the person I am becoming because of my child, who grows to be so amazing. I am really proud to have focused on not bringing stress at home while my precious Jenny was pregnant, so that they have no stress, and this shows in little Zan today. He is what I am the proudest of. Just him being himself!

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
My favourite place so far is RauDZ Regional table. I love how things are made using real food, in season, local, and this in front of your eyes. I love the staff and the chefs, they are just so remarkable and genuine, because they love what they do, and care about it. I love the creativity that they have with dishes. I love how chef Butters and his team are so implicated in the growth of gastronomy in the valley with extra activities outside their work place. I love their poutine!

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Long boarding along Abbott Street, go downtown and watch the artists playing music in the park, then head down to tugboat beach for some fire spinning with friends, and my new family. I am so thankful!

What is the name of your business/organization?
Kebek Cheese Distribution Co.

What does your business/organization do?
Promotion, sales of Fresh “Squeaky Cheese” Curds. Cheese Curds are a cheddar that is made fresh and should be eaten fresh, within the week if possible or even days after being made. Squeaky Cheese is the best, the most local, the freshest, the healthiest, and the SQUEAKIEST!

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.squeakycheese.ca

How do people connect with you on Linkedin?
Under my name David Beaudoin

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Squeaky-Cheese/111034559019358?ref=hl

What is your mission?
“We are the ambassadors of fresh, healthy, local, Squeaky Cheese products. We thrive by selling our products on a worldwide scale, using only local farmers and producers who share our values of integrity of product quality, best safe work practices without compromise, creative thinking in developing and promoting the products sold, and the will to educate positively everyone interested in cheese products.”

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To have the squeaky cheese made worldwide locally, exemplifying the golden rules of life everywhere it is made and sold.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in 5 years?
All across Canada, using local cheese factories only, also creating positive stories to empower kids with good healthy life habits.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
I do, because I get things known, then the big companies, settle in the market that I created, and sell more than I do, because of their cash flow. However, none of them compare in terms of quality, and when you have had Squeaky Cheese compared to the ones you see everywhere else… you know which ones are the best.

What 3 qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Integrity, honesty, and inspiration.

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
Do you remember when we could not even keep going because I was out of cash to pay you guys? When you guys told me: “David because you help us so much with being a role model in our lives, this week we work for free”. Without your support on that day, and when times were too hard to continue we would never have seen the colour of today together… I sure owe this 9^th year of business to you guys! Much Love!

How does your business/organization impact the community?
By providing wholesome, healthy foods to families, by supporting the growth and support of French culture in the Okanagan, as well as by helping mentoring youth so they can see a successful person that started with nothing but a dream, delivering fresh cheese door to door, and reaching one person at a time.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
Politics: To understand why it exists, why is it more about entertainment than the betterment of our society and world. I would let them explain to me why in their views, economy and politics are more important than environment in our world? I would have them recognize the natural environment as of primary importance, because without it there are no economy, no politics, and no education, not even people. Then, I would get them to join in a mass education program, without personal recognition, for better life habits regarding mass consumption for the sake of our planet, and its inhabitants.

Education: So that we have more foods for thought regarding all the right messages to educate people.

Advertising and Media: To have a great contact to spread out free advertising to educate people on things we need to know, but that are not to the benefit of big companies… and once again without recognition, just for the betterment of our planet, and its inhabitants.

If I could change 1 thing about Kelowna, it would be:
A highway without traffic lights

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
The lakes, the people, the sunshine, the smells, the nature, activities, and the space for new creative ideas to be integrated.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Blair Baldwin from Okanagan Wine Society

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at WelcometoKelowna.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do. We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!