Business Examiner Vancouver Island - April 2021

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April 2021

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HARBOUR AIR JOINS ELECTRIC PARTNERSHIP - 16 CSN RELIABLE AUTO BODY CELEBRATING 70TH ANNIVERSARY - 18

WINMAR: CANADA’S PROPERTY RESTORATION SPECIALISTS - 24

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This month is officially the most expensive in Canadian history.

The provincial and federal governments have outlined their budgets, and ultimately the framework for economic recovery.

While the business community waits for newly announced and extended programs to roll out, the little engines moving the economy forward and ultimately paying for the majority of government spending need to keep moving.

Inside this issue we have Harbour Air leading the charge with an update on its world-class electric seaplane.

Alongside their story we have great features from Coastal Community Credit Union, CSN Reliable Auto Body, WINMAR Nanaimo, Central/North Island chambers, and much more.

Keep grinding, we are getting there!

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

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VIREB COMMERCIAL BUILDING AWARDS

NEWS UPDATE

10 NANAIMO COLUMN

13 COMOX VALLEY

14 CAMPBELL RIVER

16 HARBOUR AIR

18 CSN RELIABLE

15 ADVISORY

21 COWICHAN CHAMBER

28 PORT ALBERNI

24 WINMAR

22 WHO IS SUING WHOM

26 OPINION

29 MOVERS AND SHAKERS

NEWS UPDATE

VIREB: ISLAND INVENTORY UP SLIGHTLY

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There were 508 single-family detached properties for sale last month compared to 394 in February, an increase of 29 per cent. The number of condo apartments for sale rose slightly, up to 171 from 169 in February. Month-over-month townhouse inventory increased by 29 per cent, with 117 units for sale in March compared to 91 in February.

March saw sales of 567 single-family detached properties, a year-over-year increase of 67 per cent. As for condo apartments, 136 sold last month versus 47 the previous year, an increase of 189 per cent. In the row/townhouse category, sales increased by 53 per cent year over year (81 to 124).

The benchmark price of a single-family home hit $631,500 last month, 18 per cent higher than in March 2020. The benchmark price of an apartment reached $332,400, an increase of nine per cent, while the benchmark price of a townhouse rose by 19 per cent year over year, climbing to $487,100.

In Campbell River, the benchmark price of a single-family home hit $564,000 in March, an increase of 22 per cent over last year. In the Comox Valley, the benchmark price was $656,400, (up 19 per cent from one year ago.

Duncan reported a benchmark price of $578,500, an increase of 15 per cent from March 2020.

Nanaimo’s benchmark price rose by 18 per cent, hitting $645,600, while the Parksville-Qualicum area saw its benchmark price increase by 13 per cent to $714,500. The cost of a benchmark single-family home in Port Alberni reached $407,200, a 19 per cent year-over-year increase. For the North Island, the benchmark price rose to $302,100, a 15 per cent increase over last year.

RECORD-SETTING MONTH FOR BC HOMES SALES BRITISH COLUMBIA - The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 15,073 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in March 2021, an increase of 123.3 per cent over March 2020 and a new all-time record for monthly BC home sales. The average MLS residential price in BC was $947,707, a 20.4 per cent increase from $787,032 recorded in March 2020.

It should be noted that average prices across the province are being skewed higher as more expensive single-detached homes remain a higher share of dollar volume during the pandemic.

Total sales dollar volume was $14.3 billion, a 168.9 per cent increase from last year.

“Home sales in the province shattered the previous record, led by markets in the Lower Mainland,” said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. “While mortgage rates have risen in recent months and a modest tightening of mortgage regulations is on the horizon, market activity is expected to remain very strong through the spring.”

Total active residential listings were down 24.4 per cent to 22,337 units in March. The total inventory of homes for sale remains severely depleted, but new listings activity has accelerated in response to high prices.

April 2021

NEWS UPDATE

ATLI CHIP LP ACQUIRES ASSETS OF NORTH ISLAND CHIPPING FACILITY ALERT BAY – Atli Resources LP, a forest company beneficially owned by the ‘Namgis First Nation, announced the formation of Atli Chip Limited Partnership, which then acquired the majority of the assets of the North Island Chipping facility located in Beaver Cove, BC, located on the traditional territory of the ‘Namgis First Nation.

The chipping facility produces wood chips for use in the pulp and paper industry. The facility is capable of processing 300,000 to 400,000 m3 of chips per year using local supplies of pulpwood and salvage wood. The facility was built in 2003 to convert dry land sort waste fibre and salvage logs into sellable wood chips.

Atli Chip Limited Partnership will be majority owned by Atli Resources LP, with minority stakes from both Wahkash Contracting Ltd. and Paper Excellence, a diversified manufacturer of pulp, printing and writing, packaging, and specialty paper that operates eight facilities in Canada. In conjunction with the acquisition, Atli Chip LP has entered into a strategic longterm agreement with Paper Excellence to supply certain feedstock to the facility and to then receive wood chip production.

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EIGHT TEAMS ADVANCE TO FINAL STAGES OF COMPETITION CAMPBELL RIVER - More than 60 teams from around the world applied to participate in the second round of Campbell River’s NexStream Tech Competition. Now, as NexStream passes its midpoint, eight teams are advancing to the competition’s final stages. Over the next few months, they’ll complete the Rapid Prototyping phase and progress to Review & Demo Days - their final opportunity to wow the judges before this year’s winners are selected. Up to $300,000 in total funding and services are up for grabs this year.

The eight teams that will be continuing in the competition are: Ania Wysocka, Rootd (Vancouver Island), Gordon Anderson, AazeinTx (Calgary), Kim Lawrence, Ideon Technologies (Richmond), Julie Angus, Open Ocean Robotics (Victoria), Valerie Song, AVA Technologies Inc. (Vancouver), Cassandra Hui, Heal Mary (Vancouver), John Barclay, ABOzymes Biomedical (Vancouver) and Jenn Zee and Colin Sullivan, MintGreen (Burnaby).

CRAAG has committed to providing continued business-development support to six businesses that demonstrated tremendous merit.

Those teams are: Jen Lee and Rob Lee, Smith & Lee Local Butcher (Campbell River), Damien Gillis, ProjectDome (Campbell River), Landon Sheck, aux box (Parksville), Lauren Ellis, IV ME (Vancouver Island), Fiona Rayher, Hoovie (Vancouver) and Paige Whitehead, Nyoka Design Labs (Vancouver Island).

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NEWS UPDATE

MOSAIC LOOKS TO ADD TESLA TO LOG HAULING FLEET PARTNERSHIP WITH PARKSVILLE FIRM WILL INTRODUCE TESLA ELECTRIC SEMI-TRUCKS

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PARKSVILLE – Mosaic Forest Management has an idea to electrify the log hauling business.

The company has announced a partnership with Parksville’s EcoWest Driven to introduce several Tesla electric semi-trucks into its log hauling operations on Vancouver Island.

“We are committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 and electrifying our log hauling fleet is a significant step in that direction” said Jeff Zweig, President and CEO of Mosaic Forest Management. “BC is a global centre of excellence in forestry, and we are proud to work with our local partner, EcoWest Driven, on this important project.”

Forestry operations typically generate tailpipe emissions, including from log trucks, so electrifying the fleet is a particularly good approach in B.C., since over 90% of power in the province is generated from clean hydroelectric sources.

Mosa ic is the ti mberla nds ma nager for TimberWest and Island Timberlands – two affiliated companies that have operated on Vancouver Island for over a century. Mosaic employs several thousand people directly.

EcoWest is a recently incorporated company formed specifically to introduce electric semi-trucks to the transportation industry.

EcoWest’s goal is to be the catalyst to utilizing hauling fleets, in a variety of industries, from fossil-fueled trucks to electric trucks and in doing so provide an efficient and cost competitive service to clients.

Conversions to electric semi-trucks are

A Tesla electric semi-truck

expected to reduce or eliminate the carbon footprint for the hauling component of the client’s businesses.

“With our in-depth experience and knowledge of the forestry industry on Vancouver Island, we are excited to partner with Mosaic to utilize Tesla’s innovative electric semis into log haulers,” said Timber Johnson, Director and Co-Founder of EcoWest Driven.

Jarvis Shaver, like Johnson a Director and Cofounder, adds: “We have begun the process of creating charging infrastructure and a new electric vehicle maintenance facility in Parksville to accommodate this new demand for emission-free heavy haulers.”

Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, adds “Mosaic’s commitment to carbon neutrality, and these innovative actions in support of that commitment, align with our CleanBC objectives to build a cleaner and better low carbon economy for British Columbians.”

April 2021

VIREB AWARDS

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR VIREB COMMERCIAL BUILDING AWARDS 45 BUILDINGS FROM THE MALAHAT TO PORT HARDY TO BE CELEBRATED AT MAY 7 VIRTUAL EVENT NANAIMO – Despite the COVID 19 pandemic, a near record 45 buildings have been named Finalists for the 14th Annual Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Awards, which will be announced May 7. For the second straight year, the event will be virtual through a Zoom presentation.

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.

“We are very pleasantly surprised and absolutely thrilled by the number of nominations and finalists this year,” says Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner, which coordinates the event. “We knew construction continued at a very strong pace last year, but didn’t think we’d get more than the 43 we had the previous year.”

Nomination deadline was March 31.

Finalists are, by community: • Campbell River (7) – Campbell River Airport, BC Transit, Crestview Townhomes, Campbell River Golf Club, Linda’s Place, NEO Apartment Residences and Southpoint.

• Chemainus (2) – The Cottages, Vancouver Island Regional Library.

• Courtenay (4) – Cubes, Enclave Residences, JRP Solutions, Parkside.

• Cowichan Valley (1) – BC Transit • Duncan (1) – The Aria • Ladysmith (1) – Ladysmith Thrift Store • Nanaimo (20) – Nanaimo Association for Community Living, Nanaimo Airport, WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

Aspengrove School, Caledonian Clinic, Dodd’s Furniture, Minute Men Storage, Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society at 77 Mill Street, Nanaimo Innovation Academy Classroom, North Grove Apartments, Oakwood, Quality Inn, Riverstone Place, SPCA Barn, The Met, The Virage, VI Granite & Quartz, Village Centre, Village on Third Phase 2, VIMHS Rosehill, Wendy’s • Nanoose (1) – Fairwinds Landing • Parksville (3) – CRU Building, Gateway Apartments, Sandscapes Apartments • Port Alberni (1) – CHIMS Guest House • Port Hardy (1) – Port Hardy Airport • Qualicum Beach (1) – Qualicum Beach Airport • Tof i n o (2) – Hotel Z e d , Su r f Grove Campground 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 held in September last year due to the pandemic, with winners announced via Zoom.

A select team of independent judges from the real estate industry have adjudicated the 2020 entries.

Gold Sponsors of the Award are Coastal Community Credit Union. Category sponsors are NAI Commercial, RE/MAX Commercial, Herold Engineering, MNP LLP and Yellow Sheet Review. Black Press is a Platinum Media Sponsor.

For information, please contact Sue Lessard of VIREB at 250-390-4212 or visit www.vireb. com.

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NANAIMO

COTTONWOOD’S KAESE FEATURED IN NEW HOCKEY BOOK EX-BEBAN PARK MANAGER FURLONG PITCHES 2030 WINTER OLYMPICS

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MARK MACDONALD

There’s a great new book out on hockey, titled One Night Only, which chronicles the stories of men who played one game in the National Hockey League.

Included in the book,

by Ken Reid of Sportsnet, is a chapter on Nanaimo’s own Trent Kaese, now the owner and general manager of the Cottonwood Golf Course by the

Nanaimo Airport.

Trent played one game with the Buffalo Sabres in 1986 before setting scoring records while playing pro hockey in England, where he met his wife, Jacquie, who owns the Spotlight Academy modeling/acting agency.

Wayne Procter is at it again, as he has purchased another location for his Gas N Go operations. He has bought the Denman Island General Store from Darrel and Wayne Mcloughlin.

Innov8 President and owner Andre Brosseau has been named a finalist in the Kelowna Chamber of Com m erc e’ “ To p 40 Over 40” awards competition.

Innov8, which has business technology offices in Nanaimo, Courtenay and Victoria, was recognized Trent Kaese

as Canon Canada’s Top Western Dealer for 2020 at the Annual Awards Ceremony. During the ceremony, the Ed Koke Honorary Award was presented to innov8 for the company’s dedication to Community Involvement The Bees Knees Café and Catering is now open in Country Club Centre.

Nanaimo City Council has passed a motion to re-create a Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Area.

There are 138 properties within the BIA boundaries, and 22 per cent of those - 30 property owners - petitioned against re-starting the DNBIA. The BIA is funded by an additional tax on downtown properties, and its dissolution a number of years ago followed complaints that most of the BIA money went towards wages and administrative costs, with very little going towards actually promoting the downtown area or creating events that drew people downtown.

This time around, the DNBIA is mandated by council to have no more than one quarter of its annual budget going towards administration costs.

Council has also acknowledged concerns of downtown businesses regarding safety, and has added funding to its budget to address those problems by increasing security patrols.

Congratulations to Blair McDaniel and Justin Thompson of Alair Homes upon being named to the Pro Builder Media’s 404 Under 40 Class of 2021.

Play it again?

John Furlong, CEO of the very successful 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, was at one time the General Manager of Beban Park for the Regional District of Nanaimo. He’s back in the headlines again, after making a presentation to the Vancouver April 2021

NANAIMO Board of Trade titled “BC 2030”, which calls for a return of the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games to Whistler and Vancouver in 2030.

Furlong’s pitch included the fact that many of the venues used in 2010 could be Andre Brosseau re-used, so the heavy capital cost of the original event wouldn’t have to be duplicated, making it relatively less expensive.

Stay tuned. . .

Nanaimo Minor Hockey Association has hired Gaelan Patterson to oversee the organization, which includes 750 players and over 100 coaches.

Gaelan was most recently assistant coach and general manager of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s LaRonge Ice Wolves.

The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group is rebranding as Pattison Media, effective May 1. The company owns Island Radio.

The Curry Culture is now open in north Nanaimo at #4-6304 Dover Road.

Quality Foods officially opened its newest five star grocery store in Parksville, with Mayor Ed Mayne and QF President Noel Hayward, who formerly managed QF at Beban Plaza, taking part in the festivities.

The store is 40,000 square feet – twice the size of its former Parksville location. It also includes the latest QF innovation – a machine that sanitizes shopping carts, which has also been added to other QF stores on Vancouver Island.

The store also includes a smoothie bar, sushi bar, cheese counter, bakery, Perk Avenue Café and full service, in-store butcher shop.

Welcome to Nanaimo to Nolin Veillard, the founder and Managing Director of Trak Kayaks, which has

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NANAIMO moved its operations to Nanaimo.

United Raw Pet Foods Inc., which has two locations serving pet owners in Nanaimo and Qualicum Beach, has acquired The Wild Side Pet Boutique Inc., a leading pet specialty retailer specializing in raw, dehydrated, baked and freeze-dried food for pets.

The Wild Side purchase is the 15th investment completed by United Raw’s parent company, Dane Creek Capital Corp, and is their second acquisition of a pet specialty retailer. In late December 2020, Dane Creek acquired Growlies Pet Foods Inc. of Victoria.

Lisa Robinson founded Wild Side in Qualicum Beach in 2017, and the Nanaimo location opened in October, 2020. She will continue on with United Raw in management and community education.

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The provincial government has chipped in $720,000 in funding for Nanaimo Airport to help with COVID-19 related losses in ridership and revenue.

Nanaimo Airport Commission President Dave Devana says the operation averaged over 40,000 per month in 2019, but in April, 2020 that number

plunged to under 2,000 – a 96 per cent decrease.

Traffic volumes have not yet rebounded due to current COVID restrictions.

WestUrban Developments has received a development permit for a 213 unit apartments complex a 1300 Junction Avenue in south Nanaimo, at Tenth Street and Lawlor Road.

The apartments will include 118 one-bedroom units, 71 two-bedroom units and 24 three-bedroom units in three, four storey buildings.

The City of Nanaimo’s John Elliott has been named the recipient of the 2020 public Works Association of BC manager of the year award.

The City is also floating ideas to add between 3,000 and 12,000 seats for a medium-sized sports stadium in what is named the Larry McNabb Sports Complex on Third Street.

The seating would go to NDSS field, and there would be expansion of seating at Rotary Bowl and Serauxmen Stadium. Serauxmen’s capacity is expected to reach 1,500 to accommodate baseball fans, although the Nanaimo Night Owls franchise has announced it won’t be fielding a team this season in the summer collegiate West Coast League, due to continued COVID restrictions.

Nanaimo has been ranked 14th in Expedia Travellers’ Friendliest Cities and Towns in Canada of 2021 list, according to users.

Comments regarding dinner recommendations, friendly greetings, good energy and random act of kindest were amongst the criteria for the list, which included 20 locations across the country.

Tilray has announced a medical cannabis distribution agreement with Grow Pharma to distribute its products in the United Kingdom.

Tilray CEO Brendan Kennedy says the partnership is an important step in improving Tilray’s access to the U.K., and distribution under the new agreement there began in March.

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

April 2021

COMOX VALLEY

ECOFISH RESEARCH CELEBRATES 20 YEAR MILESTONE This year local environmental management firm Ecofish Research is celebrating 20 years in business. Founded in 2001 to meet the need for reliable, trustworthy, science-based env i ron menta l consulting, Ecofish is DIANNE HAWKINS known for providing top quality work, while efficiently and comprehensively addressing the needs of our clients while safeguarding the environment.

Their success is a result of a steadfast commitment to their four guiding principles: scientific excellence. professional environmental ethics, business discipline, and social responsibility.

Today Ecofish employs 125 professionals with over 50 staff located in the Comox Valley Regional District and surrounding areas. Aligned with their guiding principle of social responsibility, Ecofish takes pride in giving back to the community by supporting local non-profits like Project Watershed.

Over the past 20 years, the Ecofish team has worked with businesses, regulators, and First Nations to improve the environment and operations for over 300 projects in BC and internationally.

Initially, known for their unrivalled expertise in the hydroelectric sector, Ecofish has expanded their breadth of expertise into the mining, marine, infrastructure, and oil and gas sectors. Ecofish’s science-based solutions help their clients overcome today’s unprecedented environmental challenges.

For more information about Ecofish visit www. ecofishresearch.com or find them on Linkedln, Twitter. and lnstagram.

Welcome to our new members!! We appreciate you!

A rb ut u s M a s s a ge T h e ra p y – A rb ut u s WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

Therapeutic Collective, Cape Lazo RV & Campground, Elarton Point Strategies, Export Navigator, Original Restorations, Tidal Café and Tourism Vancouver Island.

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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CAMPBELL RIVER

MAOJRPROJECTS.CA RELAUNCHES

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The collaborative relaunch of MajorProjects.ca in 2020 by The Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce and BC Hydro is now ready for c omp a n i e s to register.

The web portal proMARY RUTH SNYDER vides a streamlined process for suppliers, services, and subcontractor companies to register. This database enables the large contractors or teams bidding on the projects the ability to engage locally in Campbell River and District for any equipment, services to supply requirements they may need.

Chamber Executive Director Mary Ruth Snyder explains, “Our unique collaboration has led to a user-friendly website that provides an excellent opportunity for local suppliers and contractors to connect directly with the general contractor overseeing these hundred-million-dollar projects. BC Hydro’s proposed projects are a tremendous economic driver, ensuring long-term safety and stability for our electricity requirements for decades to come.

The John Hart Generating Station replacement project that completed in 2020, and on budget, was an exceptional example of our business engagement and collaborative efforts — we are thrilled to be working with BC Hydro again in this capacity.”

The procurement process for the seismic upgrade projects may begin this summer or fall, with the civil work for the John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade Project up first. The hydromechanical procurement process may begin in late 2021 or

2022. Project site construction at the John Hart Dam may begin in late 2023 pending regulatory and funding approvals. Ladore and Strathcona site construction may begin in 2024.

“All along it’s about having businesses being aware of the projects, be able to follow them along, and know about the engagement with the project contractors,” says BC Hydro’s Communications Lead for the three dam safety projects, Stephen Watson. “We really appreciate the Chamber’s ongoing partnership in this important business coordination. Companies should ideally register by the end of summer, as at this stage, the site is the only means to coordinate engagement with the bidding contractors will be managed through majorproject.ca.”

Campbell River & District Chamber members can register at no charge. Members of other Vancouver Island chambers, Vancouver Island Construction Association, and Vancouver Island Economic Alliance can register for a one-time fee of $100.

If a business ultimately becomes a member of the Chamber, then their $100 fee will be rebated. Simply click on REGISTER found under Suppliers & Job Seekers.

Information for individual job seekers will be provided closer to the construction period. The portal itself will not be taking individual job applications.

For More Information contact Mary Ruth Snyder, Executive Director, Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce @ 250.650.7575, or Stephen Watson, Stakeholder Engagement Advisor, BC Hydro @ 250.616.9888

April 2021

ADVISORY

NEW TO THE SMALL BUSINESS GAME? KEEP YOUR OTHER FINANCIAL GOALS ON TRACK WITH THESE TIPS

Lulu Kanters “It’s hard getting ahead, especially in today’s world. So I thought, why not go into business for myself, and turn what I love doing into my livelihood…”

These words might sound familiar if you’re a young and newly minted small business owner.

In fact, this sentiment is probably the inspiration behind many of the enterprises established in 2020 by Millennials wanting to create their own fulfilling work.

As a lender helping these up-and-coming small business owners, I’m amazed at their ambition and courage. But part of my job is to have important conversations with them on the realities of owning a small business in relation to their other goals (like buying a home or a vehicle, or paying down debt).

Here are the top tips I often find myself providing to young business owners to help set them up for success: • Considering that income history is critical to any lending application, be mindful of what your business is writing off. Consulting with WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

a tax expert can help ensure the right strategy.

• Always make it a habit to save. It’ll be tempting to funnel every last penny into your business, but putting some aside to cover off personal and business needs is critical.

• Maintain a good credit history. Excessive debt can hinder future plans for both you and your business.

• Make things easier by keeping your business and personal banking under one roof. This can also help inform conversations you have with your banking professional on what the best products and solutions are for you.

• And finally…it’s easy to get tunnel vision and focus solely on your business. But it’s also important to keep an eye on all aspects of your financial health including your protection, planning and savings needs.

I find that many young business owners often don’t know where to start when it comes to assessing what they need financially—and that can lead to inaction. Our quick and simple online quiz can help you immediately gauge your financial health situation. With this kind of knowledge, you’ll be better prepared to make plans and decisions for the benefit of you and your business.

Based in the Comox Valley, Lulu Kanters is a lending expert at Coastal Community.

For more, call us at 1.888.741.1010 or visit cccu.ca.

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OFF THE COVER

HARBOUR AIR JOINS ELECTRIC PARTNERSHIP VANCOUVER ISLAND SEAPLANE COMPANY CONTINUES MOVE TO ALL-ELECTRIC COMMERCIAL FLEET

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NANAIMO – Harbour Air is climbing to new heights.

North America’s largest seaplane airline operator has joined a partnership to certify the world’s first electric Beaver commuter airplane.

Harbour Air, magniX and H55, the spin-off from Solar Impulse that produces certified battery packs, have joined together, along with Transport Canada, to certify the installation of the magniX electric propulsion unit and the H55 enhanced battery system, transforming Harbour Air’s seaplanes into an all-electric commercial fleet.

Since their successful first flight in December, 2019, of the Harbour Air eBeaver powered by magniX and the ongoing flight tests since then, the companies have teamed up with H55 to bring their shared vision of clean, efficient and quiet commercial aviation to life by 2022. H55 will provide its proven modular battery technology to expand the eBeaver’s balance to weight ratio and endurance.

“I believe that H55 is the leading company in aviation battery solutions,” says Greg McDougall, CEO of Harbour Air. “Having them as partners in the ePlane development means

that we will be able to lead the global push for electric aviation.”

Since the first flight in 2019, the eBeaver has performed additional flight tests to measure and collect data on cruise performance and take-off thrust efficiency, electro-magnetic interference (EMI), battery management software logic, noise levels, and more. magniX, Harbour Air and H55 will work on design optimization for the electric propulsion unit (EPU), energy storage system (ESS) and related aircraft systems based on ongoing flight testing.

Founded in 1982 with two small seaplanes, Harbour Air is the first seaplane airline to be fully carbon-neutral. The company has a fleet of more than 40 aircraft, offering up to 300 daily scheduled flights connecting downtown Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle (WA), Nanaimo, Tofino, Whistler, Richmond (YVR South), Sechelt, Salt Spring Island, Pitt Meadows, Maple Bay and Comox.

André Borschberg, Executive Chairman of Switzerland-based H55, notes “we have been attracted by Harbour Air and magniX’s vision, pioneering spirit and commitment to make aviation clean. The collaboration April 2021

OFF THE COVER will leverage our synergies and complementarities. We all understand that the path to electric aviation is complicated. “But at the same time by joining forces, our combined experience will lead to quicker certification.

And this in turn will offer a fast and safe way to reach the market and popularize electric aviation.”

Roei Ganzarski, CEO of magniX, headquartered in Everett, Washington, states “This partnership is another step forward in our vision of making emission free, all-electric aircraft a reality. With Harbour Air leading the way to become an all-electric airline, H55’s battery technology and magniX’s flight-proven propulsion, we are looking at an electrifying future.”

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2,100 Sq. Ft. Quality Office Space - North Nanaimo, high visibility, ground level access, 2 entries, 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 Mo + 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 2,200 Sq. Ft. 2nd Level Downtown Office Space - Nanaimo - Corner of Terminal Ave & Commercial St. Large Open Layout, Private Offices, 2 Washrooms, Storage $12/Sq. Ft. + TN 1,123 Sq. Ft. Newly Demised Space – Prime Nanaimo location, COR-3 Zoning allows multiple uses incl. Retail & Office, Main Level, Bright Open Interior, Highway Access $18.00/Sq. Ft. + TN 1,340 Sq. Ft. in 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.

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18

From left Curtus Larson and Mike MacLaren, the current owners of CSN Reliable Auto Body

CSN RELIABLE CELEBRATING 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMOX VALLEY AUTO BODY SHOP HAS BEEN SERVING CUSTOMERS SINCE 1951 COMOX VALLEY - CSN Reliable is celebrating its 70th anniversary in business this year, one of the longest serving establishments in the Comox Valley. Its strong reputation as a shop that treats its customers to top notch service while providing quality repairs has led to the fourth generation of some of its customers coming back to CSN Reliable to have their repairs taken care of professionally.

Since 1951, when John Orchard first started the business, there have only been three other owners. Jim Barry bought Orchard out in 1976,

then brought Mike MacLaren on as partner in 2001. Just last year in March, long-term employee Curtus Larson bought into the business at the start of the pandemic. Not the most auspicious start to ownership, but Curtus’ faith in the business and its employees made the investment a no brainer.

“70 years is a huge milestone, and it’s great having this opportunity as a new owner of a business with such a rich history in the Comox Valley,” says Larson. Curtus, who is also the General Manager and a Certified Refinish April 2021

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At work inside CSN Reliable Auto Body

Technician, first started sweeping floors and washing cars at age 18 and worked his way through the business, and is also celebrating his 20th year at CSN Reliable.

Despite the many problems involving owning a business during the Corona virus pandemic, Larson is extremely thankful their work is considered essential. Although they had to lay off half of their staff when everything started, they were able to keep their doors open and soon brought everyone back when cars started getting back on the road and the business returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Larson believes that the company’s overall success is due to their staff. From customer’s

first contact with administration staff who understand the emotional aspect of being in an accident and having one of their most valuable possessions damaged, to having their vehicle returned to them in pre-accident condition being able to trust that their repairs were completed correctly and professionally, they are treated with first-class customer service.

CSN Reliable Auto Body prides itself on the quality of work it does for customers. “That’s been huge.

We’re a growing community, but we’re still small enough that word of mouth and reputation is very important,” Larson observes. “I think what really separates us from other facilities and contributes to our longevity is our customer service. That’s been passed on from owner to owner.”

Curtus believes in being a strong partner in the community, as at the end of the day no one stands alone. When other businesses had to remain closed at the start of the pandemic, CSN Reliable started having draws with gift certificates from other local businesses to help show their support.

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20

They also donate to many community charities and programs, focusing on youth sports and child development, such as hosting a school lunch program ensuring children get a healthy meal, donating to groups such as the Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports and sponsoring youth sports teams.

They also act as a point of sale for Kindling for Kids, a popular program raising funds for the Child Development Association. The shop also supports the local school work experience programs, bringing on students for a chance to check out the business and see if it is something for which they might they might have a passion.

CSN Reliable Auto Body is an ICBC accredited repair shop and is a member of the ICar Certified Collision Repair Program and repairs any

collision related damage that your car may have occurred. Their highly skilled repair and refinish technicians have the training necessary to be able to bring your vehicle back to pre-accident condition through the ICar Training Center, of which CSN Reliable is a Gold Class – Aluminum Certified shop. It’s an extensive training program that ensures all staff are up to date on all equipment and repair procedures on all major makes and models of vehicles. The shop is also OEM certified through multiple vendors including Toyota, Ford, Kia, Nissan and FLA/Mopar.

If you have been in an accident and want your vehicle repaired by the best, bring it to Curtus and Mike and their staff at CSN Reliable Auto Body at 787 Cumberland Road in Courtenay. www.reliableautobody.ca

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April 2021

COWICHAN VALLEY

CHAMBER PARTNERS WITH CHEMAINUS THEATRE ON VIRTUAL BLACK TIE AWARDS

SONJA NAGEL In March of 2020, the Chamber made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the 2020 Black Tie Awards in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic.

With the recent marking of one-year anniversary since the pandemic was declared, and the (near) future of public gatherings still under debate, the Chamber has decided to proceed with a virtual award celebration working with the Chemainus Theatre.

“While the Chamber had not initially ruled out a virtual awards ceremony, nominees and sponsors alike made clear their preference to hold off until an in-person event could be safely held,” explains Executive Director, Sonja Nagel. “And for our part, it was hard to imagine the Black Tie Awards without the excitement and sense of occasion that only a live celebration can create.

But here we are a year later – something none of us could have anticipated - and we simply cannot wait any longer to honour our incredibly deserving finalists.”

Luckily, Chemainus Theatre is poised to tackle

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a virtual event, having recently received funding from Island Coastal Economic Trust’s Small Capital Grant program to support live streaming technology. The prospect of partnering on the Black Tie Awards is a welcome one for Chemainus Theatre as it holds particular significance for the organization.

“As a past Black Tie Award recipient, we’ve experienced the first-rate planning and integrity that goes into staging this impactful event,” says Randal Huber, Chemainus Theatre’s Managing Director. “It’s an honour to be part of bringing this exceptional and iconic celebration to the community, especially in this new presentation platform.”

In its virtual incarnation, the Black Tie Awards will take on a late-night talk-show format, with four live hosts and live musical accompaniment, combined with a mix of pre-recorded content as well as remote video feed of the 27 awards finalists and Lifetime Achievement Honouree.

The Black Tie Awards is scheduled to stream live on the evening of Tuesday, May 4th. Everyone is invited to view the awards celebration from the comfort of their living rooms. Contact the Chamber for viewing details.

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

21

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

DEFENDANT 1187238 BC Ltd 520 Nova St, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Go Fish Ltd CLAIM $109,547 DEFENDANT 1209049 BC Ltd 200-6061 No 3 Road, Richmond, BC PLAINTIFF Matias, Maria De Lourdes Pedro CLAIM $655,000

22

DEFENDANT 1209053 BC Ltd 212-880 Jones Rd, Richmond, BC Matias, Maria De Lourdes Pedro CLAIM

$540,000 DEFENDANT 1209057 BC Ltd 200-6061 No 3 Road, Richmond, BC PLAINTIFF Matias, Maria De Lourdes Pedro CLAIM $490,000 DEFENDANT Beacon Underwriting Ltd 1212-1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF McKay, Howard CLAIM $33,206 DEFENDANT Campbell Construction Ltd

3rd Flr 26 Bastion Square, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF 8458642 Canada Ltd CLAIM $24,415 DEFENDANT Can Sure Underwriting 1212-1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF McKay, Howard CLAIM $33,206 DEFENDANT Cansure 1212-1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF McKay, Howard CLAIM $33,206 DEFENDANT Christine Laurent Ltd 7-9843 2nd St, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF

New City Safety Mortgage Fund Inc CLAIM $782,312 DEFENDANT Family Ford Ltd 103-300 S t A n n s R d , Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF Bartlick, David CLAIM $35,186 Golden Tripod 2 0 2-5 8 S t a t i o n S t , Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF Cucoci Ventures CLAIM $8,232 DEFENDANT Happiness Town Holdings Ltd 4405 Moonlight Lane, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Northcoast Building Products Ltd

Region

Project Address

Project Type

Project Details

Low Bid / Award

Amount

Victoria

63 Gorge Rd E

Institutional add/alter

Gorge Road Hospital - Roof Replacement

Top Line Roofing

1,160,000

Victoria

1 Hospital Way

Institutional add/alter

Victoria General Hospital - Pharmacy Renovation

Western Medical Contracting

1,200,000

Saanich

3561 Blanshard St

Tenant improvements

BCCS 7060 Saanich Uptown

Hilson Construction Ltd

Saanich

3100 Tillicum Rd

Institutional add/alter

Pearkes Gold Arena Slab Replacement

Kinetic Construction

Langford

3051 Niagara Main Rd

Consulting services

Gatehouse and Gate Design and Construction Services

Number Ten Architectural Group

Duncan

Cowichan Valley Trail

Supply

Crush Base Course Aggregates

Coast Mountain Resources

Cowichan Valley RD

Various locations

Roads & bridges

Paving replacements

David Stalker Excavating

720,600

Nanaimo

745 Third St

Institutional add/alter

Serauxmen Fencing & Netting

IWC Excavation Ltd

838,000

Parksville

957 Lee Rd

Roads & bridges

French Creek Pollution Control Centre Clearing / Grubbing

Milner Group Ventures Inc

38,700

Port Alberni

Maggie Lake Forest Service Rd

Roads & bridges

Grading Maggie Lake FSR Branch 01 & 04

TMD Machinery

55,000

Port Alberni

7080 McCoy Lake Rd

Institutional add/alter

Recycling and Transfer Station Upgrades

Upland Contracting

Comox

19 Wing, CFB Comox

Institutional add/alter

Barracks B24 and B25 Renovations

Luxton Construction

2,350,000

Comox

19 Wing, CFB Comox

Services

R&U Contaminated Soil Remediation

QM Environmental

1,894,000

Comox Valley RD

Schulz Rd

Civil work

Schulz Road Watermain

Leuco Construction Ltd

Campbell River

225 South Dogwood St

Consulting services

Strathcona Gardens Rec-reate Project

HCMA Architecture and Design

410,550 1,602,700 N/A 71,400

630,000

497,400 1,470,000

April 2021

WHO IS SUING WHOM CLAIM $130,657 DEFENDANT Jivko Contracting 2699A Sa h i lton Rd, Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF 570952 BC Ltd CLAIM $21,707 DEFENDANT Knappett Projects Inc 555 Pembroke St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Visionary Glass Inc CLAIM $35,216 DEFENDANT Level Ideas Construction Inc 565 Ledsham Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Westerra Equipment LP CLAIM $8,176

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DEFENDANT Lone Tree Bakery Limited 809 Craigflower Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF A c c u te m p R e f r i ge r ation Air Conditioning & Heating CLAIM $8,176 DEFENDANT Nanaimo Athletic Club Ltd 1451 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Coastal Community Credit Union CLAIM $12,245 DEFENDANT Pomerleau Inc 1700-666 Bu rra rd St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Gesslein, Tanya CLAIM $35,256

DEFENDANT Royal Lepage Coast Capital Realty 1809 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF McEwen, Peter Douglas CLAIM $35,236 DEFENDANT Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa 9805 Seaport Pl, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Alsco Canada Corporation CLAIM $22,622 DEFENDANT Stride Properties GP Ltd 4th Flr 1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Watt Consulting Group Ltd CLAIM $25,238

DEFENDANT Trans Pacific Management 01 Ltd 1809 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF McEwen, Peter Douglas CLAIM $35,236 DEFENDANT V2V Black Ops Marketing Ltd 4th Flr 1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Loghouse Pub And Liquor Store Ltd CLAIM $35,156 DEFENDANT VI Roofing 3503 Richmond Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Kens Roofing Supplies Ltd CLAIM $42,020

23

FEATURE STORY

WINMAR team members

WINMAR: CANADA’S PROPERTY RESTORATION SPECIALISTS COMPANY SPECIALIZES IN RESTORATION SERVICES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES 24

NANAIMO – WINMAR is Canada’s property restoration specialists.

With 90 locations and over 1,500 employees across the country, including location in Nanaimo, Comox Valley and Victoria on Vancouver Island, WINMAR has been restoring residential and commercial properties for 40 years.

WINMAR crews offer prompt and professional services to help customers get back to pre-loss life with the least amount of interruption and associated costs as possible. They specialize in water damage, fire and smoke restoration services, mold inspection and removal, as well as damage restoration and disaster recovery. They also focus on construction, renovation and demolition services.

The company’s primary goal is to get customers back into their homes or businesses as quickly as possible, to pre-loss condition. Regardless of the job size, they work efficiently and keep everyone

informed throughout the restoration, and work hard to honour their motto: “We’re Coming Through For You.” WINMAR’s IICRC-certified technicians have the knowledge and experience to clean and dry homes and buildings completely back to pre-loss conditions. With specialized equipment, they can detect moisture, disinfect damaged areas, dry and repair buildings so that they are safe, healthy and odour free.

WINMAR is dedicated to the safety of employees and customers, and have put systems and processes in place that involve the joint co-operation of all stakeholders.

They follow the CDC and Health Canada guidelines and standards of cleaning practices, provincial workplace safety board recommendations, and use approved cleaning products to combat the COVID 19 Coronavirus. Employees have taken April 2021

FEATURE STORY

WINMAR has a large fleet of vehicles ready to service customers. personal Protective Equipment training, clean and disinfect equipment after each use, and ensure increased hand hygiene and practicing social distancing in the workplace.

Employees are screened and complete an Employee COVID-19 Health Survey that asks questions identical to those we ask our customers to answer within the COVID-19 Customer Attestation and Assumption of Risk Form.

WINMAR understands the emergency response needs of Risk Management, Property Management, Physical Plant Departments, Public Entities and more.

Natural and man-made disasters such as fire, water and storm damage have a significant impact on large commercial institutions, and WINMAR works with clients to understand their unique requirements and bring facilities back to normal Proud supporter of WINMAR Nanaimo!

since 1986.

operating condition as quickly as possible.

Every WINMAR location has access to their full line of specialized equipment including mobile pumps, temporary climate control, temporary heat and generation, wall cavity drying units, portable freezers, HEPA air scrubbers, dry ice blasting, and more.

Services include water and flood damage repair, mold removal, asbestos removal, fire damage repair and restoration, disaster restoration (wind, hail and storm), and cleaning and damaged possessions.

They offer emergency services, cleaning services, specialty, disaster restoration, general contracting, foundation repair and environmental work.

Regardless of the size of the damage, WINMAR professionals understand the need for quick response. With immediate action and vigilant monitoring of moisture levels, mold and secondary damage can be prevented. Water damage is a major contributor to loss of property because if not treated quickly it can quickly spread and cause further, large scale property loss.

WINMAR’s Nanaimo office is at 303-4300 Wellington Road. www.winmar.ca Proud partner of

WINMAR Nanaimo, congratulations on your success!

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#104-2520 Bowen Road, Nanaimo • 250-758-4664

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1810 Fremont Road, Nanaimo | P: 250.758.8464 | E: info@dmel.ca | denmarelectric.com

25

OPINION

CERB CREATING LESS WORKERS AND HIGHER PRICES

26

MARK MACDONALD While there may be no doubt that the introduction of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit during the COVID pandemic was well intentioned, the program’s long-term damage could outweigh any positive impact as a shortterm solution.

CERB is becoming somewhat of a swear word for employers, who are finding it increasingly difficult to get workers to come back to their jobs, since they’re making $500 per week, or $2,000 per month, for staying home. Why wouldn’t people take advantage of a system that pays them more to do nothing, than to do something? Do the math.

While governments introduce various measures to try and stem the tide of COVID, they inhibit the ability of businesses to do what they

do – create wealth through providing products and services. The typical environment in which they normally conduct commerce doesn’t exist, so extraordinary actions should be taken to replace those income opportunities.

CERB is anesthetizing Canadians from the true economic pain and damage this pandemic is inflicting. Politicians and government workers have continued to receive their paycheques, unabated, during the pandemic. CERB is the main reason why most Canadians aren’t writhing in pain and rioting in the streets, since it enables them to cover their basic needs.

But what happens when people won’t go back to work? The supply chain gets crimped, and it increasingly apparent that inflation is not only on its way, but has indeed arrived. The price of lumber has shot through the roof, with 2x4’s that went for just over $2 a year ago now costing upwards of $8 each. Check your restaurant receipt after purchasing a meal – yes, takeout included. It’s much higher than it was a year ago.

To business people, this is not a surprise.

Somehow, they must recoup the investment they’ve made in their people and premises.

If their costs go up, the prices must rise also.

Ultimately, the consumer pays, and if those increased costs can’t be passed along at the till, the company won’t survive.

That’s what happens when the government hikes the minimum wage, making it more April 2021

OPINION costly for restaurants to operate. It is reflected in their pricing. And when manufacturing plants can’t get workers to produce their products, scarcity results, meaning the firm must raise prices on what it can get out the door to recoup their operating costs and maintain profitability. It is supply and demand in its most basic form.

A recent article in Business in Vancouver noted an April 6 survey of farm workers conducted by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council found than 41 per cent of producers could not recruit a sufficient number of workers in 2020, and that “71 percent of employers (farmers) who reported labour shortages cited fewer Canadian applicants.”

The study found that Canadians weren’t willing to do physical work on farms, even when they’re unemployed and jobs are available.

Applicants that did inquire wanted to maintain low enough working hours to continue qualifying for CERB. For example, the BIV story noted that a vegetable grower from Quebec received 80 names of possible workers, 25 of which showed up and stayed for more than 24 hours. “All of the others basically did not want to work. . .did not want to work more than 19 hours (so that they could keep their CERB). They did not want to work early in the morning or late at night, and they did not want to work on weekends.”

That’s a problem. Combine that with the difficulty that exists in getting migrant workers into this country through immigration hurdles, and there’s a serious problem brewing on our country’s farms. Which will manifest itself at

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grocery store tills with higher prices for fruit and vegetables.

Somebody has to work and produce goods and services, and, ultimately, pay taxes that gives government real money to spend.

CERB, and subsequent conversations about Guaranteed Incomes, regardless of their intentions, are really the manifestation of socialism, where people get paid to stay home and not work. A lot of voters will like that.

We haven’t even broached the subject of Canada Pension Plan recipients receiving “just” $1,203.75 per month – after a lifetime of work.

That’s almost $700 less than CERB recipients.

These are real, long-term problems.

Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. and can be reached at mark@communicationink.ca​ Dig deep with the frontline leaders of our economy

PODCAST

From the Trenches British Columbia business stories and commentary

27

PORT ALBERNI

PORT ALBERNI ON TRACK FOR A RECORD YEAR

28

It’s early April and given the perm its a l ready i n the book and the

and friendliness of the community, the number of trails and parks in their neighbourhoods and the ‘amenities’ here. They are amazed to find the atrium in the hospital and the modern high

stack of applications on every bit of counter space in and near the Building Inspector’s office, Port Alberni is on track Pat Deakin to have a record year for building permits by count and dollar value.

Renovations, new Single-Family Dwellings, Duplexes, Fourplexes, Multiple Family Dwellings, Commercial and Industrial buildings are all in the mix. On top of that, over 70 acres of land has been bought up for development in the last four months. To keep our service delivery times short, Council has approved the hiring of a second Building Inspector and a second Development Planner, and Managers are redeploying a portion of staff time to assist in the handling of the applications.

The surveys we do with new residents tell us they are moving here for the real estate values, the ease of access to the outdoors and the central location on the Island. The newcomers are, to our delight, evenly divided between retirees and millennials.

Although recent Provincial Health Orders and the pandemic in general have slowed their integration into the community, the new residents tell us they are happily experiencing the warmth

school.

Like the rest of us, they are enjoying the patios at our three brew pubs, the two bakeries that are in addition to the ones in the grocery stores and the food truck pod developing at Clutesi Haven Marina.

Street names and stop signs are starting to reflect the Nuu-chah-nulth language and multi-lingual trail wayfinding signs are being planned. The 178 new apartments that have opened in the last five months are full. A 100-bed seniors care complex is going up this summer and another senior’s care facility is expanding. There is of course much more to say but it’s perhaps best summarized by saying Port Alberni is coming into its own.

Pat Deakin is the Economic Development Manager for the City of Port Alberni.

He can be reached at 250-720-2527 or Patrick_deakin@portalberni.ca

April 2021

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

B C C h a m b e r of Commerce President a nd CEO Fiona Famulak talks her career, the pressures facing m a ny of t he prov i nc e’s cornerstone industries, the future of advocacy orgs, and more. Listen here.

COWICHAN VALLEY Cata lyst Crof ton w i l l resume reg ular seasonal operations of the Cowichan Lake weir that regulates water flow out of Cowichan Lake this month. Once operating, the weir will gradually reduce water flow from the lake to the river in order to have enough extra water in the lake to achieve target river flow during the dry summer months. Catalyst Crofton, a Paper Excellence company, operates the weir under the direction of the provincial Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

Fiona Famulak

Full Bug Records at 171 Jubilee Street in Duncan has opened.

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Duncan’s Pots & Paraphernalia, located at 863 Canada Avenue, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. www.potsandparaphernalia.ca.

The Corridor Upgrade Project section along Chemainus Road is nearly complete. Some of the remaining work includes refreshing paint lines and seat backs on benches in front of the Green Lantern Hotel. Milestone Equipment Contracting is performing the finishing touches.

The City of Duncan has approved $10,000 to be set aside in 2021 for the municipality’s new enhanced security initiative pilot program, a matching grant opportunity for commercial property owners to apply for any new safety or security project that they choose, with a 50 percent reimbursement, up to a maximum of $1,000. Commercial buildings in the city will be eligible to apply for a one-time ESIPP grant to be evaluated by a review committee.

T he Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce’s Dine & Sip Cowichan has raised $10,000 for local food banks in partnership with Island Savings.

North Cowichan will contribute another

29

MOVERS AND SHAKERS $332,500 towards the construction of the new field house at the Cowichan Sportsplex. The municipality committed $95,000 towards the project in 2019. The construction of the new building is estimated at $1.58 million, $330,000 above the original construction budget.

Duncan’s Medix EMS office is offering safetyrelated courses at its new school, located at 225 Canada Avenue. Medix EMS specializes in providing first aid for events, industrial and commercial first aid services, and supplying first aid kits and supplies to all of Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. www.medixbc.ca The Cowichan Valley Regional Hospital District has transferred 9.22 hectares of land on Bell McKinnon Road to Island Health for the construction of the new $887.4-million Cowichan District Hospital. As part of the land transfer, Island Health purchased the three land parcels for approximately $3.4 million. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2022, with the new hospital ready for patients in 2026.

30

Though Sports Traders Duncan closed its doors last year, owners, Richard and Maureen Ellis are still dealing in sports supplies through Cowichan Athletic Sales, run from their home. Cowichan Athletic Sales handles special orders for baseball uniforms, soccer jerseys, shorts and other sportswear for teams, schools, institutions, organizations and corporations, as well as sporting equipment to schools, arenas, jails, community centres, and a wide array of corporate customized apparel like jackets, vests, caps, and customized face coverings.

The WINGS thrift store has reopened in Duncan at 466 Jubilee Street.

LADYSMITH/CHEMAINUS Ladysmith-filmed hit television show, ‘Resident Alien’ has been green-lit for a second season. The SYFY Network series follows star Alan Tudyk as an alien who crash lands on earth and assumes the identity of a small-town doctor. Ladysmith plays the town of Patience, Colorado in the series. Showrunner Chris Sheridan confirmed the show will return to film in Ladysmith for season two.

A group of volunteers has formed the Ladysmith Community Fund Society, dedicated to establishing a permanent endowment fund to support Ladysmith charities. The fund will be held and managed by the Nanaimo Foundation. For more info on the fund or joining the Ladysmith Community Fund Society, contact Bruce Whittington at 250-245-5325 or email brucewhittington@ shaw.ca.

Ladysmith’s Taylor Walters received the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award along with a $28,000 scholarship for her work promot i ng equality in the sciences. She’s pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction at Quest University.

Indigenous Bloom cannabis store at 102-12590, TransTaylor Walters Canada Highway in Ladysmith is now open.

Karen Laing i s t he new executive d i rector of t he Ladysm ith Resource Centre Association. Before moving to Ladysmith, Karen worked for a decade as the Director of Governance and Resource Development at the Mission Community Services Society in Mission, BC, as well as serving as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Karen Laing MCSS. The Great Canadian Dollar Store located at Chemainus Village Square has opened. The 4,500 square feet of retail space has been in planning and construction for two years.

Peerless Road Recycling Centre has won a ‘Top Collector Award’ from the BC Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) for the centre’s work in recycling used motor oil and anti-freeze. Peerless was ranked at number 23 in the top 30 collectors.

The Cowichan Watershed Board, Cowichan

April 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS Tribes and Halalt First Nation will receive $500,000 to improve salmonid habitats and alter flow requirements in the Koksilah and Chemainus Rivers. Scheduled for completion by December 2021, the project is one of 60 dedicated to restoring diverse ecosystems and conserving fish, wildlife and habitat recently announced by the BC NDP government. About $10 million is being dedicated to support projects for species conservation and ecosystem restoration, which will create more than 350 jobs.

NANAIMO The $82-million upgrade to the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre’s wastewater treatment system is now complete. The project was partially funded by $6 million in federal gas tax money, through the Union of BC Municipalities and BC government. Development cost charges and reserve money were also used.

Nanaimo city councillors recommended in an 8-1 vote that $400,000 be spent on overnight security in all areas of the downtown, as well as voting to recommend spending $50,000 to hire a consultant to create a public safety action plan.

Nanaimo home builders constructing energy efficient homes could be eligible for up to $15,000 in rebates via BC’s Better Homes New Construction program, which is open to construction companies building Part 9 singlefam ily detached homes, laneway homes, duplexes, triplexes or townhomes. All building permits issued on or after April 1, 2020 are eligible. For details, click here.

The Regional District of Nanaimo board has approved the formation of an Oceanside Services Recreation Grant Subcommittee, which will be tasked with reviewing recreation grant applications and provide recommendations to the Oceanside Services Committee. Three directors will be appointed to the sub-committee.

The Oceanside Services Recreation Grant has $75,000 that District 69 groups and organizations can apply for recreation programs.

Nanaimo-based Tourism Vancouver Island (TVI) has been announced as the new operator for the visitor centre in the Comox Valley. The

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centre has previously been run by the Comox Valley Economic Development Society (CVEDS).

The change includes some staff shifting over to TVI in the centre. TVI has been running for about 60 years.

Brothers Simon and Adrian Collery, owners of Footrpints Security, with locations in Nanaimo, Courtenay and Victoria, recently donated $10,800 to the District 69 Society of Services.

United Raw Pet Foods Inc., Canada’s leader in alternative pet foods and a majority-owned subsidiary of Dane Creek Capital Corp., has acquired The Wild Side Pet Boutique, a leading pet specialty retailer specializing in raw, dehydrated, baked and freeze-dried food for pets.

Wild Side currently has two locations in Nanaimo and Qualicum Beach.

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS Flight Cannabis Co. has opened its new location 847 Bruce Avenue in Nanaimo.

Va ncouver Isl a n d Un iversity A nt h rop olog y Professor Imogene Lim receiving a BC Medal of Good Citizenship for outstanding service and commitment to helping others in their communities.

Constr uction w i l l soon begin on Nanaimo’s Nicol Street building that will proImogene Lim vide more than 50 housing units for people experiencing homelessness. Island Crisis Care Society will operate the four-storey building. BC Housing is providing approximately $13.6 million in capital funding as well as $1.4 million in annual operating funding. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of this summer.

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Nanaimo City Council voted unanimously to issue a permit to WestUrban Developments for a 213-unit residential project on Junction Avenue at Tenth Street and Lawlor Road in Chase River. The property was re-zoned for mixed-use corridor development in 2019. The complex will include three four-storey buildings.

food-processing equipment and other startup costs for the three hubs in partnership with the City of Victoria, the Victoria Community Food Hub Society, Cowichan Valley Regional District, Cowichan Green Community Society and Vancouver Island University.

Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank is close to securing a new location in Nanaimo on East Wellington Road, near the Canada Post office. There are no structures on the site currently. The non-profit has brought on Saywell Contracting Ltd. PARKSVILLE-QUALICUM Parksville Family Ford presented a cheque worth $5,300 to the Haven Society, a non-profit organization that promotes the integrity and safety of women, children, youth and families and the development of a respectful and healthy community. Every year, Parksville Family Ford donates $100 for every vehicle purchased in the months of December and January to a local charity.

Coombs Junction Furniture & Mattress at 2701 Alberni Highway just west of Parksville is having their spring sale until May 15th. www.coombsfurniture.ca Chesapeake Shores is once again filming in Qualicum Beach after work on the Hallmark series was postponed last year due to COVID-19.

T he BC Ministry of T ransportation and Infrastructure is providing COVID-19 relief funding of $720,000 to Nanaimo Airport to ensure business continues. The funding will support operations between April 1st and March 31, 2022. WestJet recently announced it would again offer direct flights from Nanaimo to Edmonton beginning in late June, another beneficial development.

Parksville’s fire department has seven new recruits from its 2021 graduating class. Niels Bjornson, Ethan Marquis, Sean Mikolajewski, Travis Rathburn, Tonis Tutti, Kirk Wolstenholme and Christina Zanchetta were presented w ith their badges at a recent graduation ceremony.

Vancouver Island University’s Deep Bay Marine Field Station is now a part of the BC Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries food hub network.

It is one of three new hubs established on Vancouver Island that include Cowichan Valley and Victoria. BC food hubs create new opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses to strengthen food security via locally grown and processed food. The provincial government is investing up to $2 million to purchase

Vancouver Island-based Quality Foods will electrify its fleet of trucks to help reduce its environmental footprint, teaming with EcoWest Driven, a new Parksville company formed specifically to introduce electric semi-trucks to the transportation industry. Along with Mosaic Forest Company, Quality Foods will be the first two businesses on Vancouver Island to use Tesla Semi electric transport trucks. EcoWest Driven will establish a charging station with 45

April 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

United Raw Pet Foods Inc., Canada’s leader in alternative pet foods and a majority-owned subsidiary of Dane Creek Capital Corp., has acquired The Wild Side Pet Boutique, a leading pet specialty retailer specializing in raw, dehydrated, baked and freeze-dried food for pets. Wild Side currently has two locations in Qualicum Beach and Nanaimo.

Coulson Aviation, headquartered in Port Alberni, recently debuted its new Chinook N43CU helitanker, converted with Coulson’s RADS-L tanking system allowing it to carry up to 3,000 gallons of fire suppressant. This is Coulson’s fifth CH47D Chinook in the company’s fleet.

Coulson Aviation is the only aerial firefighting company operating both fixed-wing aircraft and Type 1 helicopters fully equipped to carry out aerial firefighting across the globe. www. coulsonaviationusa.com

The City of Parksville has issued two requests for proposals related to the Parksville Aquatic and Recreation Centre. The deadline to submit proposals is 4PM, Friday, April 30th.

Hupacasath First Nation in Port Alberni has elected former councillor Brandy Lauder as chief councillor, with Warren Lauder, Jolleen Dick and Ricky-Lee Watts elected as councillors.

Berwick Retirement Communities Parksville recently presented a $10,000 cheque to the Parksville Beach Festival Society to help equip the new outdoor performance theatre with a sound system, spotlights, risers and portable dance floor.

Clarkstone & Dearin has opened a second location at F-5262 Argyle Street in Port Alberni for all of your notary needs. They can also be found at 4679 Elizabeth Street. visit www.portalberninotary.com

commercial chargers and a service garage at its property on Angel Road in Parksville this fall.

The Town of Qualicum Beach has sold two properties at 189 Sunningdale Road and 504 Juniper Road for nearly $1.09M. The land sales are designed to replenish reserve funds used to purchase the former St. Andrews Waterfront Park at Buller Road and Highway 19A for $3.4 million in 2018. The town will receive $745,000 for 189 Sunningdale Road, a 962 square-metre residential lot sold to 1100916 BC Ltd. The 590 square-metre parcel at 504 Juniper Drive was sold for $341,000 to Harbour Mill Holdings Inc. The lot is zoned Residential 1 (R1).

Pro Pacific DK, a disaster and recovery business, has just opened a branch in Parksville at #56-1117 Industrial Way. It is the largest locally-owned, property restoration company on Vancouver Island. www.pro-pacific.ca

Razzle Dazzle Dental Hygiene at 4527 Gertrude Street in Port Alberni is accepting new patients.

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PORT ALBERNI Port Alberni city council has adopted its 20212025 financial plan. The plan shows a 3.91 percent property tax increase, or a $77.59 increase, to the average assessed value single-family residence this year. A tax error in 2020 means taxpayers will see this reduced by around 2.72 percent, or approximately $54.

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS The Alberni Valley Landfill will undergo upgrades in preparation for the upcoming compost collection service in the City of Port Alberni.

These upgrades will include the construction of a dedicated tipping area for the City of Port Alberni’s split body garbage trucks to support the implementation of three-stream curbside waste collection, and an expansion of the public tipping area to better accommodate recently added and future diversion streams to keep more material out of the landfill. The work will be completed

by Uplands Excavating. Upgrades are scheduled to be completed before May 31, 2021.

The City of Port Alberni will apply to remove 11.5 hectares of the McLean Mill site from the Agricultural Land Reserve. Councillors voted unanimously during a special meeting to submit an application to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) asking for the removal.

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Construction to improve the dam at the McLean Mill log pond has begun, the final part of a process that began with the realignment of Kitsuksis Creek through a portion of the mill site. The latest work is being done with onsite

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environmental consultants watching for potential discharge of contaminated water from the mill’s log pond into Kitsuksis Creek. West Coast Aquatic started the original stream diversion project at the mill in late 2015. The total project budget is $319,678, which includes engineering design, supervision, environmental monitoring and contingency. The mill site is still open to visitors during the day, except for areas cordoned off due to construction.

Tseshaht First Nation’s elected new council members Ken Watts, Eunice Joe, Natasha Marshall, Edward Ross, Debra Foxcroft, Les Sam, Bella Fred and Jennifer Gallic. They will serve a term of four years. Six out of the nine elected councilors are women, a first for the nation.

Capelli Hair Design at 4505 Victoria Quay in Port Alberni is celebrating 41 years in business.

Give them a call at 250-723-2478, or visit www. capellihair.ca.

TOFINO-UCLUELET The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s Green Point Campground is scheduled to open May 1st to October 12th. Reservations opened in early April.

The District of Ucluelet and the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce launched a pilot housing project for seasonal staff last week. For more information, visit this link or call (250) 726-4641 for more info.

Tofino’s new mayor Dan Law and two new councilors, Cathy Thicke and Jacky Challenger, recently participated in their first council meeting since being elected in Tofino’s March 6 byelection, joining councilors Tom Stere, Britt Chalmers, Duncan McMaster and Al Anderson.

The BC Arts Council has granted the Clayoquot Sou nd Com mu n ity T heat re A ssociat ion (CSCTA) $75,000 in funding. The grant will enable major renovations of Tofino’s almost 40-year-old Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre. Anyone interested in supporting the project can email tofinotheatre@gmail.com.

April 2021

D E T N E C -S D R A W A

Parks Canada, along with Bamfield-area Huuay-aht, the Ditidaht based around Nitinat Lake, and the Port Renfrew-area Pacheedaht First Nations have given the greenlight for the re-opening of Vancouver Island’s West Coast Trail in June 2021. The 75-km trail has been closed since early 2020 due to the pandemic. Advance reservations will be required, and will be open on April 30th.

Hikers can make bookings by visiting www.reservation.pc.gc.ca

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Tofino Bus Services Inc. received $1,152,184.50 in provincial funding to help them stay open and provide essential transportation services to British Columbians, one of twenty inter-city bus operators receiving such funding.

BC is home to three of the best beaches in Canada according to Lonely Planet. The acclaimed international travel guide named Tofino’s Chesterman Beach, north Vancouver Island’s San Josef Bay, and Vancouver’s Kitsilano Beach in their “Top 10 Beaches in Canada” list.

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COMOX VALLEY Charter fishing guide Captain Peter Mathews is now owner of TowBoatUS Comox, offering 24-hour on-water towing and assistance to recreational boaters and anglers in the northern Georgia Strait. TowBoatUS Comox can be reached at 250-897-6483, by hailing on VHF channel 16, or by phoning the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869. www. boatus.com/towboatus/comox Phase 1 of the Accessibility Project behind the Comox Valley Child Development Association on 3rd Street in downtown Courtenay is in the works. The CVCDA’s Accessibility Project Fund came together through its 45th Children’s Telethon, support from local businesses and organizations, $20,000 through the Rick Hanson Foundation BC Accessibility Grants program, and a $24,500 grant from Community Living BC. Lacasse Construction is supporting the CVCDA through all phases of construction with help from Edgett Excavating, Valley Creative Concrete, Dalron Home Improvements, and Cumberland Ready Mix. Follow the project at www.cvcda.ca.

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Work required to preserve and extend the life of Courtenay’s 5th Street Bridge Project will kick off April 15th. The 60-year-old bridge is coated in lead paint that must be removed to address steel corrosion. The $6.5 million project is being made by the City of Courtenay with support from the provincial and federal governments.

The Comox Valley Regional District board has approved a three-year funding agreement for the continued development and progress of the Comox Valley Community Health Network, with Island Health providing $240,000 for its next term from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2024.

The Friends of Rails to Trails-Vancouver Island (FORT-VI) has asked the Comox Valley Regional District to support a high-level cost study to convert the E&N corridor to trail. The Island Corridor Foundation, which owns the railway, would need to grant permission to access the corridor for any study.

Tourism Vancouver Island (TVI) has been announced as the new operator for the visitor centre in the Comox Valley. The centre has previously been run by the Comox Valley Economic Development Society (CVEDS). The change includes some staff shifting over to TVI in the centre. The organization is based out of Nanaimo and has been running for about 60 years.

S e cret D rawe rs L i ngerie ow ners Nena B i l l a n d Va s h t i L e h r le are moving on after 25 years, handing the reins of the business, located on 5th Street in Courtenay, to Tara Schindle.

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W hile Landmark Cinemas’ Rialto Theatre in Courtenay is temporarily closed, they’re still offering popcorn and movie time treats via takeout service Friday and Saturday 3PM-10PM, and Sunday to Thursday 3PM-9PM. www.landmarkcinemas.com

Tara Schindle

April 1st, Comox Valley Charity You Are Not Alone (YANA) celebrated its 35th Anniversary.

Founded in 1986 by Sandra Williams, YANA is

April 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS a local non-profit society that provides accommodation and funding to Comox Valley families who need to travel outside the community for medical treatment for a child under 19 or for a pregnant mother. www.yanacomoxvalley.com

(Health) Research. The initiative is a project of the Comox Valley Early Years Collaborative, a network of over 40 individuals and organizations committed to improving the lives of children in the Comox Valley. www.cveyc.ca.

Anderton Nursery located at 2012 Anderton Road in Comox is now open. Give them a call at 250-339-4726, or visit www.andertonnursery.ca

Cumberland Council accepted a bid from Colliers Project Leaders to be the project manager and authorized staff for their 9.7 million project wastewater treatment project. Council also accepted a bid from Integrated Sustainability Consultants as project engineer, with a contract not to exceed $1,026,467.69. Finally, they picked Maple Reinders Constructors to serve as construction manager, with a contract not to exceed $1.5 million.

A new Canadian Tire has opened in the Discovery Harbour Shopping Centre at 1416 Island Hwy in Campbell River.

A new loop for cycling and walking will cover approximately 7.5 kilometres and connect already-established trails, including Raven Channel and Canyon View.

T he Comox Valley Com munity Foundation (CVCF) approved a second special grant of $100,000 for the Building Connections for Valley Families project, which will fully fund the project for the coming year. Funding for the project was made possible through Vancouver Foundation’s Robert and Florence Filberg Fund for Medical

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WestJet has announced flights from Comox direct to Toronto weekly beginning June 26th via Comox Valley Airport. The new route is part of eleven new domestic flights across western Canada offering nonstop services for fifteen communities in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

Courtenay’s Bigfoot Donuts is a finalist in

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS the Small Business BC Awards for Best Youth Entrepreneur Award, Best Community Impact Award, and the Premier’s People’s Choice Award. Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery and CORE Landscape Products, also of Courtenay, are both up for the Best Innovation Award. The winners will be announced over the course of a three-day virtual gala, May 4-6.

Comox Strathcona Waste Management in Cumberland was named one of the Top Collector award winners for the second year in a row by the BC Used Oil Management Association.

CAMPBELL RIVER’S The Pier Street Farmers Market will once again be located at the parking lot across from the Community Centre in downtown Campbell River for the 2021 season, running Sundays from May to September.

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the City of Campbell River talks about her impressive career, including being a part of the LNG boom in Northern BC, Campbell River›s tech attraction strateg y, a nd the challenges for smaller communities as they adapt to the issues presented by COVID-19.

The Campbell River Airport is one of 55 regional airports approved to receive provincial funding to help them stay open and provide essential transportation services to British Columbians.

Rose Klukas

Twenty inter-city bus operators received the funding as well, including Tofino Bus Services Inc. which serves Campbell River. Tofino Bus received $1,152,184.50. The Campbell River Airport will receive $360,000 as a Category B airport.

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April 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS Shelter Point Distillery, located at 4650 Regent Road in Campbell River, has won Best Canadian Single Cask Single Malt for its Single Cask Peat single malt bottling from Whisky Magazine’s World Whiskies Awards 2021. Shelter Point was also a category winner, 12 years and under, for its flagship Artisanal Single Malt, and won best Canadian Grain Whisky for its Smoke Point Batch 2. shelterpoint.ca The Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ (KCFN) First Nations have officially joined the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) as a full-time member, represented by KCFN Director Kevin Jules. As part of the process to welcome KCFN into the SRD, the Province has changed the regional district’s letters patent to name KCFN as a member of the regional district.

Port McNeill council voted to move ahead with the playground proposal put forward by the Waterfront Community Playgroup Project committee. Site locations able to accommodate the 30x30 playground space and equipment include the area where the WFP guesthouse was once located, an area above Parking Lot B the green space beyond the ferry at the end of the harbour path on Beach Drive.

Nelson Roofing & Sheet Metal is hiring.

Campbell River City Council has approved phase 4 of the apartment tower along Dogwood Street near Merecroft Village, two six-storey apartment buildings totaling 106 rental units. Development of the next phase began this month under Broadstreet Properties and Seymour Pacific. The first phase, a 70-unit apartment complex, was approved in 2017. Phase 2 was a set of 28 townhouses, while Phase 3 consists of an 80 unit apartment tower still under construction. The entire project will bring the total build-out of the Seymour Village project to 284 rental units once completed.

The Campbell River Waste Management Centre is amongst the top thirty used oil collectors in the province according to the BC Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) a nonprofit dedicated to the collection and recycling of various used automotive fluids like oil, antifreeze and their containers.

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Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours will open a new Homalco Adventure Centre in the Discovery Harbour Mall at 1344 Island Highway in Campbell River. They will launch two new, state-ofthe-art adventure tour vessels and introducing a new Whales, Wildlife and Culture tour this spring. Designed to immerse visitors in First Nations culture, the centre’s Indigenous design will feature art from local First Nation artists, guidebooks and more. To learn more, visit www. homalcotours.com.

NORTH ISLAND Port Hardy-based Waivin Flags Taxi received $27,000, one of 20 inter-city bus operators and 55 regional airports approved for funding to help them stay open and provide essential transportation services in BC. The Province has issued a one-time investment of $6.2 million to a number of inter-city bus operators and $16.5 million for regional airports to support operations between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

Port Hardy’s current fire chief, Brent Borg, has been reappointed for another three-year term.

The ‘Namgis First Nation is working with the BC government on a land-use planning initiative for the Nimpkish Valley as part of a province-wide focus on modernizing its land-use plans. A team of ‘Namgis, government representatives and experts making up the Gwa’ni Project Team will review the 160,000-hectare area, their ultimate recommendations used to create new policies to manage the resource extraction and other uses of the land. Most of the Nimpkish Valley is within Western Forest Product’s Tree Farm Licence 37.

Port Alice is getting $335,000 for sea kayak touring facilities with picnic facilities being added on nearby islands, and Port Hardy is getting $348,500 for the construction of washrooms at Carrot/Rotary Park through the Tourism Dependent Communities Initiative. The approved projects must be completed by March 2023.

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