Business Examiner Victoria - December 2015 by Business Examiner Media Group

DECEMBER 2015

» FOCUS ON INSURANCE

–PAGE 10

For job

SIDNEY Capital City leverages diverse background to

National in Scope, Local in Focus

drive growth

Unity B the produ

Victoria

#220 - 645 Fort Street, Victoria

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PAGE 7

COLWOOD

Household air freshener uses bamboo charcoal instead of chemicals to remove unpleasant odors

Holiday Inn Express opens in Colwood

Traditional Chinese Techniques Used In Aircoal System

PAGE 17

INDEX News Update

Esquimalt 3 Westshore 4 Saanich Peninsula

Greater Victoria

Who is Suing Whom 19 Movers and Shakers 20 Opinion 22 Law 23

OUR 30TH YEAR

he use of bamboo charcoal as a means of removing unpleasant odors from the air has been a staple of many far eastern homes for centuries and if Christopher Tio the owner of Aircoal Bran Bamboo Charcoal has his way, it will become just as common in North American homes in the very near future. “With the rise of chem ical sensitivities, our product is ideal for scent-free zones and for the people that these zones were intended for. Once in place our product is good for a year, but the great thing about Aircoal is that at the end of the year it can be recycled to your garden soil as biochar fertilizer encouraging your plants to absorb more CO² from the atmosphere.” Tio explained. Tio trademarked Aircoal in early 2014 and has been test marketing his brand of scent free air fresheners that utilize the natural air cleansing properties of bamboo charcoal. “Filled with 100 percent bamboo charcoal, what we’re really selling is a direct

figures we are gearing up to double our points of distribution in February 2016.” CHRISTOPHER TIO AIRCOAL OWNER

replacement to chemical air fresheners, candles or incense. It is as easy to use as traditional air fresheners that you pop open and leave, but because it’s non- toxic and lasts for a year, you can even use it in the fridge to replace 12 boxes of baking soda for example,” he said. “Just imagine all of the transportation costs and packaging waste we’d be saving by not having to use all of those boxes. More people are becoming aware that air fresheners really don’t actually SEE AIRCOAL SYSTEM | PAGE 16

Christopher Tio is the owner of Aircoal, a product that uses bamboo charcoal to draw unpleasant odours out of the air

Business Excellence Award Nomination Deadline Looms December 15 is the date when nominations must be in for Vancouver Island-wide celebration of the best of 2015

W Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

“Based on initial sales

hich companies have had the best 2015? T h a t w i l l b e a nnou nced at t he 16 t h A n nu a l Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards, set for Jan. 21, 2016 at the Coast Bastion Hotel in Nanaimo. Momentum is building for the gala event, with the December

15 Nomination Deadline just around the corner. “We’re very pleased with the number and quality of nominations that have come in already,” notes Mark MacDonald of the Business Examiner, which coordinates the event. “T he Business Excellence Awards recognizes the top companies

from all over Vancouver Island in 17 different categories. “It’s a great opportunity to recognize the hard work put in by businesses throughout the year and celebrate their accomplishments and stories.” RBC Royal Bank, Hayes Stewart Little & Co. Chartered Profe s si o n a l A c c o u nt a nt s a n d

Coa st a l Com m u n it y Cre d it Union are the Gold Sponsors for the event. Category sponsors are Helijet, Thompson Cooper LLP, CIBC and Grieg Seafood. Categories this year include: Ag ricu ltu re, Automot ive, Construction/Development, SEE BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD | PAGE 5

Our job is to keep an eye on our customers business equipment needs. Vancouver Island’s largest independent copier and MFP dealer. Reliability, serviceability, affordability. We are Unity Business.

250.384.7243 www.unitybusiness.ca

NEWS UPDATE

DECEMBER 2015

Strong Victoria Real Estate Market Continues

good news for the Island’s construction industry as we look towards 2016.”

The Victoria Real Estate Board released its report on real estate activity for October 2015. A total of 734 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this October, an increase of 21.9 per cent compared to the 602 properties sold in the same month last year. There were 3,170 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service at the end of October, 19.3 per cent fewer than the 3,927 active listings in October 2014. “This is the twenty-ninth month in a row that we’ve seen monthly sales increase over the year before,” Victoria Real Estate Board President Guy Crozier says. “T his month we also saw sales numbers surpass the total for last year - in 2014 there were 6,698 sales and as of October 31, 2015 there are 7,257 sales on record with two months to go in 2015! We’re looking down the home stretch of 2015 and there is no sign of a market slow down.” The Multiple Listing Service Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core last year in October was $555,900. The benchmark value for the same home in October 2015 has increased by 9.4 per cent to $608,200.

Duncan Aviation Builds First STC for Latitude DL150 SDU

Construction employment well ahead of last year

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R esident i a l bu i ld i ng p er m its a nd s t e a d y i n-m i g r a t i o n c o n t r i b u t e d to an active autumn that promises a strong 2015 finish for Vancouver Island contractors. The dollar value of building permits issued across Vancouver Island reached $376.2 million in the third quarter of 2015, pushing year-to-date totals well over the billion-dollar mark – seven per cent higher than in the same period of 2014, reports the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA). “Vancouver Island’s appealing climate and low interest rates are attracting new residents and keeping residential builders busy,” said Greg Baynton, CEO of VICA. “With few exceptions, residential permit numbers across the Island indicate steady activity in the construction sector through the remainder of this year and into 2016.” In the third quarter, total building permits issued across Vancouver Island, a key sign of future construction activity, rose one per cent compared to the second quarter. Residential permits rose 15 per cent and non-residential permit volumes fell by 34 per cent compared to the previous quarter. The Capital Regional District posted the largest gain in dollar volume increasing nearly $30 million thanks to gains in both industrial and residential permit volumes. The Capital, Mount Waddington and Comox Valley Regional Districts exceeded their total 2015 permit values in Q 3 2015. All but institutional-government permit numbers increased over the same quarter of 2014. The Island’s construction sector employed 33,900 island-wide in the quarter, up 4.3 per cent from one year earlier. “Strong in-migration promises to support ongoing residential permits into the fourth quarter,” Baynton said. “And an improving economic outlook for BC is

Latitude Technologies, a global supplier of flight data monitoring, flight tracking, and Satcom solutions for business and transport category aircraft, is very pleased to announce that Duncan Aviation is building the first STC for Latitude’s DL150 SDU (Satellite Data Unit). The DL150 STC will be added to Duncan’s Challenger 601 FANS 1/A+ STC program. The DL150 SDU provides the satellite connectivity for a FANS 1/A+ CPDLC and ACARS messaging system allowing air to ground information to meet the requirements of AC20-140B. The DL150 is designed to meet TSO-159b. The device acts as a communications link for a FANS compliant Communication Management Unit (CMU) via ARINC 741 protocols. DL150 design is based on Latitude’s legendary SkyNode S100 transceiver that is the toughest and most reliable data satcom tracker in the industry today. “We are very excited about working with Latitude Technologies on this program,” said Mark Francetic, Duncan Aviation Regional Avionics Manager. “Latitude has been great to work with throughout the development of this STC. Their unit is straightforward to install and a good solution.”

Vecima lands US deal Vecima Networks Inc. an experienced designer and manufacturer of innovative technology in the broadband equipment market has signed a supply agreement with a T ier 1 MSO (Multiple System Operator) to support its network wide all-digital conversion across the US. The supply agreement covers Vecima’s Terrace TC600E product line, the latest edition of the Terrace family of products. In July 2015, Vecima announced that deployment of the Terrace family had commenced at this MSO. “We are pleased to see the swift adoption of our TC600E platform at this leading operator, representing the fifth Tier 1 MSO to commence network-wide deployment with our Terrace family of products,” stated Sumit Kumar, President and CEO. “To date, Vecima has shipped and received orders from this operator totaling approximately $8.6 Million for the TC600E, covering an estimated 40-50 per cent of the operator’s deployment towards their network-wide all digital conversion. A cable operator of this size typically plans to complete the conversion over one to two years followed by a transition to the network fill in phase.” The TC600E platform adds support for MPEG-4 and high definition inputs along with a more than four times increase in input capacity. These added features are attractive to cable operators utilizing MPEG-4 video or who are migrating to more efficient broadcast lineups that limit or completely remove standard definition from the network.

Property from School District 61 The Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD) has entered into an agreement with School District 61 to purchase 950 Kings Road in the City of Victoria. The

NEWS UPDATE

DECEMBER 2015

property is immediately adjacent to The Summit at Quadra Village, a 320-unit residential care facility the CRHD is building at 955 Hillside Avenue for seniors who need complex and dementia care. No specific project has been planned for 950 Kings and the long term development of the property will be subject to further planning and community consultations. In the immediate future, some of the property will be used during construction as a staging ground for construction materials, meeting space and parking for contractors during the development of The Summit. “The acquisition of this property will complement the development of the Summit project and provide strategic value to the CRHD,” said CRHD Chair David Howe.” Hav i ng the abi l ity to acquire land and create partnerships provides the opportunity to develop projects that improve the health and wellbeing of our residents.” “The Board of Education is extremely pleased that this land is being returned to the public trust in perpetuity serving the needs of our broader community within the Greater Victoria area,” said Edith Loring-Kuhanga, Board Chair, School District 61. School District 61 hosted a public information meeting on November 23 to provide background and additional information on the property and the sale. CRHD officials were also be present to speak to the immediate use and longer term strategic value of the property. A public engagement process related to the design of The Summit will begin in December. The Summit will replace Oak Bay Lodge and Mount Tolmie Hospital,

which have reached the end of their functional life as healthcare facilities. The Summit is expected to begin construction in the late summer of 2016 and be completed in the spring of 2019.

THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Mt. Washington ski resort sold to American firm Mount Washington Ski Resort Ltd. has a new owner. Pacific Group Resorts Inc. of Park City, Utah, purchased the company November 3. “Over the past 25 years, George Stuart and his ownership group have invested a tremendous amount of money and energy into Mount Washington,” says Peter Gibson, president and general manager of Mount Washington Alpine Resort. “We are indebted to them for what they have helped us build here. Now it’s their time to retire from the ski business, and we’re pretty pleased with the group they have chosen to sell to.” Mount Washington will be the fourth resort in Pacific Group Resort’s current portfolio. “We are looking forward to working with PGRI to take Mount Washington to the next level with improvements like snowmaking where they have a strong background,” Gibson notes, adding PGRI’s other resorts are in the eastern U.S. and have virtually 100 per cent snowmaking coverage. Mount Washington Alpine Resort was opened in 1979 by two Campbell River businessmen, Henry Norie and Alex Linton. In 1989, the founders sold their interests to George Stuart and a group of shareholders who invested into the resort by upgrading lifts, adding terrain and base area buildings, and investing in infrastructure and roads.

ESQUIMALT RJ SENKO

s another year draws to a close it is important to look back on the year that was to see what we accomplished and how close we came to meeting or exceeding our goals – both personally and professionally. For the Board of the Esquimalt Chamber it was a busy year. Following the election of a mostly new Board at the March AGM, we got down to business with our inaugural meeting in April. At that meeting we established a goal of reinvigorating the Chamber in order to better serve our members. Our monthly “Coffee and a Danish” (the first Thursday of every month) has proven popular and has given the Board an opportunity to hear first-hand from our members about their businesses and how the Chamber can best advocate on their behalf. As a result of what we heard at these events we: upgraded our website and its content (work is currently underway to create a “Members Only” page; offered an evening networking event, hosted by Meghan Major at the Royal Bank, as part of Small Business Week; and

followed that up with a Fraud Seminar to help business owners identify fraud and protect against it. Of course it takes money to run events and provide services to our members so this year in addition to operating the Langos booth at Buccaneer Days we tried something new. Under the guidance of Director Stephanie Ritchie from Cooper Financial, we hosted our first ever Arts and Antiques Appraisal at the English Inn. For a first attempt, we were very pleased with the outcome and plans are in the works to do this again. On the advocacy front, the Board was part of the Mayor’s Committee on Economic Development, which reported out to Council this spring. Since that time Chamber representatives have been regular attendees at Council meetings in order to ensure Council maintains economic development as a top priority. To that end, we have provided input on the pending Esquimalt Road Urban Design Guidelines and have asked to be consulted as the process unfolds. We have also requested to be part of Council’s upcoming Official Community Plan update. Finally, as a way to thank all our members and share the holiday spirit we are holding a Christmas Social on December 9. Invitations have been sent to all members and the Board looks forward to seeing you there. RJ Senko is a Vice-President at the Esquimalt Chamber and President of RJStrategies. He can be reached at 250-888-3534.

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WESTSHORE/SAANICH PENINSULA

DECEMBER 2015

WHERE WE’VE BEEN AND WHERE WE’RE GOING

WEST SHORE JULIE LAWLOR

joined the WestShore Chamber in January and while I’ve been in post some months

now, in many ways I still feel very much l i ke the new kid. Every day I have an opportunity to learn more about people, places and projects and it’s one of the things that I love about the job. The other thing I enjoy is the diversity – West Shore Chamber members range from home-based businesses to big retail stores, from non-profits making a difference in our community to all five of our municipalities – Colwood, Langford, the Highlands, Metchosin and View Royal. 2015 has been a year of financial recovery for the WestShore Chamber, as we have worked

sustainability of business and com munity life on the West Shore. The big question then is how do we do this? Where do we best put our efforts to support and promote a robust and healthy economy and community working from our members outwards, and from larger issues inwards to our members? On the latter point, the WestShore Chamber has joined forces with all of the chambers and municipalities across the Capital Region in 2015 to consider a new model for economic development which will bring benefit to everyone. The completion of the WestShore

through debts from 2014 and earlier. While we’re not at the end of this process yet, we’ve made a lot of progress. Side by side with this has been consideration of what the Chamber provides to our members and the role we play within the community. We’ve continued to review and - I hope people feel – improve upon what we do and how we communicate. However these have mostly been smaller changes, bit by bit, rather than a significant grappling with the Chamber’s vision. T he WestShore Cha mber’s current vision is to advance t he g row t h, prosper ity a nd

Chamber’s Labour Market Partnership (LMP) study provides one piece of this, and is available on the Chamber website at westshore.bc.ca I look forward to having many more conversations about the “how” of the WestShore Chamber in the weeks and months ahead, and welcome feedback in the meantime! Julie Lawlor is the Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at 250-478-1130 or jlawlor@ westshore.bc.ca

WHAT IS BUYING LOCAL?

SAANICH PENINSULA DENNY WARNER

h a rbi nger of t he approaching holiday shopping season is the proliferation of i n it i a t ive s e n c o u raging consumers to Buy Local. The desire to keep our dollars in the community and support local businesses or at least give local businesses preferent ia l t reat ment is u ndersta ndable. But while well-intentioned, d o t h e s e e f fo r t s m a k e sense given how our economy functions? First consider the complex ity i n determ i n i ng w h a t “ l o c a l” a c t u a l ly means. For example, is a business “local” if the

ow ner l ives i n a nother p r o v i n c e o r c o u n t r y? W hat about a franchise location that is pa rt of a n i nternationa l cha i n where the franchisee lives in your community, belongs to the Rotary Club and sponsors your child’s hockey team? T he l i nes we d raw to delineate the target geog raph ic a rea c a n seem a r b i t ra r y. T h e G re a ter Victoria (Econom ic) Development Agency has shown that income is often earned in a different municipality from where it is spent a nd that citizens are regional consumers of amenities. This information presents a clear case for taking a regional approach to economic development and contra-indicates a strict “buy local” approach. A n i mp or t a nt role of your Chamber is to create a sense of community and mutual support between bu si nesses i n their area. We offer network i ng oppor tu n ities to d e v e l o p n e w c o ntacts a nd streng then

relationships with existing clients and businesses. We offer several tools for promoting your business and are available to provide counsel on best practices. We encourage “member f i rst” t h i n king when considering a p u rc h a s e b e c a u s e o u r members are invested in providing value to their clients. Increasing local options for consumers will result in drawing new customers from elsewhere while also securing local patronage. T he proposed Sid ney Gateway Project is an example of such an opportunity. The development of com mercia l space w i l l add va r iety to t he marketplace and lessen the probability residents will venture outside the boundaries of the Saanich Peninsula to do their shopping. Denny Warner is Executive Director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. She can breached at 250-656-3616 or

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BBB Announces Torch Award Winners

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Entrepreneur, Forestry/ Wood Products, Green, Health, Hospitality/Tourism, Manufacturer, Ocean Products, Professiona l (legal, accounting, insurance), Real Estate, Retail, Small Business (under 50 employees), Technology, Trades and Business of the Year (over 50 employees). “O n e o f t h e t h i n g s I think is really great about the Business Excellence Awards is how the nominations and the awards are almost even ly split between north and south of the Malahat each year,” says M acDon a ld . “It’s quite amazing how it has worked out, and it shows the strength of the economy on Vancouver Island is not concentrated in only one or two areas.” MacDonald added that m a k i ng it t h rou g h t he nom i nat ion process to become a Finalist offers great marketing opportunities for companies for their recognition in the awards. Last year’s Business of the Year for over 50 Employees was Real Estate Webmasters of Nanaimo.

Real Estate Webmasters i s t h e w o rl d’s l a r ge s t ve nd or of c u s tom a n d sem i-cu stom websites ser v i ng the rea l estate industry in North America. They offer end to end solut ion s for re a ltors, brokers and enterprises in regards to real estate technology and marketing. T hey have 170 employees in their downtown Nanaimo offices. Sma l l Busi ness of the Year for under 50 Employees was Hoyne Brewing Company of Victoria, a small craft brewery focused on quality and integrity that has been in business for over three years. It produces a wide variety of craft beer, prim a r i ly i n t he V ictor i a

area, but also throughout B.C. “Someone might want to nominate a business they believe is worthy of consideration for these awa rds, a nd a l l they n e e d to d o i s e m a i l or call Business Examiner, and the business will be contacted,” explains MacDonald. “Self-nominations are also accepted. It’s a straightforward process, and it doesn’t cost businesses a n y t h i n g to e n te r t h e competition.” For further information about the Business Excellence Awards, visit: www. businessexaminer. ca/events/2016-vancouver-island-business-excellence-awards

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Vancouver Island announced the 2015 Torch Award Winners at the annual awards gala celebration hosted at the Union Club of BC on November 6, with winners coming from across the southern and central Island region. “Congratulations to the following companies that have demonstrated their exemplary commitment to honest and ethical business practices and customer service excellence,” said Rosalind Scott, President and CEO of BBB serving Vancouver Island. The winners of the 2015 Torch Awards included: Construction - X 2 Lewis Modern Home Renovations of Qualicum Beach; Health & Wellness - Comfort Keepers of Victoria; Home Improvement - CBS Masonry of Victoria; Auto Sales & Service Tri City Collision and Repairs Ltd. of Sooke;

Heating & Air Conditioning - Servicexcel of Nanaimo; Movers - Provincial Moving & Storage Ltd. of Victoria; Cleaning Services - Moore’s Cleaning & Maintenance Service of Comox; Plumbing & Drainage Contractors - Andrew Scott Plumbing & Heating of Victoria; Professional Services - Pain Free Tax & Bookkeeping Service of Victoria; Roofing Contractors - Oceanside Roofing Ltd. of Parksville; Installation & Repair - Victoria Tank Service Ltd. of Victoria; Outstanding Employee - Don Strickland of Drainscope.net of Victoria; Community Engagement - M & N Mattress Shop Ltd. of Parksville; 50 Years Accreditation goes to R. Gallazin & Son Ltd. of Nanaimo and Victoria Roofing & Insulation Co. Ltd. of Victoria. To learn more visit the BBB website at: http://www.bbb.org/vancouver-island

GREATER VICTORIA

DECEMBER 2015

MOVING TAX

DECEMBER CHAMBER EVENTS Our Property Transfer Tax was originally intended to affect only five percent of luxury home buyers but now

GREATER VICTORIA

it affects virtually everyone who purchases a home in BC

BRUCE CARTER

hinking of moving? Upsizing, downsizing, changing location – whatever the reason, many of us consider it from time to time. Sometimes the decision to stay is based simply on the cost of the new home. Sometimes it is the cost of the move itself, e.g., reconnection charges, hiring a mover, paying lawyers and realtors, doling out assessments and mortgage transfer fees. For some, paying for moving-related services are palatable, “the cost of doing business,” but add in the BC Property Transfer Tax, and the total expenses outweighs the benefit of moving. The amount of Property Transfer Tax we pay in BC is based on the fair market value of the land

and improvements, e.g., buildings, on the date of registration. The tax is charged at a rate of one percent for the first $200,000 and two percent for the portion of the fair market value that is greater than $200,000. For example, if you purchased a single

family home in Saanich October 2015, then – using Victoria Real Estate Board benchmark of $561,400 – you would have paid $9,228 in Property Transfer Taxes to the BC Government. Our Property Transfer Tax was originally intended to affect only five percent of luxury home buyers (based on the 1987 average home price in Vancouver of just under $150,000) but now it affects virtually everyone who purchases a home in BC. Critics of the tax argue that increasing real estate values have distorted the original purpose of the Property Transfer Tax Act. However, making adjustments to the land transfer tax system and maintaining critically important tax dollars, at the same time, has presented a long-standing conundrum for legislators. There is work underway. For example, the BC Chamber of Commerce is lobbying the Province to provide a grant for primary residence and to increase the th reshold for fi rst-ti me home buyers. The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has recommended the BC Government review the Property Transfer Tax to look for opportunities in the 2016 Budget to assist first-time

• Tuesday, December 8 Chair’s Holiday Reception - 5 pm to 7 pm Craigdarroch Castle

• Thursday, January 21 Business Mixer - 5 pm to 7 pm University of Victoria

• Thursday, January 14 Prodigy Group Mingle - 5 pm to 7 pm To be confirmed

• Tuesday, January 26 Merchant Services De-Mystified - Noon to 1 pm Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

homebuyers. Phasing out the harmful Property Transfer Tax could have significant positive impacts in our economy.

Bruce Carter is CEO of Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and can reached at 250-383-7191 or bcarter@victoriachamber.ca www.victoriachamber.ca

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DECEMBER 2015

CULTURE THE KEY FOR GROWTH AT CAPITAL CITY “Businesses need to have Serial entrepreneur leverages diverse background to drive growth

a reason to exist beyond making money. If your employees think their

IDNEY – “I knew what the end of the story was,” says Mark Wyatt, President of Capital City Fire & Safety, on his decision to leave a career in education. “I was looking for something with a new challenge and experience around every corner, and I found it in business. There is something really special about being able to take advantage of an opportunity or situation, and have no limit on how big it can grow, or whom it can serve. The journey I’m on now has an ending that I can’t predict, and I couldn’t be happier.” Just two and a half years after purchasing Capital City, which specializes in fire systems inspection, design and installation, the company’s customer base has grown by more than 70 per cent. A n ach ievement Wyatt attributes to a focused corporate vision, capable and dedicated staff, and a diverse background including the aforementioned tenure in education, time in real estate development, and a role as captain of Canada’s national rugby team. Those experiences have given him crucial skills that now contribute to a management style centered on a deep understanding of personal relationships and team dynamics. “Whether I’ve led one, built one, or been a part of one in business or sports, teams have played an integral role in my life,” he says. “I’ve leveraged the concepts I’ve learned throughout my career to build a strong corporate culture within the company, one with a unified vision. There’s an overall purpose to everything that we do, much like you’d find on the field or at the rink. “In order to be successful over the long-term, businesses need

only purpose is to drive profit margins, then you as the employer are going to have challenges in getting the most out of them.”

to have a reason to exist beyond making money. If your employees think their only purpose is to drive profit margins, then you as the employer are going to have challenges in getting the most out of them. Having that sense of fulfillment and meaning is a vital part of running a company that’s going to prosper. The team that’s in place now is focused on becoming the best in our industry; they’ve bought into the bigger picture and the results speak for themselves.” Throughout the Greater Victoria a rea, Capita l City has quickly become known as one of the leading providers of fire safety services and equipment, a fact that Wyatt credits to his company’s dedication to quality and dependability. “It doesn’t matter what kind of business you look at,” he says. “There’s always a separation in the market in terms of a provider’s level of service and competency, and it’s our goal to be the premier brand in our sector. Whether it’s the way we treat our customers, the skill level of the people we hire, or the aesthetics of a completed job site, we want to put our best foot forward. “Property management compa n ies a nd bu i ld i ng ow ners

Capital City Fire & Safety staff in front of their new location

An example of Capital City’s ability to incorporate their systems with building design

A Capital City’s fire safety system that’s been blended with the building’s features

know that when they ask us to do something, it’s going to get done, on time and on budget. And the reason we’re able to provide this consistent, high level of service is the Capital City staff. Each employee is a high performer who takes pride in what they do, knowing that they’re contributing to the overall vision.” Complimenting the company’s focus on service and quality is

an emphasis on continuing education. Wyatt cites the importance of being in a constant state of learning as a critical piece of his success so far. Fire safety is a complex industry that is always evolving, with service and equipment providers required to abide by municipal, provincial and national building codes. Capital City works with a team of engineers to design

customized solutions for its customers, ensuring the highest possible quality standards are met with every project. One of the key areas of focus in design is to strategically blend the systems with overall building aesthetics. Fire safety systems are typically quite visible and can have a dramatic impact on a structure’s look and feel. The company also specializes in upgrading older buildings, many of which have systems that have been ‘grandfathered’ to code. However, when those systems fail, a new one that aligns with the current building codes must be installed. These situations are often complicated, and must be dealt with in an efficient manner, as they have a direct impact on the safety of building tenants and occupants. Wyatt was born in Bermuda, and arrived in Victoria when he was six years old. He completed his secondary education at Oak Bay High School, and received his post-secondary undergraduate, and graduate degrees from the University of Victoria. www.capitalcityfire.ca

Congratulations CAPITAL CITY FIRE & SAFETY on your smoking success!

Commercial & Residential fire alarm and protection systems, inspections, and upgrades

16 - 2075 Henry Avenue Sidney BC, V8L 1T2

250-727-8159 capitalcityfire.ca

Commercial Banking 2640 Douglas St Victoria BC V8T 4M1

250-385-6313

Toll Free: 1-866-385-6313

Wishing Capital City Fire and Safety continued success into 2016 250-356-4439 1175 Douglas Street, 2nd Floor Victoria BC V8W 2E1

www.cibc.com

JONES EMERY HARGREAVES SWAN LLP BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, TRADEMARK AGENTS 1212-1175 DOUGLAS STREET, VICTORIA • (250) 382 7222

PLANNED GIVING

DECEMBER 2015

PLANNED GIVING Planned giving net tax credits for donor Planned giving can involve having a charity as beneficiary of donor’s life insurance policy

Amber Adams of Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation said only 7 per cent of Canadians will give a gift to charity BETH HENDRY-YIM

IC T OR I A – Giv i n g i s good, no matter which way you look at, but there is a difference between g iv i ng to a ch a r ity, ph i l a nthropy and planned giving. A lt hou g h ph i l a nt h rop y i s any act of giving time or gifts to a ch a r ity or i nd iv idu a l s, planned giving involves a gift or bequest that has involved careful consideration, planning and could also involve a financial planner and estate planning lawyer. A mber Ada ms, d i rector of donor rel at ion s for t he Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation a nd cha i r of the C e n t r a l Va n c o u v e r I s l a n d LE AV E A LEGACY Com m ittee, said that approximately 80 per cent of Canadians give in some way to a charity, but only about seven per cent plan on leaving a gift to a charity in their will.

You don’t have to be rich to leave a gift to a charity AMBER ADAMS DIRECTOR DONOR RELATIONS, NANAIMO & DISTRICT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Sara Neely said that a community foundation offers several options for giving

Amber Adams said LEAVE A LEGACY raises awareness of the charitable gift in estate planning

“Many Canadians think that leaving a bequest to a charity is for ‘philanthropists’ and that if they leave a gift to a charity there will be less left behind for the family,” she said. “You don’t have to be rich to leave a gift to a charity.” Gay Wise, ow ner Wise

Financisl Insurance, said that pl a n ned g iv i ng c a n i nvolve giving while the donor is living or in their will. “For assets that have appreci ated t here ca n be sig n i f icant taxable gain. When willed to a charity before the donor passes, the giver benefits from

PLANNED GIVING

DECEMBER 2015

getting donation tax credits on the full market value.” She added that it ca n a lso i nvolve using a life insurance policy as a philanthropic gesture. “The donor pays on a life insurance pol icy where the benef icia r y is the charity.” Sara Neely, director of philanthropic serv ices at the Victoria Foundation (VF) said that life insurance leverages a large gift with a relatively nominal contribution from the donor’s discretionary income. She added that donors can either transfer ownership of the policy directly to the charity and name it as beneficiary and receive annual donation receipts for the prem iums paid or name the charity as beneficiary only and the estate receives the donation receipt. She also said that a community foundation offers several options for giving. “When donors already give to several charities through annual gifts, using a n u mbrel la orga n i zation to faci l itate that ongoing support can ensure the legacy continues before and after death.” She said that VF works with seniors who get regular calls from charities, they want to give to each of them, but it can sometimes get overwhelming. “A foundation like VF makes it possible for donors to give one donation, establish a fund in their name and then provide a recommendation to the foundation for g ra nts to thei r favou rite causes. With a minimum of $10,000, the fou ndation acts as a stewa rd of the fund that will immediately begin generating returns for granting out.

Neely said that the Victoria Foundation, for example, grants an average of a million dollars a month, supporting hundreds of organizations a year following the recommendations of fund holders. Grants are made to qualified organizations, many of which reside in the capital region, and are made across five fields of interest: arts and culture, community services, education, environment, and health and recreation. Adams advised that a planned giving agreement and/or will are both very personal documents and as such should be based solely on the values and opinions of the individual. “I s u g ge s t goi n g to a l aw yer who specia l izes i n estate pla n n i ng, that way when you discuss leaving a gift in your will to a charity, the law yer is well acquainted with the necessary terminology and legalities.” Adams also said it’s a good idea to let the charity know about the planned gift in advance, not only so it can ensure the wording in the document is correct but also to prepare for the gift. Most importantly, letting the charity know about the donation a l lows it a chance to say thank you while the donor is still living, and share information about the impact the charity is making to the community. Although Adams stresses that donors take care of family first, she said leavi ng someth i ng to a cha rity serves a dual purpose. “Leaving a gift in a will not only feels good, but it also inspires family and friends by showing a special level of care about what happens to the world after the donor is no longer in it.”

Help create a better future for everyone touched by cancer. Discovery needs willing partners. When your client remembers the BC Cancer Foundation in their will, they’ll be supporting world-renowned research in BC that is shaping the future of cancer care. Please be sure to use the full legal name of our organization:

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LEGACY GIVING – THROUGH A DONOR’S EYES Gifts are from the heart

f ter ta l k i ng to donors for 2 0 years, I know that some wa nt to have a n immediate impact; others want to leave a longer-lasting imprint on their favourite charity. I ’m a l s o a d o n o r. I g i v e a month ly g i f t, but I’m a lso a b equest donor to don ate to my university and the Saanich Peninsula Hospital. T h e d e c i s i o n s w e re e a s y : my undergraduate university changed my life, with its intimate learning environment. T he Saanich Peninsula Hospital, coincidentally, has many similar features. It’s warm and neighbourly, providing compassionate care to friends and family. It w a s to u c h i n g w h e n m y friend entered Palliative Care with the attitude that her life m ig ht be com i ng to a n end, b ut t he pa r t y wa sn’t. Hospital staff supported her and to l e ra te d m u c h : t h e re w a s the day 15 members of her extended family participated in

Karen Morgan is Executive Director at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foudation a sing-a-long with the music therapist. Later she hosted a slumber party with her nieces. Then, even later, she decided that her life was going end at home. Hospital staff helped her source equipment and supplies. My bequests are gifts from the hea r t. T hey’re rationa l, but even more, they make me happy (it also doesn’t hurt that, according to recent research, giving reduces the odds of an early death by nearly 60 per cent!).

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COMMERCIAL INSURANCE

DECEMBER 2015

COMMERCIAL INSURANCE

Interruption to revenue could mean business is dead in water Commercial insurance policies assess risk and protect clients at all levels BETH HENDRY-YIM

ICTORIA – Commercial insurance cou ld b e one of the most valuable items a business owns. It could mean the difference between having a business after disaster strikes or not. Joanne Freelund, CIP, of Real Insurance i n Na n a i mo, sa id t he right policy can protect not only the business’s building or physical work space but also the contents, including valuable equipment and/or stock. “Building the right insurance product starts w ith the physical or real property,” she said. “From there you can add

th i ngs l i ke boi ler a nd maintenance coverage for heating, cooling and electrical or theft of cash, stock or revenue.” H o w e v e r, F r e e l u n d stressed that, although in many cases insurance for physical property is mandatory, business owners don’t often think of insuring against loss of income. “I nterr upt ion of i ncome can be from fire or water damage or a sewer back-up; either way bills still need to be paid, even when the business is closed or undergoing r e p a i r s ,” s h e a d d e d . “Start by looking at the building and contents, but then look at what happens when business is interrupted.”

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Gord Brownridge said the north offers up unique insurance needs Once the policy is in place, Freelund said, the business should get annual reassessment to ensure adequate coverage. Has revenue changed? Has the company purchased new equipment? Are there any new employees? “Over time a business evolves a nd ex pa nd s, introducing new products or services, making new purchases and altering or adding to the business’s building or location. Going over the policy yearly catches those changes and ensures the business is covered.” Freelund, who caters to the restaurant business, said that loss of income can also come from stock shrinkage. Christopher Rigg, CIP, BA, senior vice president, Capri Insurance Services in Kelowna, who works closely with religious institutions and property developers said that liability insurance is needed throughout the cycle of a business. “For property developers, whether a project is large or small, liability starts with the bare land.” A newly purchased piece of land may be used by neighbours for walking their dogs or by children riding bikes; either way, R igg said the owner is responsible if something happens on it. “It doesn’t matter if you are liable or not, people may still sue you,” he said. For Rigg, more than half of his clientele are religious institutions and they

Chris Rigg said liability insurance is needed throughout the cycle of a development project

Joanne Freelund works in Nanaimo at Real Insurance Solutions

incur unique and complex liability. “In a church you have elderly people who may slip and fall and youth groups who may get inju red wh i le play i ng sports,” he said, adding that both demographics have a h igher risk i ncidence and need to be considered when underwriting a policy. G ord Brow n r idge of Brow n r idge & Company Insurance in Prince George said that the north offers up unique and area-specific clientele. “I work w ith a lot of tradespeople, contractors, and transportation companies. Their insurance needs are location-specific but can also require floater policies for their property and liability needs.” Most businesses work in a set location, he explained, but tradespeople, especially electricians and plumbers are more mobile, working in several locations in one day. Their insurance needs must travel with them, covering tools, vehicle and the area they are working in. “For a restaurant or retail outlet, damage to the premises and interruption of work could mean that business is shut down for months, literally dead in the water, with no income, because of this, carrying busi ness i nterruption insurance to replace that lost income is every bit as important as insuring the building and its contents” Brownridge, with more than 25 years in the

industry, said one of the most important aspects of commercial insurance for his clientele is keeping him up-to-date on new equipment purchases and accurate replacement costs. “Making sure a piece of property, a vehicle, a tool or equipment is appraised for its full value, year after year, protects the owner if there is a claim.” When looking for the right insurance broker who can match the appropriate product to business owner, Brownridge said to look for experience and education. He said the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada sets the industry standards and its provincial counterpart provides localized support and education. “Provincial licensing requires brokers to have a basic designation like a Certified Insurance Professional or CIP. With it, brokers get more in-depth education in dealing with claims and underwriting.” They have been in the industry for a combined three quarters of a century, yet Rigg, Brownridge and Freelund have not lost their enthusiasm for the business. Each sees their expertise as providing a valuable service of protection and security. Freelund said that, for her the insurance industry is an honourable profession, one with many heart warming moments, especially after a disaster when a client thinks they have no way back and she shows them they do.

DECEMBER 2015

40 YEARS

1976 Simpson Insurance first established in Victoria

1999 Simpson Insurance (Victoria) joins VIIC

2015 August 31, Relocated Victoria office to Shelbourne Village Square November 9, VIIC opens second office on Quadra St

VI INSURANCE CENTRES RAISE PROFILE IN VICTORIA

ancouver Island Insurance Centres has reason to celebrate w ith two new offices i n Victoria a nd improved accessibility for all clients. Tony Hayes, CEO VIIC, said that the new Quadra St. location caters to a busy clientele who benefit from extended afterwork-hours and ample parking, while the Shelbourne Village Square location has increased its size and visibility.

“We have a large presence in the central and north Vancouver Island region and wanted to better serve our Victoria clientele,” Hayes said. “Our offices strive to make the purchase of insurance convenient,” he added. “Our new locations in Victoria will be open extended week day hours, all day Saturday and our Shelbourne location is even open on Sundays.” Wit h speci a l ex per t i se i n

commercial insurance, both locations cater to the business community but also offer a wide variety of insurance products for car, marine, farm, house, life, travel, medical, group, employee benefits and even pet insurance. T he V I IC bra nd i s h i g h ly recognizable. With 15 locations from Port Hardy to Victoria it is the largest independently owned insurance brokerage firm on the island. “We place coverage with the

major Canadian insurers and have direct access to international markets, allowing us to customize insurance to fit the needs of our clients at a price that is competitive.” Brokers are available to answer questions by phone or email and the website has a ‘quick quote’ function which allows clients to enter a small amount of information and/or a question to have a local broker respond promptly.

Community focused and strong core values As a community focused business, VIIC supports education through annual student bursaries and community sponsorship. In 2015 VIIC staff voted to support wheels for Wellness and local Hospice Societies. With the assistance of Gore Mutual Insurance, VIIC donated $10,000 to Wheels for Wellness to purchase a new vehicle that is used to transport island residents to medical services located outside of their home community.

VIIC also coordinated with Wawanesa Insurance to donate $10,000 to the Campbell River Hospice Building Fund which will see a Hospice Centre built next to the new hospital. In addition, VIIC has contributed over $100,000 to local community initiatives and non-profit support groups as well as countless volunteer hours. “Our company is made up of like-minded brokers who banded together to create a better

product and service. This history and employee ownership has helped build an organization with strong core values, community focus, entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep desire to make sure our clients are protected.” Hayes said.

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WESTSHORE

12 COMMUNITY IN

DECEMBER 2015

WESTSHORE

West Shore projects give region optimism for economic growth Municipal leaders, First Nations chiefs and members of the public attend economic summit to discuss pooling resources BETH HENDRY-YIM

xtending from Esquimalt Harbour to Rocky Point along the shore of Juan de Fuca Strait, the West Shore includes the communities of View Roya l, L a ng ford, Colwood, Metchosin and the Highlands. It’s a diverse area with a mix of suburban, urban, rural and municipal, regional and provincial parkland. In 2011 the population of the West Shore was just over 60,000 with a third of that living in Langford. Though traditionally the region served as residential centers for those working in Victoria, city mayors are looking to drive economic development to the region to encourage and support living, working and shopping in these

“We’re hoping that participants realize that together we achieve more.” CAROL HAMILTON MAYOR, COLWOOD

core communities. Projections show the West Shore growing by 31 per cent over the SEE WEST SHORE | PAGE 14

Doug Kobayashi said new activity is creating a sense of optimism in region

Mayor Screech said View Royal is focused on revitalization CREDIT:DAVID SCREECH

CREDIT:DOUG KOBAYASHI

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ANGFORD – For Dean Ford, business is heating up. And cooling down. After all, his Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning is all about improving air conditions in businesses and homes, for every type of heating and cooling system. The successful HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) franchise has been operating in the Westshore since 2006. Their list of services for commercial customers includes air conditioner and furnace repair, replacement and maintenance. On the heating side of the business, they do furnace and heater repair, replacement and maintenance, and in cooling, repair, replacement and maintenance of air conditioning units. Unlike a lot of similar businesses, Aire Serv charges by the job, not the hour, and their team is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “If an HVAC repair is needed, we give clients all of their options so they will know the price before

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we start and can decide what is right for them,” says Ford, adding they service or repair all brands of heating and air conditioning. “Our clean, professional technicians set clients at ease, and we guarantee to do the work right the first time.” Ford says the company concentrates on adding a personal touch to its services. “When customers invite Aire Serv into their homes, they encounter not only expertly-trained technicians, but also people who are trained to deliver a tailored and unique service experience,”

he notes. “This includes treating the customer and their home with respect. We enjoy our work and it shows! “Every customer’s individual needs are important to us at Aire Serv,” Ford adds. “Our focus of providing heating, air conditioning and indoor air quality services combined, with worldclass personnel have made us the first choice of many residential and commercial clients.” Ford notes that AireServ lives by its code of values: Respect, integrity, customer focus and having fun in the process. Aire Serv, established in 1992, now has over 180 f ra nch ises throughout North America and was ranked number one in its category for 2009 by Entrepreneur magazine, and has been recognized more than 20 times in various categories in the past 10 years. Aire Serv is a subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc., one of the world’s largest franchise-holding companies of franchised service business with more than 1,100 franchise businesses in North America and 24 foreign countries. AireServ Heating & Air Conditioning is at 1985 Millstream Road in Victoria. www.aireserv.ca

WESTSHORE

DECEMBER 2015

THE MARKET ON MILLSTREAM: A FAMILY FIRM SUCCESS STORY WITH DEEP ROOTS Supporting local growers and suppliers

ANGFORD – The Market on Millstream is a familyowned and operated business with deep, deep roots in the Vancouver Island grocery industry. Darryl and Christine Hein oversee the 30,000 square foot Market on Millstream in Langford, which opened in 2006, and the 20,000 Market on Yates, opened in 1999 in downtown Victoria by Christine’s father, Ernie Skinner, an industry icon and the cofounder of Thrifty Foods with Alex Campbell. Both stories have been tremendous success stories. Ernie Skinner’s history in the grocery business goes back to 1955, and in 1977, he and Alex Campbell started Thrifty Foods. Christine, Ernie’s daughter, got into the business in 1980, and Darryl in 1987. He had previously worked in the restaurant industry and Safeway in Banff before moving to Victoria. Ern ie reti red from T h ri f ty Foods in 1991, although Hein notes “he always intended to get back into the industry, but we would do so as a family,” thus the creation of Market on Yates eight years later.

Darryl and Christine Hein “We are hands-on operators,” says Hein, who runs both stores with Christine, while Ernie, who has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, offers g u ida nce to the operations. “There is family in both stores virtually the whole time the store is open,” Hein says. “I’m involved in the day-to-day details. I don’t think you can beat that. And I’m always connected via cell phone. We live it, and breathe it.” The Market stores could be described as “boutique” style outlets. “T hey a re h igh-end stores with very good pricing,” Hein

observes. “We spend thousands of dollars and hours to make sure we are competitively priced.” Hein adds that the quality of items found in the Market stores is on the high side, yet competitively priced. He describes it as the difference of “what you pay for and get in terms of the quality of a steak at a high end steak house is not what you’d pay for and get at a lower-end restaurant.” S o , w h a t ’s p o p u l a r w i t h customers? “Fresh is always top of mind,” he notes. “The Gluten-free trend is cont i nu i ng on. T he West Coast leads the country in its demand for organic and natural

products.” The Market stores focus on supporting local growers and suppliers wherever possible, and Island-grown products are popular with customers. Hein names Gobind Farms, Farmer Ben’s eggs from Duncan, Tree Island Yogurt and Second Crack Coffee as a small sample of Island suppliers whose products are sold in their outlets. Hein says they’re constantly doing market research concerning products and operations, visiting other stores in Canada and the United States, and regularly attending industry trade shows to source out new products. “I look at Whole Foods as a store that sets the pace, and some people view us as a bigger version of Trader Joe’s stores in the States,” he says. “Business has been good here in Langford, but there have been

challenges,” Hein notes. “There was the 2008 downturn, Bear Mountain came to a standstill, but we’ve moved forward and onward.” T he popu la rity of the Victoria-area stores has the owners looking at expansion, possibly f u rther north on Va ncouver Island. “We’re looking at a couple of opportunities, as we want to expand,” he adds. Hein notes that the values that Skinner and Campbell instilled at Thrifty Foods have carried over to The Market stores, resulting in a highly competent and loyal staff. Combined, the stores have 240 employees. “We have well qualified, experienced staff working for us. We pride ourselves on treating our staff very well, which is a win-win for our staff, and us,” he says. “The secret to our success is our staff. “Our staff are well paid in the industry, and we have very little turnover.” Hein adds: “Customers are our number one priority. We’ve grown up with this philosophy: Treat your customers great, and everything falls into place from there.” T he Market On Millstream is at 2401 Millstream Road in Langford. www.themarketstores.com

Do we worry about being labeled? Nope. In fact, we’re proud to be an independent, locally owned and family-run grocery store. And we love hearing from our customers when we deliver a ‘wow’ experience, whether it’s employee engagement or brand experience. When you love food, it starts and ends with us.

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DECEMBER 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

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next 11 years and an increased job market demand of more than 14,000 jobs by 2022, with the highest demand in the health field. Doug Kobayashi, president of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, said that throughout the West Shore new activity, developments and finished projects are creating a sense of optimism. “I’m seeing an increase in the number of small businesses moving into the region, with some migrating from Victoria.” He said that with more real estate choice it’s a good time to relocate, especially with all the amenities the region offers like sports centres, beaches and parks. He added that affordability is a big draw for younger families, who also bring businesses. Attracting diverse business was the focus of a regional economic development summit held on November 7. The meeting was attended by mayors, First Nation chiefs and members of the private sector and included discussions on potential partnerships and collaboration between the communities.

David Screech, mayor of View Royal, said that it was time to collectively promote the region to increase prosperity, jobs and growth. Mayor of Colwood, Carol Hamilton, said 13 municipalities were involved in discussions around the benefits of collaboration and the pooling of resources. “Everyone wants economic development,” she said. “We’re hoping that participants realize that together we achieve more.” Mayor Stewart Young, who has held his mayoral position of Langford for the past 23 years, said that he and his council are supporting business by removing bureaucratic barriers. He added that support from residents is vital. “Langford has come into its own. Business is flourish i ng, we have strong community involvement, we’re continuously looking at what we’re getting right, and we continue to be goal oriented. We’ve gone from a three per cent tax revenue base from business to 21 per cent,” he said adding that the city’s businesses are helping to improve neighbourhoods and achieve the city’s objectives. He added that ten years

ago he and his council set a goal of becoming a recreational tourism destination. With the increased tax revenue they were able to stay on track, building t he faci l it ies a nd supporting the development of national training centers for Olympic hopefuls in rugby in the City Centre Park as well as in tennis, mountain cross biking and golf at Bear Mountain Resort Community. “It’s excit i ng for ou r young families and their kids. They don’t have to drive far to see world class athletic events,” Young said. Screech added that his community is focusing on revitalization, especially along a six km strip that includes the View Royal Casino. “It’s our primary area for redevelopment.” View Royal is just seve n k m w e s t o f d o w ntown Victoria. It has been traditionally a bedroom community to Victoria. However, Screech and his council are looking to create more neighbourhoods where residents can live and work within the community, in nodes similar to SEE WEST SHORE | PAGE 15

WESTSHORE

DECEMBER 2015

WEST SHORE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

Eagle Creek Village. Located across from Victoria General Hospital, this newly completed development features office and retail space, medical clinics, a 60-unit residential complex, condominiums and an adjoining three-acre nature park. “The village fits the city’s bigger picture of developing walkable residential nodes,” Screech said. He added that the medical offices compliment the hospital, and the village anchor, Quality Foods, and a variety of restaurants, provide convenience and accessibility. Colwood is a lso seei ng the completion of long term projects. The Holiday Inn Express and Suites recently opened on Wale Road and is part of the Wansbrough family’s development plan sitting on 3.85 acres that has been in the family for decades. The project includes an adjoining apartment complex, retail space, Lee Valley Tools, an artisan market and Coast Collective Art Centre. “When the Legacy Apartments opened it was full, with a wait list,” Hamilton said, speaking to the desirability of the area and high demand for affordable housing. Colwood is one of the fastest growing communities in the region, Hamilton said, despite having suffered during the economic

downturn. She added that businesses are taking notice of the growth. Construction activity is set to resume at Colwood Corners early in 2016, which Onni Group Developments has redesigned to be a mixed-use, high density centre. Across the street, Rexall Drugs has increased its store size and though it’s a small presence it has increased its staff by 20 employees, and London Drugs now has a 65,000 sq ft retail store. It’s all part of the downtown revitalization that Hamilton said will bring new vibrancy to the heart of Colwood. “We have a strategic plan with specific objectives for attracting new business, enhancing our public spaces and encouraging active transportation,” Hamilton said, adding that the plan includes input from major stakeholders and residents and identification of specific projects at their various stages of development. Royal Bay Community, a development of bcIMC, is a waterfront property of 419 acres. It will be a mixed-use, master-planned c o m m u n i t y t o o v e r 7,0 0 0 residents with a build-out of more than 2,500 homes and will include retail space, restaurants and cafes as well as open spaces, parks and trail connections. Within the community the new state-of-theart Royal Bay Secondary School opened its doors to 800 students in September of 2015. H a m i lton s a id t h e d e s i g n

incorporates the aspects of a healthy active community with sidewalks safely separated from vehicle traffic and buffered bike lanes that encourage people to walk or cycle. “It will set the standard for road design in Royal Bay and future enhancements throughout Colwood,” she added. At the region’s economic summit, held on November 7, recent research showed that the region’s GDP growth had dropped from 4th to 27th compared to Canada’s large city regions. Currently, municipalities invest less than $1 per capita in regional economic development, compared to Nanaimo and Vancouver which invest $4 per capita.

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15 Hamilton said collaboration between municipalities is proven successful, based on evidence from other Canadian regional models. For each of the communities, future growth and job creation in targeted sectors combined with innovative SEE WEST SHORE | PAGE 16

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AIRCOAL SYSTEM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

‘freshen’ the air at all but in reality pollute it with chemicals. Aircoal is just the opposite of what are misnamed as air fresheners, Aircoal actually cleans air.” In November, Aircoal launched in 16 locations across Victoria including all Fairway Markets, Market on Yates and Market on Millstream assisted by his agent Roger Kwano of JBM Management Group and in conjunction with their distributor, Johnston Wholesale for a total of 30 Island retailers. “Prior to this our energies and resources were spent in R&D and in package design. We do all of our own product-testing and packaging at our facility in Nanaimo. We test marketed our initial products through Nanaimo health stores, trade shows and Amazon Fulfillment. The input we received aided in honing our brand identity and provided me with the direct feedback that I used to design and produce the product as you see it on the shelves today - which we’ve really only had finalized since February 2015. Everything completed up until now has really just been our own organic way of getting to this point. We expect to have sold about 5,000 units by year’s end, but the larger distribution has only just begun with this Victoria launch. Based on initial

As charcoal is a biochar fertilizer, once used up the contents of the Aircoal system can be worked into a garden to aid plant growth sales figures we are gearing up to double our points of distribution in February 2016 to include the Lower Mainland,” he said. The bamboo charcoal used in Tio’s product line comes from China, as the Chinese have mastered the technology used to produce the charcoal over centuries of use. “Through the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), the European Union has been partnered with China since 2012 to set up bamboo plantations for charcoal production in Africa as a renewable, clean-burning cooking fuel which in turn saves their local old growth forests,” he said. “The African pilot project is a relatively new venture and the production of bamboo charcoal in this region is still experiencing growing pains, but I’ve made a

commitment to my family (his wife Trang and their four children) as well as to our customers on behalf of Aircoal to grow a North American demand for bamboo charcoal in order to support the development of a viable trade with areas such as Africa. This will provide a better return than if it were used or sold as biomass fuel alone. I want Aircoal to be in a position to assist in the technical and economic development of a bamboo charcoal industry, specifically in this area of the world,” Tio states. What started as a naive investigation into healthy odor control solutions for his family’s home has taken shape over the past few years into a locally designed, scent-free air freshening product made of bamboo charcoal aimed at challenging the public’s popular definition of what constitutes an air freshener. That initial dream has now evolved into a company quickly making inroads into the marketplace, on Vancouver Island and soon beyond. “The difficulty in promoting a scent-free product is it is you can’t demonstrate what it does on the spot like you can upon opening traditional scented products. But stick this item by your cooking area when frying bacon in the morning for example and by the afternoon that greasy smell is gone. Once you start using Aircoal you’ll find it’s naturally pretty amazing.”

DECEMBER 2015

WEST SHORE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

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ANGFORD – Windsor Plywood first opened its doors in the Westshore in 1988. The Windsor team has been helping customers with their own doors – and floors and other items – ever since. “Windsor Plywood has its own in store Door Shop that can handle most scenarios,” notes Michael Hanson, who has owned and managed the store since 1995. “We specialize in custom-sized doors to fit almost every opening. “Whether it’s exterior doors or interior, Windsor makes it work, and within budget.” Hanson notes that even though there are now so many door styles available today, “the standard Shaker doors are certainly making a big comeback, and wall mounted barn door looks are the answer to many do-it-yourself problems. There’s no framing, no painting. . .just attach the rail system and hang the your door of choice. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.” Windsor employees cut wood to size for customers, and offers door shop services that cover everything needed to install new doors, including lock sets, hinges, shims and door stops. They also offer free estimates and quotes. “Windsor will also install doors and floors in a timely fashion, and does home and job site visits,” he adds. The store at 888 Van Isle Way, just off Jacklin Road in Langford, is fully stocked with a variety of home improvement products. We specialize in hard to source interior/exterior home finishing products including flooring, doors, mouldings and especially wood

products. Windsor Plywood now has 61 stores across Western Canada and the northwestern U.S., and has established itself as much more than a local building supply company. A key part of Windsor’s success is its emphasis on providing exceptional customer service and competitive pricing. Windsor Plywood’s goal is simple - focus on our customer’s needs. They favour a smaller format that can respond quickly to shifting customer demands and market trends. “We’re more than a local building supply company, and our business model is also very different,” says Hanson. “We carry higher quality, responsibly sourced products and our staff members are friendly knowledgeable craft and trades people that don’t work on commission or quotas. They are trained to help our customers with every step of their projects — big or small.” “For over 40 years we have been bringing unique products to the marketplace,” notes Hanson. “Whether that be live-edge mantle and old well brackets, the natural British Columbia feel, to the most complete selection of finishing mouldings, stair components, hardwood flooring, in solid and engineered styles, and of course, laminate floors to meet every budget.” Windsor Plywood has been – and continues to be – an avid sponsor of sports teams and school programs in the Westshore community. Windsor Plywood is at 888 Van Isle Way in Langford. www.windsorplywood.com

DECEMBER 2015

$11 MILLION HOTEL OPENS IN COLWOOD One of the first in Canada to have new design

O LWO O D - A r i b b o n cutting on November 2 celebrated the officia l opening of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites on the West Shore of Greater Victoria. Mayor Carol Hamilton attended the ceremony along with, Doug Kobayashii, president of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce and Lloyd Wansbrough, hotel developer of Westridge Lodging Ltd. “Holiday Inn Express is one of the largest and fastest growing hotel brands in the industry,” Wansbrough said. With nearly 2,400 Holiday Inn Express hotels worldwide, the Colwood location is one of the first to be built with the brand’s newest design, Formula Blue, that, according to Jauline Matkin, general manager, Westridge, features a combination of energetic and engaging elements to create a distinctive style. “The new Formula Blue design is high tech and state-of-art,” she said, adding that care and detail have gone into every aspect of the design. “There’s a convenient shelf as you walk in the door to drop a purse or keys and media panels below the TV and by the desk and night table to make direct hook up to computers much easier.” T he l ighti ng has a lso been carefully considered with LED strip lights backlighting the head board, armoire and desk. “We’ve gotten rid of the lamps on the desk to allow for more room to lay out work.” Located adjacent to the West Shore’s Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre and in close proximity to View Royal Casino, Royal Roads University, Department of National Defence and the Greater Victoria Hospital, Colwood’s first hotel offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the West Shore’s many amenities including its

Lloyd Wansbrough, Jauline Matkin and Yvette Guigueno from Royal Roads University CREDIT:JAULINE MATKIN

Holiday Inn Express is one of the largest and fastest growing hotel brands in the industry LLOYD WANSBROUGH FRANCHISE OWNER, WESTRIDGE LODGING LTD.

Join us in Welcoming Holiday Inn Express to the West Shore! Expand your business by joining our community, Holiday Inn Express, Lee Valley Tools and other retailers & restaurants. • Retail, Office, and Warehouse space now available. • NOW OPEN - Orca Grillhouse Restaurant: 11 ~ 11 daily. • OPENING SOON - Coast Collective Art Centre, Coastal Offices & Meeting Centre. • Lots of free parking, easy access.

parks and trail systems. Mayor Hamilton said that it will mean guests coming to the city for events and competitions held at the rec centre will now have a place to stay without having to travel from other communities. The property features an indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness centre, free guest Wi-Fi, a 24–hour business centre and free bicycles for guests’ use. The rooms themselves include contemporary styling, comfortable queen, kingsized or two queen beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine with all day complimentary coffee. Sitting on a 3.85 acre site owned and developed by the Wansbrough family company, the 50,000 sq ft hotel is part of a $42

million project to develop the land along Wale Road. It includes Lee Valley Tools which opened in 2009, Legacy rental apartments, fitness centres, restaurants and other businesses, and a 3,000 sq ft indoor space for the Coast Collective Art Centre, with a gallery, shop and class space. Wansbrough said Westridge is footing the $100,000-plus bill for fixing the space for the non-profit artist group, adding that the value of having a community based art centre outweighs the cost. There will also be a 900 sq ft outdoor site where an artisan’s market will be held Wednesday evenings and Sundays beginning SEE $11 MILLION HOTEL | PAGE 18

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DECEMBER 2015

Colwood’s Holiday Inn Express is one of the first to sport the Formula Blue design CREDIT:JAULINE MATKIN

$11 MILLION HOTEL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

in July of 2016 with a focus on crafts and homemade goods. The property has special significance to the family. In the mid 1970’s, Lloyd Wansbrough’s late father, Bill, opened the Cubbon Home Centre, where 11-year-old Lloyd would hand out coffee and doughnuts to customers. Part of the the Westridge Landing development project spanning 7 years, the hotel, built by Sargent Construction, rises five storeys above the ground. It features 325

parking stalls shared with the Legacy apartments, some in one and two-level underground lots, and 80 guest rooms. “Sargent Construction has been invaluable and has provided considerable support to hotel staff in ensuring that the hotel was constructed in a fashion that supports complete guest satisfaction and efficient day to day, guest focused hotel operations,” Matkin said. Wansbrough said that with the opening of the hotel, the City of Colwood will now receive $594,000 in annual property taxes, up from $65,000 in 2009.

The entire project, including the $11 million hotel, has resulted in at least 175 full-time jobs, 15 of which are at the hotel. Matki n sa id that the Hol iday Inn Express is part of the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), and specializes in competitive rates for business and leisure travellers with a focus on a clean, simple and uncomplicated experience. Currently, the overall management of the hotel is being overseen by Patty Barker of RGI Hospitality which Matkin said is based out of Alberta. Barker specializes in IHG hotels and is an independent

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manager/consultant that looks after 12 hotels within Alberta and BC. She added that working closely with Barker ensures every aspect of hotel management runs smoothly, from expenses and revenue and guest service to training through IHG’s extensive programs. “IHG Merlin, a computer software program, targets training for front end, guest services, property management and housekeeping,” she said, adding that Sparkle is a trademarked program specific to housekeeping staff. “IHG has specific protocols and training is mandatory. We even have some of our front desk staff

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take the course.” Hamilton said that when the Legacy apartments opened, it was fully rented within 30 days with a wait list. Now with the opening of the hotel, staff have a place to stay right next door without having to commute to other areas in the West Shore. “The hotel has brought opportunities for employment and businesses,” she said adding that it will bring growth and a greater potential for future investment. The Holiday Inn Express and Suites is at 318 Wale Road in Colwood www.hiexpress.com

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WHO IS SUING WHOM

DECEMBER 2015

DEFENDANT 1011 Management Inc 102-645 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Namdor Reinforcing Steel (1987) Ltd CLAIM $ 9,526 DEFENDANT 5C Holdings Ltd 5925 Steel St, Port Hardy, BC PLAINTIFF Twin T Holdings Corporation CLAIM $ 20,176 DEFENDANT 625760 BC Ltd 5010 Santa Clara Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Coastal Windows Ltd CLAIM $ 10,532 DEFENDANT Boorman Investment Co Ltd 7TH Flr 1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Strata Plan Vis 6677 CLAIM $ 25,156 DEFENDANT Camp Okanagan Resort Ltd 2550 Vista Bay Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Yuan, Min CLAIM $ 5,252 DEFENDANT Cartwrights Service

5925 Steel St, Port Hardy, BC PLAINTIFF Twin T Holdings Corporation CLAIM $ 20,176 DEFENDANT Cinnabar Brown Holdings Ltd 4052 Ebony Pl, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Owners Strata Plan Vis 1549 CLAIM $ 37,874 DEFENDANT Comox Harbour Centre Management Inc 102-645 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Saywell Contracting Ltd CLAIM $ 1,024,000 DEFENDANT Envision Home Inspections Ltd 29-5854 Turner Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Charteris, Derek CLAIM $ 25,256 DEFENDANT Evans Technology Enterprises 2160 Joanne Dr, Campbell River, BC Sterling Pacific Air Ltd CLAIM $ 5,836 DEFENDANT Extreme Fiberglass Solutions Inc 551 9th St PLAINTIFF

Westwood Power and Marine Incorporated CLAIM $ 25,176

Schmitt, Kalus Dieter CLAIM $ 100,194

DEFENDANT Kar Industries Ltd 1620 Cedar Hills X Road, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Trueman, Mark CLAIM $ 25,126 DEFENDANT Kivela Contracting Ltd 415 Fourneau Way, Parksville, BC PLAINTIFF WCY Rentals Ltd CLAIM $ 91,678 DEFENDANT Mountain West Properties Inc 102-645 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Namdor Reinforcing Steel (1987) Ltd CLAIM $ 9,526 DEFENDANT Peachland Investments Ltd 2550 Vista Bay Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Yuan, Min CLAIM $ 5,252 DEFENDANT Rocky Point Metal Craft Ltd 1 3rd Flr 26 Bastion Square, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF

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DEFENDANT Sagers Fine Furniture Ltd 204-655 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Izzard, Paul CLAIM $ 10,324 DEFENDANT Satgur Development Inc 3205 Ridgeview Pl, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF 0769771 BC Ltd CLAIM $ 25,276 DEFENDANT Shaw Communications Inc 861 Cloverdale Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Shuttleworth, Brett Deane CLAIM $ 25,156 DEFENDANT Skye Avionics Ltd 2160 Joanne Dr, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF Sterling Pacific Air Ltd CLAIM $ 5,836

19 CLAIM $ 7,187 DEFENDANT Tandem Food Inc 10-1599 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF Coles, David CLAIM $ 5,176 DEFENDANT Tower Fence Products Ltd 319-877 Goldstream Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Sekhon, Hardip CLAIM $ 17,483 DEFENDANT Willow Creek Logging Ltd 300-2375 Burrard Ave, Vanderhoof, BC PLAINTIFF Morton, Jill CLAIM $ 20,505

DEFENDANT Small Modern Living Inc 10971 Madrona Dr, North Saanich, BC PLAINTIFF 2nd Wind Ventures Inc

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To get in Movers and Shakers, call Thom at 250-661-2297 or email thom@ businessexaminer.ca MacDonald Realty has added to their team, Ara Balabanian welcomes Nathalie Roy, Susan Pipes, Amber

MOVERS & SHAKERS Simpson and Bev Carey.

numbers at both locations.

Coast Capital Realty Royal LePage congratulates top producers: Tasha Noble, Rosemarie Colterman, Dave Lynn, Allan Poole, Brad Forrest, Rashida Malik, Deb Piper, Neil Bosdet, Raul Holland, James Liu, Rick Humphries, Sarah West, Shaunna Jones, Dave O’Byrne, Stacey English, Dave Lynn, Morley Bryant, Justen Lalonde, Jackie Adkins, Tom Croft, Cheryl Laidlaw, Cheryl Bejcar, Tom Fraser, Mike McCulloch, Dean Innes, Gina Sundberg and Pat Meadows.

Uptown and The Bay Centre have won two silver awards for their marketing campaigns, CelebrateYou and Elf on a Shelf from the International Council of Shopping Centers annual awards.

Peninsula Co-op is voting to merge with the Comox Valley Co-op at the end of November. Both boards of directors have agreed in principle to the merger which would mean Comox Valley would operate under the Peninsula umbrella. Partnering would enable customers to use their Co-op

After 3 years Rock Bay Footwear has expanded to 1024 Blanshard St., the previous home of Gaudio Shoe Repair. John Whittaker, the owner, carries a line of ready-made Biotime orthopedic shoes as well as being a custom footwear manufacturer. The Vancouver Island EcoStar Awards were held at Inn at Laurel Point recently with the following winners: Greenest Office - Carmanah Technologies; Greenest Retail Store - Hemp & Company;

DECEMBER 2015

Restaurant 1-25 Employees - Big Wheel Burger; Restaurant 25+ Employees Pizzeria Prima Strada; Manufacturing Excellence - Oughtred Coffee & Tea; The Eco-Preneur of the Year - Abeego Designs; Technology Excellence - AXYS Technologies; Tourism Excellence - Inn at Laurel Point; Leadership In Construction - Kinetic Construction Ltd. Water Stewardship - Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary Society; Transportation - Habit Coffee; Food Security - Topsoil Urban Rooftop Agriculture; Climate Action - Emterra Environmental; Social Impact Habitat for Humanity Victoria; Waste Management - Monk Office. According to organizer Jill Doucette, the awards celebrate businesses commitment to sustainability. Victoria’s online hemp company, Chi Hemp Industries, has been sold to Naturally Splendid, located in Burnaby. Shareholders of Chi, Marco Pimentel and Agnieszka Wojdyla, will stay on as consultants for one year. ReMax Alliance has announced their recent Sales Leaders: Ron Neal, Mark Salter, Alex Burns, Karen Love, Claude Delmaire, Laura Godbeer, Karie Seiss, Robyn Wildman, Lynnell Davidge and Julie Swift. VIATEC is now in partnership with BCJobs.ca and BCtechjob.ca to advertise job postings. There will be no extra cost to VIATEC advertisers to increase their exposure on the Lower Mainland and beyond.

The Downtown Victoria Business Association has launched a 15-question online survey asking what locals would like to see in Victoria’s downtown core to make it more appealing. www.downtownvictoria.ca New owners of the Island View Golf Centre, Valerie and Mark Lindholm have applied to Central Saanich transform the land into a distillery and brewery. They plan to build a 78 –seat lounge with a huge outdoor terrace as well as improve the golf course on the 10-acre property. Vancouver Island Brewery has won two medals from the World Beer Championships. Sabotage India Session Ale won gold and Piper’s Pale Ale won silver. Fernhill Financial welcomes John Crisp CFP to their team of professionals. Sebastien Beaulieu, former Canadian ambassador to Tunisia has joined the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at UVIC as an adjunct professor. Sybil Verch and Kirsty Jackson of the Verch Group have announced their name change to Willow Wealth Management. Bear Mountain has entered into a 4-year partnership with Golf Canada. The 36-hole resort will become the national training centre for Team Canada’s golf squads. Bear Mountain owners, Ecoasis Developments LLP is also the training centre of the

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DECEMBER 2015

Canadian National Mountain Bike Team. Maycock Eyecare welcomes Dr. Mandy Letkemann to their team of Optometrists. Patty O’Neil joins the team at Pemberton Holmes real estate. She returns to Victoria after working in Edmonton for a time.

MAX Camosun Westside, Oliver Katz - RE/MAX Camosun Westside, Maxxam Insurance, Standing Cedars Acupuncture and Away from Home Relocation Services.

Wilson’s Transport will take over the ferry bus service from Pacific Coast Line, who has run the service for the past 50 years. Wilson’s is a threegeneration family business.

Sarah Howells has begun Vancouver Island Product Photography and can be reached at info@ vancouverislandproductphotography. com.

Interior designer Janice Long has opened Calla Design in Oak Bay’s Estevan Village. It carries furniture, local art, jewelry and home accessories.

Fairmont Empress, The Grand Pacific Hotel, Delta Hotel, Chateau Victoria, the Victoria Marriot Inner Harbour and Magnolia Hotel & Spa have generously donated beautiful toiletry packages to homeless moving into permanent homes. The Greater Victoria Streets to Homes Program is a community collaboration run by Pacifica Housing Advisory Association. Angela Andersen, owner and Master Colour Artist and Stylist of Staerk Hair, has recently taken over the space at 636 Johnson Street that used to be Nicole & Co Hair design. She has done a complete renovation on the space. Route 14 Sooke is a new pub-style family restaurant that has opened at 6686 Sooke Road. Welcome to Chelsea Ramsay, new branch manager at Royal Bank of Canada Sooke Branch. Their official relocation date is December 7th into their new building at 6639 Sooke Road.

DFH Real Estate Ltd announced office leaders: Mike Fowles, Ann Watley, Mike Hartshorne, Anny Guevin, Dennis Guevin, May Liu, Henry Van Der Vlugt, Myles Christenson, Ron Cunningham, Tom Muir, Sue Spangelo, Dave Philps, Jilly Yang, Judy Gerrett, Sandy McManus, John Bruce, Dorothee Madison and Muse has just opened its doors in Cadboro Bay. They began as an e-commerce site importing European linens for North American customers. Despite the advantages of being online, owner Margo Freigang said there is nothing like stepping into a shop full of fragrant soaps and candles running one’s fingers across Belgian linen. The Jawl family has acquired the former Capitol 6 Multiplex Theatre. The local developers apparently have no immediate plans for the property.

Home Hardware’s Burnside location is celebrating 5 years in business at 50 Burnside Road West.

This N That is relocating to 6596 Sooke Road (Entrance on Church Road) on January 1, 2016.

Dr. Rachel Staples welcomes Dr. Claudia Acosta to Urban Smiles Victoria Dental centre at 823 Broughton St.

The University of Victoria has appointed Dr. Valerie Kuehne to the position of Vice-President Academic and Provost.

Camosun College has maintained their position in the top-50 research colleges and moved up 4 steps to thirty three according to consulting firm, Research Infosource.

Hillside Centre has achieved gold at the International Council of Shopping

Fireside Grill at 4509 W. Saanich Road is having their 15th Anniversary.

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New members of the Sooke Chamber of Commerce are Sheringham Distillery, Cristina Staicu - RE/

Don McCormick has a new position with Maxxam Insurance.

Jane Bowers, CFRE has joined Mount St. Mary Hospital as Director of Fund Development.

Centers awards for outstanding achievement in marketing for their Ocean Wall project. The recently installed bank of high-resolution screens have been installed to raise awareness of Vancouver Island’s Salish Sea.

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Go Food Cafe is a new homebased business in Sooke. They can be reached at 250-514-4484 or email: gofoodcafe@gmail.com.

Marion & Michel DesRochers have retired their business in Sooke, the Sooke Fine Art Gallery.

Allison Ducluzeau has joined Newport Realty. She brings 23 years of experience in the Real Estate industry.

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Al Hasham, owner of Maximum Express and Max Furniture is the new chairman of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce board of directors. The executive includes Dan Dagg of Hot House Marketing, Secretary Mark Mawhinney of Odlumn Brown, treasurer Sang-Kiet Ly of KPMG, Patricia Jelinski of the United Way of Greater Victoria and John Wilson of Wilson’s Transportation. Directors include Shaun Cerisano of Royal BC Museum, Lise Gyorkos of Page One Publishing, Kathy Khouri of Choices Adoption, Gary Kinar of Kinar Curry Lawyers, Troy MacDonald of HeliJet International, Natasha Reger of the Reger Group, Tom Roemer of Camosun College, Mark Smith of Monk Office, Capt. Steve Waddell of CFB Esquimalt and Kris Wirk of Dickson, Dusanj & Wirk.

Welcome to Mark Doberstein, new branch manager at TD Canada Trust Sooke Branch.

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OPINION

DECEMBER 2015 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Head Office 200-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria V8T 3J5 Ph: 1.250.661.2297 Fax: 1.250.642.2870 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald, lise@businessexaminer.ca SALES | Thom Klos –thom@businessexaminer.ca, Josh Higgins – josh@businessexaminer.ca, Joanne Iormetti – joanne@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Goody Niosi, Julia MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim, John MacDonald, David Holmes WEBSITE | John MacDonald

POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS FIND A NEW WAY TO STOP FORWARD PROGRESS: DELAY

MARK MACDONALD

“D

elay, delay, delay.” T hose words, uttered by a n N DP candidate recently, outlines an anti-development mindset that is more prevalent than anyone would dare admit. This is apparently the new marching orders for the No Development Party. It’s the nouveau way to stall and prohibit investment and development. The “anti” crowd has learned how to kill projects with kindness, smiling as they declare they are open to development and the jobs they create, while silently slowing down the process to a glacial pace that strings out investors and drains their cash flow. We’ve seen it happen with increasing regularity at the municipal level, as politicians and bureaucrats pay lip service to the business community as they create new obstacles to prevent

forward movement. It’s reaching the upper levels of government. Not a surprise, since politicians often start at the civic level before moving up to provincial and federal politics. I recently interviewed an Alberta-based, oil and gas sector company, which expressed their frustration at the current state of affairs under Rachel Notley’s fledgling NDP government. To paraphrase their comments: They’ve survived the National Energy Policy, the downturn in the price of oil and other serious challenges, but the indecision and vagueness of Notley’s Crew is proving to be excruciating for their company. They’re in a constant holding pattern, not knowing if they will even have an opportunity to grow in Alberta. Should they downsize to ride out the storm? How about moving east to Saskatchewan to a more business-friendly environment? The owner says the current conditions are the worst they have experienced as a company. Anti-oil industry protesters may find news like this to be delightful, and think their dreams are being realized. With anti-resource sentiment reaching an all-time high in Canada, as an increasing number of people view resource-based industry as evil and something that needs

to be stopped, or at least choked into submission. I n the recent past, a rou nd 5,000 people living in the Okanagan – and approximately the same amount on Vancouver Island – were directly employed by the oil and gas industry in northern BC and Alberta. They worked there and lived here, resulting in an influx of cash that boosted local communities and businesses. That doesn’t include the number of ancillary businesses positively affected by having those high-paying jobholders living in our towns. The rapid growth in air passenger numbers is directly attributable to workers commuting to and from the oil fields for work, for example. Although they manage to stay under the radar most of the time, the forest industry on Vancouver Island employs close to 6,000 workers. These are not minimum-wage jobs – they often pay in six figures per worker. All these represent a very significant contribution to not just our local economies, but government coffers due to the higher levels of tax they pay, compared to those holding entry-level positions. So, if the anti-resource and no-development forces that have ma naged to cl i mb i nto positions of influence want to

fu nda mental ly change that, they’re now in a place they can try it. As they endeavour to do so, they’d best make sure they have an alternative - as in better method – of creating replacement high end incomes. We don’t need to look too far back in history to see what happens when a society decides to make a quantum shift in its economy. In 1958, Chairman Mao anno u nc e d t h at Ch i n a wo u ld abandon its agricultural roots in favour of the potentially more lucrative stainless steel industry. In what was called “The Great Leap Forward”, Mao encourage Chinese people to begin manufacturing stainless steel, which they did, in their backyards, homes. . .anywhere, in homemade “smelters”. This was how they would leap out of economic reliance on agriculture. The problem was that the stainless steel they made was, not surprisingly, completely worthless. This social experiment lasted for three years, ending in futility, and starvation for something in the neighbourhood of 30 million Chinese citizens. In their drastic shift towards industrialization, their forfeited not only their traditional occupations, but the means by which they fed themselves as a country. They stopped growing food.

It was, really, a great leap backward, as that period was the only time between the years 1953 and 1985 that China’s economy shrank. What does that have to do with Canada? Resource-based industry has been the backbone of our economy for decade upon decade. If we want that to change, then that needs to be made incrementally, not suddenly. I’m not suggesting that turning off the oil and gas taps will result in millions of Canadians starving. But we’re already starting to feel the pinch, and it’s more than just lower prices. A n estimated 50,000 Canadians have already lost their oil and gas related jobs. There could be more, and will be, if governments persist in carryi ng out t hei r a nt i-resou rce pronouncements. We’re waiting eagerly to hear the news about the change in economic policy that will replace those six figures jobs. Not with minimum wage options, but with similar yielding positions that raise families, buy homes and vehicles, and provide a future for our young people. It would be prudent to create those first, rather than cutting off the revenue supply we’ve traditionally had in this country without any reasonable replacement on the horizon.

PROVINCE’S RED TAPE REDUCTION EFFORTS WORTHWHILE

LAURA JONES CFIB

overnment departments are fundamentally different from private businesses in that they do not face competition. There is no voting with your feet if you think that frontline staff are unfriendly or if forms are confusing. It’s a recipe for mediocrity or worse, unless other ways of pushing for better service can be found. In this context, elected officials soliciting our feedback about

government service improvement is a substitute, albeit a grossly imperfect one, for competition. Provincial Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction Coralee Oakes is doing just that. She is looking for your help to identify the blizzard of little irritants that arise from interacting with government. The six-week consultation, which ends on Dec. 3, is part of the government’s broader effort to keep a lid on red tape while preserving justified regulation. The minister is looking for “simple fixes that will improve your life when you interact with government.” It’s easy to contribute an idea on the website at: engage. gov.bc.ca/helpcutredtape. It’s also worthwhile. The commitment to those who contribute is that, “While not every idea will be implemented, every comment and idea submitted will be reviewed and considered. A list of actions will be posted on the website.”

This is not for show. The minister and her staff are taking this seriously, and we know they will be looking for things to announce on the recently legislated Red Tape Reduction Day in March and during Red Tape Awareness Week in January. The site now has over 100 comments and suggestions. Much of it is common sense. One woman describes the frustrating experience of dealing with six different doctors as they tried to diagnose her husband. Next, in her words, “We asked to see his chart, so that we could at least piece his prognosis together ourselves. We were handed a form and told it would be 30 business days. Apparently, the patient has no right to their own healthcare information. Obviously, this is not helpful.” Not surprisingly, there are many comments on the website about the challenges of dealing with the government electronically, from not being able to save

a PDF to not being able to report a personnel change for a charity’s board without declaring the former board member deceased. The consultation is the perfect place to raise any number of business issues too, such as this one: There is a rule requiring a truck driver who is also a temporary foreign worker to get a work permit before being issued a driver’s license, while another rule requires the worker to get a driver’s license before being issued a work permit. And while we are on the topic of driver’s licenses, over 1,000 British Columbians renew their licenses each day. What if we could do that once every 10 years instead of five? Think of the time that change alone would free up for everyone, including government employees. Broader issues for consideration include making sure gover n ment com mu n ic at ion i s intelligible, training staff to better understand the realities of the

people they help, and ensuring auditors have appropriate incentives to behave professionally, with repercussions if they do not. I n l au nch i n g t h i s con s u ltation, Oakes has created an opportunity to take action on the sma l l but i mporta nt red tap e i ss u e s t h at don’t g rab head l i nes but do m a ke d i fferences in people’s lives. Resolv i ng them contributes to the constructive relationship between a government and its citizens that is so important. It prevents the blizzard of little irritants from undermining our productivity and our good humour. This consultation is well worth the minister’s time and ours. Laura Jones is Executive Vice President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She can be reached at laura.jones@cfib.ca. Follow her on Twitter @CFIBideas.

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LAW

DECEMBER 2015

ANGEL INVESTORS FINANCING INNOVATION LAW

The angel investors that I

They can exercise a measure of control

have known are relatively

recently had lunch with a banker friend. He related some of his daily struggles in approving loans and summed up by indicating that his bank hired him to fund viable businesses, not “dreams”. The reality of the banking business is that a banker will only grant you a loan to launch an innovative project if you have the pre-existing financial strength to financially back the new business. After the business has being operational for two years or more, the financial performance of the business over that period will clearly indicate whether or not you have a viable business rather than just a “dream”. Persons who do not have such financial strength are forced to seek assistance from investors. The quest for investors usually starts with family members and personal acquaintances who trust and believe in you. There are some investors, referred to as “angel” investors, who invest in projects of complete strangers for fun and profit. The angel

wealthy and have a past history of entrepreneurial success

Michael Cooper and Doug Thompson of ThompsonCooper LLP investors that I have known are relatively wealthy and have a past history of entrepreneurial success. Their angel investments are like a hobby to them. The number one criterion of the angel investor is that he or she must like you and feel he or she can work with you. If you are difficult to work with, it takes the fun out of the project and the angel investor doesn’t want or need the hassle. The number two criterion is that the angel investor must believe that the project has substantial growth potential and is not merely a “create a job” project.

The ultimate object of the investment is to make some money at the end of the project. Ideally, the angel investor has contacts or knowledge that can contribute to the project and help make that happen. The number three criterion is that there must be some logical jumping off point at which the angel investor can cash in on his investment. If you have a good fit with an angel investor, you may well develop a life-long friendship. You will have to do most of the work, but at critical times the angel investor will be there to assist you. The angel investor

will give you advice which will help you avoid mistakes you would otherwise have made. As he or she gets to know you, the angel investor will assess your strengths and weaknesses and get others to help cover your weak areas. The angel investor will set and expect you to meet performance milestones. Consider it tough love. It is for your own good. A controlling interest (over 50 per cent of the venture) is not essential to the angel investor, although the angel investor can exercise a measure of control by simply withholding additional funds if he or she does not approve of the way the business is being run. If all goes well, the relationship with the angel investor ends at the planned exit position. O n sm a l l proje c t s, t h i s i s often the sale of the business, at which time you both “cash in”. On large on-going projects, you will progress to the “next stage of financing” in which a venture capitalist steps into the shoes of the angel investor and puts serious money into the business to take it to the next level. I have nothing but respect for angel investors, the ones I have worked with are special people indeed.

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SEAN DYBLE

s our Chamber’s AGM (December 16th at 6 pm) and the end of my term as the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce President approach, I’ve found myself not only reflecting on our accomplishments over past year and but also looking ahead to what remains to be done by our next President and Board of Directors. Certainly, the current Board has been among the most committed and insightful our Chamber has ever had in its 68-year history. This group of dedicated volunteers from Sooke’s business community has donated over 150 hours per month towards a long list of initiatives we identified earlier this year. We have enjoyed some key successes in 2015 and have seen our hard work pay off in several important areas. Our efforts in workforce development over the past year, along with the other members of

the Sooke Region Learning Collaborative, have resulted in new continuing education programmes being offered in Sooke on a variety of topics including business management and labour and employment law. We are proud that fi fty leaders i n ou r com mu n ity came together at our Economic Development Symposium in late September and identified key projects that Sooke needs to move forward and we are inspired to work hard to see these projects come to fruition. Our resident relocation programme and newcomers’ club has continued to grow and now has 70 members meeting monthly. We also hosted several very successful community events this past year. Our Business Excellence Awards Gala was an incredible success and 10 outstanding businesses in our community were recognized. Our annual golf tournament and upcoming (November 29th at 5 pm) Santa Claus parade continue to attract large numbers of people and we have big plans for new events next year. Of course, much remains to be accomplished in 2016. Without a doubt, economic development will remain a top priority for us.

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Michael Cooper & Douglas B. Thompson We assist your corporate lawyer by protecting Tel: 250-389-0387 your inventions and trademarks

Fax: 250-389-2659

Sean Dyble is the President of the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce and the owner of 120 West Management Consulting. He can be reached at 250-642-6112.

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