Business Examiner Victoria - June 2021

www.BusinessExaminer.ca

July 2021

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY’S ENVIROFRIENDLY FUTURE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND BOLSTERED BY INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENTS AND PROVINCIAL INVESTMENTS - 16 VICTORIA CHAMBER: TIME HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER TO GET TOGETHER – 10

MICROBREWERY, DISTILLERY AND RESTAURANT FOR DOWNTOWN VICTORIA – 12

Connecting Island Businesses with the World.

KING BROS. LIMITED Customs Brokers / Ship’s Agents

Importing made easy with services tailored to your needs.

Visit us at www.kibro.com

We’re Hiring!

Come grow your career with us.

At Gescan, we believe that we work better when your unique voice and ideas are celebrated and encouraged.

Whether you’re ready to start a challenging new career, or you are an experienced industry professional, come grow your career, your way, with one of the largest electrical distribution networks in the world.

We’re more than just an electrical distributor, at Gescan we work with some of the largest electrical brands to provide the clean energy of the future. Join us on our journey towards net zero emissions and contribute to something greater than yourself.

Development & Learning • Paid Training • Inside Sales Customer Base Growth Program • Tuition Reimbursement Leave work at work attitude • Work Monday-Friday during the day only • No need to work late or on weekends • 3-week starting vacation, sick and appointment days Competitive Salary, Bonuses & Discounts • Competitive salary • Bonuses • Employee discount of 5% above costs on all products Extended & Flexible Benefits • Insurance for health, prescriptions, dental, paramedical, travel, life, AD&D, optional critical care, long and short-term disability • Complimentary counselling, healthy eating strategies and financial advice

https://www.gescan.com/content/careers

Summer is here. For us, that means playing catch up on the growing “to-do” list built during our busy season.

We hope you are enjoying the heat (fires notwithstanding), and are taking time to recover from the crazy spring as we prepare for the roaring fall of 2021.

While you’re continuing to build your business and brand, our team continues to tell the stories of Capital Region business leaders like, and keep you informed on news impacting your organization.

This edition focuses on Building Science & Sustainability. The Island boasts an incredible number of innovators in the space, we hope you enjoy!

Alongside this feature, we have our popular curated Movers & Shakers content, with updates from Capital Region Chambers of Commerce, our CITIFIED update, stories from Orca Masonry and a whole lot more.

Keep forging ahead, 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)

6 NEWS UPDATE

10 GREATER VICTORIA

14 ORCA MASONRY

9 WEST SHORE

12 CITIFIED

16 ENVIRO-FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION

20 OPINION

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24 TOURISM

WHO IS SUING WHOM

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

25 ADVISORY

26 MOVERS AND SHAKERS

NEWS UPDATE

BCREA: HOUSING MARKET ACTIVITY NORMALIZING

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BRITISH COLUMBIA – The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 11,070 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in June 2021, an increase of 34.7 per cent over June 2020.

The average MLS residential price in BC was $910,445, a 22.2 per cent increase from $745,194 recorded in June 2020. Total sales dollar volume was $10.1 billion, a 64.6 per cent increase from last year.

“As expected, housing market activity is calming to start the second half of 2021,” said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. “That said, while down from record highs earlier this year, home sales across the province remain well above long-run average levels” Total active residential listings were down 23.4 per cent year-over-year in June and continued to fall on a monthly seasonally adjusted basis.

Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume was up 161.6 per cent to $64.7 billion, compared with the same period in 2020. Residential unit sales were up 114.3 per cent to 70,690 units, while the average MLS residential price was up 22.1 per cent to $915,563.

LOW INVENTORY AND STRONG DEMAND CONTINUE VICTORIA - A total of 942 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this June, 16.6 per cent more than the 808 properties sold in June 2020, but 10.2 per cent fewer than the previous month of May. Condominium sales were up 61.7 per cent from June 2020 with 338 units sold. 4 per cent more condominiums sold in June 2021 than in the previous month of May. Sales of single-family homes were down 4.3 per cent from June 2020 with 440 sold. 18.1 per cent fewer single-family homes sold in June 2021 than in the previous month of May. There were 1,375 active listings for sale on the VREB MLS at the end of June 2021, 49 per cent fewer properties than the 2,698 available at the end of June 2020 and 5.2 per cent fewer than the 1,450 active listings for sale at the end of May 2021.

The MLS Home Price Index benchmark value for a single-family home in the Victoria Core in June 2020 was $896,700.

See full report here July 2021

NEWS UPDATE

ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY SHOWS THAT HARBOURS SUPPORT 14,983 JOBS The Economic Impact Study for Victoria and Esquimalt Harbours reveals that harbour-based activities generated $2.9 billion in economic output across Greater Victoria in 2019.

Of the $2.9 billion in economic impact, $2.4 billion is generated by the Esquimalt harbour businesses with a significant contribution by CFB Esquimalt, and $554 million is from the Victoria harbour businesses. The study shows that the harbours contributed $1.8 billion to local GDP (accounting for around 8 per cent of Victoria’s overall GDP), paid $953 million in employment income, and generated $539 million in total tax revenues.

In addition to the financial contribution, a total of 14,983 people are employed in the region as a result of our working harbours.

Beyond the direct economic impact, harbour organizations and businesses contributed more than $1.7 million in 2019 to various social programs and community initiatives in addition to various other in-kind donations. These contributions included sponsoring local events or organizations, supporting charitable organizations, and providing education or training opportunities which provided significant social value to the region.

The full Economic Impact Study may be viewed here: https://gvha.ca/economic-impact-study/.

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FUNDING FOR INDIGENOUS TOURISM PROJECTS The Federal Government of Canada announced the investment of a minimum of $50M from the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) in Indigenous tourism projects. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is very pleased with this renewed commitment from the government to support the recovery of the Indigenous tourism industry across the country.

The aforementioned investment is part of a total commitment of $500M in the TRF to support the tourism industry overall, of which $485 million will be delivered by Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) directly to tourism businesses and organizations to help aid in the creation of new tourism experiences, or enhance existing ones. Of this $500 million, a minimum of 10% will be invested in Indigenous tourism projects ($50M). Additionally, $15M has been allocated in part to support national ITAC projects.

Individual businesses and Provincial/Territorial Indigenous Tourism Organizations will need to apply for repayable or non-repayable funding directly through their respective RDAs. Contributions to Indigenous entities (not generating profits) will normally be non-repayable. Indigenous applicants are invited to apply through the process described below.: For communities in Western Canada: Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) Full press release here

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NEWS UPDATE

ONEFEATHER LAUNCHES INDIGENOUS BANKING SOLUTIONS

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V ICTOR I A - T he OneFeather APP is a ground-breaking Indigenous innovation offering a dedicated Indigenous banking solution for First Nations Peoples, Métis, and Inuit. Paired with the new contactless OneFeather PAY card and 1FTs (OneFeather Tokens), OneFeather continues to remove the systemic barriers Indigenous Peoples face.

In Canada, 15 per cent of the Indigenous population is not served by a bank. Furthermore, 44 per cent of Indigenous Peoples live on reserve, which makes it difficult for Nation members to access traditional financial institutions and government services.

OneFeather is decolonizing the financial sector by offering a banking solution for Indigenous Peoples in Canada – whether they are on-reserve or off-reserve. The OneFeather APP enables users to link a pre-existing bank account to load their OneFeather PAY card. OneFeather APP is also a banking solution for urban dwellers, such as young adults who have traveled off-reserve to live, work, or attend post-secondary institutions. Cash gifts can be transferred between family members now while living allowances and tuition will be transferable from Nation bands through the APP in the future.

Full Press Release Here July 2021

WEST SHORE

SUPPORT LOCAL: BEST OF THE WESTSHORE AWARDS 2021

JULIE LAWLOR It’s that time of year again! Voting is open for Best of the WestShore Awards, and will run until Labour Day. This partnership between the Goldstream Gazette and the WestShore Chamber of Commerce takes place every year, and is open to all organisations within the WestShore municipalities of Colwood, Langford, the Highlands, Metchosin and View Royal. Last year, over 30,000 votes were cast across 44 categories. Those voted into the top three in each category are contacted in September, and the results are announced in October.

Voting in the Best of the WestShore Awards is a great way to support your favourite local businesses and non-profits. And it’s no problem if you don’t have 44 favourites, as long as you vote for at least 10. When you get onto the platform you will see a lot of organisations which have pre-registered, others which other voters have WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

added, and you can add your own.

If you are a business owner or manager and you missed the pre-registration opportunity which ran throughout May, it is still easy for you to get involved. When you get onto the platform you can write in your organisation name in whichever category or categories are relevant to your business, and vote for 9 of your WestShore neighbours. Once your submission is reviewed to ensure that you are within the WestShore, your business name will be on the platform and your clients and customers will be able to vote for you.

And who doesn’t like free publicity?

To access the voting platform, please go to goldstreamgazette.com and click on “Contests.” To further connect with the WestShore Chamber, you can sign up for our e-news on our “Contact Us” page at westshore.bc.ca or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Julie Lawlor is Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce.

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GREATER VICTORIA

TIME HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER TO GET TOGETHER

10 BRUCE WILLIAMS

With restrictions lifting and the threat of COVID-19 fading into the category of rarely contracted communicable disease, we’re all ready to get back to “new” normal. But what is normal? Can we get back to the life we enjoyed before social distancing, variants of concern and never-ending Zoom meetings? Do we want to?

Businesses have led exciting new innovations and systemic changes in the last 450 odd days.

It’s time to bring that drive to change and improve into all aspects of our world so that the second-half of 2021 will be much different than it was before 2020. I truly believe in many ways we’re much better off. The crisis of a pandemic has forced us to re-examine our values and

revealed systemic dysfunction that had been easy to ignore when times were good.

We need to do a better job of providing a safe community for all. The Chamber has long advocated on behalf of businesses for policies and investments needed for all of us to feel safe at our jobs and in our homes. This really is a foundation for a functional and thriving community. When COVID-19 erupted, the issues around homelessness, mental health and addiction were exposed like never before. People who were out of sight in shelters and alleyways were suddenly in full view. We needed compassion for those in despair, resolve for those who sought to prey on the vulnerable and practicality for finding solutions to a lack of housing and services at the root of so many issues. The darkest days are now behind us, and downtown Victoria is undeniably safer and well-poised for a powerful economic rebound.

We’ve also experienced a reckoning that forced us to question the narratives we have as a country and a community. Discrimination and bigotry — forced into the light during the pandemic — are no longer acceptable. Period.

The question now is how do we do more than pay lip-service to ensure we really are inclusive? At The Chamber, we’re creating a new Committee for the Advancement of Diversity and Inclusion (CADI). It will consist of members who represent voices that are underrepresented and will guide our vision to be the “region’s most diverse and influential business association.”

July 2021

GREATER VICTORIA We have also added two words to the end of our mission statement so it now reads “working together to build good business and great community for all.” This includes doing more to achieve reconciliation with Indigenous people.

The Chamber has had a strong relationship with local First Nations for years, and, to be frank, we are angry and ashamed of the discovery of unmarked graves at residential schools across Canada.

As a business organization that dates back to 1863, we are interwoven in the history of our region. Without doubt, chambers of commerce bore witness and participated in the suppression of Indigenous peoples and heinous efforts to destroy their culture. We have publicly acknowledged this and are committed to do better.

A Chamber task force led by Indigenous representation is one way we can ensure real changes are made. We have also invited all First Nations businesses and Indigenous entrepreneurs to join The Chamber and be part of the work we do on behalf of the region.

There has never been a more important time for us as a Chamber and for all businesses to join together to be part of the solution. There has also never been a better time to grow your business and connections, and joining your local Chamber is an effective way to accomplish that. Connecting people, connecting businesses, together we will build good business and great community — for all.

Bruce Williams is CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

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Citified.ca

A rendering depicting Plexxis Tower, now under construction on Westhills Drive at Langford Lake Road in the City of Langford. The six-storey project will become the home of tech firm Plexxis Software founded over 20-years-ago in Ontario. © Plexxis Software

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MICROBREWERY, DISTILLERY AND RESTAURANT FOR DOWNTOWN VICTORIA Sponsored by ESQUIMALT Aragon Properties’ Esquimalt Town Square (ETS) development adjacent to Esquimalt’s city hall celebrated its public art unveiling in early July. Multiple art pieces commissioned for the project used wood materials in-keeping with the design theme of ETS, a four-building community comprised of two condominium buildings (60 per cent sold-out), a rental building (fully leased) and an office block home to an expanded branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library scheduled to open this fall.

LANGFORD Software development firm Plexxis is relocating most of its leadership to Langford from Brampton, Ontario, and construction is already underway on the company’s new offices. The concrete and steel-designed Plexxis Tower, featuring over 59,500 square feet of office and ground floor retail

space across six floors, is rising at 1319 Westhills Drive adjacent to the Westhills YMCA recreational centre. The company will occupy floors five and six, totalling 25,000 square feet, while the remainder is currently for lease on levels two-throughfour. Ground floor commercial units earmarked for cafe or restaurant operations are available across 5,000 square feet.

The tallest building on the West Shore will rise as an 18-storey condominium tower atop Langford’s Bear Mountain Resort. One Bear Mountain, from developers 360 Pacifica and Terracap, is coming to 2000 Hannington Road along the 18th fairway of Bear Mountain’s Mountain Course on the former site of The Highlander, a 14-storey condominium that reached four levels in 2009 before the project stalled. One Bear Mountain will begin pre-sale of over 200 homes this summer.

SAANICH July 2021

Citified.ca Developer Mike Geric Construction has secured approvals for Doral Forest Park, a two-building condominium with an 11-storey tower and a five-storey attainable ownership low-rise, both of which are slated for the 4700-block of Elk Lake Drive. Collectively the project will add nearly 250 homes to the Royal Oak neighbourhood.

VANCOUVER ISLAND A BC-based green construction company pioneering environmentally-friendly building technologies has announced plans to open a manufacturing plant on Vancouver Island that could employ up to 200 workers. Alexzi Building Solutions has issued a request for information (RFI) to solicit bids from local real-estate developers capable of delivering a state-of-the-art 150,000 square foot industrial plant for the production of Nexii construction materials and panels. The RFI identifies the Capital, Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo regions as suitable locations, with a development window targeting delivery of a production-ready plant by early to mid-2023. A selected site is expected to be announced this month, and may have been announced prior to the publication date of this segment.

VICTORIA The Customs House mixed-use condominium and retail project at the nexus of Government, Wharf and Humboldt streets is nearing its grand unveiling after four years of construction. The $100 million project from developer Cielo Properties includes a heritage portion with a restored façade dating back to 1914 (with modern interiors across five levels), and a new-build wing rising to seven-storeys. Customs House’s residential GREATER VICTORIA’S COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LEADER.

portion includes 57 luxury suites in two styles, one a heritage collection within the restored 1914 wing, and the other a contemporary release in the elegant, stone-clad new-build designed by Merrick Architecture and Studio One Architecture.

The offering is nearly sold-out.

Victoria-based Jawl Properties has unveiled redevelopment plans for downtown Victoria’s Capital Six Theatre complex on Blanshard Street between Yates and View streets. The existing two-storey property at 1221 Blanshard Street, purchased by Jawl in 2015, has operated as a sixscreen movie theatre for multiple decades. According to plans submitted to the City of Victoria, Jawl’s concept calls for transforming the site into a ten-storey office and retail tower with employment capacity for 600 workers.

Plans to open a microbrewery, distillery and restaurant at downtown Victoria’s Hudson District are coming to fruition four years after Victoria publican Grant Turner set out to open a new establishment kitty-corner from the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Hudson Brewhouse & Distillery is scheduled to welcome patrons this fall after a lengthy planning and municipal permitting process stemming back to 2017 when Turner, a partner at Yates Street Taphouse in the 700-block of Yates Street, unveiled his concept for a second location.

VIEW ROYAL Council has granted support for 9 Erskine Lane, a four-building rental community of five-storey apartments envisioned for an expansive property near Victoria General Hospital. Over 330-homes are planned as part of the project.

E- E PR AS LE

R FOALE S

R FOALE S

SO

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1331 Westhills Drive

135 Kangro Road

A-4382 Westshore Parkway

582 Johnson Street

3-601 Boleskine Road

10 Unit Townhouse Investment Property with Additional Development Land

Last 8,757 Strata Warehouse Unit Remaining in Glenshire Business Park

Landmark Retail Building Located in the Heart of Downtown Victoria

Industrial Warehouse, Steps From Uptown Shopping Centre

LD

LD

CHRIS RUST PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENT PROPERTIES GROUP

250 386 0005 chris.rust@cbre.com

ROSS MARSHALL PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT INVESTMENT PROPERTIES GROUP

250 386 0004

ross.marshall@cbre.com

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Langford, BC

Landmark Office/Retail Leasing Opportunity in the Heart of Westhills

Salt Spring Island, BC

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1026 FORT STREET, VICTORIA, BC, V8V 3K4 CBRE LIMITED, REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

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FEATURE STORY

The “pod” at award winning Orca Masonry, from left: Conner Eastman – Sr Mason, Crew Chief; Elnore Andrews – Operations & Projects Director; Jesse Dares – Waterproofing Specialist, Project Manager; Cory Brune – Owner, Sr Project Consultant; Sid Branch – Sr Mason, Project Manager; Josh McLaughlin – Project Consultant.

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ORCA MASONRY EARNS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR HONOUR COMPANY STARTED IN 2019 CAPTURES 11-39 EMPLOYEE CATEGORY VICTORIA – Orca Masonry is helping build Greater Victoria, brick by brick and stone by stone.

In recognition of that, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has named Orca Masonry as its 2021 Business of the Year for companies between 11-39 employees.

Cory Brune started the company in June, 2019, which also serves Nanaimo and the Cowichan Valley, two years ago, following nearly a decade at another construction company where he was also a partner.

“I saw a demand for quality, small to mediumsized projects and decided to strike out on my own,”

states Brune, the company Principle and Senior Project Consultant, adding that Orca specializes in concrete, brick, block, stone and waterproofing solutions for residential and commercial customers.

Not bad, considering they started the business less than a year before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, just after he had moved from his home office to commercial space on at 4085 Quadra Street, and purchased two new work trucks.

“The timing couldn’t have been any worse as this was right when the pandemic fully set into Canada,” he recalls. “People were nervous, potential clients didn’t want to commit to a project based

July 2021

FEATURE STORY

Waterproofing services are also offered by Orca Masonry

Orca Masonry did the brickwork at Thrifty Foods’ Hillside store

on so many uncertainties surrounding COVID, and our existing clients started postponing their projects.”

“I was left in my empty office literally spinning in my chair. I couldn’t afford to wait to see what was going to happen, so instead, I had to make it happen.

Rather than reducing advertising I increased it via mailouts and radio ads, I hired office staff and more installers, and we went to work.”

As a result, the business has grown exponentially, and with 15 people on staff, they are projected to more than double again by the end of 2021.

Chimneys are the most popular service offered by Orca Masonry, Brune notes.

“Increasingly, concrete and waterproofing solutions are being requested as we grow in visibility in the marketplace,” he adds. “We want people to know that we offer waterproofing solutions which includes complete perimeter drainage replacements, and concrete crack injections that stop water ingress.”

Orca donates 1% of its chimney sales each quarter to Surrounded by Cedar Child & Family Services, an organization that supports urban Indigenous youth in care.

Brune, son of a talented aboriginal artist of Metis heritage, has also established the Orca Masonry

Award for Indigenous Trades Students at Camosun College, and the first award was given out in 2021.

Brune believes a quality work environment and great team members have been the key to the company’s success.

“I wanted to build an inclusive culture, one where everyone lived the values of having a strong work ethic, being honest and having integrity, treating others with kindness, and where we are able to provide a work/life balance,” he states. “We all have families and lives outside work, and we didn’t want to build a place where you felt like if you didn’t work 90 hours a week or come in on your days off that you wouldn’t be able to succeed.

We work hard during the week, but we also recognize that we all need a bit of flexibility at times to spend time with loved ones and to deal with other issues at hand.”

The company mission statement confirms that: “Our mission is to provide top quality concrete & masonry services to members of our community who need a problem solved or a dream fulfilled by extraordinary people.”

To which Brune adds: “I really believe that the key to our success is the extraordinary people we have working at Orca Masonry.” www.orcamasonry.com

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OFF THE COVER

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Nanaimo’s upcoming nine-storey Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo will utilize 140 exterior structural panels developed by Nexii. Able to fit together like jigsaw puzzles, Nexii’s panels improve a building’s energy efficiency and significantly lower energy costs for ongoing building operation, according to the company. © Nexii Building Solutions

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY’S ENVIRO-FRIENDLY FUTURE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND BOLSTERED BY INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENTS AND PROVINCIAL INVESTMENTS GREEN CONSTRUCTION BOLSTERED BY INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENTS AND PROVINCIAL INVESTMENTS Innovation and technological improvements among construction industry stalwarts are helping deliver a more efficient, environmentally sustainable and economically competitive generation of buildings and infrastructure projects across Vancouver Island, while provincial dollars are helping showcase made-in-BC initiatives to broader markets.

T he prov i nci a l gover n ment, t h rou g h t he CleanBC Building Innovation Fund has earmarked nearly $10 million for 21

low-carbon building solutions throughout British Columbia, including a $230,000 investment towards Pacifica Housing’s fuel-switching measures and structure envelope upgrades at one of its Victoria-based multi-unit residential buildings. The changes, according to proponents, could yield an 80 per cent or greater reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and their successful adoption likely to set the stage for rapid uptake of similar programs.

Additional monies were awarded to concepts

July 2021

OFF THE COVER

17 A worker applies Polyurea, a sprayable elastomer used in waterproofing situations. West Coast Waterproofing can save clients valuable time with the Polyurea product while negating the need for open flame torch-on waterproofing material applications. © West Coast Waterproofing

like testing and design certification of FPInnovations’ 3D-printed high-quality, low-cost and energy-efficient homes utilizing residual wood fibres in lieu of traditional materials, the City of Fort St. John’s net-zero energy-ready RCMP detachment, and StructureCraft Ltd.’s software platform to assist with the design, engineering, fabricating and installation of mass timber structures. Financial awards totalled $450,000, $100,000 and $380,000, respectively, among this trio of the 21 chosen applicants.

“These projects are great examples of how homegrown innovation and technology are putting us on the path to a cleaner, better future,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA

250-385-8439 ● 250-754-2232 734 Tyee Rd, Victoria | 113 Gava Pl, Nanaimo

OFF THE COVER

Leuco Construction crews work at installing a Thermoform PVC Fold and Form culvert liner. Leuco’s unique culvert rehabilitation service saves time and money, and is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional culvert repair or replacement options. © Leuco Construction

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Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. “Through the Building Innovation Fund, we are investing in projects that showcase British Columbian expertise, reduce pollution, increase energy efficiency and stimulate local economies. By using clean energy more efficiently in our buildings, we’re helping people reduce energy costs, mitigate climate impacts, and improve air quality.”

On the Island, emerging technologies already in use in other regions are quickly gaining local market penetration thanks to a growing number of firms helping change the way builders and municipal governments solve familiar issues.

As the first company in western Canada to offer a revolutionary method of modernizing or repairing storm and sewer culverts, Parksville’s Leuco Construction brands its new Thermoform PVC Fold and Form service as a cost-cutting effective alternative to open-cut trench excavations.

“Trenchless rehabilitation has been around for many years, but PVC lining is a much newer technology, especially on the west coast,” says William Cottrell, President of Leuco Construction.

“The technology avoids excavation, removal of existing piping, extensive utility shutdowns, or public disruptions. There are also no hazardous water-soluble chemicals within the material, no

chemical reactions required for it to work, no volatile monomers such as styrene, no noxious vapours to pollute the air and no leaching.”

Cottrell estimates several kilometers-worth of underground utility and stormwater culverts on Vancouver Island will require replacement over the next decade that could benefit from Thermoform, particularly in urbanized areas with high traffic loads.

Victoria’s West Coast Waterproofing (WCW) is pioneering the use of Polyurea as an industrial waterproofing process capable of adapting to a wide variety of situations requiring protection from water exposure or penetration.

Through the use of Polyurea, a sprayable elastomer, WCW is able to avoid the complexities of open flame torch-on waterproof membrane installation to protect environments like green roofs, parkades, concrete decks, balconies and walkways in less time, yet within the same budget as traditional options.

WCW promotes Polyurea as fast applying, trafficable within minutes, extremely durable and its use negates the need for carbon emissions during installation. The firm estimates it can handle 5,000 square feet of coverage per day.

In Squamish, Nexii Building Solutions is operating at-capacity to deliver its made-in-BC environmentally-friendly building technologies.

Demand, Nexii says, is so strong that a 150,000 square foot production plant is now targeted for Vancouver Island.

Nexii has certified Alexzi Building Solutions to produce its near-zero waste precision-designed, pre-manufactured Nexii panels in a purpose-built factory that is in its final stages of site procurement. Nexii reports that its state-of-theart panels significantly reduce the climate impact of construction and slash onsite build times by up to 75 per cent without sacrificing water or fire resistance, or earthquake resiliency. Such efficiency, according to Anne Tanner, Executive Vice President of Royal LePage Commercial’s

July 2021

OFF THE COVER

Affordable housing provider Pacifica Housing is one of the largest builder-operators of below-market homes in the Capital Region, with state-of-the-art projects in planning like the Burnside School Affordable Housing development earmarked for Cecelia Road (pictured). Pacifica has secured $230,000 from the province’s CleanBC Building Innovation Fund for fuel-switching measures and structure envelope upgrades at one of its Victoria-based multi-unit residential buildings. © Pacifica Housing

leasing and sales division (assisting Alexzi’s site selection), can yield significant budget savings critical to providing attainable housing in southwestern BC. “As Nexii’s manufacturing partner, accessing leading green construction technology and products, Alexzi is at the forefront of breakthrough 21st century building materials with a proven track record in British Columbia and expanding in jurisdictions throughout North America,” Tanner said.

Created by construction industry innovators Michael and Ben Dombowsky, Nexii was born out of the energy crisis of the 1970s when research and testing first began at the hands of the brothers in pursuit of efficient and sustainable methods of building. Today’s material science advancements coupled with market demand for innovative alternatives to steel and concrete have created a niche for Nexii’s

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solutions and an impetus for expanding its network of certified manufacturers to markets across North America.

A rendering of the City of Fort St. John’s net-zero energy-ready RCMP detachment, which received a $100,000 provincial contribution under the CleanBC Building Innovation Fund from the province for the state-of-the-art facility. © City of Fort St. John

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OPINION

FAVORABLE TAX RATES OFFER SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES FOR THE INVESTMENT EAGER

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MARK MACDONALD Tax rates make an incredible difference when it comes to decision time for investors and companies.

U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent push to get Group of Seven countries to agree to implement a minimal global corporate tax rate of at least 15 per cent was shot down in flames, to the surprise of mostly no-one. Can anyone see the world’s most powerful economic nations agreeing to something that could make them competitively deficient to the U.S.? Not in this lifetime.

It was believed that Biden’s request would allow him to raise the U.S. corporate tax rate to 28 per cent, after former President Donald Trump dropped it from 35 to 21 per cent. It probably won’t stop the Democrats from raising

the tax bar, but they’ll have to do it all on their own.

Taxes are the bane of business’ existence. Despite politicians cries for having corporations “pay their fair share”, owners and shareholders are acutely aware of how much tax they already pay to various levels of government, payroll deductions and employee benefits. It seems like a never-ending stream, stemmed only by sharp managers, pencil-sharpening accountants and on-the-ball lawyers.

Which, altogether, makes the opportunity for making investments – and profits – in other, less taxed jurisdictions, even more attractive.

That’s why multinational corporations seek other landing spots for their corporate head offices.

We need not look elsewhere than our own backyard to witness the benefits of lowerthan-usual taxation. Does anyone think that British Columbia’s film industry would exist to any extent without significant tax credits, and an attractive, lower Canadian dollar against their U.S. counterpart? The combination of those two factors have been THE reason that this province is home to a large number of film production companies that call BC “home”.

That works in the U.S. as well. The Longmire series, for example, which the script says is located in Wyoming, was actually filmed in New Mexico, where it’s tax rate was 10 per cent less than the northern state.

July 2021

OPINION Casting one’s eyes to the sporting world, it is becoming painfully evident that a stronger American dollar and nonexistent state taxes are making National Hockey League teams in Nevada, Texas and Florida increasingly attractive destinations for players. Including Canadian born skaters, choosing warmer and friendlier tax climes as great alternatives to much higher tax rates in BC, Ontario and Quebec. Not to mention the ability to enjoy life outside the rink due to less concentrated, and invasively rabid fan bases.

Tax advantages are just that, significant reasons for other cities, regions, provinces, states and countries to attract investment they otherwise wouldn’t get.

Ireland is a great case, as it’s low corporate tax rate was a major reason why corporations decided to set up shop there, the most specific cause of what is called “Ireland’s Economic Miracle”.

It’s why towns like Langford enjoy continual investment, despite recessionary times.

Mayor Stew Young announced a significant tax reduction for developers prior to the most recent recession, and Langford was able to sail through rough economic waters with positive growth.

It’s also an opportunity that investment-welcoming First Nations can take advantage of, since their smaller bureaucracies can offer lower start-up costs and streamlined regulations to developers, providing an option to locating in multi-level government layers in other cities and towns.

Taxes aren’t the only reason, but they are

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major factors in attracting, and repelling investment. Even if politicians are loathe to support corporations, eyeing them with suspicion as they report profits, they are forced to recognize that those businesses create jobs, which means voters.

Thankfully there are competitive alternatives for corporations to weigh before making decisions about where to invest and build. Even if they choose not to locate in other countries, at least the threat of doing so restrains governments from raising taxes out of sight to keep some of these companies at home.

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

21 Dig deep with the frontline leaders of our economy

PODCAST

From the Trenches British Columbia business stories and commentary

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 Access Welding & Coating Inspection Ltd 122 8-6014 Vedder Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF M c Ph e e , M e n n o Kenneth CLAIM $17,216

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DEFENDANT All Points Home Inspections Ltd 2023 Fernwood Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Cameron, Darby James CLAIM $29,721

DEFENDANT AFC Industries Ltd Balmoral Investments Ltd 8 0 0-8 8 5 We s t Georgia St, Vancouver, BC Schug, Larry Robert CLAIM $35,216 DEFENDANT Bayside Oceanfront Resort 8 0 0-8 8 5 We s t Georgia St, Vancouver, BC Schug, Larry Robert CLAIM $35,216

DEFENDANT Brandywine Holdings Inc 533 Heat herd a le Lane, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Pellow, Monica CLAIM $12,406 DEFENDANT Comox Pacific Express Ltd 2900-201 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB PLAINTIFF Barnett, Tara Ann CLAIM $22,368 DEFENDANT Cube Project

Management Ltd 4th Flr 1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Argus Excavating Limited CLAIM $34,313 DEFENDANT Earth Spirit Publishing Ltd 1681 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay, BC PLAINTIFF Fouts, Jason CLAIM $30,510 DEFENDANT Ea r th Spi r it Refurbishment & Restorations 1681 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay, BC

PLAINTIFF Fouts, Jason CLAIM $30,510 DEFENDANT Ea r th Spirit V W Restorations 1681 Cowichan Bay Rd, Cowichan Bay, BC PLAINTIFF Fouts, Jason CLAIM $30,510 Google Cloud Canada Corporation 900-1960 Upper Water St, Halifax, NS PLAINTIFF DB Appraisals Ltd CLAIM $28,426 DEFENDANT

Region

Project Address

Project Type

Project Details

Low Bid / Award

Amount

Victoria

Various locations

Roads & bridges

AAA Neighbourhood Bikeways & Traffic Calming

Don Mann Excavating

Victoria

Government St

Roads & bridges

AAA Cycling Network - Government St North Corridor

BD Hall Constructors Corp

N/A

Oak Bay

1975 Bee St

Mechanical, elec & plumbing

Ammonia Chiller Replacement and Plant Upgrades

Fraser Valley Refrigeraton

403,425

View Royal

Various locations

Consulting services

Official Community Plan Review

EcoPlan International

125,611

Highlands

Various locations

Roads & bridges

2021 Paving Program

Capital City Paving

175,367

Colwood

Various locations

Consulting services

Neighbourhood Wayfinding Strategy

The Cygnus Design Group

Capital Regional District

Hartland Ave

Civil work

Hartland Landfill Airspace - Aggregate Production

Jacob Bros Construction

CRD - Gulf Islands

Mayne Island

Roads & bridges

Road work - Mayne Island

OK Industries

Nanaimo RD

Englishman River

Roads & bridges

Pedestrian Bridge Replacement - Englishman Hatchery

Pacific Industrial and Marine

109,323

Nanaimo RD

737 Jones St

Institutional add/alter

Ravensong Aquatic Centre Mech Upgrade Phase 2

Archie Johnstone Plumbing & Heating

271,621

Comox

19 Wing, CFB Comox

Institutional add/alter

CFHA Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations

Don Saywell Developments

997,960

Comox Valley RD

Various locations

Civil work

Bus Stop Construction

Simon Stubbs Consulting

Comox Valley RD

1331 Williams Beach Rd

Institutional new

Merville Auxilliary Fire Hall

Kinetic Construction

1,317,123

Campbell River

FSR near Eve River

Roads & bridges

Road Construction

Far North Contracting

1,301,520

Haida Gwaii

1647 Collison Ave, Masset

Institutional new

Construction Management Services

Unitech Construction Management

2,792,601

N/A 11,045,606 2,947,150

N/A

N/A

July 2021

WHO IS SUING WHOM Island Cruising Ltd 104-9710 2nd St, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Love, Mitchell P CLAIM $28,816 DEFENDANT JBR Construction Ltd 2 7 0 0 -7 0 0 We s t Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Dalcon Construction (2001) Ltd CLAIM $187,823 DEFENDANT Mill Bay Enterprises Ltd 415-1788 West 5th Ave, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Phoenix Carpentry

Inc CLAIM $19,446 DEFENDANT Noble Extracts Inc 1626 Ga r net Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Paul, Zachary CLAIM $5,299 DEFENDANT O ve rl a n d We s t Freight Lines Ltd 2900-201 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB PLAINTIFF Barnett, Tara Ann CLAIM $22,368 DEFENDANT Peak Wellness Ltd 2751 Sea View Rd, Victoria, BC

PLAINTIFF Paul, Zachary CLAIM $17,008 DEFENDANT Pirate Excavating Ltd 1401 Sh aw n iga n Lake Rd, Shawnigan Lake, BC PLAINTIFF Alsco Canada Corporation CLAIM $15,245 DEFENDANT Polo Village Developments Ltd 202-1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Argus Excavating Limited CLAIM $34,313

DEFENDANT Seabrook Developments Ltd 7 2 3 A Va n a l m a n Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Clarke, Matthew Ivan CLAIM $16,384 DEFENDANT Tamarisk Enterprises Ltd 8 0 0-8 8 5 We s t Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Schug, Larry Robert CLAIM $35,216 DEFENDANT Ticket Rocket Enterprises Inc 3rd Flr 26 Bastion

Square, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Capital City Comic Enthusiasts Society CLAIM $11,216 DEFENDANT Up North Health Services Inc 469 T ipton Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Marilyn Joyce CLAIM $22,389 DEFENDANT Westport Marina (2017) Ltd 2075 Tryon Rd, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Jordon, Foerster CLAIM $35,176

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23

TOURISM

STEP 3 HELPFUL BUT CANADA-US BORDER RE-OPENING VITAL

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On July 1, the provincial gove r n m e n t a nnounced we were mov i ng to Step 3 of the R esta r t Pl a n.

The COVID-19 pa ndem ic has h a d s i g n i f ica nt negative impacts on the Greater Victoria visitor economy.

The discouragePAUL NURSEY ment of travel and closure of the Canada-US border has been devastating to visitation and revenue for many Destination Greater Victoria members. But as vaccines roll out and case counts diminish, we are seeing our economy reopen. This is great news for many who have struggled for so long.

Under Step 3, indoor gatherings of up to 50 people or 50 per cent of capacity are allowed (whichever is greater). Also, outdoor organized gatherings of 5,000 people or 50 per cent capacity is allowed (whichever is greater). There are no group limits for indoor and outdoor dining and there is a return to normal liquor service hours. Importantly, inter-provincial travel is also allowed, and we can welcome our friends and family across the country back to BC. The move to Step 3 was very good news, but it is only a start on the road to recovery for the Greater Victoria visitor economy. Visitation has increased, but so far most of this increase is on weekends. Visitation remains low during the week. Additionally, The Canada-US border remains closed.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American market accounted for 23 per cent of visitation to the destination and 29 per cent of visitor spending. The non-American international market is also a major source revenue. These visitors

account for only 12 per cent of total visitation to the destination, but they are 22 per cent of total visitor spending.

Access to the American and International markets is vital for so many of our members.

The increased revenue that is resulting from moving to Step 3 is welcome, but until borders are reopened the Greater Victoria visitor economy will not reach its full potential. For the Canada-US border, there is a critical need for the federal government to announce a roadmap for US land and marine border reopening. Destination Greater Victoria is advocating with its national tourism partners and stakeholders for just such a roadmap.

There are only a few weeks left in summer before another very long winter season sets in for our operators. Greater Victoria is traditionally a seasonal destination, where businesses make most of their revenue in the spring and summer months. While still abiding by the necessary remaining public health orders the provincial government still has in place, we need to support our visitor economy businesses as much as possible in months ahead.

There are many hotels, restaurants, and attractions in Greater Victoria ready to welcome visitors. Their friendly staff will no doubt provide a memorable experience. Following many challenging months, they will be very happy to see you.

Paul Nursey is the President and CEO of Destination Greater Victoria

July 2021

ADVISORY

MOVING FORWARD IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD

Tim Bruessler What a year this has been! Whatever business model you had in the past has likely been through the ringer as you adjusted to ever changing conditions – and you are to be commended for your efforts and successes!

With the easing of restrictions you are likely hopeful of a fresh restart, a restructuring to your business model, or perhaps just getting back to “normal.” The last 18 months have been a real test for most business models, so this is a good time to look for lessons learned. Ask yourself: What would have been helpful to know in advance of the challenges of the pandemic?

As you contemplate how to move forward, you’ll want to involve your Insurance Advisor.

Not only has your business world changed, so has the insurance world your agent is navigating. Insurance companies may be more risk averse than before COVID-19 hit. That means that if you enjoy a trusting relationship with your agent, your best option may be to stay where you are right now rather than shop around.

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Your Insurance Advisor knows you and your business, so they can explore any planned changes with you to ensure they make sense.

For example, a restaurant owner who is considering adjusting their business model to delivery-based will want to discuss whether this change makes sense costwise. Involving your agent at the planning stage will help you make the best choices for your business.

Think of insurance as a living document that can be made to adjust to your ever-changing needs—because if there’s one thing we can all be certain of, the only constant in life is change.

The key to a good relationship with your Insurance Advisor is trust. If you feel there is a gap in that area, the first step is to try and work it out with good communication.

If that doesn’t work, it may be a good idea to look for a different agent. Now more than ever, a trusted Insurance Advisor is your best advocate.

If you have any questions, we’re here to help you adapt and thrive as we all move forward to brighter times!

Tim Bruessler is a Commercial Insurance Advisor with Coastal Community Insurance Services (2007) Ltd. For more information on business insurance services, call 1-877-811-3644 or book a call back appointment at cccu.ca.

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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

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Susan Davis is the newly appointed chief technology officer of Certn. She joins the company with over 15 years of senior engineering expertise. Davis’ experience reorganizing huge departments into tiny teams Susan Davis to speed up product development will benefit Certn’s engineering culture in terms of speed and efficiency.

Nexii Building Solutions and Omicron Canada have announced that Nexii has acquired Omicron as a wholly owned subsidiary. Both companies will retain their business names and separate office headquarters in Vancouver and will continue to service existing clients and projects to completion.

The 15th annual “State of the Island” economic summit is now open for both virtual and in-person registration. Visit viea.ca for more information.

Westland Insurance Group has announced the acquisition of the Calgary-based digital brokerage Nuera Insurance effective July 1, 2021.

TELUS and the Victoria Cool Aid Society have launched a new relationship that will offer primary care to underserved people in the Victoria area through TELUS’ revolutionary mobile Health for Good program.

The City of Victoria is giving 53 grants totalling more than $470,000 to local community organizations through Strategic Plan grants, ranging from $2,500 - $28,000. These grants will help the residents of Victoria to improve their quality of life and to build resilience to future challenges.

The Maritime Museum of BC is excited to move to its new temporary home in August. The museum will move to the City of Victoria-owned storefront, next to the Victoria Conference Center, around the corner on Douglas Street behind the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

July 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS The Oakland Sunset Market lights up Oakland Community Center on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. The biggest event of the season will last until September 1 at 2827 Belmont Ave. Gonzales Coffee, a coffee shop owned by Doug Pelton and managed by Sam Benson has occupied the former Starbucks at Fairfield Plaza that closed its doors in 2020.

Vancity announced a major campaign to support local businesses, Load up on Local. For shopping locally, Vancity Visa* cardholders earn 50 per cent more Vancity Rewards™ points. President and CEO of Vancity, Christine Bergeron said Load up on Local will raise awareness to the members to support local businesses.

Grant Whitmore

G r a n t W h i tmore joined STN Video as the new Head of Strategic Partnerships. He joins them from BeeSpoke, ad tech and media company he created after leaving Tribune Publishing in March 2020.

Smuggler’s Cove Pub at 2851 Penrhyn St. is now open from 12 noon to 9 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity Victoria successfully raised $28,500 during an online auction for the benefit of building homes for families in need.

Private liquor retailers are now allowed to sell their products to holders of special event permits to serve liquor at events such as community festivals, family gatherings and private functions.

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The change follows a recommendation from the Business Technical Advisory Panel.

Emily Ohler has been appointed chair of the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the independent tribunal responsible for accepting, screening, mediating and adjudicating human rights complaints.

The Province has appointed Michael Skinner, former lawyer and adjudicator, as ICBC’s new fairness officer, effective July 12, 2021.

The Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF) will be delivering the Farmland Advantage program to support BC farmers and ranchers improve ecosystem goods and services on their land. Farmland Advantage is a payment for ecosystem services program that works with farmers to protect and conserve critical, natural lands, streams and wildlife habitats in the province.

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS Victoria’s Locelle has been selected as one of six finalists in the #CloudInnovateHER Pitch Challenge. They are the only Canadian company involved in the initiative, put on by Women in Cloud and TIE Seattle.

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Canadian cities: Kitchener-Waterloo, Calgary, and Edmonton. The inaugural service was held at Victoria International Airport, in British Columbia.

Startups in the province have raised a total of $1.02 billion in the first quarter of 2021, representing a 914 per cent increase from last quarter and a 238 per cent increase from Q1 2020.

Swoop has announced a new non-stop service from Victoria to Las Vegas and Puerto Vallarta.

Swoop’s Head of Commercial and Finance, Bert van der Stege, said the airline will provide affordable air travel to further its commitment to Greater Victoria.

True Key Hotels & Resorts is excited to announce the launch of the True Key Vacations, a new short term rental management company offering an abundance of vacation rental options in British Columbia. Property locations include the Columbia Valley, Sooke and Parksville on Vancouver Island.

A new partnership between Destination Greater Victoria and CHEK News to promote farmto-table and sea-to-table cuisine will benefit restaurants and agri-tourism operators in Greater Victoria.

The Gustavson School of Business welcomes global marketing leader, Phillip Rubel as a new executive in residence. His new role started on July 1, 2021.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) encourages consumers to support small-scale businesses in the community. CFIB is bringing back its #SmallBusinessEveryDay c onte s t for b ot h b u si ne ss ow ners a nd consumers.

TELUS is now in its second year of supporting small businesses in Canada by investing a total of $1 million to be used for funding, advertising, and mentorship.

Flair Airlines, the only ultra-low-cost carrier in Canada is adding affordable, nonstop flights in between Victoria and 3 other

The District of Saanich is promoting electric vehicles and e-bikes as part of its transition to electric mobility.

Tesla is on the hunt for a service centre location in Victoria as the company has cancelled its announced acquisition of the former Volvo dealership at Douglas and Hillside.

The Songhees First Nation opened the first educationally focused cannabis store at 901 Gordon St. Soap for Hope Canada opened a thrift store to the public in Vic West, located at 444 William St. The Prestige Oceanfront Resort Sooke was featured on the game show The Price Is Right.

A six-night stay at Sooke resort was won by a successful contest on the June 25th episode.

July 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS The board of education of Sooke School District approved a $154-million budget for the school year 2021-22. The new budget for SD62 is reportedly $6 million higher than last year.

Sidney Street Market showcases a great selection of homemade delicacies and handcrafted products every Sunday through October 10th outside Mary Winspear Centre.

The Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club offers courses for all levels of sailors. For more details on registration, visit www.snsyc.ca.

Lighthouse Cake Company, a bakery in Langford was featured on the Food Network’s Project Bakeover.

Brewery & The Beast is returning to Greater Victoria for its ninth year. Tickets are on sale.

is projected to open its doors to the public in 2025. The design/build application deadline is September 8th.

A Quality Foods grocery store and Cascadia Liquor store are two of the latest retail developments planned for The Commons commercial district in Colwood’s Royal Bay neighbourhood. Construction on the adjoining retail stores will begin this summer, with an expected opening in 2023. The Commons will account for 41.5 acres of the 108-acre total development, which will consist of 1,300 mixed-use development units across an 80,000 square foot retail village. PCRE Group is helming the project.

The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation and Capital Regional Hospital District are sharing costs for the $10.4-million the Lady Minto Hospital expansion project, contributing $7.3 million and $3 million,

Westshore Dental Centre at 152-2945 Jacklin Rd. is expanding and welcomes Dr. Sophie Motet to serve their clients better.

The Royal BC Museum is looking for qualified candidates to design and build the facility for research and collections in Colwood. Submission of applications ends on Sept. 8.

Candidates are being asked to apply to design and build the Royal BC Museum’s new collections and research facility in Colwood. $224 million in provincial funding was recently designated for the project, which is part of the Royal Bay development. The process asks companies to detail their qualifications for constructing projects of this size, with the chosen developer to be announced in spring of 2022. The facility

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS

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respectively. The Salt Spring Island hospital will see the number of acute and primary care patients it can treat doubled.

Josh Matte is celebrating nine years as a Chartered Business Valuator at XPS Group in Victoria.

Oak Bay council approved a parking variance for the 2,440-square-metre National Centre for Indigenous Laws addition to the Anne and Murray Fraser Law Building, which will go up to the south of the Fraser Building. Construction is scheduled to finish in 2023. The $27-million project, funded by the province, the federal government and the Law Foundation of BC will be the world’s first joint degree program in Indigenous legal orders and Canadian common law.

Ecologyst, a sustainable Canadian fashion brand and apparel company which makes clothing locally in Victoria, is taking over 2110 Store Street, a former heritage building built in 1892, operated at the time by National Electric Tramway & Light Company. The 4,500 square-foot space, re-designed by Colin Harper Architect, will support, amongst other things, the expansion of their local production.

Our Place Society has rebranded its preemployment training service as Our WorkPlace.

The Society’s employment training program supports those experiencing employment barriers of homelessness, trauma or addiction.

National Car and Truck Rental, a locally owned and operated family business, will open their new office at 727 Courtney Street next to the Strathcona Hotel on July 9th. National Car and Truck Rental are a three-generation local family business with 13 locations.

July 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS Bicycle Pizza, an online only, take-out only pizza business on the Saanich Peninsula, is now offering Vancouver Island’s first frozen pizza subscription. The subscription offers pizza fans a frozen, craft pizza made locally and delivered to their home every month. Bicycle Pizza operates out of a shared kitchen at Beauregard Cafe in Brentwood Bay. Andrew McLeod has been recognized as the Remote Tech Breakthrough Awards CEO of the Year for 2021. Andrew is CEO of background screening company Certn, one of Canada’s fastest growing tech companies.

With the support of Juno award-winning artist Bruce Cockburn, Victoria’s Gettin’ Higher Choir raised more than $22,000 with their annual concert Voices Rising: a Fundraiser for Mozambique. The full concert can be viewed here.

Sooke Home Hardware has contributed $6,000 toward the Sooke Tennis and Pickleball Group’s plan to resurface a Sooke tennis court into three dedicated pickleball courts at Art Morris Park. Sooke and the CRD both donated $6,000, the Sooke Rotary Club and Langford-based developer Keycorp also made contributions.

People have donated $2,600 so far through their GoFundMe. The province has invested $50,000 toward the Bridges for Women Society, an organization that provides women and families throughout Greater Victoria and the Gulf Islands with trauma counseling, employment programs and more.

The Bottle Depot’s fundraising efforts recently collected $11,254 to be used for the construction

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS of a new lodge at Camp Barnard near Sooke.

Charity donation bins at the Bottle Depot’s three Victoria locations on Glanford Avenue, Queens Avenue and Quadra Street accept donated refundable beverage containers in support of a different charity each month.

The British Columbia Social Procurement Initiative is being provided $500,000 by the province. The program supports small and medium-sized businesses by offering a greater chance to win local government contracts. The aim is to encourage local governments and organizations to team up, giving them the tools and training to make purchasing decisions that focus on achieving greater community value and outcomes, amongst other goals. To learn more, click here.

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Abstract Developments h a s pa r t nered with United Way Southern Vancouver Island (UWSVI) to support their Blue Love Campaign, contributing $15,000 towards counseling, peer support and outreach services for youth in crisis and for young first-time moms who need mental health support.

deliver on specific climate targets and maximize community and economic sustainability benefits, the motion was unanimously adopted last year. The District of Saanich is considering sustainability measures as the application goes forward, with issues such as cultural, social, economic, and environmental factors in mind.

Royal Roads University recently began its first cohort of 17 students in their climate action leadership masters program after approval from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training. The program will examine the intersections between climate science, social science, justice and climate leadership, through 36 credits gained over two years. Students in the program hold degrees in such fields as geography, sustainable agriculture, environmental studies, social sciences and political science.

Mike Geric Construction has acquired a 36,000 square foot (3,343 square meter) lot on Quebec, Montreal, and Kingston Streets in James Bay. The high-profile site will be transformed into valuable amenities for the community.

The Sooke School District’s board of education has passed a $154-million budget for the 2021-22 school year, allocating $125 million for operations, $19.6 million for a special purpose fund and a $9.4 million capital fund, a total increase of $6 million over last year due to the rising numbers of students.

T he Greater Victoria Harbour Authority welcomes the decision by Transport Canada to move up the order suspending cruise visitation in Canada to Nov. 1, 2021. Canada›s cruise lines and ports need time to get ready for a full resumption of cruise operations, and this announcement signals that the industry is welcome to return for next year›s cruise season.

Saanich has sent an electric mobility strategy to the Union of BC Municipalities for approval, seeking to incorporate a rapid transition to electric vehicles and e-bikes. Developed to

Julia Greenshields, a key member of the Canadian women’s national rugby Sevens team, will be representing Camosun College at the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.

July 2021

MOVERS AND SHAKERS The Naval Association of Canada has given the Maritime Museum of British Columbia $5,000 to help finance the purchase of museum-quality artifact storage supplies that will help preserve the naval ships› badges and collections of uniforms.

The Vancouver Island Ecostar Awards have returned after a year hiatus and are now accepting applications. Organizations can apply for any of the 11 award categories range from Clean Oceans to COVID-19 Community Leaders. ecologyst, a sustainable fashion brand, is proud to announce the public opening of its headquarters building and production facility in Victoria, British Columbia, on July 16, 2021.

The BC Chamber of Commerce and local chambers of commerce from across the province, have supported the BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus’ post-covid rehabilitation plan. The Blueprint for BC›s Urban Future outlines a vision for economic recovery that focuses on critical areas that have a broad impact on the social and economic fabric of the province›s urban centres.

The BC government and Shell Canada ($35M combined), alongside the federal government ($35M) have all pledged funding to the new BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy, with the goal of decarbonizing the economy and scaling up clean energy. The centre will bring together entrepreneurs, business sector, public sector, and academia to accelerate the commercialization and scale-up of clean energy technologies developed in British Columbia.

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Cedar Hill Middle School has received more than $43 million to be used for the construction of a more environmentally-friendly building that is expected to be complete by January 2025.

Oak Bay Lodge is seeking feedback with a second round of community consultation on the future use of the property located at 225 Cadboro Bay Road.

The Sooke Fine Arts Show marks its 35th anniversary with a free online show from July 23 to August 2. Added to this year’s show is a dynamic virtual gallery allowing participants to remotely visit various gallery rooms. For more information about the event, visit www.sookefinearts. com.

The Sooke Night Market, hosted by the Sooke Region Museum and Visitor Centre, takes place weekly on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sooke Region Museum, ending to September 2, 2021.

Woodside Farm in Sooke is receiving a Century Farm and Ranch Award, celebrating the people behind a family-run produce and livestock farm that has been feeding the community for more than a century.

An upgrade to the Sooke Wastewater Treatment Plant will soon provide modern, reliable services that further meet the needs of people living in the District of Sooke and members of the T’Souke Nation. The Province is contributing $4.6 million toward the estimated $6.58-million project, with the District of Sooke providing the remainder of the cost.

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS Ruby Tuesday’s Laundry Services at Suite #101 - 9842 Second Street Sidney BC V8L 3A6 is now open for pick-up and delivery.

Council approved last month the Central Saanich Community Gardens Society›s request to use a portion of the municipally-owned land at 1233 Clarke Road for a community garden.

Bicycle Pizza, originally a take-out only business, owned by husband and wife Vanessa and Andrew Johnson, has ventured into a frozen pizza subscription service.

Peninsula residents will be given priority on a housing project in Central Saanich, according to Tim Chamberlin, senior communications advisor, media relations and issues management with BC Housing.

The HarbourCats hosted the annual sock toss for Anawim House on July 15 with the help of K nights of Columbus Council 13356 from St. Joseph The Worker Parish. The socks and cash donations will be given to Anawin House, to help people suffering from poverty and addiction.

Avalon Dry Cleaners Laundromat at 105 1497 Admirals Road is celebrating 25 years in business.

The City of Colwood will host a new feature called Colwood Music in the Park, which will take place in various parks throughout the city every Friday evening until August 27. For more information, visit www.colwood.ca.

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July 2021