Making Her Own Way: Danielle Durand’s Story

For more than a decade, Danielle Durand has built Tidy Shores Cleaning Services through hard work, adaptability and a willingness to take opportunities as they come.

What began as a housekeeping job on Vancouver Island eventually grew into Danielle’s own cleaning business, built through word of mouth, strong client relationships and a commitment to delivering high-quality service.

Danielle has always valued creating safe, welcoming and clean spaces for people. It is something she did not always experience during her early family years, and it has become an important part of both her personal values and the way she approaches her work.

After years of operating primarily as a seasonal business, Danielle returned to the Cowichan Valley and relaunched and rebranded Tidy Shores Cleaning Services with a clear vision for growth. The response has exceeded her expectations.

Over the past year, the business has nearly doubled, creating new opportunities and marking an exciting transition for Danielle. She is now hiring and building a team, allowing her to move beyond doing every job herself and focus more on leadership, business development and the future of Tidy Shores.

“I’m at the point where I’m learning how to step back from doing everything myself and really focus on growing the business,” Danielle says.

For Danielle, entrepreneurship is about more than building a successful business. It is about creating opportunities, supporting the people around her and showing other women what is possible when they believe in their abilities.

She is also exploring opportunities to diversify Tidy Shores and expand the services and products the business can offer, while continuing to build a strong and recognizable local brand.

Danielle’s relationship with NEDC has been an important part of that growth. She first connected with NEDC when she needed financing for a safe, reliable work vehicle and has since returned for support as her business has expanded. She has also participated in NEDC events, where she has valued the opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs.

“They’ve all been super helpful and very knowledgeable,” Danielle says. “Attending the IWE workshop was so uplifting. I walked away thinking about how I can expand my business and what can happen when you surround yourself with like-minded people.”

As Tidy Shores enters its next chapter, Danielle’s focus is shifting from simply running a successful cleaning business to building a sustainable company with room to grow.

Her advice to other women considering entrepreneurship is simple: start.

“Don’t be scared to fail, and don’t be scared of what other people might think about your business. I was very unsure if my business would work out, but you end up making it happen.”

After more than 10 years in business, Danielle has learned that entrepreneurship rarely follows a straight path. For her, success has come from being willing to adapt, take chances, learn from challenges and keep moving forward.

Now, with Tidy Shores growing, a team taking shape and new ideas on the horizon, Danielle is focused on building something bigger — a business that creates opportunities, empowers women and continues to grow within the Cowichan Valley.