FERGUS – A local Kindergarten teacher always wants to put out positivity and kindness in her classroom.
Now, the local community will be getting a little taste of that mindset through a new food truck setting up in Downtown Fergus.
Ange Billings is opening Endless Inspirations in the parking lot at the Ecclestone Financial Group building at St. David Street North and St. Patrick Street West on Friday for a soft opening.
In a phone interview, Billings explained the truck will be serving tacos and nachos but will also include inspirational quotes and affirmations on its packaging to counter the amount of negativity she sees festering in the world.
“We really want to exude kindness and spread positivity, as well as make good food,” Billings said. “It’s kind of who I am and it represents what I want to put out in the world.”
Tacos are Billings' favourite food and something she sees as a well loved item by the public with a huge variety of options on how they can be made. Besides the tortilla chips and shells, Billings plans to make everything from scratch with locally sourced ingredients.
She acknowledges this is a big undertaking as she doesn’t have much of a background in the industry and works as a Kindergarten teacher at a local elementary school.
“I love to cook, it’s always been a passion of mine and owning a food truck has been a dream of mine for several years,” Billings said.
The financial aspect of opening a food truck held her back from doing so until she found an investor in Amy Shields.
“Now that I had someone believe in me and help fund it, it was like sky’s the limit,” Billings said.
Shields won’t be cooking in the truck but it will be a “family affair” running the truck.
Billings’ daughter, 17, will be working in the truck with her boyfriend and mom and Billings’ son, 12, will be handing out samples to those waiting in line.
Billings will go back to work as a Kindergarten teacher, so this business is planned to be mainly seasonal with some catering in the off-season such as late-night wedding snacks and other private parties.
The opening was slightly delayed so the truck will likely be staying put for the rest of the summer and not going to local festivals where vendors are booked months in advance but Billings intends to travel around to different festivals and events next summer.
Endless Inspirations will have a soft opening Friday and will be operating six days a week from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.