Business Examiner Vancouver Island - August 2018

AUGUST 2018

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AUGUST 2018

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AGS

DUNCAN Central Group of Companies has been operating on Vancouver Island since 1995

Business Systems

(866) 248-4251 AGScanada.com

Vancouver Island WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA

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TELEGRAPH COVE Completion of Telegraph Cove Lodge helps serve North Island’s growing tourism industry

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INDEX NEWS UPDATE

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NANAIMO

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COWICHAN VALLEY 11 PORT ALBERNI

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COMOX VALLEY

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WHO IS SUING WHOM 31 MOVERS AND SHAKERS 32 OPINION

Waypoint Insurance Covers Vancouver Island Growing Insurance Firm Boasts Deep Roots in Island Communities

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ANCOUVER ISLAND Waypoint Insurance Services Ltd. has got Vancouver Island covered.

With 15 locations from Victoria to Port Hardy and 3 locations on the mainland, their offices operate in communities as big as Vancouver and as small as Gold River.

The company offers a full range of insurance services including auto, home, life, business, travel, marine, and farm with a local flare and passion for customer care.

Waypoint Insurance Services can trace its roots back to before Canadian Confederation.

The Campbell River branch, which was formed in 1863 as BC Land and Insurance, was one of several small independent brokerages that joined to form the organization in the late 1980s.

“Each of these brokers had similar values and focused, community-oriented approach to the industry,” says Melanie Davies,

SEE WAYPOINT INSURANCE | PAGE 8

For four years, CEO Tony Hayes has been leading the charge at Waypoint, building unity and expanding to serve more communities than ever before

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Contact us: 1-866-758-2684

Hole in One for Nanaimo Golf Club

OUR 15TH YEAR

Local Golf Club Approaches One Century of Community Contributions

N Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

ANAIMO - Nanaimo Golf Club is preparing and approaching a century of bringing people together.

In 2020, the club will reflect on 100 years of serving their community, serving as a gathering place for generations of Nanaimo residents.

The club boasts one of the best semi-private golf courses on

Vancouver Island, with a clubhouse that hosts countless wedding receptions, parties, business meetings, and more.

“Being in a smaller community like Nanaimo is, the club has positioned itself as a trusted venue among community members,” says Ryan Woods, General Manager at Nanaimo Golf Club.

Countless community

organizations use the course and clubhouse for their events, partnering with flexible staff who are able to customize services to meet the needs of their clients.

Notably, Nanaimo Golf Club hosted the First Annual Tom Harris Charity Classic on June 15th. The tournament was organized by Tony Harris, son of the late community leader, Tom

Harris.

“Tony approached us saying he wanted to showcase Tom’s legacy and honour his memory by bringing the community together and raising awareness for some charitable causes,” says Woods.

“We were proud to support him and his family as they organized SEE NANAIMO GOLF CLUB | PAGE 18

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NEWS UPDATE

2 COWICHAN VALLEY Ground-breaking Held for Transit Facility Construction will soon be underway for the new Cowichan Valley Transit Maintenance and Operations Facility at 5271 Boal Road in Duncan.

Once complete, the 4.5-acre site will include parking for up to 50 buses, with the ability to expand in the future. The site will also include three vehicle maintenance bays, administrative space and on-site bus washing and fueling facilities.

“I am very pleased that work will soon begin on this important transit improvement project,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Amarjeet Sohi. “This new facility will ensure Cowichan Valley can continue to provide excellent public transportation service in step with growing ridership.” Representatives from the provincial government and the Cowichan Valley Regional District joined members of BC Transit’s senior leadership team for the ceremonial ground-breaking on the site of the new facility.

Since 2000, Cowichan Valley Transit System ridership has risen over 140 per cent. The Project is part of the larger Cowichan Valley Transit Future Plan that aims to make transit a reliable alternative to personal vehicles, reduce the community’s impact on the environment and improve transit efficiency. The

existing operations and maintenance facilities are at capacity and are spread out over three locations.

In addition to the improved operational functions of the new facility, the building design will accommodate future infrastructure upgrades required for alternative fleet technologies such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric buses.

The $16.2-million project was first announced in 2016 as part of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF), from which approximately 83 per cent of construction costs are being provided by the federal government and the province.

The remaining construction costs will be covered by the Cowichan Valley Regional District, while land and other costs not eligible for PTIF funding will be shared by the province and the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

Project completion is scheduled for Winter 2019.

VANCOUVER ISLAND Coastal Community Earns Award for Innovation Doxim, a leading customer engagement technology company, recently honoured Coastal Community Credit Union for a unique initiative designed to enhance Coastal Community’s member experience.

Coastal Community received the Doxim Leadership Award for Digital Transformation for their decision

AUGUST 2018

to move to a cloud-based secure electronic document management system the credit union has named myDox. “We’re very proud of this recognition of our commitment to excellent member service and cutting-edge technology,” said James Mitchell, VP, Technology, for Coastal Community. “This new platform enhances our ability to deliver seamless service experiences across all regions and service channels, when and where our members need them.”

Doxim CEO Chris Rasmussen and the Customer Success Team presented the award at the Doxim Exchange conference in Toronto to Coastal Community’s Laurie Wilson, AVP, IT Solutions, and Telse Fontaine, Lending Solutions Delivery Manager. “With myDox, the need to support multiple systems disappears,” said Wilson, “giving our experts more time to have advice-based conversations to help our members achieve their financial goals and dreams.”

Coastal Community successfully rolled out the new platform in January at their Eagle Creek Village branch in the Capital Regional District, where members enjoyed the efficiencies and convenience of the new system, including remote document signing. All Coastal Community locations will have implemented the new technology by July.

“We are honoured to be a part of our clients’ journey to digital transformation, and we are excited when they achieve ambitious goals.

Coastal Community Credit Union partnered with Doxim to support

their move to a seamless digital customer engagement experience, and this year we were happy to recognize their strategic innovation at our annual Awards ceremony,” said Chris Palmer, VP Product Vision & Strategy, Doxim.

COMOX VALLEY CVRD Award Building Contract The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) announced they have awarded Knappett Projects Inc. the construction contract for their new regional office building at 770 Harmston Avenue in Courtenay.

An invitation to tender was released on May 26th and closed on July 4th. The CVRD received five tenders on the project with Knappett coming in as the lowest bid. The CVRD further worked with Knappett to find cost savings, resulting in a cost-reduction of $340,486.

In total the contract is priced at $10,352,514, with $8.2-million being borrowed and the remainder being funded by reserves and grants. Construction of the new office building is scheduled to begin towards late summer to early fall and completion is expected in late 2019.

VANCOUVER ISLAND

Prices of single-family homes, apartments, and townhouses continue to rise in the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) area despite cooling sales in some markets.

Last month, 437 single-family homes sold on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) System compared to 438 in June and 556 one year ago, a decrease of 21 per cent. The number of apartments changing hands last month was virtually the same as July 2017 (100 compared to 101), but in the townhouse category, sales dropped by nine per cent.

Housing demand in the VIREB area has shifted lower so far in 2018, likely due to stricter mortgage qualification rules (Guideline B-20) for conventional borrowers and rising interest rates that are taking their toll on household purchasing power and affordability. However, because many of our buyers are retirees, who do not typically need mortgages, the VIREB market has been somewhat sheltered from the effects of Guideline B-20.

In its 2018 Second-Quarter Housing Forecast, the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) anticipates that MLS residential sales in the province will decline by nine per cent to 94,200 units this year from 103,700 in 2017.

On a local level, BCREA predicts that over the next several months, VIREB’s long-term sellers’ market will begin shifting towards a more balanced one. In fact, an interesting development in the VIREB area is that the market seems to be

Housing Prices on the Rise SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

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NEWS UPDATE

AUGUST 2018

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

splitting into two in some communities: one that favours sellers for homes $600,000 and under, and a buyers’ market for more expensive properties.

However, even with the high demand for lower-priced properties, sellers still need to price their homes accordingly.

The benchmark price of a single-family home in the VIREB area reached $510,700 in July, a 12 per cent increase from one year ago.

(Benchmark pricing tracks the value of a typical home in the reported area.) The benchmark price of an apartment last month was $315,900, a 22 per cent increase over last July.

In the townhouse category, the benchmark price hit $413,100, up 17 per cent over July 2017.

QUALICUM BEACH Township to Sell $5M in Real Estate The Town of Qualicum Beach is planning on selling over $5-million worth of real estate in the next two years to pay for recent land purchases.

The town recently announced the purchase of the historic St. Andrews Lodge waterfront property for $3.4-million to build a park. They are planning on selling land that has community significance.

All the proceeds from the sales are to be used to finance recent real estate acquisitions including St. Andrews Lodge at 2919 Island Highway (purchased in June for $608,300), 9865 Ravensbourne Lane (purchased in 2015 for $490,000), the Old Bus Garage site (purchased in 2011 for $1,537,000) and the Berwick Well field (purchased in 2012 for $1,495,020).

The town plans on selling two residential lots at 478 Timberlane Place, two lots on 665 Dogwood Road, a house on 324 Chester Road and land at 504 Juniper Drive.

The town has identified other properties they may be able to sell, though they won’t be disclosing those at this time. The town issued a Request for Proposal from real

estate professionals looking to list a portfolio of town-owned assets, though a realtor has not yet been chosen.

COMOX VALLEY Cannabis Facility Proposed for Valley Comox Valley-based Coastline Cannabis, which has changed its name to Coastline Canada, has partnered with Edmonton-based Atlas Growers on building a new cannabis production facility in Courtenay.

The partners are proposing building an indoor growing facility at 3310 Fraser Road off Island Highway South. The facility is designed for up to 100,000 square feet of growing space. Atlas estimate an annual production capacity of 42,000-kilograms of dried cannabis, between the proposed facility and another in Alberta.

Atlas has already begun construction on a 38,000-square-foot medicinal cannabis facility near Edmonton which is expected to be complete in September. The company anticipates receiving cultivation and sales licenses from Health Canada this year.

Subject to completion of financing, Atlas intends to begin constructing the Courtenay facility within the next two months.

The project is still in need of an environmental assessment, traffic study and hydrological study.

Atlas and Coastline have applied to Health Canada and spoken to staff at the City of Courtenay, which received a referral from Health Canada, in response to zoning.

with nine unique unit types ranging in size from 570-900 square feet. The proposal also includes a gazebo, underground parking and a recreation area.

Council already approved a development permit for a proposed 58-unit condo development on the same site. The permit was issued to a previous owner and expired in 2017.

In the renewed application, Platinum Properties requested variances including increasing the building height by 5.6-metres, reducing the number of required parking spaces by five and reducing various yard and water course setbacks.

NORTH ISLAND Maintenance Contract Change As of September 1, the highway maintenance company Mainroad will take over highway maintenance operations from Emcon Services.

Emcon has been the highway maintenance contractor for the region for 15 years. The Ministry of Transportation went through a rigorous seven-month procurement process for the new contract and Emcon was unable to beat out Mainroad.

NANAIMO Permit Approved for Condo Development Nanaimo council voted 7-1 recently in favor of issuing Platinum Properties Group Corporation a development permit for Riverstone Place, a multi-family condominium development at 20 Barsby Avenue.

Once complete the project would be a six-storey, 90-unit building

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3 Despite the contract change, most of the employees are union members and the union group will move with the new contractor. The only jobs impacted by the change will be superintendent positions and above.

Mainroad’s contract will be in place for 10 years, with an option to extend an additional five years, which will be determined sometime in the 10th year.

The new contractor will be kept busy with three capital projects that are set to happen in the region. The first project is to build passing lanes SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 6

SALES

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AUGUST 2018

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YOU DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T HAVE TO LOVE PROSPECTINGÂ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; YOU JUST NEED TO DO IT!

Do You Have The Answers?

SALES JOHN GLENNON

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hen you ask a salesperson what makes them so successful, their response is that they never stop prospecting. Knowing how to prospect effectively is truly the lifeblood of sales. Yet, so many sales professionals overlook the crucial element of having a prospecting plan. With a plan to follow, you can measure your efforts and results. Â The Mix A good prospecting plan includes several types of activities. Some examples include: outbound (cold & warm) calls, referrals, talks, mailings and networking. Unfortunately, most salespeople tend to use only a few, either because they have a certain comfort level with some activities, or a discomfort with others. Mixing your activities

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takes the pressure off of you and can be enjoyable as well.

If you are not comfortable with an approach, invest time to improve your skills, and ultimately your comfort level, to make other activities work for you.  The Action To achieve desired results, include in your mix both active and passive prospecting. For example, making outbound calls is active. You control whom you call, how often you call, how many calls you make, and what you say. Sending direct mail or an e-mail newsletter is passive you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t control whether it is read, or if it generates a response. Passive activities may be more comfortable, but comfort may not be the answer to your prospecting challenge. The Plan When you have decided which activities to pursue, put them on your calendar. Schedule your activities according to time, budget, resources and target audience considerations. A budget should accompany your prospecting calendar. Will there be labour, equipment, facility or print costs? These elements all factor into your choice of prospecting activities and their weight in your mix.

The Results Once you have chosen your mix, planned your actions, scheduled your activities and carried out your plan, what were the results? Where did your leads come from, and which activities generated the leads that translated into appointments? You will probably find that a plan that reflects a variety of methods will pay off. You may even find success with an activity you thought wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work for you, or that you were reluctant to try.

Each prospecting plan is unique, but all have elements in common: they should include a mix of activities that are feasible for your situation and have action steps for those activities based on resources available and scheduling constraints. As the saying goes, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going, how will you know when you get there.â&#x20AC;?

John Glennon is the owner of Insight Sales Consulting Inc, the authorized Sandler Training Licensee for the Interior of British Columbia. He can be reached at jglennon@sandler.com, toll free at 1-866-645-2047 or visit www. glennon.sandler.com

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AUGUST 2018

Vancouver Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Goods Sector Thrived in 2017 Jobs Added in All Five Goods Sector Industries

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UNCAN - In 2017, the Vancouver Island/Coastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population grew by 10,201 new residents.

Not su r prisi ng ly, the Capital Regional District and Nanaimo attracted just over three-quarters of the newcomers, while the Cowichan Valley, Comox, Strathcona, and AlberniClayquot regional districts accommodated the rest.

The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic growth also emulated this settlement pattern â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as just under three-quarters of new jobs were in the service sector largely found in the urban centres of the Island, and the jobs remaining in the goods sector were in the mid to upper Island regions.

According to the latest CPABC Regional CheckUp, an annual economic report by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC), the region added a total of 20,100 jobs last year, pushing the unemployment

rate down to 5.0 per cent, just below the provincial average of 5.1 per cent.

A nd while the service sector accounted for the majority of the job gains, it is the goods sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic performance that should be noted.

All five industries in the goods sector added jobs last year. The mining and oil and gas industries reported the largest gain, with 2,200 new jobs. In 2017, the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two major mines, Myra and Quinsam were both on care and maintenance and quarry operations remained stable.

The job gains appear to have been the result of rehiring in Albertaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil patch, and work related to the proposed Steelhead LNG facility in Port Alberni. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Despite t he on-goi ng dispute with the United S t ate s re g a rd i n g B Câ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sof t wo o d lu m b er, o u r regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forestry industry fa red rea son ably wel l.

Fo r e s t r y a n d l o g g i n g rem a i ned stable, w it h

exports slightly up from last year. However, wood products manufacturing contracted as a result of supply constraints,â&#x20AC;? said Woody Hayes, FCPA, FCA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a result, Western Forest Products consolidated its South Island operations and closed the Somass Sawmill in Port Alberni.â&#x20AC;?

A lthoug h there was a reduction of manufacturing e mploy m e nt i n wo o d , as wel l as food a nd beverage productions, the manufacturing industry added 1,300 jobs. This was largely due to an increase i n paper production.

Construction also added 1,000 new jobs, as a result of increased housing starts and higher investment in all categories of construction.

The Chartered Professional Accountants of B r it ish Columbia (CPABC) is the training, governing, and regulatory body for over 35,000 CPA members and 5,000 CPA students and candidates.

Business Elite Includes: t Business Loaner Vehicles for use During Servicing t Dedicated Sales & Service Professionals t Priority Parts Ordering Overnight Delivery (in most cases) t Priority Service Scheduling t Large Selection of Work Trucks & Vans (including Chassis Cabs) t Extended Sales Test Drives

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AUGUST 2018

NAVIGATING THE WINDS OF WORKPLACE CHANGE AMIDST THE WHIFF OF CANNABIS

CHEMISTRY CONSULTING DEBRA WALKER

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n October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act will become law and non-medical cannabis will become legal in Canada.

For those of us who lead organizations and/or work in Human Resources, there are a myriad of implications for the workplace. As this environment is a microcosm of our societal culture, we may well be witness to innovations, policy shifts and product development opportunities that weren’t foreseen just a year or two ago. Anyone remember not being able to check Facebook while at work?

As the legislation looms closer to actuality, many questions naturally come to mind, and these seem to multiply as you dig deeper.

Questions like: Do you have a workplace policy addressing impairment in the workplace?

How do you d e a l w it h

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employees that use marijuana for medical purposes?

What is meant by “Duty to Accommodate”? What about those employees who have concerns with workplace safety? If you currently allow senior employees to expense alcohol as part of their client entertainment expenses, will you allow the same for legal use of marijuana?

What about the gift giving seasons - if you have given bottles of wine or other alcohol or even chocolates infused with alcohol, will that be extended to cannabis and all of the ancillary products such as tinctures, edibles and lotions? Should / do benefit plans include covera ge for c a n n abi s prescriptions?

Seeking knowledge and working towards creating and implementing effective workplace marijuana policies in the following areas will assist in dealing with the situation: 1. Understanding what is legal. Consult with legal professionals who are conversant in employment, labour and human rights law issues arising from cannabis use, such as Fasken (www. fasken.com/en/solutionhub/featuredsolutionshub/ cannabis); 2. Clarifying policies in the area of recreational marijuana in the workplace; 3. Integrating an

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

sign posts make a bad

south of Roberts Lake Rest Area beginning in September and finishing the following summer. One passing lane will be built southbound, while an additional passing lane is to be built on the opposite side depending on the budget.

The second project is the Campbell Way and Highway 19 intersection in Port McNeill which is slated to begin between this month and September and wrap up in September.

The project will improve safety and visibility at the intersection by repaving and lifting up the road to get rid of a dip that is currently restricting visibility.

The third project is the resurfacing of Beaver Cove Road. This project is still being investigated but is expected to begin sometime this month or next.

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The construction of a new water treatment plan in Cumberland is now underway.

The plant will include dual barrier disinfection of ultraviolet (UV) and on-site chlorine generation, and a treated water storage

employer’s duty to accommodate and what that entails; 4. I ncor poration i nto benefit plans, including topics such as coverage, claim policies and employee assistance programs; 5. Opening up workplace communication and dialogue with employees, as it is not just the leaders of an organization that will require guidance and parameters but employees themselves will be seeking direction and a path to clarity; and, 6. Leadership training.

There are many avenues of seeking out the information required to formulate informed and equitable policies. (www.chemistryconsulting.ca/hr-in-brief) Validating where the information is from is important as well as seeking out professionals to help sort through the noise and collaboratively work with you to arrive at best practice tools and processes for your unique organizational culture.

Solid information, tools and resources are out there and the team at Chemistry Consulting is happy to get you started. Contact us today! (info@chemistryconsulting.ca) Debra Walker is an Associate HR Consultant, Business Coach and People Strategist with Chemistry Consulting.

reservoir to meet the BC Drinking Water Guidelines.

These improvements stem from a 2016 Council decision to implement Cumberland’s Long Term Water Supply Strategy and upgrade the Village’s water treatment, storage and distribution infrastructure. “Council carefully considered the long-term options for providing quality water to Cumberland residents and decided to retain and improve our own water system,” said Mayor Leslie Baird. And in March 2017, the Village was fortunate to receive $4.9 million in funding from the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund to cover 83 per cent of costs of these improvements.

Mid Island-Pacific Rim MLA Scott Fraser was on hand to celebrate the ground-breaking with members of Cumberland Council.

“People deserve to be able to rely on their community’s infrastructure to provide them with efficient, clean and healthy water.

Thanks to this partnership between all levels of government, people in Cumberland know their water source will be there for them for years to come,” said Fraser.

The first phase of improvement was completed last year with the construction of a twinned water main supply line. This twinned line and the treated water storage reservoir will improve the resiliency and security of Cumberland’s water system, as well as improve water flows for fire protection and reduce water treatment equipment costs.

PORT ALBERNI

AUGUST 2018

7

International Recognition for Coulson Ice Blast Port Alberni Company Named Top 50 Innovative Companies to Watch

P

ORT ALBERNI - Coulson Ice Blast Ltd. has been named one of 2018’s 50 Innovative Companies to Watch

by The Silicon Review.

The company currently leads the world in industrial cleaning innovation, recently launching IceStorm, a revolutionary product that cleans with both ice and dry ice.

The Top 50 Innovative Companies to Watch program recognizes companies that have d isti ng u ished themselves through superior service qualit y, c on s id era ble c u s tom er base, innovation, and market position.

The Coulson Group of Companies launched Coulson Ice Blast in 2016 in order to develop and market their cutting edge ice blasting industrial cleaning technology.

“We’re now the global leader in ice blasting technology and a re going th rough a sign ificant amount of growth,” says company Co-Founder Foster Coulson. “We have around 45 stocking distributors right now, and we deal around the world all the time.”

T hei r debut product, IceStorm, is a n a f fordable a nd

IceStorm marks the first major change to the industrial cleaning industry in decades environmentally friendly alternative to other industrial clea n i ng products, w it h a n average return on investment occurring between three and six months.

The compact machine can take advantage of both ice and dry ice medias.

Ice is readily available, cost effective, and more aggressive, but dry ice is ideal for situations

such as the cleaning of electrical components and fungal spore re m o v a l , w h e re e v e n m i nimal amounts of moisture are unacceptable.

As of 1999, industrial water

accou nted for up to ten per cent of global freshwater withdrawals. This technology uses a small fraction of the water used by a pressure washer, helping to drastically reduce waste.

Foster told the Silicon Review, “We’re now the global leader in ice blasting technology and are going through a significant a mou nt of g row th. We have around 45 stocking distributors right now, and we deal around the world all the time.”

This isn’t the first time Coulson Ice Blast has been recognized by tech publications.

“We were recognized by R&D Magazine for one of the top 100 technologically significant products of 2017,” says Foster.

“From there, things have started to snowball. We have more traction, more distribution partners, which is part of our path forward for disrupting the industry.”

“T he i ndustr y hasn’t seen any change in decades. Until we launched our product, the industrial cleaning industry hasn’t seen much innovation.

There was sand blasting in the 1800s, pressure washing in the 1900s, and few other notable innovations.” www.coulsoniceblast.com

OFF THE COVER

8

AUGUST 2018

Growing Insurance Firm Boasts Deep Roots in Island Communities WAYPOINT INSURANCE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Director of Sales and Marketing at Waypoint. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They banded together to build buying power and offer better rates and products to their clients and communities.â&#x20AC;?

The group formalized into Vancouver Island Insurance Centres in 1991, coming under a single umbrella, but each office continued to operate as a somewhat independent unit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;About four years ago, Tony Hayes came on board as CEO, and from day one, he worked to create greater unity in our company,â&#x20AC;? says Davies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were also getting ready to open our first off-Island branch, so we needed to rebrand.â&#x20AC;?

T he compa nyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadersh ip worked both internally and externally with stakeholders to get a clear picture of what the organization is and what it represents. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We tried a lot of different names, but we werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t able to come up with a really good fit,â&#x20AC;? says Davies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then we sent the situation to ou r employees, and within a couple of days, we had about five pages of name suggestions.â&#x20AC;?

It was Danielle Simpson, the sole employee at the one-person Quadra Island office, who put forward the name Waypoint. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we saw it, we knew that

Some Waypoint branches have been serving their communities since before Canadian Confederation was our name,â&#x20AC;? says Davies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A waypoint is a navigational marker and a stopping place on a journey.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who we are for our clients.

We take care of them and send them on the rest of their journey.â&#x20AC;?

Many of Waypointâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s branches are indispensable pieces of their community, so the company goes to great lengths to ensure these branches can continue to serve their clients for years to come.

With branches in Port Hardy, Gold River, and Quadra Island, Waypoint leverages the resources in their bigger centres to help support the workload of their smaller locations.

The Port Hardy Office is one of several Waypoint offices that serve as the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s licensing division encouraged to volunteer in their communities, and the branches work together to support Rotary, Chambers, and local sports teams. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also pick a target non-profit that fits the majority of our communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs,â&#x20AC;? says Davies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Right now, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re supporting Wheels for Wellness, a non-profit that drives people from their homes to Victoria for medical appointments when they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the resources to make the trip.â&#x20AC;?

In the future, Waypoint is looking at continued expansion across BC. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We continue to look for brokerages in like-minded communities that are a good fit for our

â&#x20AC;&#x153;In some of them, including Port Hardy and Gold River, we are actually the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only driver licensing division,â&#x20AC;? says Davies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At their core, these small communities are key to us. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able to keep those locations open because they continue to support us.â&#x20AC;?

Taking care of these communities is foundational to the mission of Waypoint Insurance Services. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are all about community,â&#x20AC;? says Davies. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hold communities together with our services, but also through our support of local organizations and charities.â&#x20AC;?

Wa y p o i n t e m p l o y e e s a r e

company,â&#x20AC;? says Davies.

The organization is also looking to expand their digital offerings, and is on the verge of launching some new digital initiatives. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re starting a bit slow, because we want our online services to reflect the relationship model we have in our branches,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re now starting the process of testing a couple of products that will come to market in the next few months. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll roll them out slowly so ourselves and our staff have a good opportunity to learn these new systems.â&#x20AC;? www.waypointinsurance.ca

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NANAIMO

AUGUST 2018

9

MOMENTUM CONTINUES AT THE PORT OF NANAIMO

NANAIMO MARK MACDONALD

T

h e Por t of Nana i mo c ont i nu e s to m a k e s i g n i f ica nt prog ress, as thei r latest announcement was announced at the end of July: Signing a 25 year lease agreement with Western Canada Marine Response Corporation to build a $10 million, 130,000 square foot of f ice/wa rehou se headqu a r ters for t hei r Vancouver Island marine response operations.

It is expected that the new facility will be home to 35 full-time employees.

This follows on the recent announcement of a new vehicle processing operation at the Nanaimo Assembly Wharf.

T he Por t of Na n a i mo also announced they have signed long-term leases with the Nanaimo Yacht Club, Protection Island Neighborhood Association and Western Stevedoring.

■■■ Congratulations to Ken Slawson on celebrating the 20 t h a n n iversa ry i n the trucking business at Penta Transport Ltd. at 1620 Herold Road in South Nanaimo.

■■■ Congratulations to dealer principal John Wynia and his family upon celebrating

35 years with their Harbourview Volkswagen. The dealership recently underwent a spectacular, major building transformation at the corner of the Island Highway and Mostar Road.

John was also the owner of the Nanaimo Clippers franchise in the B.C. Junior Hockey League, and h is son Sjon won a national championship while playing with the Vernon franchise.

■■■ Congratulations to Central Drugs upon holding the official grand opening of their newest location, in Pacific Station near RE/ MAX of Nanaimo on Metral Drive.

Kylee Power, Pharmacist and Central Drugs owner, Jordan Mark, Compounding Pharmacist and Centra l Dr ugs Ow ner, a nd Mark Rogers, Pharmacist and Central Drugs President, were joined by local dignitaries at the July 18 ribbon cutting ceremony.

■■■ Walker’s Saw Shop at 3653 Shenton Road is now offering U-Haul products and services.

■■■ Michael Kluthe has opened Four Crows Barber and Shave at 15-1925 Bowen Road.

■■■ We sl ey Fo r t i n i s t h e branch manager of the new Prairie Coast Equipment operation that is a John Deere dealership in south Nanaimo, next to the Island Highway.

■■■ Luke Bouma has joined the real estate sales team at RE/MAX of Nanaimo.

■■■ Smythe LLP is pleased to

Central Drugs held the Grand Opening of its new location at Pacific Station recently. From left: Donna Hais of R.W. (Bob) Wall Contracting, Mark Rogers and Kylee Power of Central Drugs, MLA Leonard Krog, Connie Paul (Registered Nurse with Snuneymuxw First Nation) and Jordan Mark of Central Drugs welcome Maggie Puhacz as new partner in the firm.

They’re at 201-1825 Bowen Road.

■■■ Angie Barnard of T he Network Hub is restarting the popular Downtown Quarterly Coffee meetings, co-hosted by Caroline Moncrieff of T he Caroline Affect.

The first meeting is 7:45 a.m. Thursday, August 23 at 120-256 Wallace Street.

For f u r t her i n for m ation contact Angie at Nanaimo@thenetworkhub. ca.

■■■ Vancouver Island University’s men’s hockey team is entering its second season, and the team’s executives played in a recent Hockey Fights Cancer tournament, with part of the proceeds going towards the hockey team.

Doug Johnston, Bryan M u r p h y, B i l l W i l k i e ,

Grant Starko and President Myles Parsons – who also organized the tournament – participated in the gathering.

■■■ The Salvation Army is expanding their Nanaimo Thrift Stores to include a furniture and donation centre.

■■■

T he old Patricia Hotel at 525 Haliburton Street has been torn down. The property is for sale, and is expected to be redeveloped once sold.

■■■ Seaspan Shipyards has a n n o u n c e d t h a t M a rk Lamarre has been named Chief Executive Officer, ta king over from Brian

Carter.

Mark was most recently CEO of Australian Shipbuilding Company.

■■■ Trees, a cannabis dispensary, has opened in U n i ve r s i t y V i l l a ge o n Bruce Avenue.

■■■ Da r ren Hauc a , Gra nt McDonald and myself are again organizing the Big Cheese Charity Classic hockey game for business owners, which celebrates its 10 th year with a game in Nanaimo on October 26. The event has raised close to $40,000 for various local charities.

T h e re a re s t i l l a fe w s p o t s o n t h e ro s t e r i f you own a business and want to join an event that features a great hockey game, lots of food, drink, prizes a nd laughs. Just em a i l me i f you wou ld like to discuss pa rticipation and the registration fee.

Mark MacDonald writes about business in Nanaimo.

Tell him your news by emailing him at mark@ businessexaminer.ca

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Vancouver Island University hockey executives: From left, Bryan Murphy, Bill Wilkie, President Myles Parsons, Doug Johnston and Grant Starko

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10

AUGUST 2018

V.I. OUTDOOR IS CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE Nanaimo Landscaping Company Boasts Excellence from Planning to Completion

N

ANAIMO - Since Dave Southorn set dow n roots in Nanaimo, his operation has seen tremendous growth.

Over the past 14 years, Southorn has taken V.I. Outdoor from a one man operation to one of Vancouver Island’s most sought-after outdoor contractors.

T he company offers a wide variety of outdoor services, including landscape design, pools, retaining walls, decks, fences, ponds, excavations, and much much more.

With its growing workforce and fleet of eight vehicles, many are surprised at the company’s humble beginnings.

Southorn came to the Island about 15 years ago, moving from Calgary with his wife.

“Moving out to the Island from the prairies was like starting a choose-your-own-adventure,” says Southorn. “I wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to take, but I had experience with various machines, and landscaping made a lot of sense for me.

I took business management in college, and have always been a hands-on kind of guy. I like to be creative and don’t like redundancy, so the variety in landscaping was very appealing.”

During the first year, Southorn was at a not her job work i ng graveyard shifts while his wife was in school. He used his days off to hand out flyers door to door in the Oak Bay area.

“I’m a numbers guy, so I realized I could hit about 100 houses per hour with flyers,” he says.

“I would typically get a two to three per cent response rate from the direct marketing, and about about a third of those would turn into a job.”

Upon getting his first job, he bought his very first piece of equipment - a ladder, slowly

Southorn is particular about the employees he hires, going through as many as 80 resumes just to find one or two new team members

“Our company is healthier Dave Southorn founded V.I. Outdoor in Oak Bay 14 years ago adding to his inventory as the business grew.

W hile he was primarily focussing on the Oak Bay market, Southorn began to take on a few jobs in Nanaimo.

“I checked out the market there, and Nanaimo seemed to pull ahead by leaps and bounds,” he says. “The response rate was a lot higher. Nanaimo had a lot more residential development going on, and there was more work here, so we decided to move our operation.”

Since this move, Southorn and the team at V.I. Outdoor have established a sterling reputation for their quality of work.

“Quality is number one for us,” says Southorn. “We keep it extremely high. We’re definitely not a discount-type company, and we charge a premium rate for the premium service we provide.

“We’re just as picky with our customers as we hope our customers are with us. With such a high turnover market, I decided to get people to come in longterm and build our brand that way.”

Just as Southorn is particular with the jobs he takes, he is particular with the employees he hires. He regularly sifts through 80 resumes at a time, just to get one or two hires.

“The number one rule in business is ‘surround yourself with t he r ig ht people,’” he says.

if it’s built around reliable systems. We want to be efficient, and we need our internal processes to be top quality if we’re going to offer a top quality product.”

DAVE SOUTHORN OWNER OF V.I. OUTDOOR

V.I. Outdoor aims to create ‘magazine-worthy’ landscaping solutions “Nobody understands the time, money, and investment it takes to hire even one person, but it’s absolutely crucial to have the right fit join the business.”

In addition to the careful selection of projects and people, S o u t h o r n k e e p s h i s c o mpany running strong thanks to thoughtfully implemented systems.

V.I. Outdoor is in the final stages of implementing a new a c c o u nt i n g s of t wa re a nd a program called Jobber, which organizes scheduling, quotes, invoicing, billing, and hours for the company.

“Our company is healthier if it’s built around reliable systems,” says Southorn. “We want to be efficient, and we need our internal processes to be top quality if we’re going to offer a top quality product.”

One of V.I. Outdoor’s recent projects required nearly 2,000 yards of material V.I. Outdoor’s team includes skilled workers capable of excavating, setting up irrigation systems, pouring concrete for

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retaining walls, creating custom cedar structures, and much more.

With these employees, the company is able to achieve their goal, which Southorn describes as “a magazine-worthy project.”

The team is currently wrapping up an in-ground pool project that they’re particularly proud of. “ We b r o u g h t i n c l o s e t o 2,000 yards of material,” says Southorn. “We did everything from pool excavation to building and installing concrete patios, underground hydro, and service lines. Being a higher material project, it’s been a fun one.”

Though the company takes on jobs of all sizes, they particularly enjoy getting creative with their projects, working with clients to plan and design the landscape, and taking the job through to completion. www.vioutdoor.ca

COWICHAN VALLEY

AUGUST 2018

11

IT’S “LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION” IN COWICHAN

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COWICHAN AMY MELMOCK

F

ilm and television activities are popping up throughout the Cowichan this summer and fall, giving renewed attention to the region as a film production destination.

Over the past decade, more than $26 million in film activity has taken place in Cowichan, creating positive spin-offs for accommodation providers and other businesses in the region, along with extensive media exposure. During this period, Film Cowichan, the film assistance arm of Economic Development Cowichan, has worked collaboratively with local government, the Island North Film Commission and the South Island Film Commission to ensure that potential film producers have the support and information they need to bring their productions here.

In February 2018, the motion picture “Light of My Life” was shot at Elkington House in North Cowichan, and since then, documentaries, commercials, and even a recent segment of the “Amazing Race” television series have used Cowichan as a backdrop. This fall, a major Hollywood film is slated for a week-long shoot in Ladysmith, and smaller television mini-series productions will be filming in the Shawnigan Lake area.

Attracting films to the region again involves liaising with local film commission offices and ensuring that the Reel Scout photo library of film locations in Cowichan is kept up to date on the provincial Creative BC website. In the past year, dozens of new locations across the region have been added

Over the past decade, more than $26 million in film activity has taken place in Cowichan, creating positive spin-offs for accommodation providers and other businesses in the region, along with extensive media exposure to the online library. The site showcases downtown streetscapes, commercial, heritage and waterfront buildings, schools, marinas, wineries, personal homes and other iconic Cowichan places. Reel Scout is the “go to” source worldwide for productions looking for locations “Film Cowichan is grateful for the support and cooperation we receive from local municipalities and business owners in accommodating the film community,” says Film Cowichan Coordinator Laura Leppard. “Without this level of collaboration, we wouldn’t be able to sustain film activity in a region that is extremely attractive to the film industry.”

For more information on Film Cowichan, visit the Economic Development Cowichan website at www.ecdevcowichan.com or contact Amy Melmock at amelmock@ cvrd.bc.ca

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12

AUGUST 2018

CENTRAL POWER KEEPS ISLAND CONNECTED A One-stop Shop for Any Power and Telecommunications Work

V

A NCOU V E R I S L A N D - The Central Group of Companies, headquartered in Duncan, has been operating on Vancouver Island since 1995. The company is a Preferred Contractor for BC Hydro, Telus and Shaw, performing installation, repairs and maintenance of distribution systems and communications networks, both overhead and underground.

Heading this 50-plus member team is founder Dan Johnston, who came to the island in 1991 with a freshly minted power lineman ticket from Ontario and a job offer at a Nanaimo based company. His original plan was to stay for three months and see the West Coast. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a long three months,â&#x20AC;? he laughs - 26 years later - from The Central Group head office in Duncan. The Central Group is now composed of three principle companies: Central Island Powerline Ltd. (Central Power), Central Tel Ltd. a nd Central Wrench. This strategic combination is one of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief strengths but it took time to develop.

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Owner Dan Johnston in the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat of a vintage truck with some of Central Powerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s administrative team (left to right) Myles Johnston, Elizabeth Groenewold, Dan Johnston, Dan Scott, and Susan Lucas â&#x20AC;&#x153;I came here with a Ford pickup, cowboy boots, and a mullet.â&#x20AC;?

Photographic proof of his arrival 26 years earlier is displayed in his eclectic office â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which includes a mix of vintage signs and furniture plus a corner filled with trophies won at linemen safety competitions.

He arrived in February and quickly appreciated the milder west coast climate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I realized this was a pretty good place to live.â&#x20AC;? After the initial threemonth job, he found a position with a Victoria power line company. Two years later, he decided he wanted to strike out on his own with his own company.

He noticed there was no contractor doing utility work in Duncan, so he set up his company in that community, equipped with one bucket truck, one digger, a pick-up, and two employees. His timing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he admits â&#x20AC;&#x201C; was SEE CENTRAL POWER | PAGE 13

Safety comes first with a barrier placed between traffic and crew during a night time repair of power lines bordering a highway

Proud supporter of Dan Johnston and the team at Central Power, congratulations on all your success! ~ from the team at

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AUGUST 2018

Central Power Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crew and part of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive fleet of vehicles

and evolving Internet hit the Telus network. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got into fibre optic, copper splicing, placing lines overhead and underground and microcells,â&#x20AC;? Johnston explains. Soon the crew members trained by Vic Scott were training their own crews as the division steadily grew. Scott stayed with the company until his retirement two years ago â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but passed leadership of Central Tel to his son Dan, who had joined the company 11 years ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He passed the torch but first SEE CENTRAL POWER | PAGE 14

A row of Central Power Group vehicles heading home via BC Ferries after helping with repairs following an ice storm in the lower mainland last winter

CENTRAL POWER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Post-storm clean-up by Central Power. The company responds to trouble calls 24-hours-a-day, 365 days a year questionable. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started during the second worst year ever for contracting work. The following year was even worse.â&#x20AC;?

Somehow, the new company survived those two years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then

it started to get busy.â&#x20AC;? The work was varied: repairing downed lines, new installations, replacing utility poles. In order to effectively serve the island, Johnston needed to have equipment

and crews at more than one base.

A base in Victoria was the next step and Central started bidding on work in Victoria and Nanaimo.

Johnston continued to invest in his growing company, purchasing additional equipment. He was also open to new ideas so when his associate Vic Scott â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a 25year veteran of Telus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; suggested

expanding to service telephone lines, Johnston listened.

He formed a new division, Central Tel, in 2005. Vic Scott took the lead on the new two-person venture, training the crew as the division expanded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vic trained a bunch of really good guys,â&#x20AC;?

Johnston said. Within a few years the division had doubled in size. Then the work exploded as advancing technology and the demands for cell phone coverage

CONGRATULATIONS to Dan and the team at Central Power on all your success! ~ from Tracy, Ken, Kevin, Chris & John.

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CONTRACTING LTD. Congratulations from your friends at H2X Contracting!

ENVIRONMENTAL, SPECIALTY & HYDRO-EXCAVATION Vancouver Island owned & operated www.h2xcontractingltd.com 250.294.2109

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a Blast.

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14

AUGUST 2018

CENTRAL POWER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

he put Dan through the wringer to make sure he could handle it.â&#x20AC;?

The combination of Central Power and Central Tel gives utilities like BC Hydro, Telus, and Shaw an option that saves both time and money. When a joint use pole with both electrical and telephone lines needs to be replaced, The Central Group can handle the job with one call. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are a one-stop shop for any power and telecommunications work,â&#x20AC;? Johnston said. His company is one of the select few in the province able to field specialized crews for high voltage work as well as fibre installations and copper and fibre splicing in a single response team.

One example of cost efficiencies occurred on a project performed

by Central Power to replace aging hydro poles in Ahousaht. All resources and equipment had to be barged in for the work.

At the planning stage, Dan recognized the opportunity for huge savings for Telus if Central Tel were to complete identified fibre optic upgrading and pole transfers by sharing the Central Power resources already being deployed for the Hydro project. This kind of creative thinking sets Central apart in its ability to maximize resources so all parties achieve optimum results. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In a remote community, when one company can do it all, it saves a lot of money for everyone,â&#x20AC;?

Central Power Group took on pole replacement/upgrades for the entire island which took almost two years. Although it initially seemed like a daunting responsibility, the company has developed systems to efficiently maximize use of trucks and manpower Johnston describes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The utility company â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and ultimately the taxpayers and end users â&#x20AC;&#x201C; share in the savings.â&#x20AC;?

Another example: in the event

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of a storm or motor vehicle accident, damage is often done to joint use assets (BC Hydro/Shaw/ Telus). Coordinating resources from one source leads to a quicker resolution, resulting in significant savings, restored services, and getting crews moving onto the next job.

Centra l Group responds to trouble calls 24-hours-a-day, 365 days of the year, supplementing the work done by Hydro, Telus, and Shawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-house crews.

Johnston now finds that many people are more worried about losing their Internet access. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People would probably go without water before going without Internet.â&#x20AC;?

At any time, the company can field up to seven power crews and nine communication repair crews at locations throughout the island. This is especially useful during storm season, when

The view from above as a crew work on a line. A head for heights is mandatory trouble calls are common. This wide reach also saves time when a new call comes in.

There is often a Central Group team member within easy reach of the trouble call who is able to snap a photo and send it to head office. Using the photo, the responding crew can make sure they are bringing exactly what they need in equipment and expertise to handle the job.

Johnston notes that his company has installed many of the microcells that handle data delivery throughout the island. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We ourselves are able to streamline operations with these advancements in technology.â&#x20AC;?

Central Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expertise has also been exported off-island. As

recently as last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ice storms in the Fraser Valley, the company responded to the call for help.

In the past, the company lent a helping hand to neighbours to the south in Washington State.

Johnston gives full credit to his teams, who do the hard work of climbing poles and untangling lines in driving rain, howling wind, snowstorms, or in the middle of the night. It takes dedication and a commitment to service to leave a warm bed at 2 a.m. and go out into the storm to restore a power line. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not fun being out in the middle of the night in pouring rain, snow, and ice. I have spent SEE CENTRAL POWER | PAGE 15

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15

AUGUST 2018

Vic Scott, right, encouraged Dan Johnston to establish Central Tel and headed the division until his retirement. His son Dan, left, now oversees Central Tel.

People would probably go without water before going without Internet

The newest division is Central Wrench, which provides heavy duty mechanical services for commercial vehicles and is also a Licensed Commercial Vehicle Inspection station. Shown are (left to right) Ryan Peterson, Tristan Moyse, Stu Ronningen and Dan Johnston. In the background is the hood from a racing car sponsored by the company. ‘Hookin’ is industry lingo for climbing a pole using the embedded hooks

CENTRAL POWER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

a lot of nights out working with my crews and I appreciate what it takes,” Dan reflects.

“We’ve trained some good guys and now via word-of-mouth we have attracted a lot more” he says. “Without all these guys I’d just have a bunch of trucks.” The crew is tight-knit: many of the employees socialize and their families spend time together like a big family. “I feel lucky to be in it.”

Further evidence of the professionalism of the teams is their safety records. Central Power and Central Tel have had NO lost time accidents – ever. Central Power holds a Certificate of Recognition issued by WorkSafeBC and the

In a remote community, when one company can do it all, it saves a lot of money for everyone

BC Construction Safety Alliance in recognition of the company’s best practices in safety.

Safety is their number one value: doing it safe, doing it right, being efficient and cost-effective.

This applies to all jobs, regardless

of size. “That is what every customer wants,” says Johnston.

Central Wrench is the newest division of the company. To head it, Johnston waited until he could hire Stu Ronningen, who he knew to be an outstanding heavy duty mechanic. With more than 50 vehicles on the road, he recognized he needed his own in-house shop to keep the company equipment in peak operating condition. That division now has three heavy-duty mechanics and one apprentice.

Central Wrench also draws repa i r b u si ne ss f rom ot her commercial contractors, from Forestry and Construction companies, and from local farmers. The shop is also a Licensed Commercial Vehicle Inspection facility.

Growing from one bucket truck

to a fleet of over fifty vehicles is just the start for Johnston. He is also working with First Nations on joint ventures, developing an engineering and design division, and expanding the value-added services to Hydro, Telus, and Shaw.

Dan realizes the importance of giving back to the community, supporting local initiatives such as the food bank, sponsoring several amateur sports teams, community events and has provided ongoing support to the annual Cobble Hill Fair for many years.

From a financial perspective he looks like he could retire. When asked, Dan smiles, “I only look old.”

“I love this job and the team of hard-working, dedicated people I have the privilege of doing it with. I am a very lucky man and my three month stint in BC is a long way from over.”

16

AUGUST 2018

NEW ADDITION OPENS AT TELEGRAPH COVE RESORT Completion of Telegraph Cove Lodge Helps Serve North Island’s Growing Tourism Industry

T

ELEGRAPH COVE - The Teleg raph Cove L odge hosted its first official guests this month.

The new 24-unit addition to the Telegraph Cove Resort was recently completed to meet the demand of the region’s growing tourism industry.

“The response has been tremendous!” says owner Gordie Graham. “Our tourism industry has so much potential. We have the scenery that the world wants to see, and projects like this help build our reputation as a tourist destination.”

Expansion was built by Nigel Parr of Parr’s Construction Ltd., in just over 200 days and involved the construction of a massive 300 foot retaining wall to ensure the longevity of the structure.

“Nigel also built our pub, restaurant and general store, so we had a lot of experience working with him,” says Gordie. “He did a great job, and the project seemed to finish in a snap.”

Congratulations to everyone involved in the vision and construction of the beautiful new Lodge at Telegraph Cove!

WOOD CARVER

250.514.5030

TELEGRPH COVE

Owners Gordie and Marilyn Graham founded Telegraph Cove Resort nearly 40 years ago, creating one of the North Island’s premier tourist destinations While the rest of the Telegraph Cove Resort is comprised of cabins and rental spaces, the Lodge includes 24 beautiful rooms, furnished with rattan furniture.

It i s loc ated on a h i l l t h at overlooks Telegraph Cove, with each unit sporting stunning views where tourists can see killer whales, bears, deer, and other wildlife from their own windows.

“We’ve been sitting on that land for a while now,” says Gordie. “It was covered with trees and brush, but knew it had a phenomenal view. We’ve had tour bus operators at us for years to provide accommodation for them when they come up Island, so the timing was just right.”

This addition marks the latest chapter in the resort’s almost 40-year-old history.

T he resor t wa s created by Gordie and his wife, Marilyn, who were long-time North Island residents. In order to take advantage of the area’s recreational ocean fishing, they opened a marina and a campground, which was a first for the region.

“We were falling buck timber at Port Alice for a number of years, but in ‘78, when they finished the highway from Sayward north, we knew there was a big opportunity,” Gordie says.

T he highway expansion, coupled with a new ferry terminal connecting Port Hardy

The town of telegraph cove features an 800 foot boardwalk, built by Telegraph Cove Resort Inc. to Prince Rupert, marked the beginning of an influx of tourists to the area.

“My wife suggested that we create a f i sh i ng resor t here and we followed that plan,” he says. “We started with three people, and now have over 70 employees.”

Established in 1912, Telegraph Cove was once a bustling sawmill town, but had since deteriorated, leaving the Grahams to build the community from the ground up.

With their help, the area grew to become the most dom i nant tourism destination on the North Island.

In 1980, the first whale-watching company, Stubbs Island,

was established, launching the a rea i nto a world-renow ned whale-watching destination.

In ‘82, the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve, was formed, protecting the famous rubbing beach in order to maintain the sensitive habitat for generations to come.

T hrough the decades, Graham’s company has continued to restore buildings and structures, turning the abandoned sawmill town into a bustling tourism hub, which is now surrounded by an 800 foot boardwalk.

Telegraph Cove Resorts expa nded i n 1998, when t hey added a restaurant and pub, general store, small hotel, and large sewage treatment plant.

CONGRATULATIONS!

The new Telegraph Cove Lodge is fantastic!

What a great addition to our special historic location, thank you!

BC’s 1ST and Telegraph Cove’s ONLY Whale Watching Company

STUBBS-ISLAND.COM

PHONE 250.928.3185

17

AUGUST 2018

Most of the town of Telegraph Cove was built by Graham, turning an abandoned mill town into a fishing and eco-tourism paradise

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The response has been tremendous! Our tourism industry has so much potential. We have the scenery that the world wants to see, and projects like this help build our reputation as a tourist destination.â&#x20AC;?

Telegraph Cove Lodge includes 24 units that will help meet the resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing demand

GORDIE GRAHAM OWNER OF TELEGRAPH COVE RESORT

the community has grown in so many other ways.â&#x20AC;?

One of the main attractions in the area is Whale Interpretive Centre, which Telegraph Cove Resort built after tearing down part of an old warehouse. Each year, over 25,000 people come th roug h the faci l ity, seei ng skeletons of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marine animals, and the stunning 20 meter long fin whale, which was donated by Jim Borrowman.

Last year, the WIC received a 1,200 square foot addition to the centre, funded entirely by the Grahamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; company.

Two years ago, the Grahams p u rch a sed T ide R ip Grizzly Tours, a company that has been running grizzly sighting tours to the North Island since 2000. â&#x20AC;&#x153;T he company was formed

by Howard Pattinson, who had been a commercial fisherman for years,â&#x20AC;? says Gordie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He wanted to semi-retire, so we bought the company from him. Now we run three boats up to Knight Inlet every day to see the grizzlies at Glendale Cove, with permission from the Nanwakolas First Nation.â&#x20AC;?

The Glendale Cove grizzlies are a world-class eco-tourism attraction, and were recently featured in the Disney film Bears.

Tide Rip runs their expeditions from mid-May to September.

Late May to mid-June is typically the best month for seeing the bears, as they are in the middle of mating season, while the

yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cubs emerge for the first time in July.

In August, grizzlies can be seen chasing fish during the salmon run as they prepare for hibernation.

The tours have a 95 per cent sighting rate, and offer a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;rain checkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; guarantee if customers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see a grizzly. Additionally, the company has a top ranking on TripAdvisor with overwhelmingly positive reviews. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is what people come to Vancouver Island to see,â&#x20AC;? says Gordie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have so much natural beauty, and the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism industry could be so much more than it is today.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m interested in promoting the whole North Island, not just Telegraph Cove. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much to see and do here, and more people should know about it.â&#x20AC;?

Telegraph Cove Resort has been recognized with various awards and coverage over the years, recently winning the 2017 Vancouver Island Business Excellence Award in the Hospitality & Tourism Industry category.

Upon receiving this award, Gordie commented, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am extremely proud to receive this prestigious award, and my congratulations go out to our entire team. This reflects our leading role in the tourism development of the Island and rewards our ongoing efforts to move the resort and the North Island Tourism in general into the future.â&#x20AC;? www.telegraphcoveresort.com

Proud to be the Excavation Contractor for the Telegraph Cove Resort expansion!

T h i s re n o v a t i o n p a v e d t h e way for the eco-tourism industry boom that Telegraph Cove has seen in recent years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are a lot of things to see

and do here, like grizzly or whale watching, hiking, kayaking, and much much more,â&#x20AC;? says Graham. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The recreational fishing side of things isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as big anymore, but

abernethycontracting@me.com

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to the Telegraph Cove Resort on your expansion!

Tel: 250-949-8133 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 250-949-9230 6025 Bronze Road Box 70, Port Hardy, BC VON 2Đ 0

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18

AUGUST 2018

IMAGES CRITICAL IN SOCIAL MEDIA-DOMINATED FOOD INDUSTRY Sight Comes Before Smell or Taste, Thanks to Social Media

N

ANAIMO - In the food service industry, social media can make or break a business.

“Things are different now than they were 10 years ago,” says Tim McGrath, owner and operator at ITS-Food.ca. “People don’t just show up at a restaurant anymore.

They check on Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, TripAdvisor, or one of the many other social media outlets before they ever set foot in the establishment.

“People are making their decisions long before they get to the restaurant, and they usually do it through imagery.”

ITS-Food.ca specializes in food photography,takingpicturesforcookbooks,foodsuppliers,restaurants,and other areas of the food world.

“One of the best ways to promote any business is through images, and the quality of the image makes a huge difference,” says McGrath.

“Given the choice, is a customer going to go to the place with really good looking food, or the place where the server took a picture with their iPhone? In this industry, the

Most customers make their decisions long before they get to a restaurant, and they usually do it through imagery

Tim McGrath uses his photos to tell the right story and communicate with the right audience

“People will tell you they sell the sizzle, not the steak,

he says. “I do it through pictures of your products, and through telling a story that reaches the people you want to connect with.

“For example, if I’m trying to sell beef to a restaurant, I’m going to show how clean the stalls are in the barn, how clean the farm is, and how well-equipped it is.

“The story I tell with the photos is going to differ if I’m working with, say, an organic farmer with 20 cows compared to a processing centre. If a story is presented correctly, people are willing to pay a premium for goodness.”

Though food industry professionals can display expert proficiency when combining flavours and creating unique, delicious dishes,

but in reality, the eyes communicate with the brain faster than the nose. Customers may remember the smell for a longer period of time, but if it doesn’t look good, they don’t care what it smells like.”

TIM MCGRATH OWNER OF ITS-FOOD.CA

quality of photos can make or break a business.”

For the last ten years, McGrath has learned the ins and outs of the food industry. He works with

clients to style dishes, choose the best angles, and use photos to create a narrative that appeals to their target audience.

“My job is to make you money,”

many lack the skills to create appealing images dishes for social media or menus.

“People will tell you they sell the sizzle, not the steak, but in reality, the eyes communicate with the brain faster than the nose,” says McGrath. “Customers may remember the smell for a longer period of time, but if it doesn’t look good, they don’t care what it smells like.

“Most people aren’t very good at taking pictures,” he continues. “Go through the last 30 pictures on your phone. How many have something off putting in the background, or have poor lighting with a shadow in the wrong place? I know what to look for and what to portray.” www.its-food.ca

Local Golf Club Approaches One Century of Community Contributions NANAIMO GOLF CLUB CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the tournament, and are looking forward to hosting it against next year.”

The second annual event will be held at the Nanaimo Golf Club on June 21st, 2019, and all proceeds from the tournament will go to the Tom Harris Community Endowment Fund, which will provide grants to a variety of local charitable causes.

“We host a great deal of community events,” says Woods.

“We have ma ny com mu n ity partners who come to us to facilitate tournaments, fundraisers, and parties, and we’re happy to support them.”

The club also invests in local athletes, hosting the VIU Mariners golf team, which practices and plays on their course, as well as the Dover Bay High School team.

“We have a thriving junior program here,” says Woods. “Our team recently won the Jack McLaughlin Memorial PGA of BC Pro-Junior Championship. Our Professional, Chris Martens, did a great job leading our juniors, and they were very excited with the win.”

T he golf course is complemented by a food services staff that is comprised of top-level talent, constantly working to perfect their menu for the restaurant and for catered events.

According to Woods, Nanaimo

“With the beautiful grounds and a tenured staff who love the place and uphold standards of excellence, I’m confident the Nanaimo Golf Club will remain an important organization for members and guests for years to come.”

RYAN WOODS GENERAL MANAGER AT NANAIMO GOLF CLUB

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General Manager Ryan Woods and his team are already beginning preparations for the Golf Club’s centennial celebration Golf Club has successfully established itself as a community organization thanks to tenured management and deep community roots.

The club began in 1920 as Nanaimo Golf Links, and operated as a 9-hole course on Wakesiah Avenue until 1962.

The course was designed by A.G. Meakin, on 86 acres of land leased from Western Fuel Company until the club purchased it

in 1946.

Until the clubhouse was built, t he bu i ld i ng now k now n a s Quarterway Hotel served as the first clubhouse.

In 1962, the Wakesiah Avenue course was closed, and the club moved to their current location on Highland Boulevard, which had been under construction since 1953.

“The construction was completed by BC Vocational Training School, who used it to teach students various skills,” says Woods.

All 18 holes were finally completed by 1968. Since then, the course has undergone several major renovations, including the recent renovation of their clubhouse.

“We have an extremely attractive course,” says Woods. “Our course conditioning is some of the best on the mid-Island, and uor drainage makes the course playable 12 months of the year.

This is coupled with the course’s stunning view of Departure Bay. “With the beautiful grounds and a tenured staff who love the place and uphold standards of excellence, I’m confident the Nanaimo Golf Club will remain an important organization for members and guests for years to come.” www.nanaimogolfclub.ca

19

AUGUST 2018

CRAFT BEER BC Craft Breweries & Distilleries See Explosive Growth With locations in Over 60 BC Communities, the Craft Craze Shows No Signs of Slowing Down

BY ROBERT MACDONALD

T

here’s no slowing down BC’s craft scene.

In the last five years, the industry has experienced explosive growth. Thanks to some helpful government policies, the number of craft breweries has skyrocketed from under 50 breweries in 2012 to a staggering 154 today.

In 1982, John Mitchell effectively created Canada’s craft beer industry when he launched the country’s first licensed craft brewery.

Mitchell owned Troller Pub in Horseshoe Bay, which was suffering due to an extensive beer strike. With the help of seasoned brewer Frank Appleton, Horseshoe Bay Brewing was born, creating an industry that has now spread across Canada.

Appleton has persona l ly trained some of BC’s finest craft brewers, including Sean Hoyne of Hoyne Brewing Co., who is continuing to pass this knowledge to the next generation.

Victoria’s Paul Hatfield is another key pioneer in the craft beer industry, launching Spinnakers, Canada’s first brewpub, in 1984.

The industry grew steadily for 30 years, before experiencing its recent meteoric growth.

“Things began to change in 2013, when the provincial government commissioned a liquor policy review,” says Ken Beattie, Executive Director of the

Jeremy and Jessica Schacht, co-owners of the Ampersand Distillery in Duncan, along with Jeremy’s father Stephen PHOTO CREDIT: CENTRIC PHOTOGRAPHY

BC Craft Brewers Guild. “When the government allowed tasting rooms and removed a certain tax that limited brewery growth, we started to see craft breweries opening all over the place.”

Each year since 2012, at least 20 craft breweries have opened in BC, with a record-setting 28 opening in 2017.

“They’re opening so fast, it’s hard to keep up,” says Beattie.

“T here’s g row t h across t he

province, and we’re moving toward having a brewery in almost every town.”

Of the 11 that have opened this year, two are located in Smithers. Craft breweries can be found in over 60 different BC communities, and that number is growing.

“There are some bigger challenges with selling beer because of all the new breweries,” says Harley Smith, co-owner at the

Longwood Brewery in Nanaimo.

“The number of breweries is growing faster than the number of craft beer drinkers.

“At the same time, we’re becoming a more powerful group, and converting more people to our product.”

The craft distilling scene has been g row i ng a longside the craft beer industry, with many SEE BC CRAFT BEER | PAGE 20

CRAFT BEER

20 BC CRAFT BEER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

new distilleries opening up in the past fou r yea rs, a nd the launch of BC Distilled, the largest spirits festival in Canada.

Festival founder Alex Hamer told Eat Magazine, “I saw the sig ns that the i ndustry was

AUGUST 2018

about to explode, and I thought that i nstead of just w ish i ng someone would create this kind of event, I would do it myself.”

Si nce the festiva l’s beg i nnings, the number of craft distilleries in BC has more than doubled in size, numbering over 40.

Among these distilleries is the

Hans Van de Kamp Business Broker, Commercial Sales & Leasing

Direct Phone: (250) 704-8275 Email: hans@vicommercial.com

WEST SHORE BREWERY Offered at $650,000

Ken Beattie is Executive Director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild, an organization that advocates and educates on behalf of over 100 BC Breweries

• State-of-the-Art Equipment • Established Line of Quality Craft Beers • 75 Seat Liquor License with Lounge and Patio • Current Wholesale Distribution in Place • Significant Growth Potential • Attractive 10 Year Lease www.vicommercial.com

Hans Van de Kamp

250-704-8275

Cowichan Valley’s Ampersand Distilling Co., which has won three consecutive awards in the Gin and Vodka category at BC Distilled.

Some are being recognized internationally, like Sooke’s Sheringham Distillery, which won a bronze for one of their products at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Awards.

Craft breweries do more than just provide consumers with exceptional product. They serve as meeting places and sources of community pride This kind of recognition isn’t restricted to the craft spirits scene.

At the 2018 Canadian Brewing Awards, BC breweries medaled 51 times, with Burnaby’s Dageraad Brew ing ta k i ng home Brewery of the Year.

At this year’s World Beer Cup, BC took home 9 of Canada’s 14 medals (the second most of any country).

Among these wins, Riot Brewing of Chemainus took home

a bronze for their Breakfast of Champions coffee beer, and a gold for their Working Class Hero Dark Mild.

Riot Brewing’s blend of coffee and beer is one example of how BC brewers are getting creative with their craft.

Longwood Brewery recently introduced Honey Hop Pale Ale, a beer that uses a distinct honey flavoured hop.

SEE BC CRAFT BEER | PAGE 22

COMPANY HELPS CRAFT BEER SELLERS TO POUR THE PERFECT PINT Draught WISE Draught Integrity Technicians Keeping The Beverage Industry Flowing

V

ICTOR I A – It’s one of t hose t h i ngs t h at you may never have thought of. You go to your favorite pub, you ask the barman for a pint of his best, he pulls the handle and a mug of amber delight effortlessly fills the chilled glass. The seamless way that process happened may very well have been the direct results of the efforts of Shelly Plaxton, the Principal of Draught WISE Draught Integrity Technicians and her team.

“O u r job i s to i n s t a l l a n d maintain craft beer systems in the Greater Victoria area, even though we have on occasion completed i nsta l ls as fa r up Island as Campbell River and even Port Hardy. So really we do cover Vancouver Island from end to end,” Plaxton explained.

Worki ng w ith her husba nd and business partner Gregory Plaxton, Draught W ISE was launched about 10 years ago when t he pa i r recog n i zed a

unique business opportunity – to provide, install and maintain systems that allow their clients to distribute craft beers to their clients without issue or factors that would impact the taste or quality of the product.

“We visit our existing clients (more than 200 at last count) on a regular basis to perform inspections of their beer systems to ensure they are pouring quality craft beer, as the brewer intended,” she explained.

Draught WISE as a member of The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and follows the standards and guidelines of not only the breweries they serve but also the Brewer’s Association of Canada, the American Brewer’s Association and that of the Micro-Matic Dispense Institute.

“When we launched this company in 2008 we knew we were filling an important niche, one that was missing in the local industry. I wanted to show our clients how they could maximize their profits by being able to pou r more beers w it hout bei ng too cold or too foa my because of usi ng t he w rong pressures or systems,” Plaxton explained.

If a beer is not poured properly the pub or restaurant could lose

profits through needless waste, while the customer might receive a product that is not as good as it might have been, due to excess foam, taste or other factors. “Your customers are less likely to drink another beer if the one they’ve been served h a s not b e en p u shed at t he proper pressure. It’s all about delivering a product the way the brewer intended it to be,” she said.

Contracted by bars, restaurants and brewery growler bars, Draught WISE essentially designs and installs the systems used to move beer from the kegs it was stored in to the operator who dispenses the brew to the customer. “It can be from five feet away or it can be from 150 feet away, every situation and location is different,” she said.

“I guess the bottom line if I was to describe what it is we do, is to provide outstanding service to ensure you’re getting the product that was created for you by the brew master. Looking further into the future our next step would be to open a branch office further north to better serve our clients Island-wide, but there’s no timetable for that yet.” www.draughtwise.com

CRAFT BEER

AUGUST 2018

21

AMPERSAND’S IMPERATIVE VERMOUTH A BC FIRST Cowichan Valley Distillery Creates a Dry Vermouth that is Uniquely BC

C

OWICHAN - Ampersand Distilling Co. has created the missing ingredient for an allBC Martini.

Thanks to a partnership between Ampersand and Rathjen Cellars, BC’s first dry vermouth hit store shelves in late July.

The new product, Imperative Dry Vermouth, joins Ampersand’s award-winning lineup that includes Ampersand Gin, Per Se Vodka, and a seasonal Italian-style g reen wa l nut l iqueu r ca l led ‘Nocino!’.

Imperative is made from organic Ortega & Auxerrois grapes from the Saanich Peninsula and fortified with Per Se Vodka, which is made from organic BC-grown wheat.

“This collaboration not only gives us a better option than selling off surplus grapes, we also get to work alongside the talented Schacht family in bringing this exciting new product to market,” says Mike Rathjen, Owner and Winegrower at Rathjen Cellars.

The botanicals include wormwood grown on the Ampersand farm,

roasted dandelion root, chamomile, marjoram, and orange peel.

Launched late last month, the product is already being carried as the house dry vermouth in several Victoria restaurants.

The distillery was founded in 2014 by two generations of farmers and distillers: Stephen Schacht, Ramona Froehle-Schacht, their son, Jeremy, and his wife, Jessica.

“We moved up to the Cowichan Valley in Spring of 2011 to help on Jeremy’s parents’ farm,” says Jessica. “Jeremy has a Bachelor in Applied Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and a passion for craft beer and and cocktails, so we started working on a business plan for a distillery.”

Jeremy and Jessica developed their gin recipe while Stephen and Jeremy built the stills and mash tun, including their unique 500L column still.

“We had seen the resurgence of craft distilleries, and with Jeremy’s knowledge, we knew we could make a really clean base spirit,” says Jessica. “We wanted to create a gin that would be a go-to. Customers would be able to serve it on its own, but also use it in any classic cocktail.”

Gin is the most frequently used spirit in classic cocktail recipes, so it was clear that the drink was to be Ampersand’s first product.

“We had a strong, clear idea of how we wanted to make our Gin, and when people tasted it at farmers markets, they liked it so much they asked us to make vodka as well,” says Jessica.

“We thought we’d contribute our own take, and released Per Se Vodka a year after we opened.The vodka has a creamy mouth feel with a slight sweetness. You can taste the flavour of the grain, which showcases the 100 per cent organic BC gown wheat that we use. We also have an artesian spring that we use to dilute the product.”

This April, Ampersand received outstanding reviews at BC Distilled, the province’s premier spirits festival. They were voted Audience Favourite in both the Gin and Vodka categories for their third consecutive year.

“This event is great because we, as makers, get to connect with people” says Jeremy Ampersand’s Head Distiller. “It’s actually a requirement that someone from the distillery be at the show.”

As the craft spirits scene continues to grow, the Schachts are excited to meet other members and entrepreneurs.

“It’s a wonderful community to be a part of,” says Jessica. “We’re all finding ways to create and innovate.” www.ampersanddistilling.com

Ampersand's Gin and Per Se Vodka have been voted BC's best the last 3 years in a row at BC Distilled.

www.ampersanddistilling.com

Brewery and Tasting Room 2046 Boxwood Road, Nanaimo www.longwoodbeer.com

22 BC CRAFT BEER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

“T here are honey beers out there, and there are pale ales out there, but to get a crafty hybrid that’s also vegan friendly is pretty rare,” says Smith. “Since we use all malt, it’s easier to ferment and it has a nice taste.”

Brewmasters are constantly experimenting with hybridization, and using various yeasts a nd m icroorga n isms. W h i le BC’s brewers a re con sta ntly innovating their craft, they continue to have a deep respect for brewing traditions like Irish Stouts, Germa n Lagers, a nd British Bitters.

“O ne of t he most p op u l a r styles right now is East Coast IPA, also called Hazy IPA,” says Beattie. “We went through a phase where IPAs could knock the enamel off of your teeth.

This variety uses different hops, so it’s juicier, and doesn’t have so much of a piney taste.

In the past few years, craft brewers have been working with a lot more lagers and pilsners.

“Historica lly, th is was the area of expertise for some of the world’s largest breweries,” says Beattie. “Ales were preferred by craft brewers because they don’t ferment as long, but thanks to some of these new growth opportunities, many breweries are able to put these beers through the necessary process.”

CRAFT BEER This is helping craft breweries reach more consumers than ever before, offering a range of products that appeals to a diverse set of tastes.

“These breweries have become a community meeting place, and a source for community pride,” says Beattie. “You’ll get guys from Nanaimo saying their beer is better than Victoria’s and vice versa. There’s a lot of playful competition in the industry.”

With such industry sales doubling over the past four years, the BC Craft Brewers Guild plays an important role in promoting and advocating for their brewing establishments.

“We act as a collective voice for the industry, as well as educators, helping our members get access to best practices and resources, and helping the public learn about craft brewing,” says Beattie.

The Guild is now in its third year of promoted the BC Ale T ra i l, where they worked with local economic development organizations to create 18 self-guided craft beer tours around the province.

“One of our biggest challenges as an industry is an escalating beer tax, which increases the tax placed on beer every single year without a vote,” says Beattie.

With Canadians already paying 47 per cent in beer tax, this number will rise indefinitely unless stopped. www.axethebeertax.ca

AUGUST 2018

Ampersand Gin, the distillery’s flagship product, alongside its brand of new Imperative Vermouth PHOTO CREDIT: CENTRIC PHOTOGRAPHY

EXCITING LINE-UP FOR HOYNE BREWING Hoyne Brewing Creates New Craft Beer Experiences

V

ICTORIA - Hoyne Brewing Co. is aging well.

Brew Master Sean Hoyne started Hoyne Brewing Co. in 2011, having worked in a variety of breweries since 1989.

“We seem to be enjoying a very healthy growth rate,” says Hoyne.

“We grew by about 26 per cent last year, and are in the process of expanding our operations.

“We’re building a bottling facility that’s will enable us to put our beer into 12 ounce bottles.

We’ll be able to produce six packs, and eventually 12 packs. Within a year, we also hope to be launching a line-up of canned beers.”

Hoyne is excited about their new products.

“We have come out with a new stout, called Finnegans Irish Stout,” he says.

The stout is named after Finnegans Wake, a novel by Irish author James Joyce, and includes a portrait of Joyce on the label.

“One of our beers that is growing very quickly is our new IPA, called Alpha Acid IPA,” says Hoyne. “Alpha acids are one of the components in hops, they provide some of that beautiful hop character you get in

Alpha Acid and Finnegans Irish Stout are two of several exciting new beers coming out of Hoyne Brewing Co. an IPA. Alpha Acid has the tropical fruit/citrusy aroma that people seem to be loving these days.”

Hoyne Brewing Co. has also just launched this years batch of Entre Nous (French for “Between Us”), which is their brand of Belgian Cherry Witbier, using organic

cherries from the Okanagan.

“We’re also really excited about our Young Lions series,” says Hoyne. “This series showcases beers designed and brewed by our younger brewers.

“It was my great fortune to have learned my craft under Frank Appleton, who pioneered BC’s craft beer industry. It is now my honour to be able to pass this knowledge on to the next generation of brewers.

The Young Lions series gives them a chance to shine.”

“It’s been a remarkable success,” says Hoyne. “Right now, we’re showcasing a Belgian White IPA called Carte Blanche, which was created by four of our young brewers.”

When Hoyne Brewing isn’t making beer, it is giving back to their community.

“We suppor t a n enormous number of charities, community events, and causes,” says Hoyne.

“Each month, we choose a new charity to support. This month, we’re supporting Vancouver-based Atira, which supports women in need, giving them a helping hand to find housing and other necessities.

“We’re donating 50 cents from every bottle of Summer Haze Honey Wheat Beer Sales from across the province. Last year, we raised about $7,500, and this year, our goal is $10,000.” www.hoynebrewing.ca

23

AUGUST 2018

GREAT LITTLE BOX COMPANY HELPS CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY THRIVE

Doree Quayle is Vice President, Sales at the Great Little Box Company

GLBC has three locations in BC (Richmond, Victoria, and Kelowna), allowing them to create packaging solutions for companies all around the province

“This industry has really Innovative Solutions Centre Finds Creative Ways to Meet Clients’ Needs

exploded and we are excited to be a part of it.

We don’t just want to be

V

ICTOR I A - T he Great Little Box Company Ltd. (GLBC) is providing outof-the-box packaging solutions for customers, including craft beer creators.

In the past few years, the company has put a heavy emphasis on serving craft brewers, establishing itself as the go-to packaging company for the industry.

Founded in 1982, GLBC designs and manufactures custom packaging, labels, folding carton & rigid boxes, corrugated and protective packaging along with distributing a full range of shipping and moving supplies.

GLBC has been growing along with the craft beer industry.

They are heavily involved with the BC Beer Awards, and are strong supporters of the BC Cra f t Brewers Gu i ld, of fering special benefits to g uild members.

“This industry has really exploded and we are excited to be

a supplier in the industry, we want to be a partner and involved in helping it thrive.”

DOREE QUAYLE GLBC’S VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

a part of it” says Quayle. “We don’t just want to be a supplier in the industry , we want to be a partner and involved in helping it thrive.”

GLBC manufactures all the packaging from Labels, Folding Cartons, Corrugated and Protective Packing with Packaging Specialists who are experts in each product. Because everything is manufactured in house, the company can match up colours of each component, ensuring brand consistency.

T h e I n novat ive S olut ion s

Unique products like Phillips Brewing’s Snowcase Beer Advent Calendar are designed and manufactured in-house thanks to GLBC’s Innovative Solutions Centre Centre at GLBC is a team of design specialists including prepress and structural designers who work with clients to create unique packages to fit their individual needs.

Severa l yea rs ago, when Victor i a’s Ph i l l ips Brew i ng lau nched thei r i n novative Snowcase Beer Advent Calendar, the team at GLBC had the resources to make it happen.

Phillips Brewing based their calendar on a European model that featured beers from 24 different breweries.

“We had all these recipes from past beers that we created, so we chose 24 that would provide

some nice variety for our consumers,” says Matt Lockhart, Marketing Director at Phillips Brewing.

GLBC started working on the project in February of that year, corresponding with Phillips to design a box that would be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

“We had been working with GL B C for ye a rs b efore t h i s poi nt,” says L ock ha r t. “We loved working with them on this project because of their willingness to work with us through the design process and their ability to listen to what we’re going for. They synthesize that concept into an actual box that we can use specifically for that function.”

The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1982, when Robert Meggy started GLBC with one employee and a few machines.

T he compa ny has g row n astronomically since then, and now operates out of a 250,000 s q u a r e fo o t h e a d o f f i c e i n Richmond where everything is manufactured with branches in Victoria, Kelowna, Everett, Washington and now serving Alberta.

“We are well established and well known in the industry,” says Q u ayle. “ We’re a onestop shop, and we manufacture almost everything we carry, except ou r sh ippi ng supply products.

GLBC has received dozens of provincial, national, and international awards, T hey were a lso recogn ized for 13 consecutive years on the Globe and Mail’s Canada’s Top 100 Employers list.

“We’ve been so successful because we are continually trying to find the best way to serve our customers, and because we endeavour to treat our people well,” Quayle says.

“Our mission as a company is: Grow our People, Grow our Busi ness. Every th i ng we do revolves a rou nd th is. We’re a lways considering how ou r decisions will impact our employees and how it can benefit our customers.”

The GLBC team believes that investing in people is the key to growing their business as happy, well trained, and inspired employees provide the most outsta nd i ng customer service. www.glbc.com

24

AUGUST 2018

DEALERSHIP’S GROWTH FUELED BY PASSION FOR MACK TRUCKS Vancouver Island Mack Continues to Expand Thanks to Exemplary Customer Service

N

ANAIMO - Vancouver Island Mack is a well-oiled machine.

Thanks to owner Richard Mayer’s passion for the vehicles, the company continues to grow, expanding all over the Island.

Vancouver Island Mack is a full-service Mack truck dealership with three locations (Nanaimo, Cassidy, and Langford) that specializes in selling and servicing the brand’s vehicles.

Mayer has always been a committed Mack customer, using the vehicles throughout his professional career in the ready mix industry.

In 2001, the region’s previous Mack dealer filed for bankruptcy, Mayer purchased the parts and tools from the previous owner and took over the Vancouver Island franchise.

Mayer a nd h is tea m met i m med iate success, tripl i n g t h e p re v i o u s y e a r ’s s a l e s i n t h e i r f i r s t y e a r.

“Within three years, we opened another small location in Victoria,” he says. “We quickly outgrew that, moving to another location in Saanichton, and now we’re building our own facility in Langford, which we hope to complete by next year.”

About two and a half years ago, the Nanaimo location ran out of capacity, so Mayer opened their third location at 13331 Simpson Road in Cassidy, by the Nanaimo Airport.

“There’s quite a bit of industry out that way, so we’ll probably be there for a few more years,” he says. “We own property in Duke Point, and we’re looking to develop a facility that can serve the whole Nanaimo area from one location. We’re hoping to build it in the next couple of years.”

Vancouver Island Mack has achieved significant success,

The team at Vancouver Island Mack wore jerseys to honour members of the Humboldt Broncos thanks to a strong group of passionate employees, and a commitment to customer service.

Their team is now 60 strong, with 10 employees who have been with the company for the full 18 years.

With a great product and a great reputation, the dealership is poised to expand in coming years. In addition to the Langford location and plans for a Nanaimo expansion. Mayer hopes to expand service offerings in the North Island.

“We have service dealers in Port McNeill and Campbell River who fly our flag, but we hope to get some locations set up Courtenay, and possibly somewhere between Port McNeill and Campbell River,” he says. “If we can make that happen, our drivers will have the support to carry them right through to the North Island, and they won’t need to pay a four hour tow bill if problems arise.”

Mayer understands the SEE VANCOUVER ISLAND MACK | PAGE 25

Vancouver Island Mack’s service department is capable of maintaining and repairing a wide variety of heavy duty vehicles

P: 250.245.7061 www.coastaltrucking.ca

Proud supporter of Vancouver Island Mack, congratulations on all your success!

25

AUGUST 2018

Headquartered in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island Mack now has locations in Cassidy and Langford, with partners in several North Island communities

The staff are trained to listen carefully to their clients, hearing their concerns, and respecting their own knowledge of their vehicles

VANCOUVER ISLAND MACK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

importance of customer service in his industry, because he is still a customer of the dealership. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I still have a gravel pit operation and trucking company, so we regularly deal with things on the customer end,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think I understand our customers on a very deep level, and am able to empathize with their complaints and issues from a very similar perspective.â&#x20AC;?

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Vancouver Island Mack carries specialized rental trucks that are loaned to clients, enabling customers to complete their jobs while their own truck is in the shop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tell all my employees, from t he m a n agers to t he people sweeping the floors: stand in your customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoes,â&#x20AC;? says Mayer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If they have an issue, look at it from their point of view and imagine what kind of service youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d want.â&#x20AC;?

Because of this, Mayer is happy to schedule more staff than necessary on a given day in order to ensure that all customers are taken care of as quickly and efficiently as possible.

His service staff are trained to listen carefully to their clients, hearing their concerns, and respecting their own knowledge of their vehicles.

The expert Mack mechanics at the dealership are equipped with state-of-the-art like equipment to service heavy duty vehicles of all kinds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We look after all brands to some degree,â&#x20AC;? says Mayer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can do electronic diagnostics on non-Mack trucks, and we also do brake, engine, differentials, and transmission work, and we do safety inspections on all kinds of vehicles - trailers, busses - you name it.â&#x20AC;?

Though they service a wide variety of vehicles, Vancouver

Mayer is happy to schedule more staff than necessary on a given day in order to ensure that all customers are taken care of as quickly and efficiently as possible Island Mack have maintained a laser focus on their own brand since day one.

Mack Trucks, Inc. was purchased by AB Volvo in 2000, many stores were amalgamated into dealerships that serviced both Mack and Volvo vehicles. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me to best service my customers, I need to be dedicated and loyal to one brand,â&#x20AC;? says Mayer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a firm believer in

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being very focussed in what you do. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to be passionate and do it well. We decided to stay as a Mack only store during that time, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked well for us.â&#x20AC;?

Mack vehicles are an iconic North American brand, founded by five brothers in New York in 1900. They initially specialized in buses and trolley buses, a nd were some of the ea rl iest innovators in diesel engine technology. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were one of the first manufacturers to build all their own components,â&#x20AC;? says Mayer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This helped them match all their components together when building an engine, helping it run together properly - a practice that continues to this day. It makes things easier for us, because we only have one vendor to deal with.â&#x20AC;?

The trucks are also well-known for having a simple, durable engine. They feature simple wiring, electronics, easy hood releases that make maintenance and repairs as easy as possible and keep ownership costs down. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I jumped at the opportunity to take on the Nanaimo franchise,â&#x20AC;? says Mayer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re durable, simple vehicles

Depending on their application, Mack trucks have been known to register upwards of one million highway kilometers before needing significant engine reconstruction that are easy to work on and easy to fix. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve loved the brand for years.â&#x20AC;?

The engines, depending on the application, can easily last one million kilometers of highway driving before needing any serious engine work or a rebuild.

With some heavy duty vehicles, like gravel trucks, the engine will typically last up to 30,000 hours before needing similar repairs.

Mayer has seen this durability firsthand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My other company has a 1993 Mack dump truck in the fleet thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lasted 38,000 hours without ever being rebuilt,â&#x20AC;? he says.

When they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t selling or

servicing Mack trucks, Mayer and his team are involved with various community organizations, supporting groups like the BC Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital Foundation and the Nanaimo Child Development Centre.

Mayer is also heavily involved with the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society, currently serving as Vice-Commodore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to stay connected and involved in our community,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to give back.â&#x20AC;?

2213 McCullough Rd, Nanaimo 13331 Simpson Rd, Cassidy 2920 Amy Rd, Langford www.vitrucks.com

Enex Fuels is proud to support Vancouver Island Mack. ŽŜĹ?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;ƾůÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x;ŽŜĆ? ŽŜ Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻ Ç&#x2021;ŽƾĆ&#x152; Ć?ĆľÄ?Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć?Í&#x2022; and best wishes for the future.

866.973.3639 73.3639 | www.enexfuels.ca Victoria - Nanaimo anaimo - Port Alberni - Courtenay - Campbell River

COMOX VALLEY

26

AUGUST 2018

NORTHERN ROPES MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: PENINSULA CO-OP & Industrial Supply Ltd.

Industrial & Safety Supplies Fire Ext. Charging & Testing, Complete Wire Rope Rigging Shop Campbell River, B.C.

Courtenay, B.C.

Ph: 250-286-1027 Fx: 250-286-1024

Ph: 250-334-3707 Fx: 250-334-3721

COMOX VALLEY CHAMBER DIANNE HAWKINS

P

eninsula Co-op is a Vancouver Island based co-operative with 18 gas centers and more than 320 employees between Campbell River and Sidney. As manager of their Comox Valley branch, Lezlie ChassĂŠ feels proud working for an organization with strong community roots. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pen i n su l a Co-op sta r ted back in 1977 and is still 100 per cent locally owned and operated,â&#x20AC;? says ChassĂŠ. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our member-owners share in our profits

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each December. Last year we gave back $5.3 million in rebate cheques to our 95,000 members, including members in the Comox Valley.â&#x20AC;?

Peninsula Co-op has received numerous awards recognizing their business practices and community service. In 2017, they donated over $480,000 to more than 320 Vancouver Island charities and organizations. As members of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce, Peninsula Co-op also supports the local business community through event sponsorship and will serve as a corporate partner with the Chamber throughout 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chambers are typically the core and hub of any city,â&#x20AC;? says ChassĂŠ. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Peninsula Co-op is proud to be part of the community and joining the Chamber as a corporate partner was an excellent opportunity. Chambers provide valuable information to businesses and getting to know the community and business

leaders is ex tremely helpfu l when a business is new to the area. One example is the Chamber Awards Gala that takes place in January. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great opportunity for local businesses like ours to make great connections.â&#x20AC;?

Visit www.peninsulaco-op. com or stop by Peninsula Co-op Comox Valley (4889 North Island Highway) to learn more about membership benefits. â&#x2013; â&#x2013; â&#x2013; T he Comox Va l ley Ch a mber is looking forward to the fall with an amazing variety of events. From Chamber Mixers to All-Candidates meetings. We have a diverse range of events for every member. Visit www.

ComoxValleyChamber.com to register.

Dianne Hawkins is president and CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. Reach her at dhawkins@ comoxvalleychamber.com or 250334-3234. www.comoxvalleychamber.com

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KNAPPETT PROJECTS AWARDED CONTRACT awarded the construction conBUILDING tract for the new regional office LINKS building at 770 Harmston Av-

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CLARICE COTY

ISLA OWNEND OPER D & SINCE ATED 1968

2018 be sure to call Bob or Laura for a no obligation consultation.

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n our year to date statistics for the second quarter of 2018, compared to 2017 we report an increase of 53.9 per cent in overall construction values in the areas of the Comox Valley and Campbell River. This amount was almost double the 28 per cent increase reported in the first quarter of 2018.

Total construction values for the second quarter of 2018 total $146 million compared to $94 million in 2017. During 2018, there has been an increase of 10 per cent this quarter over last in the construction of single family dwellings, and an increase of 300 per cent in the construction of multi family residential housing including duplexes, triplexes, four plexes and secondary dwellings. Total construction volume for multi family residential for the second quarter totals $46 million compared to $15 million during the first quarter of 2018.

The increase of construction of multi-family dwellings is expected to continue for the remainder of this year as there are numerous applications winding their way through municipal planning departments for approval in both Campbell River and the Comox Valley. â&#x2013; â&#x2013; â&#x2013; The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) has announced Knappett Projects Inc. has been

enue in Courtenay. The design team concluded negotiations with Knappett Projects Ltd., the low bidder to identify opportunities to reduce the project construction costs for the CVRD to meet the $11.7-million budget. Staff identified changes and cost savings to allow this project to proceed. The building permit is expected to be issued soon and construction is expected to begin in August or September. Completion of the building is scheduled for the Fall of 2019. â&#x2013; â&#x2013; â&#x2013; Renovations are ongoing for the conversion of some of the hotel suites to 40 senior living suites for the new Riverside Senior Living (RSL). This project will be located adjacent to The Westerly Hotel in Courtenay. The newly renovated suites are expected to be ready for occupancy in September. Future plans for RSL include the addition of 59 new units to be located between the Westerly Hotel and the river. The design of the next phase is underway and this phase will include a five-storey residential seniors building which includes a lobby, lounge, dining hall, library, an entertainment room, an activities room, and underground parking. The hotel continues to operate at full capacity and a seniorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; show suite is now open for viewing.

Clarice Coty is the founder of Building Links. Contact: clarice@ buildinglinks.ca or find Building Links on Facebook at www. facebook.com/BuildingLinks

CAMPBELL RIVER

AUGUST 2018

Campbell River Gym Rediscovers Roots to Re-open its doors

27

THE FUTURE OF WORK IS

NOW

Lady Fit owner Courtney Dystant (left), daughters Caydence and Cassidy, and mother-in-law Laurie Dystant, who owned the original Lady Fitness PHOTO BY MIKE CHOUINARD/ CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR

Campbell River Mirror A M P B E L L R I VER - What was once Ladies Fit is now Lady Fit. In between it was, until recently, VI Fitness until it suddenly closed its doors at the beginning of May, leaving clients all over Vancouver Island stunned.

“These women elsewhere on the Island are, like, livid,” current owner Courtney Dystant says.

W hen a brief w i ndow opened to take back the property, her mother-inlaw Laurie Dystant, who had originally owned Ladies Fit before selling it, had an idea and moved quickly.

“If we didn’t do it now, it would never happen,” Laurie says.

She approached her daughter-in-law with an offer she could not refuse, telling Courtney, “We’ve got this opportunity. You’ve got half an hour to make a decision.”

She would help Courtney acquire the site so Courtney could re-open as owner of the new business, appropriately named Lady Fit, with Laurie acting as mentor. It is now the only one of the former VI Fitness sites operating.

“Everything location on the Island is gone,” Courtney says. “It’s the only one that’s left standing.”

They inherited a mess in many ways, as they had to clean everything thoroughly and run the equipment through some heavy maintenance. Laurie says they even found old files from when she had operated the gym years before.

“It was just a disaster,” she says.

The first month back was especially tough as Courtney

C

and her team worked to get the gym back in shape.

“I was here every single day, late at night, early morning,” she says.

Originally, Laurie Dystant got into the gym game when she took over a fitness business for toning tables 25 years ago. She ran it from home, but started adding exercise equipment.

With parking and other issues, she realized she needed a separate space, so she set up at the new Merecroft Village and opened up at a 1,500-square-foot fitness site. She outgrew the space in the first year, then moved to another spot at Merecroft. Eventually, she moved to the site at what is now Lady Fit, located in a 7,500-square-foot space.

Laurie admits running the gym for women was not her first idea, but she made it work, often having to dismiss the doubts of some in the community about whether she would last.

Enough in the community supported her idea though, and last she did. In 2000 however, she took an offer to sell Ladies Fit to the owner of several gyms on Vancouver Island.

“It was really hard to let it go,” she says. “It was time…. It’s a young woman’s business.”

Later, it was sold again and became part of the VI Fitness chain, at least until May 1, when all of the locations were suddenly shuttered.

In the years between, she started a spa, saying that was what she had envisioned doing when she was young.

Courtney Dystant took over and has made the business hers over the last couple of months and already has built a strong customer base.

Her mother-in-law says

they have added as many as members as it would typically take a gym a year to attract.

Courtney says the Campbell River community has a history with the family and the business, which helped bring members back quickly.

“They loved what Laurie did … with being a locally owned gym,” she says. “Even the feedback from the people coming in now, they’re just so thankful it’s very much the same as when Laurie opened it 25 years ago.”

T h e y w e re e v e n a bl e to attract manager Erin Dzielak,who had worked with Laurie at the spa but had moved away. Laurie, who admits she is not a Facebook user, happened to be on the social media site and stumbled across the news that Dzielak wanted to move back to Campbell River, so she told her daughter-in-law to hire the manager because the business would need a strong person out front to build customer relations for Lady Fit. Courtney even had a friend who had living space come available at the same time, so the time seemed perfect for everyone involved.

“This was a sign it was meant to be,” Dzielak says.

T he e q u ipment i s up a nd ru n n i ng, there a re tanning salons and even “child-minding” space. As to where things go, Courtney says they want to remain open to new ideas, as the fitness world can change quickly. Most importantly though, Lady Fit has a mission to provide a welcoming space for women.

“We just want women to feel comfortable and feel positive and safe,” she says.

“It’s a place to empower women.”

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AUGUST 2018

GOWLLAND TOWING IS A BOOMING SUCCESS Company Floats Under The Radar In Campbell River

C

AMPBELL RIVER: Every yea r 2.5 m i l l ion cubic metres in logs start on their international journey to market with a push from Gowlland Towing Ltd. This Campbell River based business employs a f le e t of 29 b oat s a nd approximately 50 people to herd logs along and across the inland sea Although it floats under the radar, this highly successful operation does an estimated $15 million in annual contracts, ably filling its niche market.

More than 90 per cent of their work is for the logging industry and involves transporting and storing the harvested logs, usually by water.

T he compa ny i s cu r rent ly owned by brothers Adam and Devin Sweeney, who grew up on the water. Their family lived on Stuart Island, a west coast l o g g i n g c o m m u n it y. A d a m started working part-time on boom boats at 13 a nd never looked back. After graduating from high school in Campbell River, he continued his career on the water.

“That experience of growing up in a logging community on the west coast is the reason I love being out in the boat so much,” Adam said. He and his brother both love being on the water so much that their most recent joint vacation was a west coast fishing trip.

Both joined Gowlland Towing early in the company’s history.

Founder Glenn Wheeler established the company in the early 1990s with a tug and a couple of boom boats. The new company was based in Gowlland Harbour on Quadra Island and was named for that harbour.

Ad a m sta r ted work i ng for Gowlland Towing in 1992. His brother Devin, who is five years younger, joined the company a year later.

Gowlland Towing General Manager Danny Peel The two brothers took over the operation as of September 1, 2016. Handing off the operation to the brothers was a long-term plan but Glenn ‘sprung’ the date on them.

“Glenn sent us an e-mail on Aug ust 31, 2016 say i ng ‘Today’s my retirement day and I’m out of here,’ “Adam recalled.

He noted that both he and his brother were well-prepared, having worked with Glenn and for the company for more than 20 years.

W heeler had overseen substa ntia l development of the company during those 20 years. “He did an incredible job building up the company,” Adam said. One of Wheeler’s unusual decisions was to make substantial investments back into the company. Instead of refurbishing and using older boats, as many companies did, he built several new, custom boats for his operation.

At f i rst, t he compa ny wa s small. It started moving local log booms and did local towing with a limited fleet of three boats: a tug called the Gowlland Yarder and two boom boats.

“It just kept getting busier and Glenn kept adding boats and more people,” Adam recalled. The first addition to the initial three-boat f leet was a tug called the Victory 5. Then came the Gowlland Scout. By now, bot h Ad a m a nd Dev i n were working as captains. The company was also expanding

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Gowlland Towing owners Adam and Devin Sweeney planned a west coast fishing trip for their vacation, proof of how much they love to be on the water

Gowlland Towing’s Inlet Crusader and Inlet Wrangler alongside a log boom into more remote work: towing log booms and handling bigger barge deliveries to remote logging camps.

As the company grew, Wheeler decided that it made more sense to build new customized boats instead of pouring money into maintaining older boats.

The first new boat, the aptly named Inlet Wrangler, was a 1000 horsepower twin screw tug built in Campbell River.

“A t t h e t i m e , n o o n e w a s bu i ld i ng new boats,” Ad a m said. “But Glenn wanted to invest back into the company. We would get a new boat roughly

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every two years.”

Building new boats also meant increased reliability and speed for Gowlland’s clients plus improved safety for the crews. The new boats didn’t break down as often as older boats that were still on the water but past their ‘best by’ dates. “The marine environment is hard on the boats so in the long run, building new was good for the compa ny,” Adam said.

The boats were built in BC, thus supporting local jobs and t h e l o c a l e c o no m y. A m o n g t h e b o a t s a d d e d t o G o w lland’s steadily growing f leet was the largest tug, the 1700 horsepower, 65-foot long Inlet Crusader. At the other end of the scale were boats like the Rocky Defender, a tiny yarding tug used for small towing jobs.

The fleet currently includes 29 boats, with an estimated value of $15 to $20 million.

Devin said his favourite boat i s t he one he h appen s to be SEE GOWLLAND TOWING LTD | PAGE 29

29

AUGUST 2018

Managing a log boom in Gowlland Towing’s home ‘port’ in Gowlland Harbour on Quadra Island The Inlet Rustler with Gowlland crew members (top row, left to right) Ray Dagenais, Robby Peel, and Ryan Stoudt plus (bottom row, left to right) Todd Brown, Andy Leneten, and Bjorn Borquin

Gowlland’s Inlet Knight towing logs bound for the Fraser River

The Inlet Knight tows a large boom of logs in for reyarding (sorting)

GOWLLAND TOWING LTD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

operating. “We love our jobs.

We love our boats. We have a lot of pride in our fleet.” Both brothers agree that their favourite part of the business is being out on the water, running one of their boats.

The administration side of the business is handled by Controller Raymond Dagenais and General Manager Danny Peel.

Adam describes them as “topnotch – a huge asset to have around. The two look after us really well.” One initiative Peel instituted was a new database to track inventory.

Gowlland Towing covers a lot of water. Their boats travel from Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island down to Nanaimo and across Georgia Strait to the

Fraser River.

Pick up is prov ided to logg i ng operations of a l l sizes.

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Sometimes the logs are sorted into booms-by-destination when picked up and sometimes

col lected as ca mp r u n bu ndles and sorted at the booming grounds. Depending on the composition, quality, and size of the logs, the wood is either exported, used locally, or diverted to pulp mills.

T he work cont i nues yea rro u n d a l t h o u g h l o g g i n g i s somet i mes slowed by snow or wildfires. There have been changes over the years, especially in safety and to address environmental concerns.

He points out that logging is a renewable resource. With more than 20 years’ experience along

the coast, he can see the renewal first hand. “In some places where I know there were logging camps, you can’t see any sign of them. Nature heals it over – in 20 years you’re not even going to know someone was there.”

The province’s logging industry is strong and thriving, he says.

Devin said Gowlland Towing’s goal is to keep their successful business afloat just the way it is. “We like the way we are just now. It is going well and we’re still small enough to be personal.”

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AUGUST 2018

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WHO IS SUING WHOM

AUGUST 2018

WHO IS SUING WHOM The contents of Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suing Whom is provided by a third-party resource and is accurate according to public court documents. Some of these cases may have been resolved by publication date.

DEFENDANT 1108075 BC Ltd 28-9851 Seaport Pl, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Citta Group CLAIM $9,145 DEFENDANT Bernard Pastoral Ltd 1818 McKenzie Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Canadian Haz Mat Environmental Ltd CLAIM $16,619 DEFENDANT Canadian Community Housing Ltd 505 5th St, Courtenay BC PLAINTIFF HS Designs CLAIM $35,156

DEFENDANT Cherry Creek Waterworks District 5920A Cherry Creek Rd, Port Alberni, BC PLAINTIFF Reite, Ann Karin CLAIM $8,556 DEFENDANT Costa Verde Contracting Inc 3RD Flr 754 Broughton St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Ramachandran, Praveen CLAIM $ 35,023 DEFENDANT Departure Bay Holdings Ltd PO Box 500, Lantzville, BC PLAINTIFF National Holdings Ltd CLAIM $563,330 DEFENDANT DSSD International Trade Corporation 802N-737 Humboldt St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Craigdallie, Martin CLAIM $ 35,216 DEFENDANT Evergreen Medical Supply Inc 2400-745 Thurlow St, Vancouver, BC

PLAINTIFF Foster Air Conditioning Ltd CLAIM $ 12,354 DEFENDANT Finish Line Transport Limited 4th Flr 931 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Wilson & Proctor Ltd CLAIM $ 12,828 DEFENDANT Harbourview Manor VIS201 7450 Rupert St, Port Hardy, BC PLAINTIFF Hudson, Shelley Anne CLAIM $ 78,120 DEFENDANT Jennys Olde Country Fare Ltd 6596 Sooke Rd, Sooke, BC PLAINTIFF 0779604 BC Ltd CLAIM $ 18,825 DEFENDANT Medium Rare Operations Ltd PO Box 500, Lantzville, BC PLAINTIFF National Holdings Ltd CLAIM $ 563,330 DEFENDANT Mid Island Paving

10895 Chemainus Rd, Ladysmith, BC PLAINTIFF Leahy, Elizabeth CLAIM $ 11,992 DEFENDANT Modern Coastal Interiors 5141 Polkey Rd, Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF Marchand, Louis CLAIM $ 14,067 DEFENDANT Paladin Security Systems Ltd 800-1090 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Woods, Brian CLAIM $ 16,153 DEFENDANT Paladin Technologies Inc 800-1090 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Woods, Brian CLAIM $ 16,153 DEFENDANT PI Financial Corp 620-880 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Eastman, Yasuko CLAIM $ 35,176

DEFENDANT Strata Corporation VIS201 7450 Rupert St, Port Hardy, BC PLAINTIFF Hudson, Shelley Anne CLAIM $ 78,120 DEFENDANT Tobra Printing & Embroidery 28-9851 Seaport Pl, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Citta Group CLAIM $9,145 DEFENDANT

Trail Appliances Ltd 1200-200 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF West Coast Contemporary Developments Ltd CLAIM $ 8,438 DEFENDANT Trans Pacific Trading Ltd 1500-1055 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF SC Mitchell Development And Building Company Ltd CLAIM $ 26,942 DEFENDANT Westsea Construction Ltd 300-1122 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC

31 PLAINTIFF Robinson, Barry CLAIM $ 29,023 DEFENDANT Westsea Construction Ltd 300-1122 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Goddard, Martine CLAIM $ 30,741 DEFENDANT Westsea Construction Ltd 300-1122 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Robinson, Barry CLAIM $ 25,176 DEFENDANT Westsea Construction Ltd 300-1122 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Cabeldu, Jennifer CLAIM 28,587

32

AUGUST 2018

NORTH ISLAND Three businesses have opened their doors in the North Island Mall at 9300 Trustee Road in Port Hardy.

Carol Dirom and Kellie Dukes have opened Rendezvous Place, a meeting place that offers boardrooms, offices and event venue rentals at hourly, half day and full day rates.

Ted Wood and Julie Suyko have opened FilCan Filipino-Asian Variety Store. The store offers a variety of grocery items and snacks including frozen products like fish, sausages, pork and chicken steamed buns, pot-stickers and many popular Filipino treats. Fresh Coffee and Nosh opened for business this past month at Centre Court in the mall.

are you FUTURE READY?

Tara Roden is the new professional at Seven Hills Golf and Country Club in Port Hardy. Tara hails from Nanaimo, and has been a golf professional for 28 years and is excited to begin working with the Seven Hills team.

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Jeff Long, the Regional District of Mount Waddington’s (RDMW) deputy chief administrative officer and manager of planning, received the Highest Academic Achievement Award from Capilano University. The award was presented in recognition of his attaining the highest marks in a graduating class in the Local Government Administration Program.

Service recently celebrated their 10th anniversary. The organization offers bus services to four regional routes, two local routes, a ski bus, and Handy Dart service.

Business Examiner Gold Event Sponsors

CAMPBELL RIVER Campbell River Golf & Country Club celebrates their grand opening on August 9th at 700 Petersen Road after a major revamp to the course and facilities. The course, owned

by Seymour Pacific and Bradstreet Properties, underwent a renovation of each of the holes and added Velocity Lounge & Driving Range. The new driving range features state of the art technology to assist drivers with their shots and includes radar technology that tracks ball trajectory. The club also added a fleet of GPS-equipped golf carts that can tell golfers how far they drove the ball, the distance they are from the pin and more. The Campbell River Golf & Country Club is a public course with no seasons pass or membership and golfers can pay by the round or buy multiple passes.

welcomes Jeff Shapka as the newest addition to their team of real estate professionals at 966 Shoppers Row. Jeff has 20 years of experience specializing in residential sales and all aspects of buying and selling homes.

Mark’s Safety Centre Ltd. is celebrating their 30th year of business at 1930 Island Highway.

Gord Knight Motors has introduced Glenn Smits as their new service manager at 1721 Island Highway. Glen has over 35 years of experience in the industry and is looking forward to working with the team.

Downtown Tyee Chevrolet has added Cody Spetifure to their team as a sales and leasing consultant at 570 – 13th Avenue.

Jeff Shapka

Chan Nowosad Boates CPA’s

MNP.ca

Mount Waddington Transit

Realpro Real Estate Services

SEE MOVER’S AND SHAKERS | PAGE 33

33

AUGUST 2018

MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

congratulate Nicole Lansdowne on obtaining her CPA designation.

Nicole joined CNB in September 2017 after successfully writing the CFE with Deloitte Vancouver. CNB is at 980 Alder Street.

River City Medical Clinic welcomes Dr. Alicia Pawluk to their team as a full-service family physician. River City Medical is at 1424 Island Highway.

Bill Howich RV & Marine welcomes Barry Nash to their team at 2777 North Island Highway. Ron May and Rick Hanson are the top salespeople of the month.

RavenSong Studio, is a new soap making company, now open for business at 1140 Shoppers Row. The City of Campbell River has opened a downtown safety office at 1302 Shoppers Row. The office is home to the city’s bylaw enforcement department and will serve as a checkpoint for RCMP officers and the volunteer-run Citizens on Patrol group.

A ground-breaking ceremony was recently held for a new $15-million transit operations facility at 1235 Evergreen Road. Once complete, the facility will have on-site administration offices, maintenance bays, space for a future compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling facility, a fueling bay, wash station, storm water detention area and parking for up to 50 buses. Site preparation is expected to begin soon, and the facility is expected to open in late spring 2019. The project was announced in 2016 and will have roughly 83 per cent of construction costs provided by the federal and provincial governments through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund (PTIF).

COMOX VALLEY Bruce Scheltgen of Courtenay was named the top roofer in Canada at the 43rd Annual Canadian Sheet Metal Workers and Roofers Competition recently held in Victoria.

Scheltgen works with Nelson Roofing & Sheet Metal in Courtenay. He was the only medalist from BC at the event.

The Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association (DCBIA) elected three new board members at their recent annual general meeting. The new members were Allison Bligh of Nootka Marine Adventures, Jacinta Philippson of MNP and Steve Stewart of Edible Island.

Panda Gas Services has been acquired by partners Ian Husband and Steve Mansfield from retiring founder Gordy Campbell. Husband and Mansfield have a combined 50 years of experience in the gas service industry and took over the business July 1st. In the coming

months the pair plan to expand Panda’s services to include plumbing, heating, air conditioning and boiler installations, sales, maintenance and repair.

Acreview Dental Clinic has added Dr. Airell Klopp to their team at 116 – 750 Comox Road in Courtenay.

Klopp received his dental degree from Western University in London, Ontario and was born and raised in BC.

Dr. Wayne Crowe retired from his practice at Courtenay Medical Clinic and Dr. Darryl MacLeod has taken over. MacLeod is a graduate of the UBC Strathcona Family Medicine Program and has experience as a doctor of chiropractic medicine.

Courtenay Medical Clinic is at 788 Grant Avenue.

Brian McLean Chevrolet has named Ryan Sykes as their top salesperson of the month for their dealership at 2145 Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay.

Cottage Medical Clinic announces that Dr. Nancy Macpherson is taking over Dr. Susan Hunter’s family practice. Dr. Kimberly Cameron is joining the clinic on August 13th and Dr. Laxman Pradhan will join the clinic on September 4th. Cottage Medical Clinic is at 559 6th Street in Courtenay.

The Eagle 97.3 FM radio station celebrated their 20th anniversary this past month. As part of the celebration, the station held a 20K in 20 days event, where they offered a $1,000 prize every day for 20 days to one of their listeners.

BMO Nesbitt Burns welcomes Grant Powers to their team as an investment advisor and financial planner at 204-1771 Comox Avenue in Comox.

Finneron Hyundai congratulates Glenice Neal on being their top salesperson of the month for their dealership at 250 Old Island Highway in Courtenay.

Tara Oxford, the pharmacy manager for London Drugs Pharmacy has received a 2018 Pharmacy Leadership Award from the BC Pharmacy Association. The award recognizes a pharmacist who has demonstrated commitment to leading the profession and its people.

Comox Valley RCMP announced that Insp. Mike Kurvers has been selected to replace Insp.Tim Walton at the local detachment. Kurvers has spent the last four years at the RCMP’s Fort St. John detachment.

Dr. Teri Norfolk Inc. Family Dentistry closed on July 20th to undergo renovations and is reopening on August 21st at 1710 Riverside Lane in Courtenay.

North Island College will offer a second intake of students into its Electrical Foundation program this fall to reduce their existing wait list. The foundation program is the first step to entering the industry – giving its graduate applied skills, theoretical knowledge and technical training credit toward their Red Seal designation.

Kelly O’Bryan’s restaurant and pub is opening a ninth location in B.C. at 2910 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay. Wendell Hoyseth will be the owner and operator of the new pub which is expected to open by the end of the year. Kelly O’Bryan’s also has a location in Nanaimo.

PARKSVILLEQUALICUM BEACH

Rachel Mooney, Sachia Mooney and Caroline Bradfield have partnered up to open Love’s Ice Cream, a new mobile ice cream business.

They sell their ice cream from a vintage boler trailer and have been parking their trailer near gathering spots such as the village post office in Cumberland.

NoXcuses Motorsports is a new motorsports-themed café open at 1-464 Island Highway East in Parksville. The café, opened by Jordan, wife Cora and daughter Jaia Garraway features freshly brewed coffee using 49th Parallel beans and offers rental of exotic vehicles and motorcycles for the day.

The Village of Cumberland has hired Kaelin Chamber as their economic development co-ordinator.

Morgan Seeber and Landon Sheck have launched Aux Box, a company that builds modular, self-standing rooms that provide people an isolated additional work space for their home or site. The company is at 1175B Island Highway East in Parksville.

Glacier View Lodge recently completed a review of its services through Accreditation Canada and was ‘Accredited with Exemplary Standing’ – the highest designation. Accreditation Canada is a healthcare accreditation body that works to improve the quality of health and social services. Glacier View also appointed Wanda McMillan as their new executive director.

Sunwest RV Centre announces Dave Hampshire is their top salesperson of the month for their dealership at 2800 Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay.

Paradise Fun Park celebrated their 30th anniversary on July 21st at 375 Island Highway West in Parksville.

Abbotsford-based Island Express Air is now offering flights out of Qualicum Beach Airport two to four times per day seven days a week.

PORT ALBERNI T he te a m at Valley Vision

Ryan Trottier Optometry welcome Dr. Ryan Trottier as a new associate to the practice at 4009 Redford Street.

Ryan was born and raised in Ontario and received his doctorate from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry.

Jeff Waldren and Richard Williams are the owners of the new No Boundaries Adventure Gear shop at 112 – 5405 Argyle Street.

Acupuncturist Lawrence Xue En Liang has moved his acupuncture practice Hanyi Health Centre from Vancouver to Port Alberni at his home at 2729 Anderson Road.

Naomi and Ed Nicholson have opened an Indigenous-themed guest house as part of their Secluded Wellness Centre at 6890A Pacific Rim Highway. The new guest house is a self-contained unit that they hope will fill a niche of indigenous tourism.

Earth Land & Sea Compost and Gravel Mart has moved to a new location at 4716 Tebo Avenue.

Effective August 7 th , Alberni Denture Clinic has moved to 5092 Angus Street.

Bill Collette, the president of the McLean Mill Society (MMS), resigned from his position at a recent board meeting to focus more on his role with the Chamber of Commerce. Bookkeeper Susan Roth also handed in her resignation after requesting an audit for the McLean Mill books. The MMS was formed in 2016 to oversee direction of the city-owned McLean Mill Historic Park. The Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and McLean Mill National Historic Park have partnered up to open a visitor centre in the Port Alberni Train Station. The centre is designed to raise awareness of McLean Mill and the train and to have an information centre close to Harbour Quay.

Linda Bowers is retiring and looking to sell her business Boutique Belles Amies at 5344 Argyle Street. The turn-key operation is a well-established ladies wear and lingerie shop that has been in business since 1992.

Scotiabank manager Cherie Williams is retiring from the bank after 27 years at 3777 100th Avenue.

TOFINOUCLUELET ONDA Apparel & Art has opened for business at 321 Main Street in Tofino. The new retailer offers clothing and gifts made from across Vancouver Island.

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne and Ahousaht Chief Greg Louie recently signed a commitment to work together collaboratively. The agreement commits both councils to meet at least twice a year to discuss communal interests including infrastructure, health, economic development and emergency planning.

NANAIMO Dr. Ralph Nilson will retire from the position of president and vice-chancellor of Vancouver Island University on June 30, 2019. A search for his replacement is currently underway.

Harbourview Volkswagen recently celebrated their 35th year of operating as a family business at 4921 Wellington Road. Sean Krepps and Chris Rigby are the top salespeople of the month for the dealership.

Lakeside Dental has added Dr. Stephanie Allan to their office at Unit 7 – 4800 Island Highway North.

The directors of Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty announce the addition of Rozzlyne Ross to their royal service group at 4200 Island Highway.

Lesley’s Esthetics & Accessories has opened their second location at 5 – 4800 Island Highway North.

Eliza Gardiner is leaving her position as general manager of TheatreOne to focus on her teaching role at Vancouver Island University.

The Soakhouse is celebrating their 10th anniversary at Unit 102 – 2520 Bowen Road.

It Fits Lingerie is now open in Nanaimo North Town Centre.

Kirsten Michieli has been named the top salesperson of the month for Nanaimo Toyota at 2555 Bowen Road.

Jack Rudolph has been hired on by the City of Nanaimo to be their new interim chief administrative officer. Rudolph took over the role on July 16th and will be with the city until at least March 2019. Rudolph previously spent over five years as deputy city manager with the City of Abbotsford and nearly 13 years as chief administrative officer with the City of Pitt Meadows.

LADYSMITHCHEMAINUS Tall Tree Lumber and Building Supply is now open for business at 3302 Smiley Road in Chemainus.

For Pet’s Sake, formerly Little Rascal’s Pet & Supplies, recently celebrated their grand re-opening at 416 1st Avenue in Ladysmith.

SEE MOVER’S AND SHAKERS | PAGE 35

OPINION

34

AUGUST 2018 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Vancouver Island Office 25 Cavan Street,Nanaimo, BC V9R 2T9 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Fax: 1.778.441.3373 Email: info@businessexaminer.ca Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

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NDP UNION-ONLY CONTRACTS FOR BC INFRASTRUCTURE BAD FOR TAXPAYERS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY

MARK MACDONLD

P

remier John Horgan just picked millions more from taxpayers’ pockets by announcing that major government infrastructure projects will be only built by union companies and labour.

It’s a direct payback to their supporters. . .pork barreling of the worst degree.

And it’s going to cost us all plenty.

Nearly $4,000 for every family in BC, according to an Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of BC press release, which states it could add as much as $4.8 billion to the costs of these projects, which have been tabbed at $25 billion.

Business groups in the province are outraged. Besides the ICABC, nine organizations, including the BC Chamber of Commerce, Canadian Federation of Independent

Business, Vancouver and Surrey Boards of Trade, and the Vancouver Regional Construction Association have decried Horgan’s pronouncement.

Just imagine the outrage the NDP would have unleashed if the previous government handed millions of dollars directly into their own supporters’ wallets.

If there is a more hypocritical outfit than the NDP, I’ve yet to see it.

While in opposition they constantly pointed the finger, decrying almost every move the government made, vowing to restore honesty and integrity to the public process if they ever get elected.

They didn’t get elected, but still managed to steal government thanks to former NDP MLA Andrew Weaver and his Green Party cohorts, and as soon as they got their hands on the till, opened it up to reward those that have paid their way over the years.

Big unions have been faithful contributors to the NDP over the years, siphoning off members’ dues to try and elect the party they believe will look after them. Even though the ultimate damage the NDP does to the economy means less jobs for everyone, including their union supporters, when the economy inevitably goes sour due to their

ill-conceived policies.

In just one year, the NDP has introduced 13 new tax and fee increases that affect business for the most part – even though the NDP fails, again, to realize that those costs are passed off to, and paid for, by consumers.

One would hope that the NDP would dissect their own disastrous decade in power in the 1990’s and conduct an autopsy, wondering what went so wrong that they ended up with only two seats in the 79 seat BC legislature during the initial election of Premier Gordon Campbell.

Obviously they haven’t. This is exactly the same NDP. Perhaps nobody should be surprised.

It’s like the Bill Murray movie, “Groundhog Day”. Déjà vu all over again.

When the NDP last held government in BC, they did exactly the same thing regarding “union-only ” c o n s t r u c t io n of p u bl i c infrastructure.

To build the new highway on Vancouver Island, the 1990’s NDP government allowed only union companies to “compete” for contracts. Taxpayers paid excessively for that, as the project was many millions of dollars over budget, causing the NDP to faintly exercise

some form of restraint by changing designs late in the process.

Most notable was the elimination of intersection overpasses and cloverleaf’s on what became known as the Nanaimo Parkway.

The land was procured and in fact still lies dormant at the Aulds Road, Mostar/Jingle Pot, Northfield, 3rd Street/Jingle Pot and 5th Street.

The result? Sluggish traffic movement throughout the Parkway, as typical increases in traffic due to ferry traffic and rush hours cause motorists to cautiously approach upcoming lights. This creates a chain reaction of starts and stops up and down the highway.

That’s not the worst of it, by a long shot. The resulting head-on car crashes, injuries and even deaths at all of those intersections in the ensuing years would have been completely eliminated, if the proper overpasses and clover leaf exits were installed during construction. The north and south lanes on the Parkway would never have met within the city, making collisions with contrary traffic virtually impossible.

Of many well-documented NDP catastrophes (Fast ferries, Bingogate, etc.), perhaps the Nanaimo Parkway union-only construction was the most egregious. Not only

did taxpayers get stiffed again for the massive cost overruns, motorists and passengers have been injured and killed.

All because the NDP decided to pay back their big union supporters, complements of the public purse.

What next? More fast ferries?

Wait just a minute. Horgan announced BC Ferries is going to build five new ferries, and he would like to have them built here. So much for BC Ferries being its own separate entity – it’s clear that the NDP views it as one of its political pawns.

There’s a good reason why BC Ferries has had their most recent vessels built in Europe. They’re more cost efficient, and the industry there is capable of handling the capacity of building more ships.

BC doesn’t have that capability currently, and labour costs are a big reason why ferries aren’t built at home. But will that stop the NDP? It didn’t before, as then Premier Glen Clark barreled ahead to create the doomed 1990’s fast ferries, which ultimately contributed significantly to the NDP’s demise.

What will the NDP do next? Take a good look at what they have done.

There’s a good chance they’ll do exactly the same thing, making it clear they haven’t learned from their mistakes at all.

BC CAN SPUR ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY CUTTING PERSONAL INCOME TAXES

THE FRASER INSTITUTE

BY ERGETE FEREDE AND CHARLES LAMMAM

E

ntrepreneurship remains a vital source of innovation, which helps grow economies and provide employment opportunities for British Columbians. Unfortunately, several recent studies have found fewer businesses are being started in BC (and Canada as a whole), pointing a long-term decline in rates of entrepreneurship.

This downward trend in entrepreneurship could have negative and widespread effects on BC’s

economic well-being.

Given t he cu r rent state of ent repreneu rsh ip, t here’s a growing debate over how government policies affect entrepreneurship and what policies could help reverse the decline. A common focus of these debates is tax policy.

Do higher personal taxes hurt entrepreneurs? If so, how much do changing tax rates affect entrepreneurship? Since BC recently increased its top personal income tax rate from 14.7 per cent to 16.8 per cent, these are timely questions with real consequences for British Columbians.

A higher income tax rate can affect entrepreneurship in two ways.

On one hand, it can discourage entrepreneurship because entrepreneurial activity is inherently risky, and entrepreneurs pay significant taxes on all incomes (labour income, capital gains or dividends) when they’re successful.

However, the tax savings for entrepreneurs are quite limited when they incur losses. Higher

taxes decrease the reward for entrepreneurs but do little to mitigate the risk, leaving them with plenty of risk and far less opportunity for reward.

On the other hand, with a higher income tax rate, entrepreneurs have more opportunities to reduce their tax burden through legal tax-planning techniques, and the potential tax-saving benefits increase with higher income tax rates. This suggests that higher income tax rates can actually encourage entrepreneurship, even if it’s not productive entrepreneurship.

So how do rising personal income tax rates impact entrepreneurship in practise?

A recent Fraser Institute study sought to answer this question.

The study analyzed Canadian provincial data from 1984 to 2015, focusing on how the top personal income tax rate affects entrepreneurship while accounting for other factors that also influence entrepreneurship such as demographics, business taxes and the state of the economy. To measure entrepreneurship, the

study uses the business entry rate, defined as the number of new businesses as a percentage of total businesses.

The findings are telling and cle a rly releva nt for Br it i sh Colu mbia ns. I ncreasi ng the top personal income tax rate is associated with lower rates of entrepreneurship. In BC, for every one percentage point increase in the top personal income tax rate (holding all else constant), 315 fewer new businesses would enter the economy over the long term (in this context, approximately a four-year span).

However, the BC government in 2018 increased its top personal income tax rate by 2.1 percentage points. Based on the study’s findings, we estimate that 662 new businesses will not start up in the province due to the higher tax rate.

Over the past 30 years, an average of 25,305 new businesses started in BC each year. Because the federal government also increased its top income tax rate by four percentage points in 2016, British Columbians can expect

the decline in entrepreneurship to be steeper. So relative to the average number of businesses created each year, increasing the top income tax rate by 2.1 percentage points will reduce the number of new businesses by 2.6 per cent.

The Canadian economy has experienced a decline in entrepreneurship for years. If BC wants to halt this decline and encourage entrepreneurship, reducing the top income tax rate would be a good place to start.

At the very least, if BC policy-makers don’t want to exacerbate the decline in entrepreneurship, they should refrain from further increases in the province’s top income tax rate.

Ergete Ferede is associate professor of economics at MacEwan University and Charles Lammam is director of fiscal studies at the Fraser Institute. The study, The Effects on Entrepreneurship of Increasing Provincial Top Personal Income Tax Rates in Canada, is available at www.fraserinstitute.org

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS

AUGUST 2018

MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

The Chemainus and District Chamber of Commerce is preparing to bring back their annual awards gala this year on Saturday, November 3rd at the Sawmill Taphouse & Grill. The Chamber is planning on rebranding the celebration from the Golden Brush Awards to a title suggested by the public in an open contest running this month. Contest details can be found on social media or on the Chamber’s website.

COWICHAN VALLEY A partnership consisting of Harris Auto Group and Fenton Bolden has taken over Bow-Mel Chrysler from the Blumel family and renamed it Duncan Dodge. The new owners will continue selling the same vehicle brands as the previous owners and plans to double the number of used cars for sale on the lot, plus add about 50 more new vehicles to increase the available inventory.

Peacock Copy and Restoration moved from 521 Canada Avenue to 231 Jubilee Street next to Service Canada on July 31st. The local company has been in business for over 15 years and offers services including passport photos, portraits, custom framing, printing, copy and restoration.

Miranda Thorne Tourism Cowichan has tapped Miranda Thorne to be their new executive director. Miranda holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the Sauder School of Business at UBC and has worked with the Tourism Cowichan marketing team over the past year. Tourism Cowichan is at 135 3rd Street.

Graham Nice a nd Travis Berthiaume have taken over the Dairy Queen in Duncan at 328 Trans Canada Highway. The partners took over the store from Jim Reidy, who operated the franchise for 11 years.

J McMillan Bailiff & Collection Ltd. has moved to a new location at Unit 214 – 80 Station Street in Duncan.

Walmart Supercentre celebrated their grand re-opening on August 2nd at 3020 Drinkwater Road. The 172,000-square-foot store features an updated colour scheme, layout and signage for easier shopping.

Roger Kapila has opened Roger’s Furniture & Mattress at #503 – 5301 Chaster Road in Duncan.

Bernice Crossman is the City of

Duncan’s new director of finance.

Crossman has been the manager of financial services for the City since 2017 and was appointed to the role after winning a competition for the position against numerous applicants. Crossman will replace Talitha Soldera, who was with the city since 2013. Soldera recently took a position with the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

Island Saving’s decade-long naming rights agreement with the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) as naming sponsor of the Island Savings Centre in Duncan will expire on October 6, 2018. As a result, the CVRD will examine the potential for seeking a new naming rights sponsor through a Request for Information process. The

35 decade-long partnership provided the Island Savings Centre with $100,000 in annual funding that enabled the CVRD to undertake important capital projects.

These included the purchase of a new Zamboni, an upgrade to the facility parking lot, improved sound systems for the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre and arena, and many others.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new and upgraded Meade Creek Recycling Centre on July 20 th . The $5.5-million upgraded centre at 8855 Youbou Road is a state-of-the-art recycling drop-off facility build on the site of the former municipal incinerator. The facility now provides recycling options for more than 650 products as well as a free store where residents can pick up gently used items for free.

Dean’s Marine Ltd. welcomes their new service writer, Christopher Lewis, to the team at 5147 Polkey Road in Duncan.

Discovery Honda congratulates Craig Hindle and Dave Pears on being their top two stars of the month for the dealership at 6466 Bell McKinnon Road in Duncan.

Cowichan Valley Dental Health & Implant Centre welcomes Dr. Roshi Jalali to their team of professionals at 345 Jubilee Street in Duncan.

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