Little Qualicum Cheeseworks
In 1999, after living in Switzerland a number of years, Clarke and Nancy Gourlay returned to Vancouver Island, motivated to make magnificent cheeses like those they had enjoyed in Europe. They thoroughly studied the practice and by 2001 were making cheese. They now operate Little Qualicum Cheeseworks and Morningstar Farm in the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area. They use the milk from their small herd of Holstein, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss and Canadienne dairy cows to make 16 types of splendid cheese, such as Brie, Caerphilly, fromage frais and Bleu Claire. The Gourlays want to ensure you their cows are happy. Morningstar Farm is the first dairy farm in B.C. to be certified by the SPCA. The cheese shop they operate on the farm, 403 Lowry's Rd., Parksville, is open seven days a week.
