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LANTZVILLE Renovations more than tripled the space at Jemco Food Equipment
Vancouver Island
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COMOX VALLEY Homes By Crown Isle promises Keys in 90 Days
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INDEX News Update
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Sales 8 Nanaimo 10 Cowichan Valley
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Parksville 20 Qualicum Beach
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Comox Valley
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Campbell River
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AGS
JANUARY 2015
Copiers & Printers
Coastal Black Winery enjoying the taste of success Entrepreneur Abel O’Brennan has been named as a finalist for a major provincial award BY GOODY NIOSI
“The winery was meant
B
to be a small value added
LACK CREEK - Abel O’Brennan of Coastal Black Winery has been named a finalist for the 2015 BC and Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer Award, and in a word, he says he’s “excited”. “Typically you’re nominated by a peer, and to be recognized across the province, even if we don’t win, just the nomination is hugely flattering for us,” says O’Brennan. The 30-year-old entrepreneur, his wife Amanda, and their four children live on a multi-generational, multi-dimensional farm at the base of Mount Washington. The 650-acre farm includes 80 acres of blackberries, making it Canada’s largest cultivated blackberry farm. The farm had been run as a dairy farm by his wife’s parents for many years. In 2009, O’Brennan and his
venture but it became quite popular quite quickly and grew into a bigger part of what we do.” ABEL O’BRENNAN CO-OWNER, COASTAL BLACK WINERY
wife’s brothers, Philip and Daniel Ludwig made the switch to vegetable and fruit cultivation. The farm sells corn, squash and other market vegetables to major grocery stores on Vancouver Island. Daniel Ludwig is also a SEE COASTAL BLACK WINERY | PAGE 21
Abel O’Brennan is a finalist for the 2015 BC and Yukon Outstanding Young Farmer Award.
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LNG Plant enters next stage of feasibility Huu-ay-aht First Nation wants to continue exploring project at Sarita Bay
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ORT ALBERNI - Huu-ayaht First Nations members recently voted over 60% to continue exploring the possibilities of a proposed LNG project at Sarita Bay on Vancouver Island. The proposed development’s estimated value is US $30 billion and includes a 24‐mtpa (million tonnes per annum) land‐based facility, making it one of the
largest proposed LNG projects in British Columbia. “T his vote is an indication that our Nation is open for business and that certainty can be achieved for projects on First Nations territory in BC,” said Jeff Cook, elected chief councilor of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations. “Steelhead LNG’s approach and their respect for our people, our
principles and our processes are an example of how companies should conduct business with First Nations.” He noted that one of the things the Huu-ay-aht people appreciated was that Steelhead LNG approached the First Nations first, when the project was still an idea and before any work had been done.
For the First Nation, the facility will mean permanent year-round well-paying jobs – and training for those jobs. It can also mean jobs for the citizens of Port Alberni and other surrounding First Nations. A final investment decision will be made in 2018. Before then, SEE LNG PLANT ENTERS NEXT | PAGE 30