Meet Judy Osborne
Judy is the Owner of Whale's tale toys since 1984. She is passionate about
bringing joy and laughter to the Comox Valley.
Located in the heart of downtown Courtenay, Whale's Tale Toys is where you
can find toys that make a difference.
Lego... and lots of it!
In 2012 Judy Visited The Lego Display At The Nuremberg Toy Fair In Germany And Personally Picked Out A Wonderful Selection Of Lego. Drop In And See The Largest Lego Selection In The Comox Valley.
Comox Valley Record "About Town Article"
Featuring Judy Osborne and Whale's Tale Toys
As a young woman and newcomer to the Comox Valley, Judy Osborne saw a need for a shop carrying quality toys and educational products for children. She also wanted a job that would give her the flexibility to be available to help out and be present at her children’s school events and activities. So she opened Whale’s Tale Toys, never dreaming that in Oct. 2009 she’d be celebrating the store’s 25th anniversary. “It was a lot of hard work at first,” admits Osborne, “but fun too”.
Originally located where the Atlas is now, the shop moved first across the street from the former Leung’s and, in 1994, to its present location on 5th St. Once she bought the building, she was able to decorate it inside – and out – in the now familiar ship’s theme. “Right from the beginning I knew the store had to be in downtown Courtenay,” she says. “It’s an awesome community and I love being part of that.” Osborne wanted to offer families a unique shopping experience so she puts toys out on tables so kids can play with them and parents can see what kids like. The shop caters to children from babyhood to around 12 years of age and carries games for all ages. And even though it’s become a technological age, Osborne’s pleased to see that old stand-bys, like Lego, are still popular. “I’ve always been very environmentally and safety conscious,” she says. “After all, my children were raised in the store.” In fact, photographs of now grown daughters, Katie and Jennifer, are proudly displayed amongst the merchandise. Whale’s Tale has always been a family affair, with husband, Greg, being a silent partner, as well as the bookkeeper and the girls learning retail skills as they got older. In fact, Katie, still works in the store part time.
Whale’s Tale is the go-to store for grandparents or any adult not sure what to buy a youngster. I know whenever I’ve shopped for my niece and nephew who live in California, Whale’s Tale staff picks have been bang on. And the gift-wrapping is a real bonus! “The store’s now seeing the next generation of loyal customers as grown up kids come in to buy for their own children,” notes Osborne. “I feel like I’ve watched half the Valley grow up.”
Osborne spent her childhood and youth on the family grain and beef farm in Alberta. She grew up surrounded by animals and horseback riding and catching frogs were some of her favourite pastimes. After obtaining a degree in Recreation and Parks Administration, she worked in children’s summer camps in Northern Alberta. She moved to the Comox Valley 28 years ago and married Greg a year later. “We knew we wanted to raise our kids here,” she says. The Osborne’s live on acreage with their youngest daughter and a menagerie of quarter horses, dogs, cats, chickens, goats and geese. “It takes me an hour to feed them all every morning,” Osborne admits. Somehow, in between running a business and tending the animals, she also finds time to take a weekly horseback riding lesson, rides for pleasure several times a week and even participated in a horse show last year.
Twenty-three years ago, Osborne started working with the Courtenay Recreation Centre to create the still popular Father’s Day Kite Fly at Goose Spit. Over the years Whale’s Tale has sponsored many ball teams, as well as supporting the Therapeutic Riding Association. Every Christmas Osborne quietly drops off presents for children of families going through hard times. And the big Christmas tree in downtown Courtenay is the Osborne family’s gift to the Comox Valley. But life hasn’t always been easy. Eight years ago Osborne was seriously ill with cancer and says that without the support and hard work of Thea Whyte and another employee, the store would have closed. “I’m so grateful for their loyalty and the loyalty of my customers,” she says. “When times are tough, you really appreciate the people that are there for you.” Whyte, who has worked at Whale’s Tale off and on for 23 years, says “I’m here because I have the best boss in the world. Judy is really supportive of all her employees and their children. My children were in their teens when I started here and she always found little jobs for them to do and included them in events. She’s a very generous person. And she’s got a great sense of humour – we have a lot of laughs.” A high energy person, Osborne says she’s not looking to retire anytime soon. “I make my ‘to do’ list the night before,” she says, “and hit the floor running come morning.”
Originally located where the Atlas is now, the shop moved first across the street from the former Leung’s and, in 1994, to its present location on 5th St. Once she bought the building, she was able to decorate it inside – and out – in the now familiar ship’s theme. “Right from the beginning I knew the store had to be in downtown Courtenay,” she says. “It’s an awesome community and I love being part of that.” Osborne wanted to offer families a unique shopping experience so she puts toys out on tables so kids can play with them and parents can see what kids like. The shop caters to children from babyhood to around 12 years of age and carries games for all ages. And even though it’s become a technological age, Osborne’s pleased to see that old stand-bys, like Lego, are still popular. “I’ve always been very environmentally and safety conscious,” she says. “After all, my children were raised in the store.” In fact, photographs of now grown daughters, Katie and Jennifer, are proudly displayed amongst the merchandise. Whale’s Tale has always been a family affair, with husband, Greg, being a silent partner, as well as the bookkeeper and the girls learning retail skills as they got older. In fact, Katie, still works in the store part time.
Whale’s Tale is the go-to store for grandparents or any adult not sure what to buy a youngster. I know whenever I’ve shopped for my niece and nephew who live in California, Whale’s Tale staff picks have been bang on. And the gift-wrapping is a real bonus! “The store’s now seeing the next generation of loyal customers as grown up kids come in to buy for their own children,” notes Osborne. “I feel like I’ve watched half the Valley grow up.”
Osborne spent her childhood and youth on the family grain and beef farm in Alberta. She grew up surrounded by animals and horseback riding and catching frogs were some of her favourite pastimes. After obtaining a degree in Recreation and Parks Administration, she worked in children’s summer camps in Northern Alberta. She moved to the Comox Valley 28 years ago and married Greg a year later. “We knew we wanted to raise our kids here,” she says. The Osborne’s live on acreage with their youngest daughter and a menagerie of quarter horses, dogs, cats, chickens, goats and geese. “It takes me an hour to feed them all every morning,” Osborne admits. Somehow, in between running a business and tending the animals, she also finds time to take a weekly horseback riding lesson, rides for pleasure several times a week and even participated in a horse show last year.
Twenty-three years ago, Osborne started working with the Courtenay Recreation Centre to create the still popular Father’s Day Kite Fly at Goose Spit. Over the years Whale’s Tale has sponsored many ball teams, as well as supporting the Therapeutic Riding Association. Every Christmas Osborne quietly drops off presents for children of families going through hard times. And the big Christmas tree in downtown Courtenay is the Osborne family’s gift to the Comox Valley. But life hasn’t always been easy. Eight years ago Osborne was seriously ill with cancer and says that without the support and hard work of Thea Whyte and another employee, the store would have closed. “I’m so grateful for their loyalty and the loyalty of my customers,” she says. “When times are tough, you really appreciate the people that are there for you.” Whyte, who has worked at Whale’s Tale off and on for 23 years, says “I’m here because I have the best boss in the world. Judy is really supportive of all her employees and their children. My children were in their teens when I started here and she always found little jobs for them to do and included them in events. She’s a very generous person. And she’s got a great sense of humour – we have a lot of laughs.” A high energy person, Osborne says she’s not looking to retire anytime soon. “I make my ‘to do’ list the night before,” she says, “and hit the floor running come morning.”