Business Examiner Victoria - February 2019 by Business Examiner Media Group

FEBRUARY 2019

» BE AWARDS

– PAGE 14

VICTORIA Cornerstone Continues to Grow After Over 30 Years in Business

Victoria

WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA

Mazzei Electric Wins Grant Thornton LLP Business Excellence Award

PAGE 9

VICTORIA Bridgeman Plumbing and Heating Serves South Island with Cutting Edge Technology

PAGE 21

INDEX News Update

Greater Victoria

Saanich Peninsula

Who is Suing Whom 18 West Shore

Digital Marketing

Movers and Shakers 23 Opinion 26 Contact us: 1-866-758-2684

OUR 30TH YEAR

Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

Greater Victoria Companies Honoured As Best On Vancouver Island Mazzei Electric wins Business Excellence Award Mazzei Electric of Langford and Nanaimo was named Business of the Year for over 50 employees at the 19th Annual Grant Thornton LLP Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre January 24. Mazzei Electric Ltd. is a family owned and operated residential, commercial and industrial electrical contracting business that has been operating on Vancouver Island for 24 years and has expanded to northern BC. Company President Ben Mazzei is a thirdgeneration electrician who began working for the company in 2002. Mazzei Electric specializes in residential, commercial and industrial installations.

Jennie Christensen of Trich Analytics received the Technology Business of the Year Award from Scott Bickerton of RBC Royal Bank

SEE AWARDS | PAGE 14

Dwyer Tax Law Cracks Prestigious List of Canadian Lawyers Victoria-Based Firm Named One of Canada’s Top Ten Tax Law Boutiques

ICTORIA - The January issue of Canadian Lawyer magazine named Dwyer Tax Law on its list of top ten tax law boutiques in Canada for 2019/20. “I want to thank clients and suppor ters,” says pr i ncipa l lawyer Blair Dwyer. “We will continue to provide Vancouver

Is your printer always running out of toner?

Island and international clients with our best tax and estate planning advice.” The prestigious list is released every two years, and this marks Dwyer Tax Law’s second consecutive appearance on the list. “T his recognition is gratifying, because we’re a small firm,” says Dwyer. “It’s nice to

think that others see the quality of our work, and we like to think that we serve our clients well. This recognition is confirmation that we’re heading in the right direction.” Blair Dwyer has been practicing tax and estate planning law since 1985. In 1992, he moved to Victoria after several years

Our Managed Print Services allow you to: • Monitor and control your business printing, helping you save as much as 50% each year • Track your print usage and ship toner and ink so you never run out • Decrease your environmental footprint • Improve your document security.

Call us today for a free Office Assessment.

myinnov8.ca . 250.384.7243

Printers . Copiers . Software

of practicing in Toronto and Vancouver. “I founded Dwyer Tax Law in 1995 as a stand-alone tax boutique,” he says. “My intention was to restrict the practice to tax matters, which is my area of expertise. The thought was to SEE DWYER TAX LAW | PAGE 22

NEWS UPADATE

FEBRUARY 2019

VANCOUVER ISLAND Tilray Acquires Natura Holdings

Is It Time To Explore An Individual Pension Plan (IPP)? The Individual Pension Plan (IPP) is the most tax efﬁcient retirement savings vehicle available in Canada today. If you are: 1) Over 40 2) Earning Over $125,000/year 3) An Incorporated Business Owner or Incorporated Professional Please contact us to arrange a complementary, no commitment, written IPP analysis. www.hillyardstephen.com | 1-250-356-4826 hillyardstephengroup@rbc.com The Hillyard Stephen Group of RBC Dominion Securities Serving Southern Vancouver Island 500-730 View Street, Victoria, BC

Wealth Management Dominion Securities

RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are afﬁliated. *Member CIPF. *Registered Trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. RBC Dominion Securities is a registered trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.

We are award winning office interior specialists • Leasing test fits / office layout • In house design & construction • On budget and on time.

MMi

Need help with your ofﬁce interior?

A division of Michelle Matte Interiors Inc.

Tilray has entered into an agreement that will see them acquire all issued and outstanding securities of Natura Naturals Holdings Inc. If all terms of the agreement are met, Tilray will obtain Natura’s 662,000 square-foot greenhouse cultivation facility, 155,000 square-feet of which are currently licensed, and all subsequent cannabis output from this facility. This will effectively double Tilray’s growing capacity. Natura, through a wholly-owned subsidiary located in Leamington, Ontario, is a licensed cultivator under the Cannabis Act specializing in the greenhouse cannabis cultivation. The terms of the agreement, subject to some adjustments, will see Tilray deliver $35-million at closing, comprised of $15-million in cash and $20-million in Tilray Class 2 common stock. Natura shareholders will receive their pro rata portion of the $15-million closing cash amount, after the deduction of certain transaction expenses incurred by Natura and subject to applicable withholding taxes. Upon Natura reaching certain quarterly production milestones over the following twelve-month period, up to $35-million of Tilray common stock may become payable resulting in a total purchase price of $70-million if fully achieved. “We’re very pleased to have an agreement in place that allows us to expand our capacity to supply high-quality branded cannabis products to the Canadian market,” said Brendan Kennedy, Tilray President and CEO. “Through an extensive and thorough search for the right supply partner, we’re pleased to have come to a mutually-beneficial agreement with Natura.” Prior to signing the agreement, Tilray conducted extensive due diligence on Natura’s cultivation facility and cannabis products. The increased supply from Natura will allow Tilray to expand its capacity to supply the Canadian market with high-quality branded cannabis products. The transaction will be completed by plan of arrangement under the Ontario Business Corporations Act. Completion of the transaction will be subject to customary terms and conditions, including shareholder and court approval of the arrangement. It is anticipated that the closing of the transaction will be completed within the next 30 days.

VANCOUVER ISLAND Telegraph Cove Partners with Prince of Whales

“Continue growing your business while we take care of your interior project.” AWARD-WINNING

Commercial Interior Design | General Contracting

p. 778.433.6504 www.mmi.team

Prince of Whales Whale & Marine Wildlife Adventures has penned an agreement with Telegraph Cove Resort to begin operating out of the resort on May 1. The company will relocate the 74-passenger Ocean Magic II, which has operated in Victoria since 2006, to Telegraph Cove to service the region. The vessels are equipped with quiet, low emission propulsion systems to minimize harm to the environment and mitigate noise pollution.

The agreement will see Prince of Whales take over from Stubbs Island W hale Watching, owned by partners Geord Dunstan, Roger McDonell and Heike Wieske since 2011. Prince of Whales has signed on to service the area for at least the next five years. Gordie and Marilyn Grahams established a campground and marina at Telegraph Cove in 1979 and have drawn ocean fishing enthusiasts and tourists to the region over the years. Now the resort can accommodate up to 500 guests and includes a restaurant and pub, general store, small hotel and Telegraph Cove’s Whale Interpretative Centre. Over the years the Graham’s have also invested in marine life protection and education, donating more than $150,000 to salmon enhancement projects. Prince of Whales has committed $1 million over five years to orca-based science programs and chinook salmon recovery projects in British Columbia. The investment will come from a $5-per passenger ecological surcharge. The surcharge collected at Telegraph Cove will stay in the community. The partnership marks an important milestone on the 40th anniversary of their resort, the Grahams said. “We believe this team effort will support the health and sustainability of marine wildlife in Telegraph Cove for generations to come.”

VICTORIA Council Approves $88M Retirement Community An $88-million aging-in-place residence in downtown Victoria, received its Development Permit this week after Victoria Mayor and Council unanimously approved the project. Element Lifestyle Retirement Inc. the manager of development and operations of the new Aquara residences have launched space previews and will launch pre-sales and rental reservations within the coming months. The residence will be completed in 2021. Element has already rolled out two major retirement communities in the lower mainland including Opal, its $106 Million Flagship residence in Vancouver and Oasis, a $200 Million residence in Langley. Aquara is located on nearly 2 acres of harbour-front property in the Songhees neighbourhood in Victoria West and will stand five storeys tall once complete. The structure is within the Bayview master planned community which includes high rise residential towers, a park, and retail amenities. The 153,500 square foot residence will include approximately 30,000 square feet of indoor and additional outdoor terrace, patios and rooftop garden for residents. Aquara includes a mix of activities, some tailored to the elderly and some designed specifically to bring together all ages. The proposed community will contain 160 units, with 125 Independent and Supportive Living suites available for purchase or for rent, and 35 units providing Licensed Care in a designated, secure area with its own tailored amenities and activities. Construction is expected to be financed through a combination of debt and limited partnership funding. The Aquara Discovery Centre at 110 SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

NEWS UPADATE

FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

– 645 Tyee Road is already open to the public. Victoria residents can preview suite layouts ahead of launch of pre-sales and rental reservations.

VICTORIA UVIC Opens New Oceans Facility The University of Victoria celebrated the official opening of the new $9.5-million Ocean-Climate Building at its Queenswood campus. Representatives from the provincial and federal government were on hand to celebrate the opening of the facility. The nearly 230,000-squarefoot building opened in late July 2018 and provides an interdisciplinary, collaborative space for UVic’s ocean, climate change and data management research programs. It is now home to over 200 researchers, co-op students, scientists and staff. The Queenswood location now houses Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), an initiative of UVic. Its work includes sensor cables on the ocean floor to gather data and develop earthquake and tsunami, as well as whale collision-avoidance, alerts. The new World Data System International Technology Office, which manages, connects and co-ordinates information, is located in the new complex. The total cost of the facility was $9.5 million, with $3.5 million coming from the Government of Canada’s Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, $850,000 from the Government of British Columbia and $5.15 million from UVic. T he bu i ld i ng is the former home of a residential care center and has undergone considerable renovations. The renovation included new electrical, sanitary and waterworks connections, fiber optic networks and extensive seismic upgrades. A major feature of the redesign incorporates a flexible, demountable interior wall system to create large, collaborative workspaces as well as individual offices configured to serve specific needs.

VICTORIA Regional Real Estate Market Slows The real estate market slowed down considerably in December as a result of affordable housing policy implementations and low supply. A total of 375 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region in December - 18.8 per cent fewer than the 462 properties sold in December 2017 and a 24.7 per cent decrease from November

2018. Meanwhile condominium sales were down 24.3 per cent while single-family home sales were down 26.6 per cent. A total of 7,150 properties sold over the course of 2018, 20 per cent fewer than the 8,994 sold in 2017. 2018 sales came in very close to the ten-year average of 7,351 properties sold. Condominium sales totaled 2,162 in 2018, compared to 2,783 in 2017 and single-family home sales were down from 4,069 to 3,187. “The story arc in real estate this year has been the impact of government influence on a market which was showing signs of levelling out through the latter part of 2017,” says outgoing Victoria Real Estate Board President Kyle Kerr. “All levels of government turned their focus to try to make housing more affordable and attainable across the property spectrum. The federal government’s change to mortgage lending qualification rules this year meant many consumers lost 20 per cent of their purchasing power, which contributed to slowing down the pace of the market. On a municipal level, we saw many councils activating how they can influence affordable housing by leveraging current land assets, acquiring new land and creating partnerships to bring new affordable units to market - and that’s a very exciting thing for our market in the long term. The provincial government has also promised huge investments into new affordable developments.” There were 1,988 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service at the end of December 2018, a decrease of 15.2 per cent compared to the month of November but 43.6 per cent more than the 1,384 active listings for sale at the end of December 2017.

Whether you’re looking to replace an aging copier/printer or would like to learn more about how our Electronic Content Management (ECM) System can make your office more productive and help you become more paperless, we can help.

Unit C, 2110 Northfield Rd. Nanaimo BC, V9S 3B9

104-3375 Whittier Ave. Victoria, BC V8Z 3R1

Do you know where YOUR DATA is? Visit our Co-Location Datacenter in Nanaimo

VICTORIA Hudson Place Residential Tower Unveiled The final phase of downtown Victoria’s mixed-use Hudson District community has been unveiled by developer Townline. The Hudson District is a two block-wide residential and retail community that is comprised of 404 purpose-built rentals among three towers and 152 condominiums in the former Hudson’s Bay Company department store. Hudson Place One will become Vancouver Island’s tallest building at a height of 85-meters and will be nearly matched by the Hudson Place Two building because of the latter site’s higher elevation on Blanshard Street. Site excavation of the 23-storey Place Two is underway, ahead of its anticipated construction start date, and will have a completion SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 4

• Word class technical staff • Full IT services (networking, servers, computers) • Class ‘A’ Co-location Datacenter • IntraBAC Secured Offsite Backup • Web/Cloud Solutions

NEWS UPADATE

FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

CUSTOM HOME BUILDER RENOVATION SPECIALIST From design to completion, the Carsa Construction team can help turn your vision into reality.

date close to Place One’s which is expected in early 2020. Hudson Place Two is designed to focus on smaller, efficient and functional floor plans. In contrast to Hudson Place One’s larger residences, the last phases’ units are comprised of studio, one and two-bedroom suites that are intended to draw interest from firsttime buyers and investors. W it h t he a d d it ion of Hudson Place One and Two the Hudson District community will have 970 units and mark the completion of one of the city’s largest urban renewal projects. T he developer is a lso planning a 16-storey rental tower along the 900-block of Pandora Avenue and is involved in the construction of multiple affordable housing projects.

SAANICH SVAP Development Breaks Ground

250-516-1353 info@carsaconstruction.ca carsaconstruction.ca

MEMBER

Abstract Developments has broken ground on their latest mixed-use project

BUSINESS MOVES IN

A FLASH! DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND BOOK NOW helijet.com |

INCREASED FALL/WINTER SCHEDULE

helijet | 1.800.665.4354

VANCOUVER – NANAIMO IN 18 MINUTES VANCOUVER – VICTORIA IN 35 MINUTES

in Saanich’s Shelbourne Valley. Fifteen88 is a new condominium development that is the first multifamily project to proceed under the guidance of the Shelbourne Valley Action Plan (SVAP). The 62-suite, four-storey development on the 1500-block of North Dairy Road has already sold nearly 70 per cent of its one and two-bedroom spaces. The SVAP is a reimagining of Shelbourne Street t h at i nclud e s i nv it i n g mixed-use residential and commercial thoroughfare with enhanced pedestrian, separated cycling and improved transit access. The plan was adopted in April 2017 and civic officials have since laid the groundwork for developers by introducing forward thinking goals for development applications to be assessed by. The action plan calls for a future for the city that achieves a balance between transportation modes, streamlines transit access and implements i mprovement to stor m water runoff quality. Abstract is incorporating over 100 bicycle spaces and five scooter spaces in the condominium’s amenity package. T hey a re a lso

setting aside space for a dedicated cargo bicycle room with cycling repair provisions accessible from the residential entrance in the building. Additionally, for non-cyclers a Modo car-share membership will be provided for each home together with a Modo hybrid car that will be situated steps from the building. Construction is underway on the condominiums and is expected to span 18-months. Occupancy is expected to occur by late 2020.

VICTORIA World Juniors Bring Investment to Local Economy Despite Canada playing the majority of their world junior hockey championship games in Vancouver, the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre found the tournament to still be a win for Victoria. GSL Group, the operator of the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, stated that over 90,000 hockey fans came through its doors SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 5

NEWS UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2019

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

during the tournament that had an economic impact of up to $10-million on the local economy. T he 17-day event saw hockey fans consume over 70,000 beers, 40,000 hot dogs and 500,000 ounces of popcorn. During its 13year presence in Victoria, the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre has hosted a number of international events including the World Curling Championships, Wo rl d F i g u re S k a t i n g Championships, Canada and USA women’s hockey and more. The City is planning to bid on other large sporting events in the future, such as the Invictus Games and the 2023 Memorial Cup.

VICTORIA Research Chair Established at RRU A new research chair established at Royal Roads University will support changemaking in higher education research. T he Ashoka Resea rch Chair in Research

E f fe c t ive n e s s, joi nt ly supported by Royal Roads University a nd Ashoka Canada, aims to evaluate change through socially engaged and effective research. Dr. Brian Belcher, profe s s or i n R oya l R o a d s University’s College of Interdisciplinary Studies, has been appointed the inaugural Ashoka Research Chair for a four-year term, effective April 1, 2019. Belcher’s research focuses on developing new approaches to support and to engage faculty as changemakers and to transform research and research systems for greater impact. Recog n i z i ng t h at researchers often struggle to meet impact requirements from funders and to translate their research’s effectiveness to broader society, the chair will reconceptualize how research can be more socially engaged, deliberate and effective in contributing to social change. “Academic research significantly accelerates the uptake of proven social innovations to achieve impact at a systematic level,” says Barbara Steele, executive director of Ashoka Canada. “There is no doubt

this chair will carve new pathways for researchers to contribute to a world where solutions outrun problems and where everyone can be a changemaker.” In 2017, Royal Roads was designated an Ashoka U Changemaker Campus to recognize the university’s innovations in higher education and commitment to providing changemaker education.

Macdonald Commercial’s team of outstanding professionals are here to assist you with all of your apartment real estate needs.

604.736.5611

At Macdonald Commercial we‘ve built our reputation by providing our clients with the very best in full service commercial real estate services PERFORMANCE, TRUST & PROVEN RESULTS - ALL UNDER ONE ROOF

macdonaldcommercial.com

Visit us today, and let our team of experts show you the way to go.

EDUCATION on VACATION

CALL TODAY TO FIND OUT MORE OR EMAIL

| Businesses save money by cruising versus hotel stays

250.940.2901

www.cruiseshipcenters.com/Victoria www.cruiseshipcenters.com/Comox Valley BC Reg 37214 and 35206

GREATER VICTORIA

FEBRUARY 2019

BUILDING GOOD BUSINESSES KEY TO GREAT COMMUNITY Chamber Board Offers Insightful Leadership For Our Region

GREATER VICTORIA CATHERINE HOLT

he Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors for 2019 features a blend of experienced

S W E N

Visit

BusinessExaminer.ca

Today!

THE CHAMBER FEBRUARY EVENTS • Thursday, February 7 Prodigy Group Mingle 5 to 7 pm @ Vancouver Island Brewery

• Thursday, February 13 Business Mixer 5 to 7 pm @ Royal Theatre

• Wednesday, February 13 Member Networking Breakfast 7:30 to 9 am @ Sandman Hotel Victoria

• Thursday, February 28 How to Use LinkedIn More Effectively 2 – 4 pm @ The Chamber

leaders and innovative newcomers. This is an influential group of individuals, and I am excited about working with them to champion our region’s business interests over the next 11 months. We have four newcomers to the board for 2019. Pedro Marquez is the vice president of global advancement, marketing and business development for Royal Roads University; Paul van Koll is a senior manager with KPMG; and Moira Hauk is the regional manager for Coastal Community Credit Union. Danielle Mulligan, as the new chair of the Prodigy Group — a Chamber initiative to connect emerging business professionals — has a non-voting seat on the Board. P edro, Paul, Danielle and Moira will add diverse perspectives

to The Chamber’s Board. Their experiences with other organizations, countries and communities will help our Board continue to make purposeful decisions that will deliver real results for Greater Victoria. Returning as Board executives i n 2019 a re Cha i r Dan Dagg, president and CEO of Hot House Marketing and H2 Digital; Vice Chair John Wilson, co-owner and CEO of Wilson’s Group of Companies; Past Chair Al Hasham, owner of Maximum Express; Treasurer Kris Wirk, a partner with Dickson Dusanj and Wirk; and Secretary Christina Clarke, executive director of the Songhees Nation. Retu r n i ng to t he Boa rd a s Directors are Ian Batey, principal of IPB Consulting; Capt (N) Jason Boyd, Commander of CFB

Esquimalt; Carmen Charette, vice president of external relations at the University of Victoria; Lise Gyorkos, president and co-owner of Page One Publishing; a nd Rahim Khudabux, GM and owner of Max Furniture. As CEO of the Chamber, I also have a non-voting seat on the Board. The Chamber has 1,400 members representing all economic sectors and every size and shape of business — from Main Street storef ronts to cutti ng-edge tech firms and established public sector institutions. We are particularly pleased to welcome the District of Saanich as a new member this year. For 156 years, we have worked to ensu re Greater Victoria’s economy has the investment and support needed to thrive. There’s no doubt we have some serious challenges in 2019. Attracting and retaining workers remains a priority for our Board, as well as fair regulations for businesses and a safe community for everyone. You can learn more about all of our advocacy priorities at www.victoriachamber. ca/2019-advocacy-priorities. Catherine Holt is CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce

FEBRUARY 2019

One of North Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leading Fireplace Manufacturers

Located right here in Victoria E33 Gas Fireplace Insert

G50 Gas Fireplace

6782 Oldfield Road, Victoria, British Columbia, V8M 2A3

Westley Gas Stove

FEBRUARY 2019

EXPERTS IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

FOR LEASE

Artist Rendering Complete Fall 2020

3154 DELTA STREET, VICTORIA

1222 DOUGLAS STREET (AT YATES STREET)

$1,875,000

2,152 - 27,237 Sq. Ft.

WHY CBRE?

SERVICES OFFERED

Our team specializes in the Greater Victoria commercial real estate market. From single buildings to multi-market portfolios, we provide a comprehensive range of real estate services to help investors, developers, landlords and tenants with their real estate needs.

     

Acquisition and disposition services Valuation Assistance in due diligence Market analysis Marketing and positioning of property Leasing advisory services for landlords and tenants

Thinking of buying, selling or leasing a commercial property? Call us for a market overview or a no obligation valuation of your property.

CBRE LIMITED, REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE 1026 Fort Street | Victoria, BC

250 386 0000 | www.cbrevictoria.com

INNOVATION in our industry

VANCOUVER ISLAND CONSTRUCTION CONFERENCE April 24, 2019 • Victoria, BC

www.vicaconference.ca Vancouver Island Construction Association

Huu-ay-aht First Nations Buy into WFP

ORT A LBER N I We s te r n Fo re s t Products recently a n nou nc e d it h a s sold i nterest i n its Por t A lb er n i forest op erat ion to the Huu-ay-aht First Nations. The purchase has been set up as a limited partnership for $7.2-million which represents a seven per cent share for the Nation. A ssets i n the partnership will consist o f s o m e o f We s t e r n ’s assets in the Port Alberni forest operations including TFL 44. The deal also allows for Western to sell

incremental interest in the limited partnership to the Huu-ay-aht in the future. T FL 4 4 is a t ree fa r m t h at covers rou g hly 232,000 hecta res of la nd on west centra l Vancouver Island in the v ici n ity of the A lbern i Inlet and Great Central Lake. Western will still access fiber from TFL 44 to support its BC manufacturing facilities. T he deal will increase Huu-ay-a ht’s pa r t icip a t io n i n t h e fo re s t r y s e c tor a n d a l low b o t h parties to better manage

the resou rce a nd sha re infrastructure. T he a g reement bu i ld s on a Reconciliation Protocol Agreement both parties signed earlier in 2018. A b u si ne ss s t r uct u re sti l l needs to be developed and put in place before t he t ra n sact ion can be finalized. T he deal is also still subject to approval of the Huuay-a ht p e ople a nd t he provincial government. The Huu-ay-aht will hold community engagement sessions to discuss details with their citizens in January 2019.

Sheringham Distillery Wins Canada’s Best

o o k e – S h e r i n gham Distillery Ltd. won the prestigious “Best Contemporary Gin in Canada Award” from the World Gin Awards in London, UK on January, 25th. Besting other gins from all across Canada, Sheringham walked away w it h t h e top aw a rd i n their category for their m u l t i-a w a rd w i n n i n g Seaside Gin. This spirit also won several “Best” awards last year at events l i k e A l b e r t a B e v e ra g e Award s a s wel l a s BC Distilled. Being a Best in Canada winner, the Seaside Gin now proceeds to a final round of judging where it competes against a l l other cou ntr y w i nners to see who will win “World’s Best Gin”. The World Gin Awards are the global awards selecting the very best in all internationally recognized styles of drinks. Presented by TheDrinksReport.com, the world’s number one online

resource for drinks professionals, the World Gin Awa rd s select, rewa rd and promote the world’s best drinks to consumers and trade across the globe. Over 100 judges sample and critique every g i n entered a nd select t h e “ b e s t” f r o m e a c h country. Those winners then proceed to the final round to select the overall “World’s Best” gin. S h e r i n g h a m D i s t i llery’s owner and master distiller Jason MacIsaac says, “For ou r Sea side Gin to be acknowledged as one of “Canada’s Best” is beyond thrilling and exciting for us. We value and appreciate the World Gin Awards as well as our fellow participants and to take home a main category win for Vancouver Island from a prestigious European awards competition is unimaginable. We a re g ratef u l for the praise and spotlight.” The distillery releases their newest and latest

spi rit, K a z u k i Gi n th is week to both hospitality and retail markets. Asian inspired, the Kazuki Gin b l e n d s E a s t a n d We s t f l avou rs a nd cu ltu res, featu r i ng cher r y blossom petals and yuzu peel imported directly from Japa n, a nd g reen tea leaves and flowers from Westholme Tea Farm in t h e C o w i c h a n Va l l e y. The name consists of two Japa nese words, K A ZU meaning harmony refers to the harmony of both the East a nd West cu ltures and flavours as well as the West and East of Vancouver Island where both Sooke and the Cowichan Valley are located. K I mea n s rad i a nce and refers to the radiant f lavou rs that da nce on the tongue due to these premium and exotic flavours. Sheringham Distillery i s o w n e d a n d o p e r a ted by husband and wife tea m Jason a nd Alayne MacIsaac.

CCA Introduces Mentorship Pilot Program

n an industry first, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), with support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research and Program (NRC IRAP) and Canadian Construction Innovations (CCI), is introducing a mentorship pilot program. This program will match aspiring entrepreneurs who are creating new solutions for the construction industry with industry leaders to help hone the ideas or the roll out plans. “CC A’s m i ssion i s to

inspire a progressive, innovative and sustainable construction industry that consistently acts with integrity,” said Mary Van Buren, CCA president. “One of the challenges for businesses developing new solutions is gaining access to executives in the industry to get feedback on their solution and to gain adoption,” she continued. “Likewise, it can be difficult for the industry to learn about leading-edge technology, innovations or solutions that can dramatically improve their businesses.”

A n adv isory com m ittee of nine CCA and CCI board members from across Canada is assisting with identifying and matching mentors. “Our goal is to make this a permanent program to spark innovation in construction by connecting the industry to leading-edge entrepreneurs,” Mary summarized. The program is in a pilot phase until March 31, 2019. CCA represents more t h a n 20,000 memb ers firms drawn from 63 local and provincial integrated partner associations.

FEBRUARY 2019

CORNERSTONE PROPERTIES UNDERGOES RENOVATIONS AFTER CONTINUED GROWTH “We’re very excited about Company Continues to Grow After Over 30 Years in Business

ICTORIA - Cornerstone Properties Ltd. is expanding, add ing over 1,250 square feet to its office on Cloverdale Avenue. Upon the completion of the project, they will occupy over 7,600 square feet to house their 40 staff. “Some adjacent space became available, so we’re taking the opportunity to both expand and revamp our space,” says President Jason Middleton. “We moved into this location 14 years ago, so we’re due for some updates.” The space expansion is coming as a response to Cornerstone’s continued growth. The property management firm has also increased its maintenance fleet to five vehicles. Cornerstone has hired an interior designer to put together the new layout, which will feature an expanded board room (with major audio/visual components), a secondary meeting room, a breakout room, an expanded staff area, and more. “We’re very excited about the new board room, which will be able to seat as many as 20 people,” says Middleton. “As before, we offer this free of charge to our clients, who may be able to hold genera l meeti ngs for sma l ler buildings as well as council meetings. The project will result in a fresh, bright environment for our staff and will provide a more welcoming space to our clients.” According to Middleton, several factors have contributed to the company’s ongoing growth. First, they have a strong reputation for giving clients excellent service that has been built over the company’s 32 years in business. “Our customer service is our focus, which is why we have s u c h l o n g-s t a n d i n g c l i e n t

CBM Services Ltd. is a local building maintenance company with a special focus on high end condo and strata buildings of fifty units or more.

We are proud to support Cornerstone Properties. 704-1630 Quadra St | Victoria, BC O: 250.412.3646 office@cbmservice.ca | www.cbmservice.ca

the new board room, which will be able to seat as many as 20 people. As before, we offer this free of charge to our clients, who may be able to hold general meetings for smaller buildings as well as council meetings. The project will result in a fresh, bright environment for our staff and will provide a more welcoming space to our clients.” JASON MIDDLETON PRESIDENT OF CORNERSTONE PROPERTIES LTD.

relationships,” he says. “We have a very stable employee base and a very low turnover rate compared to industry standards, so our staff have built strong, long-lasting relationships with clients.” This reputation recently resulted in the company’s recognition as a Finalist in the Professional Services category at the 2019 Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards this January. Se c ond , t he c ompa ny h a s worked to stay ahead of the curve on technological innovation. Recently, Cornerstone partnered with a new software provider, and is in the midst of incorporating this software into their systems. Under the new program, all customers will be able to login to accounts through mobile devices where they can pay for strata fees, submit maintenance concerns, receive text or email notifications, and more. Cornerstone is also in

CongratulaƟons to the team at Cornerstone ProperƟes on your nominaƟon for a Vancouver Island Business Excellence Award.

The maintenance team at Cornerstone Properties with its five fleet vehicles the midst of rolling out their new website, which is set to launch in Spring 2019. The third (and perhaps most significant) factor behind the company’s success is its longevity. Jason’s father, Bill Middleton, started the business in 1987. He was already working as a property manager for another firm when his employer decided to close some of its divisions, including the property management division. “They told my dad they were going to have to let him go,” says Middleton. “He said to them ‘well, there’s a book of business here, some desks and chairs, don’t give me any severance just assign me the contracts and we’ll call it good,’ and that’s how Cornerstone was founded.” Jason joined the company in 1992, acquiring impressive property management credentials before purchasing Cornerstone from his father in 2003. Today, Middleton is a graduate of the Property Management Certificate Program, is the Managing Broker for Cornerstone Properties Ltd., is the Chair on the Board of LandlordBC and sits on the Commercial Council for the Victoria Real Estate Board. Cornerstone Properties Ltd. is also a member of the Professional Association of Managing Agents (PAMA) and the Strata Property Agents Association (SPA) – two key professional associations affiliated with the profession. They are also an associate member of Condominium Home Owners Association (CHOA).

In 1994 Bill Middleton expanded Cornerstone Properties by opening Cornerstonev Maintenance. This unit responds to the day to day problems that can arise when administering a property portfolio. “In addition to the maintenance division we also have an excellent relationship with a number of preferred trades that we work with on a regular basis,” says Middleton. “The maintenance division involves my actual employees. We have carpenters, flood restoration experts, irrigation certified workers and other personnel who can respond to ongoing maintenance issues. “This service option is available at an hourly rate (or written quote) to our clients, who are not required to use Cornerstone

Maintenance and are always welcome to use the contractor of their choice. This is simply another service that we offer.” When working with a strata corporation, Cornerstone may also help to set up its annual operating budget, creating an annual maintenance schedule, including making recommendations to the council to assist them in selecting contractors to carry out the work as needed. When working with our residential or commercial investment clients, Cornerstone sets up proactive maintenance schedules, continuous review of rents and researching to find efficiencies to lower operating costs. To find out more about this growing business, visit www. cornerstoneproperties.bc.ca

Congratulations to Jason and the Team at Cornerstone Properties

AWARD WINNING SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

Congratulations to Cornerstone Properties on your continued growth and success!

www.victoriadrains.com FREE ESTIMATES

250-818-1609

rdh.com | Victoria - 250 479 1110 | Courtenay - 250 703 4753

FEBRUARY 2019

WADE MCCULLOCH BRINGS LOCAL CONNECTION TO HUB INTERNATIONAL’S VICTORIA OFFICE Commercial Insurance Account Executive Returns to Hometown

ICTORIA - Victoria n at ive Wade McCulloch, BA, CAIB h a s joi ne d H U B International’s Victoria team. G ra du at i n g f rom t h e Un iversit y of Victor i a nearly seven years ago, McCulloch jumped into the commercial insurance world, and hasn’t looked back. A f ter s p end i n g some time at local Harbord Insurance and Coast Capital Insurance branches, McCulloch moved to HUB International just over a year ago, starting out in the company’s Courtenay office before moving back to Victoria. “I’m a Victoria guy, with a knowledge of the city and the busi ness com mu nity,” he says. “When the opportunity arose for me to transfer to the Victoria office, it seemed like a perfect fit for me.”

Wade McCulloch Now w ith ex tensive experience and training under his belt, McCulloch decided to specialize in commercial insurance, and is beginning to focus on a construction, trades, and realty niche. “Many friends and peers I’ve had through different jobs have ended up in the world of construction and real estate, so I have a natural network in this industry,” he says. McCulloch believes in continual education and is always looking for new learning opportunities. He’s always looking for

new courses, new designations, and other ways to improve on what he can offer to clients. “Service is something I pr id e my sel f on ,” he rem a rks. “I l i ke to get things done quickly and efficiently, and I’m not the type of guy to let something sit for three days before I respond to it.” McCulloch’s commitment to offering the best possible service is what brought him to HUB International. As the sixth largest insurance broker in the world, the company gives him access to resources, markets, and programs that few companies can match. “As an employee, I love t he of f ic e at mos phere here,” he says. “I work w it h g reat people who work hard and play hard. We all work hard, but the office has an easy-going feel to it. As a service provider, this company gives me access to all kinds of resources that I can use to en ha nce my cl ients’ experience.” www.hubinternational. com

BILLY-JOE CHECKO JOINS HUB INTERNATIONAL Commercial Insurance Broker Serves Clients All Over Island Your Community Employment Center

Are you an employer interested in saving money or hiring the best candidate? WorkLink Employment (the WorkBC Employment Centre for the WestShore and Sooke area) offers the following free employer services: • • • • • • •

Wage / Training subsidy for new hires Customized positions Booth at our Job Fairs Job postings Funding of work-related clothing / equipment / tools / transportation / First-Aid and other shortterm certificates needed by a potential new hire Office space to meet with potential candidates Possible recruitment and termination support

The Employment Program of Bri sh Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of Bri sh Columbia.

IC T OR I A - H U B International welcomes Commercial Insurance Account Executive Billy-Joe Checko to their team. Serving clients throughout Va ncouver I sl a nd, Checko brings nearly 20 years of sales, financial services, management, and business experience to the team, offering clients unique insights and creative solutions. “Having owned and operated my own business, I bring a lot of experience to the table that’s quite unique in this indu s t r y,” say s Che cko. “I’ve been on the other side of the table, so I have a different point of view when I come into an account. “I know how hard it is to be successful in business, so I want to protect that business the best I can. It’s not just about selling a policy and making a sale.

Billy-Joe Checko brings nearly 20 years of sales, financial services, management, and business experience to HUB International It’s about making sure I’m protecting assets the best way I can.” C u r r e n t l y, C h e c k o i s work i ng out of bot h Victoria and Parksville, spend i ng about ha l f of his time in each location. Between these two locations, he is well suited to serve clients throughout Vancouver Island. “Because I’m an active member i n t hese communities, I work to find the value add wherever I can,” he says. “I have a

great track record with claims advocacy, and have seen denied claims overturned due to my tenacity. “I’ve h ad cl ients w i n business awards because I’ve submitted their names. I’ve found new clients and service providers for my clients, and I look to be of service wherever I can.” For Checko, this commitment to the client was behind his move to HUB International. “Although HUB is one of the largest insurance brokerages in the world, their corporate structure a llows for regiona l autonomy,” he says. “This perfect blend of size and regional focus allows me to offer the products and s e r v i c e s n o r m a l ly reserved for Fortu ne 500 compa n ies but st i l l be flexible enough to tailor solutions to the specific needs of clients. “Having the support of the H U B ma nagement, staff, technology and insuring partners will help me better serve my clients and grow as an Insurance Broker.” Contact h i m at bi l lyjoe.checko@hubinternational.com

SAANICH PENINSULA

FEBRUARY 2019

CAST YOUR NET WIDELY

SAANICH PENINSULA DENNY WARNER

attended a workforce forum last week, which was focused on the difficult challenges employers face in finding employees to fill current positions. Employers are having to spend an increasing amount of time on recruitment and retention efforts and are finding it necessary to expand their focus to access groups of people they have not had experience recruiting including immigrants, indigenous populations, people with diverse abilities, and the semi-retired. The first challenge employers face is in figuring out where and how to access these largely untapped

and diverse groups of potential employees. Gone are the days when you post a classified ad and are overwhelmed w ith resumes from a host of qualified applicants. T he second challenge is in successfully and sensitively navigating the recruiting process. Employers may find themselves dealing with language and cultural barriers as well as workplace accommodation issues. It seems the key to making this all work is time, patience, and flexibility. Seemingly at odds with the difficulty employers are facing recruiting, at the federal level, as mentioned by Saanich - Gulf Islands MP, Elizabeth May, who attended the same forum, is the focus of bu reaucrats and politicians on job creation. This policy approach is more than a little mind-boggling considering almost every business I know is looking for employees. It isn’t merely an irritant that companies have jobs open for extended periods of time; for some smaller businesses, a lack of employees has resulted in shortened hours and work

weeks. It is very difficult to generate revenue when your doors are closed. There seems to be a slight recognition of the shift in the balance of power from job creators to job seekers as evidenced by the criteria for the 2019 Canada Summer Jobs program. They have relaxed their previous requirement that applicants be students. We can hire any qualified candidates between the ages of 15 and 30. It’s a small step, but employers will take whatever help is offered. Our thanks to John Juricic and Harbour Digital Media for shining the light on these important labour market issues. This Chamber will continue to support employers’ recruiting and retaining efforts by sharing information about programs and people and resources. Stay connected and sign up to receive our weekly e-Blast. Denny Warner is the Executive Director at the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at execdir@ peninsulachamber.ca

Vancouver Island’s Personal Property Appraisers Appraising assets is our profession, and the team at Steptoe Services has years of experience evaluating both business and personal assets. Call us today if you need an appraisal for legal or insurance purposes, or for any other reason. Accredited, insured, and reasonable rates!

T: 250.590.2180 M: 778.535.6673

W: www.steptoe.ca E: andrew@steptoe.ca

Ocean-front suites. Sensational spa treatments. Award-winning cuisine. A corporate retreat that your team will never forget. Sanctuary • Solace Surrounded by Nature

1.877.530.3939 | www.galianoinn.com | info@galianoinn.com

FEBRUARY 2019

MANY ENTREPRENEURS UNDER-PREPARED FOR INCOMING TRANSITION CRISIS Malahat Valuation Group Helps Entrepreneurs Meet Growing Succession Challenges

ICTORIA — 71 per cent of entrepreneurs intend to retire in the next decade, says Canadian author Wayne Vanwyck who penned The Business Transition Crisis. Of these, only seven per cent have a written plan for succession, and according to Vanwyck’s estimates, only about one in five will find a buyer. “Many business owners in Canada, including BC, are entering a stage in life where business transition or retirement are becoming more imminent topics,” says Ernest Bednarz, Founder and Principal at Malahat Valuation Group. “Many of these owners who find themselves in this cohort are concerned about where to start, the many challenges that lay ahead and the options that may be available to them. “We are finding that many business owners have been busy developing, growing and running their businesses and few have spent time thinking about and planning for their eventual exit.” A recent survey conducted by the BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada), titled The Coming Wave of Business Transition in Canada echoes this sentiment and the challenges entrepreneurs

face in the coming years. The survey found that 41 per cent are planning to leave their business within five years, 40 per cent of these appear to have done little or nothing to spruce up their financials or cash flows in anticipation of a sale, which does not bode well for the future value of their enterprises. To exit successfully (and most importantly, profitably), it may take up to three to five years to make the necessary adjustments to prepare (or stage) the business for such an event. When the business is built around the owner, there may be many aspects of the business that need to be addressed to make the business valuable and marketable to an internal or external buyer. For many business owners in this position, it is critical for them to figure out where the business is today (looking through a buyers lens), and then coming up with an organized, effective transition plan. Mike Thompson, Associate Professor, Faculty of Management at Royal Roads University, has written a book on this very topic titled Strategies to Achieve a Successful Business Exit. The book is based on his primary and secondary research, outlining a three-step process and the five major pathways available to entrepreneurs of SMEs (small and medium size enterprises). Last December, Bednarz shared the stage with Thompson, where they presented to a group of business owners at a Family Business Association (FBA) event. They

Ernest Bednarz, Founder and Principal at Malahat Valuation Group addressed this topic and how the valuation process forms part of the transition plan, both at the beginning and again near the end of the transition process. “An independent valuation of the business and the value of the underlying assets is a crucial

starting point for the development of a transition plan,” says Bednarz. “We provide a realistic fair market value perspective on what the business is worth today, from an arm’s length buyer’s perspective.” As part of the valuation process,

both the value drivers and risk factors of the business are identified. This helps business owners hone in on the gaps and what areas will provide the highest return on their invested time and money, forming the basis of their transition plan. Malahat Valuation Group is a multi-disciplined valuation and appraisal practice, providing clients with service in Business Valuation, Real Estate and Equipment Appraisal, under one roof. By having these three complementary skill sets in-house, they can value all the business assets under one engagement. This saves their clients both time and money. “We have a depth of knowledge and experience that few can match, some of our senior people have over 30 years experience in our industry,” Bednarz concludes. “As transition becomes a larger problem, we will continue to be the starting point for our clients’ successful transition plans to ensure they are the one-in-five that finds a buyer for their life’s work. “Those who work with us find that we have a very extensive network of top-level professionals in other fields, including accounta nts, law yers, ma nagement consultants, coaches, and M&A specialists. As part of the value of working with us, is we make these connections for our clients to access the best resources that they might otherwise be unaware of or have access to.” www.malahatvaluationgroup. com

Family Business Association Names 2019 Awards Recipients Andrew Wilson Receives Young Entrepreneur Award Trevor McCall, President of Family Business Association (FBA) of Vancouver Island, is pleased to announce that Proline Management Ltd. is the recipient of the 2019 Family Business Excellence (FBE) Award. Finalists for the award were Bliss and Be Love and Two Eagles Lodge B & B. Andrew Wilson of The Wilson’s Group of Companies is the recipient of the 2019 Family Business Young Entrepreneur Award. P roli ne Ma nagement Ltd., which was founded in 1985, continues to work to transform the property management industry with a philosophy of helping people live and grow together by creating connections within and amongst the communities they serve. They do this through relentless improvement and the development of educationa l programs and a work product that fosters understanding. This growing and expanding business

Andy Spurling of Proline Management Ltd. includes founder Eric Spurling, his son Andy Spurling (President), his wife Marilyn and sonin-law, Brad Felt. The company has grown to over 50 employees in offices in Victoria, Westshore, Nanaimo and, most recently, in Courtenay.

Café Bliss, founded by Heather Cunliffe, opened its doors in Victoria in 2008 and good things have been flowing through them ever since. Heather’s brother, Joe Cunliffe, joined as business partner in 2010 and their father, Ayrie, designed space as they expanded. They opened Be Love in 2013, a second Café Bliss location at Whole Foods in 2016 and a third location in downtown Vancouver during the summer of 2018. Two Eagles Lodge is a waterfront bed-and-breakfast and vacation rental in the Comox Valley which started with the purchase of 12 acres of forest. The lodge was designed and built by Carolyn and Steve Touhey in 2007. Together their aim was to ensure guest privacy, plenty of community space, and to showcase the million-dollar view of the coastal mountains, islands, and Salish Sea. Two Eagles Lodge has become an internationally

Andrew Wilson of Wilson’s Group of Companies acclaimed and award-winning lodge. Andrew Wilson, 30, is Fleet Manager with Wilson’s Group of Companies where he oversees 30 staff and the purchasing and selling of all the Wilson’s Group fleet. He assumed the position

at the age of 24, making him the youngest manager in the company, as well as one of the youngest in his field. Under his leadership, the fleet has grown to almost 200 vehicles which is one of the largest and most diverse fleets in British Columbia. The awards will be presented at a gala ceremony at the Union Club of BC, Victoria, on February 13th. The awards are given annually by FBA to recognize youth leadership and to celebrate and promote achievements of Vancouver Island family businesses and the considerable contributions they make to their local communities. Past award recipients include: DriveWise BC; Titan Boats; Tru Value Foods; Wilson’s Transportation; The Canada Homestay Network; Capital Iron; Country Grocer; McCall Gardens Funeral & Cremation Service; Pacific Sands Resort; Robinson’s Outdoor Store; Monk Office and Accent Inns.

FEBRUARY 2019

EMPLOYEE WELLNESS – GOOD FOR PEOPLE, GOOD FOR BUSINESS With some innovative thinking and a minimal amount of time and cost, a focus on “wellness” can significantly and positively

CHEMISTRY CONSULTING

impact culture, employee engagement and attendance.

MARCIA HAMMONDS

he start of a new year is a good time to focus on the health of your business and your employees. Find out how a wellness program can give you a kick start. In spite of an increased focus on the overall health and wellness of employees, many efforts in this area remain concentrated on traditional health concerns (i.e., employee dental and drug plans) or safety and security issues. As the personal and professional lives of our employees continue to intertwine, and thus provide increased pressures and demands from all areas, it becomes more important (both from a practical and cultural perspective) for employers to be aware of the ways they can support not only the physical side of employee good health, but also the emotional and social aspects. With some innovative thinking and a minimal amount of time and cost, a focus on

“wellness” can significantly and positively impact culture, employee engagement and attendance. The specifics in terms of how your organization’s Wellness Program is developed, implemented and promoted should be unique and reflective of your culture and values – and also dependent on your current and medium to long-term needs. “Rome was not built in a day” and neither is an effective Wellness Program. Instead, laying out a road-map that includes short and long-term initiatives, ongoing activities and incentives, and formal supports (i.e., Employee Assistance Program) that will build momentum and integrate a feeling of wellness into the cultural fabric of your organization is the key to sustainability and success. The input and commitment of employees is vital to building and maintaining a robust wellness program that can address the needs, priorities and interests of those who will participate, as well as their dependents. To that end, the development of a Wellness Committee is a necessary component of any wellness program.

Surveying team members to understand what they would like to have included in a wellness program is time well-served. Furthermore, employees should remain involved in the process to keep things ontrack, supporting initiatives and addressing ongoing and/or changing wellness needs and concerns. Although requiring the support and buy-in of senior leadership, this Committee is best-served as an employee-driven group with a significant amount of autonomy to make decisions and drive outcomes. Awareness and improvements in overall health and wellness will only serve to benefit employees – and in turn the organization. Why not start working on putting together something that works for you and your employees? You will not be disappointed in the results – and neither will your team. Marcia Hammonds is an HR Consultant with Chemistry Consulting Group. She offers more than 20 years experience in the area of human resources and recruitment.

You take care of business. We’ll take care of your cleaning.

mollymaid.ca

Personalized service to meet your individual needs

YOUR PEOPLE ARE YOUR

GREATEST ASSET. Protect them when they drive for work.

Find out how at RoadSafetyAtWork.ca Contact us today for a free in-home estimate:

250.744.3427 paula-whitehorn@mollymaid.ca

BE AWARDS

FEBRUARY 2019

Greater Victoria Companies Honoured As Best On Vancouver Island AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

There were 85 finalists for the annual celebration of the best of the best in Island business, a nd 17 d i f ferent categories. Skye Ryan of CHEK TV was the emcee. “Every year there are some amazing success stories that are told at this event,” notes Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner, which coordinates the event. “There are a lot of hard working business people who have put everything they have into their companies, and it’s great to have an evening to celebrate their efforts.” Gra nt T hornton LLP is the Title Sponsor of the Awards, and along with Gold Sponsor RBC Royal Bank and Business

Examiner hosted a morning-after “Breakfast For Champions” business round table for winners of the event. Black Press was a Platinum M e d iu m S p on sor of t he BE Awa rd s t h i s yea r, a nd Elite Promotion Marketing and the Vancouver Island Conference Centre were also Gold Sponsors. Category sponsors i nclude HeliJet, Country Grocer, Vancouver Island Coach Lines, B.E. Digital, Grieg Seafood, Invest Comox Valley, and Coastal Community Credit Union. Category winners are: • Automotive: Cowichan Auto Repair of Duncan. • Brewery: Twin City Brewing of Port Alberni. • Const ruct ion / Development/Real Estate: Tectonica of Nanaimo.

• Ent re pre neur: McTavish Academy of Art of Saanich. McTavish Academy of Art is a vibrant and inclusive creative arts facility, a community focused centre where people can explore their creativity, discover new passions and experience a variety of events and activities. • Food & Food P roduction: Urban Bee Honey Farm of Victoria. Urban Bee Honey Farm sells a massive variety of local honeys, farm fresh pork, tu rkey, ch icken eggs, honey bee nuts and Christmas trees. They support local artisans that make products from their beeswax including candles, beeswax wraps, encaustic art and balms. They also have a small cafe in the store. • Green: J. Zsiros Contracting of Courtenay.

Audit • Tax • Advisory

Excellence always deserves recognition.

Hearty congratulations to all of the finalists of this year’s Business Excellence Awards. Your hard work and perseverance are exemplary, and you’re an inspiration to everyone in the Vancouver Island business community.

Victoria | Duncan | Nanaimo T +1 888 746 4406 GrantThornton.ca © Grant Thornton LLP. A Canadian Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd

At Grant Thornton LLP, we’re proud to sponsor this prestigious event. We firmly believe that when private businesses succeed, we succeed. That’s why our dedicated team of professionals is committed to finding solutions that help private business unlock their potential for growth.

Lynn McNeill and Harold McNeill of McTavish Academy of Art receive the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Tara Benham of Grant Thornton LLP • H e a l t h C a re : B ays h o r e Home Health of Saanich. Bayshore Home Hea lth del ivers private home care service to the residents of south Vancouver Island. A proudly Canadian company, they are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life,

dignity and independence to all Canadians. • Hospitality: Crystal Cove Beach Resort of Tofino. • Manufacturer: VMAC Air of Nanaimo. SEE AWARDS | PAGE 15

BE AWARDS

FEBRUARY 2019

Versatile and convenient meeting space, located in Victoria’s beautiful inner harbour. Ideal for smaller corporate meetings or workshops.

330 Quebec Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1W3 250.381.3456 | huntingdonmanor.com | catering@huntingdonmanor.com

Lindsay and Jason Dault of Urban Bee Honey Farms receives the Food & Food Production Business of the Year Award from Lise MacDonald of Business Examiner

AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

• P rofessional: Waym a r k A r c h i te c t u r e o f Victoria. Will King and Graeme Verhulst founded Waymark A rchitecture

three years ago based on t he fou nd at ion a l concepts of innovation, sustainability, and coll a b o r a t i o n . Wa y m a r k Architecture is a collaborative, expertise driven firm informed by science,

ethics, and the arts. The founders are inspired by architecture’s potential to cont r i b ute to p ositive change and started Waymark as a means to SEE AWARDS | PAGE 16

Со n-cati о n {поипJ: WORD ORIGIN а conference + а vacation 1.

when you attend an event & stay for а fun adventure

what happens when you book your event at the VICC

CONGRATULATIONS to all the nominees Here’s to your continued success, from all of us at RBC® Vancouver Island Commercial Banking.

Tom Siemens Jack Leung Vice-President Commercial Banking South Vancouver Island 707 Fort St. 2nd Floor Victoria, BC 250-356-4544

Kevin Gillanders Kevin

Vice-President Commercial Banking North Vancouver Island 205 Commercial St. Nanaimo, BC 250-741-3516

® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. VPS94217

shelf ad Congratulations shelf ad - English 94217 AD_30075_Warwick.indd

30075 (05/2015)

100% of Final Size 7.5” x 9.75” None None

APPROVALS

BE AWARDS

FEBRUARY 2019

Victoria’s Bayshore Home Health team members celebrate winning the Health Care Business of the Year

AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

A part of coastal communities griegseafoodcanada.com

amplify their impact. • Retail: M & N Mattress of Parksville. • Technology: Trich Analytics of Victoria. Trich Analytics is a unique commercial and research laboratory with a specialized niche in micro-analysis of biological tissues to monitor for toxic metals in human and environmental health monitoring programs. Their vision is to lead a global movement in non-invasive and non-lethal sampling for human and environmental health. • Tourism: Surf Sister Surf School of Tofino. • Trades: Westcom Plumbing & Gas of Sooke. Westcom Plumbing and Gas Ltd. is owned

a nd operated by Mary-Anne Bowcott and offers plumbing and gas fitting services, in both residential and commercial, new construction, renovations, service and gas fireplace maintenance and repairs. They are also installers for local gas fireplace suppliers. • Wo o d P ro d u c t s: D & H Woo dworks of So oke. D & H Woodworks provides greater Victoria with Finish Carpentry services, offering a full range of finish carpentry services from commercial/multi residential supply and install jobs to single family custom homes. T hei r goa l s for t he f ut u re a re to bra nc h o ut i nto d i fferent sectors i n t he t rades with a definitive presence in SEE AWARDS | PAGE 17

Looking For Land & Investment Opportunities? Great things happen when you’re in the right place!

The Comox Valley has extensive business & investment opporutnities, downtown incentive zones and support services for companies and entrepreneurs exploring start-up, expansion or new investment. And it’s all featured on the Online Interactive Mapping Tool.

investcomoxvalley.com

Call us for award winning home care! From Sidney to Comox and all points in between!

250 370 2253

Victoria@bayshore.ca

BE AWARDS

FEBRUARY 2019

Damien Quinn and Herby Kirste of D & H Woodworks received the Wood Products Business of the Year Award from Scott Speakman of HeliJet

AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

const r uct ion ma nagement and design.

• Small Business of the Year – Under 50 Employees: VI Creature Teachers of Campbell River. T he of f ici a l b o ok for

the event can be viewed at ht t ps://i ss uu .com / markmacdonald7/docs/ be_awards_2019_book_lr

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT RESIDENTIAL | STRATA | COMMERCIAL “A Proud Past. A Confident Future”

Rental management, from single units to large apartment buildings. Strata management, no matter the size we can help. Proudly celebrating 100 years in Greater Victoria. 1125 Blanshard St | Victoria, BC 250.385.8771 | info@brownbros.com

18 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 1053290 BC Ltd 2239 Ara Ave, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Mid Island Consumer Services Co-Operative CLAIM $7,047 DEFENDANT 107975 BC Ltd 1386 Turner Lane, Cobble Hill, BC PLAINTIFF Schneider, Lee CLAIM $36,233 DEFENDANT Bennefield Construction 1000 Braithwaite Dr, Cobble Hill, BC PLAINTIFF Maxxam Insurance Services Inc CLAIM $10,846 DEFENDANT Biff Contracting 1000 Braithwaite Dr, Cobble Hill BC PLAINTIFF

WHO IS SUING WHOM Maxxam Insurance Services Inc CLAIM $10,846 DEFENDANT Bowtie Transport 2239 Ara Ave, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Mid Island Consumer Services Co-Operative CLAIM $7,047 DEFENDANT Campbell River Boatland 1982 Ltd 3125 Island Hwy North, Campbell River, BC Atkinson, Douglas James CLAIM $5,307 DEFENDANT Charman Hill Roofing 4144 Carey Rd Victoria, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Aiden & Selina Investments Ltd CLAIM $39,000 DEFENDANT Charman Roofing 4144 Carey Rd Victoria, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Aiden & Selina Investments Ltd CLAIM $39,000 DEFENDANT Edwards Electric 2003 Ltd

3-6820 Veyaness Rd, Saanichton, BC PLAINTIFF V I Electric Ltd CLAIM $200,000 DEFENDANT GT Farms 157 Trunk Rd, Cobble Hill, BC PLAINTIFF Schneider, Lee CLAIM $36,233 DEFENDANT Home Depot Of Canada Inc 400-725 Granville St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Belanger, Louis CLAIM $30,403 DEFENDANT Hypersport Activewear Inc 10825 Mcdonald Park Rd, North Saanich, BC PLAINTIFF Wolverine Worldwide Canada LLC CLAIM $10,310 DEFENDANT Hypersport Activewear Inc 10825 Mcdonald Park Rd, North Saanich, BC PLAINTIFF Skechers Usa Canada Inc CLAIM $25,443

FEBRUARY 2019

DEFENDANT Hypersport Activewear Inc 10825 Mcdonald Park Rd, North Saanich, BC PLAINTIFF New Balance Athletic Shoe Company Inc CLAIM $6,253 DEFENDANT Jin Tone Investment Ltd 5734 Pioneer Ave, Burnaby, BC PLAINTIFF Coastal Drain Cleaning Services CLAIM $12,868 DEFENDANT Khalsa Diwan Society Of Victoria 1210 Topaz Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Bridgeman Plumbing & Heating Ltd CLAIM $14,732 DEFENDANT L & R Holdings 4080 Riverside Rd, Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF Schneider, Lee CLAIM $26,233 DEFENDANT RBI Developments Inc 3200-10180 101 St, Edmonton, AB PLAINTIFF Masland Carpets Inc $57,682 DEFENDANT

Resolution Construction Systems 200-1260 Shoppers Row, North Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Westcoast Appliance Centre 2014 Ltd CLAIM $43,600 DEFENDANT Strata Plan Eps2816 202-1250 Stewart Ave, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF 0885216 BC Ltd CLAIM $35,216 DEFENDANT W O M Mastercraft Construction Ltd 201-19 Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Westcoast Appliance Centre 2014 Ltd CLAIM $43,600

WEST SHORE

FEBRUARY 2019

INTRODUCING OUR 2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS a mortgage broker with Rowe Mor tgage Solutions. T h a n k you, Cody and Katharine, for your time, energy and input! I a m cont i nu a l ly i mpressed by how much time our Board Directors give to the WestShore Chamber and many other initiatives. Expect to see them out and about in the community throughout 2019!

WEST SHORE JULIE LAWLOR

h i le ou r 2019-2020 Directors were elected at our Annual General Meeting at Oak Bay Bicycles Westshore in November, it is in January that the Board elects the Executive for the year. Now that we’re set up for 2019, I would like to introduce you to the WestShore Chamber Board of Directors: President Mike Reilly is a financial advisor with Freedom 55 Financial. First Vice-President Ingrid Vaughan ow ns a nd operates Smart HR, a consulting service geared towards helping business owners create and sustain strong HR processes and practices in their companies. Second Vice-President Kelly Darwin is the owner of Seriously Creative, an award-winning web design & marketing agency. T reasu rer Todd Troyer is a principal at Baker Tilly Victoria

Julie Lawlor is the Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at jlawlor@westshore.bc.ca

2019 West Shore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Ltd. and leads the practice at the Westshore office. Paula Blazina has worked for Coastal Community Credit Union for 19 years and is the Branch Manager of the Eagle Creek Village location. Chris Burdge i s t he ow ner o f bW E S T I n t e r a c t i v e , a n award-winning online marketing firm based in Langford and is one of the co-founders of Social Media Camp. Henry Chipps is a member of the Sc’ianew First Nation and one of

the treaty negotiators, and is part of a team discussing a new modern-day treaty with the federal and provincial governments. Michele Hansen has over 25 years of business experience as a successful entrepreneur running Signs of the Times, and manages client relationships and projects at AOS Partners Sharon Mitchell is a financial planner and investment advisor with Raymond James in the West Shore. Annette Siewertsen has worked

at Royal Roads University since 2005 and currently holds the post of Learning and Development Advisor. Bruce Simpson is the Branch Manager of Hatley Memorial Gardens Cemetery & Cremation Centre in Colwood. I ’d a l s o l i k e t o t a k e t h i s oppor tu n ity to t ha n k ou r depa r t i ng D i rectors. K atharine Harrold is Vice-President of Communications and Advancement at Royal Roads University and Cody Rowe is

We are a well-established, local software development company that creates and implements innovative technology solutions to move business forward. We thrive on tackling challenges and developing solutions that help people and businesses do what they do even better. Does this sound like a team you want to join? Please check our site for current postings www.vividsolutions.com

IMPACT CONFERENCE A SUCCESS

TOURISM VICTORIA PAUL NURSEY

he staff at Destination Greater Victoria just finished one of our premier events of the year – the IMPACT Sustainability Travel & Tourism Conference (IMPACT). Held at the Victoria Conference Centre January 20 – 23, 2019, this was the second year of the IMPACT conference. IMPACT is a partnership between Destination Greater Victoria, Synergy Enterprises, Starrboard Enterprises and Beattie Tartan. The conference’s goal is to promote the topics of economic, social and environmental sustainability in the tourism industry.

I h ave w r itten i n t h is space in previous editions how both destinations and travelers are increasingly valuing sustainability in their tourism products and experiences. IMPACT provides a forum for touri s m p ro fe s s i o n a l s a n d pol icy-ma kers to sha re best practices a nd cutting-edge developments in what is one of Canada’s largest economic sectors. For keynote speakers we attracted thought leaders from across the continent, such as Greg Oates f rom tou r i sm rese a rch and media firm Skift, as well as Destinations International Chair and President and CEO of Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau Tammy Blount-Canavan. Smart d e s t i n at ion m a rketers and managers are always looking for new tools. By bringing together different ideas and perspectives to a common goal, we hope to curate information exchange, fresh ideas and learn about new tools and innovations to ensure a bright and sustainable future for our industry. The IMPACT conference

was an undeniable success. We h ad over 200 delegates attend, up from 170 last year. January is considered a n off-pea k month for visits to Greater Victoria. These delegates stayed in our hotels, ate at our restaurants and patronized our attractions during their stay. This is business that would not have come to Greater Victoria otherwise. We w i l l b e re l e a s i n g our conference proceedings paper in the coming months. In the meantime, I encourage you to have a look at our website at www.impactnational.ca for further information. As the conference grows and the sustainability in tourism conversation becomes more focused and refined, there w i l l be g reater opportunities for businesses to find value in the conference program. We look forward to welcoming new delegates next year and building on this year’s successful conference. Paul Nursey is the President and CEO of Destination Greater Victoria

Westland Advantages •

Access to a Wide Range of Markets

•

One of largest brokerages in BC

•

Specializing in Bonding

•

Risk Management Support Services

•

In-house claims team

Contact our team Commercial Department

T 250-384-2881

1125 Blanshard Street

TF 1-866-899-3093

Victoria, B.C. V8W 2H7

E victoria@westlandinsurance.ca

Your best coverage is our only policy

DIGITAL MARKETING

FEBRUARY 2019

PROGRAMMATIC: WHOEVER, WHEREVER, WHATEVER Automated Ad Buying Provides Limitless Opportunity

DIGITAL MARKETING JOHN MACDONALD

IGITAL MARKETING – Robots are taking your jobs! As organizations continually look for competitive advantages and ways to grow, programmatic has presented a unique opportunity to target audiences with incredible precision. This form of digital marketing relies on software and algorithms that display your company’s advertisements in real time to your audience across any device they own with internet connectivity. It also provides the ability for businesses

to measure their return on marketing investments down to the penny. Problems involving the development of new business or higher margin clients, challenges with recruiting new employees, or disappointment with the results of previous marketing campaigns are the most common situations where programmatic is used. To keep things simple – as marketing buzzwords are manufactured on a near daily basis – we refer to programmatic as any form of online advertising where a computer is bidding for the right to display your ad to someone on an online platform. These include, but are not limited to, Google AdWords, the Google Display Network (GDN), programmatic display networks, mobile phones and tablets, and social media apps and websites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube). To advertise on these platforms effectively, you need to identify your audience through three parameters. Where is your audience located, who are they,

· Generate Leads · Get Found Online · Improve Your Search Rankings · Overtake Your Competition Ideal for Growing Businesses

Grow Your Businesses

Establish Goals

Develop Strategy to Maximize Sales, Performance & ROI

Put a digital bull’s-eye on your competitor’s clients, prospective customers, or potential employees with programmatic ad buying and what are they doing online? Once these questions are answered a blend of the aforementioned platforms are used to accomplish your objective. This combination of location, demographics and online behaviour is different for every company. You could market directly to visitors of your competitor’s physical location or website, visitors to your website, attendees to a tradeshow or conference you’re sponsoring, or an individual that has a similar online profile to one of your existing customers. There is a near limitless variety of uses for programmatic advertising. Once your company has identified a pool of prospective customers, each time someone fitting the parameters you’ve selected opens an app on their phone, surfs the web, searches on Google, or visits a social media platform, they are shown your company’s ad.

The objective being to drive them to your website, call your office, or fill out a form for future follow up. The good news about programmatic and digital marketing is that it makes a wide-variety of marketing opportunities accessible to anyone with a computer and internet access. If you have the time to do your own research, check out some of the great resources and guides on Lynda.com (a LinkedIn company). If you don’t, schedule a call with our team and find how BE Digital can help your business grow. John MacDonald is the Director of Business Development at the Business Examiner News Group. He can be reached at john@ businessexaminer.ca or 866.758.2684, EXT. 130.

Begin your journey!

Leverage the Latest Proven Digital Strategies

Providing: - Pay Per Click (PPC) - Search Engine Marketing (AdWords) - Geofencing - Mobile Device Tracking

- Reputation Management - Search Engine Optimization - Website Design (Wordpress) - Email Marketing - Content Marketing

Email or Call Today to learn more: John MacDonald TF: 1.866.758.2684 Ext. 130

E: john@businessexaminer.ca | W: businessexaminer.ca/be-digital

Take one of our many part-time courses available during the day, evening or weekend

www.camosun.ca/ce continuinged@camosun.ca Continuing Education

250-370-4563

FEBRUARY 2019

BRIDGEMAN CONTINUES TO EMBRACE INDUSTRY INNOVATION “We have service as a top Local Heating and Plumbing Company Serves South Island With Cutting Edge Technology

ICTORIA - This March, Bridgeman Plumbing & Heating Ltd. will celebrate its 36th anniversary. Founded by Chris Bridgeman in 1983, the company has grown to become one of the area’s most sought-after plumbing, heating, cooling, ventilation, water heater, and gas conversion providers. “I started plumbing with a company in 1978,” says Bridgeman. “At that particular time, around 1981-82, the economy started falling apart and I got laid off. “During that time, I was driving my fiancee (now wife) to work for her regular 7AM shifts. After I dropped her off, I would go to the local wholesaler’s and look for odd jobs I could take on while unemployed. Eventually, I was in high enough demand that I decided to start a business.” In March 1983, Bridgeman both married his wife of 36 years (and counting) and founded his successful business. He started the company with little more than his hands, some tools, and a truck, but quickly realized he would need some help to meet the growing demand for his services. Over the next decade, the company grew, eventually including the compa ny’s th riv i ng ser v ice department. “In the 90s, I realized that I also love to do heating,” he continues. “I jumped into the world of forced air furnaces, fire places, on-demand hot water boilers, combi-boilers, and high-efficiency systems. We’ve established a pattern of embracing modern technology, bringing the most up-to-date, cost-effective, energy efficient products to customers in the residential, and even commercial markets.” Today, the company has grown to a staff of 18 people, operating throughout Southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The fleet has grown to 15 trucks, each with GPS tracking to maintain an organized operation. When discussing his company’s success, Bridgeman points to a famous quote by automaker Henry Ford: “A business absolutely devoted to service will have only one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large.” “We have service as a top priority,” remarks Bridgeman. “I always hear back from clients just how polite, smart, clean, and caring my guys are. I suppose those are the values we’ve worked to instill in them over the years. We always say, ‘the greatest

priority. I always hear back from clients just how polite, smart, clean, and caring my guys are. I suppose those are the values we’ve worked to instill in them over the years. We always say, ‘the greatest compliment is when people are referred to us by our clients.’” CHRIS BRIDGEMAN PRINCIPAL AT BRIDGEMAN PLUMBING & HEATING LTD.

compliment is when people are referred to us by our clients.’” In addition to its commitment to a high level of service, Bridgeman Plumbing & Heating stays on top of industry trends, with employees regularly undergoing training from key suppliers and other organizations. “We’ve got some really smart guys who help to keep us ahead of the curve,” says Bridgeman. “We’ve invested in learning about products that can save clients thousands per year on their energy bill.” Currently, tankless hot water heaters are one of Bridgeman’s most in-demand products. This system heats water on-demand, saving enormous amounts of energy. These systems can be used to heat an entire home by moving water through a circuit of pipes built into the walls and floors. “It’s economic and efficient,” he says. “This system can do so much with only one appliance with a 30-year lifespan. There’s

You’ve really outdone yourselves Congratulations to Bridgeman Plumbing! It is always a pleasure doing business with you.

Saanich bartlegibson.com 4248 Glanford Ave // 250.727.9976

Owner Chris Bridgeman founded Bridgeman Plumbing & Heating Ltd. in 1983 no gas furnace, no burner, and no exhaust, so servicing the system is minimal. “Additionally, the federal government, along with Fortis BC is offering up to $2,200 in rebates for houses that have this system. When our clients get this system installed, we do the paperwork and sign it on behalf to get them their rebate. We make it as easy as possible for them to save money.” Currently, the company is an Advanced Comfort Expert (ACE) dealer for the Rinnai brand tankless water heaters. Rinnai is a leader in commercial and home tankless water heaters in North America, with more than 30 million Rinnai tankless water heaters installed worldwide (including 2 million in North America). “I believe this product is better than any technology out there,” says Bridgeman. “We’ve been installing tankless water heaters now for 22 years, and I think these are the best products of this kind available.” The system produces on-demand hot water with proprietary technology that no other company has yet been able to replicate. According to Bridgeman, the Rinnai wall furnace allows customers to heat their homes for as little as 12 dollars a month. “Currently, I can find ways to save a typical household a running cost of between $1,500 and $2,000 per year,” he says. “Since we offer financing with

Congratulations to the team at Bridgeman Plumbing on all of your success!

250.478.3230 pomponio.ca 927A Goldstream Avenue, Victoria, BC V9B 2Y2

Some of the office dogs at Bridgeman Plumbing & Heating

Some piping for an in-floor heating installation zero per cent down, we’ve made t h i s pro duct acc e ssi ble for every homeowner. It’s really a no-brainer.” So far, Bridgeman Plumbing & Heating has travelled as far as the Yukon to install these

systems. Though they primarily service the South of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, they are willing to travel all over the Island to install these unique systems. www.bridgemanplumbing.ca

Congratulations to Bridgeman Plumbing on your success in business www.emcobc.ca www.facebook.com/EmcoCorp

OFF THE COVER

FEBRUARY 2019

Victoria-Based Firm Named One of Canada’s Top Ten Tax Law Boutiques DWYER TAX LAW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

We specialize in residential and commercial finishing, including doors, trim, hardware, paneling, stairs, flooring and building specialties. www.dandhwoodworks.com | dandhwoodworks@gmail.com

250 419 3782

Since 1985, Alliance Engineering Works has been a leading provider of structural steel and miscellaneous metals to Vancouver Island’s residential, commercial, institutional and industrial sectors.

eventually bring in other people who also specialize in tax, so we could create a more collaborative environment. “ To d ay, we pr i m a r ily service other professionals, like accountants and financial planners, and clients with specific tax-related needs,” he continues. “We’ve been able to develop positive relationships with other fi rms because of th is specialization. They are comfortable sending us clients because they know that we’ll send their clients back after our work is done.” Today, Dwyer is joined by Kathleen Butler, who br i ngs over 15 yea rs of experience in corporate and business law and a Masters in Tax Law from Osgoode Hall (York University, Toronto) in 2015. The firm concentrates its practice on tax and estate planning matters, including business structuring a nd reorga n izations, usi ng fa m i ly a nd other ty p es of t r u sts, i ntergenerational asset transfers, and succession and legacy pl a n n i ng. T hey also help those dealing w it h t a x d i s p ute s a nd reassessments. Dwyer himself has been recognized by his peers as AV Preeminent under the Ma r ti nda le Hubbell rating system. This designation is the highest possible under the Martindale Hubbell system, which recognizes lawyers with the highest ethical standards and professional ability. “You can’t practice law if you don’t have ethics,” says Dwyer. “People have to be able to trust a lawyer, and if a lawyer isn’t t r u s t w o r t h y, n o b o d y wants to deal with that lawyer. “I’ve a lways bel ieved that h igh eth ica l sta ndards are a basic requirement of the profession. With a strong reputation, the CRA is likely to accept your statements as reliable statements of fact. They might disagree on how the law applies, but you ca n at least have a more useful conversation regarding a case.” Dwyer goes on to point

Blair Dwyer, Principal Lawyer at Dwyer Tax Law

Today, Dwyer is joined by Kathleen Butler, who has a masters in Tax Law from Osgoode Hall (York University, Toronto)

“I’ve always believed that high ethical standards are a basic requirement of the profession. With a strong reputation, the CRA is likely to accept your statements as reliable statements of fact. They might disagree on how the law applies, but you can at least have a more useful conversation regarding a case.” BLAIR DWYER PRINCIPAL LAWYER AT DWYER TAX LAW

out that clients rely on the k nowledge a nd i ntegrity of lawyers, who are trained to deal with technical knowledge and jargon. The firm also endeavours to improve proposed changes to tax laws that affect all Canadians. As part of their professional responsibility, the team regularly submits these suggestions to the government. Many of their suggestions have a significant impact on Canadians, as they help the government see potential consequences of new laws or a mbig uous ph rases. Dwyer is proud of being the catalyst around the

introduction in 2000 of income ta x ru les that a l low the ta x-deferred transfer of assets to joint s p o u s a l a n d a lte r-e go trusts. “This change provided individuals with more estate planning flexibility, as it allowed the use of a living trust to pass assets to the next generation. Living trusts are now an alternative to wills,” he says. Dwyer Tax partners with ACT-Autism Community Training, a charity that supports individuals with Autism Spectr u m Disorder and their families across British Columbia. www.dwyertaxlaw.com

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

FEBRUARY 2019

HumanCharger®

Business Examiner Gold Event Sponsors

Sun in Your Pocket™ Channel bright light directly to the light-sensitive regions of the brain, right where it is needed the most. HumanCharger® can be used to increase energy levels, improve mood, increase mental alertness, reduce the effects of jet lag and keep winter blues at bay. Boosted energy levels, uplifted mood, and enhanced performance.

Roland Laird Reliable Controls a nnou nces that the company’s president, Roland Laird, was inducted into the BACnet Hall of Fame as part of the BACnet International Annual Awards. T he awa rd s c eremony took place during the AHR Expo in Atlanta on January 14. Inductees into the BACnet Hall of Fame are individuals with at least a d e c a d e of m e a n i n gful contributions to the BACnet community, who have played a va luable role in the development of the BACnet standard or the community, championed open dialog and a collaborative approach to resolving issues, and demon st rated a g loba l perspective with respect for regional and cultural differences. Roland Laird is the founder and president of Reliable Controls. From 2005 to 2010, he was an active participant in BACnet International’s BTL Working Group and t he A SH R A E SSP C 135 BACnet Committee. He also served on the board of d i rectors of BACnet I nter n at ion a l for si x years, from 2012 through 2017. T he Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) Board of Trustees held its Annual General Meeting and elected its officers and executive committee members for the year. Brenda Leigh, who represents the Strathcona R e g i o n a l D i s t r i ct a n d has been on the Board for three years, was elected as Boa rd Cha i r. Mayor Gabr iele (G a b y) Wickstrom, from the Town of Port McNeill, was elected as Vice-Chair. This is Wickstrom’s second appointment to the Board. Joining the board from t h e V i c to r i a re g i o n i s

Jack McClintock from the District of North Saanich, Barbara Fallot from the Town of Sidney and Jeff Bateman of the District of Sooke. Audi opened its brandnew dea lersh ip ea rl ier this month at 2929 Douglas Street, complete with virtual reality devices in the show room that a llow customers to build t hei r d re a m c a r, op en a door a nd d r ive away - all without going outdoors. The GAIN Group invested $25 m illion to build a 32,000-squarefoot bu i ld i ng for Aud i and a building of about 12,000 square feet for its Alfa Romeo and Maserati dealerships. The Alfa Romeo a nd Maserati dealership is set to open in March 2019.

Tony Winter Seaspan Shipyards appointed Tony Winter as Vice President, Project Delivery. Winter brings considerable experience to the newly created role most recently at Victoria Shipyards where he has s e r ve d i n s e n ior rol e s since 2011. Sidney’s Assistant Fire Chief Joe Geary has accepted a role as fire chief in Christina Lake after ser v i n g t he Pen i n s u l a region for a decade. Victoria was the second highest Canadian Growth City among U-Haul truck

customers last year according to U-Haul data a na lyzi ng m ig ration trends for 2018. U-Haul Canadian Growth Cities are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul t r u c k s enter i n g a c it y versus leaving that city during a calendar year. M ig rat ion t rend s d ata is compi led from more than 2 million one-way U-H a u l t r u c k s h a r i n g transactions that occur annually in the U.S. and Canada. Ray Dahl Optical & Optometrists is open i n a new location at 101 – 2376 Bevan Road.

279

Life hacks to keep your mood up and boost energy levels. (no chair required)

Available in black or silver

LOYALTY PROGRAM

Green Star Juicer Elite 5000 The freshest tasting juice that maximizes your juice yields from various fruits and vegetables, plus a food processor for whole foods, making favourites like almond and date pie crusts, patés from nuts and vegetables, sauces from a vast array of ingredients, baby foods, frozen fruit desserts and more.

69995 Save $200

We keep track of your spending and automatically apply a loyalty discount!

Triangle Healing curates quality alternative well-researched products that enhance your health and well-being, including your wallet!

(250) 370-1818 / 770 Spruce Avenue trianglehealing.com

Black Ball Ferry Line has taken the Coho ferry out of service from January 14th to February 6th for its annual maintenance. The 342-foot ferry is designed to carry up to 1,000 passengers and 115 vehicles per day through the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Victoria and Port Angeles, Washington. Ferries to and from Washington state are still available t h rou g h Clipper Vacations, which provides service to Seattle and Friday Harbor. Victoria has been named o n e o f Ca n a d a’s m o s t welcoming places based on online guest reviews made through Booking. com. The city earned the accolades from the site’s 7 th annual edition of the G u e s t R e v i e w Aw a rd s which honours the digital travel company’s accommodation partners that consistently deliver great guest experiences. T h e C i t y o f V i c to r i a issued a building permit to allow the conversion of a space at 506 Herald SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS| PAGE 24

LONG DISTANCE MOVING SPECIALISTS

Serving all of Canada with Coast to Coast Agents in all major cities 1.800.665.0055

www.greatcanadianvanlines.com

We serv

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

24 MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Street to be turned into a 135seat brewery. The proprietors of The Drake beer parlor on Pandora Avenue and New Westminster’s Steel & Oak Brewing Company a re pa r t neri ng on the space that is designed to be a two-level operation that will include the region’s first rooftop brewpub tasting room. Once open in late 2019 or early 2020, the brewpub is expected to offer small snacks without a kitchen facility or distribution component. T he Synergy Sustainability Institute, an offshoot of Synergy Enterprises, is launching Project Zero, a circular economy initiative to establish an incubator program for Vancouver Island entrepreneurs who want to repurpose waste materials. The program will allow entrepreneurs with ideas or those who have already established start-ups the chance to develop business plans, learn business fundamentals and skills, connect with mentors and develop a pitch for their business idea. Applications for the program are accepted until February 22 at 4 pm and the program will run from April to November. Despite having a record year f o r V i c to r i a I n te r n a t i o n a l

Airport, the capital airport was overtaken by Kelowna International Airport as Canada’s busiest airport. Kelowna Airport’s final passenger number for 2018 lifted it past Victoria and into 10 th spot on the list. Victoria reported 2.05-million passengers passing through its gates last year while Kelowna International Airport reported a record 2.08-million – a 31 per cent increase over the past three years.

Don Evans Our Place h a s app oi nted Linda McLean as chief operating officer, Marg Rose joins the organization as director of philanthropy and Don Evans has been named chief executive officer. McLean joins Our Place from Calgary, where she worked in leadership roles and organizations including the Calgary Homeless Foundation, Inn from the Cold and Calgary Drop In & Rehab Centre. Evans was previously executive director

FEBRUARY 2019

of the organization while Rose was most recently director of philanthropy with the United Way of Greater Victoria. The police dispatch services center for the Capital Regional District is moving to Saanich at 4219 Commerce Circle in Saanich. All 9-1-1 calls made on central and southern Vancouver Island will be answered by the Centre and then transferred to the requested agency depending on the service required and the municipality being served. The center cost over $16-million to build and will be operated by E-Comm.

contributions to the community and those in need. Dodd founded Dodd’s Furniture and Mattress in 1977 and is known for his Peace Walks to raise money for Victoria Hospice and annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the less fortunate. He will be presented with the award alongside winners in 13 different categories at the 2019 Business Awards Gala on May 16 at the Fairmont Empress.

?ssenisub ruoy worg ot tnaW

Willowbrae Childcare Academy has opened their doors at 2780 Veterans Memorial Parkway. The academy is focused on introducing children and their families to physical fitness and healthy living. Parents receive detailed email reports every day at 5 pm indicating what their child learned, ate and what activities they were involved in. There is currently space available for toddlers though infant care is being delayed due to challenges recruiting teachers. Victoria f u rn itu re store ow ner a nd ph i la nt h ropist Gordy Dodd is bei ng recognized by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce for his

The annual Victoria Whisky Festival was held recently at the Hotel Grand Pacific. The festival saw Forty Creek’s 22-year Rye, an all-rye whisky distilled 22 years ago in Grimsby, Ontario receive the Whisky of the Year award. Campbell River’s Shelter Point Distillery took home a gold medal for their single malt artisanal whisky while Okanaga n-based Bearface went home with a gold medal. Re/Max Camosun a n nou nces their top producers of the month for their agency at 101 – 791 Goldstream Avenue. They are Dale Sheppard, Tania Delmonico, Shirley Zallo, Jennifer Bruce, Don Burnham and Dan Silburn. Oak Bay Hearing Clinic welcomes Lewis Smith to their team as an Audiologist at their clinic located at 1932 Oak Bay Avenue. Smith has an undergraduate

deg ree i n biochem istr y at UBC Okanagan and a masters in audiology from Dalhousie University. Mister Sweeper Vacuums has moved to 3575 Ravine Way. BCTech Summit, the largest technology summit in Western Canada, will be held on March 11-13th in Vancouver. Arbutus RV & Marine Sales Sidney announces that Peter Munton is their top salesperson for 2018. The dealership is at 10040 Galaran Road. Trenholme & Company Chartered Professional Accountants LLP congratulate Nikki Smith on her successful completion of the 2018 Chartered Professional Accountants’ Common Final Exam. The firm is at 1007 Fort Street. T he Boa rd of G overnors of St. Margaret’s School have appointed Sharon Klein as the new head of school effective August 2019. Ms. K lein has been the Head of School at St. George’s School in Montreal, Quebec for the past five years and deputy head of Queen Margaret’s for nine years prior to that. From January 1 to July 30, 2019, Simon Bruce-Lockhart, the former SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS| PAGE 25

Named by Canadian Lawyer Magazine in 2019 as one of the top 10 tax boutiques in Canada.

Bringing the honour Bringing honour home Bringing honourhome home We are are pleased tototo announce that We pleased announce thatthat We pleased announce Dwyer Tax has been named oneoneone Dwyer Tax Law has been named Dwyer TaxLaw Law has been named ofthe the national tax boutiques of national top10 taxtax boutiques of nationaltop10 top10 boutiques by Canadian Canadian Lawyer magazine. by Canadian Lawyer magazine. by Lawyer magazine. Thank you clients and peers Thank you to our clients and peers Thank youto toour our clients and peers for this and recognition. for this honour honour and recognition. for honour and recognition.

Dwyer Dwyer Dwyer Tax Vancouver Island’ s Premier Vancouver Island’s Premier Tax Vancouver Island’s Premier Tax and Estate Planning EstatePlanning Planning TaxTax andand Estate Boutique Law 900 Boutique Douglas Street, Victoria Boutique 900 Douglas Street, Victoria 900--1175 -1175 1175 Douglas Street, Vic

TTT250 360.2110 F 250 250 360.2110 F 250 360.0440 250 360.2110 F360.0440 250 360.0440 www.dwyertaxlaw.com www.dwyertaxlaw.com www.dwyertaxlaw.com

Want to grow your business? We’re the bank for you. The only bank exclusively devoted to entrepreneurs.

bdc.ca BDCad_BusinessExaminer_4.8x6.2_en.indd 1

2018-10-24 1:40 PM

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

After 32 years in business in downtown Victoria, Zydeco has shut its doors for good after owner Molli Holser decided to retire. Holser acquired the store at 565 Johnson Street f rom fou nder Dianne Bump in 2007 and closed the shop on January 18th. Congratulations to the c a r sa les le aders f rom across the Victoria region. They are Ali Ziaee of Harris Auto, Jonathan Bish of Jim Pattison Toyota, Ray Martin of Jim Pattison Lexus, Todd Lindsey of Pacific Mazda, Cody Sutton of Wheaton, Graham Clarke of Audi Autohaus, Allan Collins of Volkswagen Victoria, Graham Simons of Victoria Hyundai, Matt Kennard of Porsche Centre Victoria, Daniel Low of Three Point Motors, Evan Souliotis of BMW Victoria, Jason Ogilvie of Jim Pattison Volvo, Mario Valesquez of Wille Dodge, Connie Wilde of Jenner, Eric Mak of Campus Honda, Gage Clough of Campus Infiniti, Kim Merrigan of Graham Kia, Frank Percorelli of Campus Nissan, John Kiefer of Jim Pattison Subaru and Eddie Lee of Campus Acura. Re/Max Camosun Peninsula congratulates their top producers and listers of t he mont h. T he top producers are Jeff Bryan, Jeff Meyer, Karen Dinnie-Smyth and Don Bellamy while the top listers are Craig Walters, Denise Gallup and the duo of Anthea and Gay Helmsing. D F H R e a l E s t a te L t d congratulates their office sales leaders of the month. They are Sandy McManus Prec for Victoria, Duncan Berndt for Sh aw n i ga n Lake and Maureen Vincent for Sidney. T he Gre ater Victor i a region added 1,000 jobs in December 2018 compared with the previous month and saw the local unemployment rate drop to 3.6 per cent from 3.8 per cent. The figures released by Statistics Canada mean that the region’s

Diamond Optical Eyecare is now open for business at a new Langford location at 755 Goldstream Avenue. T h e Sid ney B u si ne ss Improvement Area Society has launched Start Up In Sidney – a program put forward to attract new and established businesses to the area. The program is designed to assist prospective businesses find an ideal location and put them in touch with commercial property owners, re a l estate a gents a nd tow n of f ici a l s. It a l so fe at u res a n on l i ne job bank for Peninsula employers to meet potential employees. Dwyer Tax Lawyers was named to the top-10 list of Canadian tax law boutique offices by Canadian Lawyer magazine. T he firm is concentrated on estate planning and tax law and the principal lawyer of the firm is Blair Dwyer. Dwyer Tax Lawyers is at 1175 Douglas Street. The City of Victoria and the Greater Victoria Public Library announced the city’s new honorary Poet Laureate John Barton and Youth Poet Laureate Aziza Moqia Sea ley-Qaylow. Barton is a prolific poet/ author who has written 26 books, anthologies and chapbooks and received nu merou s pre s t i g iou s l i te ra r y a w a rd s . S e aley-Qaylow is a slam and spoken-word poet who graduated with honours from Reynolds secondary and is the daughter of a Somali refugee and a s e v e n t h-ge n e ra t i o n Canadian. Brad Armstrong h a s opened the Pacific Ninja Gym at 2340 Bevan Avenue in Sidney. The gym is the Island’s first Ninja gym that includes exercise mechanisms like rings, monkey balls, a salmon ladder, quintuplet steps, jumping spider and a warp wa l l. T he new faci l ity offers school programs, youth classes and adult programs that focus on

Dr. Morgan Hall Family and Cosmetic Dentistry i ntroduces Dr. Morga n Hall’s daughter Dr. Leah Hall to their practice at 3930 Shelbourne Street. Black Press appointed Dale Natfel as publisher of t he Peninsula News Review. Dale joined Black Press in 2014 as an advertising consultant on Vancouver Island and moves to the role after spending a year as interim publisher. B r e a d s t u f f s B a k e r y, owned by Rita Cooney and Dale Carter, closed down their bakery on January 26th for good at 1191 Verdier Avenue in Brentwood Bay. Victoria Film Festival celebrates their 25 year milestone. Kathy Kay is Executive director. MokSana Yoga Centre celebrated its opening as the first tenant for the Songhees Nation building at 613 Pandora Ave. Julia Macartney is the new Events Assistant at the Victoria Chamber.

! D C

E Vancouver Island Brewing has applied to the City of Victoria to rezone their space to allow for more seating and for staff to ser ve la rger g lasses of beer. The brewery is currently limited to serving 12-ounces in the form of four-ounce flights. If approved the brewery will be able to serve guests a full 12-ounce glass or allow them to taste all beer made at the brewery. Proposed changes regarding seating call for room for 86 standing guests and sta f f i f the space were rented out for an event as well as seating for 40 patrons. The application is now being considered by cou nci l a nd w i l l be put forward to a public hearing.

-S

Proline Management is the recipient of the Family Business Association of Vancouver Island’s Family Business Award. Proline is a residential property manager that has been in business since 1989 and has 53 employees in offices in Victoria, Langford and Nanaimo. The award as well as those in other categories will be presented at a gala ceremony at the Union Club in Victoria on February 13th.

UrbanSmiles Victoria welc om e s Dr. M ichael Nesbitt to their team of p rofe s s io n a l s at t h e i r clinic at 823 Broughton Street.

the individual needs of each age group.

Head of Glenlyon Norfol k School, Mu lg rave School a nd Shawnigan Lake School, will serve as the Interim Head of SMS, following the retirement of long-term head, Mrs. Cathy Thornicroft.

u nemploy ment rate i s below the provincial average of 4.4 per cent and the national average of 5.7 per cent.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

FEBRUARY 2019

™

Geeks on the Beach WEB

DESIGN-ONLINE

MARKETING-SEO

778.432.2600 - GEEKSONTHEBEACH.CA

OPINION

FEBRUARY 2019 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. 200-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria V8T 3J5 Fax: 1.778.441.3373 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

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

MR. BEENS OFFERS PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO HELP SOLVE HOUSING CRISIS

MARK MACDONALD

t takes a great deal of restraint to avoid the temptation to bash the GreeNDP for their lack of economic sense. Obviously I’ve demonstrated I can’t resist, especially since the target is rather large and easy to hit. But what good does it do, really, in terms of changing their collective mindset? The NDP has been in opposition far longer than they have been in government, and are used to sitting back and complaining about most everything done by the party in power. So now, w ith the Na na i mo by-election completed, it is more than likely that the GreeNDP will go the distance as government in Victoria. Thus far, it is clear – and true to their form – that taxation is their preferred route. They’ve pummeled existing property in order to raise

revenue – which it might do in the short term, but will undoubtedly result in decreasing contributions from the real estate/construction sector over the long term. But when the NDP inevitably fails to find adequate funding through taxation alone for their self-concocted solution for more low income housing, perhaps they may open their collective minds a crack – just a crack – and consider market-driven solutions that actually have proven to work, to the benefit of everyone. Kurt Beens is now retired after decades in the banking and real estate industries, and has put his thinking cap on to provide some incentive-based solutions to increase the supply of affordable rental accommodation. Kurt recalls that in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the federal government introduced the Assisted Home Ownership Program (AHOP) and Multi Units Residential Program (MURB), while the BC Second Mortgage Prog ra m wa s i n pl ace f rom t he 1970’s to the late 1980’s. The result? “The housing market was reasonably balanced and functional,” he says. “And developers/ builders provided an affordable

housing stock.” Successive federal and provincial governments eliminated the incentives, even adding taxes onto new housing. Now the GreeN DP govern ment is proceeding with punitive taxation on second home ownership in BC. “Cities and Regional District authorities have increased the bu reaucratic process to u nacceptable levels,” he adds. “The process from rezoning of land to development of housing amounts to years in many areas. “Add to this, rapidly increasing Development Cost Charges (DCC’s), and you wonder why the builders have turned away from providing rental housing.” Not to mention that municipal and regional governments are worthily stereotyped as “NDP Farm Teams”, since they typically consist of anti-growth and development individuals who are content to put up roadblocks to new construction. That is perhaps the biggest reason there isn’t enough new rental housing on the market. How many developers are willing to leave their cash in personal escrow, waiting for planners to reluctantly approve their projects, while they continue to pay

interest on borrowed financing. Mr. Beens says it’s no mystery why builders have turned to the more-profitable condominium construction, adding that the increase in population and rent controls haven’t helped the rental market either. The solution? Incentives for the building industry. Ku r t suggests el i m i nati ng the GST on new rental housing. Accelerate the depreciation allowance on apartments, perhaps as high as 10 per cent per yea r. Don’t places ta xes on the recapture of the Capital Cost A llowance, as long as it gets re-invested in rental accommodation. Or how about this? “Set up a Housing Investment Fund, making contributions ta x deductible, similar to RRSPs, with a generous limit. Invite mutual funds, banks and private investors to participate. “ I nve s tors’ i nc om e c o u ld b e ta x f ree, i f t hei r i nvestment is in residential rental accommodation.” Provincially, he suggests encouraging homeowners to rent their basement units and provide a rental grant for those who do so, similar to the Home Owners’ Grant. At the local level, he notes that

all housing be fast-tracked. “The common excuse by cities is ‘we are short-staffed or there are holiday issues’,” he observes. “Well, allow the builders to provide their own professional engineers, geotechnical experts a nd the other professiona ls needed to sign off on projects.” As the market responds and the housing stock increases – resulting in lower cost housing – a review of the Tenancy Act should be considered. “The turnaround will not happen overnight, but governments must start somewhere or the social costs will be considerably higher than tax incentives,” he adds. G re a t i d e a s . A l l o f t h e m . They’ve proven to work on many levels. It’s not like the GreeNDP or municipalities have to re-invent the development/housing wheel, so to speak. The answers and solutions are already there, and available for implementation - if their brain trust is willing to bridge the philosophical divide and incentivize the private sector to help solve the problem. Instead of punishing the real estate and construction industry, their chosen “road most traveled” every time they become government.

FEDERAL SPENDING DANGEROUSLY NEAR RECORD CANADIAN LEVELS

THE FRASER INSTITUTE JAKE FUSS

iscal prudence is a key aspect of any prime minister’s legacy. The choice to increase the size and role of government almost always comes with larger deficits, mounting debt and/or tax increases. Unfortunately, the federal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has ignored these consequences and is spending at unprecedented levels outside of war or recession.

A recent Fraser Institute study compared per-person program spending (inflation-adjusted) by each Canadian prime minister since 1870. It provides historical context for program spending and demonstrates that the current government is spending at one of the highest levels in Canadian history. During Stephen Harper’s last year as prime minister, program spending was budgeted to reach $263.2 billion. This meant per person spending would be $7,727 in 2015. However, Trudeau immediately increased spending after winning the election in late 2015 and spending grew to $8,117 per person, an increase of more than five per cent in less than six months. The current government then ramped up spending even more in 2016, as per-person spending reached $8,396. In 2018-19, federal spending is projected to reach $320.2 billion or $8,639 per person. This represents an increase of almost 12 per cent in

real per-person spending. For context, the Harper government during the 2009 recession recorded the all-time high level of per-person program spending ($8,711). The Trudeau government is projected to spend only $72 less per person than the alltime high, which was recorded during a deep global recession. Moreover, federal spending would have been higher had the current government delivered on its infrastructure spending commitment. Consistent delays in executing infrastructure spending have increasingly deferred such spending into the 2020s. For instance, Budget 2018 moved $3.6 billion of short-term infrastructure spending to future years. So this government’s record level of per-person spending (outside of recession or war) would likely have reached an all-time high if it had delivered on its infrastructure spending promises. There are two problems (among

many) to consider. First and perhaps most obvious is the risk to federal finances of a recession. Revenues decline and spending increases automatically during a recession, before governments take any discretionary actions. On average, Canada has experienced a recession roughly every eight-and-a-half years, and with the last recession recorded in 2008-09, the risks of a recession this year or next are real. Indeed, equity markets are signalling as much now. An analysis of the potential effects of a recession on federal finances released in 2018 indicated that the annual deficit could easily reach more than $42 billion, depending on the depth of the recession and the government response. Given that the Department of Finance currently expects deficits to persist until 2040, a recession this year, based on the current deficit, could weigh on public finances for the foreseeable future.

Beyond the risks of deteriorating public finances from overspending during times of economic growth, there’s also the real question of what benefits Canadians receive from this near-unprecedented level of spending. The same Department of Finance report forecasts economic growth to remain below the average levels of the recent past. And as a number of reports have shown, business investment by Canadians and foreigners is collapsing. This government has voluntarily increased spending to a level not seen outside of recession or large-scale military conflict. The risks to current and future federal finances are significant and the benefits to Canadians are not readily apparent. Jake Fuss, Milagros Palacios and Jason Clemens are economists with the Fraser Institute and the authors of Prime Ministers and Government Spending: 2019 Edition

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, 2019. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

FEBRUARY 2019

The Chamber Announces 2019 Board Of Directors

he Greater Victoria Ch a mb er of Commerce’s Board of Directors for 2019 features a blend of experienced leaders and innovative newcomers. New to the board for 2019 are Moira Hauk, regional manager for Coastal Community Credit Union; Paul van Koll, senior manager with KPMG; and Pedro Marquez, vice president of global advancement, marketing and business development for Royal Roads University. Danielle Mulligan, as chair of the Prodigy Group has a non-voting seat on the Board. The 2019 Board of Directors- Chair - Dan Dagg, President, Hot House Marketing; Vice Chair- John Wilson, CEO, Wilson’s Group of Companies (Chair of Public Policy and Advocacy committee); Past Chair- Al Hasham, Owner of Maximum Express Courier, Freight and Logistics, and Max Furniture; Treasurer- Kris Wirk, Partner, Dickson Dusanj & Wirk (Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee); Secretary- Christina Clarke, Executive Director, Songhees First Nation; Ian Batey, Principal, IPB Consulting Services; Captain (Navy)

Jason Boyd, Base Commander, CFB Esquimalt; Carmen Charette, Vice-President External Relations, University of Victoria; Lise Gyorkos, President/ Co-Owner, Page One Publishing Inc.; Moira Hauk, Regional Manager, South Island for Coastal Community Credit Union; Rahim Khudabux, Owner, Max Furniture (Chair of the

Ambassador Committee); Pedro Márquez, Vice President of Global Advancement, Marketing and Business Development at Royal Roads University (Board Liaison for Prodigy Group) and Paul van Koll, Senior Manager, KPMG. Ex-officio members- Prodigy Group Chair Danielle Mulligan, and Chamber CEO Catherine Holt.

• Non-heated natural blue sapphire • Handcrafted • Investment quality

Wherever Business Takes You From start up to succession, across B.C. and beyond borders – MNP provides clear, straightforward business advice and a full suite of accounting, tax and consulting services to help you succeed.

Victoria | Duncan | Nanaimo | Courtenay | Campbell River

“Robert Procop’s Exceptional Jewels” Collection www.robertprocop.com

BARCLAY’S FINE J E WEL L ERS 106 - 2187 Oak Bay Avenue | 250-592-1100 barclaysjewellers.com

It’s how you work, today. The office you remember is gone. Imagine in its place a workplace in harmony with the new ways you work.

An agile space of rich colours and textures. Where artificial intelligence and virtual reality come together to help you solve complex problems. Let’s start a conversation.

1751 Sean Heights Saanichton BC V8M 0B3 p. 250.544.3500

graphicoffice.com #104-335 Wesley St Nanaimo BC V9R 2T5 p. 250.741.8996