NOVEMBER 2015
» ENGINEERING
–PAGE 14
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DUNCAN
Nation Building: Ongoing Challenge For The Ucluelet First Nation
Leaders of the Ucluelet First Nation have worked for the last five years to help turn the Nation from a reserve into a self-sufficient national entity
Duncan Iron Works enjoys a strong history in the Cowichan Valley
BY DAVID HOLMES
U
Moves and Shakers 43
CLUELET - Nation-building is defined as: constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state (Wikipedia) – but for the Ucluelet First Nation (UFN) it’s not a theoretical exercise or a historical footnote – it’s a part of the Nation’s everyday life. “We are nation building, there’s no question about it. We’re learning how and where we have to go, we have lots of professional people within the organization and outside of it that help us with that on a daily basis but absolutely that’s what it is – nation-building,” explained the Nation’s recently elected President Les Dorion. “We are headed in the direction of becoming a self-sustainable Nation and a self-governed Nation it’s a very exciting time. But it’s not without its challenges. The election was in May for
Opinion
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SEE UCLUELET | PAGE 37
Law
47
PAGE 18
INDEX News Update
2
Comox Valley
5
Nanaimo
10
Cowichan Valley
13
Parksville
25
Comox Valley
29
Campbell River
31
Port Alberni
38
Who is Suing Whom 42
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ANAIMO - Graphic Office Interiors Ltd. is on and even ahead of the cutting edge when it comes to office interiors, technology and commercial flooring. Graphic Office Interiors has
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Products include height adjustable tables and desks, modular moveable walls, collaborative technologies, and ergonomic chairs. This past summer the Victoria office, located in Saanichton, moved into its new 32,000 sq. ft. building with 10,000 sq. ft.
of leading edge showroom space. Graphic Office Interiors has built its reputation as the Vancouver Island exclusive dealer of Steelcase, the largest designer and builder of office furniture in the world. SEE GRAPHIC OFFICE INTERIORS | PAGE 17
NEWS UPDATE
2 QUALICUM BEACH Award recognizes Horne Lake Caves
AGS
Parksville Qualicum Beach News The Horne Lake Caves are earning wide recognition as a unique tourism destination. The Horne Lake Cave Provincial Park and Outdoor Centre recently received Destination BC’s first-ever Remarkable Experiences Award in front of more than 400 of the province’s tourism leaders at a Vancouver Convention Centre gala. It recognizes a business that delivers a consistently exceptional visitor experience that exceeded expectations and triggers visitors to share through social media and word of mouth, according to Destination BC. This was the second major tourism award for Horne Lake Caves. It received the 2015 Innovator of the Year award from Tourism Vancouver Island for the slides, ramps and ladders they installed in the main cave late last year, explained park director Richard Varela. The aluminum walkways were meant to protect the cave’s crystal formations from foot traffic but as they were designing them it became clear “they could also add a wild thrill at the same time as preserving the cave environment,” Varela said. He added that visitors have been
impressed with the new additions, submitting rave reviews which resulted in a number one ranking on the world’s top trip-review site. “Imagine entering a cave and cutting past a wall of sparkling crystal formations tens of thousands of years in the making, scrambling up a series of small waterfalls, then climbing onto a metal slide to descend back down under a rocky ceiling, in the dark, illuminated only by your headlamp,” Varela said. “Along with the added thrills, another major benefit is the safer travel with better footing than wet slippery rock. The unique design also channels dirt and human detritus into an easy collection point for future cleaning.” The slides and ramps were the brainchild of Phil Whitfield, a caver and retired BC Parks planner whose name appears on some of the first maps of the caves, over 40 years ago,” Varela explained. Whitfield proposed limiting human impact with elevated walkways. The shiny new hardware is part of ongoing restoration which has involved hundreds of volunteer hours. The park’s cave tour operator and staff, along with caving club members from across BC and even local scout troops worked to restore the cave to a more natural state. That includes the removal of old spray paint and scrubbing years of grime from the limestone walls, revealing sparkling crystals and fossils of ancient sea-life.
BC Bcsfa Publishes First Sustainability Progress Report Salmon farmers in British Columbia are taking further steps towards increasing the availability of information on farming practices and key areas of public interest by publishing a Sustainability Progress Report, released today at GOAL 2015 in Vancouver. The report, a first for salmon farmers in BC, includes information on all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. The report provides clarification and updates on a number of issues of public interest. Key highlights include: ● Antibiotic use in the BC salmon farming industry, while low, has decreased seven-fold over the past decade, currently sitting at approximately 50 grams of antibiotic prescribed per tonne of production. ● Significant improvements have been made by feed development companies to replace marine oil and protein sources with plant and animal sources. Today the majority of salmon feed contains less than 18 per cent marine-based products. ● Salmon farmers are committed to third-party certification: every farm in BC meets the requirements of at least one third-party system. ● 78 per cent of salmon raised in
NOVEMBER 2015
BC is done so under an agreement with First Nations. ● Salmon farming contributes over $1.1-billion towards the BC economy and results in about 5,000 jobs. “There have been great gains made in many facets of this business, which began in BC just over 30 years ago, and there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Jeremy Dunn, Executive Director of the BCSFA. Our members have shown the commitment and dedication to ensuring the long-term stability of the sector, the ocean environment and marine wild species. This report helps to both share those gains and continue the dialogue on further improvements.” The BCSFA intends to release annual updates to its Sustainability Progress Report, which is in addition to information published by member companies, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and other academic sources, provides an extremely comprehensive view into the operations of BC’s salmon farms. In addition, BCSFA member companies growing Atlantic salmon have also begun publishing information on sea lice management online on a monthly basis. This information will include lice levels on farms as well as any management measures that may have been taken. See http://bcsalmonfarmers.ca/ category/news-releases/ CME BC Appoints Two New Leaders to Support Vancouver Island Manufacturers
CAMPBELL RIVER Campbell River Wins Energy Plan Support The City of Campbell River has been selected as one of three pilot communities from across Canada to receive 600 hours of support from leading energy experts for up to a year. Campbell River, Calgary and the Region of Waterloo will be assisted by experts at the Community Energy Association and QUEST – Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow and Sustainable Prosperity. In Campbell River, the expertise will help implement our Community Energy and Emissions Plan. This support is valued at approximately $45,000. Campbell River’s application was chosen from among dozens of submissions that were scored on how well they align with the Community Energy Planning: Getting to Implementation (GTI) in Canada initiative. GTI is a national, multi-year initiative focused on building the capacity of communities to implement community energy plans. A community energy plan is a tool that helps define community priorities around energy with a view to improving efficiency, cutting emissions and d r i v i n g e c o n o m i c
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development. While 180 communities across Canada, representing 50 per cent of the popu lation, have such a plan, commu n it ies face ch a l lenges when it comes to implementation. “ We felt t h at t he G etting to Implementation project team skills were strongly aligned with the needs identi f ied i n the E x p r e s s i o n o f I n t e rest submitted by Campb e l l R i v e r,” s a y s Da le Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Community Energy Association, “and t h a t Ca m p b e l l R ive r ’s success would make fo r a go o d m o d e l t h a t could be widely replicated by other communities across Ca nada.” “The City of Campbell River is thrilled to have been chosen as one of the GTI Pilot C o m m u n i t i e s ,” s a y s Ron Neufeld, the City’s deputy city ma nager and general manager of operat ion s. “ W h i le we h ave m ade some progress i n terms of i mplementing our Community E n e rg y a n d E m i s s ion s Pla n, we a nticipate the expert support will help us make significant st rides towa rd ach ieving our vision and goals.” Campbell R iver’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan confronts the risks of risi ng energ y prices and climate change with the vision that works toward a sustainable, resilient, prosperous a nd h e a lt hy c om m u nity. It includes an energy and greenhouse gas inventory, targets and an action plan to reduce community energy demand and emissions.
CAMPBELL RIVER Airport High-
speed Internet Provides Options A i r p or t s ten a nt s a nd the industrial properties surrounding the Campbell River Airport (YBL) now have more options for high-speed Internet access to support their business. T ELUS connected their enterprise level network to t h e Ca m p b e l l R ive r Airport earlier this year, a nd Shaw Communications con nected t hei r high-speed broadband Internet to the airport lands a t t h e e n d o f S e p te mber. North Island Communications will act as the ser v ice prov ider to distribute highspeed Internet access to airport tenants. “There are many advantages to operating a business near the Campbell R iver A i r p or t, a nd t he A i rport Authority welcomes the opportunity to work with existing businesses and introduce new businesses to YBL,” says Susan Sinnott of the Airport Authority.
BC BC Agrifood Day BC farmers and food producers joined Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick to celebrate BC Agrifoods Day and $12.3 billion in sales of BC food products in 201, the highest ever. Letnick congratulated representatives from the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) and the BC Food Processors Association (BCFPA) on the record sales, which grew by $700 million from the year before, and a full $1.8-billion increase since 2010. BC’s agrifoods industry includes primary production in agriculture, aquaculture and commercial fisheries, and processing of food and beverages.
BC Agrifoods Day was declared to increase awareness and appreciation for the high quality and diverse range of foods produced in BC, and included a proclamation declaring Nov. 3 as Agrifoods Day in BC, farm machinery and tractors on display on the grounds of the Parliament Buildings, a nd me et i n g s b et we en BCAC and BCFPA leaders, Letnick and MLAs on how to grow sector sustainability and sales. The BC government has focused on creating an economic climate that supports success with among the lowest income tax rates in Canada, and strategic investments in innovation, and infrastructure that facilitates trade, opportunities and sales for BC businesses. T he BC government is helping build the domestic and export markets for BC foods. The $6-million Buy Local program has helped BC companies find new customers locally, while a network of 13 international trade offices, BC trade missions, and innovation and market development funding have all played roles in growing BC’s exports, which at $3 billion in 2014 set a record of their own. Over 200 primary agriculture products and about 100 species of fish, shellfish and marine plants are produced in BC. The food and beverage processing industry consists of more than 1,800 firms and is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the province. Total sales of BC Agrifood and Seafood at $12.3 billion are up 5.9 per cent over 2013 and total sales include $2.9 billion agriculture, $0.8 billion seafood, and $8.5 billion in manufacturers’ shipments. Growth in sales occurred in the food and beverage manufacturing sector (up 7.2%) and the primary agriculture sector (up 4.6%).
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REAL ESTATE
NOVEMBER 2015
Sales Activity Declines in October, Reflecting Typical Fall Market Conditions
S
ales of single-family homes declined in October, reflecting typically slower fall market conditions. However, due to a robust spring and summer housing market, the board is on target to reach its sales forecast for 2015. Last month, 369 single-family homes sold on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) compared to 400 in October 2014, a decrease of eight per cent. Month over month, sales were down by 14 per cent from September 2015. When condominium and townhouse sales are factored in, however, sales board wide increased by two per cent. BCREA Chief Economist Cameron Muir states that the decline in sales is unsurprising, particularly in light of the robust sort of market British Columbia has witnessed throughout 2015. “The dip in sales activity is not unusual for this time of year and is nothing to be concerned about,” said Muir. “It’s even less of an issue when you consider how strong the 2015 market has been. You don’t typically see home sales reach their highest levels in 10 years and then abruptly plateau.” VIREB President-Elect Margo Hoffman notes that real estate is a cyclical industry sensitive to and affected by a variety of factors, most notably that of consumer preferences and decisions. “Fall housing markets are typically slower because consumers frequently choose to wait for a more opportune time to buy or sell,” said Hoffman. “Few individuals like to move during the Christmas season, and households with school-aged children usually prefer to postpone major housing
decisions until the spring or summer.” Despite declining inventory levels and a steadily rising benchmark price, Hoffman notes that the VIREB market is very price-sensitive. “We’ve had a busy year in the VIREB area, but have not experienced the intense sales activity witnessed on the Lower Mainland and in some parts of Victoria,” says Hoffman. “Buyers are willing to walk away from a deal because they’re confident they can find a home somewhere else. Sellers should consider using a realtor to ensure their home is priced to sell.” In October 2015, the benchmark price for a single-family home in the VIREB coverage area was $339,100, a slight decrease from September and up 5.60 per cent from one year ago. Benchmark pricing tracks the value of a typical home in the reported area. The average MLS price of a single-family home increased to $361,665 compared to $350,661 last month and $349,172 in October 2014. The October 2015 benchmark price of a single-family home in the Campbell River area was $273,600, an increase of 1.76 per cent from last year. In the Comox Valley, the benchmark price was $339,800, up 7.72 per cent from 2014. Duncan reported a benchmark price of $302,300, an increase of 6.40 per cent over the same month in 2014. Nanaimo’s benchmark price rose 5.18 per cent to $358,700 while the Parksville-Qualicum area saw its benchmark price rise by 3.98 per cent to $372,500. The price for a benchmark home in Port Alberni was $191,400, an increase of 2.95 per cent since October 2014.
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COMOX VALLEY
NOVEMBER 2015
5
Locals Restaurant: Continuing A Legacy Of Fine Dining One of the keys to the Locals Restaurant business success is its focus on using locally sourced food products
C
OURTENAY – A lot of heart goes into the fine dining cuisine that comes from the Locals Restaurant in Courtenay, figuratively and philosophically. “It’s called Locals Restaurant actually our full business name is Locals: Food from the Heart of the Island. The whole concept is about cooking using locally sourced products, something that’s been our emphasis since we first got into the restaurant business eight years ago,� explained Locals coowner Tricia St. Pierre. “We started in 2008 in a humble little location in a strip mall up on 8th Street and the whole concept when Chef Ronald (husband and co-owner) was thinking of opening his restaurant was settling on the type of food he would want to serve. But he said ‘it doesn’t matter what I serve, the focus is going to be on the local food producers’ so that’s when we came up with the idea of Locals, meaning local food producers and from the Heart of the Island which is the passion of the people producing the food, the passion of the people preparing the food and the passion of the people serving the food. As a bonus, as we’re also located right in the heart of the Island, so it’s a
“We were voted Number 8 in Canada for Fine Dining by TripAdvisor last year� TRICIA ST. PIERRE LOCALS RESTAURANT OWNER
bit of a play on words.� Locals is housed in one of the Central Vancouver Island’s best known fine dining venues, as a restaurant has been on the site overlooking the Courtenay River for decades. “In April 2012 we took over our present location. A local landmark, the building itself was built in the late 1930’s, very much an arts and crafts era timber house. I believe it opened as a restaurant in the mid 1970’s, becoming the premier destination in the North Island for fine dining for years,� she said. The pair’s decision to move their existing restaurant to its current classic location occurred almost by accident. “When it was no longer functioning as a restaurant and the owners of the building were selling off what was left of the restaurant equipment we actually came down to buy tables
Locals Restaurant in Courtenay is the latest incarnation of the fine dining establishment that has existed on and off at its present site since the 1970’s and that’s when we ended up talking to the owners of the building, saying this is so sad to see this building turned into office space,� St. Pierre explained. “This has been a community destination for decades it’s just such a shame that there’s not going to be a restaurant here as there are so many good memories associated with the place. So that’s when we ended up negotiating moving in here which was not what we’d intended. But
ultimately it’s been a very good fit because of the history of the building and due to our focus on local food production.� Today Locals (adjacent to but not corporately tied with the Old House Hotel & Spa) has written its own successful story in the history of this almost legendary restaurant site. “We were voted Number 8 in Canada for Fine Dining by TripAdvisor last year and that really came as a shock. So when you source food locally,
when you hire people who’ve got persistent barriers and your help them turn it around and have a successful and meaningful job the whole place is elevated,� she said. “We’re just so fortunate here, we’re just so fortunate. We’ve got a really good community, we’ve got some really good employees and our little restaurant is just rocking it.� To learn more visit the Locals website at: http://www.localscomoxvalley.com/
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VANCOUVER ISLAND
NOVEMBER 2015
7
Harbour Air Fact-Finding Group Visiting China This Month Vancouver-based Harbour Air is working with a Chinese corporation to create a similar floatplane equipped air service in China BY DAVID HOLMES
V
ICTORIA – Following the signing of last June’s strategic partnership with the Zong Shen Industrial Group of China, a five-person delegation from Vancouver-based Harbour Air were visiting China at the end of October to meet with their corporate counterparts. “Where are we at with this? Well, the deal was signed, the media announcement happened and now we’re moving to the next step. A group of our operational people, including from ownership will be going to China at the end of this month,” explained Harbour Air’s Executive Vice President Randy Wright October 14. “They will be meeting with the representatives of the Zong Shen Group to look over the area, make some initial plans for what they want to achieve and to discuss possible aircraft choices and issues regarding potential pilots,” Wright said from his Victoria office. Harbour Air executives taking part in the mission included company CEO Greg McDougall, Harbour Air President Peter Evans, Chad Wetsch the Vice President of Ground Operations, Meredith Moll the Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Eric Scott the company’s Vice President of Flight Operations and Safety. “They will be flying around all over making preliminary plans for possible base sites, checking water conditions, looking over the land while having several discussions on-site with Zong Shen,” Wright explained. “There are many large cities and many more people than there are in Canada so there’s a huge opportunity and we see it as something that would be huge for Canadian aviation and our business model. It’s big for us, you have to remember that we started 35 years ago with two planes and now we’re grown to become the largest floatplane equipped airline in the world. It’s a Made in BC export in terms of transportation systems. It’s very exciting but there’s still a lot of work to be done.” Only in the early stages, Wright maintains there is a vast amount of work do to before any aircraft take to the sky. He says Chinese restrictions on the types of machines to be used are only one of the hurdles that need to be successfully crossed. “There are challenges there, simply coming up with enough pilots, they will need a lot of pilots who will have to be trained with full endorsement on floatequipped aircraft. There are also issues with the aircraft themselves, just determining
The largest floatplane equipped airline in the world, Harbour Air maintains numerous seaplane bases along the BC coast, including at its Nanaimo operation the type of aircraft to be used. The rules the Chinese have in place say that you cannot use any aircraft that’s more than 10 years old, which automatically eliminates Beavers and the other machines we use which are much older,” he said. “There have been some discussions with Viking Air about the possibility of using the Twin Otter aircraft they produce (in Victoria) but at this moment nothing has been decided. But those discussions are ongoing. There is a possibility that Chinese manufactured aircraft might be used or possibly those produced by Quest Kodiak or Cessna Aircraft, but that’s still to be determined. The single engine Beavers and Otters that we currently use would not work in the Chinese model, not least of which is that they no longer build new ones and all of them are older than 10 years.” In June Zong Shen purchased a 25 percent share in Harbour Air, but according to Wright the Chinese offer wasn’t the first the air carrier had been presented in recent years. “China has approached us many times before, many countries have; Nicaragua, Russia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, lots of people over the years have knocked on our door. But what’s changed in China is that the military have relaxed the controls over civil aviation. You can basically fly unchecked below 10,000 feet now,” he said. “Harbour Air is still a majority shareholder of the company and has retained a 75 percent share of the voting shares after the Chinese investment and we’ll continue to manage all daily operations of the company. The investment was a great way to link with our Chinese partners along with a cash infusion. Zong Shen is a huge company with multiple holdings, including as a major motorcycle manufacturer.” Wright says there is no set timetable for
when regular air service involving Harbour Air will commence in China. “I would probably anticipate that it’s going to be a while before we see a Harbour Air like system up in place in China, we certainly do not have a timeline on it yet. Another part of the planned discussions will include the possibility of Chinese pilots coming here to earn their endorsements and to learn about floatplane operations, it is a good possibility,” he said. “There are definitely some challenges involved but yes the opportunity there is huge.
We’ve seen maps and there are a lot of available waterways to operate from, from rivers and lakes to the oceanfront. They see it as a much cheaper alternative to building airports from an infrastructure point of view. It’s much simpler to put in docks, build smaller buildings and basically light up China with this service,” he said. “We’re proud that others want to build on what we’ve done here in British Columbia. It’s a great Canadian aviation story. There’s a lot of work ahead of us but we’re excited and it’s a great opportunity.”
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he value of a patent has nothing at all to do with how much money was paid to get the patent drafted, filed, prosecuted and granted. The value of a patent relates to many other factors, some that are difficult to understand, and some that are not so difficult to understand. W hether you are contemplating selling or licensing your patent or purchasing or licensing someone else’s technology, you need to understand how a valuation of a patent is arrived at. Let’s start with the easy stuff. Where was the patent granted? If it was not filed where you want to do business, then it is worthless to you. The patent must be
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International Searching Authority or the I nternationa l P rel i m i na ry Examination Report. If there is a US patent application filed, you can track the prosecution history on Public Pair: http:// portal.uspto.gov/pair/ P ubl icPa i r. Look u nder “ I m a ge F i l e W r a p p e r. Any of these will give you a pretty good indication whether or not the application will go to grant. There is no value in an application that is not going to go to grant. The next question that needs to be answered is, “When does the patent expire?” Once a patent expires there is no protection remaining. T hat means that anyone can use, make or sell the technology. The term of most patents is 20 years from the filing date. Anne Flanagan is the principal at Alliance Patents. She works with a cadre of highly skilled professionals and can help you build the team you need to succeed. She can be reached at anne.flanagan@ alliancepatents.com
TAX
NOVEMBER 2015
9
IF YOU OWN U.S. PROPERTY AND ARE PLANNING TO SELL THIS YEAR, DON’T PLANT YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND
M
any Canadians who own property in the U.S. are facing a difficult decision; with the decrease in the value of the Canadian Dollar, is it still affordable to spend the winter down south? If the answer is no, you need to be aware of the tax consequences of selling, or even renting, your U.S. property. W hen you sell an asset, including a vacation home that you’ve only used for your personal enjoyment, you pay income tax on the appreciation in value from your purchase price. However, even if you sell the US property for the same price as you pay for it, you may still have a gain because of fluctuations in the Canadian dollar, for appreciated is always measured in Canadian dollars, regardless of where the real property is located. This increase in value is called a capital gain. Consider an example: Sheila is a retired widow who lives in BC. With CPP, OAS, withdrawals from her R R IF, and her pension, she has around $45,000 in annual taxable income. In September of 2010, Sheila purchased a townhouse in Arizona for $105,000 U.S. dollars. At the time, the exchange rate was 1.0279; in Canadian
When you sell an asset, including a vacation home that you’ve only used for your personal enjoyment, you pay income tax on the appreciation in value from Joyce Smith, Partner at Smythe CPA dollars, the purchase price of the townhouse was $107,929. She spends three or four months a year in Arizona, and occasionally lets her friends and family stay at the townhouse. Now, in 2015, Sheila is concerned that the change in exchange rates has made her time in Arizona too expensive. She has looked into selling the townhouse and thinks she will receive $115,000 in U.S. dollars. But, with the current exchange rate at 1.325, she’ll be receiving $152,375 Canadian dollars. If Sheila decides to sell, the d i fference between her sa le price in Canadian dollars and her purchase price in Canadian dollars has to be reported on her
your purchase price
Canadian Income Tax return. That’s a total capital gain of $44,446 ($152,375 less $107,929). Fortunately, only one half of capital gains are taxable in Canada, so Sheila will pay income tax on $22,223, for a Canadian income tax bill of $6,600. Unfortunately, Sheila will also have to file a U.S. income tax return.
Sheila will likely have to pay 15 per cent of the appreciated gain in U.S. dollars to the U.S. government as income tax. However, because Sheila is not a U.S. resident, whoever purchases the townhouse from her will have to withhold 10 per cent of the sale price from Sheila. Sheila will be able to claim back those funds withheld when she files her U.S. income tax return. Additionally, Sheila can send the U.S. government advance notice of her plan to sell. If she does, she can receive permission for the purchaser to reduce the withholding tax. Income taxes paid by Sheila to the U.S. government can reduce her Canadian income taxes. Sheila can claim foreign taxes paid as a Foreign Tax Credit on her Canadian income tax return. The Canada Revenue Agency usually asks for proof, so Sheila should make sure to keep a copy of her filed U.S. tax return and be ready to send it when asked. Sometimes, people in Sheila’s position think that by keeping the proceeds of the sale in a U.S. bank account will mean, they don’t have to report the sale to the Canada Revenue Agency and include it on their tax return. That is not true; Canadian residents are taxed on their worldwide
income, regardless of where the money is kept. If, instead of selling, Sheila decides to rent out her townhouse to help offset the ownership costs, she faces additional complexities. She’ll have to file a U.S. income tax return to declare the income, even if she ends up with a loss on the property. She’ll also have to include any income realize on her Canadian tax return, in Canadian dollars. Additionally, Sheila will have to complete CR A’s form T1135, the Foreign Income Verification Statement, with her tax return. Failing to file form T1135 can mean a large penalty, up to $2,500, and is often missed by taxpayers who don’t realize their obligation. No matter what Sheila decides, she faces complex tax considerations, and needs to talk to a professional accountant to ensure her situation is handled properly. If you own U.S. property, make sure to talk to your accountant to ensure your obligations are met. Smythe CPA is a team of dedicated professionals who provide reliable accounting, financial management and tax services to businesses and individuals. They can be reached at 1-800-343-6133.
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’m sure you’ve heard politicians, business leaders and small business operators recite the storyline in our title before, and probably several times. That’s because it is absolutely true. In Nanaimo, around 90 per cent of our business licenses are held by micro and small businesses. They are the ones investing risk capital to start up and grow new businesses, to employ our Vancouver Island University graduates, intake entry-level employees and contract with more established experts in their field. We’ve noticed it at the Chamber of Commerce with over half of our new members this year involved in some kind of entrepreneurial practice from one-man service companies, to high tech start-ups. The entrepreneurial spirit demonstrated by these small businesses spills over to the rest of the community lending a sense of inventiveness and adventure to the local economy. Nanaimo was recently ranked on an ‘entrepreneurial’ scale as having risen from number 77 in Canada last year to number 39 this year. That’s an impressive single year
jump in the ranks! Measurement criteria included ‘Entrepreneurial Presence, Perspective and Policy’. Presence refers to the number of business establishments that can be called entrepreneurial. Perspective refers to places where business owners are most upbeat and Policy refers to centres where local governments support entrepreneurship and business owners rate their governments most highly. To land at #39 on the scale, a city must be placed in a moderate to good rating. To rank where Nanaimo did last year, its scores would have been in the
‘modest’ to ‘weak’ categories. So what has changed? Certainly, there hasn’t been much movement in the area of ‘policy’ where we understandably scored in the modest range with little change in the past year from local government. ‘Perspective’ was rated in the moderate range which means that more business operators have an optimistic outlook about their future in this community. And ‘presence’ ranked strong, meaning that entrepreneurs are becoming more recognizable and are contributing more to the economy than they have in the past. We also learned last week from the 2015 State of the Island Economic Report released during the Economic Summit that new business formations and incorporations rose by over 15 per cent in Nanaimo, while inching up only 1 per cent in the CRD. The impact of these positive ratings means that we will likely continue to attract entrepreneurs because we are a great place for businesses to start. Our cost of living is not high, our quality of life is very high, and local resources like VIU, the Chamber of Commerce and the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation are in place to support entrepreneurialism. To take action and implement local government policy that further supports this economic model will help us continue to grow as a successful city. (Data Source: CFIB) Kim Smythe is CEO of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at ceo@ nanaimochamber.bc.ca
CME BC Announces Two Appointments
N Specializing in; · Income splitting structures (Family Trusts) · Corporate reorganizations (section 86 & section 51)
· Section 85 rollovers Kevin Beausoleil BA, MBA, CPA, CGA
250 754 2111 kevin@beausoleilcga.com beausoleilcga.com
ANAIMO Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters British Columbia (CME BC) has announced the appointment of two new leaders to support manufacturers on Vancouver Island. Representatives have been engaged to grow chapters of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters centered in Victoria and Nanaimo. Victoria-based consultant, Darryl Anderson, of Wave Point Consulting, has been selected as the organization’s official representative for the Capital Region. This chapter of CME will support manufacturers, especially those in the technology, marine and aerospace sectors, in communities from Esquimalt to Sidney. In Nanaimo, CME has formed a partnership with the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will serve as a
representative of the association for businesses in Greater Nanaimo, the Cowichan and Comox Valleys, as well as communities in the northern half of Vancouver Island. “Our region is home to several great manufacturers and exporters,” said Kim Smythe, President & CEO of the Chamber. “This partnership will truly help bring greater support to these companies strengthening their competitiveness. Our team member, Catherine Dyck, is eagerly engaging companies to the mutual benefit of both partner organizations.” “Vancouver Island is home to one-sixth of British Columbia’s manufacturers making it the third largest manufacturing cluster in the province,” said Marcus EwertJohns, Regional Vice-President of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters. “CME has been expanding its operations throughout
the province to ensure companies have access to skilled labour, productivity, capacity building and other training programs.” Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is the country’s leading trade and industry association serving as the voice of 10,000 leading companies. The association focuses on improving business competitiveness through policy change, workforce skills development, productivity and innovation programs, and SME capacity building. In British Columbia manufacturing is the fourth largest contributor to provincial GDP, the third largest employer, more than 62 per cent of BC exports, and provides 30 per cent of the business tax revenue paid to government. CME is a founding member of the Alliance for Manufacturing in BC, a group of like-minded manufacturing associations.
NANAIMO
NOVEMBER 2015
11
Community Pride On The Menu At The COCO Café Cedar restaurant has provided a unique training experience for persons with disabilities for more than four years BY DAVID HOLMES
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ANAIMO – Here’s an increasingly popular recipe for local food service success. You take one part business, one part life skills training facility, a team of dedicated workers, blend with the love and support of the community and serve warm with a smile – and you end up with a culinary treat called the COCO Café. “It was started by four families living in the Cedar / Yellowpoint area, they all had adult children with some form of developmental disability whom they were worried would become isolated because of their rural location as well as the lack of available programs to assist them. So they wanted to create an environment where their children would not only get work experience, but somewhere where they could also have socialization time which is really important,” explained Melanie Cadden, the Café’s General Manager. “Basically four years ago, after seven years of planning, the families opened the doors of the COCO Café. I came on three months after it opened and have been running it ever since. Over the years we’ve continued to grow and build our business, not only do we have the full service Café but we also operate a catering business as well. We also do commercial retail sales, where we sell frozen take-home dinners – all real food, lasagnas, pot pies and things like that.” Located at the southern end of the 49th Parallel Grocery Shopping Centre on Cedar Road (1840 Cedar Rd.) the COCO Café (Cedar Opportunities Cooperative) has become a working model for providing a real world training opportunity for persons faced with some form of limiting challenge, while slowly becoming a viable business in its own right. “Currently we have 23 employees, 13 of which have developmental disabilities
“We have about 40 plus individuals on our waiting list wanting to become involved and that’s not everybody” SARAH PACHKOWSKY MANAGER OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Melanie Cadden, the General Manager of the COCO Café checks out the handiwork of one of her employees Paul Astren as he works on a lunch item of some sort. We have staff of all age ranges. We definitely try to hire our staff after their school transition but we have staff members who are only a few years out of high school all the way through to older adults,” explained Sarah Pachkowsky, the Café’s Manager of Community Engagement. “It’s definitely a family environment, even though technically nobody is actually family. It’s pretty amazing for sure. The one nice thing is not only is it helping to fill a void in society for people with developmental disabilities it’s also helped to bring the local community closer together,” she said. “Prior to the opening of the Café none of these people had anywhere to go to meet up for coffee as there was only fine dining or pub style places to go to in the area. It’s really been a way to connect the community as well.” As someone who’s been with the project from its earliest stages Cadden has seen how the initial concept of providing a training and socializing experience for persons with disabilities has grown into a genuine community focal point. “One of the main things, even in the last six months, is that we’ve started offering full plated breakfasts. So we’ve gone from
just doing breakfast sandwiches to full plated breakfasts and we’ve seen a huge increase in Café sales from that. It’s quickly becoming a local hang out, people are coming and they stay, it’s definitely becoming more popular. We’re open from 7 AM to 3 PM we’re hoping that maybe at some point in 2016 we’ll be able to jump into dinner service,” she said. “Another plus is that everything we make is from scratch. We do it this way as it provides more opportunities for our staff to learn the basics of cooking. In addition most of our ingredients come, whenever possible, from local suppliers. We try to work with local farmers and other producers. It also helps us to work with patrons who may have allergies or sensitivities.” T he COCO Ca fé f u nctions without any form of government funding, but operates solely on the revenue it generates through its sales and by the generous support of the public and the local business community. “There is no government funding. The Café is funded solely by community support. Private donations come from very generous people, helping to keep it afloat. The business is getting closer and closer to sustainability,
The Café’s Manager of Community Engagement Sarah Pachkowksy gets to sample some of the eatery’s fresh and tasty treats but we associate a cost of about $15 to $18 per hour with the actual supported employment and so we’re looking at anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 of added costs every month, so it’s hard for a traditional business to carry that,” Cadden said. “Everything needed to initially start COCO was donation-based, whether it was in kind or financial. The paint was Cloverdale Paint, the counters were Colonial Countertops, the granite was Infinite Granite, we have blinds from Rona, Emanuel Homes was the contractor who put everything together it was literally built by the community and is now continuing to be supported by the community,” Pachkowsky said. “It’s definitely a feel good kind of place. Now the main focus for us is to consistently stay at a sustainability rate so that we can continue without donations going into the general funds that keep our doors open. It’s now about building our donor base to continue our training program.” With Pachkowsky coming from a leadership and events management background, and Cadden a certified Red Seal Chef, the pair have the collective skills to make the operation flourish, with even bigger plans on the horizon. “Ultimately we’d like to see this model take off throughout Nanaimo, across the Island and everywhere.
It’s always been in the game plan that we’d like to see this duplicated, to essentially see other COCO’s opened. It’s a model that can be duplicated, this was the first and we’ve learned by doing it, so the second one would be that much easier to set up. We’ve learned a lot, we’ve already done our stumbling - to reproduce it would be a lot easier than what it took to start this one,” Cadden said. “What’s next? We’ve accomplished all of our goals which are phenomenal, but there are a lot of things that we’d still like to see on a personal COCO level. We are a Co-Op with society status. So being able to see this model grow and to be able to employ more people, whether it is donation-based or in kind, right now we have a wish list of things we’d like to achieve,” Pachkowsky said. “Our goal moving forward is grow the business to a sustainable point as this will provide employment for the more than 23 employees we currently have. Seeing more business through our catering side would be one way to do this. We’re also hoping to grow our donor base so we can better utilize our training program,” she said. “We have about 40 plus individuals on our waiting list wanting to become involved and that’s not everybody. I was here for a meeting yesterday and a girl came in and said ‘when are you going to hire me?’ but we simply do not have the resources to be able to do that right now. So we would really like to see that area grow as well.” Pachkowsky said the Café’s self sufficiency has helped to endear it to the local community. “I think that what people appreciate is that we’re trying to help a need in the community while at the same time being able to sustain ourselves for the most part without having to always ask for a hand out.” To learn more check out is website at: http://www.cococafe.ca/
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ARE YOU PREPARED FOR... the holiday shopping season?
Rosalind Scott, BBBVI President & CEO
Whether we are ready for it or not… it is here…The season of holiday shopping madness. With the U.S. Thanksgiving scheduled for the end of November, you can expect to start hearing the chatter now about Black Friday (November 27) and Cyber Monday (November 30) sales. In some instances these “sales” are much more than a day long event, stretching out to a week and even a month long endeavor. Both businesses and consumers in Canada have jumped on the holiday season sales kick-off bandwagon just as much as our southern neighbours.
Whether you are a business or consider yourself simply just a consumer at this time of year, it is important to prepare for a successful holiday sales and shopping season. The following are some simple tips to make your selling and buying experiences a little more pleasant this time of year:
a special thanks to our
Community Partners
to
PLAN AHEAD: Businesses – Do your market research in advance to determine how much you can afford to sell of a discounted product or service, and if you need additional staff. If you have limitations, communicate this with your customers. Consumers – Make a budget and stick to it. Have a list of items that you want to purchase and price ranges that you deem are reasonable. Newspapers often have coupons that give discounts for Black Friday. Ads are also posted on the Internet. WHAT’S THE DEAL?: Businesses – If you want to be competitive this time of year you will need to know if the sale price you are offering is actually “perceived” as a good deal by your customers. Don’t oversell your sales and be honest with your customers about the extent of the deal they are receiving. Consumers – Do you know if a sale is really a sale? It always pays to comparison shop. Take the time to check prices on the same items at other stores. If you see an ad in print or online bring the ad with you to be sure you get the deal advertised. GET IT IN WRITING: Businesses – Be sure you provide every customer with a receipt for their purchase and clearly communicate your return and exchange policies, preferably in writing, and if possible included with your receipt. Consumers – Ask about the businesses exchange and return policy before you make your purchase. Also always ask about restocking fees, and save your receipts in one place so you don't lose them. Many companies will require you to produce a receipt for a return. KNOW THEM WELL: Businesses – If you are hiring new staff for the holiday season be sure you have screened them well, know them well and have trained them well. Your staff are your front line to your customers. If they do not represent your business well, your reputation will suffer. Consumers – Whether shopping in person or online look for the BBB Accredited Business seal. If the business doesn’t have one check out the company’s BBB Business Review online at: bbb.org. PROTECT YOURSELF: Businesses – Hackers and fraudsters love the holiday season. Be sure you have the systems in place to protect your company and client data. Consumers – When possible pay with a credit card and protect your financial information at all times. Monitor your bank statements and cross-reference with your receipts.
*Trade-mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus used under license.
NOMINATED BY THEIR CUSTOMERS... choosen by their peers. BBB announces the 2015 Torch Awards on November 6, 2015. Visit bbb.org/vancouver-island
for a list of this years winners!
WELCOME OUR NEWEST ACCREDITED BUSINESSES For more information on becoming a BBB Accredited Business call: 250.386.6348 ext. 105 or 115.
Bella Donna Esthetics
Canada Homestay Network
JD Brokers Inc.
Capital Auto Glass & Upholstery
JP by the Sea Vacation Rentals and Management
CMC Landscaping Ltd. Coastal Construction
MacKenzie Roofing
Confident Stages
Magnetic Nail Design & Sugaring Spa
Craig White Homebuilders
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Haven Home Care Ltd.
Mortgage Designers at Mortgage Architects
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H. W. Wallace Cremation & Burial Centre Inc.
Pemberton Holmes Ltd.
Harris Victoria Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Power Clean Building Maintenance
Woodcrafters Group Ltd
COWICHAN VALLEY
NOVEMBER 2015
CHAMBER CELEBRATES TWO YEARS IN NEW LOCATION AT THE COWICHAN REGIONAL VISITOR CENTRE We have doubled the number of visitors served in the new facilities
COWICHAN VALLEY SONJA NAGEL
T
he Chamber held two major events this October. A lively All Candidates Forum brought 510 people to the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre, roughly doubling the audience size of previous Forums. We celebrated Small Business Week with Cowichan’s 3rd Annual Business Showcase; which included seminars, a Business Walk, and evening reception. As of November, the Chamber has been settled in the new Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre for two years – and we have never looked back! The Centre is prominently located on the Trans Canada, and adjacent to the BC Forest Discovery Centre. We have doubled the number of visitors served in the new facilities. Much
of this success is attributed to the highly visible and accessible location, complimented with lots of parking and easy access for RV’s, trailers and buses. W hereas many predict that brick-and-mortar visitor centres will experience a decline in visitors, our numbers tell a different story. The Centre continues to break records for the number of visitors serviced, both onsite at the Centre, and via our mobile visitor services outreach program. While many travellers use digital technology to research and book travel arrangements, it seems that just as many prefer a face-to-face connection and personal referrals to select the experiences that will make the most of their Cowichan experience. This gives us the opportunity to encourage visitors to stay longer, and distribute tourism spending throughout the area. We see this trend continuing, especially since the Cowichan Valley is burgeoning as a popular BC tourist destination. ■■■The Duncan Cowichan Chamber
of Commerce is one of the oldest Chambers on the Island, established in 1908 under the Board of Trade Act. On November 24, the Chamber will hold its Annual General Meeting. Similar to other years, we expect the AGM will be a high energy event with over 50 voting members attending. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the successes of the past year, and to share highlights for the upcoming year, which will include hosting Cowichan’s 20th Black Tie Awards on April 9, 2016. Nominations open for the eight Award categories on December 1. It really does seem like yesterday that we were announcing nominations for our 2015 Awards! ■■■The Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize and welcome the following new members: Steelhead LNG, 360 Comfort Systems, Time to Heal Treatment and Workshop Facility, Island Time Tours, and Red Arrow Brewing. Consider joining Cowichan’s most active business networking organization. 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
13
Duncan Chamber Of Commerce Wins Communications Award
D
UNCAN - The Duncan Cowichan Chamber won the 2015 Com mu n ications Award at the British Columbia Chambers Executives (BCCE) A n nu a l Con ference held earlier this month. T he Award was created to celebrate a Chamber of Commerce with 201 – 500 mem b ers, wh ich has demonstrated exceptional quality in communicating the work of their Chamber to members, the local community and the public. “Keeping connected with our members and the community is a core priority for the Chamber,� said Executive Director Sonja Nagel. “Our goal is to inform and engage, to raise the profile of our members, advocate for business and maximize the tou rism ex perience a nd spending in Cowichan. Continued growth in membership and the increasing number of Visitors we serve, i nd icates that the messaging resonates with our audiences.� The Chamber has literally 10’s of thousands of touch points with members, the public and government representatives throughout the year. The organization is active on social med ia, has reg u la r colu m ns and articles in local and
regional papers, and holds 50 events per year – most welcome both members and non-members. The website receives more than 300,000 hits annually, a nd the busiest pages by fa r are the Events Calendar, and the Business Directory – that links prospective customers to members. The Chamber also provides an optimized mobile listing for every member. Events and Membership Manager Elizabeth Croft said, “We pay keen attention to how we deploy our resources and the entire communication portfolio is highly strategic – we’re delighted to be recognized.� Duncan Chamber President Julie Scurr stated much of the credit for the award has to go to the efforts of the office’s staff, “We’re fortunate to be part of a vital business community. On behalf of the Board, I’d like to thank the Chamber staff for their dedication and professionalism; this Award is well-deserved.�
We have a team of highly-experienced sales, parts and service staff to serve our customers with the highest level of automotive expertise and customer care. We encourage you to browse our online inventory, schedule a test drive and talk to us about financing options. We are happy to help with any automotive needs that you may have
Sales t Parts t Service
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14
NOVEMBER 2015
ENGINEERING Engineering: Science Of Turning Concepts Into Realities The ongoing work of British Columbia’s engineering firms has directly impacted virtually all aspects of daily life BY DAVID HOLMES
W
hen mankind’s first proto-human ancestor discovered that chipping a flake off a stone created a sharp edge, or that a heavy stick could be used to dislodge a heavy boulder when deployed as a lever, the concept of engineering was born. Engineering is as much an art as it is a science, and is essentially the task of using some form of scientific method to create an outcome that produces a tangible result in the real world. That outcome could be that sharpened stone, or a huge span of steel bridging a river, or a towering edifice of glass and steel in the heart of a thriving metropolis. In the 21 st Century the concept of engineering is a broad professional field that touches on virtually all aspects of daily life. Traditionally the roles of an engineer were viewed as falling within four main categories: Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering – but today thanks in part to the revolution in electronic technology, there is a much greater likelihood of cross-pollination within the different core sectors, and literally hundreds of different subcategories for engineers and engineering students to pursue. “Consulting Engineering is an integral part of BC’s Knowledge Economy. The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACECBC) represents BC’s consulting engineering companies that provide engineering and other technology-based intellectual services to the public and private sectors,” explained Keith Sashaw, President and CEO, ACEC-British Columbia. “Consulting engineering companies play an integral role in ensuring the safe, efficient and sustainable planning, development, construction and operations of buildings, highways, bridges, ports, pipelines, mines and key infrastructure projects. Consulting engineers are at the forefront of emerging opportunities in all regions of the province,” he said. “They work together with local communities, applying technical innovation and creativity to
The redevelopment of the Port Mann Bridge and its approaches (shown here) was completed thanks in part to the work of Binnie Consulting
Nanaimo’s Chatwin Engineering played a role in designing the new Nanoose First Nations Community Sewer Project ensure projects are developed in a manner that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. ACEC-BC takes a keen interest in monitoring and reporting on major projects that are key to creating jobs and prosperity for all British Columbians.” In British Columbia engineering
firms, in a myriad of different sizes and specializing in ever wider subject areas, can be found all across the province. The following brief sampling represents just a few of the hundreds of companies located across BC actively engaged in shaping the future of the province while making daily
life easier and more convenient for its citizens. Among the province’s major engineering players McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. is among the very largest, with no less than 19 separate offices SEE ENGINEERING | PAGE 15
ENGINEERING
NOVEMBER 2015
15
J.E. Anderson & Associates carried out the primary survey work for the Gablecraft townhome development in Central Nanaimo
ENGINEERING
“Consulting engineering
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14
is at the centre of BC’s across BC alone. From Campbell River to Whistler, and from Terrace to Osoyoos McElhanney’s engineers are involved in a full spectrum of services, working successfully within an equally broad range of industries and sectors. A partial list of the firm’s service areas include agriculture where is it is involved with everything from completing drainage studies to developing complex irrigation systems. Other areas of expertise showcased by McElhanney include
Knowledge Economy” KEITH SASHAW PRESIDENT / CEO, ACEC-BC
such diverse undertakings as software development, completing environmental assessments, site assessments and developing plans for industrial wastewater treatment. The company has been involved in such projects as the twinning of the Trans Canada
Highway through Banff National Park, and in the development of the Golden Ears Bridge on the Lower Mainland. A true soup to nuts engineering firm, McElhanney is one of the oldest firms of its type in Western Canada having been in continuous operation since 1910. To learn more visit the company website at: http:// www.mcelhanney.com/ Another major engineering company with a number of British Columbia locations is Binnie Consulting Ltd. Headquartered in Burnaby the company maintains offices in Surrey, Squamish, Kamloops and Prince George and
has been providing engineering services across Western Canada since 1969. According to the company website Binnie is involved in a broad range of services and projects including: ‘traffic planning; transportation engineering; project management services; construction management services; design build contracts management; landscape architecture including water drainage and storm water management; parks, sports fields, and recreation facilities development, land development and site servicing; federal, provincial and municipal infrastructure; and
Geomatics services.’ Binnie has been a key player in various major projects across the province including the Port Mann Bridge construction project, it was involved with the survey work for the Evergreen Line rail line on the Lower Mainland, the design of a large RV park in Taylor in northeastern BC and at the Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Centre in Victoria. To learn more about this multi service entity visit its website at: http:// binnie.com/ Speaking of Vancouver Island, SEE ENGINEERING | PAGE 16
CUSTOMER SEVICE SHINES AT SORENSEN & ASSOCIATES “We’re not stuck in our Engineering firm is making its mark on Vancouver Island
N
ANAIMO - Customer service is arguably the number one feature that sets Sorensen & Associates Engineering Ltd. in Nanaimo apart from the rest. Partner and structural engineer Dan Fell said that clients find every member of the firm personable and easy to talk to. When a client phones or emails, quick responses can be counted on. “We get back to them right away,” Fell said. However, that isn’t the only way great customer service shows up. Fell noted that the firm works closely with clients and contractors during design and construction. “We’re open to suggestions,” he said. “We’re not stuck in our ways. Wetrytomakeitassmoothaspossible for everyone.” As a result of the firm’s positive attitude and teamwork approach, it receives considerable positive feedback. Fell said he frequently hears clients say what a pleasure it is to work with engineers who are willing to see things from other perspectives. They also commend the firm on its promptserviceanditsrecordofbringing projects in on time and on budget.
ways. We try to make it as smooth as possible for everyone.” DAN FELL PARTNER AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, SORENSEN & ASSOCIATES ENGINEERING LTD.
Sorensen & Associates was founded by Ted Sorensen in 2010 when he left another firm to strike out on his own. Fell, who had worked with Sorensen for six years, said that he hoped that Sorensen’s new company would expand and have a place for him. It did grow rapidly and Fell came on board in February 2014 and has recently become a partner in the firm. Since Fell joined, the company has moved into largerpremisesthatitcanexpandinto. Sorensen & Associates takes on a variety of projects including residential, commercial, multi-family, bridges, and institutional work such as fire halls and schools. “We want people to know there is an alternative to the larger firms,” Fell said. “We’re here and we give great service.” Sorensen & Associates Engineering Ltd. is at 103 – 5220 Dublin Way in Nanaimo.
Great Service to Us… Simply Means; • Prompt communication • Timely project turn-around • Practical design solutions 250 585-1360 • Cell: 250 816-4448 tsorensen@sa-eng.ca
ENGINEERING
16 ENGINEERING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15
Nanaimo’s Chatwin Engineering Ltd. is based in the Harbour City but has been involved in a variety of different projects right across Vancouver Island. The company worked with the Ehattesaht First Nation at Queen’s Cove on the Island’s west coast
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to help determine ground water source potentials for a new potable water supply for the existing Chenahkint Indian Reserve. Another Chatwin project involving Vancouver Island’s First Nations was the work it did for the Snawnaw-as people at Nanoose Bay. The company helped to design the community’s new Sanitary Sewer System.
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Headed by Brian Chatwin who began his engineering career in 1982, Chatwin Engineering is a uniquely 100 percent employee owned civil engineering firm with offices in both Nanaimo a nd Victor i a. T he compa ny places great emphasis on the work it does to better the lives of local citizens, while having the least impact on the environment. To learn more visit the company website at: http://www. chatwinengineering.com/ Another major player on the E ng i neer i ng sta ge i s Urban Systems with 13 separate offices across Western Canada including Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson and in the Lower Mainland among others. With a company motto of: Spirit in Service for Vibrant Communities, Urban System prides itself on working on projects that enhance the enjoyment and livability of the communities it serves. Founded in 1975 this privately owned company has been recognized by the organization a Great Place To Work® no less than 10 times since 2006. The company describes itself as: “A professional consulting firm committed to supporting v i b ra n t c o m m u n i t i e s . O u r inter-disciplinary team works with governments, Aboriginal communities, private industry, and non-profit organizations to help build communities that are safe, sustainable and
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prosperous.” The company has worked on many projects including completing the Shelbourne Valley Action Pla n T ra nsportation Study for the District of Saanich on Vancouver Island and in helping the City of Port Moody develop its long range financial framework. Its varied areas of service include asset management, economic development, land surveying, the operation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), landscape architecture, water-related issues and many others. To learn more visit the company website at: http:// www.urbansystems.ca/ A giant in the engineering field, with more than 3,000 engineers, designers, planners, researchers and advisors across the globe, Opus International has been involved in more than 12,000 projects across the United States and the British Commonwealth since its launch as an agency of the New Zealand government in 1885. In Canada and the US the company operates 16 offices (including in Terrace, Kelowna, Prince George, Victoria and North Vancouver) and has more than 700 employees across North America. Its New World focus has been almost exclusively on water, transportation and environmental engineering. As part of the Opus group in North America it also operates a separate water, wastewater and environmental engineering consultancy firm. Opus International Consultants (Canada) Limited specializes in providing such services as infrastructure rehabilitation and stormwater management for municipalities, as well as surveying, urban planning and a full range of project management services. In British Columbia the company has been a key player in such projects as the upgrades carried out at the Revelstoke Waste Water Treatment Plant and with the upgrade work to the Kelowna / Vernon Compost Soil Biofilter. A vast and internationally connected engineering powerhouse, Opus International is a true soup to nuts type of firm. To learn more check out is main website at: http://www.opusinternational. ca/ Another major engineering enterprise, with expertise in the energy sector, resources, computer science and agriculture is WSP (formerly known as Focus). T h i s i s a Ca n a d i a n-o w n e d multi-national firm and one of the world’s leading professional services companies with an estimated 32,000 employees located in over 39 countries around the world. The company maintains a nu mber of British Colu mbia offices including those in Cranbrook, Kamloops, Victoria, Golden, Invermere, Kelowna, Prince George and Fort St. John. WSP ’s sp eci a lt ies i nclude energy cogeneration, oil and gas pipelines, remote sensing for
fisheries, air quality management, u nder water su r veys, the development of industrial parks, airport development, urban transportation and many other areas of service. Just some of the hundreds of projects it has been involved with include the development of the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, providing geometric services for Spectra Energy’s sour gas line that will link Dawson Creek to Taylor as well as having carried out extensive surveying work in the Athabasca Oil Sands area in Northern Alberta. To learn more about this firm visit its website at: http://www.focus.ca/ With offices in Victoria, Nanaimo and Parksville, J.E. Anderson & Associates first opened its doors in 1959 with half a dozen employees. Today the company has grown to more than 50 employees with a focus on projects that involve everything from laying out single lot subdivisions to multi-year phased residentia l developments to forestry and municipal infrastructure projects. The majority of the company’s work is centered on Vancouver Island and the neighboring Gulf Islands. J.E. Anderson & Associates has recently undertaken a number of significant projects including the subdivision of a large (405 hectare) farm near Horne Lake on Vancouver Island, extensive survey work on lands owned by the Pacheedaht First Nation on southern Vancouver Island and the survey work for the Gablecraft Development a 22-phase townhouse project to be constructed in Nanaimo. The company’s focus is on surveying work, project management and all areas of municipal engineering. To learn more visit its website: http://www.jeanderson.com/ “ACEC British Columbia represents 84 of BC’s consulting engineering companies that collectively employ 9,100 people in the Province of BC. The workforce is comprised of engineers, geoscient i sts, tech n ici a n s, technologists and other support staff. The consulting engineering business contributes some $3.9 billion in annual revenue to the BC economy, 30 percent of which is earned from clients based outside of the Province of BC. These are revenues that would not find their way to the Province of BC if it were not for the excellent reputation of the BC consulting engineering industry,” Sashaw explained. “Consulting engineering is at the centre of BC’s Knowledge Economy, as engineering services comprise 20 percent of B.C.’s high technology sector. The Knowledge Economy is the source of high value employment, supporting a broad array of business spinoffs. A healthy BC consulting engineering industry is critical to building this future economic foundation of British Columbia.”
OFF THE COVER
NOVEMBER 2015
GRAPHIC OFFICE INTERIORS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“Our products are designed with evidence-based design concepts,” said company partner Rick Kent. “We work closely with architects and designers.” He added that Graphic Office Interiors works directly with both the private and public sectors including higher education, health care and professional offices. He noted that the company is a business-to-business enterprise rather than a retail outlet. Steelcase has also moved beyond furniture and includes technology in its offerings such as collaboration, interactive white boards, scheduling systems and acoustic solutions. Kent opened the Nanaimo branch of Graphic Office Interiors in 1994, after working with Steelcase for a number of years in the Lower Mainland. Since that time, the company has grown and expanded across Vancouver Island. Graphic Office Interiors has kept pace by: ■ Implementing the latest in planning methodologies by using web based survey tools and analyzing a client’s work processes to develop unique designs and furniture solutions for each customer. ■ Investing in its people, technology and physical infrastructure to provide better productivity,
Rick Kent says that the company relies on its experience and forward looking designers to stay ahead of its competitors excellent customer satisfaction and a faster to market implementation for our clients. ■ Sourcing and acquiring best of class products, geared to any budget, but with an overriding premise that they meet a high standard of functionality, versatility and sustainability. ■ Being a good corporate citizen to its community and the environment. Kent noted that Graphic Office Interiors relies on its experience and forward looking designers to stay ahead of its competitors. It
Graphic Office Interiors is the exclusive Vancouver Island dealer for Steelcase
Graphic Office Interiors boasts an exciting new showroom in Saanichton has built long term relationships with its customers and relies on its own installation teams who Kent said are second to none. Moving forward, Graphic Office Interiors is looking to work with project management teams and forming partnerships with local contractors. Kent said the partners and staff are also excited about the new Vertical Intelligent Architecture (VIA), a Steelcase product. “We’ve done pretty well anything you can do for furniture, but what is left in the office that hasn’t really been utilized are the walls. VIA creates intelligent rooms designed to augment human interaction by providing true acoustic privacy and hosting technology. It provides a sense of permanence with the speed and design and flexibility of a relocatable wall.” “Steelcase is a remarkable company.” Kent said. “This is where our future is with them. And it’s also with technology products. We’re looking at expanding into the area as well – and again, with Steelcase.” Graphic Office Interiors Ltd. is at 335 Wesley Street in Nanaimo. www.graphicoffice.com
Graphic Office Interiors has been in Nanaimo since 1994
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NOVEMBER 2015
DUNCAN IRON WORKS CONTINUES TO PLAN FOR FUTURE GROWTH stainless steel. Finishing of projects in enamels, urethanes, galvanizing, powder coating, chroming. ■ In house design and engineering ■ 2D drafting utilizing Autocad LT ■ 3D modeling and drafting utilizing Solidworks ■ In house plasma cutting, capacity 1½” thick mild steel x 6 ft x 12 ft ■ Tos W100A Table Type Horizontal Boring Mill Currently Duncan Iron Works is building transfer decks and chain ways for Western Forest Products i n Ladysm ith. T he company works with contractors that do maintenance work for BC Hydro, manufacturing items such as maintenance platforms and handrails. A recent project at Mica Dam in northern BC included handrails for newly poured concrete stairs. Typically, the company works with various steels including carbon steel and alloy steel as well as aluminum and stainless steel. “It’s really driven by our customers’ requests,” Dellebuur said. The company has been fulfilling those requests since December 1921. In 1990, the company, along with its parent company in Port Alberni, went into receivership. ■
Local company enjoys a strong history in the Cowichan Valley
C
OW ICH A N VA L L E Y Duncan Iron Works has been a solid presence in the Cowichan Valley since 1921. This year, it celebrates its 25th anniversary as Duncan Iron Works (1990) Ltd. Duncan Iron Works is a custom fabrication and machining business working mainly with the forest industry, pulp and paper, the petro-chemical industry and BC Hydro. “If we get an inquiry from a customer, who we have not dealt with before, we would normally give them a price and see if we can do it,” said general manager and partner Brent Dellebuur. “We’re a job shop, so we take projects on as they come up.” Duncan Iron Works boasts: ■ Licensed qualified machinists, welders and steel fabricators. ■ Steel sales. ■ Canadian Welding Bureau Certified Division 2.1. ■ Steel fabrications. ■ Aluminum fabrications. ■ Stainless steel fabrications. ■ Machining of carbon and alloy steels, aluminum and
Office staff is prepared to handle all requests that come in
“Our feedback normally takes the form of – ‘here’s the next project.’ We have to think that we must be doing something right if they’re coming back to us.” BRENT DELLEBUUR GENERAL MANAGER AND PARTNER, DUNCAN IRON WORKS (1990) LTD.
Brent Dellebuur says that Duncan Iron Works is poised for growth
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However, the two partners, Bruce Adamson and Allen Parmeter who bought believed that Duncan Iron Works was a solid business that deserved a second chance. “They recognized that there was an opportunity,” Dellebuur said. “It was felt that perhaps the other company had dragged this one into receivership. And there were lots of good people working here and the business was solid. It was well situated in
the community. They took a big leap of faith – a big risk.” Dellebuur joined the company in 1990 and became a partner later. The three partners today i nclude Carl Ollech a nd Tod Spooner. Dellebuur recalled that the early years were lean but growth was steady. “We wanted to keep everybody employed and keep the doors SEE DUNCAN IRON WORKS | PAGE 19
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Duncan Iron Works specializes in large projects for major clients including the forestry sector
DUNCAN IRON WORKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
open,� he said. “But things got progressively busier. As with any business, it’s somewhat cyclical. We have our good times and bad times and we’ve come through 25 years still making an impact in the community. We tell our employees that we may own the company, but it’s their company
Duncan Iron Works deals with all sorts of steels including alloy and stainless
! " #
– they are the ones that make it go.� He added that the employees work hard and make sure that the customer gets what was promised. Dellebuur said that the company philosophy seems to be working. “It’s 25 years later and we’re successful and we’re still doing what we’re supposed to be doing.� Duncan Iron Works has about 25 employees, many of whom have been with the company for many years. Most live in the Cowichan Valley with some coming from Nanaimo or Victoria. Dellebuur noted that the fabricating and machining industry is highly competitive and the proof of the quality of Duncan Iron Works products is not only its longevity but also its repeat business. The company also receives a large amount of referrals. Recently a pulp mill on the Lower Mainland recommended Duncan Iron Works to a contractor from California. “We were fortunate enough to end up with a contract out of that,� Dellebuur said. “That’s the beauty of this business – from day to day, you never know where the work is going to come from. We do a lot of repair work and fabrication for Western Forest Products, but really – we have no idea where it’s going to come from.� Great customer service is essential to get that repeat business SEE DUNCAN IRON WORKS | PAGE 20
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NOVEMBER 2015
DUNCAN IRON WORKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
and those referrals, Dellebuur said. Follow-up is also essential. If there’s an issue with a job, the company handles it as quickly as possible. “Our customer feedback is that they phone us with their next project,” he said. “I don’t think that you can ever do any job without something happening at some point. It’s the nature of the business and the work we’re doing. Somewhere along the line, there may be a hiccup – and then we just set about repairing it. But our feedback normally takes the form of – ‘here’s the next project.’ We have to think that we must be doing something right if they’re coming back to us.” Duncan Iron Works doesn’t just handle the big projects. Dellebuur noted that two workers specifically handle the over-the-counter requests that could range from repairing a chair to installing a hand railing on a homeowner’s deck. The company also sells steel. The company will repair garden tools or whatever item a customer brings in. No one is turned away unless the material is one that the company simply does not work with. And if Duncan Iron Works can’t handle it, they’ll do their best to help the customer find someone who can. Dellebuur recalled a customer who came in with an old chair that needed a repa i r. T hen,
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every few years after that, she continued to come back with her favourite worn-out chair to get another repair to extend its life. “The small customers are not a huge part of our business,” he said. “But we have on average about 10 people a day that come through the front door.” Over the years, Duncan Iron Works has also developed a small number of products. The DIW mandoor is manufactured on request primarily for pulp mills. The mandoor is an access door for boilers built from stainless steel or mild steel, depending on the application. Stainless steel is used in areas such as a superheater access door, where temperatures will range from 800-900 degrees F (468-530 degrees C). In cooler areas, such as a boiler bank, where the temperature is between 600 and 700 degrees F (343-405 degrees C), mild steel can be used. The company can custom build mandoors to the client’s specs. Dellebuur said that the company does not solicit business for the mandoor or its other products but the mandoor as well as the Duncan Saw portable beam saw and the DIW Model 4825 shear and brake are available upon request. “Because we’re a job shop, we can’t devote time to these sales,” he said. “We’ve had that discussion – that it would be nice to have a product to sell but we’re usually so busy looking after our custom work that we don’t have the time.” Duncan Iron Works is indeed busy with custom work. Last year was its busiest ever and 2015 is shaping up to surpass 2014. “We want to continue on in this vein,” Dellebuur said. “We want to take on some bigger projects. We used to be cautious about taking on larger projects but we took on a few this year and we did well with them. As long as we plan and project manage, it’s all good. We are planning for some growth.” He added that it’s important for the partners to continue to provide good jobs for local employees. And to grow that workforce. “The only way we’re going to get SEE DUNCAN IRON WORKS | PAGE 21
The staff has superior expertise in works with steel and other materials
The company is known for custom fabricating
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Brent Dellebuur says that every day brings new challenges for the staff
DUNCAN IRON WORKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20
bigger is to have more work and employ more people.” He added that in the future, the company will be updating its technology as well. Younger people are also coming on board to infuse fresh ideas into the company. They younger workers are learning the business from the ground up and one day will help lead Duncan Iron Works into the future. “We like to think that we’re a big family,” Dellebuur said. “We’re trying to run the business so that everybody learns everything about it. Because we’re a custom shop, we really can’t control what we’ll be doing tomorrow. We take that from the market indicators and customer feedback. We’re seeing our market evolve more to where we’re
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presented with an idea and being asked for a proposal. We’ve had to change the way we deal with design – and that’s exciting. It’s never the same thing two days in a row.” He noted that with the topnotch employees working at Duncan Iron Works, the challenges are being met and growth is inevitable. Some of the younger employees are children of workers who have been with Duncan Iron Works for upwards of 25 years. “I think we’re headed in the right direction,” he said. “We’re careful with our spending but at the same time, we’re pushing forward – and I think the direction is the right one.” Du nca n I ron Works (1990) Ltd. is at 2911 Allenby Road in Duncan. www.diw.ca
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NOVEMBER 2015
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR APPROACHING ITS THIRD DECADE “I think the company has A true family business TimeLyne Electrical is now operated by the second generation of company owners
the possibility of existing for over a century” JOSH ROBERTS OWNER TIMELYNE ELECTRICAL
Q
UA L ICU M BE ACH – Q u a l i c u m’s T i meLy ne Electrical Services Inc., has operated as an electrical contracting business for nearly 30 years and if Josh Roberts, one of the company’s current owners has his way, it will continue to be a family-run business for generations to come. Roberts explained: “If someone were to ask me to sum up what TimeLyne Electrical is all about I’d have to say it’s a family-run business. I would love to see this become a company that can proudly say it’s been around more than 100 years.’ “The way TimeLyne is run, and if TimeLyne Electrical continues to operate for people who care and enjoy working for others I think the company has the possibility of existing for over a century. That’s what I’d like to see. The number one reason we’re here is to do safe, quality work for people and to make them smile.” The business was originally started in Victoria in 1986 and operated by Robert’s parents Tim
Superior Customer Service & Supply of Quality Products
Congratulations Timelyne! www.iritex.ca
Parksville 250 248 7028 Courtenay 250 338 5020
and Lynn Roberts. The senior Roberts had worked as an electrical apprentice in the Victoria area most of his early professional life and was involved on all aspects of electrical service including helping to wire apartment buildings and other Capital Region commercial projects. “He (Roberts senior) decided that he wanted to go out on his own so they started their small business as an electrical contractor. They started out simply as a sole proprietorship and then, in 1991, they chose to incorporate the business. That was how they were going to make their living. This is what they were going to work towards”, Roberts explained. The newly formed company found the Victoria market challenging during its formative years. “The company had its ups and downs. They were finding it difficult in Victoria as there was a lot of competition. It was very busy and there was a lot of lost time traveling downtown. They decided that it was a little too cut throat down there and it wasn’t the type of business they were interested in running anymore so in 1993 they decided to move the business up to Qualicum Beach,” he said. Moving the company to the Oceanside area presented a new set of challenges, but ones it was willing to embrace. “Initially they found it difficult to find enough work in Qualicum. It can be a tough market to get into, especially when you’re new. So he
Current company owners Devon (left) and Josh Roberts share a moment with their father and company founder Tim Roberts spent the better part of a couple of years working up in Courtenay,” Roberts remembers. “Once the company name was more established in town, more people were familiar with hearing the name, and the trust level showed they managed to get a lot more work in town. As a result, we don’t do as much work in Courtenay anymore. We’re doing most of our jobs in Qualicum Beach and Parksville, more along the lines of maintenance, Nanoose and Nanaimo is where most of the new construction happens, and we take care of a few small commercial contracts as well.” T he company’s d istinctive name is as unique as its origin story. “My Mom’s name is Lynn and my Dad’s name is Tim – and that’s where the company name came from. They basically put their names together and modified it by adding the ‘e’ after each of their names. For some reason people really like the name. Everybody seems to think it’s a great company name. It’s pronounced Timeline – the running joke for people is they think it’s funny when they say ‘what’s your timeline’ or whatever. It gets people interested. It works for
TimeLyne Electrical operate a small fleet of service vehicles which allows them to service clients throughout the Central Island area people. It rolls off the tongue,” he said. “The only thing we (current ownership) have changed since we started overseeing the company in 2012 was that my brother,
Devon Roberts, and I rebranded the logo a little just to bring it up to today’s ideals in terms of colors and design. Aside from that we haven’t really altered much.” Today TimeLyne is a full service
Congratulations to our friends at Timelyne on their success!
Est. 1900
We want to extend our sincerest congratulations on the thirtieth anniversary of Timelyne Electrical Services Inc. E.B. Horsman & Son is proud to be a business partner of companies that help build the communities of Vancouver Island.
Building friendships one home at a time. Victoria l Duncan l Parksville l Courtenay l Campbell River info@ebhorsman.com l (888) 467-7626 l ebhorsman.com
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NOVEMBER 2015
Loving the job, TimeLyne’s youthful crew work at installing underground electrical conduits at a recent building site
One of the things Josh Roberts likes about his job is the chance it provides him to work on spectacular high end homes
The company works on commercial installation and servicing projects almost as much as they do residential ones As a full service electrical contractor TimeLyne Where it all started, Tim and Lynn Roberts Electrical have the skills and the crews to handle started the Qualicum electrical contracting any commercial or residential installation company in Victoria in 1986 electrical contractor capable of handling virtually any residential or commercial electrical project. “Aside from high voltage we’ve done pretty much everything in terms of being an electrical contractor. Between my Dad (who still works for the company)’s experience as well as Devon and I we’ve done a little bit of everything. Variety in the work we do
kind of comes and goes in waves. There could be one phase where we’re doing a lot of commercial work and it seems like that’s all we’re doing and then there are a lot of times when we’re just doing residential,” Roberts said. “Our main focus is on higher-end residential, so we’ve had the privilege of working on some amazing houses for reputable
contractors in the Nanoose to Nanaimo area. We try to go the extra mile and make sure that when it comes to a question we have an answer for it. We invest quite a lot of time travelling and researching to stay on top of things. The way technology is everything is changing so quickly that if you fall behind there’s always someone else who is going
to fill that position if you can’t accommodate them. It’s our way of making sure that when a customer has a question we can have their answer.” For Roberts, the key to the company’s success and its lasting legacy are the relationships it has developed by delivering quality products with care and personal attention. “An important reason that our business is successful is we have a great relationship with our customers. They feel comfortable with us and they trust us. That is so important to make
those relationships happen,” he said. “When you have that family atmosphere it helps to make the whole business process more painless from working on the start of a project to the collecting of the cheque at the end. If I live long enough to see another generation running the company and doing a great job that would bring a smile to my face.” While not officially launched yet, the new company website will be online shortly at: http:// www.timelyneservices.ca/
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Congratulations on 30 Years in Business
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2067 Boxwood Road, Nanaimo Phone: 250.758.1771
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Congratulations on your success! Nanaimo 250-755-1117
Parksville/Qualicum 250-248-5477
We are proud to have partnered with you for over 30 years.
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CUMBERLAND
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NOVEMBER 2015
Cumberland: Canada’s First Buy Social Municipality
C
UMBERLAND – On September 23 Cumberland was recog n ized for its innovative leadership as this small BC municipality was officially certified as Canada’s first BUY SOCIAL municipality. “My congratulations go out to Cumberland on becoming the first municipality in BC to adopt Social Purchasing. Earlier this year, the Ministry adopted social impact purchasing guidelines to ensure that municipal staff consider social value, in add ition to f i na ncia l va lue, whenever they buy goods and services,” explained Minister
Michelle Stillwell. “Governments invest in social programs that improve life in our communities. Our purchasing dollars can also make a difference and it’s wonderful to see Cumberland take this step,” she said. Stilwell, who is the provincial Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation, also thanked Comox Valley MLA Don McRae for leading the initial development of the Provincial Social Impact Purchasing Guidelines, during his time as Minister. Buy Social Canada is an i nter n at ion a l ly re cog n i z ed
third-party program that certifies organizations and mun icipa l pa rtners who have demonstrated a commitment to the Buy Social principles and are proactively working to ensure that procurement works to add, rather than diminish, social value in society. Cumberland’s Mayor Leslie Baird said the community’s social procurement framework received unanimous support from all members of Council. “ T h e S o c i a l P ro c u re m e n t Fra mework ensu res that we still access goods and services through a competitive and
transparent bidding process, but we are now being a lot more strategic and proactive in procurement. Staff will leverage existing spend to achieve desirable community goals, while work i n g i n a l i g n ment w it h community values and maximizing returns for taxpayers,” he said. The mayor added that the decision was quite simple after hearing about the concept from consultant and area resident Sandra Hamilton, the former business manager to John Furlong. Hamilton, accompanied by Cumberland Councilor Jesse
Ketler, spoke at the Union of BC Municipalities Conference on the topic of Social Procurement and Economic Development. “Susta i nabi l ity at VA NOC meant doing the right thing” said Hamilton. Over the last 30 yea rs the env i ron menta l movement has done an excellent job of educating and increasing awareness surrounding the importance of developing more sustainable practices. This has led to considerable changes in behaviors and societal norms. Environmental considerations in government procurement have now become normalized.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Congratulations to Our Managers and Senior Managers Leaders are made, not born. That’s why MNP continues to develop and promote our best people to ensure we continue to meet all your business needs. Congratulations to our MNP team members on their recent manager and senior manager promotions within our Vancouver Island region. Experienced working with clients in a range of industries and sectors, these professionals bring the in-depth expertise and personalized solutions you need to get more from your business. National in scope with five local offices across the island, MNP continues to lead by example by delivering the people and the results you need to be successful. Contact James Byrne, CPA, CA, Regional Managing Partner at 250.734.4320 or james.byrne@mnp.ca
From left to right: • • • • • • • • •
Yui Sakuma, Manager, Assurance Services Sally Tang, Senior Manager, New Canadians Greg Bombardir, Manager, Private Enterprise Kali Meyer, Manager, Aboriginal Services Chris Duncan, Senior Manager, Forestry, Real Estate & Construction Tarah Fawdrey, Manager, Private Enterprise & Personal Insolvency Tayler Osmond, Manager, Real Estate & Construction Janna Olynyk, Manager, Assurance Services Josh Ghory, Manager, Private Enterprise
PARKSVILLE
NOVEMBER 2015
25
CITY ENDEAVOURS TO IMPROVE WATER SYSTEM Over the past few months the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce have participated with a working group to recruit physicians to
PARKSVILLE
the Parksville Qualicum Beach region
KIM BURDEN
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here are big things brewing in Parksville, but you will have to wait to read them in this space. Our phone has been ringing with investors wanting to know about several key pieces of property in Parksville and we can’t wait to be able to talk about them. What we can talk about is the preparations the City is making to improve their water system, a major change in personnel at the City of Parksville and a key economic development initiative in the Parksville Qualicum Beach region that you may not usually associate with economic development. On Saturday, November 21, 2015, from 8 am to 8 pm at the Pa rk s v i l le Com m u n it y a n d
Con ference Cent re a n d t h e Parksville Fellowship Baptist Church residents of Parksville will vote on a referendum which if successful will allow the City of Parksville to borrow the required $5.6 million to complete the funding package to build the Englishman R iver Water Service Treatment, Intake and Transmission Mains. This project will ensure a plentiful, high quality supply of water for the foreseeable future. ■■■ On December 31st, long time
C AO a nd for mer CFO, Fred Manson will retire. Fred has served the City of Parksville extremely well and the Parksv i l le & Distr ict Cha mb er of Commerce has enjoyed a strong working relationship with the City through several mayors and councillors because of his willingness to listen to the concerns of the business community. He has not only listened wel l but a lso sought out the opinion of the business community on a variety of issues. Fred was an invaluable ally and resource in the creation of the inter-municipal business license which allows businesses to work in communities from Ca m p b e l l R ive r to D u n c a n without having to register in each community. Council have followed their succession plan and appointed Debbie Comis, the former director of administrative services, as the new chief administrative officer effective January 1, 2016. T he Cha mber looks forward to working with Ms. Comis and expanding on our current positive relationship for the betterment of the business community in Parksville. ■■■ Over the past few months the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce have participated
with a working group to recruit physicia ns to the Pa rksv i l le Qualicum Beach region. As an aging community, our physicians are also aging and like many communities in BC we are actively seeking fresh recruits. Why is this an economic development issue? In order to attract new business and retain existing business it is essential to have a healthy community with all of the services required to support the families of business owners and their employees, that includes health care, education and the variety of services from landscapers to
auto repair shops. It is a pleasure to work with the progressive group of community supporters and existing young physicians around the table in the development of a strong and healthy region. Hopefully next month I will be able to step out of my cone of silence to share some of the great opportunities coming to Parksville. Kim Burden is the Executive Director of the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce. He can reached at kim@parksvillechamber.com
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26 COMMUNITY IN
NOVEMBER 2015
OCEANSIDE Cities make living in community attractive to young families Commercial and residential building permit applications more than double
Sandy beaches draw thousands of tourists CREDIT:DEBBIE TARDIFF
BETH HENDRY-YIM
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arksville/Qualicum Beach – Sheltered on the east coast of Vancouver Island the Parksville and Qualicum Beach Reg ion, w ith its long stretches of sandy beach, verdant forests, rivers and waterfalls, temperate climate and sporting and festival events, draws thousands of tourists every year. Stretching from Nanoose Bay in the south to Bowser in the north, it includes the residential areas of Coombs, Deep Bay, Errington, Hilliers and Qualicum Bay. Home to more than 44,500 residents, it is one of the fastest growing areas on the island. Kim Burden, director of the Chamber of Commerce in Parksville, said it isn’t just tourists being drawn to his city. New residents are discovering the city’s attractions as well. “People come here for t he lifestyle,” he said, adding that the population has seen steady g row t h si nce 2006 w it h a slightly slower growth rate than other communities within the
Our residents also want business and industry that is respectful of the lifestyle they came here to enjoy KIM BURDEN DIRECTOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, PARKSVILLE
Burden said people come to Parksville for the lifestyle Regional District of Nanaimo. Burden, who also coordinates the city’s economic development initiatives, said that the city is working at attracting individuals and families between the ages of 30 and 50, in order to lower the average age of 63.9 to the Canadian average of 41.9. He added that it’s just a matter of attracting the right investors. “We want to pay attention to historic industries like logging and fishing, as well as show potential investors the opportunities in new industries like
Mayor Lefebvre said Parksville’s infrastructure was designed for growth and longevity agriculture and aquaculture,” he said. “But our residents also want business and industry that is respectful of the lifestyle they came here to enjoy.” Mayor Marc Lefebvre said that although Parksville has never had a large employer driving the economy, it ma nages to thrive through the efforts of independent entrepreneurs and creative thinkers. In the 2008 Canadian Federation of Independent Business SEE COMMUNITY IN FOCUS | PAGE 27
OCEANSIDE
NOVEMBER 2015
COMMUNITY IN FOCUS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26
Report on Top Entrepreneurial Cities, Parksville was voted the second most entrepreneurial city in Canada, and it reported growth in new business even during the economic downturn. Da n iel Sa illa nd, ch ief administrative officer, Qualicum Beach, which is located within the traditional territory of
t he Q u a l icu m Fi rst Nat ion, said that to further encourage a you nger demograph ic, the city developed an attraction and retention strategy to look at elements of the living experience that draws people to a community. Some of the factors tie back to community planning in relation to schools and recreational facilities; others are as basic as ensuring affordable housing, continuing to improve
transportation options from the loca l a i r por t a nd creating a positive environment for business. “We’re focusing on attracting the independent worker who brings his or her own work and families,” he said, adding that part of the strategic plan included partnering with Kiwanis and investing $625,000 toward the construction of 34 low cost rental units.
It also included investing in the conversion of the historic tra i n station i nto a d ig ital media studio. It gives tech entrepreneurs, students and remote workers the opportunity to work, create and grow ideas into future businesses in a supportive and collaborative environment. In a partnership with Innovation Island, the studio offers programs and events to bring the entire region’s tech
27 community together. Sailland said, that since the studio’s start up in 2014, it has h ad more t h a n 80 members join and that over 80 per cent of the membership is part of the demographic of young families the community is looking for. “At a modest cost of $5 a day, ga me, app a nd softwa re designers and entrepreneurs can SEE COMMUNITY IN FOCUS | PAGE 28
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ARKSVILLE – Oceanfront getawaydestinationSunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort provides its customers with home-style accommodations, spacious rooms and a wide-range of premium amenities for guests and business travelers alike. The 65-unit property has been growing at a steady pace since its launch nine-years ago, and General Manager Robynne Shaw attributes her staff’s commitment to exceptional customer service as one of the key drivers behind the location’s success. “In business there are only so many things you can control,” she says. “Customer service is one of the things you can, and it’s been a priority since the day we opened to provide the best that we can at every opportunity. “It’s a significant part of our culture here, and has been a big contributor to what’s been achieved so far.” Sunrise offers its guests a ‘West Coast’ design, featuring open beam log construction throughout the Resort and stand-alone amenities, which include a meeting venue that
seats between 50 and 60 people, a heated outdoor pool, hot tub and fitness center. “We have a very comfortable ‘athome’ feel across the property” says Shaw. “You’re not going to find generic, bare rooms and walls here, there’s a very personal touch that’s gone into the layout and design. “One of the most important things for us is that we provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere. That intimate feel really sets us apart, and gives our clients and guests a unique opportunity to relax, connect and engage in a truly special environment.” The Resort’s meeting venue and excellent break-out room options fit a wide range of needs, including the Hummingbird Terrace, the Sandpiper Room and Heron Lounge. Customers have the flexibility to use outside caterers or they’re able to provide their own food and beverages. Customizable and flexible options are available and can be arranged by the friendly Resort staff along with any extra license that may be required for events. Sunrise Ridge is proudly managed by True Key Hotels & Resorts, and offers owners and guest’s access to vacation property luxury. Additional amenities and units are planned for the property in the not-too-distant future. www.sunriseridge.ca
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COMMUNITY IN FOCUS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27
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access the center’s excellent fiber optics backbone and the resources of the center’s community, w ith a dayca re i n close proxim ity and easy access to dow ntow n,” he said. B u t i t i s n’t j u s t h i g h te ch get t i n g at tent ion in Parksville/Qualicum Beach. Burden said that it is also growing as an agricultural hub. Week ly fa r m m a rkets are well represented by numerous cottage farms s u p p l y i n g a n a r ra y o f pro du c t s f rom a r t i s a n cheeses to strawberries and wine and specialty meat products to cured seafood. “Recently more than 100 hectares of farmland was purchased for beef cattle,” Burden said, adding that the appeal of the area is the relatively low cost of land and ease of transportation to larger market centers. Aquaculture is another i ndustr y w ith g row i ng potential in the region. Island Scallops, based near Qualicum Beach, represents Ca n ad a’s l a rgest private marine research h a tc h e r y a n d i t s f i r s t
fully-integrated shellfish producer. Committed to sustainable production of a high-quality all-natural product, Island Scallop pioneered scallop culture and holds more than 16 per cent of all shellfish culture area in BC waters. Burden added that for the potentia l i nvestor, the resources available in the region offer an array of creative and innovative opportunities such as in the traditional logging industry. “So much more can be done with our inventory of lu mber on the East Coast,” he said. “Wood fiber for instance has a variety of applications. We just need an investor with the right skillset.” Once dominated by resource-based industries, the region now sees most of its bu si ness g row t h in retail, sales, tourism, service, wholesale trade, construction and health a nd education sectors. The top three employers are in sales and service, trades tra nsport a nd equipment operators and related occupations and business, and in finance and administration. According to Lefebvre and Sailland, both Parksville and Qualicum Beach
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h ave a h i stor y of good pla n n i ng for g row th i n busi ness a nd the communities’ infrastructure. “We encourage complementary business growth rather than duplication,” Sailland said. Lefebvre added that his city’s long ter m i n f rastructu re pla n n i ng has allowed for expansion and longevity. T he f i rst h a l f of 2015 showed sig n i fica nt i ncreases in building permit applications. According to BC housing statistics i n b ot h Pa rk sv i l le a nd Qualicum Beach, the total number of building permit applications almost doubled between January and June of 2014 and the same time period in 2015, while residential applications more than doubled. Commercial permit applications saw the biggest i ncrea se i n Pa rksv i l le, jumping 10 times over the previous year. In both cities the average home price for a single family residential unit increased by approximately $5000 between September 2014 and the same time t h is yea r, to $ 403,000 from just under $400,000. The number of these units sold increased by 31 per cent.
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COMOX VALLEY
NOVEMBER 2015
29
Mt. Washington ski resort sold to American firm Utah-based Pacific Group Resorts Inc. also owns three other resorts throughout North America
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OMOX VALLEY – Mount Washington Ski Resort Ltd. has a new ow ner. Pacific Group Resorts Inc. of Park City, Utah, purchased the company November 3. “ O v e r t h e p a s t 25 y e a r s , George Stuart and his ownership group have invested a tremendous amount of money and energy into Mount Washington,” says Peter Gibson, president and general manager of Mount Washington Alpine Resort. “We are indebted to them for what they have helped us build here. Now it’s their time to retire from the ski business, and we’re pretty pleased with the group they have chosen to sell to.” Mount Washington will be the fourth resort in Pacific Group Resort’s current portfolio. “We are looking forward to work i n g w it h P GR I to t a ke Mount Washington to the next level with improvements like snowmaking where they have a strong background,” Gibson notes, add i ng P GR I’s ot her resorts are in the eastern U.S. and have virtually 100 per cent snowmaking coverage. Mount Washington Alpine Resort was opened in 1979 by two Campbell River businessmen, Henry Norie and Alex Linton. I n 1989, the founders sold their interests to George Stuart and a group of shareholders who invested into the resort by upgrading lifts, adding terrain
and base area buildings, and investing in infrastructure and roads. Pacific Group Resort’s president of resor t i nvest ments, Mark Fischer, states “We’ve been working with George Stuart and Darryl Eddy for a couple years now on the transition of the resort to new ownership. It finally worked out that this was the right time, and we are very excited to have the opportunity to add Mount Washington to our portfolio.” “ We a re ver y h ap p y to b e working with Peter (Gibson) and his management group,” Fischer adds. “T hey a re i ndustry pros, and we’re proud to have them join our team.” Fischer said he expected the staff and daily ops would remain largely unchanged from previous years. “We’ve been working on this transition for a number of years now,” added Gibson. “And, in addition to our own internal efforts, we owe a bit of thanks to some government staffers who helped us sort through permits and processes for the transfer. Truthfully, they’ve been great to work with.” Pacific Group Resorts (PGRI) n o w o p e ra t e s fo u r s k i a n d snowboa rd resorts a nd fou r golf courses, plus numerous other resort activities such as adventure parks with mountain coasters, canopy tours, ropes courses, tubing, and lift served
Courtenay Streamlining Development Application Process
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OURTENAY - Changes to the development application process at the City of Courtenay will soon pave the way for improved service for the development community. A new “one window” approach will provide a single point of contact for developers and centralize services into one department. Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula said the changes prioritize efficiency for both developers and staff. “These changes are based on feedback we’ve received from the development c o m m u n it y, a s w e l l a s o u r staff, on how we could make the development process easier,” noted Ja ng u la. “We’ve also looked at best practices in other communities. It’s in everyone’s best interests for the development application process to be as clear and smooth as possible, and we think this new approach is going to be a big step forward.” A ny development appl ication services that are currently provided by Engineering and
Public Works Department will be transferred to the Development Services Department, and a new “Subdivision and Development Servicing Division” will be created within the department. Engineering and Public Works will focus on core responsibilities of delivering utility and transportation services, with a focus on asset management. The transition will occur over the next several months, and is just one part of an overall effort to improve service for developers. Other changes include new subdivision applications rolled out earlier this year. As well, the development application bylaw was updated in 2014 to speed up application reviews. New comprehensive engineering specifications, standards and design guidelines are also being developed. Improving the development process – maximizing service and expediting the process – is one of Courtenay City Council’s top five strategic priorities for their current term.
mountain biking and hiking trails. The company’s Wisp Resort has a state of the art man-made white water rafting course at the top of the mountain which hosted the 2014 World Champion sh ips for k aya k i ng a nd canoeing. PGRI is an affiliate of Pacific Group which has built and developed signature base area facilities and real estate projects at W h istler i n B.C., at Mammoth and Squaw Valley
in California, at Solitude and Snow Basin in Utah, at Jackson Hole in Wyoming and at Copper Mountain in Colorado. Pacific Group has also developed master planned communities such as the 14,000 acre Wolf Creek Ranch east of Park City, Utah. Mou nt Wash i ng ton A lpi ne Resort is the Island’s only full ser v ice sk i a nd su m mer resor t host i ng approx i m ately 300,000 visits per year. T he guests enjoy five chairlifts and five carpet lifts accessing over
1,700 acres a nd 1,657 ver tical feet of alpine terrain. The resort also has 55 kilometers of designated cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails along with a dedicated Nordic lodge. Summer activities at Mount Wa sh i ng ton i nclude scen ic chairlift rides, disc golf, miniature golf, boardwalk chess and checkers, and dining. The resort also plays host to over 30 weddings per year plus numerous group and corporate events.
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COMOX VALLEY
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NOVEMBER 2015
CHAMBER LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH NEW MP’S
COMOX VALLEY DIANNE HAWKINS
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he Comox Valley Chamber applauds local Member of Parliament’s Rachel Blaney and Gord Johns on their election.
The chamber and the businesses we represent look forward to working with Blaney and Johns to put in place a context wherein local businesses can thrive and grow. As a former Chamber CEO, Johns is well-versed in the concerns of small business in our region, I welcome the opportunity to work with him. Our chamber also extends its congratulations to Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau and the Liberal team on winning a majority government. Having a stable majority government will permit the Liberal team to put in place a strong plan to promote
Canada’s competitiveness. During the campaign, the Liberals set out their vision for our economy. Their plan to invest in new infrastructure, done strategically, will be positive for Canada’s economy. New transportation infrastructure will increase access to markets for Canadian businesses of all sizes.” The Comox Valley Chamber was been very active during the campaign to position the priorities of our local business community. Issues such as the Governance Review, business taxes and infrastructure are very important to our community, and
we look forward to presenting these issues to Blaney and Johns. Many of the positions in the Liberal program align with our local priorities. Mr. Trudeau’s plan will be beneficial for the economic development of our community. We will press the new government to avoid a return to structural deficits, but we are confident we can use the resolutions adopted during the Canadian Chamber’s annual general meeting to find common ground that will help grow the economy. As Canadian Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Hon. Perrin Beatty stated, “When I
looked across the room at our AGM, I saw hundreds of chambers collectively representing over 200,000 businesses, working together to make our economy stronger. The will to work together with other chambers across Canada is strong. We all welcome the prospect of working with the government on building a stronger, more competitive Canada; a Canada that wins.” Dianne Hawkins is president and CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. Reach her at dhawkins@ comoxvalleychamber.com
THE COMOX VALLEY AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS CENTRE
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he Comox Valley Agricultural Awareness Centre (A AC) has issued a Request for Proposal for a Capital Campaign Consultant; this RFP closes on November 30th, 2015. The proposed new building will be located within the 44 acre Comox Valley Exhibition Fairgrounds, located just north of Courtenay. The AAC will be “a place to celebrate and support cultivated products of the Comox Valley” – a home for participants at all levels, in the production of
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Growing Sector (Agrifood, aquaculture, and small scale woodlot/ agroforestry) products. The design concept for the AAC is a one-of-a-kind, +/-9,000 squa re foot mu lti-pu rposed space providing a permanent home for the Comox Valley Exhibition Association Fall Fair and for 4-H activities and a place to host agricultural events such as producers markets, agricultural shows, conferences and educational activities. The facility will have a commercial kitchen that will allow producers and processors in the valley access to much needed affordable production kitchen space. Ultimately, the facility will pull the local industry/ growing sector together allowing them to develop a stronger and more viable food industry from field (and water) to plate. The AAC Business Plan provides the highest and best use of the building and the site as an agricultural/cultural/visitor concept. The project is estimated to cost $1.9 million. Construction is scheduled to commence in the Fall of 2016. For more information contact Therese Schwab at info@cvex.ca ■■■ Westerly Hotel to Convert Hotel Suites to Seniors Residences A development permit
application is expected to be submitted in November, 2015 for Phase I of a renovation project for the Westerly Hotel. The applicant is applying for approval for to convert existing hotel suites in the Westerly Hotel into 48 senior’s residences. Appropriate zoning is already in place. Phase II and III will include the addition of amenities, such as a new dining room, media room and lobby and the conversion of more hotel suites to create 43 additional seniors residences. In total, approximately 91 new residences for seniors will be created. ■■■ Park Place Seniors Living Park Place Seniors Living is moving forward with its expansion to its Campbell River facility. In addition, the City of Campbell River has approved the development permit application for the construction of a three-storey, 36,000 sq. ft. addition to the New Horizons care facility on 14th Avenue. Last year Island Health issued a Request for Proposals seeking proponents to own and operate 40 new community-based care beds in Campbell River by 2017, and Park Place Seniors was selected as the preferred proponent. This new wing will house 40 new publicly-funded care beds, and five new
private-pay beds for a total residential care capacity of 126 publicly-funded and 13 private-pay beds. The estimated cost of this new addition is $5.6 million. ■■■ Third Quarter Construction Statistics The construction statistics and values for January to September, 2015 were up this quarter in the region of the Comox Valley and Campbell River mostly due to the construction of the new hospitals in Campbell River and Courtenay, and the John Hart Dam Generating Station replacement project. Single family home construction continued to decrease this quarter in all jurisdictions except for Comox, which reported a modest gain of three more single family homes compared to 2014. New single family home construction at this time in 2014 was 266 units in the Comox Valley/Campbell River region compared to 174 units this year. This is a decrease of 92 permits, a decline of 35 per cent. Total values year-to-date were $274 million compared to $123 million last year. Clarice Coty can be reached at clarice@buildinglinks.ca, and through www.buildinglinks.ca
NOVEMBER 2015
NORTH ISLAND/CAMPBELL RIVER
New SPCA facility proposed Campbell River Mirror AMPBELL RIVER - The BC SPCA is planning to build a new animal centre in Campbell River. Craig Daniell, the BC SPCA’s chief executive officer, told city council at its recent meeting that Campbell River’s current facility is one of 11 the organization plans to replace over the next 10 years. Daniell said the total cost of the project is $53 million. The BC SPCA h a s com m itted to raising half the required funding, with the provincial government chipping in $5 million. Daniell said in Campbell River, the goal is to have a new 3,600 square foot, full service community animal centre in order to expand its programming. “We’ve been operating out of a leased facility for the last 20 months or so. While it’s worked really well for us – we’re busy – m a k i n g a re a l d i f ferenc e adopting a lot of animals out and taking care of animals, that is really not our long term goal,” Daniell said. “We’re not able right now to have a really strong youth education program.” Daniell said a larger facility would also help the SPCA better connect with the community. He sa id for exa mple, i n Nanaimo, where a new facility is currently under construction, the SPCA is partnering with a local women’s shelter so that
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women fleeing from abuse will have somewhere safe to house their pet. Daniell said the SPCA is estimating it will cost around $1.6 million to construct Campbell River’s new centre, not including land acquisition costs. “We are well on our way to achieving that particular goal,” Daniell said. Daniell said the SPCA would be open to a number of different partnering options w ith the city, including a donation of land, a shared ownership facility model, or a retrofit of an existing building at a reduced cost. The SPCA would like to have the animal centre up and running within two years’ time.
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Island Hospitals Project wins Social Infrastructure award Campbell River Mirror AMPBELL RIVER - Island Health’s North Island Hospitals Project has been recognized for its innovation and leadership in social infrastructure development. The project was named the Silver Award Winner, Best Social Infrastructure Project North America, at the North American P3 (public-private partnerships) awards held on Oct. 8 in New York City. The awards were presented by Partnerships Bulletin, a UK-based publication that covers P3s globally. “It’s great that our capital projects are receiving the recognition they deserve,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. “We’re showing our leadership in creating a sustainable health system that allows for the development of innovative, environmentally-friendly projects that add value to the community.” The $606.2 million North Island Hospitals Project – which includes a new 95-bed acute facility in Campbell River and a new 153-bed acute facility in the Comox Valley, was celebrated for its leadership in innovative financing, socio-economic benefits and environmental standards. It featured the first green bond issued in North America to fund a public-private partnership. Throughout construction, the project is expected to generate approximately 1,900 direct and 1,400 indirect jobs during construction. “We recognized a need, championed for these new hospitals and today’s award shows just how positive the impact these hospitals will have on their communities,” said Don McRae, MLA for Comox Valley. “The North Island Hospitals Project is going to have a great impact on this community once opened as well as for generations to come.” “This award reaffirms that the North Island Hospitals Project continues to set new directions and standards in providing state-of-the-art health care
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to Island residents,” said Island Health Board Chair Don Hubbard. “Congratulations to all involved, and our thanks to the Province of British Columbia, the ministries of Finance and Health and Partnerships BC, for their continued support and guidance.” The new hospitals will increase acute care capacity, improved clinical outcomes for patients, staff and physicians, while improving Island Health’s ability to recruit and retain physicians and other healthcare professionals. “It’s great that the hospitals which will provide health care to residents of our region are continuing to be globally recognized for innovation,” said Charlie Cornfield, chair of the Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District. “As our area’s population grows and health service demands continue to change, these two new state-of the-art hospital facilities will deliver high-quality acute care for years to come.” The hospitals are setting new environmental goals. They have been designed in accordance with the BC Hydro Power Smart Program, which requires improved energy efficiency. The facilities have also been designed to maintain LEED Gold Certification energy and greenhouse gas emissions targets, operating period sustainability requirements and support British Columbia’s commitment to incorporate wood products into the project design and construction of the facilities. “Island Health is very pleased to accept the Best Social Infrastructure Project award from Partnerships Bulletin,” said NIHP Chief Project Officer Tom Sparrow. “This recognition once again validates the tremendous efforts from so many people at Island Health and Tandem Health Partners working in partnership to bring a new standard of acute health care design and programming to mid- and North Vancouver Island residents with these new hospitals in the Comox Valley and Campbell River.”
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NORTH VANCOUVER ISLAND DAVID MITCHELL
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here is much happening on North Vancouver Island these days. On Cormorant Island the Village of Alert Bay and the Namgis First Nation created a joint committee to lead the development of the “Tides of Change” economic development plan. EcoPlan International was the firm retained to consult with the two communities and develop the plan. This kind of cooperation and coordination the First Nation and the Village is bound to produce good and lasting results. EcoPlan International is also the consultant to the Village of Port
Alice as it develops an economic development blueprint “Port of Potential” to help mitigate the ups and downs of their largest employer, Neucel Specialty Cellulose. In both of these areas and as a result of a focus on economic development planning, a number of people have come forward wanting to start their own businesses. A sure sign that entrepreneurism is alive and well, especially during times of adversity. ■■■ In Port Hardy the Kawatsi Economic Development Corporation formed by the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw First Nations continues to be an economic force in that community. In its first year of operation the Corporation has now purchased two hotels, the Hardy Inn, which will be renamed Kwa’lilas Hotel and the Seagate Hotel, which will be renamed the “Seagate Landing.” Plans are made for major redevelopment of both hotels. KEDC also officially opened its 10,000 square foot cold storage unit this fall. ■■■ Port Hardy is also working on a new Freight Policy with BC Ferries to open the shipping corridor
to the central coast. There is a new IT company servicing Port Hardy, Izco Solutions Ltd. Allison McCarrick has been promoted from Director of Financial Services to the CAO of the District of Port Hardy. ■■■ Visitors to the Vancouver Island North region from June to September 2015 were asked if they would like to submit their email addresses to receive a survey once they returned home. 971 email addresses were collected and 522 surveys were completed. The results of the survey show that the average length of stay in the region was 5.5 nights. We learned that 55 per cent of these visitors planned their trip at least one month in advance, with 12 per cent of those planning more than six months ahead. The top sources for information were destination-specific websites, friends and relatives, and regional tourism guides or brochures. Top attractions visited were parks and trails, and beaches, while top activities participated in were beach activities, whale watching, and hiking. Vancouver Island North received a 4.6 out of 5 rating for overall satisfaction
from respondents to this survey. Despite some difficult times last spring the Port McNeill and District Chamber of Commerce is up and running and planning its annual Business Awards Gala for November 20. The Chamber recently launched its redeveloped website: http://www.portmcneill.net/ ■■■ Community Futures Mt. Waddington was pleased to be the
recipient of the Community Futures BC “Investment Fund Portfolio Award.” In total the CF’s activity last year resulted in $10 million dollars of investment in North Island businesses. David Mitchell is the General Manager of Community Futures Mount Waddington. He can be reached at david@cfmw.ca or 250-956-2220
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CUSTOM HOMEBUILDER NOMINATED FOR TORCH AWARD GR Excalibur Custom Homes has been building high end custom homes on Vancouver Island since 2005
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ANAIMO – Commercial or residential project, renovation or new build, GR Excalibur Custom Homes has completed them all – and all with the same level of care, craftsmanship and dedication to doing the job right. “We basically do a little bit of everything. We don’t just do custom homes, we’ll do whatever’s asked of us, anything that we feel we can do and do a good job at we’ll definitely take on,” explained company founder and owner Gary Richardson. “Commercial, customs, higher end stuff is what we like to do we like to show what we can do. We’ve done a custom spec home before and we sold it off, we just haven’t had the need to do any spec homes since as we’re always pretty busy.” The work produced by this high end custom home builder is so exceptional the company has been nominated for the Better Business Bureau’s 2015 Torch Awards in the Construction Category. This Nanaimo-based custom home builder began operations in 2005 and was incorporated in 2009. GR Excalibur Custom Homes (with the GR standing for Gary Richardson) is a fairly new company, but one that undertakes projects with an experienced corps of highly experienced and skilled workers. “I work as the general contractor on a project. I have quite a few people I work with I currently have about six guys on staff. I have all my own sub trades. I’m a real hands-on builder, I’m happiest when I’m out in the field. Sitting in the office is when I’m most stressed. I’m dealing with suppliers, the trades, all aspects of the job,” Richardson said. “Doing the actual work is what I enjoy, the paperwork of course is the part you have to do but I
Company owner Gary Richardson is involved in all aspects of the projects he builds from the planning state onward
“We’re just a team of
A hallmark of any Excalibur Custom home is an attention to detail in all aspects, from the colors used to the quality of the appliances
happy go lucky having a good time builders” GARY RICHARDSON OWNER GR EXCALIBUR CUSTOM HOMES
don’t really like it. I love picking up a hammer, I’m at the jobs every day. I have my guys that I lead through then there are the many trades that I deal with as well. It’s really hard to say how many projects we’ve done since we started. We’ve done renos, we’ve done basement suites we’ve worked on projects from Courtenay to Port Alberni,” he said. “In Courtenay we worked commercial as we did the Wendy’s up there. In Port Alberni we did the very first legal basement suite in Port Alberni. We’ve worked in Parksville and in Qualicum we’re doing a basement suite as well. We’ve done renovations on a home in Parksville. Over the years we’ve probably done more renos than we have new builds. That said, in the last couple of years we’ve probably done more new builds, so things are always changing.” Richardson’s decision to become a custom homebuilder was a natural evolution of his earlier interests. “I’ve been in construction since I was 16 years old. I got
Each high end home built by Excalibur Custom Homes is unique and reflects the tastes and preferences of the clients they build for hired through a friend’s Dad and we were mixing concrete and doing decks in Port Alberni as a kid. I had some experience building railings and anything else his Dad wanted us to do. Then I became a marine mechanic and then I worked for the city. I’ve always tried my hands at every part of the project. I’m not a professional framer by any means but I could do plumbing, I could install doors, I can do most of the trades,” he
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said. “The idea of starting my own company began when I built my own house. I decided to take the time off and I’m going to do mine the way I want, and then by doing mine I decided I was also going to do a spec home as well. Just by doing those two houses people were coming up and asking if I could do theirs. That’s what started it all. We designed our own home. We were up in Canmore, Alberta and
we were up in Whistler and we took pictures of what we liked and everything we saw we wanted to do something a little more unique. My wife (Nelda Richardson who is also co-owner of the company) and I designed our home from scratch and decided to take the big leap and it wasn’t as hard as everybody made it out to be.” GR Excalibur Custom Homes SEE CUSTOM HOMEBUILDER | PAGE 33
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It’s all about the team: Gary Richardson (third from right) knows his company’s strength rests with the skills and talents of his crew
CUSTOM HOMEBUILDER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32
began operations in 2005 during what could only be described as a slower market for local homebuilders. At the time the company’s focus was more on quality renovation work than on constructing new homes. The company was also involved at the time in numerous commercial projects including renovating the Nanaimo Community Futures office, rebuilding a solarium for a local Wendy’s Restaurant and construction work at the renovated downtown Nanaimo White Spot outlet. It was during this early state that Excalibur took on one
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of its largest and ultimately most challenging projects, an entire apartment building. “At that time I also had the opportunity to take over a large project, a 45-unit apartment block on Nicol Street. I got called in basically at the framing stage after two guys were fired as they were basically over their heads with the project. We had just come back from Mexico and I ended up sitting in the car for 45 minutes before I was brave enough to get out as I’d seen buildings in Mexico that looked better than that one,” Richardson remembers, with a smile. “If it wasn’t for the engineers all kind of standing there knowing
that I had a lot of building professionals to actually lean on to be supportive the project probably wouldn’t have happened. I went out and basically talked to them and they were really good people. They were ready to sign off and walk right off the project and I said that if you were to work with me I might take this on just as a big goal. We managed to whip it off,” he said. “We took it over and we got everything passed from that point on and I pretty much told everybody that if I could do that and work with the guys that were there, I could pretty much do
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anything. It was more of it just being a challenge for myself. It was a big building, we took it on and we got it completed and finalized with the city and I think I took a lot of stress off of their hands as well.” As a person who grew up on Vancouver Island Richardson has an ongoing respect for the environment and the unique beauty of the island itself, a desire that is reflected by the projects he creates. “I like working in the West Coast style, I like working with timber I enjoy timber work, the natural beauty of it. We don’t have to put a lot into every house but I always like to incorporate a little bit. You never know, I might switch to a modern style, different types of roof pitches just for a different look,” he explained. SEE CUSTOM HOMEBUILDER | PAGE 35
Turning dreams into realities Excalibur’s custom-built projects incorporate all aspects of the job including landscaping and finishing
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NOVEMBER 2015
Depending on the budget and the individual preferences of the client, Excalibur can provide any comfort or feature
CUSTOM HOMEBUILDER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34
Top quality features are incorporated into all Excalibur Custom Home projects from countertops to the choice of appliances
“We make a lot of decisions on the fly, only so much of its on paper, we try to make it better when we’re doing it. That’s what makes it that much better. When I’m on the job site I’ll be making decisions as we go. I’ll say ‘hey,
what do you think about this?’ and that sort of thing. We definitely do that. At the end of the project it makes it that much more appealing and unique. We do all of our timber framing in-house. We haven’t done a fully timber framed house yet but with the right client and the right budget it’s something we’d like to look at.� He is equally as passionate for the comfort and energy efficiency of the homes he builds. “We’re just improving the efficiency of our houses continually. We don’t advertise ourselves as a Green Builder but we’ve been building our houses with green products ever since we built our first house (his own) in 2005. We were ahead of the curve, we used hot water on SEE CUSTOM HOMEBUILDER | PAGE 36
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demand because it was in Europe and it just makes sense not to heat a hot water tank 23 hours a day when you’re only using it for 45 minutes. We’ve incorporated the big Rinnai hot water systems. We believe if it’s in the budget to use an air to air high efficiency heat pump,” he said. “We looked at geothermal but by the time you pay for it the technology involved with air to air will have already caught up to it or passed it by the time you pay off that extra cost for geothermal. We try to spend everybody’s money very wisely of course. It’s like saying you’ve got geothermal but by the time you pay for all of that drilling and the extra costs it takes too many years to recoup it back. We’ve been doing R60 in our attics since 2005, the Code finally caught up to R50 so we’re still ahead. The last few houses I’ve done are R28 in the walls, the Code now is R22. We’re ahead of the curve.” Richardson’s wife and business partner Nelda says their company takes a personal interest in every project they undertake. “We try to build every house as if it were our own. When operating from that perspective we ensure quality. When you start thinking that something is good enough then it’s probably time to move on and find something that’s going to challenge you. The key thing is that we’re always striving to achieve something greater. We
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It all starts somewhere, even the most unique dream home begins with a solid foundation and Excalibur is involved in all aspects of the build never want to become complacent with the work we do. Our goal is to always deliver the best that we can in every project regardless of size,” she said. Nominated for the Better Business Bureau’s 2015 Torch Awards (Construction Category), Excalibur Homes is the only general contractor from the Nanaimo area nominated for the award, and one of only eight on all of Vancouver Island. “It’s not something you can nominate yourself for so somebody has thought pretty highly of us to do that,” he said. “People are coming up to me and saying this is a big deal so I’m really surprised and pleased over being nominated. But of course
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it’s not just about me, it’s about the guys to, we’re just a team of happy go lucky having a good time builders.” Nelda Richardson stated that renovation work with an eye on improved energy efficiency is a frequently asked for assignment. “There is an increasing interest in energy saving in all things. There a significant mix out there right now. People are doing renos because they want to stay in their existing homes longer than before. But they are also doing the renos to aid with selling their properties. What we see from time to time is that the cost of living is getting pretty significant and people are expanding their
No detail is too small, even the selection of wood for a home’s entryway can enhance the dramatic effect the builder is seeking to achieve family and their home. They’re parents are getting older and they want to put in a suite. Or their parents are ill so they want to accommodate that change. More often now renos are more to enhance the space to accommodate other family members.” Building a company that lasts, and continues to deliver quality, innovative projects is one of Richardson’s long range goals. “I would like to create a company that gets passed on. That’s going to be well known well respected and looked after. We want to reach a point where clients are waiting for us, some already are, we maybe can’t do it right now but we’ll get to you in such and such.
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I’m not into it for the money but we are into it for making a living. It is a business after all,” he said. “My legacy is my work - my legacy is that when I leave the house, when I close the door behind me I feel good about it. I will know every time that the client has a quality nice, tight, safe house which ideally they will pass on either to a family member or to the community. We leave them on a positive footing they tell us that they’ll miss us once the project’s done. It’s about relationship building but it’s also about doing the job right.” To learn more about this company visit its website at: http:// www.excaliburcustomhomes.ca/
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UCLUELET CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
us and we have six out of seven new members so obviously the people wanted change and there are some growing pains but it just comes down to the same things – getting the knowledge, taking the time to read up on it, figure out what your Acts are, we have 46 different Acts that we need to be polished up on so we can figure out what’s what.” Unlike in a more traditional organizational model the Ucluelet First Nation has opted to drop the term Chief when referring to its Nation’s leaders. “We’re a self-governed Nation and we have a President and six Legislature Members,” Dorion said. “On Apri l 11, 2011 the Nation signed a treaty and it then changed over into a President and Legislature. It was a choice t hey went w it h, somet i mes people will go with Chief Councilor and Council, but in this case the Nation decided to go with President and Legislature. We’re into our fifth year and this is the second government under treaty with a new President and five new Legislature Members. It’s new, there’s definitely some steep learning curves as far as everything goes. The blessing that we have is that we have a young Legislature with a great educational background so we’re very excited about the opportunities.” Part of the team of outside professionals assisting the UFN in
“We’re open for business and geographically we have a real advantage Na’as has been good to us” LES DORION UCLUELET FIRST NATION PRESIDEN
its nation-building efforts is the Parksville-based consulting firm Mayne, Burger and Associates. This small and newly formed entity brings a wealth of municipal government and administrative savvy to the table, as the company’s principals include no less than three former local mayors. Ex-Parksville Mayors Edgar Mayne and Chris Burger have joined their talents with John Douglas the one-time Mayor of Port Alberni to create a consulting firm with a unique grasp of the intricacies of municipal government and bureaucracy. The company expanded in September to include the services of Doug Clark, a retired commercial lawyer from Vancouver. “We’re a small consultancy firm working primarily with First Nations. We have other clients but we have sort of zeroed in on the First Nations niche. Basically what’s happened here is that we’ve taken over as acting CEO (Chief Executive Officer) for the Ucluelet First Nations,” stated company founder Edgar Mayne.
Nestled within 600 acres of old growth forest, one of the unique attractions of the Wya Point Resort is its rustic eco yurt accommodations
Wya Point Resort has been artfully designed to provide luxury accommodation, while serving as a tribute to the rich cultural heritage of the UFN “Our job is to help operate their existing companies, they have six different companies. They have the Wya Point Resort, the Thornton Motel, the Kwisitis Feast House Restaurant, they also have a forest industry, they have a fishery and they have a
construction company. So we’re in charge of all of those. We’re involved in the day to day operations of the various companies.” One of the other principals of the company, Chris Burger, said his firm’s primary goal is to provide the Ucluelet First Nation
37 with the administrative tools it needs to operate completely on its own. “The work that we do is ultimately to put the Nation on a footing where they can be self-sustaining and carry on independently, so in a way we work to try and eliminate ourselves from the picture,” he said. “Our hope is that by March (when their current contract ends) we will have enough of the background structure in place that will provide the Nation with additional options. There’s no question that we really enjoy this work, it’s been very fascinating so we would likely want to continue with them in some capacity.” “Ed Mayne and his company were shortlisted for the CEO projects as we were looking to have some expertise in the management side come in. His company had won that opportunity. From there we’ve granted them a short term extension and they’re doing a bunch of other inside work for us, polishing everything up for us and helping us with our direction,” Dorion said. “Ultimately the goal is to run everything on our own but I think that what you need to do is to offer every First Nation member the opportunity, providing that you have the education, knowledge and background. Everyone is entitled to the opportunity but you have to have the background to back it up. You can’t just give someone the job because they’re SEE UCLUELET | PAGE 38
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PORT ALBERNI
NOVEMBER 2015
PORT ALBERNI SURVEY OF ITS BUSINESS COMMUNITY DURING SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 128 businesses were visited over a five hour period with 77 surveys completed on the spot and 51 left for completion
PORT ALBERNI
online at a more convenient time
PAT DEAKIN
O
n Friday October 23rd, members of Port Alberni’s City Council, the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures conducted a ‘Business Walks’ through all five of the City’s business areas. Teams went door to door to ask
business owners or managers six questions. Three of the questions were common to other Business Walks initiatives in BC so that results will be able to be compared across communities. Those three questions revolved around the current state of business,
what could be done to improve business and what was enjoyed about the business district they are in. The other three questions were aimed at understanding if a Commercial Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw would be utilized by the business and if so, what incentives would work best to accomplish the improvements they wanted to make. The teams were supported by City Staff and a Regional Manager from the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism & Skills Training. 128 businesses were visited over a five hour period with 77 surveys completed on the spot and 51 left for completion online at a more convenient time. Although full results won’t be available until later in November, the debrief following the event
indicated most businesses had a very busy summer with some recording their best ever sales in decades of business. Most are doing well currently and owners were grateful for the inquiry into their well-being. Merchants also took the opportunity to talk about issues and opportunities which were surprisingly very specific to the business district rather than to the community overall. Visitors to our community are always amazed to learn we have such a diversity of business districts so here is a short primer: the upper Johnston Road area (on Highway 4 to the west coast) is where most of the ‘big box’ and national/international franchises are located; three districts (lower Johnston Road; 10th & Redford; and Uptown are each host
UCLUELET
One of the many business ventures operated by the Ucluelet First Nation is the spectacular Kwisitis Feast House Restaurant Having the unique opportunity to create an independent nation, having a blank page on which to write the history of the foundation of a political entity that had not existed since before the arrival of the first European settlers to the region, is a task and privilege Dorion and his Legislature has embraced with a passion. Learning from the mistakes of the past, his group is determined to incorporate the Ucluelet First Nation’s history and culture into all aspects of its endeavors. “In the process, in addition to being a self-governed Nation is trying to retain as much of our culture as possible. That is very important, it’s imperative that we do that – it’s written right into our Acts that we retain as much culture as possible. For our new government that is a big part of our mandate and our goal is to employ at every opportunity the skills needed to preserve and share our culture,” he said. “First Nations have always recognized that we live off the Earth, the ocean and the land. Our people have lived off of that for thousands of years. You only reap what you sow, so you have to take care of the land and you have to take care of the ocean by not polluting and destroying what it is. That’s always been our
us. People travel here from afar, from all across the globe and they marvel at what we have and at how vast our lands are and also how pristine they are because we’re not over saturating it with concrete and steel. We’re striving to leave everything in the best condition that we can, to try and leave it in the same condition as when we arrived,” he said. “The raw beauty of the place, that’s what got me involved. I’ve been away from here for 50 years so I came back and looked around and said Oh My God! That’s the sense people from all over the world experience when they come here. That’s a real advantage that we can capitalize on. We’re open for business and geographically we have a real advantage. Na’as has been good to us.”
Another unique element in the business mix operated by the Ucluelet First Nation is the Wya Point Resort, built on the Nation’s old village site So there are just over a couple of hundred people who are at home and there are about 430 who are away from home, with many of those living in the Alberni area and elsewhere on the Island,” he said. “Our goal, as business opportunities become more available within the Nation, would be to see more members returning home to take advantage of them. When I ran for this position one of the planks on my platform was equality for all members. Most people leave small communities, it doesn’t matter if your Native or not, you leave because you want a better life with more opportunities.” “A big part of what we do is to establish training programs to get those capable members of the Nation the support they need so they can take on some of these roles. As you can imagine what we’re trying to undertake here is kind of new territory for them,” Burger explained. “We’re literally nation-buildi ng. With the Ucluelet Fi rst Nation you have a micro-scale nation within a nation, with all of the issues that you might expect on a national level in our country. You basically have federal, provincial and local responsibilities all being administered by a very small group of people who are really in uncharted territory, literally creating law as they go.”
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 as organized as we can, use the template that’s been developed and work with other First Nations that do the same thing and help them out. We’re all very fortunate in that none of us are out there doing this because we need a job, we’re doing it because we really want to help and it’s very interesting to do.” For the Ucluelet First Nation the land and the sea are its greatest asset when considering its economic development plans. “We have well over one million people come out the west coast each year along Highway 4 we want them to have a good experience and to learn something culturally about
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37
a member you have to acquire the expertise in whatever task it is, whether it is the restaurants or resorts or whatever.” Mayne sees a dual role for his consultancy firm with its involvement with the UFN. “This job really is divided into two. The first part of it is operating the existing companies and training their people so they can eventually take over operations on their own. It’s not our intent to be there for the rest of time. Our job is to get them up and running, making sure all the systems are in place and then to find the right people to carry forward from there. In a sense our objective is to put ourselves out of business – in terms of running these companies for the Ucluelet First Nation,” he said. “All of their businesses are either in the hospitality / tourism industry or in the resource-based industries. Our goal is to diversify that. These industries, especially the hospitality side of it is mainly seasonal in nature. We need to diversify the business base so that we can get into 12 month a year operations. It is certainly one of the most beautiful areas in the world, and the Wya Point Resort is without doubt the most gorgeous spot on the whole west coast in my mind. That segues into the other part of our job which is to work with them to find other appropriate businesses that we can bring online for them.” For President Dorion another goal, and genuine reward for the development of an independent nation, is to encourage the return of members who have moved away. “We only have just over 200 who live here at home. We’re not a reservation anymore, it used to be a reservation under the Indian Act, but we’re not a reservation now so we prefer to call it home and away from home.
to a terrific variety of small retail businesses, restaurants, coffee shops and service oriented firms; and lower 3rd & 4th Avenue also have a mix of business types and, arguably, has the largest concentration of firms serving industry and contractors to industry. As always, we extend readers of the Business Examiner an invitation to ‘Stop’ and/or ‘Turn Left’ in Port Alberni on your way through to our neighbours on the west coast. You will be pleasantly surprised by what you see and experience.
Another unique element in the business mix operated by the Ucluelet First Nation is the Wya Point Resort, built on the Nation’s old village site objective.” But the realities of the 21st Century and the needs for economic stability and growth has also not been forgotten by the UFN Legislature. “Don’t get me wrong, a decimal point is a very important thing to us, but it’s not revenue above all else. We need to have businesses that are profitable but at the end of the day in the grand scheme of things it comes down to not just creating businesses to create something quickly. Nation building is a long term thing. Our people have been here for thousands of years and have no plans on going anywhere else but up.” For Mayne the work being carried out with the UFN will assist his company when working with other First Nations. “Our wish is we want to be able to get this
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NOVEMBER 2015
PAINTING CONTRACTOR CELEBRATING 25 YEARS IN BUSINESS “We have a pretty small For the past 25 years Lantzville Painting and Maintenance has worked on both commercial and residential projects
crew so we’re kind of run ragged at times.” KEVAN DICK OWNER, LANTZVILLE PAINTING AND MAINTENANCE
N
ANAIMO – When someth i ng is ubiqu itous it’s always there, omnipresent, unnoticed unless it’s suddenly removed. When watching a movie the musical score is in the background del icately setti ng the stage, changing the mood. If the music suddenly stopped but the rest of the action continued the effect would be jarring and uncomfortable. If the construction of a house is equivalent to the entire move, the painting is its background music. “If I had any one message to get out it would be for people to have respect for the painting business because if you have a house that you have bought the first thing you do when you walk in the door is look at what? The walls and the trim, and then you look at the kitchen and that sort of thing. The first thing that anybody sees is the appearance of the walls,” explained Kevan Dick, the owner of Lantzville Painting and Maintenance. Celebrati ng its 25 t h yea r i n business, Lantzville Painting and Maintenance is one of a small army of skilled providers and technicians across the region that fall under the general category of ‘sub trades’ within the local construction industry. When a major commercial or residential building project takes place it is typically administered by a general contractor. While many of these larger firms have in-house electricians, plumbers painters and others, many others sub-contract the specialized work to companies like Dick’s. “G enera l ly when you sta rt pa i nt i n g w it h a c ont ra c tor they’l l conti nue to use you. There are some guys who only go for t he pr ice - but some people have learned over the yea rs exactly who it is they ca n tr ust to do the job. You have to stay with them and you get what is essentially a team together, I’ve been doing some painting for some people two or th ree times but generally with the same contractors,” he explained. “Most painters do both residential and commercial jobs and we do a lot of that. I do a lot of com mercia l bu i ld i ngs for Bob Wall (R.W. (Bob) Wall Ltd. Contracting) - we did the Conference Centre downtown actually. Right now I work on a regular basis with about five SEE PAINTING CONTRACTOR | PAGE 40
Kevan Dick, the owner of Lantzville Painting and Maintenance, has been operating his commercial painting company for two and a half decades
Lantzville Painting and Maintenance is a true family business, with sons Chris (left) and Michael regularly working alongside their father
Kevan Dick (insert) and his company was involved with the painting of the Vancouver Island Conference Centre when it was under construction
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different major contractors, plus all of the other stuff you do when people just call you up. But the five major contractors we work with are keeping us super busy right now. We have a pretty small crew so we’re kind of run ragged at times. Right now there’s me and my t h ree son s a nd a not her g uy who’s been with us for five or si x years and the occasional part time extra people I call in when we’re short of bodies.” Lantzville Painting and Maintenance is a company that almost never happened, and never would have had it not been for a serendipitous phone call from Dick’s brot her. “I h ave f ive brothers and a sister. We’re all from here but I moved to the Interior after I lost my job to go work at a saw mill,” he said. “My middle brother Brenton was already working up there in Summerland so he told me I should come up to work and I did. I actually liked it there, I liked the mill but moving up the ranks was pretty hard to do. I was eventually running that small mill but I was working 70 hours per week. I was just working and working and working but wasn’t getting any more money for doing it. So I came down here and I started painting in the fall of 1990.” W h i le h av i ng no for m a l
NOVEMBER 2015
background as a commercial painter but having a willingness to learn and a strong work ethic Dick’s local family connections played a key role in the establishment of his company. “My other brother Trevor was down here and was painting in the summer and he said ‘oh you should come down and buy my painting company off of me and start painting’. It was called Un iversity House Pa i nti ng, sort of like College Pro Painters he just started his own thing and they basically did exterior house painting in the summer months,” Dick explained. “So I ca me dow n here a nd thought that was a great idea and just sort of jumped in and started doing it. I really had no background as a painter, but was just interested in it. My brother David and I were going to go into partnership together and that’s what we did. The plan is that this is a family business so eventually it’ll be passed down to my boys (Chris, Michael and Nicholas). Hopefu l ly they’l l keep me in the style to which I’d like to become accustomed. But really, just for myself, I’d probably have to keep working. I couldn’t just sit around somewhere doing nothing I’d go crazy if I couldn’t work.” Lantzville Painting and Maintenance routinely serves clients across the Central Vancouver Island area and has become established as a solid and
professional provider of commercial painting services. “One of the biggest problems, one of the biggest impediments to any kind of expansion is that we’re finding it hard to find people. Basically I need more guys who like to learn,” he said. “The boys are definitely more hands on than I am. They like the business part and they like to get dirty to. They’re all painters, they’re very good. But over this length of time I’m getting better at the business part. My long range plan is to hopefully back down a bit and spend more time doing estimates and that sort of thing, I like doing that. I find dealing with the clients is fun I can talk with people that’s not a problem at all.” For Dick one of h is biggest rewards is that customers are beginning to recognize the fundamental benefits he and the other sub trades are providing their clients. “People are finally getting the idea that painting is something to be taken seriously. The thing is everyone thinks they can paint, everyone can pick up a brush, but to do it well requires skill and attention to detail which is hopefully what separates the amateur from the professional. There are a lot of peripheral guys out there who just kind of come and go. There are a lot of guys who are trying to make a life painting too, but I think there’s enough work for everybody.”
Nicholas Dick, like his older brothers, has had the unique experience of growing up with the business
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WHO IS SUING WHOM
42 WHO IS SUING WHOM The contents of Who’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 Amada Ventures Inc 7th Flr 1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Lugossy, Edward H CLAIM $ 10,107 DEFENDANT Blanchard Rigging Ltd PO Box 14, Hornby Island, BC PLAINTIFF Kloppenburg, John Y CLAIM $ 6,666 DEFENDANT Eagleye Residential Services Ltd 4599 Chatterton Way, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Alpine Insulation Ltd CLAIM $ 6,193
DEFENDANT Eagleye Restoration & Construction 1027 Pandora Ave, Victoria, AB PLAINTIFF Alpine Insulation Ltd CLAIM $ 6,193
DEFENDANT Eagleye Restoration Services Ltd 1027 Pandora Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Alpine Insulation Ltd CLAIM $ 6,193 DEFENDANT Evans Bay Contracting Ltd PO Box 596, Heriot Bay, BC PLAINTIFF Marine Link Transportation Ltd CLAIM $ 25,216 DEFENDANT Filko Marble and Granite 1130 Fair Rd, Parksville, BC PLAINTIFF Business Development Bank of Canada CLAIM $ 34,782 DEFENDANT Integrity Builders Ltd 104-9717 Third St, Sidney, BC Spencer, Graham CLAIM $ 16,355 DEFENDANT Kitnuna Corporation Inc PO Box 1559, Iqaluit, NU PLAINTIFF Atchison, Brad CLAIM $ 25,236 DEFENDANT Mastercraft Construction 6455 Spooner Way, Saanichton, BC
PLAINTIFF Black Box Electric Ltd CLAIM $ 38,456
CLAIM $ 5,692
DEFENDANT Matt Gruber Construction Ltd 201-2377 Bevan Ave, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Ocean Concrete CLAIM $ 14,149 DEFENDANT Miles Plumbing Services Ltd 301-830 Shamrock St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Hill, David CLAIM $ 6,160 DEFENDANT OWNERS STRATA PLAN VIS2546 111 Wallace St, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Sheehan, Nancy CLAIM $ 25,156 DEFENDANT Rambow Mechanical Ltd 1021 Skeena Dr, Kelowna, BC PLAINTIFF International Association of Heat & Frost Insulato CLAIM $ 8,790 DEFENDANT S&I Hardwood Floors Ltd 4th Flr 888 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Finishing Store Floors
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DEFENDANT SA Diving Inc 205-655 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Comox Valley Bailiffs Ltd CLAIM $ 357,600 DEFENDANT Shua Developments Inc 200-121 St. Paul St, Kamloops, BC PLAINTIFF Slegg Building Materials Ltd CLAIM $ 18,610 DEFENDANT Stormpoint Holdings Ltd 105-379 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Abstract Ventures Inc CLAIM $ 9,023
DEFENDANT Top Quality Painters Ltd 104-9717 3rd St, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF St Paul, Crispin CLAIM $ 8,619 DEFENDANT Vic 1 Holding Ltd 122-328 Wale Rd, Colwood, BC PLAINTIFF Western Interior Design Group Ltd CLAIM $ 10,727 DEFENDANT York Lake Equities Ltd 225 Vancouver Ave, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Rohl Enterprises Ltd CLAIM $ 203,084
DEFENDANT Toblyn Management Limited 802 Georgia Dr, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF WC Eveson Holdings Ltd CLAIM $ 208,000 DEFENDANT Top Quality Coatings Ltd 676 Goldie Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF St Paul, Crispin CLAIM $ 8,619
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NOVEMBER 2015
COWICHAN VALLEY Roseanne and Jan Korteland of Duncan-based Country Chic Paint appeared on the CBC show Dragon’s Den on Oct. 28. They had previously tried to get on the show with their Zin Frames a few years ago.
LAKE COWICHAN Sunfest owner Greg Adams appeared at a community meeting recently where plans for the proposed LakeTown Ranch music concert/camping/ outdoor recreation site were discussed. Adams, a former National Hockey League player and now prominent Cowichan Valley businessman, would like to move Sunfest to the site for next summer. Brad Bergen has joined the real estate office at Re/MAX of Lake Cowichan. Lake Cowichan council has approved plans for Mid Island Co-op to renovate its downtown location. Blair Gjevre , operations manager for Mid Island Co-op, says the renovations are expected to start soon.
LADYSMITH/ CHEMAINUS Captain Café has opened its doors at 12335 Rocky Creek Road in Ladysmith. The BC Maritime Employers Association is moving from
43
9680 Chemainus Road to 9728 Chemainus Road, into what was the Re/MAX real estate office in Chemainus. Barnacle Barney’s Fish & Chips has moved from Chemainus to 1st Avenue in Ladysmith. Layman Financial Services at 15-740 First Avenue in Ladysmith is now known as Layman Group, offering accounting, financial planning and wealth management services. Island Savings Credit Union has launched a community endownment fund from which local charities can apply for funding. Information on the Island Savings Community Endowment can be found at www.firstwestfoundation.ca
NANAIMO Congratulations to Lyle and Corinne Sharkey on the opening of their new Smitty’s Restaurant in the former Earls location next to the Island Highway in Rock City Centre. They held a VIP opening of their bright new location to rave reviews Nov. 1. Their other outlet is in Southgate Mall in Chase River. Operations Manager Joan Hiemstra notes that Global Village Nanaimo has opened their seasonal Fair Trade store at #2-5771 Turner Road in Longwood Station. They will be open until Dec. 24 and are offering expanded choices in fair trade household items, accessories, jewelry, seasonings, coffee and children’s items.
Inside of Nanaimo’s new Smitty’s Restaurant which now occupies the old Earl’s building
Julie MacTire of Hub City Cycles Community Co-op which provides affordable bicyclecentric services and advocacy in Nanaimo has signed their 1,000th member. Greg Scott has been elected Board Chair at the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation’s October Annual General Meeting. Other board members are Past-Chair Jim Crist, Treasurer Moira Jenkins, Directors Laurie Crossan, Michael McKillican and Vern Slaney, and new Directors Philip Birrer, Doug Johnston and Heather Popple. The General Paint store at Rock City Centre at 7002980 Island Highway North is undergoing renovations. City Construction is a new construction company in Nanaimo, owned by Mike Hamilton and operated by the former management of Palladian Construction. Their office is at 2-3179 Barons Road. U-Lock Storage on Wellington Road has purchased Oceanside Storage on the Alberni Highway in Errrington near Parksville.
SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 44
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS
44 MOVERS & SHAKERS
Road until he retires.
Studio AR Interior Designs has moved to 301 Franklyn Street.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43
Amethyst Forest is opening in Bowen Centre in November. The owner is Terry Lynn Boyle. Dr. PJ Mitchell has closed his practice at 1517 Dufferin Crescent and will see patients at Dr. Regina Renner’s office at 201-1801 Bowen
Aggressive Timber Falling has moved from Bowen Road to 3018 Ross Road.
Subhi Imports has opened beside The Soak House spa store on Bowen Road.
Jesse Bone and Tash Baycroft are pleased to announce that Filter Studios is now open at 38 Victoria Crescent.
Leslie Heinio, formerly with Duncan Hyundai, is the new Service Manager at Jim Pattison Hyundai in Nanaimo. BCAA is launching its own in-house automotive repair facility, behind Pennington’s and Staples in north Nanaimo. De Hoog and Kierulf architects are designing the building, which will be built by Windley Contracting. Newcastle Nissan has been purchased by Comox Valley Nissan. Naturopath Dr. Karen Fraser and her staff have moved to the Long Lake Chiropractic office across from The Well Pub. Marshall and Associates has moved from 203-1801 Bowen to A-35 Commercial Street. Mane Mortgage is now open at 301 Franklyn Street. Fiddlehead Bistro is a new restaurant in the location that formerly housed The Nest Bistro on Franklyn Street. The Nest has moved to 77 Skinner Street in Nanaimo. Mali Esthetics, formerly Jentri Esthetics, is moving from the corner of Metral and Mostar to its new location below Sandra’s Ink on
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Lyle and Corinne Sharkey, staff and representatives from Smitty’s head office. They held a VIP opening November 1 at their new location, their second in Nanaimo, along with their Smitty’s in Southgate Centre in Chase River Norwell Drive behind Country Club Centre. James Burns is the new Managing Director of MNP LLP, taking over from Garth Busch who has retired. Shyly Harder of Cutting Room Creative won the bronze award for Canada at the Goldwell Trend Zoom Challenge 2015 in Toronto recently. Lowe’s Canada has applied for a development permit to prepare the former Target location in Nanaimo North Town Centre into one of its newest home improvement outlets. It could create between 120-140 jobs. Henry Traa is the new General Manager of the Coast Bastion Hotel. He comes from Winnipeg, where he was vice president of the RBC Convention Centre. Nanaimo Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store celebrated its 10th year in Northridge Plaza in October. SandwichHouse is the name of the new food outlet owned by Albek Zhaxybekoe in the former Quizno’s location next to the Co-Op gas station/convenience store at Brooks Landing. Congratulations to Nanaimo companies up for the Better Business Bureau Vancouver Island branch’s annual “Torch Awards”: GR Excalibur Custom Homes Ltd., Your Maintenance Man Renovation & Maintenance Services, Servicexcel and R. Gallazin & Son Ltd. Gallazin is being recognized for 50 years with the BBB, while Tristan Pope of Servicexcel is also up for an Outstanding Employee award. Tofino Bus is taking over all bus routes north of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, and they will expand routes from Victoria to Campbell River. It is now the largest scheduled bus service provider on the Island. Trista Kuang and Henry Li are the new owners of the Bayshore Restaurant and Patio at 1240 Stewart Avenue. VMAC has been named a finalist in the BC Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards, hosted by Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.
Slegg Building Materials is expanding its operations at 4950 Jordan Avenue. Sasha Angus, former CEO of the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation, is busy in his new position as CEO of the Nanaimo-based tech firm Hyas Inc., owned by Chris Davis. Kelly Comeau has started Island Dryer Vent Wizard, a franchise that focuses on dryer-vent cleaning and repairs. Quality Foods has done it again – its University Village Shopping Centre in Harewood has been awarded a gold medal in the Master Merchandiser category for its store size at the annual Independent Grocer of the Year Awards, held recently in Toronto. The QF store in Courtenay also captured the same award, and Campbell River outlet a Platinum Achievement Award.
PARKSVILLE/ QUALICUM Realm Food Co. is the new name of the Qualicum Beach restaurant co-owned by Kyla Campbell and James Hannah. Formerly known as Radius Food Co., they had to change their name due to copyright infringement when an Ontario company that trademarked the Radius name made a formal complaint. M & N Mattress Shop has been named the number one Restwell volume single location independent dealer in Western Canada for two consecutive months. They’re at 291 East Island Highway in Parksville. Cynthia Aldred is the new Administrative Officer at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Parksville. Beachcomber Marina’s plans to expand are meeting with opposition at public meetings. Beachcomber wants to add another 26 mooring berths to its existing 100. Canadian Tire held the Grand Opening for its brand new store at 822 West Island Highway in SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 45
MOVERS & SHAKERS
NOVEMBER 2015
MOVERS & SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44
Parksville recently. Hats off to Mulberry Bush Bookstore in Qualicum Beach, which celebrated its 40th anniversary recently. Owners Tom and Barbara Pope purchased the store in 1989. Ian Warren in Parksville and Brian Wiese in Qualicum Beach have joined the sales team at Royal LePage Parksville-Qualicum Beach Realty. Mindi’s Farm is now open at 797 Qualicum Road. Van-Isle Essentials is now open in the Pinetree Centre in Parksville. Teresa and Randy Marston have opened Island Self-Storage on Highway 4 in Parksville.
PORT ALBERNI Congratulations to Wayne Coulson, President and CEO of Coulson Aircrane, who was recently named winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the B.C. Avaiation Council. The Howard Johnson Hotel at 4850 Beaver Creek Road is pleased to announce the re-opening of their Creekers Pub and introduce their new Jewels Lounge. Dolce Vita Bar & Grill will soon become Octavio’s , operated by the highly successful Asteras Greek Taverna of Nanaimo. The Alberni Valley Times has closed. Black Press, which bought the longtime daily newspaper last year from Glacier Media, will continue to operate their Alberni Valley News. Congratulations to Cliff Babcock, Cory Bouvier, Graham Melton and Jonathan Smyly for receiving the 2015 President’s Award from the Catalyst mill in Port Alberni. A tip of the hat to Rosanne Doiron, owner of Trends Design, who hosted renowned hairstylist Philip Wilson at the shop recently. He is international creative director for ColorProof.
TOFINOUCLUELET The West Coast had some special guests recently, as film crews visited to shoot the sequel to the Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. The filiming included a large build-out at the Ucluelet-based Wyndandsea location.
COMOX VALLEY Tiger Lily at Courtenay River is a new seniors community being planned at the Home Hardware/ Central Builders site in Courtenay by Origin Active Lifestyle Communities.
Comox Valley RV is moving to a new location at 1608 Ryan Road. Congratulations to Mark Stevenson, former chief negotiator for the K’omoks First Nation, upon being one of the recipients of the Indspire Awards. The awards, honouring professionals, will be held in 2016. The Joint Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Centre welcomes physiotherapist Jordan Tufnall to their team. Cathy Beise has joined the team of professionals at Septen Financial Ltd. Slegg Building Materials Lt. is adding a new expanded flooring showroom at its location at 3217 Small Road in Cumberland. The Westerly Hotel in Courtenay is renovating one wing which will become a long-term care facility. Look for some new office properties in Courtenay around the 1800 block of Cliffe Avenue. Joyce McMenamon, founder of Fresh Earth Products in Merville, is pleased that Edible Schoolyards New York City is using their Speedibin metal compost bins in their school gardens.
CAMPBELL RIVER Hermosa Lingerie is now open in the Discovery Harbour Shopping Centre beside Starbucks. Jeff King is the new General Sales Manager at Campbell River Hyundai. Todd Chilton is now the Sales Manager at Campbell River Honda. Jesse LaFleur has joined the management team at Steve Marshall Ford, which has also added Scott Arnink to their sales team. Jerry Johnson is now selling vehicles at Coastline Mazda, and Jessica Burns is their new Service Manager. Congratulations to Duane Riddoch in the Chartered Accountant program and Alaina Maher in Certified Management Accountant program for graduating from their respective programs with the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. Upland Excavating has been awarded a contract for erosion protection at Lewis Park in Courtenay. Nyrstar has postponed funding of upgrades at the Myra Falls copperzinc mine, notes Kelly Strong, Vice President of North American operations. Craig Daniell, chief executive officer of the BCSPCA and Stephanie Artkwright, Campbell River branch manager, laid out plans to have a 3,600 square foot, full-service community animal centre in Campbell River to provide additional preventive services, and programs to prevent
animal cruelty to complement the local centre’s busy adoption program. Funding of $1.2 million is in place, with the estimated construction cost of $1.6 million (not including land costs).
NORTH ISLAND Kwa-lilas Hotel will be the name of the new $5 million hotel on the former Port Hardy Inn site in Port Hardy. Renovations are underway at the project, which is projected to be a four star destination. Congratulations to Stubbs Island Whale Watching of Telegraph Cove, for winning the 2015 MVP Award at the annual tourism Vancouver Island
Conference recently in Campbell River. Roger McDonell, Geord Dunstan and Heike Wiekse are the owners of the business. In honour of his long and distinguished service to Port McNeill, former long-time Mayor Gerry Furney has had the road leading to the Port McNeill town hall named Furney Place. Robert Duncan, Quatsino Economic Development Officer, was in Vancouver recently to receive the Joint Venture of the Year Award at the 7th Annual BC Aboriginal Business Awards for Quantem Limited Partnership, a logging company co-owned by Quatsino First Nation and Western Forest Products.
45 Hardy Buoys smoked fish, based in Port Hardy, continues to expand, as Country Grocers has signed on to sell their products at their seven Vancouver Island stores. James Walkus has received the 2015 BC Aboriginal Business Award for Individual Achievement. Tracy Williams has purchased The Flower Shoppe from Lynn Skrlak in Port McNeill. Julia and Brittany’s Salon is pleased to note it has added hairstylists Allesha Bosma and Angela Makela, and hairstylist/makeup artist Brandi Wesley to their team. Super Valu has closed its store in Port McNeill.
OPINION
46
NOVEMBER 2015 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 | Goody Niosi, Julia MacDonald, John MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim, David Holmes WEBSITE | John MacDonald – john@businessexaminer.ca
REAL CHANGE HAS ARRIVED IN CANADA. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR BUSINESS?
MARK MACDONALD
C
anada voted for change in the October 19 federal election. Change it is, as Justin Trudeau’s Canada is expected to look fairly different than the last nine years under Stephen Harper. Harper, an economist, did an admirable job navigating our country through the toughest economic challenges since the Great Depression, lowered interest rates to their lowest rates in over 50 years, brought corporate taxes to where Canada became an even better option to invest than the United States, and balanced the budget. Econom ically, he left the country in much better shape than when he arrived. If Trudeau, the former drama teacher, performs like his father, P ierre – a nd ma ny older Ca n ad i a n s seem to hop e he does – then we have a pretty good idea of where he will lead the country over the next four years. Just like U.S. President Barack Oba m a, Just i n T r udeau
promised to tackle the “one per centers”, the “millionaires”, whom, he cl a i m s, m a ke too much money and don’t contribute enough to the public coffers. Their taxes will be going up so they can pay “their fair share”. W h at t h at ex act ly mea n s, we’ll soon find out. We suppose the fact that the “one per centers” already carry 20 per cent of Canada’s tax load apparently isn’t enough. Class warfare has, unfortunately, become a popular route to v ictory at the pol ls. Ta xing the “rich” and business is far, far less damaging due to the sheer numbers of people in that class who vote. Promise the “have-nots” and others who depend upon, or demand, government assistance, more of everything they need and, in their minds, only what the gover n ment ca n g ive t hem, means votes. O ne of t he most t roubl i ng things about class tax warfare is that the people in the upper echelon of income earners are those who start businesses and take calculated risks to move forward, and as they do, create jobs and opportunities for others. So, what can we look for from Trudeau in Ottawa? He has been fairly direct regarding his opposition to the Northern Gateway Pipeline. There is no political reason why he would push for the project’s completion now. Looki ng at
t he re d t id e t h at s wep t t he Maritimes, which is also the intended destination for the Energy East Pipeline, it should be a foregone conclusion that if Trudeau promotes any pipeline, it would be that one. It will be interesting how he looks at the oil sands now. It’s one th i ng to howl i n protest about their expansion and go along with the wave of derision that has made oil and gas revenue a new “sin tax” akin to ci ga ret tes a nd a lcohol. It’s quite another to open the books and discover how much of Canada’s economy is dependent on this one resource sector. Like it or not, the only “have” provinces in Canada are those with oil and gas extraction. Regardless of whether or not there is another pipeline built under the federal Liberals, the oil and gas industry has still managed to grow and produce despite exporting bitumen by rail, which is both expensive, a nd u nsa fe. It h as su r v ived thus far, and will, if need be, by maintaining the status quo on transportation. And if the price of oil rebounds, look out. If you listen closely enough, T rudeau’s prom ise of a ca rbon ta x and pipeline opposition may sound faintly like his father’s National Energy Plan that crippled Alberta. Pundits believe it was part of Pierre’s plan to keep the West weak and solidify political power in Central Canada – aka Ontario and Quebec.
So aga i n, we have a nother Quebec Prime Minister, who has no apparent political reason to placate the West. Harper noted that “the West wants in”, and under his leadership, the West was in. The Liberals do have some seats in the lower mainland and smatterings throughout B.C. and Alberta, so T r udeau ca n’t ig nore the West. B u t a re a s l i k e Va n c o u v e r Island, which has eight NDP M P ’s a n d t h e l o n e G r e e n , should be prepared to pay the price for – once again – voti ng aga i nst the govern ment in power. Particularly when it comes to the promised infrastructure investment promised by Trudeau. Federal deficits. His father introduced them to Canada, and Trudeau promised at least $10 billion deficits annually over the next four years to fund infrastructure. That will provide some stimulus to the economy, even though it’s in better shape than Trudeau made it out to be in the campaign. It is bor rowed money t h at we will pay for eventually, although interest rates are low, now. It may seem to be a good time to borrow, but Trudeau also forecast and, as much as a PM could do, nearly promised to raise interest rates, which will make the money he is going to borrow more costly. It was fascinating to see Trudeau pull the Liberals farther left than the NDP during the
campaign, and still win. Make no m ista ke: A n N DP federa l government would have been a n a b s olute ly c at a s t roph ic disaster for Canada, as they simply can’t handle finances. Nor do they understand how the economy works. They’ve proven that everywhere they’ve held government, and Alberta, sadly, is now finding out. We ’ l l p a y m o r e i n t a x e s , though, when the first Liberal budget is handed down next spring. What we do know is that businesses will be paying more – up to $1,000 per employee – which will come right off the bottom line. Trudeau has promised to cut the small business tax rate from 11 to 9 per cent, which is positive if you’re in small business. That could make it pretty much a wash for some operations when all the dust settles and all taxes are accounted for. O vera l l, t houg h, for t he short term, Canada’ economy shouldn’t be adversely affected by the Libera ls. T hey a ren’t ex p ected to f ig ht or renege on international trade deals – there are now over 50 – that clearly benefit our country. It would be economic suicide to do so. So for the economy, it’s steady as it goes. At least for now.
BC CITIES CLIMB CFIB ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITIES RANKINGS
RICHARD TRUSCOTT
A
c c o r d i n g t o t h e 2 015 Entrepreneurial Communities Report f rom t he Ca nad ia n Federat ion of Independent Business (CFIB), B C i s now home to ei g ht of t he top 30 cit ie s i n t he a nn u a l ra n k i n g s o f C a n a d a’s best places to start and grow a business.
“Its great to see so many of the province’s cities be recognized as relatively good places to own and operate a business. Speci fica l ly, a tip of the hat goes to Penticton and Kelowna. On the policy side, however, there’s still work to do to make more BC communities small business friendly,” says Richard Truscott, Vice President, BC and Alberta. T he a n nua l study assesses w h i c h c i t i e s h a v e b e s t e nabled sm a l l busi nesses to start, grow, and prosper. The report looks at the entrepreneurial environment in 121 of the most populous municipalities (roughly 20,000 people or more) across Canada, according to information drawn f rom publ ished a nd cu stom
tabu lated Statistics Ca nada sources, as well as survey research conducted with CFIB members. T h e 2 015 s t u d y c o v e r s 1 4 indicators grouped into three a r e a s : p r e s e n c e , p e r s p e ct i v e , a n d p ol i c y. P re s e n c e covers the sca le a nd grow th of busi ness ow nersh ip, perspective measures optimism and growth plans, and policy represents the actions loca l governments take with respect to business taxation and regulation. Scores in those three major categories are combined a nd weig hted to prov ide a n overall score and ranking. A s a re s u l t o f d a t a a v a i lability issues from StatsCan, the study separates the metro a r e a s o f C a n a d a ’s l a r g e s t
cities, including Vancouver, from all the surrounding municipal areas and ranks each. Fo r 2 0 15 , P e n t i c t o n a n d Kelow na ju mped up t he l ist i nto s e c ond a nd t h i rd s p ot (up f rom 20 t h a n d 15 t h res p e c t i v e l y i n 2 01 4). O t h e r BC cities risi ng th rough the rankings include (2014 ranking in brackets): Salmon Arm 12th (28th), Ch i l l iwack 16th (16t h), P r i n c e G e o rge 25 t h (33rd), Parksville 28th (44th), Vernon 29th (32nd), Vancouv e r p e r i p h e r y (t h e G re a te r Vancouver Regional Dictrict excluding the City of Vancouver) 30th (63rd), Nanaimo 39th (76th), Kamloops 46th (49th), A b b o t s f o r d-M i s s i o n 47 t h (5 4th), Victoria 53rd (78th), Ca mpbel l R iver 55th (57 th),
Quesnel 61st (65th), Fort St. John 69th (40th), Port Alberni 87th (69th), Courtenay 83rd (111th), City of Vancouver 94th (101st), and Cranbrook 100th (112th). “A lt hou g h m a ny BC cit ies perform relatively well in this report, mayors and councils across the province still have work to do to cut red tape and make property taxes fairer for small business. They must not become complacent. On the other hand, the City of Vancouver clea rly needs to do a lot of heavy-lifting to improve bot h t hei r p ol icy score a nd thei r overa l l ra n ki ng,” concludes Truscott. The full CFIB Entrepreneuria l Com mu n ities Report is available at www.cfib.ca.
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LAW
NOVEMBER 2015
47
WHAT IP PROFESSIONALS ARE TALKING ABOUT LAW
Reimagining the Ways We Practise
I
have just returned from the annual convention of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC). This is two-day event with numerous educational workshops for Patent Agents, Trademark Agents a nd I P Law yers. T here were plenary sessions that everyone attended and breakout sessions where the audience broke into smaller groups. T he plenary sessions included an address i n wh ich Mr. Justice George Locke of the Federal Court provided “tips for having a better relationship with your Judge”, an address by the President of the Canadian Bar Association, Janet Fuhrer, concerning the f utu re of the profession entitled “Reimagining the Ways We Practise”, a pa nel of experts discussing Crowdfundi ng, a nd a pa nel d i scu ssi ng the issues and opportunities which are being created by 3D printing. I find Crowdfunding interest i ng i n its va r iou s for m s. You can Crowdfund through social media to solicit pre-orders for your product. You can
3D printing is considered a “disruptive” technology, because it has the potential to dramatically change the way we do things
Michael Cooper and Doug Thompson of ThompsonCooper LLP Crowdfund by making an emotional appeal through social med i a to sol icit don at ion s. Subject to lega l l i m itat ions imposed by securities reg ulators, you can also use social media to Crowdfund by selling small equity interests in a start-up venture. 3D printing is considered a “disruptive” te c h n ol o g y, b e c a u s e i t h a s the potential to dramatically change the way we do things. For example, currently there are numerous people employed in the transportation industry. However, shipping costs can be avoided entirely by simply hav i ng a 3D “pri nt shop” i n your neighbourhood. Instead of shipping a replacement part
for one of your motor vehicles or household appliances, the part can be “printed” for you. A s w ith the cu rrent issues related to genuine and “pirate” internet sites for music and videos; there will soon be a problem w ith genu i ne a nd “pi rate” i nter net sites t h at supply the files necessary to print out these parts. The patent breakout sessions included: a review of key court decisions concern i ng “the promise of the patent” which have changed the way patents should be prepared; and a session called “Gotcha” which rev iewed patent i n fri ngement remed ies i n Ca nada a nd the United States.
T he t rad em a rk /copy r i g ht breakout sessions included: a review of changes which are c o m i n g to T ra d e m a rk L a w as a result of Canada having signed a number of treaties ( Nice, Singapore and Madrid); and several sessions on dealing with copyright and trademark issues in light of the Internet and social media. It was explained that in this age of social media, the old approach of sending a nasty “cease and desist” letter may backfire. An unnecessarily heavy-handed cease and desist letter may well be posted on social media and attract comment. Before one can stop it, the matter may go “viral” with the possibility of substantial negative publicity. An example that was discussed as an alternative approach, was a dispute between the makers of a juice called “Pom Wonderful” and a television host by the name of John Oliver. The humorous (although somewhat off colour) video can be viewed on YouTube at http://w w w. youtube.com/watch?v=Bml8KwCmob8. Why am I relating this information to you? I b el ieve t h at by rev iew i n g issues being discussed by IP professions today, you gain insight as to issues which will be touching our lives tomorrow.
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