A woman who moved from Scotland to Canada has found a unique way to stay connected to her roots by opening a shop inspired by her hometown.
Tracey Pettigrew, 55, originally from Paisley, Scotland, relocated to Canada in 1976 with her family after her father’s job prompted the move.
Fifteen years ago, Tracey launched ‘Paisley’s – The Wee British Shoppe’, a store that celebrates her heritage and keeps her ties to home alive.
The shop offers a variety of British treats, from Scotch pies to Bakewell tarts, and has become a hit with both locals and tourists.
She said: “The reason I have my shop is that I love my Scottish background, I live in a town called Bowmanville, Ontario, with lots of Brits from back home.
“I already had a gift shop in town and was looking for another adventure, so I thought how great it would be to have a British shop that sold all our favourite treats from back home that we all love.
“I had the market for it and it has been great, and I have a lovely customer base, many that are also from different regions of Scotland, Ireland and England. The shop certainly keeps my memories of Paisley and my Scottish heritage alive, not only for myself but for my customers.”
Tracey recalls spending time with her grandparents at their home in Gallowhill during her childhood. She noted that many of the items sold in her shop were among their favorite products.
Tracey explained: “There is nothing better than someone walking into my shop and you can see the excitement of grabbing a Walnut Whip and saying ‘my god, it’s years since I have had one of those’ or ‘that candy reminds me of my mum or my gran’.
“I have some customers that end up in tears as the shop just brings them back in time, you cannot buy that sort of response. I also have pictures of Paisley all through the shop and I have even had customers look at the pictures and recognise someone in one of my pictures.
“It really is a wonderful experience.”
Tracey hasn’t returned to Renfrewshire in over five years since her grandmother’s passing but says she still feels deeply connected to her roots.
She manages the shop alongside fellow Scot Elaine Hamill, with additional support from her husband and mother. Tracey insists she is always “delighted” when asked to explain the name of her business.
She added: “I do have Canadian customers that have actually come to love our shop they are coming to understand that Cadbury chocolate made in the UK tastes very different that Cadbury made in Canada and they love it, along with our sausage rolls, scotch pies, and scotch eggs which in Canada have become a real delight.
“Customers will often ask why the store is named Paisley and I happily explain to them that it is the town I was born in and that it seemed the best to keep my memory of the place alive.”
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