Earlier this month, Andrew McMillan was featured in a feel-good story in the Province newspaper.
The story stemmed from Andrew doing what Andrew does best — being an amazing ambassador for the Comox Valley.
Michael McCarthy, a writer from the Province, arrived in Comox by Harbour Air, the company Andrew works for as community relations associate. The writer had no intention of having a whirlwind tour of the Comox Valley.
"It all began to happen when I stepped off the plane at 8 a.m. at the harbour in Comox," McCarthy wrote. "I stopped to take a photograph of the plane and when I turned around, my suitcase was missing. I walked a long way through the marina and up a flight of stairs and there was my bag, a well-dressed man guarding it. 'Need a hand with anything?' he said, handing me my bag."
McCarthy was heading to Campbell River. McMillan offered to take him to the bus and en route gave McCarthy a grand tour of various shops, restaurants, and parks including Mudsharks, Hot Chocolates, Martine’s Bistro, Old House and Filberg Lodge and Park.
In between, he enthusiastically expounded on the plethora of events in the Comox Valley such as Filberg Festival and MusicFest. McCarthy stepped on the bus with his head spinning from the past couple of hours and a whole new understanding of what a jewel the Comox Valley is.
McCarthy wrote in an e-mail to Comox Business in Action, “Yes, it’s amazing how far a little friendly and professional demeanour will go. I had no assignment to write about Comox, and the story literally fell into my lap because of Andrew.
"It’s really his story. He made it very easy for me to shoot the photos, and it’s obvious that businesspeople in town knew him and were willing to drop what they were doing to pose for me.”
He went on to say, “Somebody give Andrew an award. I think he just made the Comox Valley a lot of money.”
Tia Otter, owner of Otter’s Kitchen Cove, and vice-president of the Comox BIA, says, "Andrew is so valuable to our town. He exemplifies the meaning of being an ambassador. We can all learn a lot from Andrew.
"On behalf of the Comox BIA, we thank Andrew for going above and beyond in welcoming visitors to the Comox Valley.”
— Comox Business in Action