Business Examiner Victoria - December 2016

DECEMBER 2016

Âť WHOLE FOODS OPENS FIRST VANCOUVER ISLAND STORE

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VICTORIA Nominations pouring in for Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards

Victoria

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VICTORIA Long time construction company takes on high security institutional jobs for the Department of Defence

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INDEX News Update Greater Victoria Tourism Esquimalt Saanich Peninsula West Shore Who is Suing Whom Movers and Shakers Opinion Law

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Tri City Collision and Repairs Wins Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island Torch Award The Small Sooke Based Business Credits Its FamilyOriented Culture Of Honesty And Care For The Win

V

ICTORIA—For the second year running, Tri City Collision and Repairs has received the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island Torch Award. The Torch Awards are given to businesses with exceptionally high levels of ethics and integrity.

When Jody Wilkinson reflects on how his small automotive repair shop beat out competitors like Victoria Mitsubishi, his response is humble but quick. “The key thing is that we are a family run business—we take care of each other and we take care of our customers.�

In the automotive repair industry, a little honesty can go a long SEE TRI CITY COLLISION | PAGE 17

Four of the seven Wilkinsons currently staffing Tri City Collision and Repair

VICC Hosts Second KIDS Conference The KIDS Conference Aims At Connecting Parents And Children With Support Organizations In The Fight Against Poverty

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A NA I MO - Si nce t he Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) first opened its doors in 2008, it’s economic impact has been significant, bringing a conservative $53 million into the community. “It’s become a top runner and destination for conferences like the Vancouver Island Economic Summit and the Vancouver Island

Safety Conference, because of its central location and consistent delivery of a good product,� said Denise Tacon, general manager.

In 2015, the convention broke past records, hosting 452 events, an increase of more than 25 per cent over 2014, and this year promises to top those figures, Tacon noted. “Year over year VICC works

BUSINESS SYSTEMS

to deliver its mandate of bringing new business to the region for its economic benefit. But we aren’t just looking at non-resident delegations; we’re also looking at ways we can help our community.�

Last year, VICC created Nan a i m o’s f i rs t a n n u a l K I DS Conference, geared to connect parents and kids to resources

around the community through knowledge, inclusion, discovery and support. . Its focus is on bridging the gap between families and children of all economic backgrounds and the services and opportunities Nanaimo has to offer. “If we could bring awareness of SEE CONFERENCE CENTRE | PAGE 12

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Condo Building Gets Approval In Saanich

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A six-storey, 60-unit condominium building in Royal Oak by Tri-Eagle Development Corporation has been approved

by Saanich council. Council had withheld the residential development permit for “The Radius” pending registration of an agreement to secure construction to a Built Green Gold or equivalent standard and registration of a right of way for a cycling path along the property’s north-end.

All outstanding issues were addressed and the permit was passed unanimously.

The joint venture with Jawl Residential is expected to break ground within the first three months of 2017.

The building will be the first six-storey wood-frame condo building in Greater Victoria. The project’s approval has been withheld for eight years as a result of preference by the Saanich community for residential development rather than commercial.

One and two-bedroom units in the 65,000-square-foot building at 4396 West Saanich Road, will range from 700 to 1,000 square-feet with high-end finishing and upmarket pricing, which has not been determined.

Features for the Radius include nine-foot ceiling heights, developer contributed $1.2-million in land for a trail, a green roof to support vegetation of the parking garage, 90 underground parking spaces and eight parking stalls for electric vehicle charging.

The area is already central located in Royal Oak and the Radius will be able to take advantage of BC Transit, shopping, Brydon Park and Rithet’s Bog as well as Centennial Trail. The Radius is the final phase of development on the 4.5-acre property, purchased in 2001 from BC Hydro.

VICTORIA BC’s Carbon Tax Receives International Recognition

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British Columbia has again been honoured as an international climate leader for its revenue-neutral carbon tax.

The United Nations recently recognized BC at an international climate summit underway in Morocco. British Columbia received one of 13 ‘Momentum for Change’ awards handed out at the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) Low-Emissions Solutions Conference in Marrakech, Morocco.

Jordan Sturdy, Parliamentary Secretary for Energy Literacy and the Environment, accepted BC’s award at the conference on behalf of Premier Christy Clark.

Climate leaders from around the world gathered at the awards ceremony to celebrate innovations in climate action through transformational change, and the promotion of clean technology, sustainable economic activity and green jobs.

B C’s revenu e-ne ut ra l c a rb on t a x w a s a m o n g o t h e r a w a rd w i n n e r s , i n c l u d i n g G o o g l e’ s P r o j e c t S u nroof, WeShareSolar’s crowdfunding platform for community solar projects, and Morocco’s own Dar Si Hmad, which developed a unique system to harvest fog for drinking water.

The Momentum for Change initiative is spearheaded by the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change to showcase some of the most innovative, scalable and replicable examples of what people and jurisdictions are doing to address climate change.

VICTORIA Victoria Closes Cruise Ship Season with 550,000 Visitors This year, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) welcomed more than 550,000 passengers and 212,000 crew from 224 ships to Ogden Point, Canada’s busiest cruise ship port of call.

As part of the 2016 season, Royal Caribbean International’s Explorer of the Seas made 21 daytime calls to Ogden Point, making it the largest cruise ship as a regular call on an Alaskan route. The Explorer was the first Voyager-class cruise ship to make regular stops in Victoria, bringing 3,626 visitors during each call.

“We are incredibly proud to have welcomed these visitors to Victoria throughout our 2016 season,” says Ian Robertson, CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. “We’re anticipating an increase in ship calls for 2017, mostly as a result of repositioning cruises during the shoulder season. With these types of voyages, cruise lines may select any Canadian west coast port of call, and the fact that they are choosing Victoria signals to our team and our member agencies that we are a preferred destination for cruise lines and their guests.”

In 2017, GVHA estimates more than 240 ship calls, reflecting the growing popularity of Victoria as a destination, and of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska routes for cruise passengers. The 2017 cruise call schedule will be available early in 2017 at w ww.gvha.ca.

The 2016 season kicked off on April 3 and wrapped up on October 17. It is estimated that the overall economic impact of cruise stops for Greater Victoria is more than $100 million; each cruise ship call brings in an average of $400,000 in direct spending to the region.

In 2016, ships from Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Crystal Cruises, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Oceana Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas each made calls to Ogden Point.

VICTORIA Federal Government Announces Ocean-Protection Investment Details of how the federal government’s $1.5-billion plan to protect BC’s coast will effect Vancouver Island were revealed by John Wilkinson, parliamentary secretary to the minister of environment and climate change in a speech at the University of Victoria.

Measures to protect BC’s coast include investments in new large-mammal avoidance systems, a new logistics depot in Port Hardy to house staff and equipment to ensure rapid response to any ocean spill and the creation of six lifeboat stations.

Additionally, the investment will go

NEWS UPDATE

DECEMBER 2016

towards the formation of new indigenous community-response teams, provisions for removal of derelict boats and polluter-pay model for cleanup, restoration of priority species habitat and investment in hydrographic and navigational data for waterways in Esquimalt, Victoria, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Chemainus, Port Renfrew and Campbell River.

The announcement came in advance of a federal decision on the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. BC Environment Minister Mary Polak noted that the federal plan is necessary, whether or not the $6.8 billion pipeline is approved.

She said the plan addresses the province’s concerns about spill response, even if it doesn’t directly meet 11 conditions the province had said must be met.

LANGFORD Rugby Training Facility Project To Start In Langford Construction is underway on a $7.8 million Rugby Canada training facility in Langford.

The new facility will both solidify Langford’s position as a rugby hub and benefit players nationally and internationally said Gareth Rees, Rugby Canada’s director of commercial and program relations.

The 19,000-square-foot facility will be located across the street from Westhills Stadium and the Rugby Canada offices. The new building is an expansion to the existing Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence.

The two-storey facility will include dressing rooms, recovery and stretching rooms, 7,000 square-foot gym, kitchen and lounge area, meeting and office rooms, six one-bedroom studio units, a therapy clinic and the Canada Rugby Hall of Fame.

Site preparation has been completed and the construction of the concrete foundation is underway.

Rugby Canada is about 90 percent of the way to fundraising the total $7.8 million for the building.

That includes a federal promise of up to $3 million and $2.5 million from the City of Langford. The project is expected to be completed by September, 2017.

VICTORIA BC Government To Pour $45 Million Into Local Housing Individuals, seniors and families in need of affordable rental housing in the Greater Victoria region will soon have access to more than 500 new units of affordable housing.

Following the September announcement of a $500-million

investment in affordable rental housing, the provincial government has announced details of eight new provincially-funded housing projects in the region, totalling 510 units.

T he govern ment doled out $8-million to the Greater Victoria Housing Society for 104 units to be built in Colwood. The project is expected to begin in summer 2017, with completion projected for spring 2019. An additional $3-million has been given to the housing society to build 40 units for low-income adults in the workforce in Saanich. Construction for this project is expected to begin in summer 2017 with completion projected for late 2018.

Capital Region Housing Corp.

Construction was awarded $6.1 million to build 74 units for working singles, seniors, families and adults with disabilities. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2017 with completion projected for late 2018.

Underwood Trust in partnership with Linda E. Ross Property Management Inc. Construction was granted $3 million in capital funding for their 26 unit project for low to moderate income families in Saanich. The project is expected to begin in spring 2017 with completion projected for fall 2018.

Knox Vision Society has been awarded $5.5 million to build 40 units for low to moderate income

adults, families and seniors in Sooke. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2017 with completion projected for early 2018.

Pacifica Housing Advisory Association was awarded $8.5 million to construct 88 units for low to moderate income families in Colwood. Construction for this project is expected to begin in summer 2017 with completion projected for fall 2018. Pacifica Housing was also awarded $7 million to build 64 units for low to moderate income families in Langford. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2017 with completion projected for summer 2018.

Victoria Cool Aid Society was awarded $4.4 million to build 75 units for low-income adults and seniors in Victoria. Redevelopment is expected to begin in summer 2017 with completion projected for fall 2018.

SAANICH 11-Storey Rental Building Approved By Saanich Council A proposal for what would be Saanich’s largest rental building has received unanimous support from municipal council.

The 11-storey building at Caret Road and Ravine Way will provide 134 apartment units and seven

3 townhouses adjacent to Whole Foods.

The building will have a stepped design, starting from four storeys – going up to 11. The tallest Saanich apartment is currently a six storey structure at Burnside and Tillicum roads, with the eight-storey Shire on Quadra under construction and the tallest office building at eight storeys.

The Uptown residential units will be built on top of at least two storeys of retail space of 5,157 square metres.

Most of the residential units will have one bedroom.

Developer, Morguard Investments Ltd said that 60 per cent of the residential units will be priced within the income range of a couple each working full-time at $15 an hour based on Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. levels for spending under 30 per cent of pre-tax wages.

The apartments will fill the hole left for several years adjacent to Whole Foods, when development slowed as a result of the global financial crisis in 2008.

Parking space requirements have been reduced from 1.5 per unit to 0.55 — with the idea that unused retail parking could be accessed and Morguard would provide discounted passes to ride buses from B.C. Transit stops near the building.

A start and completion date for the project has not yet been announced.

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DECEMBER 2016

Skye Avionics Wins International Export Award At Campbell River Business Awards of Distinction The Campbell River Based Aircraft Solutions Company Is Honoured In Its Hometown For Serving An Increasingly Global Clientele

C

AMPBELL RIVER—Skye Avionics Ltd. received the International Export Award at the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Business Awards of Distinction. But when he first got the call about nomination, CEO Ryan Evans was pleased but surprised—he hadn’t known it was

coming.

Chances are, he was too busy to keep tabs on what honours were coming his way. His Campbell River based aircraft solutions company— think avionic products, repairs, installations, and tests—is bustling these days.

“It’s definitely meaningful to get

this award,” says Evans. “It shows that we’ve become the company I wanted us to be; a head above in terms of having an international reputation based on outstanding service.”

What does outstanding service mean for Skye Avionics? For one thing, it could mean a whole lot of

travel at a moment’s notice.

Skye, unlike many other avionics companies, is fully mobile, traveling to where the problem is, rather than requiring aircraft come to them. Evans cites one example of providing emergency repair support to a helicopter in Fort McMurray during the devastating wildfire of summer 2012.

“I had just flown home after being in Ontario. My bags were still unpacked when I got the call that the helicopter needed emergency service.

“I had to fly to Fort McMurray in two hour’s time, which I did. I arrived that evening, proceeded to troubleshoot an extremely difficult problem, worked all night, and had the helicopter running by 8 am.

“I was pulling out my tools as the pilot took off. I gave him a wave, and that was that. Mobility is our mindset.”

Skye is known for outstanding service, but Evans has been in the industry long enough to know that in some quarters, a lot less is offered to customers. He founded Skye in 2006 in part because he saw the need to offer customers better service.

In the early days, Evans was challenged by the sudden necessity of wearing many hats at once: “I had to be the maintenance guy, the quality assurance department, the installer, the salesman, the bookkeeper, the banker, the human resources director, and the marketer.”

But the steep learning curves were worth it. He knew Skye could be a

Skye Avionics CEO Ryan Evans receiving a Business Award of Distinction small company with big capabilities—and that’s just the company he built.

Skye Avionics’ early successes included rewiring a number of DeHavilland Beaver bush planes and MD500 Helicopters. “After that, our customer base just kept expanding,” says Evans. “We had ups and downs, but overall we learned to grow the business by building our reputation, securing solid, reliable employees, and investing into networking.”

In fact, Skye Avionics’ dedication to networking has recently been yielding some impressive and unprecedented business opportunities for the little avionics company that could. Evans describes meeting a Cobham Aerospace engineer in an aisle of an aviation trade show in Louisiana, February 2016.

“That encounter led to an opportunity for us to serve a completely different market,” he says. “We’re developing a product that will interface between portable radios and Cobham’s new RT7000 radio, allowing high-level law enforcement to stay better connected.”

As busy as things get for Evans, he has plenty of time to feel grateful for where his company started, and where it appears to be going. “We’ve landed exclusive dealership deals for companies as far away as Spidertracks in New Zealand and Northwall in Italy. Not bad for a small company from Campbell River.” skyeavionics.com BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS ONE SIGN AT A TIME

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DECEMBER 2016

BARGE SERVICE PROVIDES BETTER INVENTORY CONTROL creati ng a more on-dema nd product flow that has helped increase the overall volume of wood being shipped.

As Vancouver Island’s first load on/load off container terminal, DP World’s short sea shipping container and break bulk service between the Duke Point Terminal and Vancouver’s Centerm Terminal has extended importer and exporter market reach.

For companies like Paulcan and Jemico, that translates to more options and avenues in which to sell its products. Every bit of wood is utilized and converted to use in a variety of industries, such as chips for Howe Sound Pulp and Paper, sawdust for mushroom farmers and bark mulch for landscape use. Nothing is wasted.

It also means a greater availability of good jobs and employment for skilled workers which in turn helps maintain and grow the Island economy.

For DP World, offering an efficient service has also meant a positive impact on the environment as the use of containers to transport goods replaces the use of the traditional truck to trailer.

“We’ve been working with DP World almost from the beginning,” said Paul. “The benefits we’ve experienced, including direct and indirect cost savings alone, justifies its use.”

“We’re shipping between eight and ten full

The largest processor of alder in Canada, Paulcan finds using barge service at DP World Nanaimo has decreased costs and increased volume of products being shipped

containers per month, with each container holding up to 20 packages each of lumber for furniture.”

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ANAIMO - Barge service from DP World Nanaimo-Nanaimo Port Authority’s deep sea terminal at Duke Point-provides direct access to an international market of potential buyers. Local companies like Paulcan Enterprises Ltd. and Jemico Enterprises Ltd. are taking advantage of this service and finding multiple benefits.

“Since partnering w ith DP World Na na i mo th ree yea rs ago, we’ve been able to increase the amount of product we ship overseas with more timely and faster shipping,” said Paul Beltgens, owner of both Jemico and Paulcan.

Both companies mill and process lumber and produce high quality kiln dried lumber with Jemico focusing on hardwood like alder and maple and Paulcan specializing in processing alder for the furniture industry.

“A l d e r c a n b e m a d e i n t o

PAUL BELTGENS OWNER, PAULCAN ENTERPRISES, INC, JEMICO ENTERPRISES, INC

Jemico ships its alder lumber to an Asian market where it is made into furniture, kitchen cabinets and interior moldings.

CREDIT:PAULCAN ENTERPRISES LTD.

furniture, kitchen cabinets, interior moldings, as well as being used for carving and creating kitchen tools,” Paul explained.

“It’s versatile and stable and can look like any type of wood, including oak.”

The largest processor of alder in Canada, Jemico is reaching strong markets in China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Korea with its unique Island-produced raw products. Paul explained that

with DP World’s increased and direct shipping routes from Nanaimo, his company has seen not only an increased demand for his products but also improved inventory control through a reduction of loss from damage.

“Our product has been kiln dried. With increased handling, because of loading and unloading, there was a higher risk of the wood getting wet,” he said. “Once we started using DP

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World Nanaimo there was less handling, less damage and less chance of the products getting misplaced.”

The improved profit/loss figures have led the company to increase the amount of product it sh ips a nd do so more consistently.

“The volume we are now moving is exceeding our expectations. We’re shipping between eight to 10 full containers per month, w ith each conta i ner holding 20 packages each of lumber for furniture.”

Paul said that a consistent flow of product means higher efficiency and even more savings. It also means less inventory being stored at Paulcan’s warehouse,

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DECEMBER 2016

THE POWER OF INFORMED VOICES Over the past year, we saw considerable movement on a number of longstanding Chamber priorities

GREATER VICTORIA CATHERINE HOLT

T

he U.S. election results demonstrate the critical need for informed voices to build strong, collaborative communities. As the voice of business for the Greater Victoria business community, The Chamber is at its most effective when backed by an active and informed membership.

Ch a mber sta f f, boa rd d i rectors a nd volu nteers d id an outstanding job this year e n g a g i n g, s up p or t i n g, a n d informing the business comm u n it y. We p u bl i s h e d T h e Chamber’s positon and work rel ated to advoc acy i n over 120 seg ments i n ou r week ly e-newsletter and 17 in-depth a r t i c l e s i n o u r b i-m o n t h ly

business magazine. We hosted six events with elected officials and business leaders. All that on top of the countless articles and commentary in the media as well as shared via our social media channels.

We regularly meet and correspond with elected officials at all levels of government to ensure business interests are represented. We meet monthly with Victoria Mayor Helps

and key regional business orga n izations, as wel l as w ith regional mayors throughout the year. We presented to the BC Select Standing Committee on Fi na nce a nd G overnment Services in October and the BC Caucus of the Federal G over n ment i n M a rch. A nd T he Ch a mb er cont i nues its long history of leveraging the power of the BC Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s network, joining our voice with over 200,000 businesses across Canada to maximize our influence and impact.

Over the past year, we saw considerable movement on a number of longstanding Chamber priorities. We saw the start of construction on the McKenzie Interchange to alleviate the largest and most dangerous traffic bottleneck on the Island. The Province announced $75 million in new funding for affordable housing in Greater Victoria.

Thanks to the Project Board put in place at the insistence of the Province, we are finally moving forward with the Core Area Wastewater Treatment Project.

We should hear the results of the Capital Integrated Services and Governance Initiative in December, which should provide our 14 local governments with

DECEMBER CHAMBER EVENTS ■ Thursday, December 8 Chair’s Holiday Reception 5 pm to 7 pm at Max Furniture (1 – 2745 Bridge St.)

■ Thursday, January 12 Prodigy Group Mingle 5 pm to 7 pm at Island Savings - Mayfair (3195 Douglas St.)

■ Wednesday, January 11 Business Awards Information Session Noon to 1:00 pm at The Chamber (100 – 852 Fort St.)

a clear path towards improved regional governance. There is more money for the Victoria Regional Transit Commission to build new buses and we’re hopeful the gas tax increase of two cents for bus service will be in the February budget. Although these successes may be tied to the upcoming provincial election, we’re still pleased to see these results on issues we have championed.

There is still lots of work to do. We have record-high housing prices and the lowest rental vacancy rate in the country.

We have labour shortages, especially in construction and hospita l ity, a nd ou r t ra f f ic

■ Thursday, January 19 Business Mixer w/ Tourism Victoria 5 pm to 7 pm at the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority

congestion is pretty horrific.

We have too many local governments with too many processes slowing us down. And cl i m ate ch a nge a nd rel ated changes to our regulatory environment is a growing concern for everyone.

Our to-do list may be long, but we have a long history over 150 years in fact! - of getting the job done.

Catherine Holt is the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 250-383-7191 or CEO@ victoriachamber.ca. www. victoriachamber.ca

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DECEMBER 2016

Victoria Housing Market Chills Out For Fall

V

ICTOR I A – A tota l of 781 proper ties sold i n the Victoria Real Estate Board region this September, an increase of 10.9 per cent compared to the 704 properties sold in September last year.

Inventory levels remain lower than last year, with 2,061 active listings for sale on the Victoria R e a l E s tate B oa rd Mu lt iple Listing Service at the end of September 2016, 40.7 per cent fewer than the 3,478 active listings at the end of September 2015.

“T his is the lowest level of i nventor y on t he m a rket i n September that we have on record [since 1996],” notes Mike Nugent, 2016 President of the Board. “This continuing lack of inventory holds up sales. The market is still strong, but not moving at the pace we saw earlier in the year. This slowdown is typical with what we expect in the fall to winter season and may be more pronounced as a result of buyer fatigue, due to the lack of available inventory.”

The Multiple Listing Service® Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home i n the Victoria Core i n September 2015 was $607,100. The

benchmark value for the same home in September 2016 has increased by 22.8 per cent to $745,700.

“We have already exceeded the number of sales that we saw in 2015, with a full quarter remaining in the year,” adds Nugent. “And there is still strong demand, thanks to underlying fundamentals in our province – the GDP is up, employment nu m b ers a re up, re t a i l a nd population growth is up. A ll of these contribute to current market conditions. We also see no indication that the new foreign buyer Property Transfer Ta x in Metro Vancouver has pushed foreign buyers into our market in a substantial way, though we continue to track that as a possibility.”

MAYOR HELPS OPEN DOORS TO CHINESE TOURISTS

TOURISM VICTORIA PAUL NURSEY

W

e’ve recently returned from our October sa les m ission to China, where our team was running flat out. We were meeting clients and networking at trade shows almost from the moment we awoke to minutes before our heads hit the pillow each night.

D u r i n g a l l of t he se i nteractions with tourism movers and shakers, one of the highlights for me was seeing how much attention we received whenever we were with Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps and Councillor Margaret Lucas. Mayors are revered in Chinese business culture, and it was a massive adva nta ge to h ave L i sa a nd Margaret join our delegation,

take meetings with operators, hold media interviews and support our industry.

I’m happy to say the Victoria team absolutely hit it out of the park at Destination Canada’s Showcase Canada trade show in Nanjing, China. We had 94 appointments over three days and our delegation was the talk of the trade-show floor.

Competition is fierce among Canadian destinations trying to reach the modern Chinese traveller. This is an emerging market segment that has the potential to be exceptionally lucrative.

T he Chinese and Canadian governments have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for 2018.

Wit h seven new Ca n ad i a n Visa Application Centres set to open nex t yea r, a nd w ith ongoi ng g row t h i n a i r c apacity to Canada from China, our Team Greater Victoria is working night and day. We are determined to capture as much as we can of the more than 20 per cent a n nua l ized g row th Canada has been seeing out of the Chinese market over the last six years.

As tourism around the world changes, China is no exception. Travellers want deeper

ex p er iences, a nd t here wa s serious interest in higher-end tou rs t hat showcased ou r farms, golf courses, vineyards and family-friendly activities.

There is also growing interest in visits that include trips into the U.S., and, notably, around our traditional off seasons — Chinese New Year is a national holiday in January or February, and Golden Week is in October.

Having visitors during these times of year is a great fit with our strategy to address seasonality in the industry.

Sp e a k i ng on b eh a l f of t he tourism industry, we are fortunate and grateful to have cultivated such a strong working relationship with our government officials. T hat trust comes from paying close attention in order to be the link that enables our industry to support government’s priorities and strategic plans. We strive to be a positive, constructive and solutions-oriented partner to government at all levels.

The pay-off of that relationship could not have been more obvious than on the trade-room floor in Nanjing.

Paul Nursey is the President and CEO of Tourism Victoria.

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8

ESQUIMALT/SAANICH PENINSULA

ESQUIMALT VOTES TO REMAIN AUTONOMOUS In the end members decided to maintain the Esquimalt Chamber in its current form

ESQUIMALT RJ SENKO

I

t’s the Christmas season so I’d like to begin by wishing everyone a happy holiday…I’d like to begin that way but our latest interaction with Esquimalt Council has left me feeling a bit “Bah Humbug”.

At the risk of falling into the same sewage quagmire as the CRD and Esquimalt Council, I feel compelled to begin this column with an update. Just after I penned November’s column, we did receive a response to our letter. You may recall our letter to Mayor and Council contained detailed questions on the sewage treatment plant, including the advice provided to Council that resulted in such a complete lack of action. As disappointing as it was to wait more than a month for a reply, it was even

more disappointing to read the response. In summary, the letter from staff did not answer a single question. So, it appears if taxpayers want to know why Council folded like a cheap suit on the placement of the sewage plant, a Freedom of Information request looks like the only option.

■■■ L a st mont h’s colu m n a l so foreshadowed an outcome on our integration proposal with the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. I’m proud to say

that through an email and phone campaign your Board made a concerted effort to contact all of our members and invite them to cast a ballot on the proposal.

In the end members decided to maintain the Esquimalt Chamber in its current form. Your Board thanks you for your vote of confidence and for taking the time to engage in the decision-making process.

■■■ At the same time, we don’t believe the status quo is good enough so we will continue to look for ways to improve efficiencies and to expand networking opportunities and other services to our members.

In that regard, members are reminded to RSVP for our Christmas Mixer. Details can be found on the Chamber website at www. esquimaltchamber.ca. We look forward to seeing you at this event to share some stories and good cheer. I feel confident that by then I will have exorcized the spirit of Scrooge and will be ready to wish one and all a very Merry Christmas.

RJ Senko is a Vice-President at the Esquimalt Chamber and President of RJStrategies. He can be reached at 250-888-3534.

DECEMBER 2016

CHANGE ALWAYS COMES BEARING GIFTS

SAANICH PENINSULA DENNY WARNER

O

urs is an organization that is inherently in flux due to our communities being in transition, yearly election of board members, changes in office staff, and the varying levels of involvement and participation of members. Change helps us grow and reveals our strengths and opportunities. It is essential that we check in periodically to ensure we are heading in a direction that continues to provide value to our members.

We recently undertook a strategic planning session that served to reinforce some of our assumptions and challenged others. The first step was to develop a vision and mission for our organization that our board and staff can hold

COMING SUMMER 2017

up as a test or guide when considering future activities. We then established four strategic priorities and continue to develop specific items within those categories. We also agreed on activities that we need to stop doing.

The process was useful to help us re-focus on who we represent and to whom we hold ourselves accountable. I am pleased to say the plan has already been very useful to me and to our board as we move away from the provision of visitor services and look towards using our organizational resources in the highest service of our members.

Going forward you will see evidence of our belief that a healthy business community is essential to a healthy community. We will continue to work to see the Saanich Peninsula recognized and respected as the best place to do business. But first and foremost, you will see us supporting, promoting, and advocating for member-businesses on the Saanich Peninsula.

Denny Warner is Executive Director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 250-656-3616 or execdir@ peninsulachamber.ca

9

DECEMBER 2016

DOING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AVOIDS UNBILLABLE HOURS Owner gets his start in the business in his early 20’s but it doesn’t take him long to create his own successful company

S

OOKE - When Brendan Herlihy, owner of Gold Seal Roofing, hires a new employee, he’s looking for some very specific criteria. They have to be reliable, in reasonably good shape, hardworking and most importantly not be afraid of heights.

“It kind of goes with the job… if you’re afraid of heights this job isn’t for you,” he stated.

Over the 25 years he’s been in the industry Herlihy has experienced his fair share of challenging projects. Based in Sooke and servicing the Southern Vancouver Island region, his jobs have ranged from laminated fibreglass shingles to flat roof torch on membranes and metal roofs.

One of the company’s current projects is installing metal roofs on all the homes at the Spirit Bay Development in Metchosin.

“In the old days’ metal roofs typically came in three-foot-wide corrugated panels,” he explained.

“Each panel needed to be screwed into place leaving the fasteners exposed. Today, the products are more advanced and aesthetically appealing. Panels 12 inches to 16 inches snap together leaving no exposed fasteners. It will last for a lifetime with just minor maintenance.”

It isn’t just metal roofing that has seen improvements in durability and function. When Herlihy started in the business, he was mostly installing cedar products, asphalt T Lock shingles and most flat roofs were tar and gravel.

“We first started seeing the laminated fibreglass shingles coming out of the States in the 1990’s. It’s a far superior product that lasts longer, plus the cedar just got too expensive. With the flatroof membranes you don’t get

For Brendan Herlihy getting the job right the first time is part of his company’s culture

Gold Seal Roofing recently completed all 40 homes in this one subdivision

CREDIT:GOLD SEAL ROOFING

CREDIT:GOLD SEAL ROOFING

“Our goal at Gold Seal

administration or fancy trucks and equipment. That allows us to keep our prices very competitive.”

He pointed out that because of his company’s stability it has created strong relationships with other local tradespeople and builders. It’s an important consideration when it takes a variety of individuals to create a home from design to finished product.

“We are great team players,” he said. “In my experience a new project’s plans don’t always work out the way designers expect. Being able to work through these issues with other trades, whether it’s a roofline or flashing placement and then come up with workable solutions is our strength.”

He added that resolving underlying issues and getting to the cause of a roofing problem can save homeowners money on several levels, not just by preventing the replacement of a whole roof but also from water damage.

“Improper venting can create moisture and mold in an attic. We get called in by restoration and remediation companies to do repairs on areas that are damaged.

For example, on houses built in the 90’s, many exhaust fans were venting in the wrong place, too close to the soffits. These vents would draw the moist air right back into the attic.”

is to be a homeowner’s roofer for life.”

BRENDAN HERLIHY OWNER, GOLD SEAL ROOFING

the mess of tar or need as much equipment.”

Herlihy has a long-term approach to roofing. It’s part of his company culture and one of the reasons his company has been so successful.

“We like to keep our clients,” he said. “Our goal at Gold Seal is to be a homeowner’s roofer for life. We rarely lose a client because they know we treat them fairly, we’re reliable and we’re really easy to get a hold of.”

Herlihy is adamant about his clients being able to reach him, 24/7. His employees have the same mandate.

“We answer our phones, even if you have to leave a message we guarantee that we will get back to you at our first opportunity.”

With a home office and a direct line to Herlihy or his staff, Gold Seal is able to keep its overhead low. “ We d o n’ t h a v e o f f i c e

After 25 years in the industry, Herlihy still enjoys the perks of a job that brings unique projects on a daily basis CREDIT:GOLD SEAL ROOFING

He said that his mantra is to get a job done right the first time and not just for customer satisfaction, but also to avoid creating unbillable work for his staff.

“Unbillable hours can kill a company,” he stressed. “Getting the job done right the first time is key to the success of our business.

Having to return to a job for any reason after completion becomes “unbillable time” and is unfavourable for any business. Our primary goal upon completion of every job is to leave the site with a happy customer, never needing to come back unless for a social visit.”

Herlihy said he gets lots of compliments on his crew, especially

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long term employees, Anson, Tony and Matt.

“We’ve never advertised. It’s always been word of mouth that gets us the jobs.”

From a sole proprietor to an incorporated company with reliable and dedicated staff, Herlihy has built a solid company culture of success. Today, he gives back to his community by actively supporting the local Division 2 soccer team with his time as manager, and with financial support.

“The community has helped me grow my business, this is how I give back to it.” www.goldsealroofing.ca

10

DECEMBER 2016

CHRISTOPHER DEVELOPMENTS: HIGH END HOME SPECIALISTS â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a real Customer Designer / Builder Launched His Business In 1992

satisfaction in knowing weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done the job right.â&#x20AC;?

CHRIS WALKER

V

ICTORIA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Developer and award winning custom home builder Chris Walker, the owner of Victoria-based Christopher Developments, may have his heart soaring among the clouds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but his feet and mind are firmly placed in the soil he builds his exceptional properties on. Launching his business in 1992, this one time commercial pilot (and avid amateur flyer) has crafted a solid reputation over the past 24 years for building some of the finest high end homes found anywhere on southern Vancouver Island. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started the business in 1992 after a stint in aviation, having worked as both a commercial pilot and as an aircraft mechanic,â&#x20AC;?

Walker explained.

While shifting from aviation into home construction may seem like a fairly radical career move, for Walker it was the culmination of a dream to be part of the process of building things with lasting impact and value. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always wanted to get into the building business. While I certainly have worn a toolbelt,

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OWNER, CHRISTOPHER DEVELOPMENTS

especially when we first got started, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not a carpenter. My strength is in the design and development of properties, as well as working in close cooperation with the clients,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Christopher Developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forte over the years has always been in the design and construction of high end single family homes. While responsible for some small scale subdivisions and other residential developments, the company more commonly works with individual homeowners â&#x20AC;&#x201C; crafting a project that is on budget, on time and always with the intended goal of exceeding the expectations of the clients. That focus on doing the best job possible, every single time, has not gone unnoticed

by Christopher Developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s peers.

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One time commercial pilot Chris Walker is now a leading custom home designer and builder Association (VRBA), the umbrella organization for the Capital Regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building sector. A non-profit society incorporated in 1940, the VRBA is one of the oldest builderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s associations in Canada, and represents the expertise of 165 professional builders and renovators, designers, trades and suppliers living and working in the Greater Victoria area.

The Annual CARE Awards is considered the premier industry awards event, a celebration open only to VRBA members. VRBA builders and designers are considered by industry experts to be Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaders in energy efficient and sustainable homes representing the West Coast lifestyle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While I certainly know how to use a hammer, the team I hire can do a much better job than I could possibly do. We began the company building a few land development spec homes. I would for example buy a piece of property in Esquimalt and then hire the crews to build the house. In the beginning I would hire designers, and have worked with some fairly well known designers in the past, but as time went on I got more and more into the design work myself,â&#x20AC;? Walker explained.

After nearly a quarter century in business Christopher Developments has focused its efforts into

Unexpected features, like an outdoor fireplace in the patio, helps to set Christopher Development homes apart two primary areas; the design and construction of high end homes and in a lesser capacity land development, the creation of complete subdivisions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do land development when the timing is right and when I can find the right properties,â&#x20AC;? he explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have done subdivisions in the past. The last major project we did saw us buy a seven and a half acre parcel that we developed into a 24 lot subdivision in View Royal. In that case we sold off the lots to others, while acting as the custom home builder for those who wanted that service.â&#x20AC;?

Despite having evolved into an award winning custom home designer / builder and respected project developer, Christopher Developments hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t physically grown much since it first launched in 1992. While operating with a very small staff the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strength is the trusted core of subtrades Walker

has assembled over the years.

As is the case with many general contractors creating successful and long term relationships with teams of carpenters, plumbers, electricians, drywallers and others allows the company to remain lean and focused on its primary goal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; namely the designing and building of quality homes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The company itself remains quite small but right now weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just about to launch a design business that will be separate and distinct from Christopher Developments. Over the years weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had so much call for design work from others, in many cases from outside of the Victoria area, that we felt the time was right to branch off into this related but distinct area,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Thanks to a sophisticated Social Media and online presence, Ch r i s topher D evelopments and its expanding portfolio of

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11

DECEMBER 2016

While the company has been involved in some development work its forte has always been high end homes

Chris Walker enjoys designing homes that incorporate natural elements such as stone or wood completed projects have been presented to a large potential audience – an effort that is now reaping significant dividends.

“I’ve consciously gone out and advertised the company, mainly through the images of the homes that we’ve designed and built.

I receive a lot of requests now for design work from outside of Victoria which has been the motivation for launching the new design business,” he said.

While not an architect, Walker, as an experienced builder and home designer, has developed an almost instinctive understanding of the needs of his firm’s customers. Over the years he has learned how to create the right property to satisfy those needs, which could include everything from family size, special needs and unique budgetary considerations. “The design service is a good tie in with the construction side. I can name any number of advantages of having a design / builder,” he said.

“I don’t know how many times

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I’ve seen the situation where the homeowner wants to build a house and they have a set of plans from another designer but the plan doesn’t meet their budget.

When I can take things such as the budget into account right at the beginning it’s very advantageous for the whole process,” he said.

For Walker an intangible reward of his chosen profession is the opportunity it provides to create something with lasting benefit. A custom home can potentially become part of a family for generations. Playing such a crucial part in his client’s lives has become a satisfying part of his chosen vocation. From a creative perspective he also enjoys designing a home that is ideally suited to its location, providing pleasure and convenience for its owners while having as benign an impact on the environment as possible.

“I thoroughly enjoy the mechanics of building, seeing how all of the structural elements of the

Another successful year at the CARE Awards.

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477 Boleskine Road, Victoria, BC

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project come together. It’s also crucial to work with the homeowner right from the beginning so they provide input, so there are no surprises and to ensure they end up with the home they want.

It’s so rewarding to take them from that initial idea to handing over the keys,” he said.

While referral business is an important part of Christopher Development’s workload much of the firm’s trade comes via its website and online marketing efforts. A large number of the company’s clients come from outside of the region, for example persons moving to the Victoria area from some larger center.

“When the Calgary oil boom was on that basically fed my business for five years. Now we’re seeing a lot more calls coming from Vancouver, with what’s going onto property values there,” Walker said.

“Today people in Vancouver are selling their homes for $2 million, pocketing a million and then folding the rest into a new home here and things like that.

In many cases those are the type of calls that we’re getting these days. We’ve found that putting the effort in to build a good website, with lots of good images, has been key to the growth of our business.”

For the future Christopher Developments anticipates continuing to do what it does best, working with its client to design

Ocean Concrete management and staff congratulate Christopher Developments on your success.

and build the homes of their dreams. While the company does anticipate working on higher end multi-family projects there is no long term plan to move into commercial construction at this time. Customer satisfaction has been a central component of the company’s success and for Walker that continues to be of paramount importance.

“I like to tell anyone who is contemplating using our services to please speak with anyone who we have built for. The most important part of my business is our reputation and we only get a good reputation by doing a good job and making our customers happy. That’s basically all there is to it,’ he said.

While a career move from commercial aviation to residential construction seemed extreme when it first happened, for Walker the decision to transition to his new industry has brought with it a sense of fulfillment he never anticipated, a delight that he anticipates will keep him motivated for many years to come.

“The things I strive to achieve with our homes are energy efficiency, longevity and comfort.

There is a real satisfaction in knowing we’ve done the job right and the client will have a home they can enjoy and be proud of for years, decades to come.”

To learn more about the company please visit: www.christopherdevelopments.com

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12 CONFERENCE CENTRE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

resources to one parent or if one of the breakout sessions could spark a child to pursue something that excites them, we’ve done our job.”

Tacon said that at last year’s conference, more than 1,200 individuals registered for the event with children ages 12 and under, enjoying workshops, special entertainment, speakers and a variety of vendors at the tradeshow.

Sponsorship was generously provided by businesses like Array Web + Creative, Elite Imaging, Shaw TV, Vancouver Island University, and radio stations the Wolf and the Wave.

Next year, the event, which takes place January 14, is looking to build on its initial success.

“It takes a lot of hard work to put this together, but a conference like this speaks to our next generation. The statistics on child poverty are harsh. We’re consolidating organizations for creating a learning environment and opportunities for parents to connect with groups that offer support and resources.”

She added that the tradeshow

DECEMBER 2016

“As we’ve grown so has our understanding that what we are doing here is bigger than what we had originally envisioned.”

DENISE TACON GENERAL MANAGER, VANCOUVER ISLAND CONFERENCE CENTRE

extravaganza will host vendors like the Nanaimo Child Development Centre, Greater Nanaimo Early Years, Pacific Sport and other groups parents may be unaware of. With 97 per cent of the event based on community sponsorship, Tacon said it’s a great opportunity for local companies and organizations to partner with an event with such a great message.

Connecting community is key to what VICC accomplishes on an ongoing basis. This month it will partner with the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association and Harbour Air to fly in Santa Claus and with B Gallant Homes is sponsoring a gingerbread house

The KIDS Conference aims to connect parents with resources and support organizations in their community CREDIT:VICC

decorating event for children and families in support of the Salvation Army.

“The tremendous loyalty our sponsors and conference organizers have for the VICC has really helped us gain traction for offering both resident and

non-resident events,” Tacon said, adding that, although it did not capture statistics during its first few years of service, the current numbers are a reflection of its ongoing efforts and successes.

“VICC is nearing its 10-year mark,” Tacon said. “As we’ve

grown, so has our understanding that what we are doing here is bigger than what we had originally envisioned.”

Vancouver Island Conference Centre is at 101 Gordon Street in Nanaimo www.viconference.com

DIVERSITY CREATES STRONG TEAM “I wanted to provide a Business focuses on supporting local economy Island businesses and in fabricating everything in its own shop

V

ICTORIA - Tyson Helwer developed a love of fabricating in rural Manitoba fixing things with his grandfather on the family farm. After he moved to Victoria he continued growing his passion in metalcraft, eventually creating his own business in 2006.

“I wanted to provide a place for anyone with the same attitude and desire to build cool things.

Where they could feel like a part of a team, be excited to come to work every day and take pride in what they do,” he said.

In its 10 years in business,

place for anyone with the same attitude and desire to build cool things.”

TYSON HELWER OWNER/OPERATOR, AVILION METALCRAFT

Avilion Metalcraft has worked on high-profile projects, shipping railings across North America, and on commercial and residential jobs that include highrise condos a nd sma l l home renovations.

“We are constantly exploring new design possibilities,” Helwer explained. “Working with engineers to push the boundaries of physics from glass canopies to glass floors, structural glass and everything in between.”

H e l w e r b e l i e v e s s t r o n gly in hiring employees for its

Jocelyn and Jessica loading glass onto a van for installation into a custom railing CREDIT:AVILION METALCRAFT

well-equipped custom fabrication shop based on ability, not gender, and prides itself on its diversity and talent.

“Everyone should be given an opportunity in this industry where women aren’t often given that chance.”

CONGRATULATIONS

to Tyson and the team at Avilion Metalcraft on all their great work.

Look forward to seeing more in the future.

e

Coming Soon!

Avilion prides itself on hiring based on ability and talent not gender CREDIT:AVILION METALCRAFT

Avilion builds custom designed railing systems, from the cutting edge of modern topless glass to classic picket railing. It also custom builds furniture to design specifications, metal gates and uniquely different customized metal designs for commercial and residential exterior railings or partial house coverings.

For Helwer and his crew, metalcrafting is an art form with each project imbued with the care and quality of a piece of art.

“We try to remain local by using local businesses, fabricating everything in our shop to avoid outsourcing from other countries. We take pride in that level of commitment in the quality we can ensure.”

Avilion Metalcraft is at 2956 W Shore Parkway in Victoria www.avilionmetalcraft.com

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13

DECEMBER 2016

CONTRACTING FIRM CELEBRATES ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY Leftcoast Painting Specializes In Residential Painting Assignments

V

IC T OR I A – For Ch ris Driebergen, the owner of Leftcoast Painting, quality, exceptional service and a personal attention to detail are the keys to operating a successful business.

A second generation commercial painter specializing in residential projects, Driebergen has worked for countless clients across the Greater Victoria area since launching his

business in 2001.

“I grew up in a contractor household as my Dad was a residential painter, so it seemed the right career choice for me. Basically I grew up working with him so I was sort of born to be a painter,” he remembers.

“I may not have enjoyed it so much when I was a kid, but now that I’m out on my own I really enjoy it.”

While primarily focusing on the residential market, both with renovation work and in the painting of new homes, Leftcoast Painting isn’t afraid to tackle commercial assignments when they appear.

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“When you are working with an individual, rather than a corporation, you can develop a real relationship.”

CHRIS DRIEBERGEN OWNER, LEFTCOAST PAINTING

“I’m primarily residential and I enjoy working for the individual homeowners,” he said.

“When you are working with an individual, rather than a corporation, you can develop a real relationship with the client and those relationships are very important to me.”

While having worked with developers and general contractors in the past on new homes the bulk of Leftcoast Painting’s workload involves tasks such as repainting older homes, participating in remodeling efforts and similar renovation projects while providing both interior and exterior painting services.

With an ongoing emphasis on providing the very best in customer service Driebergen has deliberately kept his staff count low to ensure the maximum effort can be given to each assignment. “Essentially right now the company is just me and one other person. I’m on site

Specialists in both interior and exterior painting, Leftcoast Painting focuses on residential projects almost all of the time and I like to keep it that way to ensure a consistent quality of work every time,” he explained.

Remaining small and quality focused, Leftcoast Painting can provide its customers with personalized services such as a three year warranty on all of its work and a promise to always use environmentally-friendly low volatile organic components in all of the painting products it uses.

“Everything comes down to building relationships. I’m a Victoria native, have lived here all my life and am not going anywhere. If the

customer needs something they’ll always know where to find me,” he said.

With a successful decade and a half of business experience behind him Driebergen finds that today the bulk of his trade comes from repeat and referral customers, a statistic he’s very proud of. For the future he expects to continue to provide the very best in products and personalized service.

That’s the approach he learned from his father, and that’s the business model he continues to follow.

To learn more, visit the company’s website at: www.leftcoastpainting. ca

WEST SHORE

14

DECEMBER 2016

Nominations Pouring in for Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards

SUPPORTING POSITIVE CHANGE: THE WEST SHORE IN 2016

Companies Sending In Nominations With December 1 Deadline Looming For January 26 Gala

V

ICTOR I A – With nominations flowing in, organizers of the 17 th A nnual Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards are anticipating another exciting celebration of the best of the best in Island business January 26 in Victoria.

“It’s a lways i nt r i g uing to see what types of companies are nominated for these awards,” notes Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner, which coordinates the event. “We write about businesses all the time and many of the success stories are well documented. But these awards seem to bring out

new, exciti ng ventu res that make our judges’ job a little tougher as they decide who wins each award.

Black Press is a Platinum Sponsor of the BE Awards this year, and RBC Royal Bank and Hayes Stewart Little & Co. Cha r tered Professional Accountants are back as Gold Sponsors.

Categor ies t h i s ye a r i nclude: Ag ricu ltu re, Automotive, Construction/ Development, Entrepreneur, Forestry/ Wood Products, Green, H e a l t h , H o s p i t a l i t y/ Tourism, Manufacturer, Ocean Products, Professional (legal, accounting, insurance), Real Estate, Reta i l, Sma l l Busi ness (u nd er 50 employe e s), Technology, Trades and Business of the Year (over 50 employees).

“Each year, it seems that the nominations are nearly evenly split between companies south of the

Malahat, and those from north of the Malahat, and this year is no different,” says MacDonald. “That’s not s u r pr i s i n g, a s t he population of both areas are very close, but it also shows the strength of the economy on Vancouver Island is spread out.

“With what we’ve seen thus far, we believe this version of the Business Excellence Awards could be our best ever.”

The nomination deadl i ne is December 1 th is year, and companies can self-nominate. There is no charge to participate.

Nom i nation forms ca n be downloaded at www. businessexaminer.ca/ events, and click through Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards.

For more information on the event contact MacDonald at 1-866-758-2684 ext. 120 or email: mark@ businessexaminer.ca

Elegant ElegantUplands UplandsHome Home

WEST SHORE JULIE LAWLOR

I

sat for some time staring at a blank screen when pulling together this article as I pondered 2016, which has been a very strange and a very interesting year. In the West Shore I have very much felt a mood of optimism throughout 2016. More businesses are opening across the region, and some are expanding.

The walls of the Pacific Centre Family Services Association’s new Wellness Centre in Colwood are rising out of the ground. The YMCA-YWCA Westhills opened in Langford in May and was voted the Best Fitness Facility in the 2016 Best of the West Shore Awards.

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2332 Copper Rock Crt.Crt. $1,300,000 2332 Copper Rock $1,300,000

Julie Lawlor is the Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at 250-4781130 or jlawlor@westshore. bc.ca

1081 Aspen Rd.Rd. $2,899,000 1081 Aspen $2,899,000

UPPER D D TERRACE ESTATE LL SOSO

1175 Newport Ave. $606,000 1175 Newport Ave. $606,000

com mu n ity l i fe on t he West Shore. I’d l i ke to take this opportunity to thank all of our members for you r suppor t, you r challenge and your great ideas – please keep them coming! I would also like to thank the City of Langford, the City of Colwood and the Town of View Royal for your crucial support of the WestShore Chamber’s activities.

W h i le the WestShore Chamber’s membership is growing, we will not be resting on our laurels! In 2017 we will continue to work with our partners and members to make our best possible impact both for our members, and for the community at large.

For further information on what is going on at the WestShore Chamber, please go to westshore.bc.ca or give us a call on 250-478-1130.

Gated GatedWaterfront Waterfrontacreage acreage

2475 Lansdowne Rd.Rd. $2,998,000 2475 Lansdowne $2,998,000

LDLD O S SO

And the list goes on.

Reconciling this sense of confidence against events in the wider world is where it becomes thought-provoking. W hatever your political views, the vote for the U K to leave the European Union and Donald Trump for President of the United States is a clear voice, in both cases, for change. The ripple effects of this change will be felt as our leaders at national, provincial and local levels respond to its impact.

We live, work and play in a region that feels prosperous, with people working hard to make it more so every day. The WestShore Chamber of Commerce is in the fortunate position, as are the other regional Chambers, of affecting positive change. This is very much in line with how people are responding to events on the world stage – “what can I do to make things better?”

At the WestShore Chamber we are very much about continuous improvement as we advance the growth, prosperity and sustainabi l ity of busi ness a nd

777 Richards St.St. 1,350,000 3470 Upper Terrace Rd. $3,200,000 777 Richards 1,350,000

LDLD O S SO

LotLot 1 Trans Canada Hwy. 1 Trans Canada Hwy.$1,480,000 $1,480,000

LDLD SOSO

LDLD SOSO

3270 Beach Dr.Dr. $2,690,000 3270 Beach $2,690,000

3185 Ripon Rd.Rd. $2,500,000 3185 Ripon $2,500,000

CALLAGHAN CALLAGHANO’CONNOR O’CONNOR

250-888-4579 • callaghan.oconnor@evcanada.com 250-888-4579 • callaghan.oconnor@evcanada.com

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15

DECEMBER 2016

Whole Foods Market Opens First Vancouver Island Store The 40,000 Square Foot Outlet Located At The Uptown Shopping Centre

A significant local employer, the new Whole Foods Market has more than 150 employees

S

AANICH – As much a philosophy for a wholesome lifestyle as it is a retail outlet, the opening of the Victoria area’s new Whole Foods Market store November 2 was a major milestone for the region. An expanding leader in the retail sale of organic and natural food products in the United States, the brand new 40,000 square foot store is a first for Vancouver Island, and is only the twelfth store in the chain to open in Canada.

“Founded in 1978, the company’s first store opened in Austin, Texas in 1980. Today there are more than 440 stores across North America with a new one opening just about every week. So you can imagine how excited we are about this store, which is the sixth to open in BC,” explained Grant Daisley, Whole Food Market’s Associate Marketing Coordinator for Western Canada.

The new store is located at 3587 Blanshard Street and is part of Saanich’s Uptown Shopping Centre. A significant local employer, the new Whole Foods Market has a staff of more than 150. “One thing that sets our store apart from other grocery stores is the unparalleled standards of quality that we enforce for the foods that we sell. From the very beginning we’ve kept the focus on natural and organic products and that’s never changed,” Daisley said.

The new Victoria area outlet is more than a traditional supermarket. In many ways the store functions more like a self contained small community, with its own bakery, butcher’s shop, coffee shop, juice bar, fish market and more.

“For us it’s all about ensuring our customers that we’ve done the research on the products that we sell. It’s all about sourcing the

“Our teams do a lot of work to understand what’s important to the community.”

GRANT DAISLEY ASSOCIATE MARKETING COORDINATOR, WHOLE FOODS MARKET

best and the highest quality ingredients available. There’s also a real emphasis on finding and supporting local product offerings,” he said.

In addition to the more than 300 BC vendors chosen to stock other Whole Foods Market stores in the province, more than 40 products sourced from Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands vendors will be part of the product lines available at the local store. This selection process came in part as the result of the company’s Local Producer Fair which took place last March.

“In a way it’s like selling products with a social conscience.

We work with third parties to ensure the wild seafood that we sell is sustainably sourced. We don’t sell seafood for example that would be ranked as being threatened. Sustainability is very important to us as is traceability. Our teams know not merely that our seafood is caught in a sustainable way, but they can actually trace back to where it was caught. Which s going that extra mile for our customers,” he said.

Another feature of the store is its Fin & Pearl seafood eatery, a venue offering seating at the bar as well as café style seating.

A unique feature within a food store, the licensed premises sells prepared local seafood as well as local beers and ciders. Selections from Hoyne Brewing Co., Driftwood Brewery, Phillips Brewing

The natural and organic foods supermarket makes an effort to sell locally sourced food products Company and Tod Creek Craft Cider were all on tap when the store first opened.

“Si nce open i ng about two weeks ago the response from the community has been just wonderful. We’ve had a lot of great feedback from the customers, which helps to confirm that we made the right decision to open up this store on Vancouver Island,” Daisley said.

“What’s great about the chain is that no two stores are alike, each is reflective of the communities they serve. This is certainly the case regarding the look and the feel of the store, but also in the products that we carry. Our teams do a lot of work to understand what’s important to the community and then to match that with the products that we sell.”

With the Victoria store just recently opened, the company has no plans at present to open additional outlets on Vancouver Island, but will continue to explore other potential locations across Western Canada.

“Being able to support these local producers is very important to us, so we anticipate adding new local products to our shelves throughout the year.”

To learn more about the store please visit: www.wholefoodsmarket.com

16

DECEMBER 2016

VICTORIA BUILDER OPENING NEW SATELLITE OFFICE IN NANAIMO Bennefield Construction Builds Both Residential & Commercial Projects

V

ICTORIA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Combining old world craftsmanship and an unwavering attention to detail with the latest in 21st Century building techniques, Bennefield Construction Ltd. has been kept at the forefront of the construction industry for more than a decade. Now with an expanded presence in the Mid Island region and a desire to expand into

Pride of work and enthusiasm abound with each new Bennefield Construction project.

We congratulate you on your success and are grateful for the opportunity to work with you!

103 - 891 Attree Ave, Victoria, BC

250-382-7374

info@victoriadesigngroup.ca www.victoriadesigngroup.ca

ever larger projects, the company enthusiastically looks forward to what the future has in store. â&#x20AC;&#x153;W hile we are based in the Victoria area, we are in the process of opening a satellite office in Nanaimo that will allow us to effectively service our clients in that area,â&#x20AC;? explained company founder and Project Coordinator Blue Bennefield. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re definitely in a growth phase and have some new projects including one on Departure Bay Road in Nanaimo that is a true mixed-use development, featuring condominiums with commercial elements, and our new Nanaimo office.â&#x20AC;?

Standing the test of time.

Travelers Canada is here for the long term, just like the projects you develop.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been a leader in the new home warranty industry in BC since 1999.

travelerscanada.ca The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (Canada Branch), and Travelers Insurance Company of Canada are the Canadian licensed insurers known as Travelers Canada. Š 2016 The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (Canada Branch), and/or Travelers Insurance Company of Canada. All rights reserved. Travelers and the Travelers Umbrella logo are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries. M-18094 Rev. 11-16

Launched in 2010 primarily as a single family home builder, Bennefield Construction has expanded over the years. Typical work includes renovation projects, updating classic character homes, and a wide range of commercial assignments. With 10 full time staff, the company works alongside experienced and trusted sub trades. Currently, Bennefieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workload is 70 per cent residential with the remainder of its attention devoted to commercial projects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I were to describe our company, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have to say that we are on the very cutting edge. Our focus has always been on the simplicity and beauty of true West Coast designs, taking the full advantage of the latest building materials and techniques,â&#x20AC;? said Blue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always pushing the envelope with styles and try to incorporate new details, the sort of finer points that other builders simply donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do. For example, we do a lot of timber work inside of the house, woodwork that will flow from the interior to the exterior of the home in a very natural manner. I love the West Coast style of home with its very modern look of design. It also means we put a lot of effort into making all of our projects as energy efficient as possible.â&#x20AC;?

A certified Energy Star Builder, Bennefield Construction has willingly embraced energy efficiency

West Coast designs are suitable for everything from offices to cottages and high end homes in all of its designs, reflecting the increasing demand from its clients for this level of quality construction. The company is also a legitimate one-stop shop, being able to provide all services necessary to bring a project to completion, from land clearing and site preparation, to consultation and design, and all stages of the final building process.

Launching its Nanaimo project in early November, the assignment is one of a number the company currently has on the go.

Beginning its existence as a residential home builder at the Bear Mountain project, Bennefield has evolved over the past 10 years to the point where it can handle

projects of virtually any size. For the future the company anticipates continued growth, with the new Nanaimo office providing a means of establishing itself outside of the Greater Victoria area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It takes a long time to build a proper team around you, but once you have thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no telling how far you can go,â&#x20AC;? Bennefield said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love the challenge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; challenge and stimulation thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of our big things. At the end of the day itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about knowing that the project has been built properly, knowing weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve built something that will serve someone for 100 years.â&#x20AC;?

To learn more about this company please visit: www.bennefieldconstruction.ca

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OFF THE COVER

DECEMBER 2016

way with customers. But at Tri City, the rule is transparency— and unsurprisingly, the shop’s phone is generally ringing off the hook.

At Tri City, there are no “surprise bills,” as Wilkinson puts it. “We always let our customers know their costs and options ahead of time.

“People experience major stress when their cars have problems.

Too often, they get told they need to leave their vehicles at the shop because they can’t possibly safely drive them home.

“Some shops tell customers this a half a dozen times a day, but in our experience it’s rare that a car just can’t be driven. So people are being scared into spending money.”

When Wilkinson says his business is “family run”, he isn’t kidding. Currently, Tri City employs seven Wilkinsons: himself, his wife Rosalind, his daughter Jordan, his son Wade, his brothers Rob and Josh, and his mother Lolly.

Jody’s father John Wilkinson

“It’s simple really: we look after our customers and they look after us.”

JODY WILKINSON TRI CITY COLLISION AND REPAIRS MANAGER

The Wilkinsons pose with a customer’s car. established the shop as a homebased business over 32 years ago. Eventually, the family rented a shop in Metchosin before building their Sooke-based shop in 2000.

John Wilkinson passed away from cancer five years ago, but the Wilkinsons keep a sign up declaring that three generations of the family are working at the shop. “It’s a bit of false

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY MARKETING ITS HOLIDAY THEMED INVENTION “It just came to me, Eagle Pacific Developments Inc. Promoting Its Unique Fundraising Product

the whole Treemote™ concept and its name.”

advertising, I guess,” laughs Wilkinson, “but we were too nostalgic to take the sign down when Dad passed.”

Wade Wilkinson remembers hanging around the shop from the time he could first walk. He moved onto washing cars at age nine and then apprenticed in his young adulthood.

“I always wanted to work here,” he says proudly, “Working with family is fun. We have a way of always being professional—but we’re always joking around too.”

The way Wade and Jody tell it, founder John deserves much

of the credit for their business culture of exemplary customer service. “He was just a really hard worker,” says Jody Wilkinson.

“Even when he got cancer, he worked right up until the end.

To spend time with him meant working a longside h i m, a nd treating people with fairness and decency.”

When Jody Wilkinson dreams about the future, his thoughts don’t stray far from family. “I want us to keep the business in the family. That will take some figuring out, but that’s what I hope for.”

MARTIN SCHENK

Victoria Mediation Services

OWNER, EAGLE PACIFIC DEVELOPMENTS

V

ICTORIA – For more than 25 years, Eagle P a c i f i c D eve l o p ments Inc., working in concert with the expertise of the Victoria Design Group, have been the creative force behind some of the Capital Region’s finest custom homes and most innovative townhome communities.

But with the holiday season fast approaching this diverse and entrepreneurial enterprise is putting more energy into the distribution of its unique Treemote™ radio

17

controlled Christmas tree lighting system.

Eagle Pacific co-owner Martin Schenk conceived the idea for the Treemote™ in 2011 when returning from a worksite on a cold December night he saw his wife Shelby Schenk crawling around on her hands and knees beneath the Christmas tree, trying to plug in its inconveniently placed lights.

To use the old expression, the ‘light bulb went on’ in his imagination and the concept for the remote control device was born.

“It just came to me, the whole Treemote™ concept and its name, and we’ve never looked back since,” he explained.

Schenk came up with this product to not only make his wife’s life a little bit easier, but also as a fund raising product to supWe value working with port children in need Eagle Pacific Developments around the world. To him there is no betand wish the team every ter time to give than success as new projects during the Christmas break ground! season.

103 - 891 Attree Ave, Victoria, BC Wanting to share the 250-382-7374 concept with others info@victoriadesigngroup.ca www.victoriadesigngroup.ca Schenk has twice

Mediation • Arbitration • Parenting Co-Ordination

Invented in 2011 the Treemote™ is a unique remote controlled Christmas tree lighting system appea red on t he CBC’s Dragon’s Den television program to help locate funding to produce this unique seasonal product. A third appearance on the program is scheduled for December 7.

Flash forward to Christmas 2016 and this unique system has taken on a life of its own, and is now available for sale in more than 1,500 stores across Canada this year.

“Every construction project we work on involves close association with the Victoria Design Group, but at Christmas time Eagle Pacific the construction company is all about Christmas, and that means the Treemote™,” he said.

To learn more about this company please visit: www. eaglepacific.ca

Early intervention through mediation restores relationships and improves productivity.

Whether the conflict is with a client, partner or competitor, we provide speedy and fair solutions.

Commerce through Compromise 250-590-8106 | www.mediationvictoria.ca 402-2020 Richmond Rd, Victoria, BC

18

DECEMBER 2016

FATHER MENTORS SONS TO SUCCESSFULLY LEAD COMPANY “I love the industry, Long time construction company takes on high security institutional jobs for the Department of Defence

V

ICTORIA - Growing up in a family business has its perks. For the Josephson boys, Mathew and David, the biggest one is having their father as a mentor.

“I started sweeping floors as a teenager and doing odd jobs for my dad,” Mathew said, adding that he spent time watching his father working as a carpenter on the tools, building projects around Greater Victoria, building relationships, and learning his father’s philosophy that you are only as good as your last project.

“I grew up in the industry.

It’s very gratifying to carry on the business Dad built from the ground up.”

He added that he feels lucky that his father will be available to bounce ideas off of and to continue offering advice.

Mathew, or Matty as his father and brother refer to him, began his carpentry apprenticeship in 2000. After he was awarded his Gold Seal, he moved to the office taking the position of a project manager and estimator, slowly working his way to upper management. During that time, he completed a variety of Gold Seal management courses.

“It was a very hands on experience,” he explained, which has allowed him to gradually step into his dad’s shoes as president of the company.

Max Josephson, started Perma in 1976 after moving to Victoria from the United States. The company’s office and warehouse have been located at 309 Mary Street since 1982. With a focus on commercial, industrial, and institutional renovation, the company specializes in tenant improvements, seismic upgrades, and new construction in the commercial, industrial and institutional

especially when we get to turn someone’s dreams into a reality and deliver the project on time and within budget.”

DAVID JOSEPHSON PERMA CONSTRUCTION LTD.

sectors. In 2016 it added residential building work to its offered services.

Perma has a strong history on Vancouver Island working for both the Provincial and Federal Governments, Crown Corporations and “Class A” business.

Over the 40 years of construction on the Island they have renovated historical landmark buildings and have completed numerous projects for both the private and public sectors.

“We’ve completed sensitive high security government contracts at CFB Esquimalt, as well as completing infrastructure projects like the award winning Nelle’s Block Dining Hall. building. Recently, we installed 30 kitchens for the Canadian Forces Housing Authority,” Max explained.

It recently completed Mystic Market on campus at the University of Victoria, valued at $5.1 million. A modern, market-style layout designed by KPL James Architecture that won the team a n A rchitectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC) Award of Excellence in the Large Commercial Project category.

Another high profile project i nvolved th ree f loors of the CPR Heritage Building at Victoria’s harbour front. Perma constructed tenant spaces for the Robert Bateman Art Gallery, SEE PERMA CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 19

Mathew and David Josephson are happy to have their father, Max, as a mentor CREDIT:PERMA CONSTRUCTION LTD.

Congratula�ons Perma from the team at Empress Pain�ng.

Wishing you con�nued success for your next 40! !

WE ARE PROUD TO BE A PARTNER IN THE SUCCESS OF PERMA CONSTRUCTION.

"

Cong a lation on o e and be i e o e e o all o a C

VANCOUVER ISLAND • VANCOUVER EDMONTON • CALGARY RED DEER • WINNIPEG

250-383-5224 | www.empresspainting.ca | Victoria, British Columbia

www.canem.com More than 50 years of integrity, quality and professionalism

578 John St., Victoria, BC 250.382.2161 www.islandtemp.com

19

DECEMBER 2016

Perma renovated and restored office space for Kixeye Studios in the Bastion Square CREDIT:PERMA CONSTRUCTION LTD.

PERMA CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Starbucks Coffee and the Steamship Grill. The project featured a suspended concrete patio that services 100 patrons, extensive glazing and masonry restoration

to the fireplace and dining hall.

“Commercial or institutional projects can involve either a renovation or alteration,” Mathew explained. “Typically an alteration includes an addition, while a renovation does not include any added space but may include

some kind of restoration.”

The family feels strongly about the permanence of the projects they have worked on, building a sense of pride into each one.

“My kids were three and six when the renovation at the university was completed.” Mathew

said. “They got to run through the space and see what their family had built. Who knows, they may even go there when they are older.”

David also reflects on some of the projects Perma has built. He’s been working for the company for eight years and remembers as he was growing up how his father would point out buildings he had worked on or constructed.

At 33, Dav id, l i ke M at hew grew up on the job site always having a summer job pushing a

broom or helping with demolition and clean-up. Post-secondary training, which included business, marketing and real estate trading, took him on a different direction from his older brother.

After returning home from living off the Island, David had the opportunity to join the family business, bringing in his business and life experiences, working beside both his brother and father, as well as his natural abilities of SEE PERMA CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 20

Proud to support Perma Construction.

The Mystic Market project at the University of Victoria was valued at $5.1 million CREDIT:PERMA CONSTRUCTION LTD.

Congratulations Perma Construction!

Construction!

Victoria Sooke Duncan Butler Brothers Supplies Ltd. is a proud supplier to Perma Construction.

Congratulations on your 40th year in business, and best wishes for the future!

From all of us at the BC Regional Council of Carpenters www.bcrcc.ca

www.butlerbros.bc.ca

20

DECEMBER 2016

The high profile CPR Heritage Building project involved three floors and featured extensive glazing, a suspended concrete patio and restoration to the fireplace and dining hall CREDIT:PERMA CONSTRUCTION LTD.

PERMA CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

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managing projects and looking at the more technical aspects of a project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love the industry, especially when we get to turn someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dreams into a reality and deliver the project on time and within budget.â&#x20AC;?

The company has faced challenges but, as Max explained, those challenges are dynamic and always changing. In the early years of the company, Perma was the major contractor on provincial government contracts, but as the city grew so did the number of contractors and competition.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The government doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend so much on its buildings anymore either. Being diverse in what services we offered made sure we stayed competitive and working.â&#x20AC;?

Many of the challenges facing Mathew revolve around time: not having enough. As Permaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soon-to-be-president heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on a sharp learning curve. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Learning the business and all the details is not easy; add to that the running of projects, and family can sometimes take a back seat. Fortunately, Dad has spent 40 years learning what works and what doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s put SEE PERMA CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 21

Renovation to the exterior of the University Club house CREDIT:PERMA CONSTRUCTION LTD.

WILSON MARSHALL L A W

Proud to send our very best wishes to Perma Construc�on td as you celebrate 40 years.

(250) 388-6554 1803 Douglas St #701, Victoria, BC V8T 5C3 www.hcwca.net

Proud t 830 Pandora Avenue Victoria, BC V8W 1P4 Tel: 250.388.5555 Fax: 250.388.5959 www.hsminsurance.com

Vicki L. Plant, Ross McKenzie, CIP Direct line: 250.940.9444 RMcKenzie@HSMinsurance.com

C O R P O R A T I O N

Congratulations Perma Construction Ltd. on your 40 years, and we thank you for the opportunity to serve as your lawyers for the last 35 years! scottmarshall@wilsonmarshall.com claremarshall@wilsonmarshall.com gregatkins@wilsonmarshall.com www.wilsonmarshall.com

21

DECEMBER 2016

In 2016 Perma Construction added residential building work to its offered services CREDIT:PERMA CONSTRUCTION LTD.

PERMA CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

procedures and systems in place so it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like I am starting from scratch.â&#x20AC;?

David is also looking for that happy ground between enjoying the industry, spending night and day at work and making the time for other industry-related pursuits and growing the Perma brand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is so much to do, I could be working 24 hours a day.â&#x20AC;?

All three of the Josephson men agree, however, that having each other to fall back on keeps the job enjoyable and manageable.

Proline Roofing is proud of its partnership with PERMA CONSTRUCTION and congratulates their team for 40 years in business with best wishes for the decades ahead.

3578 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC 250-475-1310 www.prolineroofing.com

With such long service to a single region, Perma has seen its fair number of changes in the industry and in the building codes required. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the industry itself, we are seeing an increase in demand for seismic upgrading, more technology in design and installation and more digital communication,â&#x20AC;? said Mathew. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Man power has changed,â&#x20AC;? said Max. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It used to be that a carpenter did a bit of everything from framing to hanging a door and finishing work. They were well-rounded in what they could do well. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harder to find tradesmen like that today. Everybody

is now specializing in one area.â&#x20AC;?

For the Josephsons, what hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t changed is the quality and durabi l ity of t hei r work across industries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We build great value by hand,â&#x20AC;? said Max. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Something that serves a particular purpose. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter if the materials or technology changes. A successful business is all about walking the talk and doing what you say you are going to do.â&#x20AC;?

For his two boys, taking the reins of a business their father created is a big responsibility, one that they say is fueled by t hei r passion for t he i ndustry and a team effort from

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Happy 40 year anniversary Perma Construction.

All the best for your continued success!

their administrative staff, project managers, subtrades and suppliers.

Max said that it could be more complicated, but it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t because his sons are doing a great job. He added that there is a unique and powerful sense of pride watching his sons step into his shoes and carry on the family legacy.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a feeling like none other because the business he worked hard at creating will carry on, supporting several generations of children and families. Its what permanence is all about.

Perma Construction Ltd. is at 309 Mary Street in Victoria www.permaconstruction.com

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4118 Sooke Road, Victoria, BC

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250.474.3234 www.mcdonaldelectric.ca

Congratulations on 40 years of excellence in the construction industry.

3368 Tennyson Ave. Victoria, BC V8Z 3P6 P. 250-475-8882 C. 250-883-5718 www.wescor.ca

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250-883-3233

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22

WHO IS SUING WHOM

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

DEFENDANT 0735973 BC LTD 7-4180 North Island Hwy, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Tectonica Management Inc CLAIM $12,720 DEFENDANT 0763634 BC LTD 1945 Bunker Hill Dr, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Tectonica Management Inc CLAIM $ 12,720 DEFENDANT 0764915 BC LTD 200-1808 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Maw, Michael CLAIM $ 25,176 DEFENDANT 1639555 Alberta LTD 7-4180 Island Hwy North, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Herold Engineering Limited CLAIM $ 12,735

DEFENDANT Beacon Underwriting Ltd 290 Alexander St, Salmon Arm, BC PLAINTIFF Martel, Manuel JD CLAIM $ 18,326 DEFENDANT Booth White Fairtide Floors 4299 Entrance Ave, Ladysmith, BC PLAINTIFF Rona INC CLAIM $ 25,000 DEFENDANT Discovery Home Inspections 3-5144 Metral Dr, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Smith, Mary Gertrude CLAIM $ 25,168 DEFENDANT Discovery Inspections 1-5148 Metral Dr, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Shen, Zhihong CLAIM $ 19,700 DEFENDANT Englishman River Falls Rv Park Ltd 301-910 Fitzgerald Ave, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF 0987289 BC LTD CLAIM $ 344,509 DEFENDANT Envoy Construction Services Ltd

212-5455 152nd St, Surrey, BC PLAINTIFF Tri K Drilling Ltd CLAIM $ 6,620 DEFENDANT Fair Isle Welding Inc 11-2355 Spit Rd, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF Krynen Holdings Ltd CLAIM $ 22,676 DEFENDANT Freeflow Water Enterprises Ltd 1-1354 Craigdarroch Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Business Developent Bank Of Canada CLAIM $ 93,654 DEFENDANT Gain Foods Limited 210-3260 Norwell Dr, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Business Development Bank Of Canada CLAIM $ 43,749 DEFENDANT Heatwave Plumbing & Heating Ltd 1620 Cedar Hill X Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Citta Construction Ltd CLAIM $ 25,276 DEFENDANT Houle Electric Limited 1000-840 Howe St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF

DECEMBER 2016

Savage, Emery CLAIM $ 86,250 DEFENDANT Jubilee Self Storage Ltd 467 Cumberland Rd, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF Boyley Auto Body CLAIM $ 126,600 DEFENDANT K5 Contracting Ltd 813 Goldstream Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF TNT Industries Ltd CLAIM $ 44,073 DEFENDANT Namu Properties Ltd 1800-510 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF HMQ-Province Of BC CLAIM $ 167,106 DEFENDANT Pacific Landing Project Ltd 4th FLR 888 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Setter, Jacqui CLAIM $ 20,035 DEFENDANT Park Meadow Developments Ltd 102-1497 Admirals Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Tectonica Management Inc CLAIM

$ 12,720 DEFENDANT Peddle Construction Ltd 2300-550 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Slegg Limited Partnership CLAIM $ 128,919 DEFENDANT PG Hardwood Flooring Inc 2424 Main St, St Edouard De Lotbiniere, QC PLAINTIFF Rona INC CLAIM $ 25,000 DEFENDANT Signature Plus Automotive Center 570B John St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Coates, Blair CLAIM $ 8,366 DEFENDANT Sioux Chief Manufacturing Co Inc 24110 South Peculiar Dr, Peculiar, BC PLAINTIFF Citta Construction Ltd CLAIM $ 25,276 DEFENDANT Softcorp Software Ltd 303-1111 Blanshard St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Pizza Al Forno Inc CLAIM $ 7,107

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DECEMBER 2016

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Lindalee Brougham, founder and principal of LL Brougham Inc, has been elected to the 2016-17 board of directors of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia.

Viking Air has received a certification from Brazil to allow its Twin Otters planes to enter their market. The company said the Brazilian government’s intention is to foster regional air transport links to remote locations.

Additionally, Viking Air has signed a multi-year contract with the Fuerza Aerea del Peru to provide support of the 12 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft it now operates in northeast Peru. The contract will streamline the spare parts procurement process, provide technical support,

Successful Visions Group is celebrating their 30th anniversary at 2550 Rock Bay Avenue. The company is a custom kitchen manufacturer.

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Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins has been re-elected chairwoman of the Capital Regional District board, defeating Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen for the second year in a row.

Desjardin, who has been a board member since 2009, cited several successes over the past year in her bid for the $42,000-a-year position. She was elected in a secret ballot.

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The Commissionaires Victoria, the Islands and Yukon has named Gary Paulson as its new chief executive officer. Paulson has spent the past 10 years as the harbour master for the Port of Prince Rupert and will succeed John Dewar, who was the divisional chief executive for the past four years. The organization offers security services and is the largest private sector employer of Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP veterans.

TriStars Training has been sold to Lindsey Millar.

Millar was the company’s head coach and has been with TriStars since 2013.

TriStars, which has run the Recreational Triathlon Program for the District of Saanich since 2012 was founded in 2005 by Carolyn Gebbie.

The Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island announced the 2016 Torch Award Winners at the annual awards gala celebration on November 4 at the Union Club. The winners by category are: Three Guys Construction in General Contractors, Comfort Keepers in Health and Wellness, Enerheat in Home Improvement, Tri City Collision and Repairs in Auto Sales and Service, Victoria Drain Services in Drainage Contractors, Servicexcel in Heating and Electrical Contractors, On Line Moving and Delivery in Movers, Balance Home Cleaning in Cleaning Services, HomeWise Plumbing and Drainage Services in Plumbing Contractors, 4 Pillars Consulting in Professional Services, Oceanside Roofing in Roofing Contractors, Mid Island Computer Enterprise in Technical Services, Kgeez Cycle in Customer Service and CBS Stoneworks in Exterior Home Improvements and Services.

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Gary Paulson

Sales of Victoria Gin in Western Canada will now be taken over by Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants, a national distribution and marketing agency. The company sells more than 1.3 million cases of wine and spirits every year.

604.736.5611

Brian Pope has been named the new chief executive officer of the Truffles Group, a leading hospitality, tourism and retail companies. The group is comprised of Cascadia Liquor Stores, Truffles Catering, Habitat Catering at Royal Roads, Canoe Brewpub, Victoria Butterfly Gardens and Sequoia Coastal Coffee at the Royal BC Museum.

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McConnan Bion O’Connor and Peterson announced that Stewart Johnston has joined their law firm.

Stewart articled with the BC Ministry of the Attorney General before entering private practice where he concentrates on real property law (including land development and leasing), business and corporate law and estate planning.

McConnan Bion O’Connor and Peterson Lawyers is at Suite 420 – 880 Douglas Street.

Urban Smiles Victoria welcomes Dr. Craig Siemens DMD to their team of professionals at 823 Broughton Street.

direct resources to research and development among other things.

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The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has elected a new board of directors for 2017-2018. The board includes: Carmen Charette, Dan Dagg, John Wilson, Mark Mawhinney and Mark Smith.

and maximize use of the fleet.

The Twin Otter is currently sold in 29 countries. Since it launched the 400 series, Viking has sold 125, most recently to Panama’s Servicio Nacional Aeronaval Air Group.

Commercial Sales & Leasing Property & Asset Management Strata Management

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Caledonia Brewery and Distillery has named John Hamilton as vice-president of tourism and guest experiences.

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Pemberton Holmes welcomes Gillian Mandville, James Brown, Mark Watt and Megan Jackson to their Victoriabased team of professionals.

Victoria-based Carmanah Technologies intends to sell its power division in a bid to focus the company’s energy on its core lights business.

The division has two units – Go Power, which provides off-grid solar power for recreational vehicles and industrial work trucks, and Carmanah Solar EPC Services, which creates on-grid solar systems for developers. The sale will allow Carmanah to

Chris Smith Steve Nash Fitness announced the appointment of Chris Smith to President and COO of Steve Nash Fitness Clubs and UFC Gym. Smith joined the SNFW organization in 2010, relocating from SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 24

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

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ReStore is celebrating their 25th anniversary. ReStore specializes in building affordable housing for low-income families while reducing the strain on landfills across the country.

The recent opening of a new ReStore location on the Lower Mainland has brought the total number of store locations to 100.

Re/Max Camosun is pleased to introduce their top producers for September.

They are Jason Leslie, Shirley Zailo, Roy Banner, Dale Sheppard, Sharon StevensSmith and Don Burnham.

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Helmcken Veterinary Clinic has opened their doors for business in the Eagle Creek Village across from the Victoria General Hospital.

The clinic will hold a special grand opening event on December 3 from 12 pm to 4 pm.

Family Business Association Vancouver Island has received 23 nominations for the annual Family Business Excellence (FBE) Awards.

Nominations of family businesses came from all over Vancouver Island. A gala event celebration their accomplishments will be held Thursday, February 9th from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Beach House Restaurant in Victoria.

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Lowe’s recently celebrated the grand opening of their new location at 3170 Tillicum Road.

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Belle Rose Salon and Wax Bar has been nominated under two categories for the upcoming Best of the West Shore Awards. Belle Rose was nominated in the Hair Salon and Best for Aesthetics categories. The local salon was taken over by new owner Shayla Booth this year in June.

Sitka Law Group has launched as a new law form in Saanich at Shelbourne and Cedar Hill Cross Road. While the firm is new to the area, the individual lawyers have practiced and participated in the community for years. The firm’s areas of practice include personal

DECEMBER 2016

injury (ICBC and non-ICBC claims), employment law, real estate (purchases, sales and financing), business and corporate law, wills and incapacity planning and estate administration.

Saanich council has approved McDonald’s request to double its drive-thru to two lanes on Shelbourne Street. By doubling lanes, it is expected that cars will spend less time idling in the McDonald’s drive-thru and will limit the number of cars backed up onto Church Avenue.

The International Council of Shopping Centers has recognized Uptown Shopping Centre with a Maple Leaf Silver Award for developing one of the most innovative social media strategies by a Canadian shopping centre in 2015. Uptown received the award for their #UptownShoefie campaign that raised awareness about the centre’s footwear offerings.

The Gordon Head Canadian Tire auto service centre between Shelbourne Street and Cedar Hill Road will soon be both a garage and retail store. The retail portion of the Gordon Head automotive centre will reopen, likely in May, at about one-third of its former size.

Chandra Erant, pharmacist and owner of the JC Pharmacy has opened a new location at #211 – 3214 Douglas Street.

Leon’s Home Furnishing celebrates the grand opening of their new location at 800 Tolmie Avenue #201A in Saanich. The grand opening marks the company’s first venture in BC and completes a coast-to-coast continuum for the 107-year-old brand.

Saanich has been named as one of the greenest cities in Canada from the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. The organization cited Saanich’s vision which underlines a commitment to food security through the safeguarding of agricultural land, and the promotion of community gardens and urban farming as some of the contributing factors behind Saanich’s selection.

Sooke Oceanside Brewery, a local micro-brewery is reopening their doors in the second week of December.

The reopening comes after the initial opening on November 3rd resulted in the brewery running out of stock in three days.

Four British Columbians and BC Ferries were recognized for outstanding achievements in BC’s marine sector by the Maritime Museum’s annual SS BEAVER awards. The Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Judith Guichon, presented four of the awards at Government House in Victoria on November 18. The 2016 winners are Captain Stephen Brown, John Horton, Captain David Woodman and Dr. John Harland. A special award recognized BC Ferries for their over five decades of providing essential coastal infrastructure at high operating standards.

Red Nexus Games, which opened its studio doors in January, has been named a finalist at the 2016 Canadian Video Game Awards in the best debut game category for Friday Night Bullet Arena.

The awards were held on November 15 at the Palais des congres de Montreal.

Thetis Vale Community celebrated the grand opening of 19 single-family homes on November 19. The development by the Limona Group also announced that it will be starting the seventh phase of the development with the inclusion of 36 single-family homes. Thetis Vale is a development of 19 single family homes in View Royal off Chilco Road.

National Philanthropy Day Victoria was held on November 15 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. As part of the celebration, the organization recognized citizens and organizations for excellence in philanthropy.

The winners and categories are Hopkins Family and Team 4 Hope in Generosity of Spirit, Gerry McQuade in Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer, Victoria Times Colonist in Corporate Responsibility, Provincial Employees Community Service Fund in Outstanding Philanthropic Club, Edward Milne Community School Leadership Class in Youth in Philanthropy ages 11-18 and Andrei Marti in Youth in Philanthropy ages 5-10.

Low-cost air-travel provider NewLeaf is planning on returning to service in Victoria in late spring and throughout the summer.

Newleaf operated flights out of Victoria starting in late July, continuing until the end of October. The company announced in September that it was suspending flights to and from Victoria in November and December and SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 25

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DECEMBER 2016

MOVERS & SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

did not post reopening dates.

Kilshaw’s Auctioneers has moved to a new location at 1007 Langley Street.

Summit Restaurant celebrated their grand opening at 600 Ebadora Lane on the Malahat. The new restaurant is led by Executive Chef Terry Pichor. Chef Terry is classically trained in French cuisine and is a two-time Gold Medal Plates recipient.

Summit Restaurant is owned by premier automotive dealer group, GAIN which recently renovated the Villa Eyrie Resort and opened the Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit.

The BC Museums Association (BCMA) has appointed Erica Mattson as their new executive director. Mattson has previously held roles with Calgary Arts Development, the Victoria Symphony, City of Vancouver and the province.

The BCMA also unveiled its new board, which features three locals on its executive.

The Royal BC Museum head of archives David Alexander returns as president and is joined by University of Victoria cultural resource management director Tania Muir as vice-president and Peter Ord, Robert Bateman Centre managing director, as past president.

Procura Healthcare Software, which was founded in Victoria and has expanded to nine locations around the world, changed its name to Complia Health. The name change reflects the company’s move to bring their product brands together.

The Sidney Business Improvement Association has launched a brown bag lunch speaker’s series for members.

The talks will be held once a month at the Mary Winspear Centre. The November 22 session featured international consultant Susan Simosko, who spoke on getting over the fear of public speaking.

Sidney Fire Chief Brett Mikkelson will speak at the next session on December 6, on emergency preparedness for small businesses.

DFH Real Estate has announced their top producers for the month of August 2016. They are May Liu of Victoria, Rick Krupa of Westshore and Maureen Vincent of Sidney.

The Victoria Residential Builders Association announced the upcoming

year’s Board of Directors at their annual general meeting on November 9 at the Royal Colwood Golf Club. The new executive is represented

by Terry Johal as President, Maurizio Conforti as PastPresident, Todd Halaburda as First Vice-President and Builders Council Chair, Jenny Martin as Second VicePresident, Kyle Ryan as Treasurer and Derek Ballman as Suppliers and Trades Council Chair and Director.

The incoming directors include, Mike Dalton of Citta Group, Dusty Delain of Amity Construction, Rob Parsons of R. Parsons Construction, Matt Peulen of Metropolitian Capital Partners, Ellie Sercombe of Limona Group, Paul Smith of K2 Stone and Norm Verbrugge of Norman Homes Inc. The 25th Anniversary CARE Awards were recently held at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Over 50 awards were presented at this year’s awards celebration attended by nearly 300 participants in the construction industry.

Among the award winners was Denford Construction Management Ltd. in the People’s Choice and Project of the Year categories, Bill Patterson of Citt Group for Lifetime Achievement, Jenny Martin of Jenny Martin Design in Bill Wansbrough Memorial, Jo-Ann Roberts of Threshold Housing Society in Building Better Futures Community, Miles Gillespie of Stelly’s Secondary School in Herman Rebneris Student Carpentry and Madison Leslie of Vancouver Island University in Student Design.

The remaining award winners and categories can be found at careawards.ca.

Fort Royal Pharmacy at 1912 Richmond Road celebrates their 5th anniversary.

Catherine Bescape, RDH, of Sidney By The Sea Dental Hygiene Clinic recently celebrated 15 years in business.

Doug Clare has joined Fix Auto Peninsula as General Manager. He joins owners Sylvain Audy and Lorraine

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May. Fix Auto Peninsula is equipped to carry out a full range of bumper to bumper repairs.

Constance Isherwood at 96, has practiced law for more than 60 years and is the oldest practicing lawyer in BC. She recently received the BC Law Society lifetime achievement award.

Quality Foods Waterside Square in Parksville has captured the Canadian Master Merchandiser National Gold Award as part of the Independent Grocer of the Year Awards program.

The honour was accepted

by QF partners Ken Schley and John Briuolo on behalf of store manager Randy Henson and his store people at the October 18 Canadian Federation of Independent Grocer’s (CFIG) Annual Awards Dinner in Toronto.

Cheryl’s Gourmet Pastry welcomes Susanna Dery formerly of The Village Patisserie to their team.

Seabrook Developments has moved to 723A Vanalma Avenue in Victoria.

Key Business Solutions is the local reseller for the award-winning Spectrum® Construction & Project Management Software. To learn more visit www. constructionsoftware.ca or call 604.239.0744.

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OPINION

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DECEMBER 2016 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Head Office 200-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria V8T 3J5 Ph: 1.250.204.7678 Fax: 1.250.642.2870 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald SALES | Josh Higgins – josh@businessexaminer.ca, Joanne Iormetti – joanne@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Julia MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim, John MacDonald, David Holmes, Kristin Van Vloten WEBSITE | John MacDonald

WHAT A TRUMP GOVERNMENT COULD MEAN FOR CANADA

MARK MACDONALD

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s the dust begins to settle following a wild, no-holdsbarred election in the United States, what will the Donald Trump presidency hold for Canada?

At this juncture, it is difficult to see exactly what is in store for North America under Trump, although he’s starting to put together his cabinet, and the names being floated about provide inkling of what is possibly to come.

Trump has already reached out to some of his most outspoken Republican opponents to have them involved in his cabinet, which also shows his willingness to let bygones be bygones. One hopes that same mindset will be maintained when he looks northward to a Canadian government that was far too outspoken in regards to an election in another country, and is more aligned with Democratic values

than the GOP. His major domestic thrust will be to put Americans back to work, in meaningful manufacturing jobs – the ones that pay mortgages, buy cars and raise families. That will come at the expense of out-ofcountry suppliers who don’t demonstrate a significant commitment to bettering the U.S. economy.

Trump’s “Make America great again” campaign slogan encapsulated thoughts he’d share intermittently in the decades prior to his actual decision to run.

Trump was not shy in noting that there are many countries in the world that have done very well

by America, but America hasn’t done well by them. He cited Japan specifically, noting that Japanese electronics, cars and trucks are all over America – but “you can’t find a Chevrolet in Tokyo”. That, he said, will need to change.

“I do business with China, but I win,” Trump said at one point.

While the sabers haven’t yet been rattled between China and the U.S., they’re at least being sharpened for trade discussions to come.

The Keystone Pipeline will be built. But get used to hearing this: America First.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that the Trans Pacific Partnership, while a good deal for Canada to be a part of since it will foster trade

with other partners throughout the Pacific Rim and Asia, will be significantly less impactful if Trump follows through on his promise to not participate. America is the world’s largest trading nation, and without the U.S. taking part, it makes the stakes and potential advantages significantly less.

Softwood lumber will continue to be a major concern. Although trade tribunals consistently sided with Canadian arguments in this never-ending wrestling match over tariffs and alleged subsidization, the U.S. still maintains the upper hand and obeys rulings as they see fit. Don’t be surprised if future negotiations on softwood lumber become increasingly U.S.-centric, protecting American wood-based companies from more affordable Canadian products.

With 72 per cent of our country’s trade still conducted with the U.S., what happens below the 49th parallel is of utmost importance to us.

Canada’s moral superiority complex was on full display during the Trump-Clinton slugfest, yet there was and is very little we can do to influence or counter what America decides to do in terms of an economic course except follow along.

Under the previous federal government, there was a decided push to diversify Canada’s trade interests, thereby lessening its almost

complete reliance on the U.S. That needs to continue. Canada needs to caution against the “eggs in one basket” approach, believing that Canadian exports will be given high priority in a Trump-led economy, simply due to our lower dollar. The signals Trump has given for years - and trumpeted during the campaign - show he believes in America first. And that doesn’t necessarily mean North America.

Trump is a billionaire, and even though he received a healthy head start thanks to a family trust, he still turned that into a sizeable, wealthy family empire. And any successful businessman knows that true “wins” are where both sides win.

Don’t expect a Trump America to run over other nations to further its own interests. Trump knows that won’t work in business, and it won’t work in government. Partnerships will remain and grow – but they will tilt more towards America’s favour.

Trump demonstrated he is calculating and can think on his feet.

Even though the media would have us believe that “only Democrats have brains”, Trump outfoxed them, playing the media who thought they were framing him.

In fact, the more the media moaned about Trump, the more it started to sound like the “warnings” of the arrival of another American

President, Ronald Reagan.

For those of us who remember, Reagan was portrayed as being not sophisticated enough, “just an actor”, albeit a great communicator.

Yet he became one of America’s most respected and accomplished presidents.

Some of Trump’s attractiveness to voters was that he is not a politician and has no experience serving in public office. That, also, is a cause for concern, because there is no public service track record from which we can perhaps anticipate his next moves.

We do know of his business accomplishments. And for those who believe that business people are the most qualified to oversee the biggest “business” in the country, i.e. the government, this is something that is long overdue.

He actually does know how to balance his own cheque book, and budget, and make things happen.

Change is here, and change is coming. Canada will be affected, as usual, by what happens in the U.S., and it needs to stay the course it is on by encouraging trade with other nations and diversify. The U.S. economy should do well under Trump, which will help those countries whose economies are intertwined with theirs.

But make no mistake: It will be America First.

BC MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS ON UNSUSTAINABLE SPENDING PATH Latest report shows BC municipal inflation-adjusted operating expenditures grew four times faster than population growth from 2004 to 2014

CFIB AARON AERTS

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he Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released a report examining municipal spending across the country, which reveals 97 per cent of British Columbia’s municipalities have increased their operating spending at an unsustainable pace since 2004.

The 9th edition of the BC Municipal Spending Watch ranks 152 municipalities based on 2004-2014 inflation-adjusted operating spending growth and the most recent

spending levels per capita in 2014.

This iteration places a special focus on the 20 largest municipalities. The worst ranked municipalities in the province show operating spending far outpacing that of inflation plus population growth (a sustainable rate), and have higher than average operating spending per capita.

The report shows none of the provinces’ 20 largest cities managed to maintain spending levels at a sustainable rate. The Township of Langley, Abbotsford and Delta performed worst (see table below). Maple Ridge, Port Coquitlam, and Kelowna were the top three performers of the group. “While a few of the largest cities have been a bit more fiscally sustainable, it’s

troubling to see none were even close to keeping their spending in line with the reasonable benchmark of inflation plus population growth,” says Aaron Aerts, BC Economist.

BC’s ten-year municipal spending trend is a serious concern. While the BC population in 2014 was 12

per cent higher than in 2004, the total inflation adjusted municipal operating expenditures rose 48 per cent, four times faster than population growth. Over the past decade, the cumulative spending over inflation and population growth was $8.6 billion. Over this period, only five of the 152 municipalities

managed to keep operating spending at or under the rate of inflation and population growth.

“Had municipalities kept their operating spending at the rate of inflation plus population growth over the past ten years, the BC family of four could have saved, on average, around $7,400 in municipal taxes,” adds Aerts. “Spending growth of this magnitude is simply unsustainable.”

“The vast majority of municipalities continue to spend at unsustainable rates. Thankfully, a few mayors and councils have attempted to get on a better path.

The rest appear to ignore the reality that excessive growth in spending will result in higher taxes on businesses and residents,” Aerts concludes.

The CFIB report makes a series of recommendations to enable municipal governments to better control growth in operating costs, including: limiting spending increases to the rate of inflation and population growth, conducting formal core service reviews, increasing fiscal transparency, and adopting sustainable wage growth policies.

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

LAW

DECEMBER 2016

27

MYTHS THAT DRIVE IP LAWYERS CRAZY LAW

It is possible to obtain a

Intellectual property issues

patent for an invention but to be unable to work

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lients often have misconceptions about patents and trademarks. For example, a client contacted me the other day and asked that I make every effort to expedite his patent application. He wanted it granted as soon as possible, and pressed me for a best-case scenario about how quickly I could obtain his patent.

The client was frantic because a competitor was threatening to sue him for infringement of a patent the competitor had obtained. The client thought that obtaining a patent would make him safe from the threatened legal action. Unfortunately, it is a myth that your patent will save you from being sued by a competitor. You can obtain a patent and still be sued for infringing a patent owned by a competitor.

For example, it is possible to obtain a patent for an improvement to an existing product or method, if the improvement is new and unobvious. However, if the improvement relates to something that is patented, and if in

the patent without the permission of the owner of a patent for some underlying technology

Michael Cooper and Doug Thompson of ThompsonCooper LLP order to use the improvement it is necessary to use the subject matter of the original patent, then use of the improvement would infringe the original patent unless the owner of the original patent gave permission for such use.

Thus, it is possible to obtain a patent for an invention but to be unable to work the patent without the permission of the owner of a patent for some underlying technology.

When there is an allegation of patent in fringement, you must either negotiate your way out of the problem (perhaps

by cross-licensing) or “design around” the problem. Fortunately for my client, the client’s product is in the early stage of development and the allegation of infringement came up at the first tradeshow where the product was displayed. The client is now considering what changes can be made to the product to avoid the competitor’s patent.

If the “design around” attempt is not successful or will take too long, the client has patents on some other technologies that can be used as bargaining chips in a negotiation.

T hat sa me d ay, one of ou r Trademark Agents, Laura Duckett, came into my office to discuss two Trademarks a client had asked us to apply for two years previously. The Trademarks had been allowed by the Trademark Office. The problem was that, in the intervening period, the client had changed the Trademarks.

With respect to one of the Trademarks, the client had asked us to apply for a Trademark consisting of two words. However,

he had dropped one of the words and was now using a single word.

To make matters worse, the single word was a “generic” term for the product that we will be unable to register. With respect to another of the Trademarks, the client had also asked us to apply for a Trademark consisting of two words. However, in the intervening period, he had made a substitution replacing one of the words with another word he liked better. Unfortunately, (or fortunately depending upon your point of view), the Trademark Office grants you protection for the Trademark you apply for.

It is a myth that the Trademark office will accommodate changes should your Trademark “evolve”.

If you make material changes to your Trademark, you have to start the Trademark registration process all over again. When you get involved with Intellectual Property issues, instead of relying upon myths communicated to you by well meaning friends, seek the assistance of a Registered Patent Agent or Registered Trademark Agent in your area.

A list of licensed agents is maintained on the Canadian Intellectual Property Office website at cipo.gc.ca.

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Whether you’re looking to replace an aging printer/copier or would like to learn how your existing technology can integrate document workflows to increase productivity, we can help!

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