Business Examiner Vancouver Island - February 2021

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February 2021

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NASCAR JOURNEY HAS PEET GEARED UP, ON D.E.C.K. Shaun Peet, right, with Mike Metcalf and their main prop for D.E.C.K., a NASCAR

VIREB COMMERCIAL BUILDING AWARDS DEADLINE MARCH 18 - 9

LIFETIMER BOATS CELEBRATES FORTY YEARS - 18

Your Mid Island Full Service Electrical Contractor (Ladysmith – Nanaimo – Parksville – Qualicum)

P: 250.740.0970 | E: info@wallselectrical.ca | www.wallselectrical.ca

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Optimism is growing among Vancouver Island businesses as we march towards herd immunity.

While we wait for the government and health care system to open the economy back up, we are pressing ahead right alongside you.

With that in mind we hope this issue of the Business Examiner is able to help your organization move forward.

Inside you’ll find sales leads in the Movers and Shakers section, market intelligence from the Who is Suing Whom currated column, articles on great businesses throughout the Central/North Island like our lead story on Shaun Peet a Nanaimo to NASCAR success story.

There’s some great news on the upcoming VIREB Commercial Building Awards, Lifetimer Boats, Geeks on the Beach, Seaspan and much more.

Best of luck battling through, John MacDonald, Director, Business Development

Contact Us 25 Cavan Street Nanaimo, BC V9R 2T9 +1 866-758-2684 info@businessexaminer.ca www.BusinessExaminer.ca Office Hours Monday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00 pm Saturday – Sunday: Closed Editor: Lise MacDonald (lise@businessexaminer.ca) Press Releases & Story Ideas: (media@businessexaminer.ca) Sales: John MacDonald (john@businessexaminer.ca)

NOVEMBER 2020

9 VIREB COMMERCIAL BUILDING AWARDS

6 NEWS UPDATE

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13

NANAIMO COLUMN

COMOX VALLEY

14 COWICHAN VALLEY

16 NASCAR JOURNEY FOR NANAIMO LOCAL

15 ADVISORY

18 LIFETIMER BOATS

20 GEEKS ON THE BEACH

24 SEASPAN

22 WHO IS SUING WHOM

26 WALLS ELECTRIC

30 BENNETT SHEET METAL & HEATING

28 OPINION

32 MOVERS & SHAKERS

NEWS UPDATE

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A RECORD-SETTING START TO 2021 REAL ESTATE

CVRD AND KFN SIGN HISTORIC AGREEMENT

BRITISH COLUMBIA – The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that

COMOX VALLEY - The K’ómoks First Nation (KFN) and the Comox Valley Regional District Sewage Commission (Sewage Commission) announced the ratification of a Community Benefits Agreement that commits both parties to work together collaboratively on a regional solution for sewer. The agreement will provide needed upgrades for Comox and Courtenay sewer infrastructure, while supporting the growth and economic development plans of the K’ómoks community.

The partnership recognizes that the existing sewer line through Indian Reserve was expropriated without adequate consultation and provides compensation for past and future impacts of sewer infrastructure within the reserve. The Sewage Commission will work with KFN to protect archaeologically sensitive areas during construction in an effort to preserve cultural heritage sites, ancestral burial places and artifacts.

The Comox Valley Sewer Service provides sewer treatment to residents of the Town of Comox and City of Courtenay, as well as CFB Comox. In early 2020 the Sewage Commission made the historical decision to accept wastewater from communities south of the City of Courtenay boundary, which includes KFN development lands. This unprecedented decision depends on strong leadership from both Comox and Courtenay municipal councils to work in partnership with KFN, ensuring a regional approach to sewer services that will protect local beaches, waters and BC’s largest shellfish industry in Bayne’s Sound.

a total of 7,169 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in January 2021, an increase of 63.3 per cent over January 2020 and over a thousand sales higher than the previous record for the month of January. The average MLS residential price in BC was $845,169, a 16.1 per cent increase from $728,269 recorded in January 2020. Total sales dollar volume was $6.1 billion, an 89.6 per cent increase from last year.

“It was once again a record-setting month for the provincial housing market,” said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. “While sales were strong across all regions of the province, the Fraser Valley, Interior and Vancouver Island regions shattered previous sales records and pushed January sales to new heights.”

Total active residential listings were down 21.5 per cent to 20,254 units in January, the lowest level of provincial active listings on record, going back to 2000. With strong sales and so few listings, market conditions are exceptionally tight with less than three months of total supply.

February 2021

NEWS UPDATE

@PAPortAuthority

THE DOCK+ PORT ALBERNI FOOD HUB KITCHEN OPENS PORT ALBERNI - The Kitchen located at The Dock+ food hub has opened in partnership with the City of Port Alberni, with funding support from the Province of BC and Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET), the Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA).

The Dock+ started operating for its aquaculture food processor anchor tenants this past July. While these businesses began operations, work continued towards the completion of the commercial kitchen space. Despite challenges posed by COVID-19 during the construction period, The Kitchen at The Dock+ is now ready and available for any business, charitable organization, individual or others requiring a facility to make their food or beverage products.

All users of The Kitchen at The Dock+ will be able to rent blocks of time in advance that best meet their needs through an online reservation system. Whether you are an individual wanting to try your hand at a mass quantity bake of your favourite cookie recipe to give to family, friends and colleagues, or a start-up business needing a larger kitchen to make soups or other consumer products, The Kitchen has the equipment, time and fee flexibility to meet your needs.

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SAN GROUP REMAN PLANT OPENING TARGETED FOR APRIL PORT ALBERNI – The San Group is on target to open its new remanufacturing plant sometime in April.

According to Kamal Sanghera, construction is almost a year behind schedule, due to COVID-19 related issues, including getting technicians to Port Alberni from Europe, the U.S. and eastern Canada.

Costs have risen by approximately one third during the stalled process, as the Sanghera family that owns The San Group purchased the 25 acre property from Paper Excellence.

When completed, the plant will include up to six buildings comprised of almost 300,000 square feet, to house the laminator, paint line, dry kilns, finger jointer, stick building and main manufacturing plant.

Last April, a welding mishap caused one of the buildings, home to the finger jointer machine, to be burned down.

Meanwhile, The San Group is nearing completion on a second, new sawmill at the site they purchased from The Coulson Group. It has been somewhat operational as a log processing system is under construction, and it is hoped that facility will be in full use by the same April time frame.

Their Stamp Avenue heli-pad that has been thus far used for storage will be put into service once the company completes moving its heli-logging operations from Campbell River to Port Alberni.

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NEWS UPDATE

HYAS CLOSES $16 MILLION SERIES B FUNDING ROUND

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VICTORIA — HYAS, a leader in threat intelligence, adversary infrastructure, and network defense, today announced that it had closed a $US16 million round of funding led by Austin, TX based, S3 Ventures. The funds will be used to accelerate product development and global market expansion for the company’s cyber attack infrastructure identification and blocking technology.

As part of the financing, Charlie Plauche, Partner at S3 Ventures, will join the HYAS board of directors. The round was also supported by Uncorrelated Ventures, Tightline Holdings, Cyber Mentor Fund, Dcode Capital and the continued participation from previous investors M12, Startup Capital Ventures, and 205 Capital.

HYAS focuses on the attacker infrastructure rather than the individual attack and includes a portfolio of innovative solutions that identify the infrastructure and communication flows used by cyber criminals and fraudsters. HYAS Protect combines infrastructure expertise and multi-variant communication pattern analysis to deliver a generational leap, delivering preemptive security against existing and emerging attacks. HYAS Insight helps enterprise security operations center (SOC) and fraud teams speed investigations and reduce threat and fraud costs. HYAS also provides intelligence services to help enterprises accelerate their cyber investigation efforts.

PORT OF NANAIMO AND DP WORLD SEAL LEASE AGREEMENT NANAIMO - The Duke Point Terminal lease agreement was finalized with the signing of a 50-year lease agreement between the Port of Nanaimo and DP World.

The Duke Point agreement will provide a longterm port-to-port solution for short-sea shipping between Nanaimo and Vancouver, as well as expand direct access from Nanaimo to global import/export markets via direct calls to Asia.

DP World is the leading enabler of global trade and one of the world’s largest port operators.

The project will enhance DP World’s coast-tocoast Canadian footprint which includes terminal operations in Vancouver, Surrey, Prince Rupert, and Saint John. The company has invested significantly across its Ports, Logistics & Maritime Services businesses, providing customers with integrated logistics solutions and removing inefficiencies from the supply chain.

The signed agreement is an important first step in the planned terminal expansion, currently estimated at $105 million. It is funded through a mix of public and private investment, including a $46.2 million federal contribution through the National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) and a $15 million provincial contribution as a part of B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan.

February 2021

FEATURE STORY

VIREB COMMERCIAL BUILDING AWARDS DEADLINE MARCH 18 BUILDINGS FROM THE MALAHAT TO PORT HARDY TO BE CELEBRATED AT APRIL VIRTUAL EVENT Construction was brisk during 2020 despite the COVID pandemic, and because of that, a large number of nominations are expected for the 14th Annual Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Awards, which will be held in late April. For the second straight year, the event will be virtual.

Commercial, industrial and revenue-producing projects, including renovations, from the Malahat to Port Hardy are up for these awards, and must have been completed between January 1 and December 31, 2020.

“Construction and real estate have been amongst the strongest sectors to drive the Vancouver Island economy last year, and we expect that we will again have a large number of nominations for this year’s event,” says Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner, which coordinates the event.

Nomination deadline is March 18.

There will be at least 11 commercial categories: • Mixed-Use (commercial/residential) • Seniors housing • Community institutional • Community recreational • Retail • Industrial • Multi-family • Hospitality • Commercial renovation/restoration • Office • Green There will also be a Judges’ Choice Award for the best overall entry. Last year’s winner were the Tourism Tofino buildings in Tofino. The event was bumped back to September last year WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

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due to the pandemic, with winners announced via a Zoom program.

A select team of independent judges from the real estate industry will perform adjudication.

Black Press is a Platinum Media Sponsor.

Gold Sponsors of the Awards have been MNP LLP and Coastal Community Credit Union.

Black Press is a Platinum Media Sponsor. Category sponsors have been Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Colliers, NAI Commercial, Canadian Western Bank, Canadian Western Bank, RE/MAX Commercial, Herold Engineering and Yellow Sheet Review.

There is no cost to enter. For information and nomination forms, please contact Sue Lessard of VIREB at 250-390-4212 or visit www.vireb. com.

NANAIMO

STEPHEN APPOINTED GM OF NANAIMO GOLF CLUB PROCTER EXPANDS ISLAND CHAIN WITH PURCHASE OF PORT ALBERNI PROPERTIES The building was originally built in 1956.

Wayne Procter is expanding his convenience store and gas outlet chain, as his Best Buy Liquor Stores has purchased the Westwind Beer & Wine store and the Westwind Pub in Port Alberni.

Wayne’s companies include Gas ‘n Go and General Stores.

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MARK MACDONALD

Congratulations to Charles Stephen upon being appointed General Manager of the Nanaimo Golf Club.

Charles has been an excellent representative for the Nanaimo Golf Club for many years now, and is well deserving of his new role.

Nanaimo Search and Rescue will soon have a new home, in the former Harewood Fire Hall at 195 Fourth Street.

R.W. (Bob) Wall Ltd. is the General Contractor for the project, and owner Donna Hais has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.

The $2.6 million project will be completed in two phases. The City of Nanaimo is paying $1.3 million for the building, and an anonymous donor has contributed $1 million to Nanaimo Search and Rescue towards the project.

The Port of Nanaimo Board of Directors has two new members, as the Federal Government announced the appointments of Jeet Manhas and Shiva Dean to three-year terms.

Manhas has been on the Board previously as a provincial government appointee, and is the owner of the Fas Gas fuel station at Terminal Park. He is also a former City of Nanaimo councilor and Regional District of Nanaimo Director, and served as Port Board Chair during his earlier appointment.

Dean currently resides in Alberta, and has a strong background in international trade development focused on the Asia Pacific region.

Congratulations to Nanaimo’s Vanessa Savoie, for joining the team at Crowd Content, where she will assist in Search Engine Optimization and digital marketing.

Vanessa’s father, Dr. Andre Savoie of the Terminal Park Dental Clinic, could be referred to as the “painless dentist”, as he gives arguably the best needle in Nanaimo.

Island West Coast Developments has started construction on the Alberni Low Energy Housing Society’s new affordable housing initiative in Port Alberni.

February 2021

NANAIMO That comes after several years of background work by the ownership group and entire development team.

The Port of Nanaimo announced it has signed a 50-year shipping operations agreement with DP World.

This will enable the Port to continue towards a $105 million expansion of their terminal at Duke Point.

Acting Fire Chief Tim Doyle has been appointed as Nanaimo’s new Fire Chief.

Safeguard Storage held its official grand opening March 1 at 1865 Boxwood Road.

The recently completed new Quality Inn Hotel at 440 Selby Street in downtown Nanaimo started taking reservations on February 22.

BUILD THE

Jeet Manhas

FUTURE

Clean energy.

Resilient buildings.

Micro-credentials now at Camosun College.

Apply now, start in March 2021 camosun.ca/clean-energy

WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

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NANAIMO Tilray has reached an agreement to have Grow Pharma import and distribute the medical cannabis products it produces in the United Kingdom.

Grow Pharma is part of the Grow Group, and Tilray CEO Brendan Kennedy notes the agreement is an important part of expanding access into the United Kingdom market.

Quality Foods announced during its annual general meeting that the $2 per hour pay premium they introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic has become a permanent pay increase for all employees in its 13 locations on Vancouver Island.

Omicron presented its plans for the 197 apartments planned for the Telus property bordered by Richards, Wentworth and Wallace streets to the City of Nanaimo’s design advisory panel recently.

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The proposal includes two buildings, one for 52 units and the other for 146 units, which will include studio, one, two and three bedroom suites.

The units are expected to be home to close to 500 people.

The City of Nanaimo has announced it will be building 59 supportive housing units at 702 Nicol Street. Long ago it was a Payless Gas Station.

Congratulations to the Nanaimo Airport for winning a 2020 LIT Design Award for its terminal expansion for Interior Architectural Illumination.

Pelle Bjornert led the project team for the award winning effort.

Sadly, long-time Nanaimo contributor and former Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce President Marianne Turley passed away recently. She and husband Jim Turley, now a City of Nanaimo councilor, owned and operated Turley’s Florists for many years.

Marianne was awarded a City Honour in Culture Award posthumously for her many efforts in building Nanaimo’s culture and arts community.

Ay-Lelum – The Good House of Design, received the Excellence in Culture Award for their contributions to local, national and international fashion.

Dr. Tierney Glenn has joined the team of health practitioners at Island Optical Health and Performance.

Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. and can be reached at mark@communicationink.ca​

February 2021

COMOX VALLEY

COMOX VALLEY 2020 VIRTUAL CHAMBER AWARD WINNERS “I’m Still Sta nd-

Lifetime Achievement Award, Al Pullin; Custom-

ing” was the theme of the Comox Valley 2020 Virtual Chamber Awards gala. This year, more than ever, the Chamber Awards was a celebrat ion of the strength and DIANNE HAWKINS resiliency demonstrated by local businesses in the Comox Valley in the wake of challenging times.

The Chamber Awards celebration on January 30th looked a little different, to keep the spirit of celebration alive, an at home movie experience was created. The Chamber curated gourmet popcorn bags for viewers to enjoy in the comforts of their own homes while watching the awards virtually. They were a terrific hit!

An online auction replaced the usual silent auction and helped create a sense of fun and celebration! Funds were raised for the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Association.

Many thanks go out to our award, event and online auction sponsors, many whom have been supporting this event for years. This year, we needed you more than ever and you came through! Sponsors are the absolute foundation to the event’s success.

This year’s winners are: New Business Award, Uplifters Shop; Not for Profit Award, Habitat for Humanity VI North; Small Business of the Year, Runge’s European Deli; Sustainability Award, Harmonic Arts; Business Leadership, Steve Stewart; Business of the Year, Van Isle Veterinary Hospital;

er Service Award, Dr. Phil Nasralla; Family First Award, Central Builders – Home Hardware Building Centre; Land of Plenty Award, Wayward Distillery; Heritage Award, Filberg Heritage Park & Lodge; Innovative Business Award, Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery; Young Entrepreneur Award, Paige Whitehead; #YouRock Youth Award, Charlotte Kimmons; Covid Business Resilience Award, On the Fly Café; and the President’s Merit Award was awarded posthumously to Fred Bigelow.

For 45 years the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce has celebrated the community in recognizing businesses, organizations, and individuals that exemplify the very best of the Comox Valley. If you missed the virtual gala, check it out on our website at comoxvalleychamber.com Building good business & great community.

TOGETHER Dianne Hawkins is CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber. For more information on what’s happening locally and advocacy at the Chamber, give us a call or email our CEO at dhawkins@comoxvalleychamber.com – We’re here for you! #Restart Comox Valley

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COWICHAN VALLEY

DINE & SIP COWICHAN A WELCOME BOOST

SONJA NAGEL

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The Duncan Cowichan Chamber is pleased to announce the return of the Dine Cowichan Festival! Now in its 5th year, the 2021 program has been expanded to include wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries and has been rebranded Dine & Sip Cowichan. Hot on the heels of Tourism Cowichan’s new Sip, Savour & Support campaign, Dine & Sip Cowichan is another opportunity for locals to enjoy the tastes of the Cowichan Valley.

With the continued extension of PHO restrictions on social gatherings, the Chamber was hesitant to go forward with the festival.

However, the restaurants made it clear that, “Now, more than ever, local food and beverage businesses need this additional boost, whether it be dine-in or take-out support.”

This year’s festival features 36 “Dine” participants, including fine-dining venues, pubs, cafes, eateries, food trucks, and specialty food shops. Participating venues will be offering a

range of inspired dishes at special pricing, and take-out options are available for those who feel more comfortable dining at home.

The 13 “Sip” participants include a range of wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries who will be offering beverage tastings at special pricing or discounts on purchases.

Dine & Sip Cowichan runs from March 3 rd through 28th. With hopes that we will soon return to a “Safe Six” and restrictions will be lifted to include visits to other island communities, we invite you and your bubbles to visit the Cowichan Valley and support our food and beverage sector next month.

There are over 40 participating venues from the Malahat to Shawnigan Lake, Cowichan Bay to Maple Bay, Duncan to Chemainus and Ladysmith, and west to Lake Cowichan. For a full list of participants and to view the Dine and Sip menus and offerings, visit www.duncancc. bc.ca or 250.746.4636.

Sonja Nagel is the Executive Director of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. http://www.duncancc.bc.ca/

February 2021

ADVISORY

SHORING UP YOUR DEFENSES AGAINST CYBER CRIME

Frederic Pons, CISSP In these pandemic times, online activity has never been higher. More businesses than ever are using digital tools and doing business through the internet. Unfortunately, that means scammers are busier than ever trying to steal information or money. From viruses to hackers, do you know how to help your organization close the door on cyber crime?

Businesses large and small need a cybersecurity plan to make sure they are not leaving any cyber doors open to fraudsters. Even one successful attack may lead to potential loss of income, loss of consumer data, or network security and privacy lawsuits. Scammers are constantly developing new frauds, so good cybersecurity practices need to be part of everything you and your staff do, across your organization. A good first step is to offer staff training on cyber risks, including: • Being on guard against phishing emails or texts. Don’t open any attachments, click on any links, use any resource provided in an unsolicited email or text or give out personal, financial, medical or confidential information.

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• Ensuring strong-private-unique passwords for all your services, and setting up 2-factor authentication wherever possible.

Multi-factor authentication helps to prevent many of the most successful cyberattacks.

If you have to set up security questions/answers, make up the answers as hackers may be able to find your mother’s maiden name, elementary school, etc.

• Making sure never to install apps, drivers, screensavers, games or software from unknown vendors.

Meeting security and privacy best practices is even more important if your business collects customer data or credit card numbers, either in a brick-and-mortar store or online. To see how your cybersecurity plan stacks up, consider: • taking CyberSecure Canada’s certification program for small and medium-sized businesses; • checking out companies that offer cyber health checks; • reviewing all your technological dependencies to shore up any possible weaknesses.

Finally, did you know there’s insurance coverage to protect your company against cyber attacks? If you have any questions, start by talking over your situation with an insurance expert to help you choose the best coverage for your business.

Frederic Pons, CISSP, is the Information Security Officer for Coastal Community Credit Union. For more information on insurance against cyber attacks, call us at 1.887.811.3644.

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OFF THE COVER

NASCAR JOURNEY HAS PEET GEARED UP, ON D.E.C.K.

FORMER NANAIMO HOCKEY PLAYER NOW AN AUTHOR AND IN-DEMAND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

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NANAIMO – It took a demotion and a brawl to help Shaun Peet find his dream job.

As his junior/college/minor professional hockey career came to an end, Peet was recruited to be a jackman for Bill Davis Racing on the popular NASCAR car racing circuit in 2002 while he was serving an 18 game suspension for his part in a hockey brawl. He worked for other teams before joining Chip Ganassi Racing, where he has served as the Pit Crew Coach for the past six years.

“I tried for 25 years to get to the National Hockey League and I made it to NASCAR in six weeks,” he laughs.

Not only that, but Peet, based in North Carolina, has joined with Ganassi team member Mike Metcalf in a passion project called D.E.C.K. Leadership, which stands for Diversity, Efficiency, Culture and Kindness. They are coveted keynote speakers across North America, delivering a message of motivation, inspiration, team building and impactful lessons on diversity and inclusion.

They have co-authored a book, titled 12 Second Culture, the basis for their presentations to audiences and corporations. They use a race car and accompanying pit crew tools to provide hands-on demonstrations about how teamwork utilized by their NASCAR pit crew can translate seamlessly into organizations to foster teamwork and increase productivity.

Peet has strong Nanaimo roots, as his parents, Bill and Sandra Peet, are well known business owners. Sandra operated Sandra’s Place in Woodgrove Centre for years and now runs her aesthetics company as a home-based business.

Bill formerly owned Nanaimo AutoPro and now works for Lordco in Qualicum Beach. Being raised in a small business owning household has definitely been an asset to Peet.

He plied his trade as a defenseman/forward

known as much for his pugilistic talents than his goal scoring prowess for minor league teams like the Corpus Christi Icerays, South Carolina Stingrays, New Mexico Scorpions and the Macon Whoopee. He made it as high as the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Penguins, which made it to the Calder Cup final in 2001.

His minor pro career added not only his resume, but to his character.

While trying to make the East Coast Hockey League’s Hampton Admirals, he was unceremoniously released by the infamous John Brophy, a crusty, old-school coach who had a cup of coffee coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After what turned out to be his final exhibition game, Peet was sitting in the dressing room when Brophy demanded that Peet remove his skates.

He promptly tossed them in the garbage can, declaring to his Admiral teammates: “You don’t deserve to play hockey.”

Brophy later announced in the media that his biggest disappointment was Peet, stating: “He came to camp looking like Captain America, but he played like Miss America.” Peet laughs at the story now, but he has definitely used it as fuel, as it taught him two important lessons: “First, John Brophy’s opinion was none of my business. Secondly, never put a period where life intended a comma. If I would have believed what Brophy said, I would have never done anything in my life.”

His keynote presentation, One Good Shift, is a story about getting through 100% of his failures, including having Brophy throw his skates in the garbage.

D.E.C.K. was created after Peet and Metcalf were asked to speak at the annual National Football League Combine several years ago.

“We didn’t think the talk went very well,” he February 2021

OFF THE COVER

Shaun Peet in action during a NASCAR pit stop

recalls. “But at the end of it, 30 NFL people stuck around and asked us questions.”

He knew he was on to something after a lengthy discussion with a member of the New England Patriots, and they’ve since worked with the Dallas Cowboys, corporations like Michelin tires, pharmaceutical multinational Merck and universities.

Last year they made over 100 presentations.

“We go around and talk to companies about how to inspire human brilliance and build high functioning teams,” he adds. “There’s a lot of talk in the corporate world that businesses want to operate like pit crews, but they don’t know how.

We show them how to do that. “We’ll bring the race car to their parking lot and teach them how to work as a team by using the tools we use, in a simulation.”

Peet says they understand what drives human behavior and performance, and they focus on elevating people over process.

“Speed is the new currency of business – it’s fast versus slow – and efficiency is paramount,” he states. “The best way to build efficiency into your business is trust. There is a bunch of things you can do to build trust in your organization. It starts with caring about people.”

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Peet notes that the biggest compliment they get from clients is regarding their authenticity. ”We didn’t go to leadership school to talk about leadership. . .we’re doing it,” he states. “It’s 100 per cent authentic. Ours is the story about how we built the culture at Chip Ganassi Racing with limited resources, and how we inspire human brilliance.”

Peet says their team is the most racially diverse team in the history of NASCAR. “NASCAR was the first major sport to ever mandate diversity and inclusion training before you can go to the race track, and they hired D.E.C.K. to do the training,” he adds. “Now, we’re doing a lot of presentations on kindness.”

The Chip Ganassi team includes a former member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a Clemson University linebacker, and two ex-U.S. Navy Seals.

“The Seals are fascinating,” he observes. “They call the rest of us ’40 percenters’ – because with their training, they understand we are capable of so much more. “They say the problem with a lot of us is that it’s not that we aim too high and we miss. It’s that we aim too low and we hit. And there’s just so much more for us. We often end up making peace with mediocrity.

“I’d never been around people like that. One of the guys re-wrote the Seals sniper handbook, and he shared how everything they did was planned and measured. There was intention in everything they did, and now I’m working side-by-side with these guys, and learning from them, too.”

Peet also draws from a well of experience that includes playing in the B.C. Hockey League for the Nanaimo Clippers and Penticton Panthers. Former Clipper coach and part-owner Billy Bestwick has played a significant role in his life, including helping Peet earn a scholarship to play NCAA Division I hockey at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire – while Peet was playing for Penticton.

“Of all the jerseys I have, my Clippers jersey means more to me than anything,” he says, proudly. “When I got the call I had made the team, I just couldn’t believe it. “That was when I started to realize that my dreams could come true, and now we’re helping others do the same.” https://m.facebook.com/notes/ deck-leadership/why-deck/921704654689161/ www.deckleadership.com

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FEATURE STORY

Eric Duncan and co-founder Geoff Howard created a proven sea keeping hull design for their built-to-order, custom boats, created to handle near anything nature can throw its way

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LIFETIMER BOATS CELEBRATES FORTY YEARS MAKING SOME OF THE BEST CUSTOM BOATS IN CANADA, ERIC DUNCAN AND TEAM HAVE PROVEN THEY HAVE A BUSINESS LEGACY WORTH HONOURING DUNCAN - You have to be doing something right to stay in business for forty years. It takes a certain level of professional perseverance, customer care and of course, a product people love and want, to build that kind of legacy. Lifetimer Boats has those ingredients.

Founded in 1980 by Eric Duncan and Geoff Howard, Lifetimer was the result of two friends spending their youth on Vancouver Island, fishing, working and playing around boats.

Together, they noticed something that would steer their future careers.

“We found that nobody was building the type of boats we’d like to own, that would stand up to the multitude of fishing trips, water sports and rough water adventuring boat enthusiasts like ourselves would put a boat through,” explains Eric.

“We decided to make that kind of boat.”

It was a simple realization that birthed a business that was built to last. Today, Eric is the sole owner of Lifetimer Boats after Geoff’s retirement in 2000. Located in Duncan, Lifetimer offers extremely durable, competitively priced, February 2021

FEATURE STORY custom-built 14’ to 34.5’ crew and recreational boats. They’ve also expanded to create a line of aluminum tool boxes, headache racks, pickup truck fuel tanks, truck and vehicle accessories, fabricating aluminum equipment for the aquaculture industry and general custom fabrication.

They’re quite busy.

Eric’s business has adapted and grown over decades, something he feels makes Lifetimer Boats a special part of Duncan, North America and the rest of the world beyond.

Indeed, with over 4,000 boats in service, Lifetimer Boats can be found in waters across the globe. It’s a truly international business with a talented, knowledgeable staff, that still maintains a local feel for those that enter its doors.

Our great team of employees have helped build Lifetimer’s stellar reputation over the last four decades

“We have a team of twelve designers, draftsmen, welders, fabricators, fitters, mechanics, and office and sales staff who provide the best service to our customers,” notes Eric. “Our great team of employees have helped build Lifetimer’s stellar reputation over the last four decades.”

With no dealers or middle-men, Lifetimer Boats customers can be rest assured they’ll always deal directly with Eric and his top-notch WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

Lifetimer has digitized all of their boat components, cutting everything on their in-house 6’ x 16’ plasma table, allowing them to put the highest quality boats on the water

team. It’s the type of experience one should expect when investing in a made-to-order, custom-built boat. Openness, fair pricing and hands-on treatment keeps people coming back; it’s why Lifetimer is celebrating forty years of success in such a competitive market.

And what of the next decade and beyond? Eric Duncan has an admirably straightforward answer to that question.

“To continue producing our great product.” www.lifetimerboats.com

Visions Upholstery would like to congratulate Lifetimer Boats on forty years of success in BC!

19

FEATURE STORY

GEEKS ON THE BEACH: NICE AND SERIOUS VANCOUVER ISLAND WEB AGENCY OFFERS MULTIPLE SERVICES TO CLIENTS

20

VICTORIA – Nice guys finish last?

Jonathan Michaels, Chief Executive Officer and owner of Geeks on the Beach web agency doesn’t believe that at all.

“We have a nice team of nice geeks, and we make nice websites. And we’re serious about business,” Michaels says of the web design and optimization company he founded in 2007.

“Our whole focus is on trying to find the balance between being easy to deal with and doing serious business,” adds Michaels, noting they have offices in Dragon Alley in downtown Victoria, and in Parksville. “We’re very knowledgeable about what we do.”

Geeks on the Beach offers web site construction, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media Strategy, Google ads expertise and graphic design to clients, and the company has grown steadily since its beginning in Qualicum Beach.

“We have staff members up and down Vancouver Island, and we’re using Vancouver Island as a jumping off point for servicing clients across North America and the world,” Michaels states, adding the company now has 14 employees, including Partner David Michels, who has been with the firm for 8 years. Jonathan focuses on sales, with David looking after project management.

Despite the COVID crisis, Geeks on the Beach actually grew its business last year, Michaels observes. “We’ve roughly doubled in size over

Geeks on the Beach CEO Jonathan Michaels, left, and partner David Michels

the past year, and I would attribute that specifically to people who revisited their websites and online marketing and decided it was time to step up from using independent website designers, to a full service agency like ours,” he says. “They knew they needed to up their game to an agency that would meet all their needs.”

Michaels had a software company in Regina, Saskatchewan and penned a book titled “Personal Finance On The Web: A Personal Guide”, while writing for mostly financial-related technology. British Columbia beckoned.

“We wanted to move out to BC, and specifically liked Vancouver Island because of the lifestyle, and Qualicum Beach had some really good schools for our children,” he recalls. “We raised our family in the area, but once the kids were grown, we decided that I could work anywhere

February 2021

D

FEATURE STORY in the world, and that Victoria was the perfect fit for us.”

Michaels set up shop in Chinatown on Fisgard Street, first renting a three-storey live/work townhouse, then buying that unit and the one

“We have a clear focus on SEO and that’s something that comes directly out of my personal background, and it impacts every site that we build,” he notes. “SEO is never an after-thought with us, as it’s something that’s linked in to our

next door, which are still home to Geeks on the Beach.

“I live in the cutest little office on Pandora,” he notes, adding he is also a Director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association.

Geeks on the Beach has built websites for some of the largest resorts and tourist attractions on Vancouver Island, and Michaels notes that the San Francisco Aquarium is near the top of the list of their creations.

Sites that utilize WordPress are their specialty, and they have earned a reputation for their works creating blogs for clients.

pages.

“We also do a lot of online marketing for clients jay cousin An Independent who are looking to stand out in local search enPH 250gines and are in highly competitive sectors. They come to us for the strategic advantages we deliver,” he adds. “We also work on Shopify websites, promotional give-away campaigns, and help people attract positive reviews for local searches.

That includes Reputation Management. Really, anything that clients who need a better website in order to be more competitive, which they know they need if they want to survive.” www.geeksonthebeach.ca

21

Jay Cousins jay cousins realty

An Independent Member Broker

PH 250-751-1223 TF 1-877-335-4380 E jay@jaycousins.com W jaycousins.com FEATURED PROPERTIES

VANCOUVER ISLAND LEASE, BUSINESS & INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

LEASES

FOR LEASE - 800 Sq. Ft. Nanaimo - $14/Sq. Ft. + TN Large Nicely Appointment Office Space Fully Accessible Ground Level North Nanaimo Location Open Configuration, 2-Piece Washroom Part of Metral Centre complex

Available Immediately

Information Portfolio Available

FOR LEASE - 1,123 Sq. Ft. Space Nanaimo - $18/Sq. Ft. + TN

Great Exposure with Highway access 1,123 Newly Demised Space Main Level, Easy Access Open Interior, Bright Windows Rough-in Washroom

COR3 Zoning allows wide range of uses Information Portfolio Available

WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

2,100 Sq. Ft. Quality Office Space - North Nanaimo, high visibility, ground level access, 2 entrances, open layout, private offices, boardroom, kitchenette, storage, 2 Washrooms $14/SF + TN Downtown Nanaimo Commercial Space - 1,712 Sq. Ft. located in the Dorchester Hotel, fantastic location across from the Waterfront, Great visibility $1,700/Month + Hydro & Property Taxes 2,033 Sq. Ft. 2nd Floor Office Space – Downtown Nanaimo, T.N. includes HVAC, Hydro & Utilities.

Available for Immediate Occupancy $9.50/SF + TN Industrial Property - Cassidy Area - 4,306 Sq. Ft. Quality Office space with heat pump plus .75 Acre of Land. Great Highway Exposure $9/SF + TN 1,100 Sq. Ft. Sub-Lease space available now - Currently configured as a Retail Store, 2 Entry/Exit Doors, shared Washroom CC1 Commercial Zoned in South Nanaimo - $1,800 Month + GST Huge 1, 900 Sq. Ft. Unit with 1,300 Sq. Ft. Bonus Storage area - Large open 2nd level space downtown Nanaimo. Incl. Hydro/HVAC - $2,200/Month + GST 800 Sq. Ft. Office Space in Metral Centre - Great Exposure & Fully Accessible Unit, Private Office, Open Configuration 2-piece Washroom $14/SF + TN 4,635 Sq. Ft. Building South Nanaimo Quality custom designed office space with Boardroom, Meeting area, Staff room w/Kitchen, Parking, Easy Access, Available NOW! $16/Sq. Ft. + TN Downtown Nanaimo 320 Sq. Ft. Store Front Unit - Desirable location across from waterfront adjoining Best Western Dorchester Hotel, Available Jan 1, 2021 $805.00/Month + TN 3,131 Sq. Ft. Large Commercial Building – Prime Central Nanaimo location, COR-3 Zoning allows multiple uses incl. Retail/Restaurant/Office, Vacant with renovations started $14.50/Sq. Ft. + TN 1,340 Sq. Ft. Gallery Row - Currently configured as 2 Separate Units. 840 Sq. Ft. Retail & Showroom space + 500 Sq. Ft. Storage Area. $2,500/Month + GST Vacant Land Available for Lease – .75 of an Acre across from Cassidy Airport, Great for Storage of Vehicles, RV’s etc. $3,000/Month + GST Large Downtown Nanaimo Office Unit – 3,948 Sq. Ft. 2nd Level, Quality Building, Triple Net expense incl. HVAC, Hydro, Utilities, Available Immediately $12/Sq. Ft. plus T.N. 900 Sq. Ft. Corner Unit with Great Exposure – Near Old City Quarter, DT2 Zoning allows for a broad range of uses, Available immediately $13/Sq. Ft. plus T.N.

FEATURED PROPERTIES

POPULAR NEIGHBOURHOOD PUB - NANAIMO Busy High Volume Operation, 175 Seats incl. Patio Full Kitchen, Price includes Inventory $349,000 Information Portfolio Available

CENTRAL NANAIMO INVESTMENT PROPERTY 18,000 Sq. Ft. Building on High Visibility Corner 5 Bed Residence on 2nd Level Plus Multiple Commercial Tenants $2,995,000

COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL LOT - CROFTON 1/4 Acre Lot on High Visibility Access into Crofton Zoned Commercial General (C2) $299,900 Broad Range of Permitted Uses

RETAIL FLOORING BUSINESS - NANAIMO

D L O S FOR SALE - Building & Land South Nanaimo - $629,000 Approx. 4,500 Sq. Ft. Warehouse

on .4 Acre Fenced property

Tilt-up Concrete, 16-18 Ft. Ceiling Height 3 Phase 400 AMP power Open style building w/overhead crane COR 3 Zoning Information Portfolio Available

Exemplary Flooring Business with significant Inventory Know for discount pricing and great

Customer Service, Room to Expand

$175,000

HIGHWAY EXPOSURE NANAIMO - BLDGS & LAND 2 Buildings on 3/4 Acre Property, Plenty of Paved Parking Restaurant Tenant on Long Term Lease $1,195,000 Information Portfolio Available

BAKERY & CONFECTIONARY BUSINESS - NANAIMO Bakery & Coffee Shop with a Terrific Reputation Highly Visible Corner Location $249,000 Information Portfolio Available

6 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING - NANAIMO 3 One Beds, 3 Two Beds, Close to Downtown Core Sep Meters, Some Long Term Tenants $1,249,000 Approx. 5% CAP at asking price

FOR LEASE - 2,100 Sq. Ft. Unit Metral Centre - $14/Sq. Ft. + TN

Open Layout with 2 separate Entrances

2 Private Office, 1 Large Office/Boardroom 2 Washrooms/Storage/Kitchenette Accessible Ground Level Unit COR3 Zoning Quality Neighbours in Complex Information Portfolio Available

WHO IS SUING WHOM The contents of Who’s Suing Whom is provided by a thirdparty resource and is accurate according to public court documents. Some of these cases may have been resolved by publication date.

DEFENDANT Arrowsmith Roofing Ltd 2767 Powder Point Rd, Nanoose Bay, BC PLAINTIFF Canada Gypsum Management and Supply Inc CLAIM $10,156 DEFENDANT Cancor Cutting & Coring Ltd 1106 Surfside Dr, Qualicum Beach, BC PLAINTIFF AB Edie Equities Inc CLAIM $201,500

22

DEFENDANT Coast Capital Insurance Service Ltd

110-29 Helmcken Rd, Victoria, BC Towes, Michael James CLAIM $35,276 DEFENDANT Cosmo Prof 7385 2-772 Bay St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Cardinal Point Health Centre CLAIM $15,036 DEFENDANT Dons Boat Transport Ltd 3rd Flr 26 Bastion Square, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Burrell, Mike CLAIM $13,371

DEFENDANT Dscreet Health Inc 4029 Blackberry Lane, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Cheng, Gary Chi Lap CLAIM $35,216

DEFENDANT ER A Strata Corp Exec Council EPS 2516 728 Yates St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF McBride, Richard Alan CLAIM $35,000

DEFENDANT Dscreet Health Inc 4029 Blackberry Lane, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Cheng, Randal Gee Chong CLAIM $35,216

DEFENDANT International Composting Corporation 4th Flr 1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Lundy, Christopher CLAIM $15,556

DEFENDANT Dscreet Health Inc 4029 Blackberry Lane, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Mok, Henry Kwok Ming CLAIM $35,216

Kania Industries Inc 2345C Delinea Pl, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Vonisenburg, Alexander Furst CLAIM $20,496

February 2021

WHO IS SUING WHOM DEFENDANT Karmanah Wood Design Ltd 101-797 Goldstream Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Arsenal Rentals Ltd CLAIM $11,343 DEFENDANT KD Gold Enterprises Ltd 5379 Kenwell Dr, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Silva, Juan CLAIM $5,020 DEFENDANT Leading Edge Roadworks Inc 102-575 10th St, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF Castle Fuels (2008) Inc CLAIM

WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

$7,730 DEFENDANT Metchosin Properties Inc PO Box 525, Shawnigan Lake, BC PLAINTIFF Belton Bros Structural Movers (2006) Ltd CLAIM $29,080 DEFENDANT Monjo & Associates Financial Services Ltd 109-335 Wesley St, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Hinkkala & Associates Financial Services Inc CLAIM $47,110 DEFENDANT PJS Powerblasting & Mobi le Water T reatment Service 963 Herd Rd, Cowichan

Valley, BC PLAINTIFF Dobos, Cheri Louise CLAIM $33,196 DEFENDANT PJS Powerblasting 963 Herd Rd, Cowichan Valley, BC PLAINTIFF Dobos, Cheri Louise CLAIM $33,196 DEFENDANT Rivers Inlet Sportsmans Club Ltd 201-909 I sl a nd Hw y, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF LMP Publication Limited Partnership CLAIM $7,273 DEFENDANT Toulmin Construction Inc

409 Leighton Ave, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF Adams, Linda CLAIM $35,235 DEFENDANT Victoria Nannies & Caregivers Placement Agency 301-1321 Blanshard St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Freeland, Geff CLAIM $10,156 DEFENDANT Victoria Silver Spring Distillery Inc 1230 Merridale Rd, Cobble Hill, BC PLAINTIFF Beacon Construction Consultants Inc CLAIM $7,290

23

FEATURE STORY

SEASPAN ADDING NEW BATTERY SYSTEM FOR FERRIES SEASPAN RELIANT FERRY WILL OPERATE BLUE WHALE BATTERY STARTING IN SUMMER 2021

24

NANAIMO – Seaspan Ferries Corporation has reached an agreement with Corvus Energy for the first installation of its Corvus Blue Whale ESS energy storage system on its Seaspan Reliant cargo ferry.

Blue Whale is a new large-scale battery system designed for large ships with high zero-emission energy demand, such as cruise ships, large Ro-Pax and Ro-Ro ferries, and cargo ships.

For its inaugural field trial, the Blue Whale battery system will be installed on board Seaspan Reliant, which was built in 2016 and sails the Gulf of Georgia between Nanaimo and the Lower Mainland.

“Seaspan has been an important partner for Corvus Energy. They were amongst the first to

The Seaspan Swift ferry

install our batteries in North America. Their extensive experience on our battery systems and knowledgeable team makes them the ideal field trial partner,” says Sean Puchalski, EVP Strategy & Business Planning at Corvus Energy.

Kendra MacDonald is CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, an initiative of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, which is providing funding to the project. Salish Sea Marine Emission Reductions funding through Environment & Climate Change Canada also helped make the field trial possible.

The Blue Whale ESS features a rack-free design of stacking modular blocks, providing high volumetric battery room energy density that maximizes a ship owners’ passenger or payload opportunities.

“Although Seaspan Reliant is a relatively small vessel for a Blue Whale system and the retrofit will be done on a very tight schedule, the challenging conditions make it ideal for a trial site,” says Richard Wing, Corvus’ Chief Research and Development Officer. “Moving and situating the Blue Whale modules and pack controllers into the existing battery room will also test and validate the materials handling equipment and service tools we have developed.”

February 2021

FEATURE STORY Installation of the new Blue W ha le system is scheduled for Summer 2021, at wh ich time Seaspan also plans to relocate the AT6500 system onto sister vessel, Seaspan Swift.

Blue Whale comKendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean m i s s i o n i n g a n d Supercluster trials will be carried out while the vessel is in full-service operation during the remaining months of 2021. With three and a half times the previous energy capacity, Seaspan will be able to expand the use of battery

power beyond spinning reserve to also provide fuel-efficient peak shaving, load balancing, and even zero-emission operation on battery power only.

“The increased battery capacity will give us operational flexibility to enhance service levels while reducing emissions and fuel consumption,” says Harly Penner, Director of Fleet Renewal and Maintenance at Seaspan Ferries.

“Seaspan Ferries is committed to caring for the environment, and this is an exciting opportunity to play a role in the transformation of shipping towards a greener and more sustainable industry,” says Gord Miller, VP Seaspan Ferries.

The Blue Whale field trial and all key maritime authority certifications are expected to be completed by Spring 2022, at which time commercial deliveries will commence.

Equip your Business with the Latest Technology Contact us Today (866) 248-4251 40 years of trusted service on Vancouver Island

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Nanaimo Parksville Courtenay Victoria

WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

(866) 248-4251

AGScanada.com

25

FEATURE STORY

26 Kyle Potter (left), his highly-skilled team and the Walls Electrical fleet.

WALLS ELECTRICAL DOES IT RIGHT OWNER KYLE POTTER COMBINES WORK ETHIC, A TALENTED TEAM AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO MAKE HIS COMPANY A FAVORITE IN CENTRAL VANCOUVER ISLAND NANAIMO - Kyle Potter began his journey at Walls Electrical a decade ago, joining former owner Chris Williams, who had struck out on his own after a previous business partnership.

Kyle had already been an electrician since 1997 at that point.

“I started my apprenticeship in Edmonton in my early twenties, and worked there for a few years before returning to BC,” Kyle explains.

When Chris decided to retire, he left his business in the capable hands of Kyle, who purchased Walls Electrical in 2014. Kyle was motivated to take his new company to new heights, making it a greater success than it already was.

“In the time I have owned Walls Electrical, we have tripled the amount of sales, and have been voted 3rd best in the “Best of the City Awards” two years in a row, and 2nd best this year,” Kyle proudly notes.

February 2021

FEATURE STORY Keeping up to date on training not only improves our skills, but is also a great way to bring more potential business into the company and provide even better service to our current and future customers He did so by offering a strong worth ethic, combined with some of the best employees in the industry.

“Probably the biggest challenge we have faced has been finding hardworking, knowledgeable, quality employees,” explains Kyle. “I feel with our current crew, we have achieved just that.”

Kyle and his highly-skilled Red Seal journeyman electricians handle an enormous variety of services for customers in Nanaimo, and everywhere between Duncan and Qualicum Beach.

“We currently staff five journeymen, three apprentices and one office staff member. We have five fully-equipped work vans, and a thirty-five foot, custom-built bucket truck. We’re prepared for anything our customers need.”

Walls Electrical and its team of licensed electricians offer industrial, commercial, residential, and new construction electrical services, including repairs, inspections, and upgrades.

Everything from handling major rewiring projects, replacing bathroom light fixtures and repairing furnace malfunctions, to replacing older technology with new, more energy efficient lighting systems, and much more, with

WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

Kyle Potter had already been an electrician since 1997 when he took over as owner of Walls Electrical in 2014.

24-hour emergency electrical service to boot.

States Kyle, “We have the tools, crew and experience to address any electrical issue.”

Walls Electrical is also in good standing with Worksafe BC, and carries $5 million in insurance coverage. This, combined with their commitment to providing cost-effective, expert workmanship has made them a trusted favorite amongst businesses, homeowners and industrial clientele alike.

Kyle and crew aren’t content to rest on their current reputation, however, aiming to improve and expand the service and expertise Walls Electrical provides Island residents.

Elaborates Kyle, “We are looking not only to grow as a company, but grow our skill set as well. Some of our journeymen are scheduled to take courses on solar installations as we go further into smart homes, for instance. Keeping up to date on training not only improves our skills, but is also a great way to bring more potential business into the company and provide even better service to our current and future customers.” wallselectrical.ca

27

OPINION

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LABOUR LAWS BECOME ONEROUS

28

MARK MACDONALD With the new United States government announcing its march towards a $15 minimum wage, and Canada on again/off again about doing the same, minimum wage earners are ecstatic. But should they be?

Hiking the minimum wage is an amazingly simplistic way to woo voters – with the promises of increased income. Somehow, the conversation never winds its way around to explain that with wage costs rising, so will the price of goods and services. All such mandated increases are never usually borne by the business owner – the consumer at the end of the line pays. And pays.

And pays.

Despite current popular thought suggesting that business owners are rolling in the money (“their” money, really, since it’s the workers that make it all happen) the pandemic has revealed

the true state of the economy, especially small business. And that is this: Without deep subsidies and assistance, an alarming number of Canadian companies would have already closed.

By the way, we’re not suggesting that these are hand-outs, but rather repayment of the thousands of dollars that businesses have already paid in taxes and fees to governments. It’s getting some of the money back they’ve had to inject into the “system”.

So, while wage earners and voters buy into the $15 minimum wage mirage, how many bother to notice that the price of groceries and restaurant foods and gas have incrementally risen?

Why are they more expensive? Because affected businesses must make sure their costs are covered to keep their doors open. Who really pays?

Consumers.

Minimum wage raises and other pro-labour socialist-minded government legislation, while garnering votes, actually make it more necessary for business owners to adjust to protect their investments.

When the NDP government strongly hints about removing secret ballots for union registration, they are most definitely pleasing their most ardent fiscal supporters – the unions themselves that bankroll their elections, while the private sector shudders. Owners know how much more union-represented workers cost, not to mention the increased lack of flexibility of operation.

What is a business owner to do? What do they do in environments like this?

February 2021

OPINION They adjust, in clever ways.

Restaurants have been pounded by the government’s prolonged restrictions, but you can see how many have adjusted by focusing on take-out and delivery. Skip The Dishes, DoorDash and others have slid into the market to get restaurant food to customers at their homes and offices.

Some eateries have simply hired their own drivers to deliver.

Is this a temporary fix? What if the restaurant owner likes the results of utilizing out-sourced delivery companies – read contractors – for which they pay either flat fees or commission.

They have less staff, thus less to pay out in terms of benefits, and minimum staff issues.

If they’re not happy with a contractor, then it’s “next”.

The end result could be less restaurant jobs, especially if they’re $15 an hour. Those serving jobs, which include huge tip opportunities, could be gone forever.

Self-checkouts at grocery and department stores started slowly, with one or two per store.

Count how many there are now, and where the larger lineups linger. While it costs more up front for technology, that investment will pay off as the machines are paid for. And again, less staff – and related problems.

Outsourcing to other countries – or out of province – also presents tempting opportunities. Employ someone in BC and typical benefits and related expenses total an extra 20 per cent each to the payroll. Using labour and contractors from lesser developed countries means lower wage costs, no minimum wage standards, and no benefits to be paid.

These survival tactics and more become WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

genuine solutions to protect investment, and come with tangible payback. The negative?

Less workers employed in British Columbia, which means non-positive payback somewhere down the economic cycle.

What else is a business owner to do to survive tough times and unfair, anti-owner policies?

They’ll do what they must. Ultimately, the voters who applaud when their government of choice implements policies that please only them, will pay the price.

Talk about a lack of political foresight: Buying votes via job-killing policies to please workers today, which forfeit future employments by ultimately eliminating jobs, especially those paying minimum wage.

Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. and can be reached at mark@ communicationink.ca​

From the Trenches British Columbia business stories and commentary

Dig deep with the frontline leaders of our economy

29

FEATURE STORY

BENNETT SHEET METAL & HEATING HIT 60 YEARS

30

COURTENAY - A third-generation, familyowned business, Bennett Sheet Metal & Heating was founded by Raymond Bennett and wife Lila in 1961. Starting in custom sheet metal fabrication, roofing and heating work in their small community, the company developed a burgeoning reputation for personal service.

Soon outgrowing their first location, they moved to their current shop at 741 McPhee Avenue in Courtenay.

The Bennett’s business was eventually passed down to Ray’s daughter and son-in-law Teresa and Bill Logan in the early 2000s, along with another son-in-law, Keith Bomback. Most recently, Terry Logan, Ray’s Grandson, has taken the helm of Bennett Sheet Metal, maintaining the company’s proud family legacy as they celebrate a well-earned sixtieth anniversary.

Along with the custom fabrication of sheet metal orders in their fully fitted sheet metal shop, Bennett Sheet Metal offers and installs heat pumps, furnaces, woodstoves and chimneys, and fireplaces. They use products they believe in, like Lennox, of which BSM has been a dealer from the very beginning. Their team of over twenty dedicated sheet metal workers, refrigeration mechanics, class A and B gas fitters, apprentices, and office staff are

Innovation Never Felt So Good

Congratulations to Benne Sheet Metal & Heating on all your success!

www.lennox.com

h ig h ly qu a l i f ied and deeply dedicated to bringing their customers the best possible service. “ We h ave loya l c ont ra c tors a nd an even more loyal customer base, some coming back for thei r th i rd round of heating equipment,” says Terry. “P roperly Terry Logan trained tradesmen and quality workmanship has created a brand in Bennett Sheet Metal that people know they can count on.”

Their success hasn’t come without hardship, however. The closing of their Campbell River location due to the retirement of a business partner was a tough call for Terry.

“It was important to ensure Campbell River customers still felt they could count on the service they’d come to expect from us even without a showroom they could walk into,” explains Terry.

With help from close friend and colleague Tim Brown, who transferred from Campbell River to support Terry, he was able to get that message across.

“It took time, but with Tim and the team’s hard work, we made sure those customers knew we’d be there for them, as committed as ever. once customers got the message, we were back on track.”

An even greater blow was the heartbreaking loss of Terry’s mom, Teresa, to cancer a few years ago, and the passing of Bill shortly after.

February 2021

FEATURE STORY “Teresa left a big hole in the business,” Terry elaborates. “Bennett Sheet Metal was like a second home to her. She was passionate about doing things her way. When she passed, we had to quickly learn how to manage the business without her. It’s difficult mourning a close family member while keeping a business they were so involved in running effectively. It was very stressful, but with the support of our incredible staff, we’ve managed to navigate the bumps we encountered.”

Today, Terry is focused on leading the company, working to create the best environment for staff and customers alike, building on the legacy that made Bennett Sheet Metal what it is.

“We’ll continue training employees to manufacture and install quality equipment and system components with professionalism, and to take pride in their workmanship.”

In addition to their service to the entire North Island and smaller surrounding islands, Terry and Shawna proudly give back to their community.

Elaborates Terry, “We participate in local fundraising, including Children’s Miracle Network, as well as “Stuff the Truck”, a fundraiser for the food bank and BC Cancer Foundation.

In the future, we hope to join Lennox, a great company whose products we offer, in their “Feel the Love” program. They donate heating equipment to those in need. We’d like to donate our time and materials to install it.”

With their combined dedication to community and craft, one suspects Bennett Sheet Metal & Heating will be around for yet another sixty years, making more lifelong customers, and honoring the family and friends who helped build their legacy in BC. www.bennettsheetmetal.com

Region

Project Address

Project Type

Project Details

Low Bidder / Award

Oak Bay

2251 Cadboro Bay Rd

Demolition/deconstruction

Construction Management - Demolition of Oak Bay Lodge

Unitech Construction Mgmt

Esquimalt

CFB Esquimalt

Institution new

Replacement of Existing SS Tower at Naden-92A

Luxton Construction

273,000

Esquimalt

CFB Esquimalt

Supply

Generator Rationalization

Kingsview Construction

872,000

Saanich

3100 Foul Bay Rd

Services

Roof Projects

Parker Johnston Industries

n/a

Saanich

4461 Interurban Rd

Institution add/alter

Camosun Innovates Lab ITT

Century Group Inc

n/a

Saanich

770 Vernon Ave

Institution add/alter

Municipal Hall and Annex Refit

Brenric Construction

276,800

Saanich

3100 Foul Bay Rd

Institution add/alter

College - Wilna Thomas Building Renewal

Heatherbrae Builders

n/a

Langford

3100 Constellation Ave

Institution new

Pexsisen Elem School - digital controls system for HVAC

Kerr Controls

n/a

Capital Regional Dist Jordan River

Supply

Delivery of Concrete

Independent Concrete

n/a

North Cowichan

6444 Ford Rd

Institution new

North Cowichan Civic Building - cast in place concrete

Scansa Construction

1,499,400

Nanaimo

745 Third St

Institution add/alter

Serauxmen Fencing & Netting

Milestone Equipment Contr

2,035,920

Cumberland

3699 Bevan Rd

Institution new

CVWMC Recycling Depot - Building Construction

D Mills Construction

226,550

Comox

19 Wing Comox

Institution add/alter

Barracks B25 Lounge Renovation to Quarters

Rolling Tides Construction

135,000

Comox

CFB Comox, Lazo

Supply

Overhead Doors

Island Overhead Door

300,000

Campbell River

Various locations

Roads & bridges

Road Construction & Maintenance

K & D Contracting

167,604

Port McNeill

355 Km Highway 19

Roads & bridges

All Steel Portable Bridges

Surespan Structures

350,000

WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

Budget 46,000

31

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

MOVERS & SHAKERS Announcements, business changes, celebrations and other hidden gems from around Central/North Vancouver Island.

Curated just for you.

Submit your company’s announcement to: media@businessexaminer.ca

32

Episode 8 of the Business Examiner podcast – F rom t h e t ren ch e s – i s n o w l i v e! It features Andre Sullivan of Integral Wealth Securities in Nanaimo. Andre covers investing trends, real estate, blockchain, cryptocurrency and much more.

for food waste. The landfill handles about 5,000 tons of organic waste a year. The Regional District of Mount Waddington has applied for funding for the project, estimated at $500,000, with Clean BC potentially picking up twothirds of the cost.

NORTH ISLAND

Kwakiutl First Nation Hereditary Chief David Knox, Chief Councillor Ross Hunt Jr. and Mayor Dennis Dugas met at the District of Port Hardy’s municipal hall to sign a relationship agreement to work together to support and promote the wellbeing of the First Nation, the district, and the North Island as a whole. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action will underlie their work together, with the First Nation and district agreeing to share information

Port Hardy’s Highland Manor, a 41-year-old, 50-unit building, has been purchased by Greg Vance and his business partners, the same team who previously bought Creekside Apartments.

The sale closed for $1.6 million.

Seven Mile Landfill is seeking funds via Clean BC’s organic infrastructure and collection program to improve its composting system, which would consist of using silage bag composting

February 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS from the federal government, Province of British Columbia, Regional District of Mount Waddington and other bodies directly or indirectly impacting this agreement and/or shared interests.

Port McNeill council has agreed to fund one-third of the cost for a new battery backup power system for the Chilton Regional Arena. Total cost for the project is estimated at $48,000 and the town’s contribution is capped at $16,000, included in the 2021 budget, with the Regional District of Mount Waddington paying the remaining $32,000.

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Construction has finished on Q’waxsem Place, a 50-unit supportive housing development in Campbell River, that will be managed by the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society.

The Province provided approximately $10.4 million for the project and will provide approximately $962,000 in annual operating funding. The City of Campbell River provided the land, as well as $550,000 in equity contributions and waivers.

T he Campbell R iver Rotary clubs raised $16,011 for the Campbell River Hospital Foundation through their March for Children project. The donation will be used to purchase a Vascular Imaging Machine for the maternity department.

Tlowitsis First Nation intends to develop a wastewater treatment facility for its 635-acre

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS Nenagwas reserve, south of Campbell River. A permit application for the wastewater treatment plant has been made with regulatory bodies, requesting a Statutory Right of Way (SRW) for crown seabed for the installation of a marine wastewater outfall at Oyster Bay. The First Nation has hired Nanaimo’s Chatwin Engineering to handle the project.

T he City of Ca mpbel l R iver is look i ng to add the Haig-Brown House at the north end of town and Sybil Andrews Cottage in the south to the city’s Community Heritage Register to strengthen the protection of the two heritage properties.

COMOX VALLEY

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The K’ómoks First Nation and the Comox Valley Regional District Sewage Commission have

ratified a Community Benefits Agreement committing both parties to collaborate on a regional solution for sewage. The agreement will provide upgrades for Comox and Courtenay sewer infrastructure while supporting the growth and economic development plans of the K’ómoks community. The partnership recognizes existing sewer lines through reserve land was expropriated without adequate consultation, and provides compensation for past and future impacts of sewer infrastructure within the reserve.

The provincial government has announced that K’omoks First Nation will receive $472,000 for a project to protect against erosion impacting the community. The funding has been approved through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund’s structural flood mitigation stream, targeting projects to prevent, eliminate or reduce the impacts of flood hazards.

A pedestrian crossing is being installed at Ryan Road and Cowichan Avenue at the turnoff to North Island College. Raylec Power will conduct the work, which is expected to begin February 22nd.

The Comox Valley Community Foundation has launched its 2021 COV ID-19 Emergency Response Grants, available to local charities and not-for-profit organizations. The CVRD has contributed $100,000 from its Provincial Safe Restart Funds to the foundation to support the 2021 COVID-19 Emergency Response.

The CVCF has also committed $60,000 from

February 2021

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the Robert & Florence Filberg Funds for child welfare and religious organizations. To find out more, visit w ww.cvcfoundation.org or call 250-338-8444.

The province is providing the Comox Valley Transition Society with $300,000 to convert two beds at the Amethyst House, a women’s residential recovery centre in Courtenay, from private to publicly funded, making treatment more accessible to a greater number of people.

The CVTS partners with Island Health to provide the service.

PARKSVILLE & QUALICUM BEACH BC Business magazine named Parksville the second most resilient city in BC, behind only Langford. BC Business applied twelve indicators to the ranking, including demographic, workforce composition, real estate and employment trends.

BC Housing announced the St. Anne and St. Edmund Anglican Church on Wembly Road in Parksville will house an eight-bed shelter until March 31st. It’s being run by the Oceanside Homelessness Ecumenical Advocacy Response (OHEART) and funded through BC Housing.

The Parksville Fire Department will see an additional $45,000 go toward upgrades needed for training facilities. Parksville city council will award Knappett Industries $149,805 plus taxes, to improve the working area, drainage, usability and accessibility within the fire department’s training centre. The awarded

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amount is an increase of $45,000 for the 2021 capital budget allocated for the PFD. Included in the increased amount is a 15 percent ($22,470) contingency to offset any unforeseen circumstances during construction.

Parksville city council had no objection to the Music Cafe‘s application for a proposed addition of an entertainment endorsement to their existing food-primary liquor licence, allowing it to proceed to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. The business, located at 2-631 Island Highway, plans to introduce patron participation activities like (including, but not limited to) dancing, singing and karaoke.

The Town of Qualicum Beach has sold 2,068 square metres (0.51 acres) of Town-owned land consisting of parcels 126, 130 and 136 on Second Avenue East to Windley Projects Inc. for $525,000. The land will be transformed into mixed-use residential and commercial buildings as part of the East Village project.

The Parksville Royals w ill continue to operate the Springwood Park concession stand for up to five years after city council entered into another rental agreement with the baseball club for use of the Springwo o d P a rk c o n c e s s i o n faci l ity. T he ag reement expires on December 31, 2023, with an option for a Colin Springford two-year extension.

L ong t i me Pa rksv i l le resident Colin February 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS Springford recently passed away at seventyfive on his farm in Nanoose Bay. Colin, a successful entrepreneur and valued member of the Parksville community, started Town & Country Construction Parksville Ltd. in 1975 with wife Diane, along with operating Quality Gravel and Havelock Storage. He served as president of the Coombs Farmers’ Institute for ten years and was active in the Arrowsmith Agricultural Association, and many other farm organizations.

Parksville Council has released the “Parksville Pool and Multiplex Facility Feasibility Study” to the public along with background information, staff reports, studies, assessments, and stakeholder engagement session results, currently available on the City’s public engagement platform, Let’s Talk Parksville. The report summarizes the feasibility and benefit of a multi-use aquatic centre in Parksville and shows Despard Avenue as the test site for the facility. To read the study and learn more about the potential facility, visit letstalkparksville.ca.

The City of Parksville is seeking requests for proposals for community park food vendors.

The city wishes to provide concession services through mobile vendors in the Parksville Community Park, with a focus on locally grown and nutritious foods. Two concession pads are located in the park at 193 Island Highway East.

Applicants may submit proposals for one or both of the existing pads for either the summer season or off-season by Friday, February 26 at 3PM. For details, contact Amanda Weeks at aweeks@parksville.ca or 250-954-3070.

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The Rod & Gun bar and grill at 163 Alberni Highway has re-opened after completing repairs from a fire that occurred in April of 2020. rodandgunparksville.com NANAIMO The Regional District of Nanaimo wishes to standardize its community amenities contributions policy. A report, presented to the RDN’s Electoral Area Services Committee recommends staff develop a work program and budget for the creation of a CAC policy in 2022. The plan is to create a list of amenities, potentially including water towers, child care and affordable housing that developers can anticipate when applying for rezoning.

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS The Regional District of Nanaimo is establishing a new tree management policy for parks that will address a variety of tree-related issues.

Park Services recently presented a wellreceived draft of the policy to the Regional Parks and Trails Select Committee that would provide direction on tree removals and suitable replacements in parks and trails to ensure zero loss of trees, the management of fire risks in the forested parks and trails, and management of invasive species.

Deputy Chief Tim Doyle has been promoted to Fire Chief of Nanaimo Fire Rescue. The twentyyear vet replaces Karen Fry who left to head Vancouver’s fire department in January.

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A City of Nanaimo’s design advisory panel is supportive of the development application

for 197 apartments in the Old City Quarter. Omicron, on behalf of property owner Telus Communications, is looking to build six- and seven-storey apartment buildings on land bordered by Wallace, Wentworth and Richards streets. The applicant is proposing one 146-unit building and one 51-unit building consisting of studio apartments and one, two and three-bedroom suites for 400-500 people.

The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy recently announced approval of bylaws banning single-use plastic bags in four cities, including Nanaimo. The bylaw takes effect July 1st, giving retailers time to adjust their delivery and work through any existing stock of bags.

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February 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS Island will distribute 16,000 masks across the region, representing its share of Deloitte Canada’s One Million Masks project. They will distribute the masks via partnerships with BC Ferries and BC Transit, as well as businesses and community organizations.

The BC Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions will partner with the John Howard Society on 15 beds and with Edgewood Treatment Centre on five beds, part of funding 100 new treatment and recovery beds around the province, with one-fifth slated for Nanaimo.

The provincial government is providing $13 million for the initiative, administered through the Canadian Mental Health Association in consultation with the province and health authorities.

Mark Busby is the new executive director of the Men’s Centre in Nanaimo. Originally from the UK, Mark has lived in Nanaimo for 16 years and has previously worked as executive director of the Nanaimo Brain Injury Society.

He replaces founder and former executive director Theo Boere, who is retiring after close to 20 years.

Four new EV charging stations are operational at Nanaimo Airport. Two stations have been installed in the main parking lot outside the terminal building, with a further two located in the rental car area. The stations are part of Natural Resources Canada’s Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative, which provided $200,000 in funding for the project. The province added

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an extra $100,000 through their CleanBC program, with the airport itself providing the remaining $100,000.

The multi-million-dollar, 28,000 square foot facility project for Nanaimo’s Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank is closer to reality, recently securing $95,000 in funding from the Regional District of Nanaimo’s zero waste recycling program. A site for the new facility has been identified, with negotiations underway to purchase it. The land will cost roughly $1.4 million, with facility construction estimated between $5 and $10 million.

BC Ferries will conduct a test run of its newest Island-class vessel, the Island Aurora, between terminals at Descanso Bay and downtown Nanaimo from February 7-8. Hybrid ferries will take over the Nanaimo-Gabriola ferry run in 2022. Customers travelling for essential reasons may sail aboard the Island Aurora during the test run. Regular fares will apply.

The former Harewood Fire Hall will soon undergo renovations to improve the building’s functionality as Nanaimo Search and Rescue’s headquarters. The $2.6-million project is being paid for with a $1-million anonymous donation made to NSAR and $300,000 in grants NSAR secured from the province, as well as $1.3 million from the City of Nanaimo’s 2022 budget.

PORT ALBERNI & WEST COAST In partnership with the City of Port Alberni, with funding from the Province of BC

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS and Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET), the Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA) has opened T he Kitchen located at The Dock+ food hub. T he Dock+ began operating for its aquaculture food processor anchor tenants in the summer of 2020. The Kitchen at The Dock+ is ready and available for any business, charitable organization, or individual requiring a facility to make their food or beverage products. For information about The Dock+ and how to reserve time in The Kitchen, visit www.thedockplus.ca.

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The Port Alberni Shelter Society has received $1 million in funding for six addiction recovery beds, the first steps toward creation of a therapeutic recovery community in the Alberni Valley.

San Group’s remanufacturing plant on Stamp Avenue in Port Alberni will be opening soon after COVID-19 and other delays put Construction almost a year behind. The owners hope to have most of the plant up and running sometime in April. When the whole site is built there will be 300,000 square feet of buildings with six acres of blacktop in between.

WEST COAST Tofino has its newest Multi-Use Path extension, with the opening of the 2.8 kilometre addition to the MUP’s existing 6 kilometre pedestrian, jogger and bicyclist haven spans from Tofino’s visitor centre at Cox Bay to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s northern border.

The Tofino Housing Corporation’s first affordable housing project will break ground sometime in February, with construction on a 14-unit housing development at 700 Sharp Road through a partnership between the THC and Vancouver’s Catalyst Community Developments, who will own and operate the units.

C OW IC H A N VA L L E Y + L A DYS M I T H / CHEMAINUS Ampersand Distilling Co. at 077 Lanchaster Road in Duncan has been recognized among the best at the 2021 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition, their limited-edition Nocino! winning Spirit of the Year, as well as achieving a “gold sweep” with all their spirits winning gold medals in their respective categories.

CASC is the only national spirit competition reserved exclusively for artisan distillers. www. ampersanddistilling.com.

Electoral approval for the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s Bylaw No. 4328 for Saltair water loan authorization has been greenlit. The Alternative Approval Process for borrowing up to $3.7 million to fund the provincially-mandated, water-filtration-treatment upgrades moves forward the 20-year loan which could result in a tax increase of up to $270 per year per parcel. The CVRD will borrow funds for the project after it is completed. T he electoral approval covers the possible $1.6 million loan amount that will be required if the Saltair water system receives the grant.

Cowichan Auto Repair at 5275 Chaster Road February 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS was recently pu rchased by Crystal Cabelguen and Brett Rehaune from long-time owner Elly Ruge.

The Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce-run Lake Cowichan Visitor Centre in Saywell Park has closed for good due to lack of funding. The centre had been open since 2005.

North Cowichan is seeking a government grant via the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream, developed to help communities deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, to pay for a new roof at the Cowichan Aquatic Centre.

Council greenlit the application, part of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, for approximately $1.7 million, which would cover the entire cost of the roof replacement.

The non-profit Duncan Housing Society has applied for funding from BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund program for an entirely new, expanded facility with approximately 300 units at Duncan Manor, a three story, 122-unit building on First Street that offers below-market independent housing for seniors and disabled persons. If granted, The society will be responsible for all design, construction, and operational costs of the project.

T he Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) has selected North Island 9-1-1 Corporation as the new provider of Fire Dispatch Services for the region. The CVRD’s current agreement with Nanaimo FireComm ends June 30, 2021 when the new five-year agreement with NI911 begins.

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