Business Examiner Victoria - December 2018 by Business Examiner Media Group

DECEMBER 2018

» ABORIGINAL BUSINESS

– PAGE 12

VICTORIA Victoria Drain Services Takes Home Fourth Torch Award

Victoria

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Third Generation Takes Over at Butler Brothers Travis Butler Takes the Reins of Company After Nearly 80 Years in Business

Saanich 5

ICTORIA - After nearly 80 years in business, f a m i ly-ow n e d But ler Brothers Supplies Ltd. is bei n g h a nded of f to t he t h i rd generation. The company, one of the Island’s leading ready-mix suppliers with concrete batch plants in Central Saanich, Sooke, and Victoria, is undergoing restructuring as the leadership changes hands. A new ent it y, Butler Concrete & Aggregates Ltd., will be created effective December 1, which will continue the main operations of Butler Brothers Supplies under the leadership of Travis Butler. He will be taking over from his father, Brian Butler, who has been leading the company for the last 34 years. Brian will continue as president of Butler Brothers

Greater Victoria

SEE BUTLER BROTHERS SUPPLIES | PAGE 11

PAGE 14

SAANICH Father-Son Team Take Island Dream Kitchens to Next Level

PAGE 24

INDEX News Update

West Shore

4 6

Brian H Butler, President of Butler Brothers Supplies Ltd. (Left) and Travis Butler, President of Butler Concrete & Aggregates Ltd. (Right)

Esquimalt 6 Tourism 7 Who Is Suing Whom 27

Nominations Flood In For Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards

Movers & Shakers

Nominations Coming In From All Over The Island For 19Th Annual Event Ahead Of December 8 Deadline

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ANAIMO – Organizers of the 19th Annual Grant Thornton LLP Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards are pleased to see a large number of entries from awardworthy businesses this year as the December 8 nomination deadline approaches. “We are always pleasantly surprised at the number and diversity of businesses that have been nominated for these awards, which this year will be held January 24 at the Vancouver Island Conference

All the best this Holiday Season.

Centre in Nanaimo,” notes Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner, which coordinates the event. “There are always some great companies that get involved that we know little about, with amazing stories. Grant Thornton LLP is now the Title Sponsor of the Awards, and along with Gold Sponsor RBC Royal Bank and Business Examiner, will host a morning-after “Breakfast For Champions” business round table for winners of the event’s 17 categories.

From our Innov8 family to yours, we wish you Happy Holidays and all the best in the year to come! Visit Victoria’s Festival of Trees and donate to help BC Kids or text TREE024 to 45678.

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Black Press is a Platinum Medium Sponsor of the BE Awards this year, and Elite Promo Marketing is also a Gold Sponsor. Category sponsors include Helijet, Vancouver Island Conference Centre and Country Grocer so far. Categories this year are: ; • Automotive (car and truck dealerships & fleet sales); • Construction / Development/Real Estate; • Entrepreneur; • Food & Food Production (a g r icu lt u re, sea food, food

products); • Green & Technology; • Health Care; • Hospitality; • Industrial Manufacturer; • M a n u f a c t u r e d Wo o d Products; • Ocean Products; • Professional (legal, accounting, insurance, coaching); • Construction/Development/ Real Estate; • Retail; SEE AWARDS | PAGE 4

NEWS UPDATE

DECEMBER 2018

LANGFORD Tech Company Plans Langford Headquarters

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A new state-of-the-art office is planned for 2614 Sooke Road in Langford. The building will be the new headquarters for Charter, a tech company that operates networks for companies in a variety of industries around the world. The company has eight offices across Canada and their new Langford building is set to be the first passive office building in Western Canada. A passive building is an environmentally sustainable building that is designed to maximize energy conservation. Victoria-based Waymark Architecture designed the space with the intention of reducing the environmental footprint of the space as much as possible. This included designing the shape and positioning of the building to maximize the attraction of heat from the sun and using materials to maximize heat conservation and reduce environmental impact. Once completed, the building will be four storeys high and have 16,000-square-feet of floor space. The building is expected to be completed in the spring.

VICTORIA $250M Residential Legislature Project Construction is beginning on the new Capital Park Residences at the six-acre, mixed-use James Bay project. Concert Properties is partnering with Jawl Properties in developing the $250-million multi-phased project located behind the legislature. The current development timeline will see 113 homes completed by late 2020 or early 2021; condos will be developed in five-storey and four-storey buildings and seven townhouses are also planned. Condominium prices will range from $499,900 to $1.09 million and will be available in sizes ranging from 485 to 1,759-square-feet. Townhomes start at $1.489-million and range from 1,451 to 1,757-square-feet. A presentation centre for the development is open at 665 Douglas Street. Concert and Jawl Properties bought the site in 2013 for $34-million from the province while they were selling off land to balance their books. The property was previously home to parking lots and older buildings including outdated provincial offices. The Capital Park Residences project is a realization of the 1990s Victoria Accord planning agreement that was developed for the area. Goals of the accord included ensuring the development fit in with the James Bay neighbourhood and with the nearby legislature building, that it open open up the area with public access and amenities and preserved views. Capital Park Residences is a part of the Capital Park development – a mixed-use development that incorporates office space, retail amenities, residences and a comprehensive network of well-positioned public areas. 120,000-square-feet of office space within the overall Capital Park development plan is expected to be completed in

late 2019 and is 40 per cent pre-leased to the province. The first 127,000-squarefoot office complex is already complete and filled with provincial staff. A Red Barn Market has opened as well as a new library branch and tenants have moved into 53 new rental apartments. Including land costs, investment in the project is in excess of $250-million.

VICTORIA Victoria Shipyards Earns Fed Contract The federal government announced that Seaspan Victoria Shipyards will be one of three shipyards in Canada to share $7-billion in navy maintenance and repair contracts. The contracts are to maintain the country’s 12 Halifax-class frigates, the core of the Royal Canadian Navy fleet. Seaspan Victoria was selected alongside Halifax’s Irving Shipbuilding Inc. and Davie Shipbuilding in Levis, Quebec. The new maintenance and repair contracts are to maintain the 12 frigates until the end of their operational life in an estimated 20 years. Seaspan operates within the federally-owned Esquimalt Graving Dock, the largest solid bottom commercial dry dock on the west coast. They employ 1,100 people, 400 of which are expected to be needed for the new contract. The 12 Canadian-built Halifax-class frigates were originally designed as anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare vessels. In 2016, the last of the frigates completed the Halifax-class modernization project, which involved installing state-of-the-art radars, defenses and armaments combining anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air systems to deal with threats above and below sea level.

VICTORIA Camosun Centre Receives $1M The Sisters of St. Ann are donating $1-million to support teaching at Camosun College’s new Alex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness. The donation is to go towards supporting a teaching clinic, which will bear a bronze plaque or some other emblem of the organization’s contribution. At the clinic, students will be able to practice their techniques in an applied learning environment while serving the public. The Sisters of St. Ann are longtime contributors to health education in Victoria, dating back to their arrival in 1858 from Quebec. The ministry was originally a teaching order and transitioned to nursing when they saw the need. The contribution brings the Camosun College Foundation’s Together for Health campaign up to 60 per cent of its $5-million goal. Construction is underway on the Alex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness, named in honour of the Campbell family. The $48.5-million facility is located on the College’s Saanich campus and is expected to be completed in 2019. The space will have 8,900-square-feet of space for 1,000 students to study and train for health-related fields including nursing, SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

NEWS UPDATE

DECEMBER 2018

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

laboratory testing, radiography and community mental-health wo rk . T h e s p a c e w i l l m e ld together much of Camosun’s health and human services programming and feature simulation environments, hands on labs and collaboration spaces.

VICTORIA BC Ferries Announces $3.6B Capital Plan BC Ferries announced they intend to invest $2.3-billion on vessels and $1.3-billion on its terminals as part of a $3.9-billion capital plan. The plan is the largest capital plan in BC Ferries’ history and includes a renovation of Swartz Bay and a complete overhaul of Horseshoe Bay. The plan which outlines projected spending between 2019 and 2030 has been submitted to the BC Ferry Commission alongside a traffic-demand forecast and strategy for enhancing efficiency. The Commission will use this information to establish fare price caps for all BC Ferries routes. The crown corporation recorded a new all-time high for vehicle traffic last year, while closing in on a new record for passenger numbers. According to a traffic study BC Ferries has recorded six consecutive years of traffic growth and has seen a 14 per cent increase in vehicle traffic within the past four years. The plan also outlines BC Ferries’ intention to renew 19 of the system’s 36 vessels over the next 14 years, while reducing the number of vessel classes down to i ncrease sta nda rd ization within the fleet. The corporation also plans on adding a 12th vessel to service major routes between Vancouver Island and the mainland. The biggest component of the plan is an overhaul of the Horseshoe Bay Terminal which is expected to begin in 2023 and take at least three years to complete. Plans for the terminal include replacing marine structures and redesign the vehicle and passenger holding areas. There are also plans to update Swa rtz Bay’s a men ities a nd waiting areas and expand their Berth 3 in order to accommodate a major vessel. This project is expected to begin in 2021 and last about a year.

BC Province Approves Ride Hailing for 2019 The provincial government is changing a series of laws in order to allow ride-hailing services like

Uber and Lift to operate in the province. Under the new ride-hailing regime, the Passenger Transportation Board will be allowed to issue licenses for new services, including penalties for infractions up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for companies. ICBC will introduce a new insurance option by next fall for ride-hailing service that will include a fee added to each ride to finance options for disabled customers. This amount has not yet been determined. The legislation also expands the jurisdiction of the Passenger Transportation Board to determine boundaries of service. Existing taxi services and new operators will be required to apply to the board for new or expanded services. Additionally, all ride-hailing drivers will be required to obtain a class-four license, which includes a criminal record check. BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson criticized the non-market approach to implementation, the government’s insistence on not opening up opportunities to private insurers for ride-hailing services and for the government’s broken timeline promise. The 2017 NDP campaign platform promised to deliver ride hailing by the end of that year, as Transportation Minister, Claire Trevena first cleared the way for up to 500 more taxi licenses across the province.

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VICTORIA Royal BC Museum Refreshing Brand T he Royal BC Museum h a s issued a request for proposals closing December 14th to rebrand the 132-year-old institution. The museum is looking to rebrand to better represent a service-model museum as opposed to being just an entertainment destination. This will mean taking the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations about First Nations into account, supporting stories from all members of the community and increasing access to collections. The museum will look to refine their brand in order to better prepare for the future of the facility. Increasingly, museums are offering much more than physical guided tours. In the 2017-18 fiscal year, 730,000 visitors came through the Royal BC Museum’s doors. In the same year, they had 8.5-million page views on their website while their learning portal accounted for an additional 1.7-million. The museum’s online learning portal allows teachers to create classroom activities and curriculum for their students. Classrooms are also welcome to the museum or teachers can arrange for digital field trips for students living far away.

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b etween t he WestShore Chamber of Commerce and the Goldstream News Gazette, the B est of t he WestShore Aw a r d s s h o w c a s e t h e amazing businesses and non-profit organizations that make up the WestShore community. With over 30,000 votes cast across 38 busi ness a nd 6 community categories through an entirely public voting system, 2018 showed the greatest engagement to date. Space dictates that I can only share the winners with you, but congratulations to all of the winners and the finalists – just getting voted into the top 3 is no small feat! For the full results, please go to westshore.bc.ca/voting/ Best Automotive

Service - Fountain Tire Langford; Best Bicycle Shop - Oak Bay Bicycles Westshore; B est B u siness - Cascadia Liquor Colwood; Best Customer Service - Cascadia Liquor Langford; Best Dental / D e n t u re C l i n i c - Colwood Dental Group; Best Ethnic Cuisine - Sabhai Thai; Best Financial Services - Coast Capital Savings; Best First Nations Business/Entrepreneur - M’akola Housing Society; Best Fit ness Facility - YMCA-YWCA Westhills; Best Flower / Garden Shop - Brown’s T he Florist; Best for Breakfast - Floyd’s Diner; Best for Entertainment - Cineplex Odeon; Best for Insurance - Maxxam Insurance; Best G ol f Club - Olympic View Golf Course; Best Grocer y S to re - Q u a l it y Fo o d s Westshore; Best Hair Salon - Belle Rose Salon & Wax Bar; Best Independent Coffee Shop - Serious Coffee – Millstream Village; Best Legal Services - Dinning Hunter Jackson Law; Best Martial Arts Clark’s Taekwondo; Best New Business – Langford Original; Best New Development/Home Builder – Royal Bay; Best Pet C l i n i c - Ju a n d e F u c a Veterinary Clinic; Best

Place for Eye Care - Dr Joslin & Dr Morin Associates; Best Place to Buy a New/ Us e d Veh ic le Galaxy Motors Victoria; B e s t Pl a c e to D e v e lo p Your Child’s Potential Tumblebums Play Centre & Top Shoppe; Best Professional Services - Linda M a c k i e P h o to g r a p h y ; Best P ub - Darcy’s Pub Westshore; Best Restaurant - My-Chosen Café; Best Retailer - Glenwood Meats; Best Second Hand Shoppi ng - Baja Rosi’s Con sig n m ent Ca b a n a ; Best Spa / Aesthetics Sante Spa Victoria; Best S t o r a g e - We s t s h o r e U-L o c k M i n i S to r a ge ; Best Tech Business/I.T. Business - Gizmo’s Computers; Best to Make Your Own Wine/Beer - Island B rew B yo u ; B e s t Yo g a S t u d io - Moksha Yoga Westshore; B est Wel lness/Health Practice or Business - Colwood Back to B a c k C h i r o p r a c t i c ; Favou rite Loca l Sports Tea m - Victoria Shamrocks and Favorite Non Profit - Pearson College UWC. Julie Lawlor is the Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at jlawlor@ westshore.bc.ca

Nominations Coming In From All Over The Island For 19Th Annual Event Ahead Of December 8 Deadline AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Victoria: 905 Fort St., Victoria BC V8V 3K3 Tel: 250-385-9786 Sidney: 2455 Beacon Ave., Sidney BC V8L 1X7 Tel: 250-656-1233

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• Small Business (under 20 employees & under $1 million in sales); • Tourism; • Trades (automotive repair, plumbing, electrical, roofing, etc.; • Business of the Year (over 50 employees & over $1 million in sales). “Each year, nominations are generally evenly split between companies south of the Malahat, and those from north of the Malahat,” says MacDona ld. “We’d be very surprised if that isn’t the case again this year, as it looks like it will so far.” The nomination deadline is December 8 this year, and companies can self-nominate. There is no charge to participate.

Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.businessexaminer.ca/events. For more information on

the event contact MacDonald at 1-866-758-2684 ext. 120 or email: mark@businessexaminer.ca

SAANICH PENINSULA

DECEMBER 2018

THE HONEYMOON PHASE

SAANICH PENINSULA DENNY WARNER

hat does it mea n for t he Saanich Peninsula that we have 2 new mayors a nd a substa ntially different council in Sidney? Obviously, time w i l l te l l , b u t w e w e re heartened to see a recent photo of the Sidney and Nor t h Sa a n ich m ayors together, smiling broadly, at the Gra nd Opening of the new peninsula Canadian Tire. Previous mayors and councils had id e a l i z e d c o op erat ion and pointed to the services that were currently shared as evidence of thei r ha rmony wh i le it was clear relationships

were any thing but coll ab orat ive. E a rly conve rs at io n s w it h m a ny members of council and new mayors have generated cautious optimism amongst our board and chamber members that a shift in cooperation is happening. I n t h e l e a d u p to t h e election, many citizens of Sidney and North Saanich expressed dissat i sfact ion ab out t he cha nge Sid ney was exp e r i e n c i n g. R e s p o n di ng to a perceived lack of control is legitimate; h o w e v e r, v e n t i n g , o r c h ro n i c c o m p l a i n i n g, always serves to deplete people’s energy, dampens positive attitudes, a nd almost inevitably results in people feeling wholly unmotivated to change behaviour. We s u p p o r t o u r m un icipa l le aders i n fostering a climate of entrepreneurialism and m i nd f u l g row th i n ou r com mu n it ies. We look forward to participating in discussions, about the complexion of the community we want to live

and do business in, where there is laser-like focus on generating ideas and zero time wasted on debating facts. We encourage future facilitators of t he OCP a nd a rea pla n discussions to be strict about having ideas travel through the process accompanied by solutions. We are wildly enthusiastic about consultation where problem solvers are engaged in creating the plan for change. It’s not our role to give adv ice, but we a nt icipate that this approach is less likely to result in a divorce four years from now. We look forward to work i ng w ith a l l th ree cou nci ls to see the appropriate infrastructure and foundation develop on t he Sa a n ich Pen i nsula, to not simply susta i n busi ness, but to ensure it thrives. Denny Warner is the Executive Director at the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at execdir@ peninsulachamber.ca

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GREATER VICTORIA

DECEMBER 2018

SHOP LOCAL AND SPREAD THE WORD “According to ThinkLocalVictoria.com, as much as “three times more money stays in the local economy when you

GREATER VICTORIA CATHERINE HOLT

t’s a familiar refrain at this time of year: shop local because it’s the right thing to do. Of course, it’s also the smart thing to do (if you’re reading this column, it’s safe to assume you know that). First of all, spending money at businesses in your community creates jobs. And not just frontline staff and employees. Entrepreneurs take on tremendous risk to set up shop. They work long hours to provide goods and services tailored to our community. The by-products of those efforts are one-of-a-kind retail and dining experiences that make Greater Victoria such a desirable location to live, work and visit. And while tourism provides

buy from locally owned businesses.” a big boost that helps our city punch above our weight, it’s the year-round patronage of local residents that allows small businesses to keep the lights on beyond summer. Another consideration is that local business people support your quality of life in ways that ordering from eBay or A mazon never will. According to ThinkLocalVictoria.com, as much a s “t h ree t i mes more money stays in the local economy when you buy from locally owned businesses.” When the kids in your neighbourhood need someone to sponsor their sports team or band trip, it’s always local businesses that step up to help. They are also the biggest supporter of charities, non-profits, and all of the organizations we rely on to maintain a healthy and vibrant community.

The great news is there is an appetite for local goods and services. For example, the Island Good campaign, announced last year to help shoppers identify products from Vancouver Island, has exceeded expectations and led to an average 16.4 per cent increase in sales for branded items. The Vancouver Island Economic Alliance commissioned the initial project, which was designed and led by Victoria’s Hot House Marketing. You might have noticed the new brand at participating grocery stores. The ultimate goal is to mark every product as “grown” or “made on Vancouver Island” so we can more easily find them and buy them. People want to shop local, even as the way we shop is changing. More and more, consumers are using their smart phones to augment their shopping experience. They want to engage over social media but they also want to enjoy life experiences in their neighbourhoods. We need to embrace this as an opportunity and take advantage of modern methods to reach target markets. Even the smallest businesses should have a web presence and a listing in The Chamber’s business directory — it really is one of the best ways to help raise your profile by ranking higher in search-engine results.

The Chamber directory is also the best guide to local shopping you’ll find! Enjoy your holiday shopping. Keep it loc a l a nd help you r friends and family. Supporting small businesses will ensure our

regional economy continues to remain healthy and vibrant for years to come. Catherine Holt is CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

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DECEMBER 2018

WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY, HOW THE BID CAME TOGETHER?

TOURISM VICTORIA PAUL NURSEY

he International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World U20 Championship is a Canadian tradition. Commonly known as simply the World Juniors, the tournament brings friends and families together across the country to cheer on the Canadian team over the holidays each year. As part of a long-term deal between the IIHF and Hockey Canada, Canada hosts the tournament every two years. And this year Victoria and Vancouver are the host cities. In the summer of 2016 Hockey Canada solicited

bids from Canadian cities. British Columbia had not hosted the tournament since 2006. Vancouver has a very strong and aggressive sport tourism strategy through a partnership between the City of Vancouver, Tourism Vancouver, Hotel Association of Vancouver, BC Pavilion Corporation, the Pacific National Exhibition and the University of British Columbia. This partnership bids effectively on many opportunities and as part of their bid, invited Victoria to participate. Destination Greater Victoria and our hotel community jumped at the opportunity. Appropriate levels of municipal, provincial, and tourism board sponsorship were committed to make the bid as strong as possible. Major corporate sponsors backed the bid as well, as well as Hockey BC. Bidding on the tournament was a highly competitive process. Vancouver and Victoria were not the only bids, as we competed with Edmonton/Calgary,

Ottawa and Halifax. However, our bid was successful, and we immediately got to work. Hockey Canada has a highly professional team that worked on securing the venues, hotels, transportation and other logistics. The Victoria Royals partnered on ticket sales and were instrumental in selling out the games. John Wilson of Wilson’s Group of Companies was named Chair of the Victoria Organizing Committee. He did a great job of bringing the community together. His hard work means there is a great deal of energy and excitement leading up to the first game in December. The World Juniors will provide a positive economic impact to our region. It took a lot of teamwork to bring the tournament to Victoria, but we know the community will embrace it and help make it a success. Paul Nursey is the President and CEO of Destination Greater Victoria

OFFICE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

CHEMISTRY CONSULTING DAWN ROBSON

multi-cultural employee base is a com mon rea l ity within Canada. According to a recent Statistics Canada report, 22.3 per cent of the population of Canada, or 7.7 million people, are visible minorities. During the holiday season, and throughout the year, organizations should recognize that their team members may have different religious and cultural traditions. This may play out in their willingness to participate in different activities within the office or in their requests for different holidays or time

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off. In order to provide a culturally sensitive environment, it is important to encourage learning about and respecting individual customs and traditions. Respecting diversity means understanding, accepting and celebrating differences versus trying to ignore them or trying to make everyone fit into one homogenous culture. If you are responsible for planning events for your organization, you should ensure that you respect these cultural and individual differences. It is a good rule of thumb to check a multi-faith calendar when you are planning an event to ensure that it does not fall on a religious holiday that you may not be aware of. If you are planning a full or multi-day event and have observant Muslims or Jews in attendance, you may want to check to see if there are mosques or synagogues nearby or provide for a designated prayer room. You will also need to consider your menu, for, in addition to dietary restrictions, some individuals may choose not to eat certain foods for religious reasons (i.e., Jews and Muslims don’t

eat pork, and there may be a requirement for Kosher or Halaal food.) It is important to ensure that you have lots of food alternatives, so that everyone can find options that align with their needs, don’t feel left out, or that they have to “bring their own” food. It is also a good idea to do some research into the customs and traditions of your team members as you won’t want to unknowingly offend everyone. If you are organizing entertainment or activities, be aware of the potential impact and try to find something that will appeal to people of all cultural ethnicities. Being as inclusive as possible in organizing your events will ref lect well on your organization. As members of a multi-cultural country, we have a unique opportunity to learn and appreciate the variety of interests and customs from around the world. Dawn Robson is an HR Consultant with Chemistry Consulting Group. She has over 25 years of Human Resources experience.

DECEMBER 2018

EVEN BIGGER LANGFORD PLANS FOR WOODSMERE HOLDINGS, W&J CONSTRUCTION W&J Has Now Broken Ground On The 120-Unit Orono Place

ICTORIA – Woodsmere Holdings Corp. has big plans for Langford. T hose pl a n s a re now even bigger, since the company has purchased an additional 4.24 acres at the Glenshire Properties site in Langford giving them a total footprint of 7.31 acres, over twice the size of the parcel they already owned. Danny Jadresko, President of Woodsmere and W&J Construction Ltd., which will construct the buildings, says they’re already mulling different possibilities for the high traffic site, including residential, commercial and both heavy and light industrial options. ”We had some plans already, but adding the 4.24 acres really opens up the opportunity to see what we wa nt to do,” he notes. “We’re ex ploring ou r options and have already started discussions with the City of Langford.” T he site is beh i nd Slegg

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Lumber, and a couple of concepts Jadresko says they are lo ok i n g at i s a s e l f s tora ge facil ity, a nd residentia l /i ndustria l work / l ive space, where people can live upstairs and work in their businesses d o w n s t a i rs . T h e s e m i x e duse options are becoming increasingly popular, as they are convenient and cost effective, eliminate commuting, and provides 24-hour security for all sections of the building due to the fact there is always somebody on the property, either upstairs in living quarters, or downstairs working. Mea nwh i le, the compa ny conti nues to move a head with other Langford building projects. The first of the Belmont Place Apartments buildings on Jacklin Road officially opened December 1, and Jadresko says the 74-unit building is fully rented. When the entire project is completed, it will include 222 units in total. T he second 74-unit apartment building is already 50 per cent rented. W&J Construction has now broken ground on the 120-unit Orono Place Apartments at 854 Orono Avenue. T he targeted c o m p l e t i o n d a te i s M a rc h , 2020. Wo o d s m e r e a n d W&J a r e family companies, led by Danny and Sandy as Comptroller. Their three children, Cody, Jacine and Misty also work in the company, with Cody, who is Project Coordinator for W&J, being groomed to lead the companies when Danny and Sandy retire. “I was raised in the industry, and my Dad has been taking me to job sites in Victoria and all over Alberta since I was a kid,” says Cody. “As I grew up, I spent a lot of time running l a rge a nd sm a l l equ ipment, d riv i ng du mp trucks, fra mi ng, d r y wa l l i ng, doi ng m asonry work, landscaping and

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Cody Jadresko with one of the company’s newest trucks everything in between on the construction side.” Co dy h a s p o s t-s e c on d a r y education from both the University of Victoria and Camosun College, and is nearing the completion of his Bachelor of Business degree. He spends 75 per cent of his work time in the office and 25 per cent on job sites, as he is working side by side with Danny with estimating, tendering, rezoning and land acquisitions. He also enjoys the design and planning aspect of the business, and he works closely with the companies’ in-house designer, Rohit Sharma. “When we buy a site, we need to come up with designs and plans for that site,” he says. “W hat I l i ke about work i ng with Rohit is I can sit down and work beside him, taking our

building’s footprints and dimensions, moving them around a property to come up with a site plan that maximizes unit potential for that site. “It’s fun to purchase property, it’s fun to plan and it’s fun to build. It’s very rewarding.” Danny is always looking at potentia l opportu n ities a nd projects. “We’re looking at all areas, and looking for options,” he says. “That’s been the secret to our success. We’ve been able to adapt to markets when they are strong, and don’t go where the market is not.” Langford’s interest in having Woodsmere do projects in its municipality definitely caught Danny’s attention. “After extensive market research Woodsmere identified a nd u lt i m ately ag reed w it h

the mayor that Langford had a shortage of multi-family apartment-style housing units available for rent as well as being one of the top growth communities in BC,” he notes. “It d id not ta ke long for Woodsmere to acquire some key locations within Langford to develop into purpose built rental apartments. With the support of Langford’s mayor and council, Woodsmere’s professional engineers and architects have worked closely with Langford’s planning and engineering staff to rezone and redevelop these sites into rental housing.” It was in 1999 that Danny and Sandy incorporated Woodsmere Holdings Corp., which specializes in owning, managing and SEE WOODSMERE HOLDINGS | PAGE 9

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DECEMBER 2018

THE EFFECT OF THE CANADA POST STRIKE ON SMALL BUSINESS

ESQUIMALT CHRIS EDLEY

s I write this article, I am watching the news and seeing how Canada Post workers have been legislated back to work, meanwhile other unions have decided to chip in and impede the flow of mail. Within the private sector, 97.9 per cent of businesses are small businesses and they contribute over 40 per cent of Canada’s GDP; the vast majority of these are less that 20 people. The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has identified the growth of virtual marketplaces (ecommerce) as

Danny Jadresko, left, and Cody Jadresko

WOODSMERE HOLDINGS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

maintaining a real-estate portfolio of over 1,400 multi-family renta l u n its across Western Canada. I n 2007 t he Jad re skos expanded into Europe by incorporating Jadresko Nekretnine d.o.o. (Properties Ltd.) in Split, Croatia, with properties located on the Adriatic coast within the tourist center of the 1,711 year old Diocletian Palace. The area had once been the home of Roman Emperor Diocletian, and the massive 40foot walls that encompassed his compound remain today and surround the Jadresko properties and others. “There is no doubt in my mind that future housing needs are

going to be met by apartments and not single family homes,” he says. “More and more people are retiring and I believe there will be fewer people who will be able to afford to buy their own homes. That’s consistent with what’s happening in Europe. We’re pretty spoiled here now, but more and more people will be renters in the future.” Danny believes the Jadresko companies are well positioned to help me et t h at ex p e cte d need. “We a re wel l positioned to c ont r i b ute to b u i ld i n g a nd m a n a g i ng renta l u n its t h at people need now, and will need more of in the future,” he adds. www.wjconstruction.ca www.woodsmere.ca www.jadresko-nekretnine. com

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one of the three top technology trends in future businesses development (alongside the rise of the data economy and business automation). M a ny bu si nesses st i l l u se paper cheques as a means of payment and also use the postal system for incoming shipments of products, supplies and documents. Anyone that is even close to being involved with ecommerce knows how i mpor ta nt a rel i able mea n s of shipping is for survival. It should be no surprise then that Canadian small business needs a robust a nd rel iable posta l system. I urge both sides of the Canada Post problem to get to work solving your disagreements, and get the mail flowing. Also create a system that puts some stability into the postal service for years to come. Small business relies on Canada Post to deliver a service and there is little patience for those that disrupt it. Significant disruptions of the postal system can cause cash flow problems and can even turn away customers

who (rightfully) can’t rely on their ecommerce purchases to arrive on time. Canada’s future is being affected by this also. As BDC’s identified-trend trends, it can only be fueled by the support of a robust postal system. Without this, other countries will take dominance over our attempts at creating ecommerce marketplaces. This will have an effect beyond the current strike because it shows how fragile and unreliable our system can be, potentially driving investment elsewhere. In conclusion – my message is for government and unions alike: you are not just upsetting the flow of Christmas presents, you are having an immediate effect on sma l l busi ness, i n some cases a serious effect. Please resolve this quickly and give us a long-term stable postal system. Chris Edly, CD P.Eng is President of the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at chris@edley.ca

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DECEMBER 2018

CBS MASONRY BUILDS STRONG CUSTOMER SERVICE REPUTATION “CBS Masonry Ltd has Family-Owned and Operated Business Boasts Well Over a Century of Combined Experience

ICTORIA - CBS Masonry Ltd. has built an outstanding reputation for customer service brick by brick. Co-owned by Charlie Sims and his son Ashley Sims, the compa ny boasts a combi ned 174 years of experience, offering a full range of masonry products and services, as well as design and consulting services for an additional fee. Over the last six years, the company has been recognized as finalists for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Torch Awards Gala presentation night, winning successfully on three occasions, and placing second three times. “CBS Masonry Ltd has built a very strong reputation in our community (Victoria and the surrounding area), and we’re very proud of it,” says Charlie. “We’re a family business that puts quality above all else, and we’ve been recognized for that on several occasions.” T he te a m i s s upp or te d by Charlie’s wife Gina, who works

built a very strong reputation in our community (Victoria and the surrounding area), and we’re very proud of it. We’re a family business that puts quality above all else, and we’ve been recognized for that on several occasions.” CHARLIE SIMS CO-OWNER OF CBS MASONRY LTD.

The China Gardens project involved a full restoration, grind, and repoint, as well as adding reinforced steel and anchors to bring building up to current earthquake standards

CBS Masonry

as the company’s Office Manager, and Ashley’s wife Samantha, who undertakes duties including performing on-site checks, collecting payroll, managing the maintenance schedule, and more. Both owners have an extensive background in the industry. Charlie has been working as a stone mason and bricklayer for over 45 years, starting a threeyear apprenticeship in the UK at age 16. This was followed by two years of additional training in blueprint reading, Quantity Surveying, on-site works/project scheduling and works/project Estimating. A f ter bu i ld i ng a reputable business with his father, Brian, Charlie moved to Ontario to build a professional masonry business. Shortly after, his sons, Adrian and Ashley, began to learn the trade in the family business. Ashley has been working with Charlie since he was 14, working SEE CBS MASONRY | PAGE 11

Charlie (Right) and Ashley (Left) Sims are the co-owners of CBS Masonry

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DECEMBER 2018

Travis Butler Takes the Reins of Company After Nearly 80 Years in Business

A driveway completed by CBS Masonry

CBS MASONRY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

on the weekend while the family was living in Ontario. From an early age, he has been interested in working with tools, and u si n g a t rowel to pl ay around with bricks and masonry cement mortar. “ He s lowly a nd w it h great enjoyment took to his part time work, and as the years progressed, I could see that working with masonry, he had a natural flare for advancement in this field, then progressing to using bricks and creating his own projects,” says Charlie. A fter completing a three-year apprenticeship in the art of bricklaying and stone masonry at the London Institute of the UK, Ashley has worked for about 12 years, developing a reputation for excellence in his field, being very conscientious and having an eye for detail. J o i n i n g C h a rl i e a s a partner in August 2017, Ashley has been praised for h is perfected ski l ls a nd close at tent ion to detail. Customers have responded to his work by nominating the company for BBB Torch Awards and

offering overwhelmingly positive reviews of the busi ness si nce joi n i ng BBB of Victoria for the last 6 years. A sh ley now r u n s approximately 80 per cent of the company, organizing and operating most of the day-to-day operations, including dealing with est i m ates a nd quotes, customers, employees, and project coordination, residential, Contractors, Property Management, Property Strata’s, Co-Op Housing, VISOA and CRD to name a few. Further information is available on the company website. Charlie continues to run the family business as the company’s Director, but will still pick up the tools if he’s needed on a job site, especially when they are busy with five months of scheduled projects. With 12 employees on payroll and a fleet of nine company vehicles, CBS Masonry Ltd. offers a host of services that includes: specialty works in the repair, rebuild, renewing o r re pl a c i n g of c h i mney stacks, restoration work, natural stone/rock work, ornamental feature work, flagstone, patios, sidewa l ks, pathways,

concrete and more. With a commitment to high-end professionali sm, cu stomer ser v ice exc el lenc e, t r u s t p erformance, and integrity, the company holds itself to the same high safety (WCB) quality and produ c t ion s t a nd a rd s for every project, from the biggest to the smallest. W hether a client is looking for masonry contractors, rock and stone masons, bricklayers, or tile installers, CBS Mason ry Ltd. has a certified crew that is able to me et a l mos t a ny ne e d w i t h a h i g h d e g re e o f professionalism. I n a recent i nter v iew w it h t he BBB, Ch a rl ie stated, “It’s a pleasure at CBS Masonry Ltd. to have such a hard-worki n g , g r e a t c r e w, w i t h whom Ash ley a nd I a re ver y proud a nd priv i leged to have as employees. Our team works very hard, with pride and aims to d e l ive r c o nt i n u o u s ‘quality workmanship.’ Both A sh ley a nd I w i l l continue to work hard to make CBS Masonry Ltd. a successful and reputable family owned and operated company.” www.cbsmasonry.com

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Left to Right: Robert Niven (CEO of CarbonCure) Gord Bowcott (fleet & equipment manager), Travis Butler (president), Owen McLeod (concrete operations manager), Prab Hundial (concrete delivery professional)

BUTLER BROTHERS SUPPLIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Supplies, which will maintain ownership of the company’s gravel pits and the property development core of those sites. “This is a unique situation that we don’t often see in the world of family business,” says T ravis. “The actual numbers of second generation family businesses being passed on to the third generation a re qu ite low, so we’re really happy and proud to be where we’re at. “This transition is possible thanks to the success of my father and his father and uncles before him. The energy and effort they put into building this organization has helped it thrive within this community, allowing it to take part in the growth of the southern end of Vancouver Island.” T he Butler fa m ily has deep roots in the Saanich Peninsula since Captain G eorge Stephen Butler began farming in the area in 1868. In the 1940s, four of Captain George Stephen Butler’s grandchildren, Claude, Wally, Tom, and Eric (Brian’s father), fou nd e d a compa ny to serve the logging industry and sell gravel. The company has been involved in the manufacturing and sales of readym i x concrete si nce the 1950s, which came alongside a logging division and building supply store. “I started working with t he compa ny at a ver y young age,” says Brian. “I

worked starting at age 14, and after working on and off for a a number of years, I came back permanently at the end of 1984 to take over the company.” When Brian took over, he began making some changes, ta k i ng focus away f rom i r r igat ion equ ipment, lumber, and hardware sales. He added more gravel pits and increased the company’s concrete operations, building the bu si ness to where it is today. His son Travis had also been work i ng w it h t he compa ny from a you ng age, and he recalls helping out as early as grade four. He eventually took on a summer job with Butler Brothers around age 14, returning each summ e r u n t i l h i g h s c h o ol graduation. Travis has been with the company full time since November 2002, initially working in a dispatch role as well as a sales representative role. “I eventually moved out to the Sooke location to take on the responsibility of assistant production manager before being promoted to the manager for Sooke,” he says. “In 2014 I came back to Victoria to become a sales manager, and took on the role of vice president in 2015.” Under the new company s t r u c t u re, T rav i s w i l l continue as Vice President of Butler Brothers Supply, while being named president of t he newly

formed Butler Concrete and Aggregates. “Moving forward, the core focus of our business will not change, and we will remain focussed on the concrete and aggregate realm,” he continues. “Over the next year, we a re worki ng to sol id i fy the changes and get established before we look to pushing out in some new directions.” “As we’ve been working together the last couple of years, my father and I have been in different stages in life. He has been preparing to exit and I’ve been pushing for growth and expansion. This new entity allows for putting my own spin on things, and I’m excited about what’s coming in future years.” Already, Travis has been making strides to increase his company’s sustainability by partnering with CarbonCure, which uses cutting edge technology to introduce recycled CO2 into fresh concrete. Today, Butler Concrete and Aggregates is one of the greenest concrete providers in Western Canada. A ll of this change and for wa rd moment u m i s only possible because of the generations that have come before. “We owe a great debt of gratitude to all the family members, staff, and employees that have worked here,” says Travis. “They have built such a strong operation, and have allowed us to take the company forward and into the third generation.” www.butlerbros.bc.ca

DECEMBER 2018

ABORIGINAL BUSINESS First Nations Economic Development Offers Many Opportunities

c o n o m i c d e v e lo p m e n t w ith i n Fi rst Nations is the land of opportunity for the private sector in British Columbia. As First Nations continue to move forward in varying degrees toward full treaty status and ownership of land and resources, as well as economic self-sustainability, it creates a beacon of light for companies faced with multiplied decades of federal, provincial, regional district and municipal government bureaucracy and red tape. Aggressive First Nations will be able to offer entrepreneurs and investors a chance to build and develop projects within a relatively unencumbered environment. As any jurisdiction could do, a First Nation could provide prospective investors competitive tax benefits and faster than typical development periods to kick start investment on their land. As they’re just getting started, relatively speaking, First Nations economic development drivers can take advantage of the slower pace of other government bureaucracies to give them an upper hand and make their opportunities even more attractive for i nvestors a nd partners. There are an increasing number of First Nation economic development success stories in BC, in virtually every area of the province. One of the most successful has been the well-chronicled effort of the Osoyoos Indian Band, whose office is in Oliver, and the Westbank First Nation in Kelowna. Anyone driving on Highway 17 in the lower mainland can witness the enormous Tsawwassen

From left, Ucluelet First Nation President Les Doiron with Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie Com mon s a nd Tsaw wa ssen Mills shopping centres built by the Tsawwassen Indian Band, which is transforming lower mainland retail shopping.

The malls include many of the major names in restaurant and retail operations, and construction is ongoing on new residential housing units.

The Chemainus (Stz’uminus) First Nation’s Oyster Bay development continues to rise next SEE FIRST NATIONS | PAGE 13

ABORIGINAL BUSINESS

DECEMBER 2018

FIRST NATIONS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

to the Island Highway just north of Ladysmith. T he Coast Sa l ish Development Corporation is the economic developm e n t a r m o f S t z ’ u minus and is guiding the Oyster Bay community, which recently opened a new 81-unit Microtel by Wyndham hotel, beside a branch of the Ladysmith & District Credit Union, a liquor store, and a Tim Hortons/Esso gas station, across the highway from the existing Husky/A&W Restaurant. The entire development spans 65 acres, and includes a substantial residential component. Campbell River Indian Band, now Wei Wai Kum First Nation, was one of the first native groups to aggressively move into economic development. legislation Their transformation of the north Campbell River waterfront resulted in a quantum shift in the city’s retail sector, as several big box retail stores anchored t he new development, leaving other areas, including downtown, to do so.

Their list of companies is impressive, starting with the game changing Discovery Harbour Shopping Centre, and a number of other operations including Discovery Harbour Marina, CRIBCO Forest Products Ltd, Thunderbird RV Park & Resort, and retail stores. Ch ief Cl a renc e L o uie leads Osoyoos Indian Band, which runs a number of successful businesses under the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation banner. T hey include NK’MIP Desert Cultural Centre, NK’MIP Campground & RV Park, NK’MIP Cellars, NK’MIP Resort, NK’MIP Gas a nd Conven ience S t o r e , N K ’ M I P C o rner, NK’MIP Vineyards, NK’MIP Conference Centre, NK’MIP Canyon Desert Golf Course, Spirit Ridge at NK’MIP Resort, Ca nyon Desert Resort, Senkulmen Business Park, and Oliver Readi-Mix LP. A luxury car race track, Area 27 Motorsports Park, is also located on NK’Mip Road in Oliver. Westbank First Nation has made quantum leaps forward, starting when former Chief Robert Louie negotiated water and

sewer services with the provincial government that wanted to upgrade Highway 97 through their territory. Louie also introduced a nd i nclud e d word i n g that insured investment decisions on First Nations land would be guaranteed not to be able to be overt u r ne d b y s u b se q u ent gove r n m e nt. T h i s i nsurance preceded much of the substantial retail development that runs on both sides of the highway in West Kelowna. This is, really, the time for First Nations economic development. Many nations have watched their own young people go off to university and post-secondary institutions, earning valuable educations that help them identify opportunities, and equip them w ith the tools to make things happen. And, once a First Nation achieves full treaty status, they are, effectively, their own “new” country, with a clean slate upon which they can create their future. It’s an exciting prospect for the First Nation, and for those who choose to i nve s t i n t h e m a ny oppor tu n ities that a re available.

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GWAII ENGINEERING PUTS RELATIONSHIPS FIRST “Through our pre-existing relationships with several indigenous communities, we knew the conventional

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consulting model was leaving a lot to be desired. There were several gaps that weren’t being addressed, often leading to mistrust, and we knew we had to set

ICTORIA - At Gwaii Engineering, relationships come first. Founded in 2017 by Principals Corey Brown, Mike Achtem, and Joshua Bartley, the aboriginal-owned consulting company is bri ng i ng its civ i l a nd environmental engineering, and complimentary community development and housing services to First Nation communities on Vancouver Island, the BC coast, and beyond. “I a m or ig i n a l ly f rom Old Masset in Haida Gwaii,» says Brown, «My partners and I developed the idea for Gwaii Engineering over the last five or six years.” Brown has been working with partners Achtem and Bartley for over eight years, and decided to start the company shortly after acquiring his Masters of Engineering Degree from the University of British Columbia. “T hrough our pre-existing relationships with several indigenous communities, we knew the conventional consulting

ourselves apart.» COREY BROWN PRINCIPAL AT GWAII ENGINEERING

Left to Right: Joshua Barley, Corey Brown, Kear Porttris, Mike Achtem model was leaving a lot to be desired,” reflects Brown. “There were several gaps that weren’t being addressed, often leading to mistrust, and we knew we had to set ourselves apart.» For Brown and the other partners, bridging these gaps and building meaningful relationships became the number one priority. “We aren’t interested in just barging into these communities looking for work,” he continues. “We take a more personal and values-based approach and get a feel for the unique needs of each individual Nation and its citizens. We aim to become a part of the community. Our primary goal is supporting work that is ‘by Indigenous, for Indigenous,’

which means supporting the community wherever we can, making connections, and finding the most appropriate solution for the Nation.» After the company was formally established in March of last year, the team spent the first twelve months building relationships, travelling to Nations, and attending various aboriginal business conferences. “S i n c e o u r i n c e p t i o n , w e have grown from three partners to five, and have a number of people either on contract or available at short notice to meet the demand,” says Brown. The growing team has allowed Gwaii Engineering to serve communities throughout the entire lifespan of a project.

“In the last few months, we added a professional planner to ou r tea m who was prev iously the Manager of Planning and Development at M’akola Development Services,” says Brow n. “She’s now le ad i ng Gwaii’s planning efforts and works with communities on a number of housing and grant funding initiatives in Victoria and around the province. Gwaii has also added a 3D graphics division which provides realistic design and renderings of proposed projects. “We are now able to offer an all-in-one development service to our clients. Gwaii works with Nations on community planning and housing initiatives, which transitions naturally into engineering design and construction, before handing the project back to the client. We

can be there from day one, starting with project conception as well as environmental cleanup and stewardship, design, construction, and close-out phases, including offering ongoing operations and maintenance support. While on the job, the team at Gwaii Engineering endeavors to give back to these communities in any way they can. “Throughout my upbringing, I had a lot of support from my Nation back home, helping me grow personally and to achieve my education goals,” says Brown. “We’re always looking for ways to give back, whether it’s meeting with community youth and encouraging them with their career pursuits or helping build capacity. We want to leave a lasting impact on every community we work with.” www.gwaiieng.com

DECEMBER 2018

VICTORIA DRAIN SERVICES NETS FOURTH TORCH AWARD Local Drain Specialists Grow from Home-Based Operation to Industry Leaders

ICTORIA - Victoria Drain Services Ltd. took home its fourth Torch Award from the Better Business Bureau. The residential, commercial, and municipal drainage specialists took home the top prize for the Contractors category at an awards gala on November 2 at the Union Club of BC in Victoria. “This award is more for our staff than it is for me,” says ow ner Dave Lloyd. “T hey’re the ones who are on the ground, working hard to make our customers happy. That’s why we always take our management crew with us to the awards gala.” Lloyd founded the company 16 years ago after completing some drain work on his own home. The structure was built in the 1940s, and each house on the street had a similar drainage problem related to the building’s original materials. “One thing led to another, and the next thing you know, I started replacing all my neighbour’s drains,” he continues. “T he company started with myself

working out of the garage and the backyard of the house. We eventually purchased the neighbour’s house to expand for parking, and from there, we started looking for a building to move into.” Lloyd found a lot and began drawing up plans for his new headquarters, but just before they were ready to start construction, he realized the company had already outgrown the new facility. This led the team to its current 6500 square foot location at 31 Regina Avenue. In the last year, Victoria Drain Services experienced substantial growth due to the acquisition of Island Pipe Inspection (IPI), bringing the employee count to about 30. They currently operate out of four Victoria locations (the head office, two satellite yards, and the former IPI head office), but are consolidating the the staff into the Regina Avenue headquarters. “Victoria Drains has always focussed mostly on residential while doing some commercial work,” says Lloyd. “IPI focussed on municipal and commercial, so now we’re the only company on the Island who offer the whole scale of drain work from residential to municipal. This acquisition was a perfect fit for us, and we’re now able to offer more services than ever.”

Congratulations to Dave and the Team at Victoria Drain Services

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Victoria Drain Services now boasts a staff of over 30 since its acquisition of Island Pipe Inspection earlier this year Today, the company provides a range of services including power rooting, waterline leak detection, storm and sewer line replacements, mini excavating and trucking, and more. They field a fleet of service vehicles and an excavation division that includes several dump trucks and mini excavators. They offer a full range of camera work where they can examine the interior lines with a special CCTV system that can provide information about underground pipes to remove the need for exploratory digging. Currently, the company is Vancouver Island’s only pipe lining service provider. This technology saves clients thousands of dollars by allowing technicians to work inside pipes without needing to rip up concrete floors, driveways, or even asbestos walls to conduct repairs. “It’s like putting a stent in an artery instead of open heart surgery,” he says. According to Lloyd, the company’s success wouldn’t be possible without his outstanding management crew. “If I could go back and do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing about my management crew,” he says. “They’re just except iona l people who a re

“A majority of our estimates are very accurate, and we’re very up front and transparent with our quotes. We’ve seen other companies give a quotes that may beat our price, but at the end of the job, the client ends up paying much more more than they anticipated due to unexpected costs.” DAVE LLOYD OWNER OF VICTORIA DRAIN SERVICES LTD.

personable and aren’t all about the money. I’m extremely proud of my staff.” “We rea l ly just try to ta ke care of our customers. We pride ourselves in having the proper equipment for the jobs, and do a lot of training - in house as well as outside specialists.” The team works hard to give customers the best possible experience with an accurate, transparent quoting process to ensure clients are aware of all potential costs. “A majority of our estimates are very accurate, and we’re very up front and transparent with our quotes,” continues Lloyd. “We’ve seen other companies give quotes that may beat our price, but at the end of the job,

the client ends up paying much more more than they anticipated due to unexpected costs.” While many drainage companies tend to work in plumbing and drain work, Victoria Drain Services has decided to stay focussed on what they do best. Lloyd emphasizes, “We don’t do plumbing. We do drainage. Now that most plumbing companies realize we’re not competing with them, we’ve been getting a lot more calls to help them out on a job. “We’re 100 per cent drainage, and that means we’re staying on top of industry innovation, offering the highest level of service and expertise we can. We’re drain specialists.” www.victoriadrains.com

Congratulations to Victoria Drain Services on your success in business.

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DECEMBER 2018

CONSTRUCTION Vancouver Island Builders Meet Growing Needs in Spite of Labour Shortages Recent Years Show Record-Breaking Building Permit Numbers

Projects like the recent Nanaimo Airport Expansion are indicators of the region’s significant growth BY ROBERT MACDONALD

or Va ncouver I sl a nd , 2018 has been a year of record-setting building perm it nu mbers for a const r uct ion i ndu st r y t h at i s

struggling to find workers. As costs rise in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island is seei ng more tra ffic tha n ever, and it’s having a massive impact on the region’s contractors.

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“We have a strong economy and a strong presence on the Island,” says Rory Kulmala, Ch ief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA). “The region continues to be

a n attractive place to l ive, and we’re continuing to see investment. By default, construction activity is reflecting the regional attractiveness. SEE CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 17

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“Over the last three to four yea rs, we’ve seen record numbers of building permits. T hese permits are an indicator of the type of activity that’s going on, particularly with residential permits. So

far, the action in Vancouver has made its way to Victoria and is gradually making its way up Island.” As the residentia l ma rket g rows, mu n icipa l it ies a re investing to meet the population growth. Over the last fo u r y e a r s , c o m m u n i t i e s throughout the Island have

i nstigated severa l major projects, i nclud i ng br idge replacements, sewage treatment plants, and significant investment at universities and airports. “We’ve been making great strides and contributions to respond to an optimistic economic climate on the Island,”

With as many as a dozen new highrise projects underway in Victoria, builders are working to keep up with increased demand for commercial and residential space

says Kulmala. “In the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional sector, we’ve seen unprecedented growth, especially in Greater Victoria. “With less than one per cent vacancy in the region, there’s been an increase in demand for development i n severa l sectors. Right now, downtown

17 Victoria has as ma ny as 12 high rise projects in progress. We’ve never seen that level of activity before.” Up Island, as residential developments are hitting record numbers, new infrastructure projects a re now requ i red. SEE CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 18

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DECEMBER 2018

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The last few years have already seen the completion of several major projects including the mammoth North Island Hospita ls project i n Courtenay and Campbell River. I n add it ion to t hese municipal projects, the region has seen billions of dollars of investment i n s ite s l i ke t he Joh n Hart Dam and the Kwispaa LNG project. While the Island is experiencing a period of unprecedented growth, the industry’s growing labour shortage remains a concer n for m a ny contractors, BuildForce Canada’s annual report included the following summary of BC’s construction industry: “British Columbia’s near-term growth outlook is strong relat ive to ot her Wester n p ro v i n c e s , b u t m u c h o f t h e a v a i l a b l e s u rplus workforce released from Alberta when the o i l p r i c e f e l l i n 2 015 a nd major project activity declined, has already been absorbed in British Columbia or by other provinces. Relyi ng on the supply of

“With less than one per cent vacancy in the region, there’s been an increase in demand for development in several sectors. Right now, downtown Victoria has as many as 12 high rise projects in progress. We’ve never seen that level of activity before.” RORY KULMALA CEO OF THE VANCOUVER ISLAND CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION

out-of-province workers may become increasi n g l y d i f f i c u l t go i n g forwa rd. Meeti ng ongoing labour demands w i l l be cont i ngent on t he i ndust r y’s abi l ity to continue attracting a nd t ra i n i ng workers from outside construction or from outside the province as many of the province’s major projects reach peak demand requirements.“ T h i s re p o r t s h o we d that the nex t decade will likely see the exit of nearly 41,000 skilled workers to due retirement or mortality (about 22 per cent of the current labour force). This i s cont ra sted w it h a n estimated 33,000 firsttime new entrants expected to be drawn from

the local 30 and younger population. In its recently released National Summary covering the years 2018 to 2027, Bu ild Force projected that the present skilled labour shortage that is impacting companies across the nation will continue to worsen. In the summary of the BuildForce Canada report, Bill Ferreira, the group’s Executive Director said the industry has to take steps to head of f a potentia l labou r crisis. “ T h i s d e c a d e, Ca nad a need s as m a ny as 277,000 constr uction workers to meet labour dema nds a nd cou nter rising retirements,” he SEE CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 19

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Nationwide labour shortages mean a decrease in worker migration

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DECEMBER 2018

“The construction industry on the Island has really been punching above its weight, but it’s and responding demand.” RORY KULMALA CEO OF THE VANCOUVER ISLAND CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION

Rory Kulmala is CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association said. “With these challenges in mind, the industry will need to step up recruitment efforts and do all it can to encou rage fa r more new Ca nad ia ns, women, and Indigenous people to joi n Ca nada’s construction workforce.” For Fairley, while progress has been made, the present small percentage of female involvement is an obvious sign that t here’s st i l l plenty of room for improvement. “There’s no escaping the fact that the older segment of our industry is leaving which creates a real potential for women,” she conc l u d e s . “ We ’ r e n o w acutely feeling what a labour shortage does to construction and it’s not a problem you’re going to fix by looking at only 50 per cent of the population, you simply have to put it on the table for the other 50 per cent as well, make it an option and women will recognize it and take it.” According to Kulmala, Vancouver Island will be significantly affected by the shortage, especially due to a decrease in worker migration. “We’re busy across the country, and areas like Victoria are becoming increasingly restrictive a nd u n a f ford a ble for workers,” he says. “Because the labour shortages are province-wide, many tradespeople are

able to find work in their ow n re g ion s w it h o ut moving, so its making m ig ration more of a challenge. “For that reason, we a re s upp or t ive of i nit i at ive s t h at lo ok at growing our real estate market, making it more accessible, especia l ly with this one per cent vacancy rate in Victoria. We are also voicing our opinion on how recent

provincial legislations a re i mpacti ng the i ndu st r y, a nd we’re a lways looking to create streamlined processes that create more efficient processes for industry professionals.” Currently, the organization, a longside the British Columbia Construction Association (B CC A), i s f i g ht i n g issues like the mandatory unionization clause

The Island’s construction industry has remained resilient in the face of several major challenges

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Asbestos is the number one cause of death for workers in construction. As an employer it’s your responsibility to protect your workers from the dangers of asbestos.

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Asbestos exposure remains the leading cause of occupational disease in the province; those with the highest risk of exposure are maintenance, custodial, and contract workers hired for repairs or renovations in and around commercial buildings. Under the Workers Compensation Act, commercial property owners are required to maintain any land “being used as a workplace in a manner that ensures the health and safety of persons at or near the workplace.” If your work disturbs asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), you and your workers face a risk of exposure to asbestos. That’s why WorkSafeBC’s prevention officers are conducting planned inspections of commercial demolition and renovation worksites to ensure prime contractors, hazardous-materials consultants, abatement contractors, and demolition contractors are properly informed and equipped to safely remove ACMs. The officers are ensuring that the whole process, from start to finish, is done in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. What are the risks? From a professional standpoint, the consequences of improper handling and disposal of asbestos are serious. Not deal-

ing with asbestos properly can result in WorkSafeBC ﬁnes or Stop Work Orders, which will harm your business through lost hours, blown deadlines, and cancelled projects. And if word gets out that you cut corners and don’t take asbestos seriously, it could harm your professional reputation. Professional reputation aside, what about the health of you and your workers? Exposure to asbestos is the number one cause of death for workers in the construction industry. It can lead to devastating health complications later in life including: mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and more. If you’re an employer, you’re responsible for your workers’ health and safety, and that includes protecting them from asbestos exposure. Follow the protocols to identify asbestos properly and remove it safely, and comply with required work procedures. You have a responsibility to do your job, do it right and protect everyone from the dangers of asbestos. We’re here to help You can ﬁnd the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Guideline and a variety of resources to help you learn more about how to prevent occupational asbestos exposure at worksafebc.com/asbestos.

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CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

in the Community Benefits Agreement and steel tariffs to help the industry maintain efficiency. “T he construction industry on the Island has really been punching above its weight, but it’s been delivering, and responding well to the

growing demand,” says Kulmala, who has been w ith the orga n ization since March 1, 2017. He has been working in the construction industry throughout Canada for the last 25 yea rs, primarily in the West as a general contractor and ow ner for both publ ic and private sectors. “My predecessor was

here for almost 11 years, and since assuming this role, my goal has been to continue to drive positive member value,” he says. “We’re continuing to engage our membership to create an association that meets their needs through education, advocacy, and promoting the trades.” www.vicabc.ca

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We didn’t stop at just flags

IDNEY – Empire Hydrogen Energy Systems captured a Vancouver Island EcoStar Award Nov. 22 at the Delt a Ocean Pointe Resort, and they hope the recognition helps propel them forward to new global markets. A total of 15 companies were honoured at the event, organized by the Synerg y Sustainability Institute. Empire won its award in Technology Excellence, and was also a finalist in the Transportation Mode Shift category. E m p i re Hy d ro ge n Executive Vice President Andrew Evans has been with the company since 2016, and explains “our product is a box that goes on any transport truck or large diesel engine. We use electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases that f low into the cylinders. Because hydrogen burns so much faster than diesel fuel, it gives them 10-20 per cent better fuel economy and cuts the emissions in half.

Housing Market Looks for Balance

Local Service on Vancouver Island.

“It took eight years and $3 million in investment to get it to perfection it,” he adds. “We have had over 100 of our boxes in operation in trucks, boats, generators and buses through t he test phase, a nd we a re now re ady for f u l l commercialization.” Empire Hydrogen CEO and majority shareholder Sven Tjelta notes “This is the resu lt of a lot of work by a great team of

engineers and technicians. Our whole team can take a lot of pride in being recognized for building someth i ng that is really special.” Empi re Hyd rogen has seven employees working in the industrial park near Victoria International Airport in Sidney. “Winning awards is very nice and it is recognition for all t he work we h ave done, but now that we’ve finished the product, we rea lly want to go to the market in a big way, across North A merica, Eu rope a nd i nto Asia,” says Evans. “Now, our goal is to raise equity through new partners to help us reach into other countries and tell them about this product. We’re looking for equity investors that realize that we have a product that is ready to reach the world.” For further information, visit www.empirehydrogen. com

ICTORIA – A total of 598 properties s ol d i n t h e Victoria Real Estate Board region this October, 9.9 per cent fewer than the 664 properties sold i n October of last year, but a 12.2 per cent increase f rom Septemb er 2018. Sales of condominiums were down 15.5 per cent from last year in October with 180 units sold, but up 20.8 per cent when c ompa re d to S ep tember 2018. Sa les of si ngle-family homes were down 14.7 per cent from 2017 with 289 sold this O c to b e r, 1. 4 p e r c e n t more than the previous month. “We continue to see the housing market shift into a more balanced state, though the trajectory is not smooth,” says Victoria Real Estate Board President Kyle Kerr. “This month had slower sales compared to last year and a slightly lower level of inventory coming into the

market, but it also had an increase in sales from last month, which may surprise some people. The moderating changes over last year have been punctuated with some competition and price pressure on lower and mid-priced homes while the upper end of t he m a rket h a s softened slightly. Right now, pricing is key across all segments as we transition to a more balanced market.” T h e re w a s a to t a l of 2 ,5 10 a c t ive l i s t i n g s for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service at the end of October 2018, a n i ncrease of 31.8 per cent compared to October 2017 but 5.1 per cent fewer t h a n t he mont h previous. “ T h e m a rk e t i s d e fi n itely react i ng to t he ch a nges i n mor tgage lending requirements,” a d d s P r e s i d e n t K e r r. “Lending was made tougher to dampen the

market and these measures have certainly had an impact on purchasing power. The threat of the looming Speculation and Vacancy tax has also cooled development in ou r a rea, wh ich is u nfor tu n ate becau se t he only way to create affordable homes in our area is to build them. We hope that moving forward the mu n icipa l, prov i nci a l and federal governments will work collaboratively to enable more supply at all levels of housing by funding public / private partnerships to support t he i ncrease of home stock in our area.” T he Mu lt iple L i st i ng Service Home Price Index bench ma rk va lue for a single-family home in the Victoria Core in October 2017 was $830,100, while the benchmark value for the same home in October 2018 increased by 6.1 per cent to $881,000, slightly lower than September’s value of $883,700.

DECEMBER 2018

Graphic Office Opens Up Design Possibilities

ANAIMO - Graphic Office Interiors is offering clients nearly infinite possibilities when it comes to office furniture and design. Now over 50 years old, the company’s Victoria and Nanaimo locations offer design, installation & moving, warehousing, and flooring installation services to the whole Island. By using cutting edge software like AutoCad, CET, and Google Sketchup, the company’s designers are able to bring a client’s vision to life with photo-realistic 3D interior renderings and 2D reference plans. “Our furniture design, order management, project management, installation, and closeout is all done internally,” says owner Steve Nagy. “Most of the manufacturing is done by Steelcase, with whom we are a premier partner.” T he company is Vancouver Island’s only Steelcase dealer, which means they are able to offer some of the most customizable furniture to offices throughout the region. “Steelcase holds over 1,700 patents for their products, and invests a huge amount into research and developments,” says Nagy. “They aren’t just looking to capitalize on trends. They’re pushing the boundaries, coming

Graphic Office is Vancouver Island’s only Steelcase dealer up with useful, innovative products that benefit millions of customers. “Steelcase is also one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world, and is worth over $3 Billion. As part of their strategic partnerships, they have partnered with several large companies, including west elm and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.” Nearly 25 per cent of Steelcase shipments are custom-made f u rn itu re, a nd the compa ny is frequently applying for new patents. Nagy describes an example of a new Steelcase product: “In the office design industry, we’re

starting to see an increased use of modular walls, which are notorious for their mediocre acoustics. Steelcase has recently patented a brand new wall system, which is a four inch wall that can go up to STC 53, the level of sound protection you see in most condos.” Steelcase is also one of the industry’s more environmentally conscious manufacturers and is one of only 30 large-scale US manufacturers that uses 100 per cent green power. Graphic Office was started in 1966 by John Varrelman, an interior designer who immigrated from England. The company grew steadily over the next 20

years, and in 1988, started selling systems furniture. Nagy has been working with the Graphic Office since 1980, becoming part owner in 1989, and eventually acquiring full ownership of the business. In 1994, the company opened its Nanaimo branch, and about three years ago, the Victoria branch moved into its new, state-of-theart 32,000 square foot building. “We use a unique storage system, composed of binning systems,” says Nagy. “We use a lift that takes employees up with the box into the system. The warehouse has a 40-foot high ceiling, and this lift goes about 30 feet in the air. Of the 32,000 square feet, about a third is dedicated to prep and logistics so each piece of furniture goes to the site ready to install.” In recent years, the company has been hired for some of the biggest office projects on the Island, including the North Island Hospital project in Comox and Campbell River. “We were up there on a regular basis for at least three months,” says Nagy. “For projects like these, we get called in in the implementation phase, and construction plans are typically already established. “We w i l l desig n-d raw ou r f u r n it u re, so we work w it h

cu stomers to come up w it h solutions that work for a large number of individuals. Through Steelcase, the drawings we produce become our bill of materials. If we put finishes in, it will come through on the whole quotation and order cycle. We take the info from the drawings into our financial ordering system, then to the factory, then from the factory to us, all the way through to the final invoice.” As the company continues to invest in the Vancouver Island market, Nagy is keeping track of some design trends coming up from California. “The biggest trend we’re seeing, especially in office spaces in San Francisco, is a mix between workstations and soft seating with a lounge-like feel and low tables,” says Nagy. “This combination of residential and commercial (‘resi-commercial’) allows employees to take advantage of the mobility afforded by laptops and personal devices. “This helps create more collaborative zones and a team-based agile approach to the workplace. I think we’ll start seeing this trend hit BC more in the next three to four years, and we’re already seeing it implemented in some tech companies, or even at a government level.” www.graphicoffice.com

VICTORIAN PAINTERS FINDS UNIQUE NICHE IN RESIDENTIAL MARKET Owner Chris Peereboom Combines Business Education With Trade Experience

ICTORIA - Torch Award finalist Victorian Painters is in a league of its own. In just under six years, the company has grown to become one of the area’s most reliable residential painting companies. “I’m a Victoria kid,” says owner and founder Chris Peereboom. “My father, Peter, is a painter, and ran a one-man operation for a number of years. My brother and I would work for him in the summer, so I’ve always been familiar with the industry.” Chris has fostered an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age, and recalls undercutting his school’s concession from his locker. Upon completing high school, he went to Camosun, acquiring his BBA in Marketing and Business Management. “When I graduated college, I wasn’t totally sure what to do,” he continues. “I had originally planned to go into marketing in a corporate setting, but as I progressed through school, I decided that that world wasn’t for me. I eventually decided to combine

my new business skills with my painting skills.” After some discussion with his father, Chris founded Victorian Painters, and five and a half years later, the company has grown from a one-man operation to a team of nine employees, which now includes Peter. “I think a lot of factors have played into our success,” says Chris. “Luck always plays a part, and I grew up in the industry, so I had a clear understanding of what I was getting into.” Chris was also able to consult his father when he came across challenges on a job. Coupled with his business education, these factors helped the company grow to fill a niche in the industry. “Our niche is smaller, residential work with more of a business approach,” Chris says. “We intentionally market for smaller projects, whereas most companies of our size pursue larger jobs.” While the company has leaned into this unique market, Chris and his team still work on larger projects, including a recent repaint of a 17-building strata. According to Chris, the company differentiates itself by maintaining high standards of consistency and punctuality. “Unfortunately, many tradespeople have a reputation of being consistently late or not showing up to job sites,” he says.

In order to combat this stereotype, Chris keeps punctuality as a main focus, whether he’s making a phone call, giving a quote, or being on a job site at the agreed-upon time. This value plays into his hiring process as well, as he looks for customer-service oriented employees with a strong character. “Without our employees, we would never have achieved this level of success,” he says. “We’ve struggled to find employees, as every trade has, but we are really lucky to have found this outstanding team of painters. I wouldn’t be able to succeed without them, and recognition like the Torch Award

Owner Chris Peereboom (right) at the 2018 Torch Awards nomination wouldn’t be possible without their high level of service

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DECEMBER 2018

ISLAND DREAM KITCHENS TAKES TORCH AWARD Family-Owned Business Shines with Father/Son Team at the Helm

AANICH - Family-run Island Dream Kitchens was recognized with a Torch Award from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) at an awards gala on November 2. Owned by father/son team Mike and Dylan Brown, the company has built an impressive reputation for high-quality customer service from the ground up. Island Dream Kitchens was founded nearly six years ago from the remnants of Swiftsure Woodworkers Ltd., an established Victoria custom cabinet shop which was Dylan’s former employer. Since this time, the company has grown from a two-man operation to a staff of 10 skilled tradespeople, building high-quality cabinets and custom millwork projects out of their shop on McDonald Park Road. “We’ve been involved with the BBB from early on,” Mike says. “We wanted to make sure that we were seen as a trustworthy company in the Victoria marketplace. “During our first year, we saw a number of companies failing, and were hearing stories of folks who had a very difficult time and were treated poorly within their contract. We teamed up with BBB to ensure both us and the customer could have a reliable way to resolve any possible disputes should they arise.” Over time, customers were so pleased with the work of Island Dream Kitchens that they sent letters and emails to BBB, resulting in a finalist recognition for the 2017 Torch Awards, and this year’s award for the Kitchen Renovations category. “From our perspective, this award means a lot,” says Mike. “There are other awards in the construction industry, but this is one where somebody else has to stand up on your behalf and say something about the way you do

The Team at Island Dream Kitchens business. Our team takes a lot of pride in these awards, and we keep them in the middle of the showroom to remind us of our responsibility to our customers.” With an extensive background in business management, Mike is a relative newcomer to the trades industry. Equipped with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry, Mike completed an EMBA before working extensively in the medical industry. “I worked for a number of large Fortune 50 medical companies, and toward the end of my career, I was running distributorships for some large medical businesses,” he says. As Mike neared retirement, Dylan was working for a struggling custom woodwork shop. “They were having challenges, and called me in to see if I could help them get the business back on track,” he continues. “After some SEE ISLAND DREAM KITCHENS | PAGE 25

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Co-owner Dylan Brown in the Island Dream Kitchens shop

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DECEMBER 2018

Tracy Patterson, who has been a cabinet maker for over 30 years, leads the installation team Each custom millwork product is carefully crafted by a team with decades of combined experience

ISLAND DREAM KITCHENS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

The team at Island Dream Kitchens is committed to offering the highest quality product

effort, the business ultimately failed, and we bought the entire infrastructure, starting Island Dream Kitchens with Dylan and I as the sole owners.” Dylan has years of industry experience, completing his trades training at Camosun, initially focussing on construction and carpentry before deciding to enter the joinery program. He completed his training at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and is a fully certified Red Seal cabinet maker. With Mike’s wife Debby running the office, the company has hired a number of former employees from several high-end custom shops, growing from a two-man operation to a team of 10. “As is usually the case when a company like this goes under, the guys in the shop were great employees, and the challenges were caused by the guys in the office,” says Mike. “Once we got set up, we found work for all the former

employees who wanted work.” The company has grown thanks to a dedication to excellence that few other companies can match. “Our main focus is customer delight,” Mike remarks. “It’s easy enough to try and do an average job that we can push out the door. SEE ISLAND DREAM KITCHENS | PAGE 26

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ISLAND DREAM KITCHENS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

For us, we want to make sure any project is literally perfect, so the customer would be delighted with the result. “It’s an altruistic goal, but it’s also practical, as only a few shops in all of Victoria do the kind of work we do. We had to make sure that nobody was able to speak ill of what we did and the quality of work we produce. In order to achieve this, we built the business up carefully, making sure we didn’t overreach and put out a product that was substandard.” Mike and Dylan handle different sides of the business, using their respective skills to make sure customers have the best possible experience. With decades of experience in managing and running high-profile businesses, Mike handles much of the financial and strategic side of the business, while Dylan focuses on ensuring the job is delivered on time and on budget. “I’m pretty lucky to work with a team that’s this competent,” says Mike. “For me as a manager, it’s mostly a matter of clearing the decks for them, keeping the fire going, and supplying whatever resources they need to do the job. “Running any business requires the same sort of skills. You need to be able to wear a lot of hats and

juggle. I’m responsible for doing the quotes and managing the customer at the front end, doing supply, inventory, and making sure we have the right materials. I’m also the touch point for the accounting side. I’ve found that most things I learned about business have been applicable, so I didn’t have to be a wood guy to run a wood company. I let Dylan and the other staff do what they do best. “One of our key strengths is that we control all aspects of the job and make everything in-house. We also do all our installation through with Tracy Patterson, who leads his crew with over 30 years of excellence. We are able to joke, ‘if you can find an install to stump Tracy, we’ll give you the kitchen for free.’ We haven’t given away anything!” Most of Island Dream Kitchen projects are custom, tailored to the wants and needs of each customer. They are a go-to company for unique projects where typical cabinetry doesn’t fit with the dimensions of the space, and are making headway in offering large-scale customized cabinetry solutions. “Recently, we were brought on for a 20-unit condo project,” says Mike. “It was an older building with pipes in odd positions and an odd layout that made it so only two of the 20 units were the same. “In this case, we were a go-to company for them as we could

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The team is able to work on a large number of units at the same time, while maintaining its trademark standard for high quality produce a lot of material in a timely fashion, custom-made for each unit and delivered at the same time.” Though the company continues to focus on the high-end residential single-family market, projects like this have proven that the shop is capable of producing high-quality custom-built cabinetry on a large scale. They have worked on a few other projects of this scale, including a renovation of Malahat’s Villa Eyrie Resort, where Island Dream Kitchen worked on everything from the

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front desk to the dining area to display cases, even building lockers for the resort’s spa area. “Projects like this have shown us that we can build on a large scale to a high standard of quality, while planning, constructing, delivering, and installing within challenging time-frames,” Mike says. With Mike and Dylan’s refusal to compromise their high standards of quality, the company is continuing to grow. They recently procured the front space of its current building, and is moving its

office and showroom to allow for a more expansive retail space, as well as a larger production space. The expansion will be ready for occupation in the new year. “As we’ve grown, we’ve seen a high number of customers who come back to us for further work,” says Mike. “When folks come back, it’s a very strong signal that we’ve done something well in the market, and recognition like the Torch Award helps to reinforce that reality.” www.islanddreamkitchens.com

Proud to Support Island Dream Kitchens

Proud to support Island Dream Kitchens.

250-213-5038 rtdelectric@live.ca

Congratulations on your BBB Torch Award. SERVICE SINCE 1993 250-383-9866 rob@jackinsurance.ca

www.jackinsurance.ca

WHO IS SUING WHOM

DECEMBER 2018

WHO IS SUING WHOM The contents of Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suing Whom is provided by a third-party resource and is accurate according to public court documents. Some of these cases may have been resolved by publication date. DEFENDANT 0935171 BC Ltd 206-501 4th St, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF 0734912 BC Ltd CLAIM $14,338 DEFENDANT 1003708 BC Ltd 201-64 Station St, Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF Gordon N Gordon Interiors Ltd CLAIM $52,340 DEFENDANT 888JUNK Ltd 6130 Patricia Bay Hwy, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Kiewiet, Andrew Martin CLAIM $31,842 DEFENDANT B&D Lift Truck Service Ltd 813 Goldstream Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF 10000787 Manitoba Ltd CLAIM $31,019

DEFENDANT Banner Maintenance Ltd 2460 Kelley Road, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF Central Builders Supply Limited CLAIM $ 11,260 DEFENDANT Brunnell Construction Ltd 7th Flr 1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC Mcintosh, Donald CLAIM $6,716 DEFENDANT Dakova Group 108-50 St Thomas St, St. Albert, AB PLAINTIFF Gordon N Gordon Interiors Ltd CLAIM $ 52,340 DEFENDANT Dakova Management Group Ltd 108-50 St Thomas St, St. Albert, AB PLAINTIFF Gordon N Gordon Interiors Ltd CLAIM $ 52,340 DEFENDANT Designhome Concepts Ltd 301-830 Shamrock St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Karandy Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $ 11,695 DEFENDANT Enterprise Business & Tax Services 206-501 4th St, Courtenay, BC

PLAINTIFF 0734912 BC Ltd CLAIM $ 14,338 DEFENDANT Jacob Bros Construction Inc 2900-595 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Mcintosh, Donald CLAIM $ 6,716 DEFENDANT Jaxoncraft Marine Ltd 301-910 Fitzgerald Ave, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF Warren, Reid CLAIM $ 35,236 DEFENDANT Mak Logging Ltd 9295 Carnarvon Rd, Port Hardy BC PLAINTIFF Da Le Falling Ltd CLAIM $ 35,176 DEFENDANT MKE Canada 4545 Tipperary Rd, Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF Maclennan, Gary CLAIM $ 20,451 DEFENDANT Norwood Island Holdings Ltd 200-931 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF

Rogers, Joanne CLAIM $ 22,464 DEFENDANT One World Lithium Inc 615-800 West Pender, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Unitywest Capital Markets Ltd CLAIM $ 26,466

27 PLAINTIFF Monashee Ridge Construction CLAIM $ 86,949 DEFENDANT Samsung Electronics Canada Inc 20th Flr 250 Howe St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Moorthy, Komal Priya Karuna CLAIM $ 26,518

DEFENDANT Realm Structures Inc 4410 Glenwood, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Tilleys Plumbing & Heating Ltd CLAIM $ 17,553

DEFENDANT Sitka Inspection Services Ltd 4th Flr 931 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Bloomfield, S Lee E CLAIM $ 7,820

DEFENDANT Resolution Construction Systems 14-555 Ravenswood Dr, North Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Cooke Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $ 24,122

DEFENDANT Urban Wine Cellar 165 Fraser St, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Algunn Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $ 15,416

DEFENDANT Resolution Construction Systems 1800-510 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Calibre Mechanical Ltd CLAIM $ 44,730 DEFENDANT Ridgix Building Solutions Inc 219 Fort St, Winnipeg, MB

DEFENDANT West Coast Marine Diesel 9761 Ardmore Dr, North Saanich, BC PLAINTIFF Burns, Gary CLAIM $ 35,166

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

The Victoria Airport Authority has added two new members to their board of directors. Allan Haynes joins the board as a representative from Saanich while Paul Gerrard will represent the Capital Regional District. Haynes previously served as chair of the Passenger Marketing Committee for the Comox Valley Airport and as a marketing consultant for the International Air Transport Association. Gerrard served as a councillor for the District of Saanich from 2008 until 2014 and replaces Colin Smith effective January 1, 2019. Allan Haynes’ role became effective October 16. Daitan Group, a global software development company, is opening their first

DECEMBER 2018

Business Examiner Gold Event Sponsors

development lab outside of South America in an office space on the corner of View and Douglas Streets. The company will begin operations with 10 employees and offer Canadian hires the opportunity to gain experience working in Brazil, where

the company has its main headquarters and operations centre. The company chose to locate to Greater Victoria after extensive consultations with the South Island Prosperity Project (SIPP) in order to better service their substantial US client-base. The Tofino Bus Company has been acquired by Saanich-based Wilson’s Group, the parent company of Wilson’s Transportation. The acquisition officially took place on November 15th and there are no plans to rebrand Tofino Bus. Wilson’s will monitor Tofino Bus over the next 12 months and review their operations at that point. Both bus companies have been expanding their routes in the wake of Greyhound closing most of their routes in BC.

Commercial Sales & Leasing Property & Asset Management Strata Management

604.736.5611 Joanne Kaban

The Coast Capital Sav i ngs O a k B a y Branch welcomes Joanne Kaban to their team as a personal financial planner. Coast Capital’s Oak Bay branch is at 2067 Cadboro Bay Road.

RE/MAX Camosun congratulates their top producers of the month. They are Dale Sheppard, Tania Delmonico, Jennifer Bruce, Andrew Pearson, Kris Gower, Eric Smith, Shannon Jackson and Glenda Warren.

Macdonald Commercial’s team of outstanding professionals are here to assist you with all of your apartment real estate needs At Macdonald Commercial we‘ve built our reputation by providing our clients with the very best in full service commercial real estate services – Sales, Leasing, Property Management, and Luxury Strata Management.

PERFORMANCE, TRUST & PROVEN RESULTS – ALL UNDER ONE ROOF macdonaldcommercial.com

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                                                                    

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The fourth annual Vancouver Island EcoStar Awards were recently held and announced 19 winners from across the island. From the Victoria region they are Big Wheel Burger in the Leadership category; Municipal Natural Assets Initiative in Ecological Stewardship (Non-Profit); Paula and Nairn McPhee of Zero Waste Emporium in Eco-Preneur of the Year; Butterfly Gardens in Experiential Tourism, Dockside Physiotherapy in Green Office, Pizzeria Prima Strada in Green Restaurant, Western Interior Design Group in Leadership in Design & Construction; The Root Cellar Village Green in Food; Victoria Soda Works in Manufacturing; Empire Hydrogen Energy Systems in Technology Excellence; and Tire Stewardship BC in

Waste to Resource. DFH Real Estate congratulates their sales leaders of the month. They are Mike Fowles for their Victoria office, John Bruce in Sidney and Farrell Magnusson in Shawnigan Lake. The Maritime Museum of BC recently presented an SS Beaver Award to Saanich resident Donald Krusel in recognition of his contributions to the province’s ocean sector. Kruseul was Donald Krusel recognized for his efforts in transforming the Port of Prince Rupert from an underused resource-export port to a thriving container terminal and diversified trade gateway while serving as the port’s president and chief executive officer. The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce recently held their 2018 Business Excellence Awards and announced this year’s winners. This year Beth Couglar Blom received the Professional Service Award, Seaside Yarn & Button won out in Retail & Service, Saltwest Naturals in Manufacturing & Industry, Gordon’s Beach Farm Stay B&B in Dining & Hospitality and Westcom Plumbing & Gas in Trades & Skilled Labour. Westcoast Esthetics took home top honours in the Home-Based Business category, Meals on Wheels in Not-for-profit, Sooke Brewing Company in New Business of the Year, Stick in the Mud in Business of the Year, Roxanne Lowe Photograph in People’s Choice and Janet Evans in President’s Choice. After over three decades of serving Oak Bay, Dave Cockle is stepping down as the fire chief for the District of Oak Bay and will be replaced by current Deputy Fire Chief Darren Hughes. Hughes will become the 10th fire chief in the District of Oak Bay since the department was formed in 1938. SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS| PAGE 29

    Hi. I’m Ron Werner, Owner of Happy Carpet Cleaners.     I’m probably the slowest cleaner in town, a claim few want to     compete with. I take my time and do my best.     Check out my website. Watch my videos. Ask questions.     Schedule an in-home consultation.   

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     

   

  Something New!!        Annoyed with bleach marks or         discolourations? No need to buy a                plant or rug. I can redye those spots.         



       

Call me to take a look!

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

DECEMBER 2018

MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

RE/MAX Camosun Peninsula congratulates their top producers and lister of the month. The top lister was Shelley Mann, while the top producers were Jeff Meyer, Anthea and Gay Helmsing, Michelle Martin and Ron Phillips. Re/Max Camosun Peninsula is at #14 – 2510 Bevan Avenue in Sidney. Vancouver-based Core Education & Fine Arts (CEFA) will open an early learning centre in a space at the Belmont Market Shopping Centre and has been approved by Langford City Council to hold space for 100 children. The daycare which is expected to open in early summer will be the first CEFA location on Vancouver Island. The Victoria Residential Builders Association has appointed a new executive and board of directors. Designer Jenny Martin has been named president succeeding Todd Halaburda of New West Development Corp. Others on the executive include first vice-president Kyle Ryan, Abstract Developments Inc.; second vice-president Dusty Delain, Amity Construction Inc.; treasurer Norm Verbrugge of Norman Homes Inc.; builders council chair Kyle Ryan, Abstract Developments; and suppliers and trades council chair Derek Ballman of FloForm Countertops. Steve and Brian Webb and Justin Lafreniere opened Quazar’s Arcade for business at 1215 Government Street. The arcade is the city’s only dedicated coin-operated arcade, and boasts an 80-game inventory that includes pinball machines with popular rock-band and movie themes as well as games like Burger Time, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and Donkey Kong Jr. Congratulations to the top car salesmen in the Victoria region of the month. They are Wes Harrison of Harris Auto, Abdul Yilla of Jim Pattison Toyota, Franklin Foo of Jim Pattison Lexus, Jamie Elmhirst of Pacific Mazda, Ted Sakousky of Wheaton, Rex Heslop of Audi Autohaus, Allan Collins of Volkswagen Victoria, Tyson Johnson of Porsche Centre Victoria, Adam Mikasko of Three Point Motors, Nolan Balfe of BMW Victoria, Jason Ogilvie of Jim Pattison Volvo, Chris Hoeg of Wille Dodge, Connie Wilde of Jenner, Rosario D’angelo of Campus Honda, Rome Tewelde of Campus Infiniti, Kim Merrigan of Graham Kia, Frank Percorelli of Campus Nissan, Trevor DeNoble of Jim Pattison Subaru and Nick Lee of Campus Acura. David Oud has moved All Marine Mobile Marine Repairs from Parksville to southern Vancouver Island and is now mobile. Oud has 30 years of experience in the industry and is available to service boats from Sooke to Sidney and all points in between. Active Bobcat & Drains is celebrating their 30th anniversary. The company serves the southern Vancouver Island region and provides services including excavating, installation, septic and more. Pemberton Holmes has opened an office at 103 – 814 Goldstream Avenue. Mr. Lube is now open for business at 319 Wale Road in Colwood. The Better Business Bureau serving Vancouver Island announced the 2018 Torch

Award Winners at the annual award’s gala celebration on November 2nd at the Union Club of BC. Luv-a-Rug Services Inc. won out in the Community Service and Carpet Cleaners categories, Dial-a-Geek Consulting in the Computer & Internet Services category, Victoria Drain Services Ltd. in Contractors, Act Together Moving Services in Customer Service, Auxilium Mortgage Corporation in Financial Services, Gaslight Heat Services in Heating & Electrical, X 2 Lewis-Modern Home Renovations in Home Improvement, Van Isle Windows Ltd. in Installation Services and Island Dream Kitchens in Kitchen Renovations. Provincial Moving & Storage Ltd. took home top honours in the Moving & Hauling category, Royal Bay Plumbing in Plumbing Services, High Definition Roofing Ltd. in Roofers, M&N Mattress Shop Ltd. in Sales & Service, Pro Sweep Plus in Specialty Cleaning and Shane Casey of Luv-a-Rug Services was presented with the Outstanding Employee Award. Crystal Garden is celebrating their 10th year in operation since reopening as part of the Victoria Conference Centre. The event space has hosted 295 events and over 265,000 attendees since its reopening in 2008. Er i n n P i n ker ton has been appointed the new president and chief executive for BC Transit after serving in the role on Erinn Pinkerton an interim basis since April. Pinkerton replaces Manuel Achadinha, who was president and CEO for 10 years prior to having his role terminated by the board in April. She previously served as BC Transit’s vice-president of business development and as its chief transformation officer. Macdonald Realty adds Jackie Hache to their team of realtors in Victoria. Jackie has experience in marketing and public engagement advisory roles and has worked with municipal governments and real estate brokerages in BC and Alberta. The South Island Prosperity Project won a bronze award in the excellence in economic development category from the International Economic Development Council for its Smart City proposal. The proposal was designed to rally the area toward a unified vision that will bring to fruition the organization’s Vision 2040. The Vancouver Island Construction Association elected three new industry members to their 2018-19 board of directors. They are Barclay Ellis of Trades Labour Corp. Victoria, Paul Gray of Farmer Construction and Dave Lewis of Alpine Insulation. Roger Yager will move to the role of chairman and Keith Parsonage will become vice-chairman. Departing members include Yosef Suna, Keith Tatton, Gerrit Vink and Anthony Minnitti. Meanwhile, Roger Yager of Knappett Projects, Keith Parsonage of Houle Electric and Marnie Pringle of Starline Windows were all re-elected to the board. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority CEO Ian Robertson appointed Sonterra Ross to the role of chief project development officer and Judith Ethier SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS| PAGE 31

GAZETTE GOLDSTREAM NEWS

Best of the WestShore Awards Congratulations to all of the winners and ﬁnalists, and thank you to everyone who voted!

OPINION

DECEMBER 2018 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. 200-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria HeadV8T Office 3J5 1027 Pandora Avenue, Fax: Victoria, 1.250.642.2870 BC V8V 3P6 Ph: 1.250.661.2297 Toll free: Fax: 1.866.758.2684 1.250.642.2870 Website: www.businessexaminer.ca Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald SALES | Josh Higgins – josh@businessexaminer.ca, Alex@businessexaminer.ca John MacDonald - john@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Beth Hendry-Yim, Kristin Van Vloten, Val Lennox, Robert MacDonald

POLITICIANS NEGLECTING WORKERS TO LOOK AFTER THOSE WHO DON’T WORK

MARK MACDONLD

“T

he New Democrats and federal Liberals used to look after working people. Now they look after those who don’t work.” A good friend of mine shared that with me recently. True statement? Sounds a little harsh, no? But let’s look at some of the evidence staring us in the face. “Professional” protesters, most of which, one suspects, are not working, rotate from job site to job site throughout the province to stop one form of employment or economic development or another. The U.S. dollars that fuel anti-pipeline and petroleum protesters - exposed by researchers like Vivian Krause - are gobbled up by environmental extremists who must view the money as manna from heaven to support their “righteous” cause. Meanwhile, American oil production reaches all-time highs, and they’ve neutered their North American

competition through Canadian government legislation and regulations that keep Alberta oil landlocked and away from thirsty markets, and drive production costs through the roof. Uncle Sam gets it both ways – they employ more of their own people in a much-in-demand industry, and still get the massive $35 per barrel discount for taking our oil. Plus, the cost of buying our own products, mainly gasoline, goes through the roof. It’s an ingenious, cost-effective investment, really. Americans contributing to the cause of choking off Alberta’s oil sands can pat themselves on the back for helping the environment, while they continue to expand their consumption and create more jobs at home. So now we have people that either can’t, or won’t, work, spending their days – which could be spent working for companies that desperately need more workers – choking off industries that employs taxpayers, and is really paying for the welfare and social services of the willfully unemployed. It is utter madness. Left leaning parties are capitalizing politically on what the public education system, by and large, has created – a wave of new, younger voters programmed to believe that the single biggest economic driver is the environment – a so-called “reality” that exists nowhere in the real world.

All these parties have to do, then, is create policies and platforms that support what the new wave of voters believes, and they’re guaranteed their votes. Combine that with an ever increasing sense of entitlement, where the socialist-minded look to government for everything they need, and that as Canadians, it is well within “our rights” to demand free health care (which is NOT free) and other government services, including a “living wage” – political speak for higher welfare payments. These parties – as all do - cater to their supporters in order to gain and maintain power. They give those that want more from government, more. But who is paying for it all? Private sector companies and their employees. We are, by and large, living in a false economy of taxpayer-funded citizens and employees. Somebody, somewhere, needs to pay for the services we’ve come to expect. Really, the only real contributors to our Gross Domestic Product are those that get people to purchase goods or services in the private sector. Products and services that we export as a community, province and country are the real, true economic drivers. We’re getting conditioned otherwise. Communities gloat that their local government workers make X amount of dollars and that money

is redistributed in the region. Okay. But where do those jobs come from? Tax dollars. We received a press release recently that boasted about how much the nonprofit sector contributes to the economy, noting the amount of wages it pays out and products/ services it buys. But where does all that come from? Benevolent contributions from others, most notably companies and employees. Oh yes, and tax dollars. Government and nonprofit organization services are important, and contribute to our overall standard of living. But it is also important to remember that these jobs aren’t “created” per se. They are the result of other people working and contributing, either through taxes or their own commitment to philanthropy. I don’t laugh when I hear about job growth in Alberta, as the NDP government there boasts about how many more jobs are created. That’s because what the NDP does everywhere they manage to grasp power is bloat the public sector, increasing the number of taxpayer funded jobs that join the NDP supporting unions with all their ancillary benefits, and call that job creation. Meanwhile, the private sector either gets pummeled, or strangled, through excessive government payrolls and onerous legislation that cynics might view as the workers’ opportunity to “pay back” the

greedy bosses they once served. Jobs lost in the private sector are replaced by positions created in the public sector, and the NDP calls that growth. That’s really shrinkage, because the taxes that taxpayer funded jobs produce is recycling the same tax dollar. The hard truth is, we’re in an economy in transition. There are plenty of jobs available, and most businesses can’t find enough people to work. On the surface, that is a good thing. The problem is, it’s artificial job growth. What is really happening is the reliable Baby Boomers are now officially moving out of the workforce and on to collecting the pension and health care benefits they’ve contributed to all their working lives. These are not “new” jobs. These are replacement jobs, which will be saddled with paying for more retired people who will be rightfully collecting what they’ve contributed to for so many years. What is the next generation of Canadians going to do when the combination of taxes has them paying close to three quarters of their total income? It’s already over 50 per cent. Who in their right mind would think that is a fair deal? Right now, politicians don’t need to curry the favour of this group to get elected. Only when they do will they be forced to change their policies and try to look after those who actually do work.

AS CAPITAL FLEES, OTTAWA CONTINUES TO PUSH UNATTRACTIVE POLICIES

THE FRASER INSTITUTE BY ELMIRA ALIAKBARI AND ASHLEY STEDMAN

he federal government’s fall fiscal update, one of the most anticipated in years, didn’t include the wide-ranging regulatory and tax reforms many hoped would increase Canada’s waning competitiveness relative to the United States. The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seems willfully ignorant that investment dollars in the energy industry – and the related jobs and economic opportunities – are moving south of the border. In reality, capital will flow

to jurisdictions with attractive policies and, frankly, Canada’s investment climate is dismal. Recently, Enerplus CEO Ian Dundas announced his company’s dramatic pivot to the U.S. “This year and next, we will spend 90 per cent of our capital in the United States,” he said. He added that the company’s capital budget was originally more weighted toward Canada, but started shifting to the U.S. in 2015 due to more predictable and streamlined regulations. Enerplus is not the only Canadian oil and gas company shifting focus and capital to the U.S. Encana CEO Doug Suttles recently said his company would move aggressively to U.S. shale basins by acquiring Houston-based Newfield Exploration Co. for about $5.5 billion. In response, Encana founder Gwyn Morgan blamed the move on “disastrous Trudeau policies,” which he said have made the country irrelevant in the global energy industry. Clearly, Canada’s energy sector is struggling to remain competitive, primarily because of poor government policies. In recent years, the federal government and several

provinces have made it very expensive and, in some cases, simply inhospitable to do business in Canada. Most provinces and the federal government have increased personal income tax rates on professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners. The top personal income tax rate now exceeds 50 per cent in seven provinces, with the remaining three provinces within a hair of 50 per cent. Meanwhile, the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has moved in the opposite direction, enacting sweeping business tax reforms and reducing personal income tax rates. In addition, the Canadian government imposed a national tax on carbon despite many countries (including the U.S.) moving away from carbon pricing. On the regulatory front, governments in the U.S. have rescinded or scaled back many regulations that impede resource development. For example, Washington eased federal vehicle emissions standards, rolled back controls on power-plant emissions and repealed a regulation on hydraulic fracturing (or fracking)

on federal lands. Meanwhile, our federal government is making the approval process for major energy projects more complex and uncertain, which will further discourage investment in Canada. In particular, Bill C-69, under review in the Senate, includes many subjective criteria – namely the social impact of energy investment and its “gender” implications – which will likely increase uncertainty, further politicize the process and increase approval wait times. And Ottawa is also largely to blame for insufficient pipeline capacity in Canada. The government cancelled Enbridge’s previously-approved Northern Gateway pipeline that would have delivered oil to the West Coast. In addition, TransCanada Corp. abandoned its cross-country Energy East pipeline weeks after a new regulatory review process was announced. The government was also forced to nationalize Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline in a last-ditch effort to add pipeline capacity. But even that plan is in limbo due to a recent federal court ruling, which

said the federal government did not adequately consult First Nations and address marine tanker traffic concerns. The lack of adequate pipeline capacity has resulted in staggering price discounts for Canadian crude oil in recent months, underscoring Canada’s problem in attracting energy investors. To make matters worse, a recent World Competitiveness Forum report, which ranks countries based on a Global Competitiveness Index, also reflects Canada’s competitive disadvantage relative to the U.S. Canada ranks 12th out of 140 countries while the U.S. ranks first. Canada’s energy sector has a serious competitiveness problem. Policy-makers must enact comprehensive tax and regulatory reforms to restore investor confidence and get the country’s energy industry rolling again. Elmira Aliakbari is associate director of natural resource studies and Ashley Stedman is a senior policy analyst at the Fraser Institute.

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

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

DECEMBER 2018

MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

to chief administrative officer. Ross previously held the role of chief operation officer and Ethier the position of manager of finance. The Inn at Laurel Point has been named Tourism Vancouver Island’s employer of the year. The award recognizes tourism businesses that embody best practices in managing their operations and employees. The Inn at Laurel Point is at 680 Montreal Street. Departures Travel welcomes Gina Amato and Kathryn Keyter to their team of professionals in Sidney at 105 – 2506 Beacon Avenue. Helijet International and the Paci f ic Sa l mon Fou nd at ion have entered a new partnership to generate donations to fund wild salmon restoration projects. The partnership will generate an annual donation based on the amount of one-way flights sold on Helijet’s scheduled passenger service routes between Nanaimo and Vancouver harbours. The program could see annual donations reach up to $24,000. B C Fe r r i e s a n d t h e F i r s t Peoples’ Cultural Council recently held an unveiling ceremony for the Indigenous artistic

designs that will be featured on the Northern Sea Wolf. The artwork was designed by the Kwakiutl First Nation’s Richard Hunt and the Nuxalk Nation’s Danika Naccarella and will be featured on the interior and exterior of the vessel. The Northern Sea Wolf is a new BC Ferries vessel that will provide summer service between northern Vancouver Island and BC’s Central Coast. Odyssia Steak House on the corner of Beacon Avenue and Fifth Street reopened November 30 th after undergoing renovations to downsize the restaurant to 42 seats. The downsize comes after owner Bill Macris sold the building in April. The new building owners plan on moving into the part of the dining room that has street frontage on Beacon Avenue, while Odyssia will maintain their side entrance on Fifth Street. Colin Plant, a cou nci lor i n Saanich, has been elected as the new chair of the Capital Regional District (CRD) board while Denise Blackwell was acclaimed vice chair at a recent CRD board meeting. Mayfair Shopping Centre has officially completed their major overhaul of the mall that has added 100,000-square-feet of space, two levels of rooftop parking, new guest services,

bat h room s a nd more. Unt i l December 31 st , the shopping centre will feature seven Island-based vendors including Victoria’s Bru Bike, Flux and Stone’s hand-crafted jewelry, Fired Up!, Pina Styles, Rootside, Sugar Sandwich Designs and Salt Spring Island Candle Co. The vendors are in a market-style space that is earmarked to eventually become a permanent store, though Mayfair is considering keeping the market open in 2019. Expedia.ca recently ranked Sidney one of Canada’s coziest cities; taking No. 12 on a list of 55 locations across the country. Canmore, Alberta placed first while the list also included Parksville, Tofino, Ucluelet, Campbell River and Courtenay. Four hotels from the Greater Victoria region have been named among the top 10 hotels in Canada on a list compiled by Trivago. The Beacon Inn at Sidney was ranked third in the 3-star hotel category, while Magnolia Hotel and Spa in Victoria came in at the No. 6 spot in the 4-star category. Abigail’s Hotel was in fifth place and Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa in eighth in the 4-star category. Trivago is a German technology and marketing company that specializes in hotel and lodging. The University of Victoria plans

to open and operate a licensed Starbucks in fall 2019 in a location in the UVic Bookstore which is currently occupied by Finnerty Express. Surveys with staff, students and faculty identified Starbucks as a desired brand on campus and the current staff at Finnerty Express will transition to Starbucks. The Township of Esquimalt has launched a development tracker on its website, so users can quickly access information on projects underway within the Township. The tracker features an interactive map where parcels of land can be highlighted and reveal details like legal and civic addresses, rezoning information, names of applications and approval status. Information is currently available on rezoned applications, though staff is working to add development permits and development variance permits. Deep Cove Chalet will likely not reopen until at least March or April next year after an October kitchen fire forced the North Saanich restaurant to close. The fire caused significant damage to the interior of the restaurant at 11190 Chalet Road and the reconstruction process is underway. W& J W i l s o n ’s C l o t h i e r s , wh ich h as been i n bu si ness for 156 years now, is the oldest

31 operating business in Victoria to stay in its original location, and the oldest family-run clothing store in its original location in North America. The shop carries everything from smart casual to high-end fashion pieces for men and women. Vancouver Island Brewing is in the process of becoming kosher by undergoing their Kosher Check certification. Dairy is most often introduced by breweries when they add non-ferment able l a c tose s u ga rs to sweeten dessert beers like milk stouts. Last year the brewery also made their beer completely vegan. Shar Wilson, a Langford-based entrepreneur made her debut on the Dragons Den on November 22 nd with her clothing company, Finawear. Wilson’s company offers a line of wearable, authentic Indigenous art to their customers. MacLean’s Magazine’s annual Dangerous Places survey found that five of the eight safest places in British Columbia are in the Greater Victoria area. The survey identified North Saanich as the safest community in British Columbia as measured by the Crime Severity Index (CSI) which is determined by Statistics Canada to account for the frequency and seriousness of crimes.

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