Coombs Country Candy

Coombs Country Candy began 45 years ago, when founder Murray Lawlor started his practice in the art of chocolate and sweets creations. Originally from Niagara Falls, Murray honed his culinary candy skills over the years by practicing and perfecting his recipes when he owned and operated businesses across Canada and in the United States. Once Murray had a taste of the island lifestyle, he decided it was time to set down permanent roots in Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, an area he loved to explore and whose strong sense of community always made him feel welcome. There he stayed, growing the business into a staple of the Alberni Valley for 26 years until 2020 when he and his wife Lenore decided it was time to retire. Today, the store is run as a social enterprise by Community Futures Alberni-Clayoquot, who re-invest part of the store’s profits back into the community. With Murray’s blessing, the new owners continue to use his time-honoured recipes and product line, and added online sales so that even more people can enjoy his legacy.