Business Examiner Vancouver Island

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SEPTEMBER 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Hall Of Fame Calls For Locals Chef

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NANAIMO Berk’s Intertruck Gets Green Light from Transport Canada

Ronald St. Pierre One Of Six In BC To Be Honoured October 7

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INDEX News Update

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Digital Marketing

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Nanaimo

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Comox Valley

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Cowichan Valley

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Campbell River

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Who is Suing Whom 22 Movers and Shakers 23 Opinion

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Ronald St. Pierre is the owner/chef of Locals Restaurant in Courtenay

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OUR 15TH YEAR

OURTENAY – Ronald St. Pierre has cooked up his share of memorable meals over the years. It’s time for the Locals Restaurant owner/chef to share his own night to remember on October 7 in Vancouver, when he is one of six to be inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame. St. P ierre joi ns i ndustr y legends from across the province including Rob Feenie of Cactus Restaurants, Andre St. Jacques of Bearfoot Bistro, Jim Treliving of Boston Pizza, Vikram Vij of Vij’s and Harry McWatters of Encore Vineyards. St. Pierre is being honoured as a Local Champion. St. Pierre’s commitment to local is proudly displayed on his seasonal menus, his wine list and in his supplier relationships. With this award, the BC Restaurant and Food Association (BCRFA) is celebrating

St. Pierre’s steadfast belief that locally sourced food tastes better, lasts longer, has an economic benefit and provides for a unique customer experience. “Ronald’s leadership in provided a local food and beverage experience that can be measured in blocks and miles to the plate makes us proud to recognize his constant pursuit of excellence and passion,” says BCR FA President and CEO Ian Tostenson. “His ha rd work con nects us w ith the bounty of our province and that makes us all proud British Columbians.” “When the BCRFA started the program two years ago, we knew we needed to connect local leadership with our Hall of Fame awards,” Tostenson says. SEE RONALD ST. PIERRE | PAGE 15

Smythe Insolvency Helps Clients Discover Hope Local Licensed Insolvency Trustee Firm Leads Clients to Financial Freedom

Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

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ANAIMO - Smythe Insolvency is in the business of improving lives. Founded in 1980, the Licensed Insolvency Trustee firm is in the business of bringing financial freedom to individuals, families, and small business owners.

Today, the company has offices throughout the Lower Mainland, as well as locations in Campbell River, Courtenay, Port Alberni, Nanaimo, Duncan and Victoria. “What makes me most excited about this business is how we provide a solution where most

people think there isn’t a solution,” says Greg Best, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee at Smythe. “Sometimes I’m with a client for as long as five years, and it’s amazing to see the transformation from when I first meet them to when we send them on their

way.” “ R e c e nt ly, we m e t w it h a woman in our Duncan office. She is a single mom with three young kids who first came to us three months ago. Now, her head SEE SMYTHE INSOLVENCY | PAGE 11

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NEWS UPDATE

2 COMOX VALLEY Farm Cycle Tour Returns To The Valley Comox Valley is hosting the 9th annual Comox Valley Farm Cycle Tour on Sunday, September 22nd. Cyclists can tour the various farms and wineries/breweries, enjoy tasty food and drink samples, watch engaging demonstrations such as cow milking and maple syrup production, buy local products, visit a beehive and more. The Comox Valley Cycling Coalition partners with Comox Valley Economic Development & Tourism, the Comox Valley Farmers Market and area farms to put on the event. The event has changed and grown over the years to not only involve incredible farms, but also craft wineries, breweries and distilleries, and much more. This year there will be over 25 stops to choose from, some of which include: 40 Knots Estate Winery, Alderlane Farmhouse Bakery, Amara Farm, Anderton Nursery , Berry Best Farm, Big D’s Bees, Blue Haven Farm, Blue Moon Winery & Ciderworx, Clever Crow Farm, Fireweed Farmstead, Forbidden Brewing Co, Innisfree Farm & Botanic Garden, Kehler Vegetable Company, Lloydshaven Dairy Farm, Outback Nursery

& Garden Centre, Shelter Point Distillery, Wayward Distillation House, Willovic Farm and more. Comox Valley Mushrooms, Eatmore Sprouts & Greens, Green Gate Farm, Kate’s Flowers, Lentelus Farms, Seal Bay Farm and Warwick Dahlias are new additions to the 2019 tour thus far. Cyclists are able to visit whichever stops they wish, by creating their own tour route and can have their purchases delivered back to the starting point by Ambassador Shuttle. Amped Rides will provide electric rental bikes on-site to those who pre-book and The Broken Spoke will be at registration with a tune up booth. The Farm Cycle Tour weekend has more culinary activities taking place including the Comox Valley Farmers Market, September 21; Harvest Dinner and Dance, September 21; and Sip & Savour dining experience offered by Ambassador Tours. Tickets are $15 per person and free for those under the age of 15. Participating Courtenay accommodation providers are offering free registration for guests who stay with them on the Farm Cycle Tour weekend.

CAMPBELL RIVER Wei Wai Kum and Kwiakah Advance Treaty Negotiations

SEPTEMBER 2019

The Province of British Columbia and the federal government announced that they have signed a new agreement to advance reconciliation and treaty negotiations. The agreement was signed by Chief Christopher Roberts, Wei Wai Kum First Nation; Chief Steven Dick, Kwiakah First Nation; Carolyn Bennett, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; and Scott Fraser, BC’s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation were all signatories of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation/ Kwiakah First Nation Transition to Stage 5 and Treaty Revitalization Agreement. The agreement advances treaty negotiations to the final stage and guides the development of an approach that recognizes the rights of Wei Wai Kum and Kwiakah First Nations. This new strategy explicitly recognizes that Aboriginal rights are inherent and will not be extinguished or surrendered. The agreement seeks to build a government-to-government relationship that can adapt to evolving circumstances. Under th is approach to treaty-making, key elements such as self-government, land ownership and stewardship and law-making authorities will be written into a constitutionally protected core treaty. Administrative and policy matters may be addressed through supplementary agreements that can be more easily amended, allowing for the

government-to-government relationship to evolve as laws, policies and interests change.

PORT ALBERNI Shelter Society Proposes Redevelopment The Port Alberni Shelter Society has put forward a plan to Port Alberni council to redevelop the former shelter on Eighth Avenue. The organization has proposed an affordable housing facility for fixed and low-income seniors to fill the space. Council agreed at an August 12th meeting to grant a development variance permit to the Shelter Society to redevelop the site. The new development includes a three-storey modular building with 21 units, elevator access a nd outdoor a men ities. T he existing structure was built i n the 1950s, is i n d isrepa i r and is no longer useful to the organization. Our Home on 8 th , is located across the street from the shelter and is also run by the Shelter Society. The older shelter has been closed since Our Home opened in early spring. The former Shelter building is situated on two land parcels, that council is recommending the society consolidate into one

parcel before approving a development variance permit. The Shelter Society is currently in the process of merging the two properties.

COWICHAN VALLEY Motorsport Circuit Plans Expansion A proposed expansion of the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit (VIMC) is scheduled to go to public hearing at the beginning of October. North Cowichan Council gave the first two readings on August 21st for phase two of the project, which is valued at approximately $36-million. The expansion is proposed for a site north of the existing circuit on 42.47-hectares of land and includes plans for a new five-kilometer paved motor vehicle circuit, an off-road motor vehicle circuit, a clubhouse and a building for maintenance, repairs and storage. The existing circuit has been subject to noise complaints, raising concerns about a further expansion, prompting VIMC to amend its original proposal to address these concerns. Among the amendments are restrictions on hours of operation and on operating on statutory holidays, SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

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SEPTEMBER 2019

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

the installation of walls, sound fences and berms to reduce noise pollution and restrictions on the maximum allowable sound output from the site. The VIMC opened in June 2016 on the Cowichan Valley Highway near Mount Provost in Duncan.

QUALICUM BEACH RDN Facilitating Airport Land Development Parksville Qualicum Beach News Residents have endorsed the plan to build a new fire hall for the Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department and also the loan authorization bylaw that would allow the Regional District of Nanaimo to borrow up to $4 million to pay for it. The support for both initiatives was gauged through the Alternative Approval Process conducted by the RDN and was recently concluded. There were less than 10 per cent of electors within Electoral Areas F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood), G (French Creek, San Pareil, Little Qualicum) and H (Bowser, Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay) that submitted opposition to the project. Out of 1,751 electors, only nine eligible response forms were received. The current fire hall was constructed in 1985 and had gone through upgrades that included the addition of a third bay. In 2012 an assessment report revealed the hall no longer meets today’s seismic standards and needed to be upgraded. The report also included the estimated cost to retrofit and upgrade the hall compared to completely building a new one. The cost to upgrade the building to meet code requirements would have been more than replacing it with a new one. The RDN chose the latter. The new hall will cost approximately $4 million. It will include two drive-through bays that can hold four fire trucks; a public entrance with an administration area; separate areas for radio communications, IT, mechanical, electrical, sprinklers, gear, storage, training, offices and laundry; two multi-use washrooms and gear/equipment decontamination areas; a workshop; a self-contained breathing apparatus refill/ drying room (SCBA) and compressor room. The design of the new hall will serve as template for future fire hall the RDN plans to build down the road. This will help reduce design and conceptual plans cost.

COWICHAN VALLEY Funding Approved for Cowichan Lake Weir The federal and provincial governments announced a funding contribution for preliminary work on a new weir at Cowichan Lake. The Cowichan Valley Regional District, in collaboration with Paper Excellence Canada, Cowichan Tribes and the Cowichan Watershed Board were awarded $4.08 million over three years for their work. $1.3 million of that funding will be received this fiscal year, while the remaining funds will be dispersed over the next two years. The funding was allocated from the

BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund which is jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments. The funding will be used for two major purposes, the first of which is to remove the existing weir in Cowichan Lake and develop engineering designs and permits for its replacement. The second component of the project will be to determine the lake’s natural boundary in order to conduct a private-property impact assessment for increased lake levels, should a dam be built in the future. The total cost of the weir project has not yet been determined, though costs of the project will not fall to local taxpayers, since the lake is a fish habitat.

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VANCOUVER ISLAND Housing Market Adjusts to Stress Test Sales of single-family homes in August board-wide dipped by 11 per cent year over year and were nine per cent lower than in July according to the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board’s (VIREB) Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Last month, 413 single-family homes sold on the MLS System compared to 453 the previous month and 463 in August 2018. Year-over-year sales of apartments and townhouses dropped by 28 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively. Realtors are reporting that VIREB’s housing market is adjusting somewhat as buyers adapt to the restrictions imposed by the B-20 stress test and sellers curb the expectations formed during the booming markets of 2016 and 2017 and, to a lesser extent, 2018. In the VIREB area, inventory of single-family homes in August rose by 11 per cent from one year ago (1,343 to 1,485). Active listings of apartments increased by 23 per cent (299 to 369) year over year while townhouse inventory is virtually the same as reported last July (176 to 173). Prices in the VIREB area are still rising, but the magnitude is softening compared to the increases posted during our long-running sellers’ market. The benchmark price of a single-family home board-wide was $515,400 in August, a three per cent increase from one year ago and up slightly from July. In the apartment category, the year-over-year benchmark price also rose by three per cent, climbing to $302,800 and marginally higher than in July. The benchmark price of a townhouse rose by five per cent board-wide, hitting $417,300 last month, which was two per cent higher than July’s benchmark of $410,600. Trend-wise, VIREB’s housing market has transitioned from one favouring sellers to one that is balanced and, in some areas, it is shifting towards a buyers’ market. Kaye Broens, 2019 President, reports that sellers now recognize that the market has changed and are pricing their homes accordingly.

COMOX VALLEY

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NIC Student Housing Project Advances North Island College (NIC) is moving SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 4

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NEWS UPDATE

4 NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

ahead with the initial architectural design phase for a new student housing project at its Comox Valley campus. Va n c o u v e r-b a s e d D i a l o g Design has been tasked with producing the design for the project which includes a site pla n, f loor pla ns a nd mechanical systems. The produced design will be used to finalize the school’s business case for submission and funding approval from the province. The project has been budgeted at about $28-million and will include 148 single units and 20 family units once complete. Land has been set aside on two sides of NIC’s campus – on the western perimeter and nearing the Ryan/Lerwick intersection. Housing will include space for students to study and socialize, and outdoor activities like basketball. Rents for the units will be affordable, likely falling in the $500 to $600 range.

NANAIMO Mixed-Use Development Proposed on Terminal A plot of land along Terminal Avenue could be the new home of a mixed-use development. Red Hare Realty Development is

proposing to build a five-storey structure with 32 residential units and a ground floor cafÊ restau ra nt on t he cu rrent ly vacant land at 930 Terminal Avenue. Most of t he spaces w i l l be condominium units, with the exception of three townhouses facing Terminal Avenue. Joyce Reid T roost A rch itectu re, a Nanaimo-based company, has submitted a development permit application to the city and has requested height and parking variances. The proposed height for the building is 18.6-metres, just above the maximum permitted height, and the project calls for 54 parking spaces, falling short of the amount of spaces mandated by current zoning. I f approved , t he development will also include a club room and rooftop garden for residents, underground parki ng a nd bi ke pa rk i ng. T he ground floor space will include 2,000-square-feet for a cafÊ restau ra nt w it h a n outdoor patio situated on the corner of Terminal Avenue and Cypress Street. The townhome units included in the project are designed to be live-work units, which allow occupants to operate a business from their home. A start date for the project has not yet been set, though the city’s design advisory panel has endorsed the project.

SEPTEMBER 2019

TOFINO Funding Announced for New Sewage Treatment Plant Westerly News The federal government announced recently it will invest $21.96 million into wastewater treatment in Tofino, with the B.C. prov i ncia l govern ment contributing $18.3M to the same project. It is the largest infrastructure investment since the municipality was incorporated in 1932. T he project w i l l constr uct a new wastewater treatment plant and ultraviolet disinfection for treated effluent to help improve and protect the local marine environment. This will service the District of Tofino, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. T he District of Tofino w i l l c o n t r i b u t e $ 1 4 .9 6 M . T h e funding from the federal gove r n m e n t a n d t h e p ro v i n c e represents 73.3 per cent of the estimated eligible costs of the new, modern wastewater treatment plant. T he district currently discharges untreated wastewater to Duffin Passage in Clayoquot Sound. In 2015, Tofino committed to meeting federal wastewater effluent guidelines and to

developing a modern, reliable wastewater system. When completed, the wastewater treatment plant will be a very important step in improving water quality in the Clayoquot Sound, protecting public health and conserving the marine environment, states a press release issued by the district. In particular, it is hoped that once the wastewater treatment plant is operating, the longstanding restrictions on shellfish harvesting near Tofino and Opistsaht will begin to ease. In 2017, with the assistance of a loca l adv isory com m ittee of residents, stakeholders, and T la-o-qui-aht First Nation representatives, Tofino completed a new Liquid Waste Management Plan. This work was followed by the design of a wastewater treatment plant, and improved wastewater collection system and outfall. In addition to dealing with wastewater from Tofino homes and businesses, the new wastewater system will treat domestic sewage collection from the T la-o-qu i-a ht com mu n ities of Esowista and Ty-histanis. Treatment of wastewater from Opitsaht and portions of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is also likely. The joint federal, provincial and municipal funding came t h r o u g h t h e G r e e n I n f r astructure Stream – Environmental Quality program of the

I nvest i n g i n Ca n ad a i n f rastructure plan and the Small Communities Fund of the New Building Canada Fund.

NANAIMO Tilray Inks Deal To Acquire Alberta Cannabis Retailer T ilray, a g loba l pioneer i n cannabis research, cultivation, production and distribution, announced it has entered into a n a g re ement w it h A lb er ta Cannabis retailer 420 Investments Ltd (Four20). Four20 is an adult-use cannabis retail operator headquartered in Calgary and currently operates six licensed retail locations and has 16 additional high-traffic lo c at ion s secu red i n desi rable locations in Alberta, includ i ng Ca n more, Ca lga r y and Edmonton. â€œFOUR 20 offers a premium retail experience for the mainstream cannabis consumer and bu i lds on ou r broader reta i l strategy, which includes several minority investments in other lead i ng ca n nabis reta i lers,â€? says T i l ray Ch ief Cor porate Development Officer Andrew Pucher. “With FOUR20, we will elevate the retail experience for consumers by offering the best SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 6

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DIGITAL MARKETING

SEPTEMBER 2019

5

MARKETING STRATEGY 101 If you’re not easy to find, then your competitors with better search strategies are going to take the very prospects

BE DIGITAL

you’ve worked to develop

JOHN MACDONALD

“W

e don’t have time for that.” One of the biggest surprises I’ve encountered in my time at the Business Examiner has been the lack of a clearly defined marketing strategy for many businesses. Big organizations and small alike, it doesn’t seem to matter. A plan of action, aligned with annual revenue, profit, human resources and other primary strategic objectives is often nowhere to be found. Marketing is an investment. Typically made in monthly increments, and measurable on the monthly, quarterly and annual income statements. Did my revenue increase relative to marketing spend as it changed from last year? Am I more profitable? Have I attracted enough quality employees to support my greater objectives? Often times companies overthink marketing. It can sometimes be intimidating, especially with the rapid evolution of digital tactics. For example: Did you know you can target people based on their credit rating now? If you can relate to companies without a plan, or have been putting off looking at how to really construct one, I’ve included a brief overview on how to get the ball rolling. Awareness. Take a step back and think about how your potential customers indicate interest in your products and services, and how you will differentiate your company from your competitors. Important tactics: Digital, radio, TV, print etc. Findability. After your customers have made the decision to buy, make sure you are easy to find. Now most buyers are looking you up online to establish a link between the ad’s promise and your business’s online presence. If you’re not easy to find, then your competitors with better search strategies are going to take the very prospects you’ve worked to develop. Important tactics: SEO, SEM, social media. Reputation. After the prospect has visited your website, most are going to look at reviews and testimonials on 3 rd party sites like your Google My Business, Facebook and Trip Advisor pages. Make sure what your customers say about you aligns with the promises in your advertising and website. Important tactics:

Having a marketing plan with clear objectives can be the difference between a good year and a great one

· Generate Leads · Get Found Online · Improve Your Search Rankings · Overtake Your Competition reputation management software, social media. Conversion. Now that you’ve done all this hard work to get a prospect interested in your company, it’s important that it be as easy as possible for them to buy or learn more. Make sure that you have a responsive, mobile friendly website with readily available contact forms. You may also want to consider a live chat, or chatbot service to take a more proactive approach. Important tactics: Conversation Rate Optimization, web development, social media. Advocacy. Now the sale is complete, you’ve done a lot of hard work, and spent a lot of money to get that new customer through your door. Instead of heading straight back to Step 1, take some of the pressure off and ask for a review, social media recommendation or referral. Important tactics: reputation management software, social media. If you’d like more information and a visual representation of how to further develop your marketing strategy, the team at BE Digital has a free resource available via email to help you move things forward. Send me a note at the address below for more information: John MacDonald is the Director of Business Development with the Business Examiner News Group. Call him at 604.751.0819, or email BEDigital@businessexaminer.ca.

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NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

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quality-tested products while preparing for the next wave of legalized product launches taking place by year’s end.” Under the terms of the Agreement, Tilray will deliver up to C$110M con sist i ng of C$70M i n T i l ray C l a s s 2 com mon stock at closi ng a nd $40M i n Com mon Stock subject to the achievement of certain performance milestones by FOUR20. FOU R 20 w i l l op erate a s a w h o l l y- o w n e d s u b s i d i a r y of T i l ray a nd w i l l cont i nu e to offer consumers a diverse selection of brands and products from craft and mainstream producers. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Completion of the transaction will be subject to customa r y terms and conditions, including approval by FOUR20 shareholders and court approval of the arrangement.

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Homes Sales Set to Normalize in 2020 According to BCREA T he British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCR E A) released its 2019 Third Quarter Housing Forecast Update recently. Multiple Listing Service (MLS) residential sales in the province are forecast to decline 5 per cent to about 75,000 units this year, after recording 78,505 residentia l sa les i n 2018. M LS residentia l sa les a re forecast to increase 11 per cent to 82,700 units in 2020, just below the 10year average for MLS residential sales of 85,800 units. “ B C m a rket s a re show i n g signs of recovery after nearly a year and a half of policy-induced declines,” said Brendon Ogmundson, BCR EA Deputy Chief Economist. “We expect that recovery to continue into nex t ye a r, w it h home sa le s normalizing around long-term averages.”

A recovery in home sales has slowed the accu mu lation of resale inventory, with active listings still well short of the prev ious pea k i n 2012. T hat leaves market conditions at the provincial level essentially balanced with little upward pressure on prices. We anticipate that the MLS® average price will decline 2.4 per cent in 2019 before rising modestly by 3 per cent to $718,000 in 2020.

COWICHAN VALLEY Ampersand Distilling Co. Celebrates FiveYear Anniversary Ampersand Distilling Co., the fa m i ly-ow ned, sma l l-batch distillery is celebrating a milestone five years of business this month by unveiling plans for new releases in 2020. Based in the heart of the Cow ic h a n Va l ley, A mp ers a nd Distilling Co. is nestled on a five-acre organic farm owned and operated by the Schacht family. Trained as engineers, father-son duo Stephen and Jeremy Schacht apply their scientific minds to crafting organic spirits made with BC-grown wheat and hand-harvested botanicals, made in stills the pair built from scratch. A testa ment to the bra nd’s homegrown popularity, Ampersand’s awards shelf includes honours from some of the industry’s most respected organizations, such as the Canadian A r t i sa n Spi r it Compet it ion (CASC) and Vancouver International Spirits Competition (VISC). At this year’s BC Distilled, the distillery’s luscious Per Se Vodka scooped up the coveted Aud ience Favou rite Vod ka awa rd for t he fou r t h consecutive year. BC Distilled is the largest spirits event in Canada, with hundreds of consumers casting votes for their favou rite products, i ncluding Per Se Vodka, whose silky sweetness dazzles straight-up while lending layers of complexity to cocktails.

NANAIMO

SEPTEMBER 2019

7

TRANSFORMATIONAL RESIDENTIAL PLANS FOR SOUTH NANAIMO

NANAIMO MARK MACDONALD

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a rkshore P rojects Ltd. has big plans for south Nanaimo, with three residential projects on Haliburton Street totaling roughly 280 housing units. Parkshore President Mike Parker says the Prospect, Cornerstone and Evolve buildings will be transformational for what is now being called the Harbourview District. Construction of the five-storey condominium building Outlook is already underway at 119 Haliburton Street. The building, across from the Balmoral Hotel, is Parkshore’s first Nanaimo development. P r o s p e c t , a t 1 35-15 1 Haliburton Street, is two five-storey buildings with 76 residential units, and will be beside the Outlook. The project has its development permit from the City of Nanaimo. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2020. Evolve, which will also have commercial space, and Cornerstone could be completed by 2021, depending on the market. The development site will mean that Yellow Cab will move two blocks south, to 1005 Farquhar Street. ■ ■ ■ Sa lvat ion B ota n ic a l s Ltd. received some good news as it has been granted a Controlled Drugs and

Substances Dealers’ License from the Food and D r u g A d m i n i s t rat ion , which will allow it to analyze and test psychedelics such as DMT, MDMA and Psilocybin. The Nanaimo-based firm has partnered with Numinus, a start-up from Vancouver that aims to facilitate guided psychedelic therapy for individuals suffering from trauma, addiction and mental health issues. Salvation Botanicals CEO Michael Tan says “Salvation Botanicals is looking to the future, and we see psychedelics as the next wave of products to make headway in providing medical benefits.” ■ ■ ■ Mid Island Co-op has unveiled plans for a four storey office building next to Coastal Community Credit Union at 2517 Bowen Road. ■ ■ ■ There are two new team members at the Port of Nanaimo. Captain Satinder Singh h a s m o v e d f r o m V i ctoria to become the new Vice-President, Marine Operations and Harbour Master for the Port. Capt. Singh worked previously for the Department of National Defense at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria, as the Auxiliary Fleet Manager with Port Operations a nd E mergency Ser v ices Branch. Previously, he was the Detachment Superintendent with the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Test Range (CF M E T R) i n Na noose Bay, which is a joint Canada-United States range. Caroline Read is the new Vice President of Finance. ■ ■ ■ Nanaimo Clippers owner Wes Mussio is stepping up to announce financial and management backing for

the non-profit Nanaimo Senior B Timbermen lacrosse team, as a Management Partner. T he ow ner of t he BC Hockey League tea m is Managing Partner of Mussio Goodman Law. Cl ipp ers’ D i rector of Busi ness Operations Tali Campbell has been named President of the Timbermen. ■ ■ ■ T im Wilson says t h at End of the Roll is moving into the former Fabricland building on Metral Drive in November. The flooring business is currently at 1925 Bowen Road. ■ ■ ■ Leslie Hopps De Schutter has joined the team at Spotlight Academy for Intermediate and Advanced Actors, notes owner and founder Jacqui Kaese. ■ ■ ■ Pedego Electric Bikes held the grand opening of its new Nanaimo location in August, at 101-5200 Dublin Way. That’s off Metral Drive, near RE/MAX of Nanaimo’s head office. Pedego also has an outlet in Qualicum Beach. ■ ■ ■ More news from the Fairwinds community in Nanoose. Seacliff Properties announces its latest development, a new six-storey concrete, 39 residence building dubbed the Westerly, across from Fairwinds Landing. ■ ■ ■ Domino’s Pizza will be opening a new location in Pleasant Valley Landing. ■ ■ ■ Amy Ferris has opened White Rabbit Coffee at 321 Selby Street, a specialty c of fe e shop i n t he old train station in downtown Nanaimo. ■ ■ ■ Sh aw n Wo o d r u f f h a s

opened Red Orca, a motorcycle, power sports equipment and outboard motor repair shop, at 103-1930 Island Diesel Way. ■ ■ ■ Myles Leona is the new owner of Port Place Hair Spa at 103-648 Terminal Avenue. The business offers haircuts, shampoo, styling, chemical services, foils, manicures, eyebrow tinting and pedicures. ■ ■ ■ Walid Abdalla is the new owner of Subway at 740 Esplanade in Ladysmith.

■ ■ ■ Justin Gaulette i s t he owner of Zack’s Lounge at 530 1 st Avenue in Ladysm it h. JoA nn R intala i s m a n a g i n g t h e re s t a urant, which is earning a sol id reputation for its three-layer grilled chicken clubhouse. They also serve craft beer. ■ ■ ■ Kim Ho has opened K&K Nail Spa at 5A 370 Trans Canada Highway in Ladysmith. They do acrylic and gel nails, manicures, pedicures, waxing, tinting and lifting

eyelash extensions. ■ ■ ■ Wray Tellier is the new ow ner of Creekscorner Store at 3582 Hallberg Road in Ladysmith. ■ ■ ■ Ricki Weissbach is the ow ner of Pacif ic Pea rl Dental Hygiene Clinic Inc. at 12-740 First Avenue in Ladysmith. Mark MacDonald writes about business in Nanaimo. Tell him your story by emailing him at mark@ businessexaminer.ca

8

SEPTEMBER 2019

MID ISLAND CABINETS RESOLVING STAFF SHORTAGES ROBOTICALLY Family Business Will Invest 1.5 Million in Automation

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ARKSVILLE – Mid Island Cabinets has come up with an innovative way of addressing a shortage of skilled workers: Robots. After 27 years in business, a shortage of skilled trades, combined with surging demand from clients has convinced the familyowned company to enlist the services of robots to get the job done, by investing almost $1.5 million in automation over the next few years. Starting with an IM A edge bander, which will be the first one installed in BC, the automated machine will allow the business to produce seamless-edge banding that eliminates glue lines and gives cabinet doors a water-resistant, sealed finish. Plus, unlike a human worker, an automated edge bander doesn’t need a place to live in the island’s overheated real estate market. Company founder and owner Guy Lussier lists the factors that have made it difficult for his shop, and every similar industry on the island, to attract and retain staff: Young people are leaving island communities, driven away in part by unaffordable real estate and high rents. Higher accommodation costs also put pressure on wages, while the company must keep costs in line to remain competitive within the market. Daughter Kathy Hatcher, who also helps manage the company, sees career change and people choosing to take time off work as additional factors that make it difficult to find and retain workers. The company considered bringing in foreign workers, but the bureaucracy and ongoing support requirements were too extensive for a smaller firm. Enter the ‘robot’ solution. It is labour that does not need to keep pace with the cost of living, make alternate career plans or find an apartment.

Sabo Jang & Co. Ltd.

Congratulations to Mid Island Cabinets on your th 20 Anniversary! 118 McMillan Street S., Parksville Phone: 250.951.2000 Email: frontdesk@sabojang.com www.sabojang.com

The Mid Island Cabinets crew outside the company’s retail outlet and 30,000 square foot production shop in Parksville “We have to compensate for not being able to find people,� Hatcher explains, adding the company is starting with one machine and plans to add two more in the next few years. W hen M id Island Cabinets started almost three decades ago, the work landscape was very different. It was a family run, homebased business in Errington. Hatcher started working for Mid Island Cabinets at 16 but remembers helping in the shop as a child, adding bumpers and knobs to cabinet doors, bringing tools to her dad, and picking up nails. Her mother, Francine Lussier, kept a busy schedule between home-schooling the children and working on the bookkeeping side of the business. Hatcher, like her father, understands all aspects of the business and has witnessed its steady growth from a small home-based workshop to its current success. The company has retail outlets in Parksville and Nanaimo, with plans pending to open near Victoria. The production shop is now in Parksville and has expanded to a 30,000 square foot manufacturing centre. The new

An example of texturing using different materials and colours is seen in this dramatic kitchen layout

“We have to compensate for not being able to find people.� KATHY HATCHER MID ISLAND CABINETS

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Kathy Hatcher with husband Mike and their children, the second and potentially third generation of cabinet makers for Mid Island Cabinets. The company was established by Kathy’s parents Guy and Francine Lussier in 1992 production space, which doubled the company’s shop, was opened in 2017. “It’s already beginning to feel a bit small,� Hatcher notes. Between the retail outlets and production shop, the company

employs approximately 50 people. Demand for housing cabinetry is high, with Mid Island Cabi nets completi ng more tha n 400 installations annually. The SEE MID ISLAND CABINETS | PAGE 9

9

SEPTEMBER 2019

Cabinetry creates an efficiently organized space for laundry and as an entrance/mud room

Mid Island Cabinets can combine custom cabinets with custom quartz countertops

MID ISLAND CABINETS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

contracts are divided equally between new builds and renovations – and now include commercial development. “We’re starting to do more commercial,” Hatcher says. “We’re also being asked to provide cabinetry for multi-family developments, such as condominiums.” Although Mid Island Cabinets does not cut stone, the company has partnered with a stone

cutting company to offer cabinets with integrated quartz countertops. Their service extends from initial design, including development of custom pieces, to finished installation. “We’ve got a really good team behind us,” Lussier says, adding that Mid Island Cabinets benefits from trained designers, the skilled cabinet production team and the finish carpenters who do the millwork and construct specialty pieces. “They have to have attention to detail.”

“People are definitely spoiling themselves a lot more than before.” GUY LUSSIER FOUNDER, MID ISLAND CABINETS

Congratulations to Mid Island Cabinets on your 20th Anniversary!

Effective scheduling keeps everything moving while the diligent delivery and installation teams ensure deadlines are met and clients are happy with the finished work. Their pricing is in line with the rest of the market but Lussier said the quality of work makes Mid Island Cabinets stand out. “We always try to remain competitive but offer more,” he says, adding that one of the company’s trademarks is an extra smooth, high-end paint finish on cabinets. “People see the quality they’re getting from us.” Given almost three decades of cabinet building, Lussier and his daughter have seen the rise, peak, and passing of styles. When the company started, white PVC cabinets with a raised centre panel and rounded corners were in vogue as bright, inexpensive, and easy care. Next came the shift to stained wood doors, often made from maple, with cinnamon or natural cherry stain. The doors were either flat or had raised centre panels. “T hen we went to the dark ages,” Lussier quips. Homeowners sought dramatic kitchens with black or very dark brown cabinetry. Doors were shaker style. The next trend was a complete reversal away from dark and dramatic. Kitchens became softer and lighter with either light or mid-range gray cabinetry, usually in shaker style. These cabinets complemented t he p opu l a r

stainless-steel appliances. From gray, many homeowners went even lighter to white, or offwhite, or light blue cabinets with painted slab or shaker style doors. Some opted for navy blue finishes for a more dramatic effect. Current demand is for white slab or flat panel doors with textural differences, achieved by mixing materials and finishes. Cabinets may incorporate a combination of metal, wood, matte, or glass accents. Clients might also request flat panel doors with subtle detailing. Maximizing storage space is vital, so custom work like corner drawer units and swing out wari-corners are popular. Although they cost more, many people choose drawers for their lower cabinets because they offer more easily accessible storage. Lussier is currently remodelling his own kitchen and is including some of these improvements such as panel covers on appliances and selecting dark blue painted doors with hickory wood accents. He will be installing a coffee centre that rises to counter height for use but is otherwise stored out of sight. Lussier plans to incorporate walk-in closets and mantles as such high-end custom work is the new normal. “People are definitely spoiling themselves a lot more than before,” Lussier says. “They are seeing the super cool stuff (online) and they want it.” www.midislandcabinets.com

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COMOX VALLEY

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SEPTEMBER 2019

1980 TO 1999: BUST TO BOOM, THE CHAMBER HITS ITS STRIDE

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s the 1980s kicked off, the economy worsened, the Iran hostage situation dominated headlines and disco’s days were numbered. In the Valley, the effects of soaring interest rates could be felt. But by the end of the decade and into the nineties, the Chamber had got its groove back. Staying Alive In The Eighties For the Cou r tenay-Comox Chamber of Commerce, the 1980s began with a membership of just 40. But by 1984 membership increased from 253 to 306 making the Comox Valley Chamber one of the largest on the Island. T his era of growth saw the Chamber working for greater civilian aviation use of CFB Comox resu lt i ng i n t he a nnouncement of a new multimillion-dollar air terminal. A Valley

86 committee formed in order to reap the benefits of Expo, and the Chamber office had a computer system installed! The Chamber also got involved in the formation of an economic development association with representation from municipal governments and special interest groups and staffed by a Chamber-hired administrator to diminish the possibility of parochialism, and by summer 1986, the Economic Development Commission formed. After years of feeling ignored and lobbying for their own Chamber, Union Bay finally joined in with the Comox Valley Chamber in December 1987. Even though it looked as though the new federal goods and services tax was a fait accompli, bright spots like the BC Lions training camp and the likelihood of a new highway ended the decade on an upswing. Note-Worthy In The Nineties The Valley truly was the land of opportunity in the 1990s, as the fastest growing Regional District outside the Lower Mainland. The North Island College expansion, a new shopping centre, Saratoga Beach and Mount Washington development all offered entrepreneurial possibilities. In July 1990, BC Transit started running in the Comox Valley. The restoration of “The Deuce,”

CENTENNIAL

CELEBRATION & DANCE PARTY

W W W . C O M O X V A L L E Y C H A M B E R . C O M

the old steam locomotive next to the Chamber that had fallen into disrepair, and protection of the area’s trumpeter swans became popular causes in the mid-nineties. As the decade progressed, new lifts on the mountain, a new theatre, McDonald’s and an Aquatic Centre added to the area’s allure for locals and tourists alike. For the Chamber, the decade ended with some notable accomplishments, including the support of a couple of lobbying policies about the new highway and the local shellfish industry. Even with worries surrounding the arrival of big box stores like Walmart and the uncertainty of Y2K, the future looked bright as the Chamber and its members headed into the new millennium. Celebrate with us at our centennial bash and dance to tunes from the amazing Timebenders on September 28 at the Native Sons Hall! For tickets, please visit our website at www.comoxvalleychamber.com. Dianne Hawkins is CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber: Building Good Business since 1919. For more information on the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce, visit: www. comoxvalleychamber.com or call 250-334-3234.

OFF THE COVER

SEPTEMBER 2019

11

Local Licensed Insolvency Trustee Firm Leads Clients to Financial Freedom SMYTHE INSOLVENCY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

is held high and her confidence is back. She’s less stressed, happier and she’s got a smile. She isn’t afraid of creditor calls and is able to focus on things that are more important in her life, like her family.” In this woman’s case, the team at Smythe Insolvency took her $60,000 in high interest debt and created a plan where she only pays a monthly sum of 350 dollars for 60 months. At the end of this period, she will be debt free. In the meantime, Smythe’s services have eliminated the interest payments, collection calls and threats of wage garnishing. “This sort of situation is typical in a lot of ways,” says Best. “Each client is unique, but the story - where an insurmountable debt is turned into low monthly payments, and threats and collection calls are eliminated - is pretty typical.” For Smythe Insolvency, licensing makes all the difference. In times of financial hardship, individuals tend to reach out in desperation, sometimes visiting unlicensed or unregulated credit counsellors. “When someone is struggling to get out of debt, it’s important to deal with someone who has all

Greg Best, Licensed Insolvency Trustee at Smythe Insolvency the right tools in their toolbox,” says Best. Licensed Insolvency Trustees are regulated through the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB), an agency of the Government of Canada, that governs Insolvency Trustees throughout the nation. “I n order to enter i nto the T rustee Licensing Program, you have to meet some strict education and work experience prerequisites,” says Best. “After that, you must undergo another two years of education before completing the various exams. After that point, you appear on an oral board examination, where you are examined by a panel

The Nanaimo Office for Smythe Insolvency including a federal government representative, a lawyer, and another Licensed Trustee. Then you need to pass the criminal record check before being issued a license.” A fter becoming a Licensed Insolvency Trustee, the

professional is subject to a strict code of ethics, enforced through the OSB. Fees for Licensed Insolvency Trustees are regulated by government bodies, allowing clients in need to access reliable services at a reasonable cost.

“I really enjoy what I do,” says Best. “I love to see the relief we bring to people. Living stress free is important to everybody, and it’s a great feeling to be able to eliminate stress and offer people newfound financial freedom.” www.smytheinsolvency.com

VANCOUVER ISLAND

12

SEPTEMBER 2019

Country Bee Honey Farm Sweetens Up Saanich Peninsula Urban Goes a Little Country As Local Apiary Undergoes Brand Change

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AANICHTON - To bee, or not to bee. That was the question for husband and wife Lindsay and Jason Dault when they looked to open Country Bee Honey Farm. Formerly ca l led Urba n Bee Honey Farm, the south Island apiary has grown to become a l o c a l f a vo u r i te , re c e n t l y garnering both the 2018 Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit and the 2019 Grant Thornton LLP Vancouver Island Business Excellence Award for Food & Food Production. The apiary found its beginnings in 2009, starting as Twawassenbased Urban Bee Supplies. “ We o r i g i n a l l y o p e r a t e d out of a s t u d io i n t he ba ck of ou r house, where we sold beekeeping supplies for smallscale beekeepers in urban areas,” says Lindsay. “We would also sell live bees that we imported from New Zealand, and I would teach classes on how to beekeep.” In December 2015, Linsday and Jason decided to take a major risk. “We sold ou r Tsaw wassen home, Jason quit his stressful corporate job, and we bought a large farm in my hometown, Saanichton,” says Lindsay.

Owners Lindsay and Jason Dault “Our vision was a local honey farm with amazing products in a building that had so much roadside appeal no one could drive by without coming in.” In Marche, 2016, the Jason and Lindsay purchased 11 acres of property and began clearing the land, filling in swamp areas. “We kept the wood that we cleared and had it milled for use on the property,” she continues.

“Now, all the siding on the main building and furniture inside is made with wood that we took from the property.” The farm officially opened its doors on September 25, 2017. “We now have a beautiful farm store, surrounded by pollinating gardens that help feed our bees. Inside the store you can find hyper local Peninsula honey, delicious homemade infused honey, as well as cropped honey from all over BC, Alberta and Manitoba. We carry beautiful handmade products from local artisans and bakeries. “We also have an observation hive, so people can see exactly where their honey comes from. And if that isn’t enough for you, we have a honey ba r, so you can taste everything we sell. We also raise and sell our own turkeys, pork and free range eggs. For anyone that wants to support local, this is the store to do it.” Cu r rent ly, Cou nt r y B ee i s work i ng on d iversi f y i ng its offerings. They currently sell pork products and turkeys from their farm animals. In 2017, they planted 900 Christmas trees, allowing them to open a U-Cut Ch ristmas T ree fa rm to the

The shop at Country Bee Honey Farm public in 2021. “Seeing what we’ve done and the risk we took still amazes me, and brings tears to my eyes. I lie in bed all the time and think ‘it actually worked’,” says Lindsay. “But one thing I must say, if it wasn’t for my amazingly driven husband, we wouldn’t be here. I wanted to g ive up so many times, but he held the vision and pushed through every obstacle that came our way.” www.countrybeehoney.ca

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Transport Canada Green-Lights Berk’s Intertruck V ANCOUVER ISLAND The wait is over! Transport Canada has officially approved Berk’s Intertruck’s Duke Point location as a recognized facility for testing, inspecting, and repairing highway tankers and trailers. According to the company’s general manager Dan Grubac, this new designation makes the Duke Point location one of two shops in the central Island that are able to perform this level of government-approved inspection and repair. “It’s a specialized kind of business,” says Grubac. “Over the last twelve months, in addition to completing the vast amount of paperwork required by Transport Canada, we have been re-tooling our shop, training, and hiring new staff to prepare for the transition. As soon as we received the designation, we were ready to hit the ground running.” Berk’s Intertruck owner and president Brian Sabourin states that the certification process was a six-month-to-one-year endeavor. “There were hours and hours of paperwork, testing, and inspecting involved,” he remarks. “ We i nvested a lot of t i me, money, and effort into this project, and even hired an outside

The mechanical team at Berk’s Intertruck’s Duke Point facility consultant to help us complete the process. The facility has to be state-of-the-art.” “What we are now certified to do is a specific process that needs to be followed step by step,” adds Grubac. “We’re testing for leaks, testing the wall thickness of the tanks, and visually inspecting components. It takes a long time for a person to become competent to do this job.” Before the certification process was complete, the Duke Point facility brought on new qualified technicians who are properly certified to conduct inspections, tests, and repairs on these tankers and trailers. Berk’s Intertruck’s Duke Point shop is the company’s first location to acquire this type of

certification. Now operating at 1041 Maughan Road in Nanaimo, this location was opened a couple of years ago as a strategic move to capitalize on changes in Vancouver Island’s transportation industry. “This region became of interest to us when Seaspan decided to move their terminal from downtown Nanaimo to Duke Point,” says Grubac. “Now, shipments coming by either ferry or barge, and all truck traffic that was coming to downtown Nanaimo is going to Duke Point, including the shipments for one of our major customers. “We were able to find a location to rent so we could test the waters, and in two years, we went from three employees to fifteen

employees, and from a 1,000 sq ft rental space to our current 10,000 sq ft parts and service facility.” The company was founded by Berk Sabourin, Brian’s father, in 1971. Over nearly five decades, the company has grown from its flagship location in Central Nanaimo to five locations (Nanaimo, Duke Point, Duncan, Port Alberni, and Langford). “We want to be close to our customers no matter where they are on the Island,” says Sabourin. “We have reach from Victoria to Port Hardy, and where we don’t have locations, we have strategic partnerships in place to help our customers anywhere their business takes them on the Island.” According to Sabourin, Berk’s will continue to focus exclusively

on Vancouver Island. “For today, and for the future, our intent is to have our parts and service available from the bottom to the top, and from the east to the west coast of the Island,” he continues. “We’re getting closer to that as we speak, but we can always improve on what we have and continue to grow.” The Duke Point location is open from Monday to Friday, from 7 AM to 11 PM, and Saturday from 7 A M to 4 PM. T hey have 24 hour service if needed, and do after-hour callouts. They have a fully equipped service unit, which is available 24/7 to reach clients in need who can’t make it to the shop. To find out more, visit www. berksintertruck.com

COWICHAN VALLEY

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Chemainus Public Market Set To Open Before December Ladysmith Chronicle HEM A I NUS - Don’t let the ‘For Lease’ sig n on the old Chemainus Foods building fool you. Chemainus Public Market has ta ken over t he bu i ld i ng a nd renovation work is underway inside. “The realtor is promising to take the sign down early next week,” laughs Laurie Douglas, manager of the Chemainus Public Market. “I know some people have been wondering about that but it’s just a matter of the realtor getting their sign guy to come up from Victoria.” Meanwhile, Douglas says the l a nd lord w i l l be doi ng some major work on the HVAC this month installing a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. “That’s the next important step and after that’s done, we can really get to work on our leasehold improvements.” Among the first projects will be to outfit a fish and chips restaurant that will be called Captain Andy’s Fish & Chips, Douglas says. “It seems people are really hungry for a fish and chips outlet and we’re going to make sure we

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satisfy that appetite for good, old-fashioned fish and chips.” On that note, Douglas says the design will be a nautical theme, of course, so she’s looking for items that might be included in the design. “Maybe you’ve got some portholes, or a wheel or even an anchor – not too big – that you’d like to sell. This is a seaside community, after all.” Other major work will include the creation of stalls, booths and larger units for permanent and temporary vendors. “We’ve had a lot of interest from people wanting to set up a business in the Chemainus Public Market,” Douglas says. The sky’s the limit in terms of what types of businesses could be part of the market that will occupy almost 12,000 sq. ft. of space. “You name it, we can probably find a place for you,” says Douglas, adding the market is hoping to open before Christmas.

SEPTEMBER 2019

FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH CHAMBER EVENTS With over 50 events programmed for the upcoming year, we don’t have enough editorial

COWICHAN VALLEY SONJA NAGEL

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t’s been anything but lazy summer days at the Duncan Cowichan Chamber these past couple months as we’ve been busily working on our events programming for the 2019/2020 season. With over 50 events programmed for the upcoming year, we don’t have enough editorial space to touch on them all. But following are a few important dates to write in your calendars... Our first Speaker Series Luncheon w i l l be held at t he Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn on Thursday, September 26th. Luke Biles from MNP will present “Cannabis One Year Later, Cultivating a New Industry”, addressing the current and future state of the cannabis industry, its regulatory environment and how existing businesses could benefit. October is Sm a l l Busi ness Month and we’ll be marking the occasion with two major events.

space to touch on them all

On Wednesday, October 9th we’ll be hosting an All Candidates Forum (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding) for the upcoming Federal Election. The Forum, which typically attracts over 500 attendees, will be held at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre and is free and open to the general public. Small Business BIG DAY returns on Tuesday, October 29th following a sell-out inaugural year in 2018. This one-day professional development and networking symposium, presented in partnership with Scotiabank, will be held at the Ramada Duncan and will feature a stellar line-up of speakers, presenters and workshops. Full Day Passes (which include a catered breakfast and lunch) are available at a discounted price. Those who are unable to attend the full day are welcome to register for individual sessions. The Chamber’s Annual General

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Meeting will be held at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, the Chamber will finish out 2019 with The Return of the Tackiest of All Tacky Christmas Sweater Parties Party, which will be back at Blue Grouse Estate Winery on Wednesday, December 11th – all welcome! Throughout September, October and November, the Chamber will continue to host its regular programming and events, Lunch N Learns, Speaker Series Luncheons, Member Mixers and a new monthly meet-up called Membership Matters. Most Chamber events are open to the General Public (as well as Members) and require advance registration. For more information or to book online visit www.duncancc.bc.ca. Welcome new members to the Duncan Cowichan Chamber: Juvenation Wellness, SE Health, R E/ M A X of Duncan Belinda Kissack Realtor, Klean Detailz A uto Co r p, C l e a rWay L aw, Take a Healthy Step, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Sands & Associates and Purely SaltSpring. Sonja Nagel is the Executive Director of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 250-748-1111 or manager@ duncancc.bc.ca.

OFF THE COVER

SEPTEMBER 2019

Ronald St. Pierre One Of Six In BC To Be Honoured October 7 RONALD ST. PIERRE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

John Watson, Executive Director of Comox Valley Economic Development and Tourism, says “Ronald’s many incredible years in the restaurant industry has played a significant role in establishing the Comox Valley’s reputation as a culinary destination. He is a pioneer in the ‘farm to fork’ movement for the Island.” “He has given his time tirelessly to building and expanding culinary events including the BC Seafood Festival and the Comox Valley Dine Around Festival and always supports the regions efforts to become a culinary powerhouse with a focus on regional producers and Chefs. We are so pleased to see him recognized for his leadership.” St. Pierre’s support for smallsca le fa r mers, foragers a nd producers allow him to make a significant economic contribution to his community. This, together with his consistent volunteerism and willingness to always step up to help events in the Comox Valley be a success, are the keys to St. Pierre receiving the honour. The BCFSA’s partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture on the Buy BC: Eat Drink Local program emphasizes the footprint of supporting local food and beverage is not just about supporting the restaurant operator, but their farmers, foragers and harvesters. T he BC Restau ra nt Ha l l of Fame is a peer nominated and peer voted award. Induction into the Hall of Fame recognizes that an individual has reached a level of professionalism and excellence that not only customers, but also fellow restaurateurs recognize. The award celebrates leadership and dedication to making the British Columbia restaurant and food service industries world class, and the event is open

“He has given his time tirelessly to building and expanding culinary events including the BC Seafood Festival and

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A Big Thank You To Our Vancouver Island Investors.

the Comox Valley Dine Around Festival and always supports the regions efforts to become a culinary powerhouse with a focus on regional producers and Chefs. We are so pleased to see him recognized for his leadership.” JOHN WATSON COMOX VALLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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In 2013, Locals moved into the newly remodeled Comox Valley Heritage building known to local residents as The Old House

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SEPTEMBER 2019

CRAFT BEER Craft Brewers Here For A Good Time, And A Long Time Craft Industry Continues To Grow With Focus On Community Building BY ROBERT MACDONALD

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r o w t h , n e i g h b o u rhood focus, and experimentation. T h a t ’s h o w K e n B e a t t i e , Executive Director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild summarized the last year in the craft brewing industry. “This has been the story for some time now: the industry is continuing to grow,” says Beattie. “In 2018, we added 22 new breweries, and as of September 1, we have seen 16 new breweries in 2019.” This continued growth is part of an ongoing story that is 35 years in the making. In 1982, John Mitchell effectively created Ca nada’s cra f t beer industry when he launched the country’s first licensed craft brewery. Mitchell owned Troller Pub in Horseshoe Bay, which was suffering due to an extensive beer strike. With the help of seasoned brewer Frank Appleton, Horseshoe Bay Brewing was born, creating an industry that has now spread across Canada. Appleton has personally trained some of BC finest craft brewers,

The BC Craft Brewers Guild is holding its annual BC Craft Brewers Conference, which occurs the same weekend as the BC Beer Awards including Sean Hoyne of Hoyne Brewing Co., who is continuing to pass this knowledge to the next generation. Victor i a’s Paul Hatfield i s a not her key pione er i n t he craft beer industry, launching Spi n na kers, Ca n a d a’s f i rs t brewpub, in 1984. The industry grew steadily for 30 years, before experiencing its recent meteoric growth. “Things began to change in 2013, when the provincial government

commissioned a liquor policy review,” says Beattie. “When the government allowed tasting rooms and removed a certain tax that limited brewery growth, we started to see craft breweries opening all over the place.” Each year since 2012, at least 20 craft breweries have opened in BC, with a record-setting 28 opening in 2017. With nearly 40 new breweries op en i n g si nc e t h i s re cordsetting year, this momentum is

continuing. Accord i ng to Beattie, pa rt of the ongoing success of the industry is due to an increased “neighbourhood focus” on the part of brewers. “More com mu n ities a re following the example of Brewers Row in Port Moody, which has a number of craft brewers operating in a small concentrated area,” he says. “We’re seeing a similar thing SEE CRAFT BREWERS | PAGE 17

CRAFT BEER

SEPTEMBER 2019

17

Ken Beattie is Executive Director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild, an organization that advocates and educates on behalf of over 100 BC Breweries

The crowd at the 2018 BC Beer Awards, an event which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this October

CRAFT BREWERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

happen in Penticton recently, and the idea is catching on. “These communities are leaning in to ‘beer tourism’ as a major part of their businesses. For example, in Penticton, some of t hese brewers h ave bou nd together to essentially form their own busi ness i mprovement association. They work closely with other businesses and organizations in the community to attract people to their area. Brewers all over the province are working to build into their communities, partnering with other community groups to bring people together.” The area of beer tourism is supported through the Guild’s ongoing promotion, the BC Ale Trail, which works with local economic development organizations to create self-guided craft beer tours throughout the province. “We released an app for the BC Ale Trail at the beginning of this year, which is available on Google Play and the App Store,” says Beattie. “We now have over 100 breweries on the app, and about 6,000 users. Craft beer enthusiasts can get rewards for visiting different breweries, which are available and redeemable across the province.” Another key to the industry’s success is the creative spirit that energizes local brewers. Experimentation with new types of beer, new ingredients, and new methods

of marketing have been key components of organizations appealing to the adventurous side of consumers. This July, Sorrento’s Carma Clarke of Wolf Springs Farm and Brian MacIsaac of Crannóg Ales helped spearhead Haskap Beer Month, a promotion that involved several BC craft brewers. ““From the first time we tasted Carma’s Haskap berries, we knew they’d make great beer,” MacIsaac told Beer Me BC in a July interview. “They are so intense, and the colour really comes through. We’ve made several tests, and both beer and berries shine.” Nearly a dozen BC Craft breweries created and promoted unique beverages featuring the berry during the month, bringing more awareness and interest to BC’s Haskap farms. Another key facet of Craft Beer success is collaboration. Through events put on by organizations like the BC Craft Brewers Guild and the BC Beer Awards, local brewers have opportunities to connect and collaborate with peers throughout the province. This year, Sooke Brewing Company won a bronze in the American Belgo-Style ale category at the 2019 Canadian Brewing Awards for Sextuple, a beer made in partnership with Dageraad Brewing in Burnaby. “Winning this award with Dageraad was very exciting for us,” says Sooke Brewing’s General Manager Kris Schill. “We were honoured to collaborate with them, as both

The haskap berry was part of a July craft beer promotion, where nearly a dozen breweries used the product in their beers

our breweries specialize in the Belian style. We are very happy with the way the beer came together.” This award-winning partnership began after the two companies met at last year’s BC Beer Awards. The BC Beer Awards will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on October 19th at the Croation Cultural Centre in Vancouver. Held during BC Craft Beer Month, the event was created by Chester Carey and Gerry Erith, who wanted to bring more recognition to outstanding BC Beers. “At that time, craft beer was bigger in the US, and there was a lot less awareness of what BC Craft Brewers had to offer,” says Carey. “Our first year had about 200 entries from 30-40 breweries, and was a little less organized than it is today. Since

then we’ve grown dramatically and adopted a standardized scoring system. This year, we have around 1,200 entries from as many as 130 breweries.” As a way to celebrate the fact that the awards have ‘Aged 10 Years’, the organizers challenged brewers to bring a barrel of aged, which will be judged for a seperate award. The award event will be preceded by the BC Craft Brewers Conference, held from October 17-18 at the same location. This event is put on by the Brewers Guild, which organizes the conference in cooperation with the BC Beer Awards. “This event will be the biggest it has ever been,” says Beattie. “We have 65 suppliers coming, and are hoping for 800 people. It’s a great event to attend for anyone passionate about craft beer, or someone thinking about getting into the industry.” To find out more about these events, visit bccraftbrewersconference.com and bcbeerawards.com

CAMPBELL RIVER

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SEPTEMBER 2019

Lordco and MOWI Streamline Partnership With OPUS System

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AMPBELL RIVER – A strategic partnership between a supplier, Lordco Auto Parts, and MOWI West Canada, has been mutually beneficial. Del Wagner, Industrial Sales Representative for Lordco Auto Parts 75 in Campbell River, says “with the implementation of the OPUS purchasing system, it has given the Lordco team an opportunity to be on the ground floor in developing a catalogue of supplies that can be sourced with a certainty of product quality, price and immediate availability and in turn given MOWI an effective way of purchasing control.”

Founded in 1974, Lordco is a BC owned company with over 100 branches in locations all over the province, with 14 on Vancouver Island. Wagner has been in the supply industry for over 40 years, and says Matt Flint is the local contact for MOWI and he makes contact each day with MOWI departments and personnel. “We work with staff who process, fill the orders, package for shipping to all the sites and deliver or ship according to MOWIs instructions,” Wagner says. “Every day we field requests and inquiries that we try and find solutions for,

in the form of product that meets those needs.” In addition, Wagner says Lordco representatives have visited over 40 MOWI sites, farms, hatcheries, processing plants, packaging and warehousing facilities to do surveys of diesel driven equipment, and other products used in MOWI’s operations. The information gleaned from those surveys allow Lordco to customize its inventory to have product available for immediate delivery, in the quantities required to keep power units running. Specialized stainless products, fasteners, plumbing and even

RONC parts are some of the items that Lordco has identified that MOWI regularly needs, and these are stocked, along with filtration and lubricant products for regular servicing of MOWI equipment. Lordco Parts Ltd. was incorporated in 1974 by its two founding members, Roy Lord and Ed Coates. A simple combination of their surnames gave the company its name, and they hired one employee to help them in their modest 900 square foot store in Maple Ridge, BC. From the beginning, the two shareholders agreed that success would only come through a

diligent, common sense approach to selling automotive parts. Knowledgeable salespeople selling quality merchandise, backed by a com m itment to service wouldn’t create instant success, but would give them a fighting chance to make it in the long run. The formula has proven to be the right one, and it is on display with the company’s relationship with MOWI. “Lordco is a strong advocate for the aquaculture industry and other major industry throughout BC, and looks forward to being part of MOWI’s growth,” says Wagner.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

Bold Leap Of Faith Established Amco Homes Current Units Look Like Standard Homes

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ANAIMO - More than 40 years ago, Al Lutz saw a solid future for modular homes and decided to take a bold leap of faith. He left his career in commercial lending in Vancouver, moved to Nanaimo and started Amco Homes, bringing his wife Faye and sons Joel and Tyler with him. Amco became a distributor for Moduline Industries manufactured homes. “Dad moved out to Nanaimo on a whim,” Joel Lutz recalls. “He left a secure job at a bank to start a new company. I guess he saw there was a niche to be filled and he filled it.” The new venture came with considerable risk, as Penticton-based Moduline had only opened four years earlier. Yet Lutz’ instincts were correct. There was demand. Customers came to the Cassidy area lot to buy the new modular homes, which were less expensive than on-site, stick-built construction. The modular option gave many people an affordable path into home ownership. Joel suggests the first manufactured homes were more like “glorified RVs.” But from his first day in business, Al Lutz saw

his customers as homebuyers, treating them like millionaires purchasing mansions. “We always understood it’s a big purchase for the customer,” Joel says. “We have to have honesty and integrity and be upfront with the home buyer.” Amco Homes is still the Vancouver Island dealer for Moduli ne, a lthough the lot moved to Lantzville years ago. T he modern homes are nothing like the original models. To minimize weight, early models had narrower, two-by-three-inch framed exterior walls. They were delivered like trailers with hitches still attached. Current units look like standard homes. There is no hint of a trailer. Exterior frames are two by six construction, the same as conventional builds. The building code’s requirements echo those of stick-built homes. M a nu factu red homes st i l l benefit from economies of scale, with the concentration of labour i n one locat ion, a nd i ndoor construction under controlled conditions. Despite looking like conventionally built homes, they cost approximately $100 per square foot less.

Company founder Al Lutz, who foresaw a business in manufactured homes

“Keeping the customer happy over time is what pays off.” JOEL LUTZ AMCO HOMES, CO-OWNER

Brothers (left to right) Tyler and Joel Lutz in one of the Moduline Industry homes sold by their company

“The site-built homes have become untouchable for some buyers,” Joel says, adding that’s why he’d like to see more zoning supporting modular homes, so that more people can become homeowners. Demand is high. A ny units offered for sale are snapped up

virtually overnight. Joel and Tyler’s father, A l, passed away earlier this year, but his attitudes still shape the business. The brothers now sell to the grandchildren of their father’s original buyers. Joel believes they come back to Amco because

of his father’s commitment to post-sale service. “Dad always said – and I now say – that the sale is the easy part,” he says. “Keeping the customer happy over time is what pays off. You have to look after the customer.” www.amcohomes.ca

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SEPTEMBER 2019

VARIETY FROM HILLSIDE STONE AND GARDEN SPICES UP ISLAND LANDSCAPES Family Business Crafts Special Custom Lanscape Features

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UNCAN – Variety is the spice of l i fe; t he Pace family believes. That is evident at their Hillside Stone and Garden location at 2381 Staghorn Road, which features a cornucopia of choices for customers to choose from: everything from polished pebbles, red or black lava stone, multi-hued rainbow rock, sparkling white marble, desert tans, and rock from as far away as Pennsylvania. “We believe we have the largest variety on the Island, especially for those focusing on premium, high-end products,� says Corey Pace, one of the co-owners of this family business. The company dates back to 1981 and was purchased by Corey, his father Gordon and brother Tyson on April 30, 2016. Having acquired the thriving landscaping business, the family expanded it by bringing in more product choices. They added local producers and tracked down international suppliers to fill their almost four-acre location. Corey admits that regulatory and market changes can make it challenging to maintain the supply, but that the extra effort is worthwhile. “We’ve really expanded our offerings and variety in products,� he says. Development of paths and walkways on any property is supported by the company’s supplies of cart path, river rock, road base and drainage rock. For homeowners, the company website includes a coverage guide page to help them determine how much product they need before they arrive at Hillside. Enhanced by local artisans, the Hillside yard is a showcase of landscaping inspiration. There are exotic East Indian stone slabs for patios and walls, stone garden furniture, striking turquoise and

The Pace family purchased the landscaping business in 2016 and have since expanded it. From left to right are Corey, Gord, and Tyson Pace

A cornucopia of choices for eye-catching landscaping fills the almost four-acre Hillside Stone and Garden yard in Duncan. Pavers, stones of all shades, mulch, lava rock, custom blended soil, water features and more are on display

“We believe we have the largest variety on the Island, especially for those focusing on premium, high-end products.� COREY PACE HILLSIDE STONE AND GARDEN, CO-OWNER

basalt columns, ponds and fountains and water features, decorative boulders, river rock and more. Consistency in their product offering is maintained, so a homeowner can replenish ground cover years later and still have it match. Hillside’s signature products include two custom soils, one for gardens and one for lawns, each blended and screened on site. Both incorporate quality “cooked� compost from the Capital Regional District. The garden soil adds rich black peat, composted steer manure, and washed sand to the weedfree compost. The peat retains moisture and the composted steer manure adds fertilizer to support

Hillside Stone and Garden team members are (front left to right) Sarah, Corey, Jessy, Rob, and (back left to right) Harold, Quinton, Tyson, and Gord constant growth. The lawn soil product adds steer manure and washed weed free sand added to the compost, producing a nutrient rich blend proven to generate quick growth of thick, green lawns. “People rave about their results from using our soils,� Corey said. “We believe we offer the highest quality soil on the island.� He adds

that soils are lab-tested to ensure each has the right PH balance and nutrients. Hillside recently added quality grass seed and additional fertilizers to its product line, It is evident that not everyone wants a lawn in today’s market. A newer trend is people choosing decorative rock gardens. For these, Hillside Stone and Garden has decorative stone covers,

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larger boulders, river rock, rock columns, patio slabs, stone furniture, and a choice of fir or cedar mulch. “A rock garden is maintenance free for years at a time,� Corey said. “More and more, we find people don’t want to deal with the work required for a lawn, so if they have a lawn, it is just a small section.� Hillside Stone and Garden can craft special custom features. One is sandblasting a boulder to create an address sign for the property. “Most large rocks that we carry can be sandblasted and then painted in the colours of the customer’s choice, to create a feature that will be there for years to come,� Corey said. Another is drilling turquoise or basalt stone columns to produce a natural rock fountain. Delivery of these massive pieces is handled by the company’s crane truck. They also offer bulk product delivery via two sizes of dump trucks, which can be rented by the hour. Hillside employs nine people and fills an estimated 12000 orders annually. www.hillsidestone.org

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22 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 0913625 BC Ltd 2010 Government St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Salto Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $20,000 DEFENDANT 0913625 BC Ltd 2010 Government St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Salto Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $35,236 DEFENDANT 9 Elements Group Inc 2328 Harbour Rd, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Mar Law Corporation CLAIM $10,032 DEFENDANT 9832408 Canada Inc 2328 Harbour Rd, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Mar Law Corporation CLAIM $10,032

WHO IS SUING WHOM DEFENDANT BC Smart Technology Ltd 700-275 Lansdowne St, Kamloops, BC PLAINTIFF Fluent Home Ltd CLAIM $15,820 DEFENDANT Bear Creek Construction Ltd 200-4630 Lazelle Ave, Terrace, BC PLAINTIFF Stefanova, Lyubomir CLAIM $19,039 DEFENDANT Burman Construction 438 Regency Pl, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Schnabel, Peter CLAIM $16,983 DEFENDANT Canadian Air Crane Ltd 2600-595 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Attorney General CLAIM $15,770 DEFENDANT Cridge Family Pharmacy Ltd 202-1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Kennedy, Sofia CLAIM $21,436 DEFENDANT Dealer Ventures Technology

Corporation 201-100 Front St, Penticton, BC PLAINTIFF Fluent Home Ltd CLAIM $15,820 DEFENDANT Duke Saloon 1009 Cook St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Salto Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $35,236 DEFENDANT Duke Saloon 1009 Cook St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Salto Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $20,000 DEFENDANT Jacob Bros Construction Inc 2900-595 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Stefanova, Lyubomir CLAIM $19,039 DEFENDANT Jacob Bros Holdings Ltd 2900-595 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Stefanova, Lyubomir CLAIM $19,039 DEFENDANT JMS Holdings Limited 6435 Sooke Rd, Sooke, BC PLAINTIFF

SEPTEMBER 2019

Homewise Plumbing & Drainage Ltd CLAIM $16,363 DEFENDANT Manufacturers Life Insurance Company 500-1095 West Pender St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Burr, George CLAIM $35,216 DEFENDANT Mettes Painting And Decorating Ltd 204-655 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Schnabel, Peter CLAIM $16,983 DEFENDANT Phillips Brewing And Malting Co 2010 Government St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Salto Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $20,000 DEFENDANT Phillips Brewing And Malting Co 2010 Government St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Salto Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $35,236 DEFENDANT Ridgeline Mechanical Ltd 102-635 Fitzgerald Ave, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF FortisBC Energy Inc

CLAIM $19,160 DEFENDANT TZI Mechanical Ltd 3195 Balfour Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Salto Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $20,000 DEFENDANT TZI Mechanical Ltd 3195 Balfour Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Salto Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $35,236 DEFENDANT Visland Media Inc 209-1664 Richter St, Kelowna, BC PLAINTIFF Tara Hearn Personal Real Estate Corp CLAIM $15,156 DEFENDANT Visland Media Inc 209-1664 Richter St, Kelowna, BC PLAINTIFF Neil Bosdet Personal Real Estate Corp CLAIM $36,926 DEFENDANT Visland Media Inc 209-1664 Richter St, Kelowna, BC PLAINTIFF Langereis, Adrian CLAIM $36,750

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

SEPTEMBER 2019

Business Examiner Gold Event Sponsors

NORTH ISLAND Ozzieland campground in Port Alice has reopened for business as Oceanfront RV. The campground was acquired from Rhetta and Ozzie Vesna by Monique Anstree, a business owner, dog trainer and published author. Since buying the business, Anstee has repaired electrical and plumbing systems, built larger camp sites with more privacy and rejuvenated the campground’s landscape. Gate House Theatre in Port McNeill reopened for business in time to celebrate the 20th Annual OrcaFest weekend after closing for renovations. The renovations included installing new chairs, adding new rugs and repainting the space. Port McNeill Coastal Community Credit Union (CCCU) presented a $1,005 cheque to the Port McNeill Hospital Society executive at a recent ceremony. The money was raised during a fundraising BBQ hosted by CCCU and Coastal Community Insurance Services.

CAMPBELL RIVER Dikran Zabunyan, the new

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general manager of Painter’s Lodge, April Point and Quarterdeck Hotel and Marina in Port Hardy, was recently entered in the All Canada Phase 1 Basketball Hall of Fame. Zabunyan’s basketball career included playing professional basketball in Turkey following a college career at Centennial College and Ryerson University. He joins Painter’s Lodge from Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on the Sunshine Coast. Vancouver Island’s first government run cannabis store opened for business at Campbell River’s Discovery Harbour Shopping Centre at the end of July. The new BC Cannabis store is the fourth of the government operated stores to open in the province. Muse Cannabis is expected to open in the Willow Point plaza this summer, while another private retailer has secured its license from the city and is being considered by the province. Discovery Harbour Marina’s space at 1374 Island Highway has received a facelift and is now home to an ice cream shop.

Bill Howich Chrysler announces that Erica Fast is the top salesperson of the month at 2777 North Island Highway. Justin Lynn was top salesperson for Bill Howich RV & Marine at 1632 Coulter Road. After 25 years of active family practice, Dr. Peter Friderichs is handing over the care of his patients to his son Dr. Simon Friderichs. Having assumed his father’s full practice, Simon will not be accepting new patients. The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) officially unveiled its new boardroom and main entrance way at 990 Cedar Street. The new boardroom has moved to first floor – down from the first, and features more seating, better accessibility and technological enhancements. The SRD acquired the building in 2017, as a cost-effective means of providing more accessible space to meet growing demands and offer better service to the public.

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS

24 MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

COMOX VALLEY

Ilona Horgen T h e N o r t h I s l a n d C o l l e ge (NIC) Foundation board recently appointed its executive for the upcoming year. Reelected board members include Ilona Horgen as chair, Garry Griffin as vice-chair, Mary Lovely – a partner at Task Engineering was reelected as treasurer and Brett Woodside – a lawyer with TKS in Campbell River was reappointed secretary. Board members Dianne Hawkins, CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Jay Dixon, principal of North Island Secondary School – who has been seconded to the Ministry of Education – were also re-appointed for their second year. They are joined by new board members Donna Cloutier, an N IC a lu m n a a nd c h a r tere d professional accountant with Cloutier Matthews and Colleen

Sawyer, who represents the Port Alberni region having returned to her home community after a long career with RBC. Also on the board are Jane Atherton, who is the NIC Board of Governors’ representative and NIC President, John Bowman. Nova Scot i a-ba sed Crombie REIT has submitted a development permit application for Phase 3 of the Crown Isle Shoppi ng Cent re. T h e p e rm it ca l ls for the add ition of two new buildings with landscaping. T he larger building is proposed at 12,023-squarefeet and the second building includes plans for a restaurant space, 1,000-square-foot patio and two retail units sized b e t we en 1,250-sq u a re-fe e t and 1,320-square-feet. This is planned to be the final phase of the project and will be located on the vacant sites on the corner of Ryan and Lerwick roads. Crombie REIT is the sole owner of Crown Isle Shopping Centre. Frankie’s is a new fried chicken restaurant opened by Matthew and Lindsay Sieber at 3025 Comox Road which was once home to a fish and chips stand. Sundance Topham is no longer the chief administrative officer for the Village of Cumberland. The Village’s Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Michelle

SEPTEMBER 2019

Mason has been appointed as t he act i ng C AO on a ye a rly basis. The Vancouver Island Community Investment Cooperative (VICIC) is hosting its first I Invest Local forum in Courtenay on October 3 rd at the Florence F i l b e rg C e n t re. T h e fo r u m serves as an opportunity for residents to learn about directing their investments into local projects that enhance the community. ACS Computer Solutions is celebrating its 25 th anniversary at 2663 Avenue in Courtenay. Mount Washington Alpine Resort has officially opened the Eagle’s Flight ZipTour. The new zipline takes passengers down the mountain reaching speeds of 100 km/h. On October 7, Ronald St. Pierre of Locals Restaurant will be inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame. T he award is a peer-nominated and peer-voted award that celebrates leadership and dedication to making the British Columbia restaurant and food service industries the best in the world. Comox Valley RV welcomes Kurt Dawson and Peter Klobucar to its team of sales professionals at 1608 Ryan Road East in Comox.

Boulevard in Courtenay.

Ramon Ramirez Ramon Ramirez is celebrating serving the Comox Valley and North Vancouver Island community for more than a year as a Senior Account Manager with BDC. Westview Ford welcomes Nikki de Winter to their team as the new marketing coordinator. The dealership is at 4901 North Island Highway in Courtenay. Port Augusta Family Practice welcomes Dr. Rachel Drury, MD CCFP to its team of professionals in Comox at Unit 5-6 215 Port Augusta Street. Dr. Pieter Claasen is now on extended medical leave from his eye care practice and his practice is being taken over by Dr. Victor Penner. Dr. Claasen’s practice at 1530 Cliffe Avenue will see its sign change to reflect the transition. G a l a x y Motors c o n g ra t ulates Jordan Thomson on being the top salesperson for the dealership at 605 Crown Isle

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Ambassador Transportation and Tours has launched an 18seat seasonal party bus tour in the Comox Valley. The company is operating an 18-seat limousine bus that stops at a dozen v e n u e s f ro m C u m b e rl a n d / Royston through Courtenay and into Comox at a flat rate of $10. The service will run to the end of September and with potential for an extension to later in the fall as well as a return to service in December. Ryan Sykes has been named t h e to p s a l e s p e r s o n o f t h e month for Brian McLean Chevrolet Buick GMC at 2145 Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay. The fifth annual Comox Valley Ribfest will be held at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds from Friday, September 13 to Sunday, September 15.

PARKSVILLEQUALICUM BEACH An industrial property near Parksville on the Alberni Highway has been sold for $6.15 million according to Colliers Nanaimo. The property includes a mix of leased SEE MOVER’S AND SHAKERS | PAGE 25

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

SEPTEMBER 2019

MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

spaces and excess land, ideal for future development. Existing tenants include Parksville Bottle & Recycling Depot, Buckerfields, and Fourstar Waterworks. QualiCanna opened for business August 3, making it Qualicum Beach’s first recreational marijuana shop. The shop is owned and operated by former marine biologist Clayton Brenton along with his son Dallin Brenton, who holds a business degree in finance. BlueDoor Audio Video is celebrating its 40th anniversary from August 13th to 31st with an anniversary sale at 1209 East Island Highway. The City of Parksville launched a utility and streetscape upgrade project for Hirst Avenue on August 1st. The project covers the area on Hirst Avenue West from McMillan Street to the Alberni Highway. McElhanney Ltd. is planning, designing and overseeing the construction for the upgrade to the sanitary sewer, underground storm sewer and water utilities. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2020.

PORT ALBERNI Re/Max Mid-Island Realty welcomes Olivier Naud to its team of

real estate professionals at 4201 Johnston Road. Big Island Adventures is a new tour company opened in the Alberni Valley by partners Anthony Kimber, Les Strachan and Charlie Cootes. The company offers a variety of day trips and half-day tours on Vancouver Island.

Mary Pat Thompson North Island College (NIC) recently presented Mary Pat Thompson with an Emeritus designation in honour of her contributions to the community and dedication to her students. Thompson has been with NIC since 2004 as an instructor with the Education Assistant/Community Support program in Port Alberni. Thompson was presented with the designation alongside interactive media instructor Frank Niscak, history instructor and distributed learning instructor Brent McIntosh, fine art and interactive media instructor Susanne Sampson and the advisor and chair of student services – Janet Moody-Lackey.

celebration on August 8th at 2579 10 th Avenue. The Society acquired the building in December last year and has since been extensively renovating the space. The new building adds more than 1,000-square-feet compared with the organizations previous offices. Coulson Aviation has sent three helicopters to Bolivia under temporary contract to help fight forest fires devastating the Amazon Rainforest this summer. SpaceGain, a new i ndoor self-storage facility is opening soon. The facility is located at 4747 Tebo Avenue and will be fully automated, from entering to managing payments. The facility offers indoor and outdoor units

as well as being fully secure and temperature controlled. Peter Mieras, underwater videographer of Rendezvous Dive Adventures, has produced a video played in the background of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s performance of ‘Become Ocean’ by John Luther Adams. The 42-minute video of oceanic footage accompanies the music score.

TOFINOUCLUELET After 24 years of service, Billy and Sue Payne have sold their business Murray’s Grocery to new

25 owner and Ucluelet local, Alison Dahlie. Dahlie is eyeing a shift to more locally produced products and is not planning on making any significant changes to the business until the end of summer. Work is continuing on the home of Ucluelet Brewing Company, Ucluelet’s first brewery, at the former St. Aidan’s on the Hill Church that overlooks downtown Ucluelet. Twelve 1,500-litre tanks including a mash-tun, kettle, 5 fermenters and 5 brite tanks along with other equipment were all moved in at the beginning of August. The brewery has listed an opening date at the beginning of October. SEE MOVER’S AND SHAKERS | PAGE 27

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T he Alberni Valley Hospice Society held a grand opening

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OPINION

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SEPTEMBER 2019

A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Vancouver Island Office 25 Cavan Street,Nanaimo, BC V9R 2T9 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Fax: 1.778.441.3373 Email: info@businessexaminer.ca Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald SALES | John MacDonald – john@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Val Lennox, Robert MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim WEBSITE | John MacDonald – john@businessexaminer.ca

BUSINESS ISN’T BUYING WHAT THE NDP GOVERNMENT IS SELLING

MARK MACDONALD

I

t’s not surprising, but disappointing all the same, that the NDP can’t help but fight with business every time it gets into government. One may have hoped that this version of the NDP would learn from the “lost decade” of economic decimation under the Mike Harcourt/Glen Clark/Dan Miller/Ujjal Dosanjh version in the 1990’s, who certainly did its best to clone the Dave Barrett version from 1972-75. It’s clear they haven’t. Two cases in point: The “review” of WorkSafe BC, and gasoline prices. In mid-August, 46 business associations, including the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association and the BC Chamber of Commerce, pulled out of the NDP’s WorkSafe BC Review, citing clear bias. They weren’t having anything to do

with the NDP taking yet another run at reforming, undoubtedly to labour’s favour, an organization that is already grossly overfunded by business. This after the petroleum industry refused to participate in the NDP’s “investigation” into why the price of gas is so high in BC. In the spring, Premier John Horgan declared at the outset that their BC Utilities Commission “study” wouldn’t look into government taxation. There was no question he was aiming at industry, and the study’s “conclusions” were released in August. States Horgan: “The high prices for consumers are a direct result of the lack of connection between the commodity price for a barrel of oil and the retail price.” Government taxation? That couldn’t be part of the problem, as that wasn’t allowed to be included the exercise. Obviously the whole process was designed to reach a predetermined conclusion: It’s industry’s fault. Now I would be the last person to defend the high tax of gas in BC, as the price of gas affects every company in this province, and ultimately is reflected in all goods and services as a cost of doing business. Last week, I filled up in Bellingham, Washington for $50 U.S. – or $65 Canadian with exchange. That

same amount of gas here is $100. Gas in the lower mainland reaches close to $1.60 per litre. Compare that with Alberta’s sub-$1 pricing. But roughly one-third of the cost of a litre of gas in BC is taxation, from the federal, provincial and in Victoria and lower mainland, regional transportation authorities. And carbon tax. And GST. If the NDP was truly concerned about helping “the little guy” out there, don’t you think they’d at least offer up some of their tax allotment on the table in a form of relief? Of course not – thus Horgan’s “tut-tut” to gas station owners, clubbing them over the head (again) with subtle suggestions of greed. The results indicated an “unexplained 13 cents per litre” in the price of gas, which, obviously, wouldn’t be headed the government’s way, since that wasn’t the NDP’s target. Again, I’m not in the industry, and friends that are mumble about the profit margins being low. Not as tight as the food business, mind you, but they are similar, in that lower margins are overcome by vast volume. The price of gas is an easy political target, and Horgan just loaded both barrels at business with this latest shenanigan study, for political purposes. He’ll undoubtedly try to eke out as much mileage

out of these new “facts” to shield the fact that government leaches immense revenues from gas consumption, and resist any suggestion of scaling that back. It is good to see business organizations stand up and refuse to participate in the NDP’s propaganda. Not that the NDP will pay any heed or slow down. But at least business can’t be used as pawns in their charade. This after a July fiscal update that the Vancouver Sun’s Vaughn Palmer wrote was a $1.5 billion operating surplus. That’s down from $2.7 billion from the previous year. Where did that money come from? Increased business? No. Tax revenue was up 20 per cent from the previous year. Palmer noted that the employers’ health tax, and speculation/vacancy tax raised $600 million, offsetting the $315 million less in property tax revenue that resulted from a slower real estate market. The NDP’s deliberate chokehold on the real estate/construction industry, which they naively believe will result in cheaper homes that people with an increased minimum wage can buy and live in, is taking effect. Slowly but surely, sales of real estate are down. Construction is still in catch-up mode in terms of condominium

and rental apartments, which will have its own effect if a glut results from a lack of buyers willing to move within the province, or come to BC, where higher taxes reign. A one-term NDP government isn’t enough in and of itself to spur a recession or significant economic downturn. It takes a long time to slow down the big “train” that is a provincial economy, so it usually can’t be done in a couple of years. We know the NDP is trying: Finance Minister Carol James makes no apologies for trying to slow down the real estate market with draconian taxes against foreign investors and secondary homeowners. But two terms is a real problem for the economy. And with Horgan coming across as less than an angry radical he appeared to be while Leader of the Opposition, thanks to the anger management staffers Bob Dewar and Marie Della Mattia referred to as “The John Whisperers” (paid for, of course, by taxpayers), he doesn’t resemble the frothing, pre 2017 radical. The virtual disappearance of BC Liberal leadership doesn’t bode well for the return of a free enterprise government the next time voters head to the polls. At least, at this point, the major business organizations are standing up and putting the NDP on notice.

WE MUST GET FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING IN CHECK

FRASER INSTITUTE JASON CLEMENS, TEGAN HILL AND MILAGROS PALACIOS

T

he period from the m i d-19 6 0 s t o 19 9 5 was terrible for federal government finances in Canada. The government borrowed every yea r but one, i nterest costs consumed ever-greater shares of revenues, the country’s debt ballooned, and we came within a hair of a currency and debt crisis. It took difficult large-scale reforms by the government of Jean

Chretien to get the country’s finances back in order. Unfortunately, the policies of the current government have again put federal finances in peril by placing the country on track to repeat the mistakes of the past. In the mid-1960s to the late 1970s, new government programs were introduced and existing programs expanded, laying the foundation for higher levels of spending. That spending, however, wasn’t paid for by current taxes. The governments of Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau instead deferred the full cost of those programs by running deficits – borrowing. The proclivity for higher spending is best illustrated by the fact that between 1965 and 1975, federal revenues exceeded expectations in nine of the 10 years, yet the government failed to balance the budget or make meaningful inroads in reducing the deficit. The windfall revenues were used to finance even more spending. During this period and throughout the 1980s and early

1990s, successive governments tried to slow spending growth to move towards a balanced budget. But debt continued to accumulate. By 1994, just before the historic Chretien budget of 1995, the country’s accumulated deficit reached $524 billion. In 1995, an almost unimaginable 36 cents of every $1 of revenues collected by Ottawa was used to pay interest on existing debt. Fast-forward to 2015 and you find signs the federal government is repeating the mistakes of the past. Per-person program spending has increased from $7,740 in 2014 (adjusting for inflation) to an estimated $8,869 i n 2018, the h ighest level i n Canadian history. L i k e s o m e p a s t go v e r nments, t he cu r rent gover nment has benefited from higher-than-budgeted revenues (in all four years of its tenure). Yet there has been no reduction in the federal deficit because additional spending has consumed all the extra revenue. For i n sta nce, i n 2018, t he

government budgeted $312.2 billion in program spending in its spring budget. By the fall of that year, the government had collected an unexpected $5.5 billion in additional revenues but the deficit remained the same because all the extra revenues were spent. Some commentators note that the current deficit is relatively small when compared to the size of the economy. And indeed, the deficit-to-GDP is a manageable 0.9 per cent. But this misses the point that the deficit-to-GDP in the mid-1960s was actually lower at 0.7 per cent. The current government has placed federal finances on a troubling path and there are risks going forward. T h e D e p a r t m e nt of F inance forecasts deficits to at least 2040. This projection is optimistic, as it assumes no recession between now and when the federal books are balanced. Beyond the risk of a recession, federa l f i n a nces a lso face worsening demographics. Unlike past decades when labour market

participation was increasing, we now face a declining participation rate. As the population ages due to people living longer and birth rates falling, there will be fewer people working (as a share of the population). That means less government revenue at a time when there’ll be more pressure for governments to spend on programs such as health care, income support for seniors and more. Like in 1995, when the government finally got federal finances under control, the answer to today’s fiscal problems lies in purposefully reducing and reforming spending to achieve a balanced budget within two years. There’s not much we can do about demographics or many of the other risks to the federal budget, but we can control spending. Jason Clemens, Tegan Hill and Milagros Palacios are Fraser Institute economists and co-authors of Federal Deficits Then and Now.

SUBCRIPTIONS | $45 PER YEAR (12 ISSUES), $80 FOR 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES), SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA. DISTRIBUTION: SECOND WEEK OF EACH MONTH VIA CANADA POST AD MAIL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Produced and published in British Columbia. All contents copyright Business Examiner Vancouver Island, 2018. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

SEPTEMBER 2019

MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Surf Grove Campground is planning on returning to service and is preparing to redevelop its campsites. Tofino municipal council recently awarded the Campground a development permit to redevelop a portion of the existing grounds by removing overgrown vegetation and resurfacing existing roads with gravel. T he ca mpg rou nd has been around since the late 1970s and closed in the mid-2000s. While it was open, the campground operated roughly 600 campsites. The owners of the area are working on restoring 130 of those sites. The applicants are still required to acquire a business license before operating any of the revitalized sites.

NANAIMO Na na i mo-based Tilray recently expanded its agricultural cannabis business through its Portugal-based subsidiary. The company announced that its subsidiary Tilray Portugal Unipessoal Lda signed an agreement with agricultural business Esporao to lease 20 hectares of outdoor growing space in Alentejo, Portugal. This will add to its already 6,500-square-metres of manufacturing, processing and

research space it already had in Cantanhede, Portugal. Derek Kennedy was announced as the top salesperson of the month for Harris Nanaimo Kia at 2575 Bowen Road. The Family Business Association Vancouver Island (FBAVI) announced that nominations are now open for the 2020 Family Business Excellence (FBE) Award and the Young Entrepreneur Award. Nominations will be accepted until October 11th and the awards will be handed out at a gala held on February 12, 2020 at the Union Club in Victoria. Community Futures Central Island announced that Ed Poli is the organization’s 2019 Volunteer of the Year. Ed was previously the chair of Community Futures. Community Futures is a non-profit, small business development organization that provides business loans to small and medium sized business to start or grow a business. Nanaimo Toyota congratulates Doug McInulty on being the top salesperson of the month for the dealership at 2555 Bowen Road.

LADYSMITHCHEMAINUS Pacific Pearl Dental Hygiene

Clinic Inc. has opened for business in Ladysmith at #12 – 740 First Avenue. M isfits Fitness Studio and Hea lt h Ba r i s now op en for business at 9780 Willow Street in Chemainus. The space includes a health bar with a range of items and class options including kickboxing, aerobics, Zumba, weights, yoga, functional and personal training. Saltair Neighborhood Pub has reopened for business at 10519 Knight Road in Ladysmith. The pub remained closed since last December following damages incurred by the windstorm that struck Vancouver Island. The storm knocked out the pub’s power and security, allowing vandals to steal items from the store. Owner Dave Prakash is a lso pla n n i ng on eventua l ly utilizing the former beer and wine store next door for special events or catering. Denny Forrest was recently declared Ladysmith’s Citizen of the Year for 2019 at a ceremony held before t he K i nsmen Ladysmith Days Parade. Forrest served for six years on Ladysmith town council and has worked at Den’s Ladysmith Collision Centre.

COWICHAN VALLEY The Kerry Park Islanders of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League has been purchased by Carl Ollech, the sales manager and part-owner of Duncan Ironworks. Ollech has hired Nanaimo’s Mitch Heslop as head coach. Heslop is a distinguished alumnus of the (VIJHL) for leading the league in points and brings with him several years of coaching experience. The VIJHL is a Junior B league. Island Forever Appliances has moved from its Beverley Street location to beside its sister store Merit Home Furniture in downtow n Du nca n at 107 I ng ra m Street. Valley Medical Clinic announces that Dr. Lal Singh has joined its practice at 335 Jubilee Street.

Mike Vandekamp Cowichan Valley Capitals head coach Mike Vandekamp has been named an assistant coach for Canada West at the World Junior

27 A Challenge held in Dawson Creek this December. This will be Vandekamp’s first time coaching at the World Junior A Challenge after coaching junior hockey for over 20 years. Rupal and Neel Tanna have opened Duncan Pharmacy at 921E Canada Avenue in Duncan. The pharmacy is a part of the Remedy’sRx family of pharmaceutical companies and is 100 per cent independently owned and operated by the duo.Shawnigan Lake’s Michele Dixon was recently honoured with a prestigious award from her employer Petcurean, a manufacturer of premium quality pet food. Dixon, a health and nutrition specialist at Petcurean, was presented with a 2019 ICON Award in recognition of her longterm commitment to the sustainable growth of the pet industry. T he Va ncouver Isla nd Better Business Bureau (BBB) announced their inaugural BBB Spark Awards honouring new socially impactful businesses. T he Spark Award is the first awards program to recognize young entrepreneurs and new businesses that exemplify innovation, community engagement and BBB’s three pillars of trust: character, culture and community. This new annual award program seeks to identify entrepreneurs age 35 and under and new business owners with less than three years in operation.

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