kwalilas hotel update

KEDC Project Updates February 26, 2016 Davis Henderson, KEDC Tourism Coordinator

Roof of Kwa’lilas Hotel nears completion The roof is well on its way to completion and is expected to be finished by the end of February. The big house roof is an integral part of our culture and we are proud to have it as a main feature in Kwa’lilas Hotel.

Gilakas’la to the dedicated members of k’awat’si Construction who are working seven days a week to help us reach multiple construction milestones!

Meet Tohmm Cobban: Kwa’lilas Hotel’s lead architect Tohmm Cobban is the lead architect for Kwa’lilas Hotel and owns his own architect firm, Tohmm Cobban Architect. He was first introduced to KEDC through longtime friend and classmate Malcolm McSporran, who is the building designer for Kwa’lilas Hotel. Tohmm and Malcolm share an avid interest in designing buildings that resonate with the culture and heritage of the community.

Tohmm is honoured to be part of the Kwa’lilas team and is continuously impressed with the breadth of KEDC’s vision and the commitment to this project and the future of the Gwa’sala Nakwaxda’xw community.

For the past fifteen years, Tohmm Cobban has held the pen to a variety of projects ranging from mixed residential buildings to a public square and open air theatre building. One of the projects he is most proud of is the Spirit Square in Haida Gwaii, B.C. As pictured below, the wedge-shaped public place with a small outdoor theatre and landscaping was built by the people of the Village of Queen Charlotte in Haida Gwaii.

At the University of Toronto’s School of Architecture, Tohmm studied diverse aspects of architectural design, including residential, institutional integration into the environment.

Furniture sale: February 27-28. Everything MUST go!

This weekend, Port Hardy Inn is hosting a massive furniture sale in its lobby. Find great deals on lamps, dressers, headboards, linens and more! After your big finds, grab a bite at Seto’s or PHINNS’. The restaurant and pub are open throughout the renovations. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming events like last week’s sold out Valentine’s Day Bash!

For more information, contact Terry Balfour at 250-374-1610.

KEDC Project Updates Con’t February 26, 2016

Discover Vancouver Island

Yesterday KEDC Tourism Coordinator Davis Henderson attended the Discover Vancouver Island event at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort. Davis represented our two KEDC-owned properties, Kwa’lilas Hotel and Pier Side Landing, to promote exciting tour packages that we are offering. The event hosted 23 tour operators across Canada including BC Ferries, Jonview and Discover Holidays. As we approach the anticipated opening of Kwa’lilas Hotel in summer 2016, Davis will continue to build awareness of the natural beauty and culture the North Island has to offer by being present at these kinds of conferences and connecting with other businesses and operators in the tourism network.

Check us out at Pier Side Landing Pier Side Landing recently had the pleasure of hosting the hockey teams from Nanaimo and Powell River for a tournament in Port Hardy. If you are part of a team or know athletes looking for a place to stay in Port Hardy, we are excited have you stay at the newly renovated Pier Side Landing!

Do you have guests visiting from out of town? We have room for them too at Pier Side Landing! For more information, please call Terry Balfour, operations manager, at (250) 949-7437 or book online.

Sunset view at Pier Side Landing’s waterfront dock.

Photo credit: Terry and Elsie Balfour.

Meet Malcolm McSporran: Kwa’lilas Hotel’s building designer

Malcolm McSporran is the building designer for Kwa’lilas Hotel and is the managing director at Quinkatla Development Planning, a development company with a strong history of First Nations projects in both larger building projects and homes. For Malcolm, finding the relevant cultural and social context for each project is an ongoing educational experience, and achieving results that are meaningful and helpful for society gives him and his team very fulfilling rewards.

Most of his development and design work has been in large scale residential, resorts and hotels; and First Nations projects. He has brought a strong design-oriented approach to development, while taking a special interest in integrating historic cultural themes into modern buildings.

Growing up in Toronto, Ontario, he attended the School of Architecture at the University of Toronto and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in Vancouver. Malcolm has almost 40 years of experience in land and building development in British Columbia.