The Valley Shiner View
Summer 2026 | Issue no. 1
A Letter from Sarah Rae & Cole
If someone had told us a year ago that we’d spend our days travelling the Columbia Valley, meeting incredible people, photographing mountain views, chatting with homeowners on their decks, and getting to know so many wonderful valley pets along the way…we probably wouldn’t have believed them.
Yet here we are.
As we write this, we’re approaching our 200th completed service in our first full season. That’s something we’re incredibly proud of, but it’s only possible because so many of you chose to give a brand new local business a chance.
For that, thank you.
From homeowners welcoming us onto their property, to local businesses trusting us with some of the Valley’s most recognizable destinations, every conversation, recommendation and wave from the driveway has helped shape what The Valley Shiners is becoming.
From the beginning, our goal was never simply to build another home service company.
We wanted to build a company that reflects the community we all love—a business that shows up when it says it will, takes genuine pride in its work, supports other local businesses, and leaves every property just a little brighter than we found it.
Along the way we’ve met incredible people, celebrated with our crew after big projects, discovered new favourite places to eat, and met more friendly dogs than we could ever count. It’s those moments—just as much as the sparkling windows—that have made this first season so memorable.
That’s also why we’re starting The Valley Shiner View.
Rather than sending the occasional promotional email, we wanted a better way to stay connected with the people who helped build Valley Shiners from the very beginning. Each season we’ll share practical home maintenance tips, a few company updates, local businesses we think deserve a visit, and the stories that make living in the Columbia Valley such a special place.
We hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together.
Thank you for being part of our first season.
We’re just getting started.
Warmly,
Cole & Sarah Rae
Inside this edition.
🏡 Seasonal Maintenance
Why Late Summer Is the Perfect Time to Think About Your Gutters
🔥 Backyard Living
Your BBQ Has Worked Hard This Summer…
🍂 Looking Ahead
Why We Love Fall Window Cleaning
🌄 Valley Destination Spotlight
Hopkins Harvest
🏡 Seasonal Maintenance
Why Late Summer Is the Perfect
Time to Think About Your Gutters
It might not be the most glamorous job around the house, but your gutters do far more than simply move rainwater.
Here in the Columbia Valley, late summer is one of the most important—and often overlooked—times of year to clean your gutters.
During wildfire season, dry leaves, pine needles and other debris trapped in your gutters can become fuel for wind-blown embers. FireSmart BC recommends keeping gutters clear as part of creating a more fire-resilient home (learn more about keeping your home FireSmart here).
As we move into fall, clean gutters become just as important for a different reason. Removing debris before autumn leaves arrive helps rainwater drain properly, reducing the chance of overflowing gutters, ice buildup and freeze-thaw damage over the winter months.
🏁 Pit Crew Pro Tip
Homes surrounded by mature pines or deciduous trees often benefit from two gutter cleanings each year: once in late spring or summer to remove dry, combustible debris during wildfire season, and again after the leaves have fallen to prepare for winter.
— Cole, Co-Owner, The Valley Shiners
If you'd rather leave it to us
After dozens of requests from customers this season, we're excited to officially offer professional gutter cleaning throughout the Columbia Valley.
Whether we're already visiting for your windows or you're simply looking to check one more item off your home's maintenance list, we'd be happy to help.
→ Learn More About Gutter Cleaning
🔥 Backyard Living
Your BBQ Has Worked Hard This Summer...
There's a good chance your BBQ has cooked dozens of dinners already this season.
From quick weeknight burgers to long evenings with family and friends, it's one of the hardest-working appliances around the house.
Like anything that's used often, though, a little maintenance goes a long way.
A clean BBQ isn't just about appearances.
Removing built-up grease and carbon helps food cook more evenly, reduces flare-ups, and lets the flavours of your ingredients come through instead of yesterday's dinner.
If you've ever wondered why steaks suddenly started tasting a little "off," the cooking grates are often the culprit.Cleaning your BBQ can also make it a safer place to cook.
Grease buildup inside the firebox and drip trays can ignite unexpectedly, creating flare-ups and excess smoke. That's especially important in townhomes, condos and neighbourhoods where outdoor living spaces are close together. Your neighbours—and your siding—will likely appreciate it too.Finally, a clean BBQ simply lasts longer.
Removing grease, food residue and moisture helps protect burners, cooking grates and internal components from premature wear, helping you get more years out of an appliance that often represents a significant investment.
🏁 Pit Crew Pro Tip
If you grill several times each week, a quick brush of the grates after every cook and one thorough deep clean each summer is usually enough to keep your BBQ performing at its best.
Our current favourite tool: The Scrub Daddy Steam Cleaning BBQ Grill Bristle-Free Brush from Canadian tire.
It does a great job removing carbon buildup without being overly aggressive on the cooking grates.
— Isaac, Technician, The Valley Shiners
If you'd rather leave it to us
After hearing the same question from homeowners throughout the Columbia Valley this season, we're excited to officially offer professional BBQ cleaning.
We carefully disassemble, deep clean, detailand reassemble your grill so it's ready for the rest of summer—and many more seasons to come.
→ Learn More About Professional BBQ Cleaning
🍂 Looking ahead
Why Fall Might Be the Columbia Valley's Best Season
If you've lived in the Columbia Valley for more than a season, you already know what's coming.
The mornings get a little cooler. The mountains start changing colour. The summer visitors head home, and life settles into a quieter rhythm.
For many of us, it's our favourite time of year.
It's also the season when many homeowners take one last afternoon to prepare their homes before winter arrives.
Patio furniture gets tucked away.
Barbecues are cleaned before being covered for the season.
Leaves are cleared from gutters.
And windows get one final clean before months of snow and shorter days keep us indoors.
One thing we've noticed after cleaning hundreds of homes this year is how much people enjoy the view once the glass disappears.
Whether you're watching the first snowfall over Lake Windermere, the sunrise over the Purcells, or simply enjoying a quiet coffee on a crisp October morning, clean windows have a way of bringing the outdoors just a little closer.
It's a small detail—but in a place as beautiful as the Columbia Valley, we think it's one worth preserving.
🏁 Pit Crew Pro Tip
Before storing patio furniture for the winter, give it a quick wash with mild soap and water and let it dry completely.
You'll spend a lot less time cleaning it next spring—and it'll be ready for the first warm weekend of the season.
— Sarah Rae, Co-Owner, The Valley Shiners
If you'd rather leave it to us
Whether you're looking for one final window cleaning, gutter cleaning, BBQ detailing or help freshening up your outdoor living spaces before winter arrives, we'd be happy to help.
Many homeowners choose early fall as their final home maintenance visit of the season, leaving everything ready to enjoy again when spring returns.
→ Learn More About Fall Cleaning Services
🌄 Valley Destination Spotlight
Hopkins Harvest:
A Place Worth Pulling Into
One of the unexpected joys of our first season has been discovering places that have quickly become part of our weekly routine. Hopkins Harvest is one of them.
A true Columbia Valley institution, Hopkins Harvest has been serving the community for generations and is now lovingly run by Matt and Kersten. They've continued their parents tradition of creating a place that feels unmistakably local—where fresh produce, sustainable farming and warm hospitality all come together.
Whether we're stopping in for locally grown vegetables, grabbing lunch from the café or picking up dinner after a long day on the road, it's become one of those places we find ourselves recommending again and again.
During our busiest weeks this summer, their frozen fire-roasted pizzas and tuna pot pies have honestly saved us more than once.
And if you're gluten-free, Haley insists we mention the café's gluten-free baking. She's sampled enough of it this season to confidently call it her favourite in the valley.
We also loved bringing our families out for Hopkins Harvest's annual Easter Egg Hunt this spring. It's events like that—and the people behind them—that make this community feel a little smaller in the best possible way.
❤️ Crew Favourite
Haley's Pick
"If you're gluten-free, don't leave without checking out the café. The gluten-free baking is my favourite treat in the valley."
— Haley, Lead Tech, The Valley Shiners
Community Spotlight
We're especially excited to be partnering with Hopkins Harvest and Kootenay Detailing Services for a Terry Fox Charity Car Wash on Saturday, August 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Bring your vehicle, enjoy a visit to the market, and help support cancer research with a minimum $10 donation.
You'll find Sarah Rae and me at the BBQ while the crew keeps the pressure washers busy. Come say hi.
We'd love to see you there.
Thanks for Reading
The Valley Shiner View is published four times each year for our customers and neighbours throughout the Columbia Valley.
So until next time…
Keep enjoying the view and the rest of your summer.
We'll see you out there.
Cole, Sarah Rae & the Valley Shiners Crew
