PUGWASH - When Bonnie Bond was invited to the recent Central Nova Tourist Association (CNTA) banquet in Malagash, she had no idea she would be receiving the annual Gift Shop Award for Basic Spirit Craft Gallery.
"I didn't even know they gave out awards," she said with a laugh.
Bond was probably too busy to notice over the years, as her and husband John Caraberis have been working at their pewter wholesaling company that employs more than 25 people in Pugwash, not to mention the gift shop they operate next to their home.
But it was this gift shop, which they opened in 2003, that was recognized for its "collection of fine pewter giftware, home accents, jewellery and a variety of other gifts," according to the citation presented at the awards banquet.
"It's the best possible use of the building that sits next to our property," said Careberis. "As opposed to just renting it to somebody, we decided its best use was to have a store in it."
All of Basic Spirit’s pewter is handcrafted in Pugwash using a high quality lead-free alloy of tin, copper and antimony. Ten per cent of all proceeds goes to a variety of causes such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, The Hunger Project and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
(For the full story, see the May 28 issue of The Citizen)
