Business Examiner Vancouver Island - May 2016 by Business Examiner Media Group

MAY 2016

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Vancouver Island WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA

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INDEX News Update

2 PAGE 14 8

Nanaimo

INDEX Cowichan Valley News update Comox Valley Cowichan Valley Nanaimo Who is Suing Whom Parksville Movers and Shakers West Coast Opinion Comox valley Campbell River Law Port McNeil Movers Shakers Contact &us: Opinion 1-866-758-2684

10 19 2 48 9 11 49 18 51 19 54 20 22 55 24 32 36

OUR 10TH YEAR

Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240 Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

Duncan building tops VIREB’s 9th Annual Commercial Building Awards gala before packed house in Nanaimo

Island for 45 years Ut ut dolesed do strong dolor sim nulput

Port Alberni

Blue Grouse Winery Soars to Best Overall Title ANAIMO – Blue Grouse Winery of Duncan was na med the Judges’ Choice – Best Overall Entry in the 9 t h A nnual Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Awards held Thursday, April 21 at the Coast Bastion Hotel in Nanaimo. Blue Grouse Winery also won the Award of Excellence in the Hospita l ity categor y at t he event, which featured 40 Finalist buildings in 12 categories at a sold-out Gala Event. Over 70 projects were eligible this year for the awards, which celebrate the best in commercial, community and industrial buildings north of the Malahat on Vancouver Island which were completed between January 1 and December 31, 2015. Re/ M A X Com merci a l wa s the Platinum Sponsor for the event, with Coastal Community Credit Union, Colliers and the Canadian Home Builders Association – Vancouver Island

as G old Sponsors. Category sponsors included the Business Development Bank of Canada, Canadian Western Bank, MNP, NAI Commercial, Yellow Sheet Review, Herold Engineering and Invest Comox Valley. Business Examiner Vancouver Island coordinated the event. “Cong ratu lations to the winners for the 2016 Vancouver Island Real Estate Board’s Commercial Building Awards,” s a y s C o m m e rc i a l B u i l d i n g Awards Chair Derek Constantino, who co-emceed the event with Dave Hammond. “It was another truly wonderful eveni ng honou ri ng the best new commercial projects on Vancouver Island.” Kinetic Construction Ltd. of Victoria was the General Contractor for Blue Grouse Winery, and the building’s design ref lects the curve and shape of a bird, and it fits into the SEE AWARDS | PAGE 12

Ian Lindsay of RE/MAX Commercial, right, presents the Judges’ Choice Award for Best Overall Entry to Stephen Brunner of Duncan’s Blue Grouse Winery MATT LINEKER PHOTOGRAPHY

Slegg Building Materials Rebranding Program Nearly Complete This Vancouver Island building materials provider has been in operation since 1947 BY DAVID HOLMES

IDNEY – Rapidly approaching its 70th anniversary Slegg Building Materials (formerly Slegg Lumber) is a true Vancouver Island business success story. With a dozen outlets from Victoria to the Comox Va l ley a nd w ith a combi ned

staff of about 450 the company has evolved from a single store opened in 1947 into the premier choice for contractors and serious do it yourselfers across the Island. Acquired by Ontario-based WSB Titan, Canada’s largest independent building supplies dealer in 2015, Slegg is currently completing a rebranding and a refocusing that will help propel

it through the 21st Century. “WSB Titan has initiated a rebranding program to demonstrate its commitment to Vancouver Island and to give the stores a more modern and appealing look for all of our customers, both our traditional contractor clients and increasingly those from the general public,” explained Steve Nichols, Slegg’s Marketing Manager.

“Our brand is important to our identity. It shows who we are and what we stand for. We want our customers to feel as proud walking into any one of our 12 stores as we do. That’s why this year we gave Slegg a brand overhaul. Strong black and red colors while the stores themselves are getting SEE SLEGG BUILDING | PAGE 37

2 Chrysalis Acquires Maximum Yield Publications Inc. NA NA IMO - Chrysalis Acquisitions Partners Inc., a Calgary-based private equity firm, announced the successful acquisition of Maximum Yield Publications Inc. by Maximum Yield Inc., a newly formed Alberta-based company owned by Chrysalis Acquisition Fund Limited Partners, the Chrysalis’ management team and investors introduced by Chrysalis. Headquartered in Nanaimo, Maximum Yield owns multiple market leading indoor gardening publications distributed to various geographic markets, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, Maximum Yield has managed, staged and hosted popular indoor gardening trade shows in various U.S., Australian and Canadian cities since 2001. Maximum Yield has successfully built a dominant media channel whereby Maximum Yield’s brand effectively connects indoor gardening and hydroponic product manufacturers, service providers, retailers and industry experts directly with indoor gardening hobbyists, green house operators and licensed distributors. “We are delighted to transfer our ownership interest and the guidance of Maximum Yield’s highly seasoned and talented operating management team to Chrysalis

NEWS UPDATE and its investment partners,” commented Don Moores, CoOwner of Maximum Yield. “With the added benefit of Chrysalis’ extensive business experience and resources, we believe that Maximum Yield will continue to build on its solid foundation of success established during the past 18 years and capitalize on the tremendous growth opportunities represented by the robust international indoor gardening market and dynamic hydroponic technologies and applications”, added Jim Jesson, Co-Owner of Maximum Yield.

Surplus Ferry Sold to Local BC Company Victoria PORT ALBERNI - BC Ferries announced the company has sold the 52 year-old MV Tenaka to Lady Rose Marine Services of Port Alberni, BC following a competitive bidding process. The 43-metre MV Tenaka was built in 1964 at Victoria Machinery Depot, and accommodates 24 vehicles and 100 passengers and crew. The vessel primarily serviced the Quadra Island – Cortes Island route and last sailed in the fleet in December of 2014. Lady Rose Marine Services will take possession of the vessel in mid-May and after they conduct a drydock and maintenance period, they intend to put the vessel into service by the end of this year, providing passenger and freight service from the Alberni Inlet. “When retiring vessels from our

fleet, our first preference is always to find a buyer who will use the ship for continued commercial operation so we are pleased that the MV Tenaka will continue to operate right here in British Columbia,” said Mark Wilson, BC Ferries’ Vice President of Engineering. “Our company has been in business for over 70 years providing passenger and freight service from the Alberni Inlet to Bamfield and Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island,” said Mike Surrell, owner of Lady Rose Marine Services. “With the acquisition of the MV Tenaka, we will continue to be the biggest tourism operator in Port Alberni employing local staff and supporting local businesses.” BC Ferries cannot disclose the price the company received for the M V Tenaka as two other ferries will be retired soon and offered for sale. The company needs to protect the competitive bid processes for those sales and maximize the price received for those ships. Under contract to the Province of British Columbia, BC Ferries is the service provider and is responsible for the delivery of safe, efficient and dependable ferry service along coastal British Columbia.

Service to Abbotsford and Victoria COMOX VALLEY - Island Express Air announced a new daily service to Abbotsford and Victoria

MAY 2016

from the Comox Valley Airport starting May 16. The airline will also offer flights to Boundary Bay (Delta) in the Lower Mainland, with service to Powell River available for an add-on fare. “We are pleased to offer our passengers the option of flying to Victoria or the Lower Mainland from the Comox Valley Airport,” said YQQ CEO Fred Bigelow. “This is a niche market that has been underserved and we are pleased that Island Express Air has seized the opportunity to cater to those passengers who are looking for another way to access these destinations. We’ve also had a fair number of requests for service to Powell River and this new service will provide that option for those on the Sunshine Coast who wish to avoid the ferry crossing.” “If you are looking to do business in Victoria or in the Lower Mainland, Island Express Air can have you there and back in the same day. Our flight times have been built with the business traveller in mind but are also well suited to the leisure traveller who wants to avoid taking up half of their day driving or waiting for the ferry,” said Gerry Visser, owner of Island Express Air. “We offer a great product for those who value their time.” Most Comox flights will have at least one stop in Nanaimo or Victoria. As exact routing can change, passengers are encouraged to allow +/- 20 minutes for published flight times. The

recommended check-in time for all flights is 45 minutes prior, with a strict cut-off of 30 minutes prior to the scheduled flight time.

Ladysmith One of “Canada’s Greenest Employers” LADYSMITH – For the fifth year in a row, the Town of Ladysmith has been named one of “Canada’s Greenest Employers”. The award recognizes the Town’s leadership in community sustainability and the organization-wide commitment to reducing its environmental footprint. The “Canada’s Greenest Employers” Award is part of the Ca n ad a’s Top 100 E mployers competition conducted by Mediacorp Canada. The list of Green Employers award-winners is published on Earth Day – April 22 – in The Globe and Mail and online. Mediacorp cited several reasons for choosing Ladysmith for the award, including: The ongoing program of growing vegetables in former Town flower beds, and donating the crops to the Ladysmith Food Bank. The two electric charging stations the Town has installed in the community The Community Sustainability Vision and Sustainability Action Plan, and the fact that Ladysmith Council formally adopted the “Declaration of the Right to a Healthy Environment” and joined SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

NEWS UPDATE

MAY 2016

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

the David Suzuki Foundation Blue Dot Initiative – and is encouraging other communities to do the same. “O ne of t he t h i ngs we a re proudest of this year is that the award now recognizes organizations whose green culture has a proven sustainability impact outside the organization,” said Mayor Aaron Stone. “Even more important than making our own environmental footprint smaller and smaller, is showing leadership that makes a difference throughout our community and beyond.”

Local Businesses Celebrate & Learn More About Tourism QUALICUM BEACH - Nearly 60 business leaders celebrated Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association’s 2015 achievements at its Annual Social and General Meeting (AGM) at the Deep Bay Marine Field Station on March 31. Earlier that afternoon, Debbie Yule from go2HR co-presented a workshop with Cheryl Dill and Diana Jolly of the Career Centre on how to recruit and retain Baby Boomers as tourism and hospitality workers. Reports circulated at the AGM highlighted 2015 successes in stakeholder engagement, sport tourism, social media, and travel media relations. Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism also announced three Directors elected by acclamation for 2016/17: Paul Drummond, Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre; Arthur Wong - Vice-Chair, Beach Club Resort (re-elected) and Adrienne Thomson, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks. These three Directors join the rest of the Board that includes: Sandy Herle - Chair, Close to You; Rob Hill - Treasurer, Oceanside Village Resort; Robynne Shaw - Past-Cha i r, Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort; Patrick Jiggins, Arrowsmith Golf & Country Club / Paradise Sea Shell Motel; Noel Hayward, Qualicum Beach Inn / Quality Foods; Beth Ross, bDigital Video (Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce Appointee); Angela Hinz, Shorewater

Resort (Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce Appointee); Bill Luchtmeijer, Town of Qualicum Beach Liaison; Bob Rogers, RDN Board Liaison; Mary Beil, City of Parksville Liaison; Kim Burden, Non-Voting Director, Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce; Evelyn Clark, Non-Voting Director, Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce; Parksville Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism promotes the Parksville Qualicum Beach region as a tourism destination through advertising, media relations, and group sales. Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism also publishes the region’s official tourism guides and website.

Thank You! to all of our Sponsors & Partners: TITLE SPONSOR

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Global Demand for BC Farm-Raised Salmon CAMPBELL RIVER – British Columbia set a new record for exports of farm-raised salmon in 2015, and are on track to set new records in 2016 as well. The most encouraging numbers in the final data released by Statistics Canada are those that show an emerging appetite for farmraised salmon in China, with exports from British Columbia more than doubling over the previous high in 2012. China is now BC’s second most important market next to the United States, which has historically been the sector’s primary export market, and remains so today. Trade with Asia overall is up 38 per cent over the previous record in 2013 with BC exporting fresh farm-raised salmon for the first time to South Korea, a market that shows great potential as Canada and South Korea implement the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Overall, BC exported a record 54.4M kilograms of farm-raised salmon to 11 countries. “Demand for salmon raised in BC has never been higher,” said Jeremy Dunn, Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association. “The United States remains our most important trading partner, and will be so for some time, however we are encouraged at the market diversification and the prospects for growing demand in the future – particularly in Asia.”

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April Real Estate Continues to Soar

A NA I MO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; T he we at her continues to improve, the mercury is rising and the local housing market is heating up to match. Real estate sales across Va ncouver Isla nd have climbed dramatically so far this year, and April was no exception. Statistics released by t h e Va n c o u v e r I s l a n d Real Estate Board (VIREB) shows that last month a total of 662 homes sold within the VIREB coverage area, up an incredible 47 percent from April 2015 when 449 homes sold. Of those sales 188 took place in Nanaimo. T he average price of a home sold in Nanaimo in April was $437,232. Overall home sales across Vancouver Island were up 27 percent in April over March. Interestingly the number of homes ava i l able for sa le w it h i n t he V I R EB coverage area was listed as 1,697 last month, down 26 percent from a yea r ago when 2,305 homes were available for sale. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Si nce 2008 ou r re a l

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John Coooper estate team has been targeting the Lower Mainla nd w ith the message that Central Vancouver Island provides far easi e r a c c e s s to t h e C i t y o f Va n c o u v e r a n d t h e L owe r M a i n l a n d t h a n Victoria ever cou ld. This message has clearly been received as we have w itnessed a massive increase in clients selling in Vancouver and buying in Nanaimo and su rrou nd i ng reg ions,â&#x20AC;? explained John Cooper of cooper, McLintock and Associates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Connectivity is very

i mpor ta nt to t h i s new wave of buyers and Central Island is finally being recognized for its incredible value and connectivity to Vancouver when compared to Victoria.â&#x20AC;? For m a ny t he exceptional property values, relatively low prices (especially when compared to the Lower Mainland), the ra nge of a men ities a nd the world class beauty of the region make the Greater Nanaimo area the destination of choice for d i s c e r n i n g b uye rs wa nti ng to ex perience the Island Lifestyle first hand. â&#x20AC;&#x153; Na n a i m oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s re a l e state marketplace has the inventory to match any housing need or to satisfy any budget. Waterfront mansion, urban condominium or rustic retreat thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to be something for everyone when you chose Vancouver Island as your new home,â&#x20AC;? Cooper sa id. For more i n for m at ion he ca n be reached at 250-751-1223 or by e-m a i l at joh n@ coopermclintock.com.

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MAY 2016

Community Program Created To Showcase Aboriginal Authors Toolkit for Change: Travelling Library Features First Nations Literature Selections BY DAVID HOLMES

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The project has really

taken off, this shows

A N A I MO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Work i n g i n concert w ith Terri Mack, book publisher and owner of Nanaimoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Strong Nations book store, a g roup of students participating in a Leadership Vancouver Island (LVI) program are helping to improve both awareness and distribution of First Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literature throughout the region, through a program called: Toolbox for Change: A Local Perspective on Indigenous Culture. A group of six students participating in an LVI program initially approached Mack with a plan to help improve distribution of First Nation books to local children. Taking the concept further she suggested rather than schools (which are introducing additional First Nations materials) the focus of the program should be the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business community. The results of this collaborative effort has been the creation of a series of unique travelling libraries, showcasing a range of native literature and presented in distinctive First Nation themed red cedar steam-bent boxes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With Terriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help we selected a

there is most definitely a need for an initiative like this in the community.â&#x20AC;? CHRIS BEATON NANAIMO ABORIGINAL CENTRE

LVI Team participants included: Brenda Krastel, Nic Przada, Meaghan Douglas, Kait Burgan, William Scott and Tara Plett number of books that focused on First Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literature, culture and other adult themed subject areas that could be included in the boxes,â&#x20AC;? explained Tara Plett, one of the LVI team members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chris Beaton of the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, who is our community partner, has agreed to help distribute the boxes to the businesses interested having them, he will be the caretaker of the boxes.â&#x20AC;?

Local businesses are encouraged to have the boxes displayed in their lobbies or break rooms for staff and clients to examine and enjoy. Each participating business will have its box for a month before it is moved to another interested business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The project has really taken off, this shows there is most definitely a need for an initiative like this in the community and that the Toolbox for Change

will make a difference by getting information about Indigenous Culture into peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hands in a unique and relaxed way,â&#x20AC;? Beaton said. The boxes, designed and created by Coast Salish Artist Joel Good use a beaver symbol as the crest for the program, an animal symbolic of industriousness and for yielding results, just like the members of the business community supporting the project.

A sample of the Toolkit for Change red cedar boxes created by Coast Salish Artist Joel Good A total of seven boxes have been constructed, with a pair going into circulation and the remaining five being placed up for sale L e adersh ip Va ncouver I sland is a community-focused, grassroots leadership development program designed to inspi re a nd bu i ld capacity for outstanding leadership in the community. To learn more visit the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at: www. leadershipvi.com

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MAY 2016

MATRIMONIAL LITIGATION FOR BUSINESS OWNERS – NOT A SIMPLE EXERCISE

n matrimonial litigation matters, Smythe is often engaged to determine the fair market value of the shares in a company. In most cases, we are jointly engaged by both parties and our duty is to the court to provide our unbiased expert opinion. Having said this, we are happy when we get to work with matrimonial lawyers to achieve an equitable solution that goes beyond preparing a report to be used as evidence. Let’s look at two common issues. Fair market value versus net worth Understandably, spouses generally don’t understand how the fair market value of shares are determined, especially in the absence of an actual sale. As valuators, we are determining the value on a notional basis; that is, without an actual purchaser. It is an estimate of the highest price that a prospective purchaser would pay for the shares. However, for the purposes of settling matrimonial property rights, it is the parties’ net worth that is ultimately being allocated between the parties. So here is the problem - if the fair market value of the company is high enough, the couple may not have enough

With cooperation and proper tax planning an equitable solution can often be found

Mike Berris, CPA, CA, CBV and Partner Smythe LLP other assets to split. One of the parties will then look to realize the value from the shares of the company. Depending on the decisions of the court or settlement terms, this might result in a very negative tax impact on one or both of the spouses, especially if shares have to be sold or additional dividends must be paid. With cooperation and proper tax planning an equitable solution can often be found. For example, we will sometimes

recom mend one sp ou se i ncorporate a holding company (“Holdco”), which will be issued shares in the other spouses’ company. Holdco would be paid equalization payments as taxfree inter-corporate dividends. T he receiving spouse would eventually pay tax only when they ultimately remove cash from Holdco. Guideline income Federal Child Support Guidelines came into to force June 1, 2009. The objective was to establish a fair standard of support for children, reduce conflict and tension between spouses by making the calculation of child support more objective, and ensure consistent treatment of spouses and children. For most people the calculation is straight forward. The federal government publishes the Federal Child Support Table that stipulates the amount of support on your income, province of residence and number of children. Where the calculation can get complicated is when you also own a business. The calculation starts with the income reported on your personal income tax return over the last three years, but then looks to the pre-tax income

of the corporation. Matrimonial lawyers will often engage us to prepare a guideline income report that properly calculates an adjusted annual income that reflects the amount that is actually available for distribution. We will make adjustments for personal expenses, market rate compensation, capital investment requirements, non-recurring expenses, and income. W hile we don’t expect that most readers will fully understand the two issues we outlined above, we hope we have demonstrated that there are significant issues that need to be addressed to ensure you are treated fairly in a divorce. It has been said that everything is easy if you’re either an expert, or don’t know what you are doing. In the case of matrimonial disputes for business owners, hire an experienced matrimonial lawyer - you won’t regret paying for good professional advice. Smythe LLP is a team of dedicated professionals who provide reliable accounting, tax and advisory services to businesses and individuals. They can be reached at 604 687 1231

PORT ALBERNI

MAY 2016

Equestrian Center Owner Finalist For 20 Under 40 Award Passion for horses turns into successful business opportunity BETH HENDRY-YIM

ORT ALBERNI - For a young girl, dreaming of riding horses is not unusual, but taking that dream and creating a successful business, that’s not only stepping out of the norm, it’s worth recognizing. “The thought is that the horse business doesn’t make money, it’s just about spreading the love of horses around,” said Shawna Wells, finalist at the 2015 ‘20 under 40 Business Awards’ and owner of West Brooke Equestrian Center in Port Alberni. But after two years of working with ten time Olympian, Ian Millar, following her passion and building a business was what Wells was determined to do. Her love affair with everything equine began at a young age and over the next 20 years blossomed into her calling and career. After high school she traveled throughout Canada and the United States, competing and working under renowned trainers who would help grow her skills and experience. In 2009, when an opportunity presented itself at Millar Brooke Farm in Perth Ontario, she jumped at the opportunity to work for the iconic Canadian Olympic rider.

“I started as a groom, but within two weeks got promoted to barn manager,” she explained. “I saw working with Millar as a challenge to improve my abilities, not just in riding, but also in running a successful equestrian centre.” Two years later, Wells returned home and with partner and mom, Darlene Coulson, launched West Brooke. “It’s a full service equine center,” said Wells. “We teach beginning and advanced riding, host summer camps and provide boarding and leasing of horses.” With her long list of skills and experience, Wells also offers finishing services, taking a horse from the ground to show-ready. “I also provide tune ups for client’s horses just before show season,” she added. Her latest foray into growing the business is to develop a breeding program. Two foals were born April, one sired by the Premium Hanoverian Stallion Landkonig imported from Germany and standing at stud in California. Wells is also planning on breeding her Premium Oldenburg broodmare to Diamond Stud for a 2017 foal. “I’m looking to build quality hunter/jumper about 13 hands high with the esthetic appeal of a

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Shawna Wells with new born filly, part of her line of quality hunter/jumpers CREDIT:SHAWNA WELLS

dressage horse,” she said. The 30-year-old Wells, said that being nominated and then attending the awards gala was a real eye-opener. Working 16 hour days, she said, doesn’t allow much time to socialize. At the ceremony, Wells sat at a table with several other young entrepreneurs. “These are my people, I thought. I felt understood and inspired.” Since the gala event Wells said she is thinking bigger, networking more and looking at available options for her business to continue to serve her community and to grow. She’s also focusing on building the most

Shawna Wells, owner of West Brooke Equestrian Center finalist for 20 under 40 Business Awards CREDIT:SHAWNA WELLS

profitable segments. “Our clothing line is doing very well. We sell branded t-shirts, sweatshirts, pants and hoodies,” she said. “We’ve also just completed a new 100 ft X 200 ft outdoor riding ring that I’d like to open up to more semi-private lessons and then to therapeutic programs, pony club and show events.” In the equine world, Wells is breaking the mold, raising the bar

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PORT ALBERNI

MAY 2016

THE #7 CHALLENGE

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ho knew so many benef its cou ld result from a foot race against a steam train? On May 1st, 159 participants completed a 10K race against Port Alberni’s #7 steam train under a clear blue sky. The race started at our 1924 train station and ended at the McLean Mill, our National Heritage site. The route showcased our two waterfront Quays, the Kitsuksis Dyke trail, many gorgeous country homes & properties, our hospitality and volunteer spirit and of course the train and mill. Six runners gained glory and one-of-a-kind trophies by beating the train with

times around 35 minutes despite the significant altitude gain. In an effort to get more runners arriving before old #7, our Industrial Heritage Society arranged for the Beaufort Gang, who travel on horseback around these parts, to ‘hold up and rob’ the train, much to the delight of passengers. All who ran and a few who walked got to the finish line where cheering spectators, classic cars, food trucks, a rock & roll band, and steam mill demonstrations awaited them. The race did, of course, result in additional hotel stays and restaurant meals. But to this writer, the real benefit came from the community experiencing the success of a few diverse groups working together to better last year’s total of 13 runners. And the joy of seeing dozens of locals running our streets for the last three months to get ready gave a whole new meaning to training for the event if you will pardon the pun. So thanks go out to Brian Callabrese who brought the event here from Australia’s ‘Puffing Billy’ experience

and has championed it for a few years now, the Industrial Heritage Society, the McLean Mill Board of M a n a gement, Bill Collette and his Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce crew, Alberni Thrive, the Young Professionals of the Alberni Valley, CTV, VI Cruises and of course our local media including Shaw Cable, Alberni Valley News and PEAK Radio. Finally, in a related demo n s t ra t i o n o f w o rk i n g together to achieve results, Port Alberni Home Hardware owner and Chamber of Commerce President Jan Lavertu has volunteered a significant amount of time and money at the McLean Mill working with the Industrial Heritage Society, the McLean Mill Board of Management and the City to do a substantial ‘makeover’ of the front end of the Heritage Site. The new experience there is well worth the visit. Pat Deakin is the Economic Development Manager for the City of Port Alberni. He can be reached at 250-720-2527 or Patrick_deakin@portalberni.ca

MAY 2016

Harvey a winner for Chemainus Theatre

HEM A I N US – W hat does it mean to be normal? And, is it better to be average? T h o s e t wo q u e stions lingered for the audience that laughed its way th roug h the open i ng n ig ht for Chemainus Theatre’s production of Harvey, by Mary Chase. T horough ly enterta i n i ng, the often slapstick performance d rew the aud ience in, and they enjoyed frequent chuckles at clever double-meaning dialog ues delivered by what has to be one of the best ever supporting casts that Chema i nus T heatre has ever had. A r tistic Di rector Mark DuMez doubled a s l e a d E l w o o d P. Dowd, the eccentric, lovable someti mes simpleton whose “relationship” with Harvey, the invisible (or was he?) six-foot-plus ‘pooka’ rabbit turned

every cast member inside out. For Elwood, Harvey h e l p e d h i m u n d e rstand life and provided valuable friendship. For those around Elwo o d who c ou ld n’t see Harvey as Elwood did, Harvey became the reason to try and have Elwood admitted to the local psych ward. And when a couple of cast members thought t hey m ay h ave seen Harvey, too, they became candidates for special psychological assessment. Leading the standout supporting cast was Berna rd Cu ff l i ng as William R. Chumley, M.D. A member of the B.C. Walk of Fame, the award winning actor wa s f u l ly a n i m ated and expressive, drawing the audience into the fun. Jay Clift played two role s, b ut it wa s a s Duane Wilson, the psyche ward intern,

that he shone most. His over the top accent and delivery was rem i n iscent of t he best of the best SCTV characters. Erin Ormond was excellent as Elwood’s s i s t e r Ve t a L o u i s e Sim mons. Obv iousl y a c ro w d f a v o u rite, she retu r ned to Chemainus Theatre to continue a strong run that included her most recently as Gloria in Grace and Glorie. T he souven i r program promised to “. . .answer once and for all whether the world n e e d s m o r e ‘ n o rmal’ people, or more ‘Harveys’.” D i d i t? W h o’s to say? But Harvey prov ided more tha n a few wa l lba ngers, as the fun-filled, skilled production by an e x c e l l e n t te a m l e f t the aud ience w ith a smiles on their faces and gentle, underlying ponderings about the pursuit of happiness.

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NANAIMO

MAY 2016

CELEBRATE OUR CULINARY CULTURE

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E A ST I VA L” i s Nan a i mo’s second annual festival

celebrating the Island’s culina r y c u lt u re. T h i s ye a r, t he mid-Island’s food and beverage festival takes place over two days on June 17 & 18 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Friday’s daytime program is devoted to I ndustry & G over n m ent w it h t h e fo c u s on “Exporting Vancouver Island P r o d u c t s G l o b a l l y ”. P a n e l Discussions a nd Key notes will lead discussions around agriculture, viniculture, fisheries, processing, value-added food products and how to get to market more profitably.

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At the end of the day… Friday evening introduces an addition to Feastival called “Sips” – the sipping and sampling of “local” craft brews, ciders, wines, and spirits. And by local, we mean some of the finest Vancouver I sl a nd a nd lower m a i n l a nd cra f t producers! A beverage festival different than most – with its own food trucks! O n S a t u r d a y, F e a s t i v a l v isitors w i l l red iscover last year’s favourite attractions like our Celebrity Chef Stage, this year headlined by Karen Barnaby, Vancouver Sun columnist and past Executive Chef of the Fish House in Stanley Park. She’l l b e fol lowed by t h ree other noted chefs, well-known authors and food experts. Family Cooking Lessons are presented by FoodShare once aga i n w ith th ree classes offered during the day, one each for families, teens, and adults. T he t h i rd a n nu a l Se a fo o d Chowder Competition invites public participation through t he People’s Choice Awa rd. T wo-t i m e c h a m p io n “ B old Knight” is already registered and eager to take on all other chowder-chef-challengers. A d m i ssion to Fe a s t iva l i ncludes u n l i m ited taste tests of all the chowders so you and your family can help decide the

People’s Choice this year. Visit loca l restau ra nts’ boot h s for sa mples of t hei r specia lties – tasting tickets provided with admission and ava i lable for pu rchase. T he i nter-con nected trade show presents products and services to make your dining experience better – many exhibitors here will also be offering samples and tastes. The daytime “Sips” section fe at u re s t a s t i n g s of I s l a nd wines, craft brews and spirits. Come and discover some i nterest i ng loca l producers and see how their businesses impact the economy and will change the beverages on your ‘favourites’ list. Out on Gordon Street, Feastival features the return of the food trucks with their diverse fare and selection of street-eats. D o n’t m i s s Fe a s t i v a l t h i s ye a r. G e t a t a s te of t he I sland’s culinary culture in all its delicious forms. Vendor and exhibitor booth opportunities and sponsorship opportunities are available now at www.feastival.ca. Kim Smythe is CEO of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at ceo@ nanaimochamber.bc.ca

Logging Agreement Spurs Snuneymuxw First Nation Growth Nanaimo News Bulletin S n u n e y m u x w F i rs t Nation’s arms-length economic group kicks off its second cut of Mou nt Benson forest th is month with a half-million dollars in its pocket. The Snuneymuxw Economic Development Group of Companies contracted out the sale of 40,000 cubic metres of its Mount Benson forest to Coastland Wood Industries, a Nanaimo-based veneer mill. It’s also chosen A & K Timber

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compa ny to h a nd le log g i ng operations. It’s the first time two contracts were offered by the First Nation for forestry operations on its 877 hectares of Mount Benson land, acquired in a reconciliation agreement with the province in 2013. T h e m u l t i m i l l i o n- d o l l a r deal with Coastland involves a $500,000 deposit, as well as the offer of a scholarship for forestry-related education. From t he Coa st l a nd of f ice overlooking the Nanaimo estuary, Erralyn Thomas, band cou nci l lor a nd president of the Snuneymuxw’s economic arm, said the contract touches on the needs of the community and is an opportunity to b u i ld rel at ion sh ips w it h neighbours. The conditions of the bid were also creative and innovative, sa id T hom a s, who u ses t he scholarship as an example. “A te n e t i n o u r c or p o ra te strateg y is ou r ow n logg i ng company employed by 100 per cent Snuneymuxw,” she said. “It’s not going to be like that right away but this [scholarship] allows us to provide that training to them and then retain

them as employees.” Clint Parcher, Coastla nd’s v ice-president of fibre supply, sa id it’s t h e f i rs t t i me t here’s been a d i rect, bu siness-to-business relationship with Snuneymuxw but there’s no better nation to be pa rtnered with than its landlord and neighbour. Coastland is a tenant of the nation and one of its largest employers. “It just brings us that much closer together,” Parcher said. “We are a domestic producer and what’s important to me in this whole process is helping Snuneymuxw stand on their own two feet. I want to try and use this occasion to educate as much as I can to help Erralyn and her new company.” The economic group manages the Mount Benson forest over the course of a decade as part of the agreement with the province. It’s also in the process of acquiring other Crown timber land. Revenue to the company is expected to help with community development priorities, like housing and a gas station, as well as facilitate development on other properties.

MAY 2016

VANCOUVER ISLAND RESORT OFFERS VISITORS A UNIQUE CANADIAN ADVENTURE Exploring the beauty and culture of BC’s West Coast

Y UQUOT - Words describing BC’s West Coast include breath-taking, relaxing, introspective and friendly. For Dave Pinel, managing owner of West Coast Expeditions, his wife and co-owner, Caroline Fisher, it’s about connection and transformation. Jerry Lang, marine biologist and biology instructor, opened West Coast Expeditions in 1972. Originally located on Granite Island (McLean Island), it was moved to its current location on Spring Island in 1979. Jerry’s nephew, Rupert Wong, spent his growing-up summers with his uncle; he became a business partner in 1988 and purchased the company in 1992. “That’s when kayak trips were introduced. Now the majority of activities involve Kayaks. Thirteen years later Rupert sold the business to Mike Simpson and his wife, Kim Letson. Mike, who’d been a guide since 2000, passed away two years later, following a brief struggle with a brain tumour. Mike’s wife, their son, Brian, Dave and Caroline and another friend ran the business for another year. “In 2008 we, along with Bev Hansen-Michel, a local First Nat ion l ady, pu rch a sed t he company…the same year the economy tanked,” he noted. The collapse of the global financial market was just one of the challenges faced by the new owners. Although the company had a “fantastic reputation”, it was in desperate need of solid marketing; a rapid effort rebuilding the business paid off and today visitors come from across North America and around the world. “We’re very conscious about minimizing carbon footprint. As with most tourism, the Achilles heel is transportation emissions in bringing people and supplies to our remote camp. We ensure we’re using the optimal vehicle and boat combination for safety and load efficiency. Nature came alongside in the form of a young wolf pack. Both a delight and a source of caution, Dave explained the significant impact the animals have on staff and guests alike. “Last summer there was a litter of eight pups; every day our guests saw or heard the animals. The parents were very vigilant, respecting our space as we did the same for them. It’s an absolute highlight to sip coffee while watching the wolf pups walking across the sunlit beach at low tide to meet their mom. It’s probably the first time a pack has lived on

Lunch break on a secluded islet

Enjoying time with Aboriginal friends and family around the campfire

“It’s a disarming and authentic time that many Canadians will never have. It’s a small community and these are keepers of the culture.” DAVE PINEL CO-OWNER AND MANAGER OF WEST COAST EXPEDITIONS

the Island for, possibly, two centuries. My suspicions are based on food and human patterns but it’s been at least two hundred years for sure. Sharing the Island with wolves is a very Canadian experience.” Mutually beneficial relationships are also treasured; this example involved a cooking range. “We were looking for a propane stove with no pilot light or need for a continuous power source. We’d done on-line searches but with no success. We finally put a notice on the community Facebook page and found out from a friend that the Kyuquot School was replacing their thirty year

Sea otters that are part of every day old ovens. They were now destined to be shipped out as scrap metal.” Not only were the appliances exactly what was needed at the camp, the camp was able to handle scrap metal disposal for the school. “Relationships with our Kyuquot neighbours are a major source of satisfaction, genuine respect, enjoyment, and mutual support. We’re there for each

other, positive relationships are vital to remote living. That could mean helping someone with boat issues, relaying messages on the VFH radio, hosting someone overnight or supporting an initiative at the local school. One day we may be the one with a sudden need or a broken down boat.” A special pot luck meal was held to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary. Of the 110 people

who attended, (including guests and staff) approximately 95 were from Kyuquot, or almost 50% of the community. Jerry Lang also attended. “He passed away about five months later – it is all part of the story and the legacy.” Far from last or least is the unique opportunity for guests to be exposed to First Nations culture, the ultimate guest experience, Dave said. “It’s a disarming and authentic time that many Canadians will never have. It’s a small community and these are keepers of the culture.” However, the greatest satisfaction Dave said, is observing the transformative power of guests connecting with family, revelling in time spent away from technology and savouring a weekly salmon dinner prepared and served by First Nation ladies, Christine Jules and her daughter, Lana. Dave h a s coord i n ated a nd instructed the Adventure Guiding Program since 2002 for North Island College, Comox Valley. The company sometimes hires students from this program. For more information visit www. westcoastexpeditions.com or call 1-250-338-2511/1-800-665-3040

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OFF THE COVER

MAY 2016

AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

surrounding area with the use of wood and stone. The renovation and addition added one level and a mezzan i ne to the ex isti ng w i nery, upgraded the systems in the winery, and provided space for a new tasting room and retail area.

Boxwood of S e at t le wa s the Architect for the project, and found inspiration for the building’s shape through its na mesa ke, the Blue Grouse. The curve of the grouse’s head a nd neck i nspi red the roofline. Inside the tasting room, a curved ceiling reminds visitors of a grouse’s belly, and the new SEE AWARDS | PAGE 13

From left: Greg Constable of IWCD, Bob Moss of NAI Commercial and Bonnie Hunter of IWCD with the Award of Excellence for Retail Renovation for Pleasant Valley Landing

(L-R): Mike Delves, CPA, CGA; Wendy Lewis, CPA, CA; Doug Tyce, CPA, CA; Jenn Bogwald, CPA, CA; Jamie Kungel, CPA, CA

Kevin Wilson of Canadian Western Bank, left, presents the Award of Excellence for Multi-Family Apartment to Greg Windley of Windley Contracting for 4960 Songbird Place in Nanaimo

YOUR BUSINESS IS BUILDING.

Where do you go from here? As your business grows, your tax and business strategies need to evolve along with it. That’s where MNP can help. More than 200 commercial and residential construction clients across the Island rely on MNP for industry-speciﬁc advice that goes far beyond traditional accounting. From project structuring and tax minimization to asset protection and succession, our Real Estate & Construction team looks at your operation from all angles to help you manage risk, plan for the future and build your business. Doug Tyce, CPA, CA Regional Leader Real Estate & Construction T: 250.734.4368 (Nanaimo) E: doug.tyce@mnp.ca

Wendy Lewis, CPA, CA Business Advisor Real Estate & Construction T: 250.338.5464 (Courtenay) E: wendy.lewis@mnp.ca

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Open 7 days a week and ready to welcome you. bluegrouse.ca @BlueGrouseWines 2182 LAKESIDE ROAD, DUNCAN, BC

VIREB

MAY 2016

Dave Kirk, centre, standing in for Sponsor Colliers International, presented the Award of Excellence for Retail to Madrona MarketPlace West on Gabriola Island, represented by Chris Hock and Lana Pearson of Intrascape Developments.

Geoff Crawford of Invest Comox Valley, left, presents the Award of Excellence for Institutional to Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek for the Qualicum Beach Fire Hall

AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

entrance highlights a shade of blue from the grouse’s tail feathers. The 2015 Judges’ Choice Winner was Broadstreet Properties & Seymour Pacific Developments of Campbell River. “This is the ninth annual celebration of the best of the best in commercial and

industrial building on Vancouver Island north of Victoria, and the bar of excellence just seems to be raised higher and higher each year,” says Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner Vancouver Island. Award of Excellence: Community: Snuneymuxw First Nation Administration Building, Nanaimo. SEE AWARDS | PAGE 16

VIREB

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MAY 2016

BDC: Entrepreneurs First

he Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) puts entrepreneurs first. We a re t he on ly ba n k dedicated exclusively to entrepreneurs and have been helping build strong, profitable companies for 70 years. Wit h a l most 2,000 employees and more tha n 100 busi ness centres across the country, we offer loans, consulting services, growth and business transition capita l, secu r it i zat ion, a s well as venture capital to more than 30,000 small and medium-sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada’s economic prosperity. A different kind of bank At BDC, we understand that a busi ness is more tha n dol la rs a nd cents. This is why we look at it as a whole, including its potential for growth and the owner’s vision for the future. BDC of fers busi ness loa n s desig ned to protect cash f low a nd help entrepreneurs grow their businesses over the longterm. We lend money to

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pu rchase com mercia l rea l estate, buy new or used equipment, invest in technology and a variety of other business needs. We do this by complementing the role played

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Herold Engineering Involved In Award Winning Projects

ANAIMO – There’s a com mon denominator underneath many of the finalists i n t he 9 t h A n nu a l Va ncouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Awards. Herold Engineering. A mongst others, Herold provided engineering services for Blue Grouse Winery in Duncan, which won the Award of Excellence i n Hospita l ity a s well as the Judges’ Choice Best Overall Entry in the Awards. They did the same for Hope House at Brentwood College in Mill Bay, which won the Award of Excellence in Non-Market Housing. “We work on exciting, innovative projects with some of the leading companies on Vancouver Island, and it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate along w it h t hem for w i n n i ng awards like these,” says Managing Partner George Hrabowych. “We have a h ig h ly sk i l led g roup of professionals and support

staff who provide the expertise required to design and manage structural, municipal, industrial and marine engineering projects f rom t hei r i nitia l concept to project completion.” Herold Engineering Limited specializes in project management, civil/mun i c ip a l i n f ra s t r u c t u re work, building structures a nd envelop e s, i ndu strial, marine and bridge projects. P ro j e c t s i n c l u d e a i rpor ts, educat ion a l a nd recreat ion a l faci l it ies, fire halls, police stations, health care facilities, industrial and commercial projects, office buildings a n d m u l t i-r e s i d e n t i a l projects. Herold Engineering Limited has been providing engineering services for over 20years with its head office located in Nanaimo. In recent years, they’ve opened design offices in Victoria and Fort Nelson. “We a re i nvolved i n a wide variety of building,

mu n icipa l, tra nsportation, envelope, and marine projects throughout British Columbia with the majority of our work on Vancouver Island,” says Hrabowych. H rabow ych adds t he compa ny has ex tensive e x p er ie n c e i n m u n ic ipal engineering, including project management, feasibility and conceptual design studies, detailed design, contract administration, site supervision and layout, and construct ion m a n a gement for a wide range of clients. Herold Engineering has captu red a long-l i st of awa rds from nu merous c o m p e t it io n s ove r t h e years for projects they’ve been involved with on and off Vancouver Island, including several LEED Gold and Silver awards. The company is also recognized for making significant contributions to a large number of worthy causes and charities. www.heroldengineering. com

VIREB

MAY 2016

Building Strong Relationships Through Personalized Service

a n a d i a n We s te r n Bank (CWB) wants its clients to always feel confident that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made the right financial choice, which means working hard to earn their business every single day. Ta i lor i ng solut ion s to each clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique needs, no matter how complex, is how CW B helps them achieve financial wellness. One might expect to pay steep fees for a privileged level of service granting direct access to a dedicated team, but at CWB there are no added costs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the way they work with all their clients. CWBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus has always been to build solid relationships with our clients b y o f f e r i n g p e r s o n a lized service and reliable k n o w l e d ge . T h e y h a v e been a constant lender in real estate development and have provided strong industry expertise in this field. Their turn-around time is among the fastest in the banking industry, supported by local decision making, which best serves

Tailoring solutions to each clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique needs, no matter how complex, is how CWB helps them achieve financial wellness

the client. This philosophy allows CWB to maintain the values of honesty, openness and respect upon which we were built on. CWB offers a full range of personal and business ba n k i ng products a nd services, including mortgages, loans and lines of credit, investment products and deposit accounts. CWB is most known for its understanding of business

and industry, accounts and cash management services, construction and mortgage financing, and equipment financing for small and medium sized businesses in Courtenay, Nanaimo and across Western Canada. CWB can also draw on the expertise of its partner compa n ies i n Ca nadian Western Bank Group to provide trust, wealth m a n a gement a nd ot her financial services. Canadian Western Bank wants its clients to always feel confident that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made the right financial choice, which means working hard to earn their business every single day. Tailoring solutions to each clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique needs, no matter how complex, is how CW B helps them achieve financial wellness. Drop by CWBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Courtenay branch at 470 Puntledge Road (250-3348888) or Nanaimo branch at 101-6475 Metral Drive (250-390-0088) today to get started. www.cwbank.com

New Look, Direction For Nai Commercial

ANAIMO - The N e w Ye a r h a s broug ht a new look to DTZ Nanaimo, who a n nou nced t h at they have joined forces w ith NA I Globa l, the single largest and most powerf u l g loba l network of owner-operated commercial real estate brokerages in the world. The firm has officially rebranded and now goes by the name NAI Commercial Central Vancouver Island. A lt hou g h t he n a me has changed, the team of professionals, core range of services, and key business philosophy, which focuses on providing exceptional customer service, remains the same. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being able to market our clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s properties to a broad international network is one of the biggest benefits for our clients who are looking to sell properties or are seeking tenants,â&#x20AC;? ex pla i ned Bob Moss, President and Managing

Broker of the newly renamed firm. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This move allows us to cast a wide net a nd promote ou r clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s properties to a la rger g roup of prospects than ever before. O f c o u rs e , t h e m o s t important piece of that w id e n e t i s We s te r n Canada, where we find the majority of investors and tenants.â&#x20AC;? DTZ Nanaimo (formerly known as DTZ Barnicke) was founded by Moss in 1993. Over the past 23 years, the office has g row n to i nclude a staff of 13 real estate professionals, offering integrated commercial b ro k e ra ge , p ro p e r t y management and consulting services. NA I Commercial currently operates 10 offices throughout Canada, and has a total staff of 260 people, with over 60 employees based in British Columbia. While commercial real estate sales may be the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most visible function, the bulk of its

business actually derives from its thriving property management d i v i s i o n . â&#x20AC;&#x153; P ro p e r t y ma nagement encompasses a number of different responsibilities,â&#x20AC;? said Company Controller and Partner, Dan Kucherka. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We take care of the investorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs by assisting with the acquisition of the property, as well as managing their investment for the long term.â&#x20AC;? Accord i ng to Moss, clients can expect it to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;business as usualâ&#x20AC;? under the new banner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our team will cont i nue to do t he sa me work for ou r cl ients, ad hering to the sa me l e v e l o f s e r v i c e e xcellence that we have always strived to provide. Our clients will be interacting with the same REALTORSÂŽ and Property Managers they always have, and can continue to expect the same level of professionalism they are used to.â&#x20AC;? www.naivanisle.ca

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VIREB

16 AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Institutional: Qualicum Beach Fire Hall, Qualicum Beach. M u l t i-Fa m i l y A p a r t m e n t : 4960 Songbird Place, Nanaimo. Hospitality: Blue Grouse Winery, Duncan. Retail: Madrona MarketPlace West, Gabriola Island. Retail Automotive: Galaxy Motors, Courtenay. Retail Renovation: Pleasant Valley Landing, Nanaimo. Indu st r ial: Coldstar Solutions Inc., Ladysmith; Eriks, Nanaimo. Industrial Renovation: Arbutus Industrial Park, Parksville. Non-Market Housing: Brentwood College – Hope House Residence, Mill Bay. Gre e n: Milner Gardens & Woodland Shore Stabilization, Qualicum Beach. Award of Merit: Institutional: Comox Public Work s Ya rd , C o m ox , Pe erless Road Recycling Centre, Ladysmith. Multi-Family Apartment: The Cannery – Seaside Living, Cowichan Bay.

MAY 2016

Multi-Family Tow nhome: 3 Leam Road, Nanaimo. Re t a i l : Green Ro ck L iquor Store, Nanaimo; Healthyway Natural Foods, Campbell River Re t a i l Au t o m ot ive: Isla nd Chevrolet GM, Duncan. Retail Renovation: The Broken Spoke Coffee House – 420 Fitzgerald, Courtenay. Hospitality: Comfort Inn Hotel, Ca mpbel l R iver; Sproat Lake Landing, Port Alberni. Island West Coast Developments built seven of the finalist projects, three of which won Awards of Excellence (Snuneymu x w Fi rst Nat ion, Ga l a x y Motors a nd Pleasa nt Va l ley Landing) and two Awards of Merit (Green Rock Liquor Store and Island Chevrolet GM). This Snuneymuxw building provides a ‘meeting place’ for the First Nations community, and includes many other amenities. The 21,000 square foot facility features a gymnasium, full commercial kitchen, meeting rooms, offices, a gym, and a general store. The Galaxy Motors dealership in the Crown Isle commercial a re a i n Cou r ten ay fe at u re s

clean lines and angles, and puts a different spin on the typical dealership look. It features both wood and stone, with a striking front entrance canopy. Pleasant Valley Landing was a remarkable changeover from its previous use as a furniture wa rehouse. T h is project i nvolved removing the entire face of the old furniture warehouse and refinishing the building frontage to provide a new look and space for future tenants. T he corner previously featured overgrown landscape and almost 400 feet of solid wall. Qualicum Beach Fire Hall was built by Windley Contracting Ltd., and was one of the largest projects ever constructed by the Town of Qualicum Beach. Windley also built 4960 Songb i rd P l a c e , w h i c h w o n t h e Award of Excellence in MultiFamily Apartment. Madrona MarketPlace West on Gabriola Island was const r ucted by Chris Hock a nd L a na Pea rson of Intrascape Developments Ltd. By blending creative design with mixed SEE AWARDS | PAGE 17

Greg Constable of IWCD, left, receives the Award of Excellence for Community for the Snuneymuxw First Nation Community Building from Byron Gallant of Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Central Vancouver Island

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VIREB

MAY 2016

AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

From left: Greg Constable of IWCD, Doug Tyce of MNP and Ryan Pfeiffer of IWCD with the Award of Excellence for Retail Automotive

materials for the exterior, the developers created a unique development that both embodies the spirit of Gabriola while simultaneously producing a customer friendly environment. Hock and Pearson strayed from a conventional shopping plaza look in both the interior and exterior with 16 foot ceilings, large windows and custom fir entry doors. Coldstar Solutions, built by CITTA Group, and Eriks, by Lance McNabb and Rod Milner, both won Excellence Awards in the Industrial category. Coldstar’s building just south of the Nanaimo Airport next to the Trans Canada Highway services independent grocery stores on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands,

and is highly energy efficient. As Coldstar’s new primary location, distribution impacts on the environment are reduced. Knappett Projects of Victoria built Hope House at Brentwood College in Mill Bay. Set on a compact site in Mill Bay, this boarding residence leverages views of the ocean and playing fields while serving as home to 50 students from around the world. Arbutus Industrial Park was developed by Jim Smith and Bruce Nagel of Columbia Energy Inc., designed by Chamone Smith of Stylux Studios and Solid C Construction was the General Contractor. The Park consists of four buildings, two on Industrial Way and two on Huntley Rd. in Parksville. Before the recent renovation project was completed, it was a generic concrete block industrial complex showing its era and age u nSEE AWARDS | PAGE 18

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VIREB

MAY 2016

AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

gracefully! After the purchase was completed by Columbia Energy Inc. in 2013 the planning to rej u v e n a te t h e c o m p l e x started. In order to address the dated look of the original buildings a complete exterior facelift and façade redesign was planned and completed. This included modern galvalume siding with wood and iron work features, new LED lighting, updated low profile back l it sig nage for a l l businesses with careful attention to separate each store front. Each tenant now has a defined space and identity. The Green Award went to M i l ner Ga rdens & Woodland Shore Stabilization, with K nappett Industries (2006) Ltd. as General Contractor. The installed revetment was designed to incorporate the latest techniques that are congruent with the “Green Shore” initiatives (with support from the Stewardship Centre for BC) and also provide the vital buffer between the high tide/ocean storm forces and stability of the foreshore slope.

Courtenay Ndiaye of Business Development Bank of Canada, left, presents the Award of Excellence for Industrial to Tannis Milner of Eriks T h e r e s u l t i s a n e ffective, environmentally friendly, and natural looking erosion control system. T he O f f ici a l B o ok let

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COWICHAN VALLEY

MAY 2016

WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2016 BLACK TIE AWARDS

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he Chamber’s 20th Black Tie Awards were held on April 9, 2016 at Brentwood College School. We welcomed 294 guests – the most ever to attend the Awards. Island Savings, a Division of First West Credit Union, returned for the second year as Presenting Sponsor. “The Awards connect to the very heart of what we Cowichan Valley residents value most: service, excellence, volunteerism, artistry, green thinking and success – values that Island Savings lives by and just one reason that we’re proud to sponsor tonight’s presentation,” said President and CEO Randy Bertsch. The Masters of Ceremonies for the event were Daphne Goode of Shaw TV, and the world renowned tenor

and performer Ken Lavigne. The event is the Chamber’s only annual fundraising event and Mr. Lavigne further supported the Awards by raffling off a serenade. The winner was treated to a tongue-in-cheek rendition of “It’s Not Unusual” by Mr. Lavigne, dressed in his signature silver lame jacket. Guests enjoyed the antics of two “assistant presenters” – Brentwood’s Artie the Robot helped present the Art in Business Award, and Cowichan Canaine’s star Shasta delivered the Volunteer of the Year results to the stage. There were three Finalists in each of eight categories and all 24 were honoured with framed certificates and glowing tributes from sponsors and judges. The

Winners were announced as: Customer Service sponsored by Cardino Shoes - Chris & Leigh Davies of Mid-Island Ink Depot; Business Achievement 1 – 10 Employees sponsored by Island Savings A Division of First West Credit Union - Harold W. Wallace, H.W. Wallace Cremation & Burial Centre Inc.; Business Achievement 11 – 19 Employees Sponsored by Steelhead LNG Sebastien Martin, Wedderspoon Organic Inc.; Business Achievement 20+ Employees Sponsored by MNP - Duane Shaw, Mill Bay Marine Group; Art in Business Sponsored by Brentwood College School Andreas & Naomi Kunert, Ancient Art of Stone; Volunteer of the Year

Sponsored by Peninsula Co-Op Cathy King, Muscular Dystrophy, Pay It Forward Crew, Warmland Shelter & Others; Green Business Sponsored by Economic Development Cowichan - Judy Stafford & Team, Cowichan Green Community and Young Entrepreneur Sponsored by Coastal Community Credit Union - Jacqueline Bergstrom & Christina Hanson, Backwoods Soap & Candle Co. ■■■ The Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit officially opened last month with a launch of the new Audi R8. The track welcomed over 500 guests for this 23-day event. Dealers, dealership employees from all over Canada and clients

from each Audi Centre were estimated to spend approximately $1.5 million locally. The Circuit will host four waves of automotive and lifestyle journalists this month. They will visit the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, stay at the Villa Eyrie Resort, tour the island by helicopter, enjoy locally grown food and wines, explore the Cowichan Valley and Island attractions, and get a sense of why we call the Island a little piece of paradise. If you have not heard about Canada’s only year-round motorsport facility, situated in the beautiful Cowichan Valley, check it out at islandmotorsportcircuit.com ■■■ Welcome new members to the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce: Original Joes, Cowichan Green Community, Young Health Management, Fisher King Web Designs, Legal Shield – Frederic Robinson, True Grain Bread, Gutter Works, ISharp Technical Services, Eclipse HR Solutions, Cowichan Eyecare and Canadian Home Builders – Vancouver Island. Sonja Nagel is Executive Director of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at manager@duncancc.bc.ca or 250-748-1111

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Lacasse Construction: Second Generation Commercial/Residential Builder

work with, from small renovations to large commercial projects.

OMOX – A true family business with roots that run deep in the Comox Valley, Lacasse Construction is a multi-faceted construction company with extensive experience building a full range of residential, commercial and industrial projects. While Lacasse Construction has only operated under that name since 2006 the firm’s origins can actually be traced back almost 40 years, when company founder Rick Lacasse began his construction career in the Comox Valley “It’s a second generation company as my Dad was the original founder and owner,” explained Cale Lacasse the current co-owner of the firm. Rick Lacasse began his construction career as a carpenter in 1975, learning his profession from the ground up. In 1988, working with local entrepreneur David Burkard he co-founded Bur-Lac Construction, an entity that successfully operated until Burkard’s retirement in 2006 when Lacasse Construction was formed. “Rick and my mom Brenda operated Lacasse Construction for a couple of years before we realized we may have a chance to work together. I was working in the construction industry in Vancouver and was interested in relocating back to the Valley. So we agreed to give it a shot and it grew from there,” he said. Lacasse Construction is a classic family business, with three members of the immediate family being currently involved. “There used to be four of us involved. A few months after I got involved my brother Arliss Lacasse came on board. He worked with us for about five years before following his passion for construction safety to WCB (Workers Compensation Board) as a Construction Safety Officer (CSO), so he’s now a CSO

They provide a confident and friendly environment with skilled workers that take personal pride in the outcome of their work.” MATTHIAS GOTTMANN OWNERS, PROGRESSIVE SYSTEMS LTD.

An example of the company’s commercial work is 777 Fitzgerald which houses a financial services firm

Designed and built for the K’ómoks First Nation this exceptional structure mates timeless art with modern techniques Two of Lacasse’s key employees are Matt Laver (left) and Rylee Knodel, vital parts of the team with them.” Today Lacasse Construction’s focus involves a full range of commercial, industrial and residential projects, from single family homes and renovations to storefronts and offices buildings. “We aren’t limiting ourselves to any particular sector of the market. If an interesting project comes along we will see if there is a fit there.” The past few years for Lacasse have included commercial projects such as the new K’ómoks First Nation Administration Building on Comox Road, the downtown Courtenay 777 Fitzgerald Building

(that houses RBC Dominion) and the revitalization of the Broken Spoke Commercial Building on 4th and Fitzgerald in Downtown Courtenay. But the company is more than its commercial projects. Lacasse Construction has also been involved in numerous custom homes projects including both new construction and updating existing properties. A unique example of the company’s expertise in residential work was the firm’s efforts in SEE LACASSE CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 22

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MAY 2016

Interior of the K’ómoks First Nation building is rich with native woods, creating a serene atmosphere

LACASSE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

breathing new life into a distinctive Comox Lake cabin, a structure that had been severely damaged by fire. Dating back to the 1940s the vintage cabin could easily have been a write-off, but thanks to Lacasse’s talents this Cumberland landmark will continue to give pleasure for decades to come. Headquartered at 2251 Cousins Avenue in Courtenay, Lacasse Construction is involved in more than new construction and renovation work. The company has also become the go-to firm for maintenance and repair work for many of its clients. Presently the company is tasked with looking after more than 550,000 square feet of commercial space and multi-family residential units,

performing such duties as site upgrades, routine maintenance, as well as extensive exterior cladding and renovation projects. “Most of the properties that we maintain were constructed in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The age of these buildings mean that they require constant maintenance and care to ensure continued long term performance. Sometimes this is as simple as the installation of new windows and doors; sometimes it’s as extensive as a full blown renovation or addition. This work is challenging and constantly pushes our crews to be at their best.” Lacasse Construction’s crews can fluctuate in numbers depending on the workload but typically range from six to ten persons at any one time. In the role of General Contractor, Lacasse Construction oversees all aspects of

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their projects from start to finish. “Our in house crew will generally handle the bones of our projects. We typically do our own foundations, framing, interior and exterior finishing. We then pull from our team of highly skilled subcontractors to provide us with the remaining components,” Lacasse said. The mission of Lacasse Construction is to complete projects that are of the highest quality, completed on time and on budget. Every job the company does, from a simple renovation task to a large scale commercial endeavour, has to be completed with a consistent level of quality and professionalism at every stage. “We ensure that we invest the correct amount of time into the pre-construction phase of our projects. This allows us to custom tailor a project plan for our client that is transparent and realistic. We present our clients with this proposal at the beginning of the project and we know that is something we can adhere to that will allow the project to move seamlessly from pre-construction through to completion exactly as we think it should be,” he explained. The quality work Lacasse does is also recognized by other members of the local construction industry. “Lacasse Construction is always a pleasure to work with on projects, from small renovations to large commercial projects, they take the time to do it right and are very detailed in making certain schedules are made and time allowed for the trades to move smoothly

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Located in Courtenay, the project at 777 Fitzgerald is a showpiece of Lacasse’s quality construction techniques

Shoreline Orthodontics on Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay is another Lacasse Construction commercial project throughout a project,” explained Matthias Gottmann, the owner of electrical contracting firm Progressive Systems Ltd. “Lacasse Construction provides

a confident and friendly environment with skilled workers that take personal pride in the outcome of SEE LACASSE CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 23

Congrats to a ﬁrst class company 2920 Moray Ave, Courtenay, BC (250) 897-1166 www.comoxvalleyfloors.com

MAY 2016

Broken Spoke is a combination bicycle shop and coffee house constructed in downtown Courtenay

LACASSE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

their work. We look forward to many more projects with Lacasse, and wish them the greatest success in their future in the world of construction!” If any one word would be assigned to the work carried out by Lacasse Construction that word would have to be professional. Lacasse says it’s vital, especially for a local company, to be professional in every job they do.

For the future Lacasse envisions continued growth but has no hard and fast schedule for how that growth will proceed. For him, having his company’s name attached to a project is a commitment to doing the job right, every time. “When we started out it was just the two of us and we’ve continued to grow the company when the time was right. We feel extremely fortunate with the crew we have. Our key guys including Rylee Knodel, Matt Laver and Jesse

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Hargrove are a big part of what we do” he said. It’s great to get a call from a potential client that has an interesting project. They haven’t worked with us, but have seen our projects, heard of us from past clients and are interested in involving us because they feel confident that we can deliver their project on time, on budget and to the highest quality. That’s what we’re all about.” To learn more please visit the company website at: www.lacasseconstruction.ca

We are pleased to wish Lacasse Construction a happy 10 year anniversary 2005 Boxwood Rd, Nanaimo, BC 250.754.1400 www.atlastruss.com

Congratulations to Lacasse Construction on all of your success. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Locally Owned by Matthias & Kyla Gottmann

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mc.danielson@hotmail.com 250.203.5407 mmkssafety.ca

MAY 2016

AQUACULTURE Bc’s Aquaculture Industry Has Room To Grow Market demands the high quality of seafood that comes from BC waters BETH HENDRY-YIM

ast year saw the introduction of a new Fish and Seafood Act that had BC’s aquaculture industry netting updated licensing, new legislation for traceability, government funds for increasing its profile and inclusion in Growing Forward programs. This year the BC government, with its BC Agrifood and Seafood Strategic Growth Plan, identified its next steps in expanding the industry which includes a multi-year development plan to maximize the economic potential of BC seafood. With more than 100 species of fish, shellfish and marine plants harvested and sold to over 150 markets, the year 2014 saw a 10 per cent increase in exports for a combined wholesale value of $1.44 billion. The province’s top export commodity that year was farmraised Atlantic salmon, valued at $380 million, while other commodities, like wild sockeye and chinook salmon, brought in the greatest growth numbers in the same year at 438 per cent and 66 per cent respectively and oysters, up 22 per cent, reeled in $15 million. Roberta Stevenson, executive director of the BC Shellfish Association, said that the industry has room to grow with demand for BC shellfish increasing. But she adds that expanding the industry has its challenges. “The market for BC shellfish is insatiable. We can’t grow enough to satisfy the demand,” she said, adding that she would like to see the government expanding and capitalizing on the opportunities the industry is presenting. “We have investors willing to put

“The market for BC

Fifty per cent of shellfish farms are located in Baynes Sound CREDIT:BC SHELLFISH ASSOCIATION

shellfish is insatiable.” ROBERTA STEVENSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BC SHELLFISH ASSOCIATION

dollars into building and growing farms,” she pointed out adding that processing an application for a farm tenure can take up to three years. Although the province regularly attends seafood trade shows around the world, she feels the industry is able to market itself and money spent on the shows would be better spent on expertise and onthe-ground operations assistance. Fifty per cent of shellfish farms are located in Baynes Sound, between Bowser and Courtenay, with easy transportation to processing. The rest stretch along BC’s pristine coastlines. The association membership is made up of businesses that service the industry, from farming

Roberta Stevenson, executive director of the BC Shellfish Association CREDIT:BC SHELLFISH ASSOCIATION

to transportation to marketing. Stevenson said that the potential opportunity and variety of jobs and businesses servicing the industry is impressive. In total exports in seafood hit a record $981 million in 2014 with an estimated 2014 GDP of $249 million. Salmon farming alone generates an estimated 5,000 full time positions with 2,363 direct, 1,926

Creative Salmon harvests year-round, so our salmon is always fresh and ready for your table. Low in saturated fat and high in Omega-3 fatty acids, Chinook salmon is a powerful protein package perfect for a healthy diet. And organic certiﬁcation makes it the right choice for your table and for the environment.

indirect and 689 induced jobs. Members of the BC Salmon Farmers Association operate an estimated 106 of the 109 licensed and tenured finfish aquaculture facilities across the coastal regions, with 60-70 operating and all the others resting at any given time. Jeremy Dunn, Executive Director, SEE AQUACULTURE | PAGE 26

AQUACULTURE

MAY 2016

SUSTAINABILITY IS KEY FOR AQUACULTURE SUCCESS New model of polyculture produces healthier food with greater profit

OURTENAY - Manatee Holdings Ltd is in the best position for expansion, and with the right investor is looking to remain at the forefront of a long-term, profitable industry. “We are championing a sustainable model of aquaculture,” said Eric Gant, owner, Manatee Holdings. “With demand out stripping supply, and water pollution on the rise, we have ready markets eager for products harvested from BC’s pristine waters.” For Gant, the journey to create long-term business opportunities in aquaculture began in 1988 when his company became concerned with the “dive fisheries” in BC. The management of the fisheries, according to Gant, relied on unrealistic methods to determine the natural recruitment, or the rate at which a species, like geoducks, sea cucumber and urchins, naturally replenish their populations. “We focused on creating solutions that did away with ‘guesstimating’ natural recruitment,” he said. “And for ways to address the problems found in the traditional methods of food production in aquaculture and agriculture that cause excessive mortality.” T he results are now giving Manatee a competitive advantage in its industry. “Ou r model of polycu ltu re encourages the coexistence of different species and produces a healthier food with greater profit in ways that are beneficial to the surrounding ecology.” Gant explains for example, that sea urchins tend to feed on the holdfast or root of seaweed causing the rest of the weed to die before propagation. The reef then becomes barren and the urchin dies from malnutrition. “Manatee’s methods protect the holdfast so that the system becomes both sustainable and supportive of the the ecological health of the reef,” said Gant. “We call it the Feed Line Urchin Ranch.” C u r rent ly, M a n ate e h a s a 9 0 -h e c t a r e t e n u r e t h a t i s

Manatee created a method of sustainable, profitable and environmentally viable aquaculture CREDIT:MANATEEHOLDINGS.COM

“We are championing a sustainable model of aquaculture.” ERIC GANT OWNER, MANATEE HOLDINGS INC

approximately 25 per cent seeded with cultured geoduck clams. Mined down by the wild fisheries, the area is being replanted back up to its natural density by Manatee with cultured geoduck seed raised from broodstock taken from the same general vicinity. “When fully seeded, it will have about $100 million in inventory and will gross in excess of $10 million per year and produce a healthy product in a sustainable and environmentally beneficial manner.” Gant explained that this approach is a low density, extensive polyculture production model rather than the more destructive high density, intensive, monoculture approach that destroys or damages the surrounding ecology. “In both agriculture and aquaculture when any species of plant or animal is raised at too high a density, you end up with a recipe for disaster, including an

Demand is outstripping supply for geoducks CREDIT:MANATEEHOLDINGS.COM

artificial concentration of predators and parasites preying on the farmed species.” “Sea stars feed on juvenile sea cucumbers by the millions,” said Gant, “Adults can outrun the predator, but not the young.” Manatee has created nurseries for the juvenile seed that are

made of recycled bags of oyster shells placed on the bottom of the ocean where the sandy substrate meets the edge of the rocky reef. “When the juveniles grow to a size where they have to leave the safety of our nursery refuge, they can hide under the seaweed growing on the reef of the urchin

ranch. They then feed on rotting bits of weed dropping from its protective canopy and on the pseudofaeces of the urchins.” Gant said that once the sea cucumbers are large enough to venture out onto the sandy substrate they also get to feed on the pseudofaeces of the geoducks. Gant believes that Manatee’s food production model will replace collapsing traditional fisheries and aquaculture systems that tend to damage the surrounding marine ecology and which produce a less healthy human food. For the right investor, Gant said that Manatee is offering up to 40 per cent equity, for up to $20 million, in both its fishing and aquaculture businesses. “What’s attractive about this opportunity is the investor would get immediate access to the wild fishery stocks that we are harvesting, and more importantly, secure long term access to our aquaculture production.” He added that Manatee wants a beneficial business relationship with an investor who respects its mandate to create the most environmentally beneficial food production operation on land or sea, anywhere in the world. “Our investor will recognize that resource depletion will continue to have a detrimental impact on the food supply unless we create sustainable models of food production. This is where the real profit will be found in the future.” M a n ate e Hold i n g s Ltd . i s at 4097 Gartley Point Road in Courtenay. www.sustainableaquaculture. ca

www.sustainableaquaculture.ca

www.macdonaldcommercial.com/sale/2764 Phone: 250-334-9562

AQUACULTURE

26 AQUACULTURE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

BC Salmon Farmers Association said that his industry sees the same challenge as shellfish in that the demand for BC raised salmon-especially in the United States and increasingly in Asia-is hard to keep up with. BC exported a record 52, 934 metric tonnes of farm-raised

• • • • •

Atlantic salmon to 10 countries in 2013 and that number grows annually. “Demand far exceeds the supply so our challenge, as an industry, is meeting the demand. Prices in export markets have remained solid and companies have increased production, where possible, in attempts to match and feed the demand.”

Vancouver Island Owned and Operated Federally Registered Facility #0746 Kosher Certified Ocean Wise Certified HACCP Certified

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MAY 2016

Part of the government’s plan to support industry growth is through programs like Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial policy framework designed to help the industry become more competitive and innovative. “The Growing Forward program is a very important program nationally to all of agriculture, and we are hopeful to have a greater inclusion for aquaculture,” said Dunn. “Having access to the programs that are funded under the Growing Forward banner would have a huge impact on the industry, especially in terms of driving innovation.” New legislation on traceability also positively impacts the industry. “As a sector, salmon farmers advocate for a greater degree in traceablility than in all seafood,” said Dunn. “Today farm-raised salmon for BC has full traceability both in the fish itself and throughout the full supply chain. Consumers eating BC farm-raised salmon can know the parents of the fish, the hatchery it was reared in, the farm it was raised in, and finally the day of harvest.” For Vancouver Island the economic impact of farm raised salmon is significant. According to a study conducted for BCSFA by MNP, forty per cent of GDP, employment and tax revenues in the industry are attributable to activities on the northern part of the island, 25 per cent on other parts of the island, and 35 percent occurring on the lower mainland. In BC, finfish species farmed either on land or water and in fresh

Salmon farming provides 5000 direct and indirect jobs CREDIT:BC SALMON FARMERS ASSOCIATION

Farm raised salmon from BC is valued at $380 million CREDIT:BC SALMON FARMERS ASSOCIATION

water or ocean, include Atlantic Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Sturgeon, Rainbow Trout, Tilapia, and Sablefish. Shellfish species include Pacific Oysters,

Manila Clams, Varnish/Savory Clams, Blue Mussels, Mediterranean Mussels and Japanese Scallops. Aquaculture also includes the harvesting of seaweed, of which BC’s coastline has an abundance. More than 600 species of aquatic plants are found along the coast, including the greatest diversity of kelp in the world. They are used as a food source, for herbal remedies, in cosmetics and food products and are used as a fertilizer for gardens. Individuals and businesses commercially harvesting aquatic plants must have a license. Cultured seaweed requires a crown land tenure and an aquaculture license.

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MAY 2016

Festival Gives Taste Of Bc’s Growing Seafood Industry Event offers eleven days of celebrating BC Food with tours, chef demonstrations, contests and family friendly fun. Byline:Beth Hendry-Yim Story Copy: COMOX - The BC Seafood Expo and BC Shellfish and Seafood Festival featuring chef cooking demonstrations and tastings, gala dinners, educational seminars, competitions and contests, promises an impressive line up of culinary talent and informational events. The Expo and Festival celebrate BC Seafood Month, a campaign directed to seafood lovers across BC and Alberta. Fresh Fest, one of the Festival’s signature events boasts award winning chef, Ned Bell, executive chef of Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Yew Seafood and Bar and fellow chefs, Ronald St. Pierre of Locals Restaurant, Matt Horn of Cowichan Pasta Company, Andrew Shepard of Vancouver Island Salt Company, and Nathan Tymchuk, of Steamship Grill and Bar, serving up unique culinary seafood creations. Tasting stations and wine pairings, accompanied by energizing local live music will showcase Coast Fresh Atlantic salmon, Organic Chinook salmon, Fanny Bay oysters, Kyuquot Sablefish, Golden Eagle Coho and Lois Lake Steelhead. “The festival is an opportunity to experience the diverse seafood BC’s coastal waters provide and learn what species are the most sustainable and the wisest choice,” said Bell, founder of Chefs for Oceans. He added that seafood is also a healthy choice with BC providing some of the best quality. Of course, showcasing specific industry talents will also include exciting and popular contests like Fanny Bay Oyster Shucking, Ocean Wise Chowder Challenge, and the Motts Clamato Best Caesar in Town at the White Whale Restaurant. As part of the festival’s theme of education around BC’s bounty and to showcase its seafood producers, local aquaculture farms are providing educational tours to salmon and deepwater oyster

“The festival is an opportunity to experience the diverse seafood BC’s coastal waters provide.” CHEF NED BELL EXECUTIVE CHEF FOUR SEASONS HOTEL VANCOUVER FOUNDER CHEFS FOR OCEANS

Richard Hardy and Salish Seafood team present fresh seafood products at the BC Shellfish Festival CREDIT: BC SHELLFISH FESTIVAL AND BC SEAFOOD EXPO

Jeremy Dunn said the Festival and Expo provide an educational component to a growing industry CREDIT:BC SALMON FARMERS ASSOCIATION

farms, and a shellfish hatchery. There will also be wild animal and animal encounter tours offered throughout the event and interactive displays, live touch tanks and demonstrations at the final event of the festival, the Comox by the Sea Celebration. This family friendly, wrap-up event, held at the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, invites visitors and locals to enjoy live entertainment and oceanside beer and wine garden, Shucker Paddy demonstrations and competitions and to sample the culinary possibilities of BC seafood. Celebrity Chef Nathan Fong of the Fong on Food blog will lead his own chef demonstrations as well as those with Quang Dang of West Restaurant and Tojo Hedekazu of Tojo’s Restaurant. Seafood

At the Comox by the Sea Celebration Shucker Paddy will demonstrate the best way to shuck an oyster CREDIT: BC SHELLFISH FESTIVAL AND BC SEAFOOD EXPO

tastings will include smoked salmon from Marine Harvest, barbecued BC farmed salmon, fresh shucked oysters with lemon, tabasco and prepared horseradish, fish tacos from Billy D’s Pub and Bistro and deep fried oysters with signature sauce from Macs Oysters and Westcoast Mobile Kitchen. Touch tanks will provide a hands on opportunity to learn about BC’s amazing shellfish and seafood industry and educational demonstrations and interactive displays will regale kids and adults with fascinating fish facts and shellfish stories. The whole family will enjoy the displays provided by organizations like the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, The Jelly Fish Project, BC Recyclables, Harbour Air Seaplanes, Vancouver Aquarium/Ocean Wise and North Island College Aquaculture department. Targeted to the west coast seafood enthusiast, the mandate of the festival is to increase awareness and support for the shellfish and seafood industry producers and related businesses. Jeremy Dunn, executive director, BC Salmon Farmers Association, said that the Expo and Festival events provide an educational component to the growing industry and to consumers. “It highlights both the abundance of amazing seafood here in BC and the current economic impacts and potential for the future.” Bell said improving education around aquaculture helps the consumer make choices that encourage and support sustainable fisheries.

Chef Nathan Fong will lead chef demonstrations at Comox by the Sea. CREDIT:BC SHELLFISH FESTIVAL AND BC SEAFOOD EXPO

Comox by the Sea serves up seafood tastings, demonstrations and live touch tanks CREDIT: BC SHELLFISH AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL AND BC SEAFOOD EXPO

L e d b y t h e C o m ox Va l l ey Econom ic Development and Toursim, in collaboration with numerous tourism and seafood industry partners, including the founder, BC Shellfish Growers Association, the event has become a destination level attraction with local restaurants celebrating BC Seafood month, through the BC Seafood on Your

plate campaign by creating a dining option that features at least one BC Shellfish or seafood item. Tickets for all events and tours sell out fast. To purchase tickets for either or for Festival accommodation specials go to www. BCShellfishFestival.com or contact the Vancouver Island Visitor Centre at 1-855-400-2882.

AQUACULTURE

MAY 2016

Expo Promotes Growth Of Bc’s Seafood Production Increased global demand helps drive need for industry expo and trade show

OMOX VA L L E Y - T he third annual BC Seafood Expo and the 10th annual BC Shellfish and Seafood Festival runs June 9-19, reeling in renowned speakers, award winning chefs and major names in the marine world-wild fisheries and aquaculture world in celebration of BC Seafood Month. An exciting addition to the BC Seafood and Shellfish Festival, the Expo explores the value BC’s marine industries and future opportunities in the industry with visitors and exhibitors sailing in from around the globe. “Originally set up as the BC Shellfish Festival and run by the BC Shellfish Growers Association, it went from a small event ten years ago to a very large one after a few years,” said Dr. Myron Roth, BC Ministry of Agriculture and chair of the BC Seafood Program Committee. The Festival now includes two days of marine Expo with organized sessions, a Buyers Mission and trade show and seven days of tours and interactive events for the public. “It grew exponentially,” he said. “Comox Valley Economic Development and Tourism got involved to help out as the Festival and Expo continued to grow and the ministry joined in last year to support the commerce side.” I ndu st r y focu sed a nd science-based, the Expo aims to promote the growth of BC’s seafood production, for both wild fisheries and aquaculture, and to connect producers with international buyers. “International trade is very important for our seafood industry,” Roth said. “My ministry works closely with the Ministry of International Trade promoting BC Seafood globally and we have a fairly large buyer’s mission coming in from several countries, including Europe, the United States, the Philippines, Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam.” Roth, who has been involved in the agriculture industry for thirty years, has been active in organizing and chairing a long list of conferences. “The Expo and Festival have rapidly become a major event for the seafood industry, the Festival being the largest in Western Canada. It’s exciting to be involved in such a dynamic event.” He added that the Expo’s rapid growth is due in part to an increasing demand by emerging economies for healthy, high-quality, protein rich food sources and the opportunity this presents to BC. “The take away from this event is that BC’s seafood is sustainable and the best choice for local and foreign buyers.” He pointed out that creating the conversation around sustainability of both

Myron Roth said the Expo is an exciting addition to the BC Seafood and Shellfish Festival CREDIT:MYRON ROTH

“The Expo and Festival have rapidly become a major event for the seafood industry, the Festival being the largest in Western Canada.”

Site tours include Macs Oysters processing facility CREDIT:BC SHELLFISH FESTIVAL AND BC SEAFOOD EXPO

MYRON ROTH CHAIR, BC SEAFOOD PROGRAM COMMITTEE

wild and culture fisheries opens up opportunities for industry expansion. Registrants for the Expo will have access to the tradeshow with industry representatives and marine suppliers, that include BC Salmon Farmer Associations Marine Farm Tours, and tours of Macs Oysters processing facilities and Manatee Holdings hatchery, plus 13 different sessions featuring over 30 expert speakers. Sessions on Thursday will be opened by Roth with a First Nations welcome from Richard Hardy, K’omoks First Nation and as Roth explained will cover new industry topics, working with communities and other industry relevant topics. Thursday’s keynote luncheon presentation will be by Chef Barton Seaver, author of five books on sustainable seafood and cooking, director, Sustainable Seafood and Health Initiative, Centre for Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Change School. In his address he will be shining the

Award winning author Dr. Richard Beamish will present a keynote speech

Chef Barton Seaver will present the keynote address

Opening night reception and dinner feature culinary dishes by Chef Ned Bell and Chef Barton Seaver

CREDIT: BC SHELLFISH FESTIVAL AND BC SEAFOOD EXPO

CREDIT:BC SHELLFISH FESTIVAL AND BC SEAFOOD EXPO

CREDIT: BC SHELLFISH FESTIVAL AND BC SEAFOOD EXPO

spotlight on how BC Seafood contributes to sustainable and healthy food systems. Dr. Dick Beamish, emeritus scientist, Pacific Biological Station, and one of Canada’s most decorated fisheries scientists including the Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia, was also a member of the International Panel on Climate Change that received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. His early research led to the discovery of acid rain in North America. His topic is titled ‘It is Time to Discover How Salmon Survive in The Ocean.’ “E-commerce is presenting a huge potential for the industry in online selling. This session will revolve around what industry is currently doing to succeed with this stream of income and how it can be used in the future.” A highlight of the Expo will be

the opening reception and dinner featuring Chef Ned Bell, founder of Chefs for Oceans, and Barton Seaver. They will be preparing fresh Atlantic lobster, donated by Flying Fresh Air Freight, and creating signature, mouth watering dishes. “We chose to celebrate lobster as it is another great aquaculture success story,” Bell said stressing the need to focus on sustainable, well managed fisheries and their products. Roth added that the Expo is an opportunity for both consumers and producers to ‘kick the tire’ on the seafood production, find out how well run it is and what it is doing to ensure sustainability and financial feasibility. “The industry is diverse with high standards for quality and sustainability. We are the first region to offer certified organic Chinook

Salmon, sablefish, sturgeon and caviar-all farmed.” He noted that BC has five salmon farms certified under the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, the gold standard for responsible, sustainable aquaculture, with the industry committed to having all of the salmon farms in the region certified by 2020. Six species of 13 wild capture fisheries now hold Marine Stewardship Council certification, the gold standard for sustainable capture fisheries, and include Pacific halibut, hake, albacore tune, sockeye, Pink and Chum salmon. The Expo promises to inform, excite, answer questions, and introduce new components. Tickets can be purchased on line at www. BCseafoodExpo.com. Options for participation include full conference pass, trade show booth space and hotel specials for registrants.

AQUACULTURE

MAY 2016

CERMAQ, LEADING THE WAY Committed to sustainable farming

ermaq Canada is committed to farming salmon in the most sustainable way possible, and holds itself to the highest third-party certification standards. Our vision is to be a global leader in the aquaculture industry, creating value by farming salmon in a sustainable manner. Our approach has made us one of the most responsible salmon farming companies in the world, with more third-party certifications than any other company, showing our commitment to exceeding government regulations and doing the best we can to protect the environment, help local communities and our employees, and operate a business that’s sustainable in the long-term. Cermaq Canada farms Atlantic salmon in British Columbia at three different areas around Va ncouver I s l a nd . Cer m a q Canada is part of Cermaq, an international salmon farming business with operations in Canada, Chile and Norway. Cermaq is a fully-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation.

We farm salmon in 28 sea sites near Tofino, Port McNeill, and Ca mpbell R iver. We operate four land-based hatcheries near Courtenay, near Sayward, near Port Alberni, and in Duncan. We also operate two processing plants, one in Tofino and one north of Campbell River (under contract). We hold eight third-party certifications in environmental sustainability, food safety, quality control, worker safety, including the internationally-recognized “eco-certifications” Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s ASC certification and the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aqu acu ltu re P ract ices certification. We publish an unprecedented amount of information about our farms on our website, to show the public that our operations are transparent, and that we are listening to public concerns and comments about our business. We have also published a series of “Farmed Salmon Facts” on our website, showing how raising farmed salmon is one of the most efficient and responsible methods of livestock farming today. We are proud of our sustainable salmon farming operations, and encourage people to visit us at www.cermaq.ca

Part of BC’s working coast

cermaq.ca

The City of Port Alberni & The Port Alberni Port Authority Are Open for Business

Mayor Mike Ruttan and Chairman of the Board Ron Crema pictured here.

THE CITY OF

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For Information call Pat Deakin at 250.720.2527 or Dave McCormick at 250.723.5312

MAY 2016

IN FIRST YEAR HOTEL EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS High standards place in Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Building Awards

AMPBELL RIVER - Campbell River’s newest hotel just won a prestigious Vancouver Island Real Estate Board building award. The one-year-old Comfort Inn & Suites, located on the water in downtown Campbell River, placed second in the hospitality category. Jonathan Shead, general manager and partner said that the location, design and layout of the hotel was planned to incorporate the stunning waterfront view, and to capitalize on the close proximity to amenities like the BC Ferries, downtown shopping, restaurants and local corporate offices. “From the breakfast room, guests can watch cruise ships sail past in the Discovery Passage, fishing boats come and go in the marina and the BC Ferry, which sails back and forth to and from Quadra Island.” Shead and partners Colyn Clay and Ken Clay are no strangers to creating a successful business. Shead has owned and managed Campbell R iver’s InterSport franchise for 17 years. Four years

Proud to Support Comfort Inn & Suites Campbell River

Jonathan Shead owned Campbell River’s InterSport Franchise for 17 years before becoming general manager of his own hotel CREDIT:COMFORT INN & SUITES CAMPBELL RIVER

“People like the exceptional value we provide and the above standard service and amenities.” JONATHAN SHEAD GENERAL MANAGER, OWNER COMFORT INN & SUITES CAMPBELL RIVER

ago the partners, who owned the ground where the hotel now stands, decided that the best use for the property would be with a hotel and, as the city hadn’t seen a new one for 25 plus years, the timing was right. “It took one year to plan,” said Shead, “And 18 months to build. We used local trades where possible and found the City of Campbell River to be very supportive throughout the building of the hotel with permits and plans.” T he hotel is spacious, with locally milled timber at the entra nce a nd i n the lobby a nd lounge, and rock work on the exterior and interior feature walls. The lobby is open, with comfy

Water feature at entrance gives west coast feel CREDIT: COMFORT INN & SUITES CAMPBELL RIVER

chairs, modern design, muted and calming colours, wood beamed ceilings and plenty of glass to showcase the views up and down the passage. A cascading water feature at the front entry welcomes visitors with a taste of the west coast. Shead said that in choosing the design, products and amenities offered, they went above the required standards, ensuring a comfortable and restful stay for all guests. Shead said that no expense was spared on one of the most important furnishings in the hotel, the bed. “We went with a Serta bed and of the choices presented, we chose the best.” Each of the 58 rooms provides a microwave, fridge and coffee maker, free high-speed wireless internet, and flat screen HDTV. The six suites facing the waterfront include a separate bedroom and living room, and a balcony overlooking the marina and Discovery Passage. “We offer pet-friendly rooms, a smoke free environment, gym,

hot tub and pool. We also have two 20-person meeting rooms that can be joined together to create a single larger space.” For guests with disabilities, the hotel also offers an accessible roll-in shower and barrier-free lowered access to all amenities. T he me et i n g s pace come s equipped with high-speed internet, a flat screen TV, digital projector, multiple seating arrangements as well as light catering options and Comfort Inn’s signature coffee. Shead pointed out that the highlight of a guest’s stay could well be the complimentary hot breakfast. “We have several hot items including delicious waffles and fruit, toast, cereal and an assortment of breakfast muffins and danishes.” Shead noted that, so far, the hotel has exceeded expectations with excellent occupancy and a steady flow of guests throughout the week. “We’ve been busy even during the week with the business traveller,” he said, adding that great mid week occupancy is due in part

to two big construction sites-the John Hart Dam and new hospital-and to Campbell River being a head office for several fish farms and forestry companies.” He added that the hotel has also seen workers using Campbell River as a base while they work remotely in the northern parts of the island. “We’re also seeing a steady flow of visitors on weekends. More leisure travellers are coming in then, whether it’s for a family trip or a sports team event,” he said, adding that partnering with resorts and tour groups for unique adventure packages like whale watching and big animal encounters has also helped drive business to their door. “We’re seeing a lot of Europeans, Americans and Australians enjoying long-term tours and stays here.” Recently the Comfort Inn & Suites became a sponsor in the History Channel Sweepstakes package, a collaboration between Tourism Campbell River and Region and Alone on History. The reality TV show drops individuals

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MAY 2016

Queen size Serta beds in room overlooking marina and ferry terminal CREDIT: COMFORT INN & SUITES CAMPBELL RIVER

Guests enjoy a view of the Discovery Passage in the breakfast room CREDIT: COMFORT INN & SUITES CAMPBELL RIVER

Locally milled timber and rock feature-wall grace the lounge CREDIT: COMFORT INN & SUITES CAMPBELL RIVER

into the wilderness of northern Vancouver Island and films their survival experience. Choosing the Comfort Inn and a Choice Hotel franchise wasn’t difficult for Shead and his business partners.

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for marketing by a group of seven Florida motor court owners. It operated under the name of Quality Courts United and was United States’ first hotel chain. The goal was to refer business to each other’s hotels and set service

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standards for their properties. As more hotels joined the chain the Quality Courts system developed a reputation for providing value-driven, affordable lodging in convenient and popular locations. It was the first in the hospitality industry to guarantee reservations, offer 24-hour desk service, in-room telephones, 24-hour-a-day, toll-free reservations, and non smoking rooms in every hotel. Choice Hotel brands include Comfort Inn, Ascent, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, and Econo Lodge with more than 6,300 franchised hotels in more than 35 countries and territories. Canada boasts 320 properties in the Choice Hotel group. The Comfort Inn line is the largest of the Choice Hotel brand and one of the industry’s most recognized. Comfort Suites give guests more room to spread out with 25 per cent more space than a traditional room. “We were looking for a franchise that had good systems,” Shead said, adding that with its long history it had excellent management and operations systems as well as the biggest program in hospitality. “Choice Hotel Privileges Loyalty system, with over 1.2 million members in Canada alone and 22 million world-wide, provides a real-time online, multi channel and mobile reservation system that’s tied to national marketing and promotions. It helps guests easily make reservations.” Shead said the most

fundamental key to the hotel’s success revolves around finding, hiring and keeping the right employees. After running InterSport since 1999, he knows the value of fitting the right employee into the right job. “We’ve got well-trained people managing each department,” he said. “Maria Woodward is the Assistant General Manager, Rebecca Berry is the Operations Manager, Gavin Howard is our Guest Service Agent Manager and Sara Penton is our Lead Housekeeper.” Shead noted that providing guests with a valued product and service keeps them coming back. “Our price is right,” he said. “People like the exceptional value we provide and the above standard service and amenities.” Shead has the awards and reviews to prove it! For the year the hotel has been opened, it won Choice’s Rookie of the Year from amongst 23 other new Choices brand hotels in Canada. It’s also placed number one on Trip Advisor, the world’s largest travel website, out of 17 hotels in Campbell River and out of 113 reviews has an exceptional rating. On booking. com it received an exceptional rating of 9.5 out of 10 with 106 reviews and on expedia.ca it received a 100 per cent score. With the hotel’s ongoing success, it looks like the business partners will continue their business relationship, seeing their latest investment thrive and continue to provide Campbell River with comfort and value.

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MAY 2016

BBB COMPLAINT PROCESS ...dispelling common myths BBB serving Vancouver Island has been helping consumers and businesses to resolve complaints for over 50 years, yet many people have no idea how the BBB dispute resolution process works. The following are four common myths or misconceptions the business community often has about BBB dispute resolution and some clariﬁcations on how our process works:

a special thanks to our Myth: BBB processes every complaint it receives, no matter how valid it is. Rosalind Scott, BBBVI President & CEO Reality: There is a very structured process to BBB dispute resolution. Typically a consumer files a complaint with BBB when they feel that a conflict they are experiencing with a business requires third party involvement to bring it to a resolution. BBB however, does not process every complaint it receives. Our goal is to successfully resolve complaints involving buyers and sellers in a fair and timely fashion (typically a marketplace intereaction of some sort must have taken place). We generally do not handle complaints, which are more effectively handled by other government or private agencies or the legal system, such as complaints involving employment practices, discrimination, or matters in litigation. Myth: BBB always favors the consumer. Reality: BBB does not stand behind the cliché that “the consumer is always right.” It is BBB’s position that both consumers and businesses have responsibilities when it comes to marketplace transactions. Both parties are expected to take reasonable actions during a dispute to bring it to a resolution. When a consumer files a complaint, BBB staff forward the complaint to the business and request that the company provide a written response or brief outline of their side of the issue. The mere act of a complaint being forwarded to a business does not mean that the BBB deems the consumer‘s complaint to be accurate, true or morally right. Once BBB has received written documentation and “evidence” from both parties as to the complaint, our BBB Dispute Resolution Facilitator then attempts to work with both the consumer and business to reach a reasonable resolution, that typically fits within industry standards. Myth: BBB Accredited Businesses don’t have to respond reasonably to complaints. Reality: BBB Accredited Businesses contractually agree to respond to and to resolve ALL consumer complaints in a timely and reasonable manner. Being accredited does not mean that a company gets preferential treatment by BBB, but they do get one free mediation or arbitration per year, if required, for difficult to resolve disputes. Myth: A complaint record tarnishes your company reputation. Reality: Complaints are a factor of business. A complaint in and of itself does not tarnish your company‘s reputation, but how you choose to handle yourself during the dispute resolution process is what will ultimately impact your business’ reputation. BBB only reports on complaints that are formally processed through our dispute resolution system. Our BBB Business Reviews include all complaints that have been processed in the past 3 years. Details relating to the customer‘s concerns, the business’ response to the situation, and how the matter was addressed/resolved/closed, can be viewed on a company’s BBB Business Review. Businesses can still maintain an A rating on their report despite having received complaints. For more information about BBB Dispute Resolution visit bbb.org/vancouver-island.

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*Trade-mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus used under license.

BBB COMMUNITY SHREDDING EVENT Friday May 13, 2016 10 am to 2 pm @ Tillicum Centre Parking Lot (Victoria) SHREDDING BY DONATION All proceeds will go to the Radical Renovation of the Rainbow Kitchen Visit bbb.org/vancouver-island for additional details.

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OFF THE COVER

MAY 2016

SLEGG BUILDING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

new paint, signage, interior lighting and product displays inside and out.” The rebranding campaign began about a year ago with the changing of the name to Slegg Building Materials. Much more than a marketing decision, the re-designation was introduced to more accurately reflect the range of services and products the company’s outlets now offer. Another key element of the corporate re-imagining is the new company motto ‘It’s An Island Thing’ – introduced to celebrate Slegg’s historic and expanding relationship with the Vancouver Island communities it serves. “We really want to showcase our Island heritage, we’re really proud that we’re an Island company,” Nichols said. “That’s what the new motto is all about and it will figure prominently in all of our marketing.” All of the company’s existing stores are being updated to reflect the new brand, including exterior painting and the use of new logos and color schemes. “One of the great things Titan has done is to show that they are willing to invest in the Island, that they are serious about keeping Slegg viable, contemporary and that we’re here for the long term.” WSB Titan operates stores across Canada under a variety of brands, including Watson Building Supplies, Le Groupe Beauchesne, Shoemaker Drywall Supplies, BC

Ceilings Ltd., and others. “The acquisition of Slegg is the first time Titan has had a presence on Vancouver Island but the company has holdings across the country,” Nichols said. Regardless of name changes or paint schemes, Slegg Building Materials’ focus continues to be servicing the needs of the local contractors and construction companies. Maintaining and strengthening its relationship with Island builders has been a central component of the corporate business plan for nearly seven decades and continues to be the firm’s principle stock and trade. “Our bread and butter have always been the local contractors and builders and we’re trying to showcase that we want to continue to work with them. There is a lot of construction taking place on the Island and we’re very proud that we’re part of that,” he explained. Another part of the winning Slegg business plan is its role as a good corporate citizen in the communities that it serves, a policy still very much in vogue with the company’s new owners. “We are a local Island company, and want to give back to the community as much as we can. Everyone on this Island is passionate about being here, something only locals understand,” Nichols stated. Slegg has made major financial commitments to the local communities, a policy it will continue moving forward. For example last year the company donated $100,000

Steve Nichols is the Marketing Manager with Slegg Building Materials, and is involved with its rebranding efforts

to the Canadian Cancer Society, which was the largest single donation the Vancouver Island Chapter received, a sum the company will be matching this year. Slegg has also been an active supporter of everything from sports teams to art projects. “We’re really trying to separate ourselves from the Big Box stores by saying we’re an Island company, we want to be involved in this community and we want to give back what we can.”

Aimed at supplying both the contractor and the do it yourselfer, Slegg Building Materials has been serving the local market for nearly 70 years, and looks forward to growing alongside of the communities it supports. By helping out everyone benefits, a policy Slegg has firmly embraced. After all, helping others really is; an Island thing! To learn more please visit the company website at: www.slegg.com

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MAY 2016

CAMPBELL RIVER PLUMBING COMPANY MARKS ITS 35TH ANNIVERSARY Ed Rosse Plumbing & Heating Serves Customers Across The North Island

AMPBELL RIVER – When is a plumbing business so much more than a plumbing business? When it’s Campbell River’s Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating. “One of the biggest things is that people seem to think that all we do is plumbing, but that’s just part of what we do here,” explained company owner Ed Rosse. “Customers are usually shocked at the range of services that we provide when it comes to plumbing, heating, gas, solar, drainage, irrigation and more.” Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, the company was founded by Ed Rosse Sr., and today is operated by the founder’s son Ed Rosse Jr. The company has been serving the residential and commercial plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), gas fitting, solar heating and more market in the greater Campbell River area since 1981. “I worked for my father for many years, learning the plumbing and heating business from the ground up before taking over the company in 2012,” he explained. Serving an expanding client base that extends from Nanaimo in the south, across the entire North Island region including Port McNeill, Tahsis, Gold River and into the Gulf Islands, Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating operates out of a 3,000 square foot facility located at 1324 Spruce Street in the city’s Campbellton area. “We are in essence a residential and commercial plumbing and heating company. We can work on everything from a plugged sewer to providing you with a full Mechanical system for your business or home,” he explained. The company, operating with its team of 17 and its fleet of 14 service vehicles has all of the skills, tools and experience to handle any sized project. Trained in all

Ed Rosse grew up in the plumbing business, taking over from his father who started the company 35 years ago

“We can work on everything from a plugged sewer to providing you with a full Mechanical system for your business or home.” ED ROSSE OWNER, ED ROSSE PLUMBING & HEATING

aspects of plumbing, heating, refrigeration and gas fitting, the Ed Rosse technicians are well versed in all facets of the mechanical trades and pride themselves on quick, efficient high quality service. With a reputation for providing quality work Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating has become the plumbing heating and gas services contractor of choice for many of the Campbell River area’s top builders and commercial property owners. With a reputation for professionalism the company is well respected by such well known industry suppliers as Andrew Sheret Limited, which has been serving the provincial plumbing and construction industries for more than 120 years. “Andrew Sheret Limited has had

Ed Rosse Plumbing Heating vehicles are common sights in the region, bringing peace of mind to clients across the area Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating as a valued customer since 1983. Reflecting on their company today brings back a lot of memories. I personally have had the pleasure of dealing with them on a daily basis since 1990,” explained Dave Roemer, Andrew Sheret’s Campbell River branch manager. “I always enjoyed the great professional dealings we had with Ed Sr. (who had a great career and is now happily retired.) Now watching the transition that has been made by Ed Jr. since 2012 is very impressive.” For Roemer Ed Rosse’s consistent quality and professionalism is one of the company’s greatest assets. “He has kept up the quality workmanship started by his father and has expanded the business to cover all aspects of our community’s needs for residential and commercial mechanical services. He has added a full service department, sewer camera and drain cleaning equipment services, and added HVAC and refrigeration. He has excellent trade professionals on his staff and they provide a great service to

A pause in the office then its back on the road for Brad Beggs the company Office Manager our community,” he said. Not only an industry leader, Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating is also an exceptional corporate citizen, actively involved in many aspects of the community it serves. A partial list of its community support includes being a Platinum sponsor of the Cystic Fibrosis Rod Brind‘Amour Golf Classic since 2012 (a major local

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fund raiser for the organization), and an ongoing contributor of Cameryns Cause for Kids Society (which helps families with sick children) and many other local charitable causes. One aspect of Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating that many people may not be aware of is that a large part of the firm’s work involves site excavation. To simplify the

SEYMOUR SERVICES

We appreciate Ed Rosse Plumbing & Heating’s quality service and wish them many more years of success!

1860 Antonelli Road Campbell River 250-287-3505 www.seymourservices.ca

MAY 2016

Rosse (at center) with only some of his crew of 17 who work with clients from all across the North Island

“I personally have had the pleasure of dealing with them on a daily basis since 1990.” DAVE ROEMER BRANCH MANAGER, ANDREW SHERET - CAMPBELL RIVER

Ed Rosse Plumbing & Heating’s technicians can install and service the most up to date commercial grade equipment process of working on clients properties the company owns and operates its own mini excavator, and regularly uses Tuttle Trucking and Barclay Backhoe and Trucking, who are a large part of the company’s excavation team. A frequent service call Ed Rosse Plumbing receives are for broken water and sewer mains as well as entire re-pipes of perimeter drainage systems. To facilitate work on these systems the company employs specialized equipment for line locating and

to provide video images inside of the pipes. “This helps to tell us exactly what the problem is, and where it is, so the repairs can be made,” Rosse explained. T h ere’s more to E d R o s s e Plumbing and Heating than pipes and plumbing. As the name implies the company is also skilled and equipped to look after all aspects of the world of heating. The firm can install and service high efficient gas furnaces, condensing boilers, combi boilers, Heat pumps and mini splits, solar

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heating and even geo thermal systems. In 2015 Ed Rosse took over the thermal solar work for Terratek Energy Solutions who was a leader in the solar industry on Vancouver Island. Terratek continues a thriving company in the Lower Mainland and in the Okanagan. As a team Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating and Terratek are actively serving solar heating customers all across Vancouver Island. Just a few of the more notable solar projects Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating has completed include the Campbell River RCMP office, the municipal fire hall and city Sportsplex. In 2010 Campbell River became an official ‘Solar Community’ and won the BC 2010 Solar Community of the Year Award, in recognition of the community’s extensive

efforts to promote solar heating. But the company is more than leading edge technology and new construction, Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating also specializes in renovation and retro fits for older properties. “For most people your home is your largest investment, it’s our goal to make sure we help you take care of that investment properly while optimizing your heating system,” Rosse said. More than residential work, the company also has a long list of satisfied commercial clients as well. A partial list of recently completed commercial projects includes Campbell River Hyundai, Bill Howich Chrysler, the Big Rock Liquor Store, York Machine shop’s new commercial space, VIHA in Courtenay, Metro Liquor and others. Keeping up with the latest technologies and building practices has helped to keep the firm at the forefront of the industry. Recent changes to the building codes have brought many changes to the plumbing and heating industry. One big technological shift is the increase in HRVs (Heat Recovery Ventilation Units) being installed in customer’s homes. When used in concert with radiant floor heating, a gas furnace or

heat pump an air handler choosing an HRV for a home will increase the air quality and energy efficiency of the house and has become the preferred choice for discerning homeowners. When given the option of installing an HRV or some less efficient option today’s customers are becoming more aware of the benefits that come with the HRV, and are coming to Ed Rosse as their preferred choice of installer. With a long standing reputation for providing quality service, offering a diverse range of products and embracing the latest in technology Rosse feels very optimistic about the future of his company. For him it’s important to continue the firm’s established tradition of excellence and innovation as we move forward than it is to see any major expansion of his business. “Our object is simple, it’s to get better and better at what we do,” he said. After 35 years of serving the Campbell River and Vancouver Island market Ed Rosse Plumbing and Heating is looking forward to its next 35 years. To learn more please visit the company website at: www.edrosseplumbing.com

Congratulations on 35 years! Proud to be building with you for the future

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MAY 2016

BERK’S INTERTRUCK SERVING THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY FOR 45 YEARS “We have the parts in Truck Sales & Service Firm Operates Four Outlets Across Vancouver Island

stock, there’s no waiting for a part to have to come from the Mainland.”

ANAIMO – Island-grown, community-focused, customer service driven; Berk’s Intertruck Ltd. has been serving the Vancouver Island trucking and transportation industry for 45 years. Launching in 1971 what would become Berk’s Intertruck began as an exclusive sales and service outlet for International Harvester trucks. Over the ensuing decades the company has expanded, becoming one of Vancouver Island’s largest heavy vehicle sales and maintenance networks. “When my Dad (Berk Sabourin) bought the business in ’71 he turned what had been a corporate owned International Harvester satellite into a independent family-owned all makes operation, focusing on everything from highway trucks and delivery vans to off highway logging trucks,” explained Brian Sabourin the firm’s Dealer Principal. “The primary focus for us has always been service and parts sales.” Today Berk’s I ntertr uck is he ad q u a r tere d i n Na n a i mo

BRIAN SABOURIN DEALER PRINCIPAL, BERK’S INTERTRUCK

(2230 McCullough Road) and has parts and service operations in Duncan, Port Alberni and Langford. Incorporating a network of shops, warehouses and office space, Nanaimo’s Intertruck headquarters is spread across nearly five acres of interconnected property. The company was a pioneer in the concept of offering parts, practical advice and customizable accessories for trucks, a business model that previously had been used more commonly with the automotive aftermarket. “We’ve been in business 45 years, having survived all of the ups and downs that have occurred during that time, in a large part due to the high level of customer service we provide. Since 1989 we have been a Volvo Heavy Truck dealer as well as an Autocar Heavy Truck dealer and an Isuzu medium duty truck dealer. Those are our primary truck lines and cover a wide

Dan Grubac (left) and Brian Sabourin check out the company parts truck that services its different outlets spectrum of the trucking industry,” Sabourin said. True to its name Intertruck carries one of the largest inventories of truck and trailer parts on Vancouver Island, its team of experts have exactly the right

part in stock for an International, Freightliner or just about any other type of truck or trailer regularly found on Island roads. “We have a lot of experience in the transportation, trucking and logging industries on the Island,”

explained Dan Grubac, Intertruck’s General Manager. A streng th that sets Berk’s Intertruck apart from a franchised aftermarket parts store is the depth of experience, and industry knowledge of its staff (w ith close to 70 employees throughout its four outlets). “Our people are trained to understand what our customers need and if we don’t have the part in stock we’ll go to other sources to get that part. We don’t just open a manual on line and look up a part number and if it’s not in our inventory tell the customer we can’t help them. That’s not how we do things,” he added. “Our goal is to “locally” provide the highest product availability with consistent competitive value.” The skill and experience of its staff is at the heart of the Berk’s Intertruck success story. A sure sign of a successful business are long term employees. Not only does the company have employees with decades of experience, it also has numerous examples of second and third generation staff, working for the company just as their parents had or still are. While the Nanaimo operation is the largest and the original outlet, Berk’s Intertruck also operates service and parts facilities SEE BERK’S INTERTRUCK | PAGE 41

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Congratulations Berk’s Intertruck 1881 E.Wellington Rd. NANAIMO

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Congratulations Berk’s Intertruck! Volvo is proud to be a partner in your continued success.

Berk’s Intertruck began selling and servicing Volvo Heavy Trucks in 1989, one of the first dealerships to do so

Volvo Trucks. Driving Progress

MAY 2016

The company sells a wide range of vehicles, from semi tractor trailer units to smaller delivery vans

BERK’S INTERTRUCK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40

The Berk’s team of qualified service technicians can work on a full range of vehicles from semis to motorhomes

in Port Alberni and Duncan, with a Langford-based parts store, the company’s newest venture. “Our operation in Port Alberni has six service bays and a staff of 12 while the Duncan outlet has four service bays and a staff of 16,” Sabourin explained. “We also have a parts outlet in Langford serving the Victoria and Sidney market. In addition to all this we have an outside sales force covering these areas, all points in between and north to Courtenay.” The Nanaimo operation is by far the largest in the network with nearly 40 employees and a total of 18 service bays.

The company also operates a number of service vehicles used to reach customers wherever they are located Catering to the needs of professional truckers and transportation companies the Nanaimo outlet is open for business from 7:30 AM until midnight Monday to Friday and from 7:30 AM until 4:00 PM on Saturdays. The other stores have similar hours up to 9:00 PM Monday to Friday and Saturday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.. Beyond the posted business

hours the company has also set up an after-hours emergency response service. “If you have a breakdown in the middle of the night or on Sunday we have staff that will come out with a service truck and look after you. For a piece of equipment to break down it’s more than inconvenient for SEE BERK’S INTERTRUCK | PAGE 42

As a proud supplier to

BERK’S INTERTRUCK, we would like to congratulate them on their

45 ANNIVERSARY! TH

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MAY 2016

BERK’S INTERTRUCK CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

the operator, a breakdown is a direct impact on someone’s livelihood and we’re here to help keep them on the road,” Grubac said. While an authorized Volvo, Autocar and Isuzu dealer, Berk’s Intertruck has the experience and the expertise to work on all types of trucks, trailers, engines, excavating equipment, tracked vehicles and more. “We work on boats more than you might think. Our guys will go down to the boats, in to the holds and work on the diesel engines,” Sabourin said. “In the past we’ve even serviced and worked on things like generator sets on top of buildings, like at the Coast Bastion Hotel. We constantly have motor homes in our shops being repaired and serviced. There essentially isn’t anything with or without wheels that we wouldn’t have the ability to deal with.” Berk’s Intertruck is also the goto firm when it comes to supplying parts, with an inventory of more than 3.3 million dollars in parts, for all makes and types of vehicle. The company boasts one of the Island’s largest and most varied parts inventories. “Another reason people come here when they want parts to repair their vehicle themselves, we have the parts in stock, there’s no waiting for a part to have to come from the Mainland, which can take on average a minimum

The main, and original Berk’s Intertruck operation is located at 2230 McCullough Road in Nanaimo of 12 to 24 hours, a lifetime if the machine you’re counting on for your living is sitting idle,” Sabourin said. The decision to increase the number of service bays has been driven more by a general increase in the population and by expanding client demand than it has by any trend to keep older machines on the job longer. Changing market conditions in Canada, such as with the Alberta Oil Patch, has meant an increasing number of transient vehicles from all over that have found their way to Vancouver Island in search of work. “A prime example of the new arrivals is the fellow who took

over Whitecap Paving, he came out of Alberta, out of the oil field, came to the Island, bought the business and has made a go of it,” Grubac said. Regardless of economic fluctuations elsewhere in the country, Berk’s Intertruck has grown and expanded as a direct reflection of the Island’s general population growth and customer business expansion. Another key component of Intertruck’s success is its ongoing focus on customer service, of being willing to go that extra mile for the customer, whether locating a hard to find part, or coming out in the middle of the night with a service

vehicle for a roadside breakdown (all Intertruck outlets operate service vehicles with the exception of Langford). Fleet maintenance, looking after the service needs of an entire company’s rolling stock is another of Berk’s Intertruck’s primary functions. Clients of this service can range from an operator with a handful of vehicles, to large food distribution or courier companies that might have dozens of vehicles. Ongoing staff training is another element that sets Berk’s Intertruck apart. “We spend a ton on training,” Sabourin said. “Today technology is changing

at an incredible rate, we have employees constantly training and upgrading. One of the key tools now with the technicians is a computer or a laptop or some other kind of electronic device as much as a spanner or a wrench, a far cry from when my father started this business.” Berk’s Intertruck was one of the first dealers in Canada to offer sales and service for Volvo Heavy Trucks, a relationship the company continues to enjoy. “Berk’s Intertruck was one of the original dealers for Volvo Trucks in Canada so we have SEE BERK’S INTERTRUCK | PAGE 43

INSURANCE SIA SHIRES & FINANCIAL SERVICES Congratulations on your 45th Anniversary!

G.A. GERRY SHIRES Phone: (250) 758-8097 Toll Free: 1-888-758-8097 Email: gshires@shaw.ca

The largest Berk’s outlet, these are just some of the 18 service bays available at the Nanaimo facility

Congratulations to Brian and the team at Berks on their 45th anniversary!

www.meritor.com • 1.888.387.3889

MAY 2016

Grubac and Sabourin are especially proud of their company’s long standing relationship with Volvo Canada

Volvo Heavy Trucks are constantly being improved by their builders as new technologies come on stream

BERK’S INTERTRUCK

Intertruck is a Vancouver Island business success story. “While sticking to our core values of providing exceptional quality customer service, we are changing and moving forward with the times and the new technologies. We’ve grown with the Island over the past 45 years and continue to have a tremendous amount to offer our customers and new clients,” Sabourin said. For the future Berk’s Intertruck

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42

enjoyed a long and pleasant relationship with them. They’ve always done a great job for us. I’ve known the family for many years and it has been a pleasure to work with them. Berk’s Intertruck has always represented the brand very well and we look forward to continuing our excellent relationship for many more years to come,” explained Dave Alton, Dealer Development Director, Volvo Trucks Canada. “Vancouver Island can be a demanding market for trucks. Berk’s have always been able to demonstrate that clients will have made a good choice when they go with Volvo.” The Berk Intertruck style of business, its service-oriented approach to business is recognized and applauded by Volvo Canada. “Berk’s Intertruck embodies the core values of the Volvo brand day in and day out, every day of the year. Their comfortable, “connected”, approach to business is a testament to the close relationships they have had with their customers for many years. They have always been committed to

their customers and to the Volvo brand and we know that Volvo will be well represented on the island for many years to come,” said Greig Howlett, Regional Vice President, Volvo Truck Canada. Technological improvements have led to the development of trucks that are safer, easier to drive and more fuel efficient than ever. Volvo Heavy Trucks for example have seen fuel economies improving two to five per cent in the last twelve months, a trend that Intertruck says has been happening for the past five years. “If you take a truck that consumes $60,000 to $80,000 in fuel per year to operate and you reduce that by two to five percent that money goes back into the business. Multiply that by the number of vehicles they own and that can translate in to huge savings,” he said. A family-owned and operated business for more than four decades, Berk’s Intertruck has grown and evolved in pace with the industry and its Island home. Embracing technology, expanding as the needs of the customer and the marketplace demands and giving back to the communities on multiple levels, Berk’s

expects to see continued, reasoned growth. “We’re always looking at opportunity but it has to make business sense for us and the customer,” Grubac explained. “We’ll continue doing what we do and take advantage of opportunities that fit our skill set to help enhance and grow the business. At the end of the day it’s looking after the customer, the service aspect that will continue to make Berk’s successful.”

To learn more please visit the company website at: www.berksintertruck.com Note: The management and staff at Berk’s Intertruck cordially invite everyone to join them in celebrating 45 years of serving Vancouver Island. There will be an open house, BBQ and door prizes. Saturday June 4, 10:30 to 2:30 in Nanaimo and Duncan and Saturday June 11 in Port Alberni from 10:30 to 2:30.

CONGRATS TO BERKS INTERTRUCK FOR 45 YEARS OF DRIVING SUCCESS. When you partner with CDK Global, as Berks Intertruck has done for the last 31 years, your dealership can unleash its full potential — now and for the long haul. cdkglobal.com/truck 888.424.6342 | ds.telesales@cdk.com © 2016 CDK Global LLC | CDK Global is a registered trademark of CDK Global, LLC. 16-0185

Laird Wheaton BEST BUICK, GMC, CHEVY DEALER ON VANCOUVER ISLAND & YOUR CENTRAL ISLAND’S ONLY AUTHORIZED CADILLAC DEALER

Proud of our partnership with the team at Berks Intertruck! 2590 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC

250-758-2438 • TF: 1-800-810-7009 www.lairdwheaton.com

K-Line is a Proud Supporter of Berks Intertruck. Congratulations on 45 Years of Serving the Island’s Trucking Industry!

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.For Sale | $2,500,000

Information contained herein has been obtained from the owners or sources deemed reliable by NAI Commercial Central Vancouver Island Ltd. While we have no reason to doubt its accuracy, we regret we cannot guarantee such information. All measurements and other information herein should be independently verified by the reader or prospective user and is subject to the user’s own inspection of the premises and due diligence work and to the user’s satisfaction with the results of such review.

MAY 2016

COMPANY SERVES TECHNOLOGY NEEDS OF BUSINESS OnDeck Systems: Providing Technology Solutions For 23 Years

OURT ENAY – T he key philosophy of Courtenay’s OnDeck Systems is to make businesses run better with technology. “It’s that simple really,” explained company coowner Naomi Carmichael. “If I had to distill what we do to a simple sentence, it’s that we focus on taking care of your computers so you can focus on your business.” OnDeck’s own business has evolved along with the technology it sells and services. Founded as a retail store by father and son Don and Steve Carmichael in 1993, the company sold computers, boxed software, and provided repairs and support. This August the firm will celebrate its 23rd anniversary: a 23 year span that has seen many changes in the world of computers. “I joined the company in 1996; DOS (Disk Operating System) was still prevalent, Windows 95 was the OS to have, and most computers still used floppy disks. Now we don’t even have floppies. Instead we have thumb drives larger in capacity than the original hard drives,” Carmichael said. While OnDeck Systems continues to sell products as an authorized distributor for industry leaders such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard (HP), Lexmark and others, it no longer maintains a retail showroom. The 21st Century edition of the company now custom orders virtually any combination of hardware and software for its clients. OnDeck provides those procurement services for school districts, municipalities, colleges, and other large organizations too, but the backbone of the firm’s trade is providing whole office networked solutions for businesses. This includes everything from servers and networking equipment to printers and desktop PCs; for companies ranging

AFFILIATED MEMBER

Dr. John Wall relies on OnDeck’s ongoing support & management services

“Our clients appreciate that we’re always trying to help them get the best value for their small business dollar.” NAOMI CARMICHAEL CO-OWNER ONDECK SYSTEMS

from professional practices and retail stores, to medical clinics and dentists. “Helping select and provide the right equipment, and then installing, securing, and maintaining those networks and computers are what we do best,” Carmichael said. Such a claim is not without merit as OnDeck was recognized by respected industry publication Computer Dealer News as one of the top 100 solution providers in Canada in 2004. “And many of

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T. Dale Roberts Notary Public trusts OnDeck’s secure off-site backup plan

our clients have been with us for well over a decade, some even going back to almost day one,” adds Carmichael. “I think that more than anything speaks to the quality of what we do.” Despite OnDeck’s longevity (and perhaps a contributing factor to it), staff remains committed to ongoing education and certification. Says Carmichael, “It’s important we keep pace with the changes in technology. But we won’t jeopardize clients by pushing

the latest thing just because it’s bleeding-edge. We much prefer the tried and true, which is why partnerships with companies like HP are so important to us. Since 1996 we’ve been an authorized distributor and service provider for HP, and find their entire lineup represents excellent value and reliability: whether you’re looking for entry-level business laptops or top-of-the-line servers.” One of t he n iches On Deck Systems is especially strong in

is the dental / medical sector. Over time OnDeck’s success and reputation serving these practices has enabled them to become a go-to partner for these professionals. “When you’re at the dentist and looking up at pictures of your teeth on the monitor, we help make all that work,” Carmichael explained. Operating from their main offices in Courtenay, OnDeck Systems serves clients from Port McNeill in the north to Victoria in the south and over to Port Alberni in the west. While much of its ongoing support work is carried out remotely, the company still travels to set up networks, servers, and the infrastructure required for a modern business to succeed. “It’s just like a building: if you start with a solid foundation, you can build from there depending on your needs,” she said. For Ca r m ich ael sm a l l a nd medium sized businesses continue to be the company’s primary market. “They don’t have to be a large corporation, while our average client might have 15 computers or more, we also work well with the client who has one or two. And our clients appreciate that we’re always trying to help them get the best value for their small business dollar.” OnDeck was launched with the core belief that technology is supposed to make life easier, not more complex. It’s a philosophy maintained today. “Your focus is your business, doing what you do best – our focus is on your technology, making sure it helps you do business,” a sentiment Carmichael’s team has taken to heart. “Jargon like managed services, best practices, virtualization, failover and the like litters a lot of the communication IT companies have with businesses owners, but what does all that mean?” asks Carmichael. “For us, we try and keep the message simple and understandable and once you become part of the OnDeck family, we take care of you.” To learn more please visit the compa ny’s website at w w w. ondecksystems.ca

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MAY 2016

VANCOUVER ISLAND SCHOOL OFFERS UNIQUE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Academic excellence combined with nature with an emphasis on respect and kindness add up to a quality education

ANNY BAY — Beachcombers Academy was developed with a dream of what is possible in education; next year will be its 7th year of operation. President Zoe Lambert and Principal Wendy Preston take pleasure in seeing those dreams come to fruition. Based in Fanny Bay on Vancouver Island’s eastern shore, Beachcombers Academy & Little Oysters Preschool is dedicated to providing students with an outstanding experience: academically, culturally and environmentally. The program is second to none. It is nature inspired with quality academics and an emphasis on respect and kindness. Small class sizes, and highly qualified teachers, enable them to provide enriched programming for each child, Lambert, told Business Vancouver Island. Staff and students are celebrating the recent renovations to preschool classroom and playground areas, all made possible by a recent $219K funding grant and donations from businesses

Sailing, part of the curriculum and community organizations. “We a re very pleased w ith our new preschool facility and playground. It is truly beautiful with the ocean views from the remodelled playground, the stunning new stained glass window by Master Ted Goodden, and our lovely garden mosaic. It is an inspiring place for children to learn,” Preston commented. “Since Christmas the preschool students have had a Governor General Award winning poet visit, have gone on a field trip to the Deep Bay Marine Field Station, and visited the beach; we have an extraordinary preschool program,” Lambert added

“Children laughing, pointing out eagles, kids engaged, working hard and seeing their happiness – these are the things that bring us satisfaction.” ZOE LAMBERT PRESIDENT OF BEACHCOMBERS ACADEMY & LITTLE OYSTERS PRESCHOOL

From the school grounds students are able to watch oyster and clam fishers come and go and they often have a view of the annual herring fishery. These and other attractions demonstrate how the location immerses students in the local environment. “P ri ma ry students enjoy a strong emphasis on nature, including dedicated coastal studies and recreation. Coastal science, kayaking and sailing, make the program unique,” Lambert said. Students also participate in an annual beach clean-up as well as in regional track meets with other schools. While acknowledging that not every student is privileged to attend a school like theirs, she is quick to point out that the school offers subsidies for low income families.

Congratulations to Beachcombers Education Society for inspiring children and families to realize their potential!

Created for Beachcombers Academy

250-335-1150 tedgoodden@gmail.com www.tedgoodden.net

Students viewing the stained glass window Lambert is also happy to point out another advantage for students and staff. With an enrolment of 55 students, from preschool to Grade 7, the school maintains a maximum class size of 16 students; current enrolment is from 12 to 14 students per class. There are 11 employees, including teachers and administrative staff. Small class sizes mean teachers a re able to have genu ine engagement with students, creating a positive environment and reducing time spent on class management. Each staff member is there because they are passionate about what they do and have a variety of life experience and skills as well as being

academically qualified. Teachers aren’t the only passionate participants, though. When asked what brings her the most satisfaction, Lambert explained, “It’s about seeing kids who are excited to go to school and comments such as ‘I’m so glad to be back in school’, ‘I don’t want to go on spring break, I’d rather stay in school’. Children laughing, pointing out eagles, kids engaged, working hard and seeing their happiness – these are the things that bring us satisfaction.” For more information regarding the schools or income assistance subsidy program, visit www. B e a c h c o m b e rs S c h o ol .c a o r call 778-427-4007

Proud to be a Supporter of Beachcombers Academy & Little Oysters Preschool!

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MAY 2016

TREE SERVICE OPERATES AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE INDUSTRY Above & Beyond Tree Service Works Across Comox Valley & Campbell River

OU RT E N AY – I n j u s t over a decade Above and Beyond Tree Service has grown from a team of two with a single vehicle to one of Vancouver Island’s largest and most successful tree removal companies. “We trim trees, do view enhancements, climb trees, you name it, if it’s related to tree removal we do it,” explained Chad Lewis company founder and president. Operating out of 6346 Bishop Road in Courtenay, Above and Beyond Tree Service offers a full range of services for clients throughout the Comox Valley and Campbell River areas. A partial list of the work carried out by the company and its crew of 11 include chipping services, stump grinding, mulching, blackberry and broom clearing, land clearing, tree topping and many others. “We have a variety of equipment at our disposal so we can handle just about any job,” he explained. “We have half a dozen chippers, four chip trucks, two bucket trucks, multiple stump grinders and more. If it involves trees, we have the equipment

One of Above and Beyond’s numerous bucket trucks is the ideal tool for hard to reach higher branches

“If it involves trees, we have the equipment and the crew to handle just about anything.” CHAD LEWIS OWNER, ABOVE & BEYOND TREE SERVICE

and the crew to handle just about anything.” For Lew is launching a tree removal and chipping service seemed like a natural business decision. An ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified Arborist, Certified Tree Risk Assessor and Wildlife Danger

Tree Assessor, Lewis had worked extensively in the forest industry before launching his business. “I had been logging in the bush for a long time but that dried up so I went to Fort McMurray for a couple of years where I was able to save some money that I used to buy my first truck and chipper,” he outlined. Over the years Above and Beyond has worked for a regional ‘who’s who’ of clients ranging from the City of Courtenay, Town of Comox, City of Campb e l l R i v e r, C o m o x Va l l e y Regional District, Strathcona Regional District, Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Environment and many others. “We’ve also worked for many of the big contractors such as Leighton Contracting, JR Edgett

Excavating, Knappett Industries, Graham Construction as well as major property management companies to look after the maintenance at condo complexes,” he said. A b o v e a n d B e y o n d’s t r u e strength rests with its trained and experienced staff. The company employs three other ISA Certified Arborists. Shay Pendelton, Chris Moore and Chris Gibbons are fully certified while Harrison Vidler is an ISA Certified Arborist trainee. Certified Arborists require years of practical experience plus having successfully passed the ISA exam which covers everything

from tree biology to on site safety practices. With more than a decade of experience, operating a fleet of custom equipment, and having a team of highly trained and experienced workers Lewis looks forward to what the future offers. “I guess our future direction will be directly guided by customer demand. As our client base grows we add new equipment and crew as the one thing we don’t want is to have the client waiting for us. If the job is there we want to go for it.” To learn more please visit the compa ny website at: w w w. aboveandbeyondtreeservice.ca

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MAY 2016

NEW HOSPITAL TO BE THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT IN THE PROVINCE

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wo new hospitals currently under construction in Campbell River and the Comox Valley set new standards in energy usage and carbon emission reductions and exemplify how Island Health can reduce the carbon footprint in the construction of new facilities. The new Campbell River and Comox Valley hospitals are designed to be the most energy efficient in the Province and will be among the most efficient hospitals in the world. The hospitals will use roughly half the energy of the existing hospitals per square metre. In addition, green-house gas (GHG) emissions will be 73 per cent lower. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction

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Targets Act calls for an 80 per cent reduction from 2007 levels by 2050. The new hospitals serve as a model for other hospitals to meet and beat. This performance is a direct result of Island Health’s energy management team setting tough energy and GHG emissions targets, as well as the Province’s commitment in 2007 that all new public sector buildings are to be built to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification. The most significant design feature for both hospitals that results in substantially lowered GHG emissions is the heating pla nts. Most of the therma l energy that is needed to keep the buildings warm and produce hot water comes from each building’s own exhaust air. The technology is the same as what many homeowners use; a heat pump, except in this case the

heat pumps will extract energy from the building exhaust so the systems can run at full capacity no matter how cold it gets outside. Gas-fired condensing boilers provide top-up energy when the heat pumps can’t quite deliver enough heat. Island Health’s $606.2 million North Island Hospitals Project includes a new $331.7 million, 153-bed Comox Valley Hospital in Courtenay on Lerwick Road near Ryan Road, and a new $274.5 million, 95-bed Campbell River Hospital on the existing hospital site at 375 – 2nd Avenue. Both hospitals are scheduled to open by late 2017. Construction of the new hospitals in the Comox Valley and Campbell River reached an important milestone in early April. After months of heavy lifting, the North Island Hospitals Project’s big tower cranes have been disassembled and removed from both construction sites. For more information, contact: Island Health Communications Email: dan.maclennan@viha. ca or view website: nihp.viha.ca

pri l at the Comox Valley Chamber of Com m erc e s a w a new Board for 2016/2017 w i t h a B o a rd E l e c t i o n Luncheon and a well-attended AGM. The Chamber AGM keynote speaker, Dan Bowen, informed the crowd on the many restoration projects that Project Watershed completed recently and future plans for the K’omoks estuary. It was a fascinating talk and shed new light on how this ecosystem effects the Comox Valley economy. ■■■ In May the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Lunch & Launch Series. Offered to Chamber Members (and non-members) these quick business

development workshops let you dive into subjects on your lunch break and launch your business to the next level. Series subjects include strategic planning for small business, social media simplified, women in business, non-profits, positive leadership, incorporating your business, creating more time and space, and branding/web design. Join the Chamber and our facilitators each Wednesday starting May 4 from 12 to 1 PM at the Courtenay & District Museum located at 207 4th Street. Member pricing is a reasonable $20/workshop. The Chamber hopes to see you at one or all of these amazingly valuable workshops. The facilitators of the Lunch & Launch series are experts in their chosen field. ■■■ T he Cha mber has two a f ter busi ness m i xers planned for May: The first at Septen Financial on May 10 and the second at Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park on May 31. The Chamber is working hard to provide a variety

of events and business development opportunities for Comox Valley Chamber members always with the Chamber vision in mind: Community and business leadersh ip th roug h excellence, innovation, and sustainability. ■■■ T h e C o m o x Va l l e y Chamber welcomed these w ide-ra ng i ng dy na m ic businesses to the Chamber in April: Budget Blinds, Grannies on the Go Senior Services, Integrated Carpentry Tutorials, Takes the Cake, ComTec Fire & Safety Corporation, Wags Doggy Bags, Island Office Equipment Ltd., Amanda Jay, Rainforest Outdoor Living, Complete Forms, Signature Oil & Vinegar, Tupperware, Canadian Home Builders’ Association Vancouver Island, and Lucy Boutilier Jewels. Dianne Hawkins is president and CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. Reach her at dhawkins@ comoxvalleychamber.com or 250-334-3234. www.comoxvalleychamber.com

WHO IS SUING WHOM

MAY 2016

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 1639555 Alberta Ltd 7-4180 Island Hwy North, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Satgur Development Inc CLAIM $ 10,019 DEFENDANT Action Tank Service Po Box 605, Parksville, BC PLAINTIFF Hall, Margaret H CLAIM $ 25,216 DEFENDANT All Span Engineering and Construction Ltd 220-7565 132nd St, Surrey, BC PLAINTIFF Capital Regional District CLAIM $ 1,500,000 DEFENDANT Aqua Irrigation Systems Inc 104-9717 3rd St, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Yellow Pages Digital & Media

Solutions Limited CLAIM $ 5,443 DEFENDANT Castle Flooring & Fixtures Ltd 1163 Franklins Gull Rd, Parksville, BC PLAINTIFF Mugford, Jacqueline CLAIM $ 9,880 DEFENDANT CWF Global Services Ltd 12774 Ivey Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Alpine Insulation Ltd CLAIM $ 19,918 DEFENDANT Four Flower Enterprises Ltd 1847 Fairburn Dr, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Slegg Building Materials Ltd CLAIM $ 36,966 DEFENDANT Geopacific Consultants Ltd 1450-13401 108th Ave, Surrey, BC PLAINTIFF Capital Regional District CLAIM $ 1,500,000 DEFENDANT Greyback Logging Ltd 7-4180 Island Hwy, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF 0895097 BC Ltd

Tilray - Concrete Prep & Polishing

CLAIM $ 25,216

$ 19,694 DEFENDANT Lisa Lynn Holdings Inc 505 5th St, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF G Farwell Electrical Contractors Ltd CLAIM $ 39,843

DEFENDANT Kitchen Renew and More 2390 Rix Rd, Nanoose Bay, BC Henneberry, Eileen CLAIM $ 12,416 DEFENDANT Happy Island Diaper Service Ltd 3-4488 Wellington Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Monette, Richard CLAIM $ 42,000

DEFENDANT Ramsay Painting Ltd 475 Dupplin Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Dunic, Kevin Robert CLAIM $ 9,052

DEFENDANT Harrison Logging Ltd 7-4180 Island Hwy, Nanaimo, Parksville, BC PLAINTIFF 0895097 BC Ltd CLAIM $ 25,216 DEFENDANT Horsman Trucking Ltd 201-1180 Stewart Rd, Gibsons, BC PLAINTIFF Coastal Mountain Fuels CLAIM $ 38,288 DEFENDANT Kenkar Enterprises Ltd 202-1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Wojtylo, Elzbieta CLAIM

Custom and commercial tile work

DEFENDANT Outpost Bike Company 3202a Happy Valley Rd, Victoria, PLAINTIFF Ohm Cycles Ltd CLAIM $ 7,702

DEFENDANT Raven Excavating Ltd 4th Flr 888 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Hodgkinson, Michael Richard CLAIM $ 299,821 DEFENDANT Replay Sports 151b Dogwood St, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF Butch Carroll Trucking Ltd CLAIM $ 27,302

49 DEFENDANT Shaw Plumbing Services 1530 Jasper Pl, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Limited CLAIM $ 10,468 DEFENDANT Twenty Ten Developments Ltd 225 Vancouver Ave, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Inlet Navigation (1985) Ltd CLAIM $ 72,675 DEFENDANT Vanderleek Roofing Inc 1490 Townsite Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Limited CLAIM $ 13,724 DEFENDANT Vanisle Marina Co Ltd 800-1070 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Bradbury, Richard CLAIM $ 6,364 DEFENDANT Vintage Roofing Ltd 744 Cordova Bay Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Cady, Cindy Marie CLAIM $ 25,216

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS

MAY 2016

NORTH ISLAND Hardy Builders Supply was named Best Business of the Year by the Port Hardy & District Chamber of Commerce. Other award winners included Sporty Bar and Grill for Best Food, Keltic Seafoods for Best Workplace Award, Monk Office for Best Customer Service, North of 49 Outfitters as New Business of the Year, and Coastal Soul Healing for Best Home Based Business. Port McNeill general practitioner Dr. Granger Avery will become President of the Canadian Medical Association in August, after serving this year as president-elect. The Port McNeill & District Chamber of Commerce unveiled its new board of directors: President Gaby Wickstrom, Treasurer Annie LeBlanc, Vice President Damaris Sadler, secretary Jesssica McLaughlin and directors Lynn Iskra, Doug Brown, Michelle Alred and Shelley Frost, Chris Stewart, Chris Sharpe ad Mayor Shirley Ackland. Ace Hardware has moved to its new, larger location at 8775 Granville Street, next to the Bargain Shop in Port Hardy, notes owner/operator Terry Smyth. Marine Harvest Canada will soon be moving a new $2 million accommodation and fish feed storage barge to one of its salmon farms near Port Hardy.

CAMPBELL RIVER Congratulations to Steve Marshall Ford upon receiving the 2016 Diamond President’s Award, the highest dealership honour from Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd. Audia Chiropractic is now open, with offices at 850G 12th Avenue in Campbell River and 318A Duncan Avenue in Courtenay. Parminder and Sukhjinder Bains officially opened their Big Rock Liquor Store at 1054 South Island Highway. Gourmet Essentials at 1044 Shoppers Row celebrated their 25th anniversary in business recently. Downtown Campbell River BIA announced its leadership team. Lisa Whitmore of Signature Oil & Vinegar and Heather Gordon Murphy of RainCoast Creative Performing Arts are co-chairs; Stevie Turley of La Tee Da Lingerie Boutique and Gourmet Essentials is vice-chair; Jan Wade is

secretary/event coordinators, and directors are John Wheat of Photo Tech Fotosource, Dan Samson of RE/MAX Check Realty, Ben Lanyon of Roset Lanyon CPAs, Iona Wharton of French Creek Collective and Inge Kettler of The Needle & Arts Centre. The city of Campbell River has honoured six new community builders for their community contributions: Max Chickite, Mike Gage, Bill Henderson, Jim Lilburn, Kris Mailman and Morgan Ostler. Campbell River council awarded RFP 16-06 for the Downtown Development Readiness Design Concept to MVH Urban Planning & Design. The city is considering the possibility of introducing a hotel tax for Campbell River. Congratulations to Marine Harvest Canada and Cermaq Canada for being recognized with Safety Pinnacle Awards from the Occupational Safety Standard of Excellence awards, given to employers who have adopted the best safety practices in their industry. Rick Thompson has opened Peak Window Cleaning in Campbell River. $2 million in renovations are underway at the Coast Discovery Inn. Realtor Roy Grant and accountant Derek Lamb have been reappointed to the North Island College Board of Governors. Dick’s Fish & Chips is now open in its new location at 660 Island Highway, across from Discovery Fishing Pier. Ashley Stawski has joined the sales team at RE/MAX Check Realty. Sherwin-Williams held the grand opening of its new paint and interior decorating outlet at 1404 Island Highway.

Canadian Tire store, which has now closed. Owner/operator Stuart Aldred is very pleased with the grand opening of the Cliffe Avenue McDonald’s restaurant, which features a new self-serve kiosk. He owns all four McDonald’s in the Comox Valley. The Abbotsford-based Tsang family has purchased a half acre lot facing Comox harbour from Harbour Centre

w o d n i W ics h p a r G

Island North in Communications and Marketing. She takes over from Karen Bezaire, who moves over to a role in Family Service and Care. Woodland Flooring will be featured on the Love It or List It Vacation Homes program on the W Network in May, notes Steve Roscoe, owner and founder of the company that manufactures custom flooring from sustainably harvested B.C. woods. Mike McPhee is the new owner of Fluid’s in Courtenay.

SEE MOVER’S AND SHAKERS | PAGE 52

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COMOX VALLEY Canadian Tire held the Grand Opening of its new location in Driftwood Mall, in the former Target store space. Owner Bert Heeringa notes that at 65,000 square feet, the new location is over twice the size of the Ryan Road

Management Inc. and plans to build a 14 unit residential development there. RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty welcomes Karol Power and Bonnie Sentes to their sales team. Courtenay council has voted 4-2 to allow food trucks to operate in the city. The Comox Valley Regional District has lost its appeal of a B.C. Supreme Court ruling concerning a development near Stotan Falls by 3L Developments of Nanaimo, which plans to build a residential subdivision there. Glenice Neal has been named Salesperson of the Month at Finneron Hyundai., while Anna Anderson captured the same honours at Courtenay KIA. Westview Ford welcomes Lorne Dakin back to the dealership’s sales team. Cady Corman has joined the team at Habitat for Humanity Vancouver

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MOVER’S AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 51

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Congratulations to Tom Harris on his latest venture: Guy Garages, tabbed as “the ultimate storage solution for car, boat and RV enthusiasts. The strata complex will have 41 units in 7 buildings at 925 Fairdowne Road in Parksville. Tom’s partner in the venture is Ron Chiovetti, who also owns Isle Golf Cars next door. www.guygarages.ca Vic Andrushko of Fix Auto has moved his location to 531 Stanford Avenue in Parksville, located in Stanford Place. Vic and his staff invite everyone to their Grand Re-opening June 25. A tip of the mask to Perry Elderbroom, who marked the 30th anniversary of his starting Gold In The Net, now an internationally renowned hockey goalie school that has helped send 12 goalies to the National Hockey League. Sam and Isaac Stevens purchased the flagship B.C. franchise from Elderbroom last year. Bill McKinney is the new president of the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce. Sandy Herle of Close To You is now the Chair of the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association, which held its grand opening recently. Arthur Wong of the Beach Club Resort is Vice Chair. Barksville Grooming held the grand opening of its outlet at B-491 East Island Highway in Parksville. Brian and Julie Zimmer are the new owners of Miles D Automotive at A-1002 Herring Gull Way in Parksville. Macdonald Realty recently announced its 2015 MLS and Macdonald Realty Award winners: Amy Hadikin, Don Ballard, Cathy Levell and Dave Levell. Jennifer Bate is now the Executive Director of the McMillan Arts Centre. Daryl McLane has retired after serving Parksville for 30 years as a notary public. Tony MacAulay will continue their McLane & MacAulay Notaries Public business at 1-141 Memorial Avenue. Congratulations to Ken-Dor Garden Centre upon marking 30 years in business. Qualicum Beach Beauty Bar held its Grand Opening recently at 744A Memorial Avenue in Qualicum Beach.

PORT ALBERNI Mahoe Properties was named winners of the Business Investment Award at the

Ron Chiovetti, left, and Tom Harris inside the new Guy Garages strata complex at 925 Fairdowne Road in Parksville recent Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce Community Excellence Awards. Mark and Danielle Marley received the trophy. Desja Walker of Haven Living received the Green Award. Lady Rose Marine Services owner Mike Surrell has bought the MV Tenaka ferry from BC Ferries and is exploring his options regarding future use, as work has begun on expanding the Port Alberni facility at Harbour Quay. Built in 1964, the Tenaka was formerly known as the Comox Queen. A tip of the hat to Aaron Vissia of AV Financial for receiving the Retirement and Savings Top Advisor in B.C. award for London Life Freedom 55. Alter Ego Studio and Cosmetology Institute is now in new premises at 4445 Gertrude Street. Canal Café has opened next door to Capelli Hair Salon and Gifts at Victoria Quay. Formerly Bear Watch Bistro, its now owned by Capelli owner Rose DiRocco, and Dale Horvath will be doing the serving at the café. Gord Groves is the new store manager of the Beaver Creek Home Centre. Congratulations to Dievert’s Roofing for marking 10 years of business in the Alberni Valley. Marvin Dievert owns the company. Paul Saroya has received a development permit from council for a lot beside Artemis Books at 3033 Third Avenue where he proposes to build a five-storey mixed-use residential and commercial building. Colin Evans of Complete Contracting has started turning 3.2 acres at 4905 Cherry Creek Road behind Alberni Mall into a light industrial mall. Bowerman Excavating has earned a $4.16 million contract from the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District for the

expansion of Alberni Valley Regional Airport. A tip of the hat to Pot Luck Ceramics for donating $30,000 to the Ty Watson House hospice, notes hospice manager Chris Mellin.

TOFINOUCLUELET Crystal Cove Resort won the Business award at the 2016 Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Other award winners were: Tofino Brewing Co. for Customer Service Excellence, Ocean Outfitters for Small Business, Epic Pharmacy for New Business, and Mike Jacobsen of Shelter Restaurant for Business Leader of the Year. Ucluelet council has given the first two readings to rezone the former St. Aidan’s on the Hill church site at 1601 Peninsula Road, so developer Leif Hagar can build a building where Dennis Morgan could open a new microbrewery. Sally Mole has left her position as Executive Director of the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce. Bronwyn Lawton has joined the sales team at RE/MAX MidIsland Realty in Ucluelet. Congratulations to Mermaid Tales Bookstore in Tofino on celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Tofino has entered into a contract with Robbins Parking of Victoria as user-pay parking is coming back to Tofino. Salish Spoon is the name of a new food truck that is set to open in Tofino. Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation has put $100,000 towards the building of a new multiplex by the West Coast Multiplex Society. A 2008 study called for SEE MOVER’S AND SHAKERS | PAGE 53

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

MAY 2016

MOVER’S AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52

a $24 million skating rink/swimming pool, but the Society is looking at a first phase with a $6 million skating rink.

NANAIMO Ophthalmologist Dr. Martin Spencer has received a Governor General’s Award for his volunteer efforts oversees through Seva Canada. Warren Campbell has marked 15 years working for Woodgrove Chrysler. Kevin O’Byrne and Heather Hnatiuk have been there now for five years each. The former location of Save-On Foods in the Terminal Park Shopping Centre will have a new tenant, as Urban Fair will take up residence in the space. Renovations are underway. Harlan Richards has joined the sales team at Royal LePage Nanaimo Realty. Congratulations to Alair Homes for winning a Canadian Homebuilders’’ Association of B.C. Georgie Award for a custom home they built on Maxey Road at Chateau Wolff Estate. Bruce Williams of Coast Industrial Machining has started to build his new shop.

I.T. Trailers is opening a location in the Duke Point Industrial Park. Habitat for Humanity has a new Executive Director: Rob Kallum. Harbour City Plumbing has moved their office from Peterson Place to McCullough Road. Dr. John Yim, a naturopath, is moving into new premises on Bowen Road this summer. The Marine Store at Stone’s Marina Boatyard is now open in the former Skipper’s location on Stewart Avenue. Rhythm Dance Academy has opened at 2207 Blue Jay Way. Oceanvale Mortgage and Finance is opening at 157-4750 Rutherford Road. Cobs Bread is about to get new neighbours the former United Furniture building on Metral Drive that has been transformed into Pleasant Valley Landing, as a new Italian market is on its way. Brad Ross has opened Harbour City Renovations & Decks Ltd. at 430 Larch Street. Mitchell Gorgichuk is opening a new Next Level Audio store at 1951 Wilfert Road, which focuses on installing audio systems in vehicles. CeAnesse Kitchens & Millwork _ Interior Design is expanding into Nanaimo with a showroom on Mostar Road.

The Slegg Lumber location in Lantzville will be reopening as Lantzville Building Material Liquidators. Pizza Hut has moved on Hammond Bay, to a site across the parking lot from Serious Coffee. Collin Skelley has opened MVP Modern Barbers, a franchise outlet, in Longwood Station. The Foam Guy is now located in the mall by Staples and Pennington’s near Woodgrove Centre. Eric Kirshner, formerly with Schnitzer Steel, is now in business development for ABC Recycling on Jackson Road at Duke Point. The Pop Up Social is a new boutique houseware store that has set up next to the Satorial Boutique clothing store on Fitzwilliam Street. Cindy Pollard and Kevin East have joined the sales team at Tourism Vancouver Island.

New businesses in Ladysmith: Paradise Island Fire Protection at 10606 Farrell Road, Legal Painters & Decorators at 4941 Coventry Lane, Tyler Buck is offering fitness coaching through Iron Lion Athletics at 910-4th Avenue, and Ivanna Law has opened a floral shop, Yellow Point Blooms, at 4756 Yellow Point Road. Riot Brewing is opening in Chemainus. Congratulations to Pat Irwin of Mt. Brenton Golf Course for being honoured as Golf Canada’s Volunteer of the Year award winner. The Chemainus and District Chamber of Commerce held their annual Golden Brush Awards recently. Winners included Beyond the Usual as Business Booster, Hansel & Gretel Candy Co. as Attractive Business, Bound to be Different and The Art of Secondhand & Beloved Stained Glass for Beautiful

53 Streetscape, and 49th Parallel Grocery for Senior Supporter. Country Kitchen restaurant is now open in Cassidy.

COWICHAN VALLEY Greg Cox is the new Chef at Honeymoon Bay Lodge and Retreat. Sunfest owner Greg Adams provided a sold-out Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce crowd with an update on this summer’s Country Music Festival extravaganza that will feature Carrie Underwood. Adams says development of the 175 acre site is almost 50 per cent complete. PowerHouse Raw Food and Juice Bar is planning to open their fourth location in Duncan this summer.

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OPINION

MAY 2016 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

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald, lise@businessexaminer.ca SALES | Shawn Bishop – shawn@businessexaminer.ca, Josh Higgins – josh@businessexaminer.ca, Joanne Iormetti – joanne@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Julia MacDonald, John MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim, David Holmes, Linda Wenger WEBSITE | John MacDonald – john@businessexaminer.ca

BUYING LOCAL IS REINVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY

MARK MACDONALD

or those interested in building and strengthening their own community, there’s nothing better than using this simple philosophy: Buy local. There are many great reasons why buying good and services from locally owned companies provides manifold benefits. Not only does it provide local jobs, and with those jobs money from which employees can purchase goods and services as they choose, but it also helps other businesses grow deeper roots in the community. Depending on the survey, buying goods and services locally results in a multiplier of two to three times. Translation: Every $100 spent locally generates between $200 and $300 of local economic activity. According to the American

Independent Business Alliance, there are three ways locally spent money multiplies: Directly, what a business invests in terms of inventory, premises and staff wages; Indirectly, as that company spends for goods and services at other local companies; and Induced, when owners and employees spend their own income locally. Hats off to movements like “T h i n k L oca l Fi rst”, a Victoria-based grassroots organization aimed at educating the masses about the many benefits of buying from locally owned companies. Close to 200 businesses have linked under the umbrella with the purpose to practice what they preach: Buy locally whenever possible as they communicate the message to the community about doing the same. We should also note that buying local doesn’t automatically mean “mom and pop” businesses. It can definitely include some chains and franchises. Just because a store has a national brand name on its door doesn’t mean the profits are automatically siphoned off to head offices abroad. The people owning successful franchises are often some of the more generous in terms of community contributors through

sponsorship and gift certificates. It doesn’t take long, once you enter a store, to determine if a business is locally owned and operated - or not. T y pica lly, hands-on owners and their staff are friendlier and quicker to respond to customers milling around the store, reaching out, and asking helpful questions to assist purchasers. Product knowledge is often a decided advantage at local businesses, particularly where there are long-term employees. In order to have that longevity with staff, the business has to be profitable over the long-term, and be capable of paying family-sustainable wages that allow workers to stay where they are and not need to search for greener pastures. Staff members who have tenure are most likely to know that of which they speak, which is attractive to buyers. The saying “In the absence of value, price becomes an issue”, means that the more a prospective purchaser is convinced of a product or service’s value, the more likely they are to feel comfortable about making a purchase, even if it costs more. The personal touch and expert insight is always appreciated, but ma ke no m ista ke: L oca l

businesses must remain cost competitive. It’s not enough to simply tell people they should buy from t hei r nei g h b ou rs dow n t he street. Those customers also have household budgets they must stay within. And that becomes a problem when smaller, local businesses offer the same retail products as multinational, big-box and/or chain stores. Multinationals have a distinct buying advantage just because of sheer volume. They are successful because they sell a lot of product at lower margins, which make it difficult for smaller operations to match. Often, the “price” to pay for that is low wages, training and expertise. They can’t really have it both ways, really, as the marketplace ultimately decides. A business can go high volume at low margins of profitability, but with that, it’s hard if not impossible to have a highly paid and trained staff. Therein lies the challenge for small businesses: Be in the ballpark with pricing, and still beat the big boxers with stellar service and insight. Yes, an advantage the knowledge that it is local businesses who are usually the first to be asked for donations for sports

team sponsorship and contributions for innumerable causes, and come through. What that should generate is goodwill in the community, as those benefiting from the generosity of the business owners respond by frequenting that business and buying something. Buy local should extend to local government. I’ve advocated for “buy local” policies for cities and towns, whose revenue is derived almost solely from local taxpayers. The entire community benefits when a city buys from their taxpaying companies, which keeps the money in town. Having a “buy local” policy shouldn’t prohibit out-of-town businesses from bidding on provision of goods and services, and it cannot mean that the city is forced to pay a premium and taxpayers foot the bill, when better deals can be found elsewhere. Nevertheless, there should be some acknowledgement of what local companies contribute overall through their payrolls and purchases, as well as the multiplier effect that comes into play when money is spent locally. It’s in everyone’s best interest to buy local, whenever possible, for a number of good reasons. And, of course, this: What goes around comes around.

Vancouver and Victoria, the two BC cities reviewed, still allow banking. T he BC government, along with the governments of Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia do not allow banking sick days while other provincial governments and the federal government do. The City of Victoria allows for the banking of up to 130 sick days. Only employees in grandfathered plans can take a cash payout for u nused sick days when they leave government. Many other municipalities have reformed these policies and no longer allow for cash payouts except for grandfathered plans. From a taxpayer perspective, Vancouver is one of the worst municipalities reviewed in the report. It allows for 261 days of banked sick days (employees of the City are entitled to 20 sick days a year). In addition, the City gives employees something it calls “gratuity days.” Each year employees are credited with three gratuity days, which can be banked to a maximum of 120. These days can

be taken as time or as a cash payout. A Treasury Board report and a Macdonald Laurier Institute report show that public sector employees take more sick days than private sector employees. Is it any wonder this happens when incentives such as banking them and cash payouts encourage employees to see sick time as extra vacation? Va n c o u v e r, V i c t o r i a a n d other BC municipalities with these pol icies shou ld fol low Toronto’s le ad a nd el i m i nate ba n ked sick day pol icies and replace them with shortterm d isabi l ity pla ns for a l l new employees. It’s a direction that other governments h ave been mov i ng towa rds, albeit not nearly fast enough for those that foot the bill.

IT’S TIME TO REFORM MUNICIPAL SICK DAY POLICIES

LAURA JONES

unicipal governments have a problem, albeit one they don’t wa nt to ta l k about. Over the past decade they have routinely increased operating spending beyond population and inflation growth. To fuel the overspending councils have overtaxed. Property taxes, in particular, have put a heav y bu rden on small business owners who already pay far more in taxes than the services they consume. With this context in mind, responsible municipal councils should be looking at reasonable measures to control spending.

As many municipal agreements in the province are being renegotiated right now, here’s one that should be looked at: reform municipal sick day policies. In a new report, The Cost of Banking Sick Days in the Public Sector, Queenie Wong, an Economist with the Canadian Fe d e rat i o n of I n d e p e n d e nt Business, looks at government sick day policies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels and finds some costly practices that are wildly out of step with common sense. For example, if one assumes that a “sick day” should be used for actual sickness, then why should sick days be bankable? Many private sector companies don’t allow banking of vacation days let alone sick days. Only three per cent of private sector plans allow employees to bank sick days compared to 28 per cent of government plans. Even more puzzling than banking is the policy of allowing for cash payouts of u nused sick days when someone leaves the public service.

The City of Victoria allows for the banking of up to 130 sick days

In some cases, governments may be using sick day policies to work as insurance for employees against a short term disability. A far better approach would be to implement a shortterm disability plan. Employees should be able to take time off when they are sick, but current government policies are creating the incentive to confuse sick days with a vacation entitlement. Of the 16 municipalities across Canada the report looked at, six do not allow for banking of sick days including, Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto, which changed its policy in 2008. Both

Laura Jones is Executive Vice President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She can be reached at laura.jones@cfib.ca. Follow her on Twitter @CFIBideas.

SUBCRIPTIONS | $45 PER YEAR (12 ISSUES), $80 FOR 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES), SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA. DISTRIBUTION: SECOND WEEK OF EACH MONTH VIA CANADA POST AD MAIL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Produced and published in British Columbia. All contents copyright Business Examiner Vancouver Island, 2016. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

LAW

MAY 2016

THE COPYRIGHT ACT AND PAYWALLS LAW

Less well known is a

relatively new aspect

ompanies or individuals who wish to bypass paywalls should be aware that a Canadian court recently held an association liable for copyright infringement because it requested and obtained a paywall-protected news article from third party with a subscription to the news site. The articles, images, and audio and video files found on the Internet are all works subject to copyright, meaning that some entity (e.g., an individual or company) owns copyright and thus has “the sole right to produce or reproduce the work or any substantial part thereof in any material form whatever.” It is an illegal infringement of copyright to do what the copyright owner has the sole right to do, without the owner’s permission. These aspects of copyright law are widely understood (though often ignored, e.g., music file sharing).

of Canada’s copyright law relating to technical protection measures Less well known is a relatively new aspect of Canada’s copyright law relating to technical protection measures. Under our Copyright Act: a technical protection measure is defined as any effective technology that in the ordinary course of its operation controls access to a work subject to copyright; and it is illegal to circumvent a technical protection measure. A paywall is a system that prevents Internet users from accessing webpage content without a paid subscription. For example, some general readership newspapers have implemented paywalls on their websites to increase their revenue, which has been diminishing due to a decline in print subscriptions and advertising revenue.

The recent court decision, Blacklock’s Reporter v Canadian Vintners Association, dealt with a dispute between a subscription-based paywall-protected electronic daily news service providing detailed information about the Government and courts in Ottawa (Blacklock’s), and an industry association (Canadian Vintners) that did not have a subscription but had requested and obtained a copy of an article relating to the association from a person with a subscription. Blacklock’s usually charged $157 for a single-use subscription and $11,470 for an institutional membership. When Blacklock’s became aware that two individuals at Canadian Vintners had accessed the article, Blacklock’s billed Canadian Vintners for two single-use subscriptions ($314) and requested the name of the person who had provided the copy (who was in breach of the terms and conditions of their subscription). Canadian Vintners refused to pay or to provide the person’s name, and the dispute led to a lawsuit. The Ontario Superior Court Small Claims Judge held that the paywall constituted a technical

protection measure, and held that requesting and obtaining a copy of a paywall-protected article from someone with a subscription, constituted the illegal act of circumventing the technical protection measure. As the copy of the article was obtained illegally, the exceptions to copyright infringement (e.g., “fair dealing for the purpose of research, private study, education,... ”) that may apply in some situations, were not available to Canadian Vintners. T hu s, a lt hou g h Ca n a d i a n Vintners had not itself made the

infringing copy, it was found liable for copyright infringement based on the circumvention of the technical protection measure. Further, the Judge awarded Blacklock’s damages based on the institutional membership ($11,470) plus $2,000 in punitive damages for Canadian Vintners highhanded behaviour (which included refusing to give the name of the person who provided the copy of the article, until ordered to do so by the Court).

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