A Chemainus barbershop raised more than $800 and 34 kilograms of food for the local food bank during a one-day fundraiser celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Jennifer “Doc” Morrell, owner of Doc the Barber on Willow Street, marked the milestone by offering $15 haircuts for the day — an event that quickly sold out as clients lined up to support the cause. Donations were delivered to Chemainus’s Harvest House food bank.
“The community has always supported me, so I try to find small ways to give back,” Morrell said.
The response from the community exemplifies what Morrell loves about her town.
“It has such community spirit.”
That spirit has been central to Doc the Barber since its doors opened on May 1, 2010.
“From day one, the community embraced me,” Morrell said. “I remember wondering how many cuts I’d do on my first day. I did five. By my grand opening on May 29, I had an almost full day. I think in all these years I’ve only had one day with no haircuts.”
Morrell has been a barber for 20 years. She began her career with an apprenticeship in Ladysmith, then worked in Duncan, where many of her clients came from Saltair, Chemainus and Crofton.
Seeing a market opportunity, she opened her own shop in Chemainus and never looked back. Despite her success, she has no plans to expand.
“People joke about franchising, but that’s not on my list,” Morrell said. “I like being a small business owner and having a say in everything and a personal connection with each client.”
In addition to running her business, Morrell is active in several community groups and events. She is the past president and current secretary of the Rotary Club of Chemainus, vice-president of the Chemainus Health Care Foundation, and a lead organizer of the town’s annual car show.
Her clients share that same spirit of community support, especially when she recently had to take time off unexpectedly due to a health issue.
“Most of them were just calling to check in, not asking when I’d be back,” Morrell said. “That was amazing.”
Morrell runs what she proudly calls a traditional barbershop. That means no dyeing, no curling irons and absolutely no appointments on Sundays.
“If a barbershop is open on Sundays, it’s probably not traditional,” Morrell explained, before laying down a lesson in barbering history.
“The barbering code of ethics — yes, that’s a thing — goes back to 1528. Barbers used to be part of the barber-surgeons guild. When surgeons split from clergy, barbers took on surgeries, which is why the barber pole has red and white for blood and clean bandages. The pole’s bottom is a bowl that caught blood during bloodletting. The blue stripe on the pole, often said to represent venous blood, was actually added during the American Revolution.”
Morrell and her employee James Mckay specialize in short haircuts for all genders. They also offer straight-razor shaving and will even trim your ear hair.
“I absolutely do ears — and if you’re really mean, I’ll wax your ear and nose hairs too!”
While women barbers are more common now, they weren’t when Morrell first opened her shop.
“Some men came in thinking I was a man because of the name ‘Doc’,” she explained. “Once they found out I was a woman, they were too embarrassed to leave, but then they stayed because I was good at my job.”
Morrell has been ignoring prescribed gender boundaries her whole life.
“My dad and I bought a ’63 Comet when I was 15 and rebuilt it. Been wrenching ever since,” the self-proclaimed “tomboy” said.
She now works on pit crews for sprint cars, has competed in drag racing, and is currently putting a new motor into her 1964 Chevy Nova.
Morrell says the past 15 years in business in Chemainus have been “fantastic”, even with challenges like COVID-19. The shop’s 10th anniversary fell during a period when barbershops were closed due to public health restrictions.
“When we reopened, everyone came back with long, hippy hair.”
What keeps her going isn’t just the work.
“I love cutting hair. More than that, I love meeting people. You build rapport with clients, and in an aging community, sometimes you lose them. But they become like grandpas and dads. You build real connections.”
Asked what the next 15 years will hold for Doc the Barber, Morrell’s plans are simple.
Keep fundraising, keep involved, and continue keeping Chemainus handsome.
