It’s a dirty job, but some people – like Christian Rodgers – really love doing it! And when you live and work outside of a major centre, having an available, reliable plumber like Rodgers Plumbing is a big relief!  

Plumbing on the Southern Shore of the Avalon Peninsula can be a challenge as many households use wells, rather than municipal water sources. The use of wells leads to all kinds of unique plumbing problems, making the need for a plumber in a rural area necessary. This is why Rodgers knew he was doing the right thing by opening his own plumbing company in 2023.  

“The service of a plumber on the entire Southern Shore has been a need for some time. Being able to offer my service benefits not only me but the people around me,” Rodgers says.  

Rodgers Plumbing is located in Witless Bay, about 30 minutes outside of St. John’s, and serves the entire area’s traditional plumbing problems, and also offers plumbing support for renovations and new home builds. Service is available 24/7, even on Christmas Eve, Rodgers says.  

After working in the trade for other plumbing companies for several years, Rodgers decided to serve his community with his own operation, which he started with the support of CBDC Celtic.  

“I enjoy meeting new people. Also being able to work at my own pace and being able to have more freedom,” Rodgers says. “Although (it’s) a lot of work, being a business owner is very rewarding.” 

Rodgers says the business was started with a CBDC First-Time Entrepreneur Loan and also the SEA Program, which allows eligible applicants to continue to receive unemployment benefits while starting a new business with training and support from CBDCs across the province.