Meet the Ice Cream Man BY ISABELLE SOUTHCOTT | isabelle@prliving.ca
When kids hear the Ice Cream Man’s music blaring out of the big white truck, they pour out of their homes and excitedly come running down the street. It’s this very reason why Darryl Jackson – Powell River’s Ice Cream Man – says he has the best job in the world. For three years, Darryl has been visiting Powell River neighbourhoods and serving up a variety of ice cream products. Snow cones, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, dairy free ice cream bars and allergen free fruit pops… they’re all a welcome reprieve to the heat of a hot summer afternoon or evening. When Darryl launched his business, he had no idea what to expect. “I knew I wanted to recreate as much of the traditional experience as I could while bringing it to modern standards. I envisioned a white Grumman style truck with a passenger side serving window, bright color menus and signage, the Ice Cream Man music blaring over the loud speaker, traditional pre-packaged treats with a few alterations like snow cones and allergen friendly options,” he told Powell River Living.
GREEN ICE CREAM Fun fact: in 2018, the Ice Cream Man added solar panels to the roof of the truck making them the first ice cream truck in Canada to use solar power. “The solar panels can run the equipment inside the truck all day long without the need to run generators,” says Darryl.
Darryl says he has the best customers in the world. While most are children, he does have some adults, but it’s the children that warm his heart. “I have countless stories,” he says. “Early last summer I was training a guy on our south of town route and we
THE HUNTERS AND THEIR PREY: Hollie Jacques, 8; Cielo Treavor, 9 and Zachary Jackson, 9, above, caught up with Darryl Jackson for a cold treat in Townsite. Find out when the truck drives by you, on Facebook. Right, another happy customer waves goodbye. were driving down what looked like a virtually deserted dead end road when all of a sudden a little girl who couldn’t have been more than five, came running out. I can still picture it. Pigtails and a puffy dress. Jumping up and down, pumping her arms wildly, her face with the biggest, most excited expression you could imagine! We pulled up and she was so excited she couldn’t even talk.” Another time, a young boy was in the bathtub when he heard the signature Ice Cream Man music. “He’d never seen an ice cream truck in his life. His dad was out of the room and the kid jumped out of the bath tub stark naked and bolted for the door. He was across the yard before his Dad could catch him,” Darryl smiled. He enjoys seeing the photos people send in. “I have a contest each year where I ask people to send me ice cream themed pictures. Close to the start of the season I’ll post them on Facebook and people will vote for their favorite. The winner’s design goes on our staff shirts for the summer.” The winner receives their own t-shirt, a special visit from the ice cream truck with free treats for them and
their family/friends, and a personalized VIP gift card entitling them to a free treat off the truck all summer long.” As well, 100 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of the shirts benefit the Orca Bus. The Ice Cream Truck has a live truck tracker so people can find it whenever they want to, says Darryl. The Ice Cream Man couldn’t do what he does without his fabulous helpers! This year, his team includes: Rosie Rupf, Kray Karlsen and Melinda Boyd. To find out when the Ice Cream Man is coming to
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• august 2019 • prliving.ca