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Chilliwack window cleaner ready to donate to Wilma’s through #100housechallenge campaign

Chris Squires enjoys providing service, wants to express it via donations, giving back to community
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Chris Squires of The Wack Window Cleaning Company has created the #100housechallenge where he’ll be cleaning the exterior windows of 100 homes for free when an interior window cleaning service is purchased and a food item is donated to Wilma’s Transition Society. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

A Chilliwack man who moved here eight months ago and started up his own business just three months ago is already giving back to the community.

Chris Squires from The Wack Window Cleaning Company wants to make a deal with customers – he’ll trade sparkling clean windows for charitable food donations.

“I am cleaning the exterior windows of 100 homes for free when a food item is donated and an interior window cleaning service is purchased,” he said.

He’s calling it the #100housechallenge and all food donations will go to vulnerable women and families at Wilma’s Transition Society.

“Wilma’s seems to be the most aligned with my values and who I think deserve it the most,” Squires said.

RELATED: Car donated to Wilma’s Transition Society gets handed over to Chilliwack family

He has been in the window-cleaning business for about two decades. He recalls the “interview” for his first job in the field.

“I met my boss on the corner of a road… he pointed (up) to the building that was right beside us. I saw two guys at the top – it was a 25-storey building. I said ‘is that what you mean by window cleaning?’ and he said ‘yep, you in?’ That was the interview.”

Chris Squires of The Wack Window Cleaning Company has created the #100housechallenge where he’ll be cleaning the exterior windows of 100 homes for free when an interior window cleaning service is purchased and a food item is donated to Wilma’s Transition Society. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Chris Squires of The Wack Window Cleaning Company has created the #100housechallenge where he’ll be cleaning the exterior windows of 100 homes for free when an interior window cleaning service is purchased and a food item is donated to Wilma’s Transition Society. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

After working for about 10 years with them, he started his own business in Vancouver called One City Window Cleaners. He moved to Ontario in 2015 and joined his buddy at Elite Window Cleaning where he helped grow the business to 50 employees and had four franchisees before moving back to B.C. in the summer of 2020.

Over the years he’s been as high as 38 storeys off the ground.

“It’s intense, but that has been what has kept me in this line of work. It’s not like any other job. You hang on a little chair made of wood, 38 storeys up in the air, outside of the building.”

And he’s cleaned famous glass, too, including windows belonging to Jim Treliving, Bif Naked, former Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo, members of bands like Lover Boy and The Tragically Hip, and “the guy who invented the smelly hanging tree in cars.”

“I’m sure a bunch more but it’s hard to tell from the outside of the glass if they don’t pop their head out and say ‘hi,’” Squires said.

In December, Squires started up The Wack Window Cleaning Company. He’s ready to clean windows and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of a telescopic water-fed pole that can reach the windows of a six-storey building.

Chris Squires of The Wack Window Cleaning Company has created the #100housechallenge where he’ll be cleaning the exterior windows of 100 homes for free when an interior window cleaning service is purchased and a food item is donated to Wilma’s Transition Society. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Chris Squires of The Wack Window Cleaning Company has created the #100housechallenge where he’ll be cleaning the exterior windows of 100 homes for free when an interior window cleaning service is purchased and a food item is donated to Wilma’s Transition Society. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

“It doesn’t feel like work, it feels like recreation. You just hang out in beautiful places. No one is ever upset to see you.”

He’s always donated to charities through his businesses and said he feels “lucky” to do the job he does.

Folks can donate as many food items as they want to Wilma’s as part of his #100housechallenge campaign.

“Whatever they feel is appropriate for the exchange,” he said. “I really enjoy providing a service. I want to express that through the donations and give back to the community… and I hope to make this a reoccurring event.”

The #100housechallenge is open to the first 100 people who sign up and they must purchase an interior window cleaning and donate food in order to get their exterior windows cleaned for free. There is different interior window pricing based on the size of the house.

It begins on March 10, but folks can book now by calling Chris Squires at 604-655-7312 or online at thewack.co.


 

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Email: jenna.hauck@theprogress.com
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Jenna Hauck

About the Author: Jenna Hauck

I started my career at The Chilliwack Progress in 2000 as a photojournalist.
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