Bill and Marian Davies were both born and raised in Victoria. They married in 1969 the same year they purchased the Style Centre in Langford and started their first home in Shawnigan Lake. Marian is a licensed hairdresser and Bill a licensed barber. For several years they kept their respective clientele divided by a wall, the beauty salon on one side and the barbershop on the other. Unisex salons did not come to being until the late 70’s.

They sold the business in 1985 but retained the business name. Marian went to work as a hairdresser in the Duncan Manor and Bill bought a small cottage in downtown Shawnigan Lake and partnered with Richard Pope, Bill opening a barbershop and Richard opening a bicycle business. Many decisions were made around the woodstove that heated the small building. One decision was to purchase the Laundromat next door. Bill and Marian kept the laundry business open for several years. When Richard moved on many small businesses started in the vacant space and all moved out to larger premises as their businesses grew. Then Island Savings Credit Union came looking for the best location for a new branch. The Laundromat building was perfect so the change was made.

In 2001 a fire destroyed the complex across the road leaving the pharmacy homeless. This started another new growth in Shawnigan Lake. Bill and Marian knew it was time to say goodbye to the little cottage and follow their vision of bigger and better accommodation. Securing a partnership with the Shawnigan Lake Peoples Pharmacy, they set to building the Shawnigan Village Centre. Many residents were worried about a new commercial building spoiling their village but, once completed, it has been adopted as a major improvement.

The Style Centre Barber Shop

All the while their business has been growing; Bill and Marian started their family and raised two children, Roy and Kathryn, on their small acreage west of Shawnigan Lake. The property was purchased in 1960 by Marian’s late father and is now home to three generations in four houses. The pastures of the hobby farm have been a playground for swine, sheep and now alpacas. Roy works in the Barbershop and Kathryn works in the Pharmacy when she is not busy with her two little sons.

Bill and Marian have taken time to enjoy life and not let work be their only interest. They fell in love with sailing and that has taken them around the Caribbean, to the sea of Cortez, around Vancouver Island and many inland lakes in BC and Arizona. Bill is an avid skier and Marian is a perpetual volunteer giving many hours of service to her community. They truly believe there is more to life than work and dreaming of being rich. Their business has been successful and allowed them to live comfortably and within their means.

Marian retired from the Duncan Manor in 2005 and joined Bill and Roy in the Barbershop. Working closer to home has so many benefits including sharing in the lives of their grandchildren. Their future plans include more traveling as ‘trailer sailors’ and keeping up their good health and active lifestyle.

The Style Centre Barbershop is the centre of so much in Shawnigan Lake. We provide assistance to wayward tourists who want to learn more about Shawnigan Lake, a place to find out about local events, networking with other businesses and a place to talk about Shawnigan Lake. They welcome you to come for a visit!