Business Examiner Victoria - July 2017 by Business Examiner Media Group

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JULY 2017

– PAGE 12

SIDNEY Strong friendship and shared client care philosophy big motivator for purchase of Sparling Real Estate and Insurance

Largest Construction Delivery Fleet on the Island.

Victoria

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StarFish Medical’s Founder Receives Colin Lennox Award Victoria Start-Up Has Grown Into Canada’s Leading Med-Tech Development Firm

PAGE 5

VICTORIA WetCleaner offers a safer and healthier alternative to traditional dry cleaning methods

BY DAVID HOLMES

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INDEX News Update

Saanich Peninsula

Esquimalt 4 Greater Victoria

West Shore

Who is Suing Whom 19 Movers and Shakers 20 Opinion 22

ICTORIA – An innovative pioneer and long time supporter of the Victoria area’s high tech enterprises Scott Phillips, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and founder of medical technology development firm StarFish Medical, has been selected as the 2017 winner of the prestigious Colin Lennox Award for Technology Champion. At a gala celebration organized by the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC) June 2, Phillips was recognized by the tech sector support organization for his nearly two decades of service to the technology community. His industry awards and service include six years on the VIATEC board, chairing the VIATEC CEO round table, President of Entrepreneurs Organization Victoria

Winner Of The Greater Victoria Chamber’s 2017 Business Of The Year Award BY DAVID HOLMES

OUR 30TH YEAR

Kevin Weatherston is the Chief Operating Officer of Victoriabased fintech provider Bambora North America

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SEE STARFISH MEDICAL | PAGE 13

Bambora: Providing Online Payment Services

Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

Scott Phillips was awarded the Colin Lennox Award at a ‘Tiki Themed’ gala event organized by VIATEC June 2

Chapter, 2011 VIATEC Executive of the Year, and former board member of the BC Medical Technology Industry Association. “StarFish was started in my spare bedroom on Fairfield Road in Victoria, although we count the start of the company from the point when we physically moved out of the bedroom into actual offices in 1999,” he explained. StarFish Medical is a contract product design firm serving medical device innovators across North America. “Our very first medical project was an ultrasound imager for the eyes, to be used for refractive surgery management. When this began I wasn’t actually involved in the medical profession at all but was an engineer, having studied engineering physics at UBC – a field that attracts the nerds of the engineering world,” he joked.

ICTORIA – Despite any 21st Century technologies employed or leading edge systems developed, the real core to the success of Victoria-based financial technology (fintech) provider Bambora North America is old fashioned customer service. “Ba mbora a nd speci fica l ly Bambora North America, has taken a very customer-centric

approach to business. If you look historically at the payment industry it’s not really customer friendly, it’s not really about meeting the customer’s needs. So what we want to do is to go over and above in terms of service and products to please all of our customers,” explained Kevin Weatherston, Bambora North America’s Chief Operating Officer (COO). Fintech is generally described as the use of computer programs

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and other technology to support or enable banking and financial services for business. Bambora was founded in Sweden by Johan Tjärnberg and has grown from a start up to a dominant player in the European fintech market in only a few years. In 2015 the company entered the Nor t h A mer ic a n m a rket by purchasing Beanstream Internet Commerce Inc., an existing SEE BAMBORA | PAGE 23

NEWS UPDATE

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JULY 2017

VICTORIA

Victoria Drives Region’s Greatest Job Creation Rate Since 2010

Victoria Real Estate Market Sees Slow Increase in Inventory

According to CPABC Regional CheckUp, an annual economic report by the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC, population growth, a rise in tourism, and a robust and diversified economy contributed to record employment growth on Vancouver Island in 2016. Unemployment also fell to its lowest level since 2008. New jobs in Victoria represented 67.4 per cent of the 9,200 new jobs created in the Vancouver Island/Coast Development Region. Victoria’s impressive surge in employment propelled the area’s greatest job growth since 2010. Population growth and increased housing activity led to upward demands for our region’s services, particularly in the Capital Regional District (CRD). This, in turn, increased employment in the service sector by 6,500 jobs, or 70 per cent of total job creation in the region. The largest growth occurred within the public sector, which grew by 5,100 positions. Significant gains were also reported in the business, building and support services industry which added 3,700 new jobs. New professional, scientific and technical services jobs accounted for 2,600 positions. The goods sector also benefitted from a hot housing market in 2016, with 1,700 new jobs added to the construction industry. Record-breaking real estate sales drew down inventories of new and resale homes, stimulating housing starts and boosting employment in construction. A 27 per cent increase in housing sales and a 12 per cent increase in prices drew down existing inventories. Housing starts increased accordingly, predominantly in Victoria, where they jumped by 46 per cent. In addition, the region’s population saw its highest growth rate since 2008, which further contributed to employment increases. Victoria and Nanaimo attracted the vast majority of newcomers, welcoming 81 per cent of the region’s new residents. Other goods industries also saw positive gains, with another 1,500 jobs added in agriculture in response to favourable weather and crop production. Higher agricultural output also led to an increase of 1,300 new positions in food and beverage manufacturing. Employment in wood product manufacturing rose by 700 positions due to increased exports. The only industry to see a reduction in the number of jobs was the mining industry, likely linked to depressed commodity prices and reduced mining activity. Looking ahead, employment growth and economic conditions in our region should remain relatively robust. To date, employment continued to expand, from 378,500 people employed in December 2016 to 381,600 in April 2017. The low Canadian dollar combined with travel restrictions to the US will bode well for our region’s vibrant tourism sector. Our region should fare well if forecasted tourism and population growth are realized given we are a predominantly service sector-based economy. However, renegotiation of the North America Free Trade Agreement is likely to affect the forest sector, with potential negative impacts on local economies.

The Victoria region saw an increase in inventory in May, leading sellers in some regions to compete for buyers. There were 1,896 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service at the end of May 2017, an increase of 12.2 per cent compared to the month of April, but 21.2 per cent fewer than the 2,406 active listings for sale at the end of May 2016. A total of 1,006 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this May, 22 per cent fewer than the 1,289 properties sold in May last year. The ten year average for sales in May is 815 properties. “There are many different market conditions in Victoria, because we have so many different neighbourhoods and different levels of demand for those neighbourhoods,” adds VREB President Ara Balabanian. “The market won’t change immediately, but we can track a shift as more inventory enters the market to meet the demand from buyers. Overall, pressure on pricing is easing because of the increase in inventory and the rate of increase of price is normalizing. As we have predicted, we are seeing the beginning of a gradual return to a balanced market in the Victoria area. In conditions such as the ones we see now, it’s more important than ever to have an expert REALTOR on your side whether you are buying or selling a property.” The Multiple Listing Service Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core in May 2016 was $706,500. The benchmark value for the same home in May 2017 has increased by 16.8 per cent to $825,500.

VICTORIA New Elements Casino to Open in View Royal in 2018 The new Elements Casino Victoria is scheduled to open in the first half of 2018. Elements Casino Victoria will replace the existing View Royal Casino that is located in the Town of View Royal and has been under construction since February 2017. With the multi-million dollar redevelopment, Elements Casino Victoria will be the largest all-inclusive, full-service gaming entertainment venue on Vancouver Island that will feature a 600-person multi-purpose entertainment venue, a 70,000 square foot gaming floor with approximately 800 slot machines and up to 25 table games as well as restaurants, lounges and a feature buffet. “I am confident that Elements Casino Victoria will allow us to offer our guests and the entire Vancouver Island community the desired entertainment hotspot that will be known for giving a voice and a stage to local and regional talent, all while serving the best local cuisine and delivering an unparalleled guest experience,” said Chris Lynn, Executive Director of Vancouver Island Casino Operations, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. View Royal Mayor David Screech is looking forward to the expansion and development of the property. “Having an entertainment venue of such calibre on Vancouver Island is a very important milestone as we will now be in the position to be a regional SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

NEWS UPDATE

JULY 2017

NEWS UPDATE

GREATER VICTORIA

the latest in instant banking conveniences, a wider range of service hours, innovative solutions from our insurance, banking and wealth management divisions, and of course our caring, helpful and highly personalized service and advice. The entire CCCU team appreciates the warm welcome that we’ve already received from Eagle Creek Village and we look forward to expanding our services in this community through our new location early in the New Year.” Open six days a week, CCCU’s Eagle Creek Village location will provide the comprehensive services of all its business lines and will deliver cash services through an Interactive Teller Machine, which combines the ease of intuitive technology, and the personalized service of our very own experts delivered through live video interaction an ATM, and Business Depository. In addition, the on-site financial experts will be supported by mobile and virtual teams to promote a boutique-style branch.

Coastal Community Victoria Expansion

VICTORIA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

draw for the entire lower island marketplace. The Town of View Royal is thrilled to see this project moving forward,” added Screech. Elements Casino Victoria is owned and operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, a leading owner and operator of 22 gaming entertainment venues across Canada and Washington State. “Introducing Elements Casino Victoria to the Great Canadian family of properties will be a momentous occasion for us as the new venue will be in the ranks of River Rock Casino Resort, Hard Rock Casino Vancouver and Elements Casino in Surrey,” said Raj Mutti, Vice President Operations West, Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.

Coastal Community Credit Union (CCCU) recently announced plans to expand their operations in the Capital Regional District (CRD). After significantly surpassing key financial milestones in 2016 including record growth, Coastal Community has exceeded $2 Billion in assets on the Credit Union’s balance sheet and plans are underway to open their 24th branch and third in the CRD. Coastal Community’s newest branch will be located in Eagle Creek Village and will open in January 2018. “We’re extremely excited to announce our expansion in the Capital Regional District. Eagle Creek Village is a choice location for Coastal Community and we look forward to better serving View Royal and the surrounding areas. This location is a great addition to our two full-service locations in the CRD, one located in Goldstream Village in Langford and the other on Fort Street in downtown Victoria,” says Adrian Legin, Chief Executive Officer and President. “We’re committed to offer people what they’re after. This includes

roughly 400. Customers include coast guard, naval and BC Ferries vessels. Fishing boats and passenger vessels such as the V2V Empress and the MV Uchuck III are among the other ships that pull in. The current yard can handle vessels of up to about 180 feet, but the graving dock would allow the company to take vessels up to 560 feet. It could also be divided, permitting work on multiple vessels at a time. Point Hope currently focuses on repairs and service, but they have not ruled out the possibility of building new ships in the future. The company has applied to add 7,700 square-metres to its existing federal water-lot lease. The application will be vetted by federal

departments, which will look at potential impacts on navigable waters and fisheries.

VICTORIA Home First to Qualify Under ‘Net Zero Home’ Falcon Heights Contracting (Falcon Heights) in Victoria has built the first net-zero energy home in Canada to be qualified under the new Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) Net Zero Home Labelling Program. Falcon Heights owner Dave Mackenzie, a member of CHBA Vancouver Island, pitched the

net-zero idea to his clients who were already looking to build an energy-efficient home equipped with a photo-voltaic solar system to generate electricity. With the help of an energy advisor, the company was able to modify the existing plans to meet the Net Zero Home technical requirements and retain the design on the narrow ocean-front lot. As a net-zero energy home, its EnerGuide rating – a measure of energy consumption in gigajoules per year – is zero, since the home is designed to produce as much energy as it uses. CHBA British Columbia is qualified to deliver the CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program in the province.

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Shipyard Applies for Funding Point Hope Maritime has applied for federal approvals to build a $50-million graving dock that would allow the local business to more than double its workforce and service larger vessels. Ian Maxwell, president of the Ralmax Group of Companies (which Point Hope is a part of) has wanted to develop a graving dock at the site for years. He has lined up financing for the project and the ship-repair yard is operating at capacity while requests are frequent to accept larger vessels. Maxwell purchased the Point Hope assets in 2003. Ships have been repaired at the site at 245 Harbour Road for about 140 years. The shipyard typically employs 90 while another 30 to 40 contractors usually work at Point Hope. Last month the workforce was up to 120 employees and about 70 contractors. The proposed 173-metre-long graving dock could push the capacity of shipyard employees and contractors on site to

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VICTORIA CORE COMMERCIAL/ MULTI-FAMILY

• Three story building +/-2,590 SF retail on main • (2) 2-bdrm & (1) 1-bdrm with den • (1) 2-bdrm penthouse suite 2,453 SF w/rooftop patio • Building 7,828 SF, Lot size 7,474 SF

VICTORIA WAREHOUSE/ OFFICE BUILDING

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Lot is +/- 34,000sf. Building +/- 22,900sf Ph.1 Ph.1 & & Ph.2 Ph.2 Environmental Environmental reports reports available available Current Cap. Rate of 6% from existing Current Cap. Rate of 6% from existing tenancies tenancies Asking Price: $2,270,000 (below assessed Asking Price: $2,270,000 (below assessed value) value) Ample parking SIDNEY RETAIL FOR LEASE - VICTORIA Ample parking REVENUE PROPERTY

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$ MLS#378589 11 SF Base Rent $- Zoned SIDNEY COMMERCIAL $ NORTH ISLAND HOTEL .44 Acre C-2 EXCLUSIVE 3,400,000 MLS#379337 1,880,000 $4.79 Extra Rent .44 Acre - Zoned C-2 REVENUE PROPERTY Total 69 Rooms, 18 with Kitchen Units Mixed Use – Commercial & Multi-Family Mixed Use – Commercial & Multi-Family Quality Tenants in Place Includes Liquor Store, Pub, Coīee Shop and www.vicommercial.com Hans Van de.25 Kamp 250-704-8275 Acre Zoned C-1 Commercial Boat Moorage Leases Available Restaurant Boat Moorage Leases Available

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SAANICH PENINSULA/ESQUIMALT

JULY 2017

IT TAKES A REGION TO RAISE AN ECONOMY BUCCANEER DAYS A SUCCESS

SAANICH PENINSULA DENNY WARNER

ast month I discussed the strategy of growing the economy by attracting more people to live in an area and suggested the most desirable groups to target based on their ability and willingness to contribute to the overall health of a community are baby boomers, entrepreneurial immigrants and millennials. Now we will look at how the quality of place matters in attracting newcomers. In this new economy, the jobs and employers are locating where the talent is and talented people are choosing to live in what are described as “quality places”. There are many components of a quality place and each community will have its own unique identifiers. Broadly speaking,

knowledge workers looking to relocate seek the following in a community: a focus on green initiatives and sustainable growth, an excellent transportation system, cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities, a high level of community engagement, a growing economy, access to medical health professionals, locally-grown food, and safety. No single municipality embodies all the components of a quality place but regions often can and do. People move to regions with little regard for, or awareness of, artificial geographic boundaries. It is the sum of the parts of the municipalities on the Saanich Peninsula, and easy access to Victoria and all it offers, that makes this area attractive to talented newcomers. There is a thriving worldwide movement called Placemaking which begins with citizens working together to improve their local environment. Placemaking is committed to “strengthening the connection between people and the places they share. It refers to a collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm in order to maximize shared value. More than just promoting better urban

design, Placemaking facilitates creative patterns of use, paying particular attention to the physical, cultural, and social identities that define a place and support its ongoing evolution” (Project for Public Spaces). The placemaking process is an important strategy for attracting talented people and growing the economy in a region. We would do well to consider the flow of people and funds on the Saanich Peninsula and how investment in any one of our three municipalities benefits the entire region. The largest structural barriers faced by placemakers in Canada are comprised of regulations, bylaws and siloed municipalities. The Saanich Peninsula could be an exceptional “quality place” if we could ditch the old model that has served to isolate municipalities in the region and instead institute a framework that is participatory and collaborative. Next month: Building Bridges between Institutions Denny Warner is Executive Director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 250-656-3616 or execdir@peninsulachamber.ca

ESQUIMALT KELLY DARWIN

here is no doubt in my mind that Spock would be proud of the amount that the Esquimalt community is prospering these days. Last weekend marked the Grand Opening of Esquimalt’s brand-new Adventure Park. The facility, which cost a total of $1.8 million to build, i n c l u d e s t w o p l a ygrounds, outdoor adult exercise equipment, and a seasonal water park. Local celebrities were all in attendance, including Mayor Barb Desjardins, Councillor Beth Burton-Krahn, Mayor Stew Young of Langford, Sta f f M a n ager

Rick Daykin and Director Scott Hartman. While, like many of us, they were disappointed that there wasn’t a playground for adults, they were pleasantly surprised to learn that they could, in fact, have a go at running through the splash park rather than just being banished to the adult exercise equipment. If there is anything better than hearing the laughter of children, it has to be cake. Country Grocer decorated and donated an incredible “Sunshine Bucket” cake for the event that, just like the park, was enjoyed by both adults and children alike. Keeping on the theme of Summer and fun, the Esquimalt Farmer’s Market is back in full swing! Over 450 patrons per week ta ke pa rt from across the Capital Region District. The Market a i ms to promote healthy and local living and takes place Thursdays from 4:30 pm to 7 pm at Memorial Park (1212 Esquimalt Rd).

Come help increase the sense of community and economic prosperity in your own backyard while encouraging environmental and economic sustainability in Esquimalt! Finally, I would like to give a warm (no pun intended) new member welcome to Melting Moments Catering and Café, the host of our next Coffee-and-a-Danish morning mixer. The event will be held on July 20, at a new time – 8:00am to 9:30am and is conveniently located right across from the Chamber office (614 Grenville Ave). With all this economic growth and healthy living, I guess you could say we are going to be both living long AND prospering soon. Kelly Darwin sits on the Board of Directors of the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce and is owner of Seriously Creative, a Marketing & Digital Development company. He can be reached at 250-474-4723.

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Meet MNP’s New Partner, Elizabeth Vannan Congratulations to Elizabeth Vannan on her appointment to the Partnership. Elizabeth has more than 20 years of experience solving business challenges through the creative use of readily available technology. Drawing from her unique expertise in technology strategy and planning, solution implementations and project rescues, Elizabeth delivers leading technology solutions that ensure her clients leverage the right technology to support and enhance their business. Contact Elizabeth Vannan, B.C. Leader, Technology Solutions at 778.265.8893 or elizabeth.vannan@mnp.ca

JULY 2017

SeaFirst Insurance Acquires Iconic 92-Year-Old Company Strong Friendship And Shared Client Care Philosophy Big Motivator For Sale And Purchase “We have some clients

BETH HENDRY-YIM

IDNEY - In May of this year SeaFirst Insurance Brokers finished the final negotiations for acquiring long-time Sidney brokerage firm, Sparling Real Estate and Insurance. Don Sparling, the third-generation owner of the 92-year-old company said that he will stay on for another five years to ensure a smooth transition for his many long-time clients. Founded by Don’s grandfather in 1925, the brokerage firm serves the Sidney and Greater Victoria area with a multi-generational clientele. “We have some clients that have been with the company longer than I have,” said Sparling adding that his father ran the company for 56 years while he’s been involved for 40 years. “With the acqu isition, my clients have more options and greater access to services and products,” he emphasized. “Plus, SeaFirst is a local company that knows the clientele in the region.” “We are very pleased with this acquisition,” said Doug Guedes, vice president of SeaFirst. “Don and I have been friends for many

that have been with the company longer than I have.” DON SPARLING OWNER, SPARLING REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE

Vice President Doug Guedes said that SeaFirst appreciated the strong relationships Sparling had with its clientele

Don Sparling will continue with SeaFirst providing more options for his clients CREDIT:SEAFIRST INSURANCE BROKERS

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years. It was one of the deciding factors for the purchase. We like the way he relates to his clients and the long-standing reputation of his company name. SeaFirst feels that Sparling was a good fit. We appreciated the opportunity that Don brought to the table and are very happy that he picked us.” With a combined 60 years in the region, SeaFirst provides a variety

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of products, including those it has developed for niche businesses that have unique requirements and concerns. “As an example, there has been an increase in the number of craft breweries in the area. We determined that they had specialized insurance needs so put together a program suited to their concerns.” With a focus on commercial,

small business and personal insurance SeaFirst has created specific programs for local business needs such as, pharmacies, small adventure tourism operators, and strata complexes with each having its own specific coverage. It also provides home, auto, motorcycle and marine products. Guedes has been with SeaFirst for 22 years, and points out that with the combined offices in Westshore, Oak Bay, Sidney, Saanich, Salt Spring Island and Brentwood Bay the company dates back to 1957. As SeaFirst serves a community in which its employees both live and work it believes in giving back to its community. It regularly supports the Central Saanich Volunteer Firefighters (CSVF) raising $4012 in matched donations at last year’s Brentwood Bay Festival hot dog sales. Currently, it is actively involved with Aviva Canada in Panorama Recreation’s bid to raise funds for the introduction of community play boxes in the regions local parks. SeaFirst’s head office is at 7178 West Saanich Road in Brentwood Bay www.seafirstinsurance.com

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JULY 2017

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ver the last year, I have often hea rd complaints about “those” homeless people. “T hose” who do drugs. “Those” who dare ask for a hand-out. “Those” who are causing a disturbance. I also often hear complaints about “those” rich and privileged business owners. “Those” who don’t care about society’s most vulnerable. “Those” who shouldn’t speak up about how their businesses are affected by homelessness. “Those” who should do and pay more for the privilege of doing business in this community. W hen we speak of the cha l lenges we face, we need to remove the word “those” from our lexicon. We need to speak in terms of “we” and “our”. We a l l need a hea lthy c om mu n it y, where a l l people are heard, seen, and are safe. We all need a strong economy, where businesses make money to

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to do”. For example, we recognize that the consequences of un- and under-treated mental illnesses and addictions are substantive, and can present themselves as rising levels of homelessness, crime, unemployment, lost productivity, policing costs, and government spending. This is a provincial and national responsibility. To that end, we presented a policy resolution titled Sa fe Com mu n ities a nd Strong Economies – Mental Health and Addictions i n BC at t he recent BC Chamber conference. This resolution, which was fully endorsed by conference delegates, recommends that the Province commission an expedited study to re-design the current mental health service model and ensure the work of the Joint Task Force on Overdose Response continues and is appropriately funded. With the power of the BC business community behind us, we will continue to advocate for governments to take effective and appropriate action to deliver a safe community and a strong economy in Greater Victoria. Catherine Holt is the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. 250-383-7191, CEO@victoriachamber.ca, www.victoriachamber.ca

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pay taxes, donate to charities, charge competitive prices, and pay employees a fair wage. We need only to hold up the fentanyl crisis to prove my point. It is not “those” people who are dying –on the streets and at home. T hey a re ou r ch i ld ren, our family members, our friends, our co-workers. Our front line responders are dealing with overdoses daily. Our schools are stocking Naloxone kits. Our health care and public safety systems are struggling to respond. Our businesses such as STS Pain Pharmacy and our research centres of excellence such as the University of Victoria are doing what they can to help identify, catalogue, and share warnings of fentanyl-contaminated drugs. Our business community is working hard to build a healthy community and strong economy. Our business leaders and owners are serving on non-profit boards and advisory teams, making donations and inkind contributions, offering employment, a helping hand, and more. As the voice of regional businesses, we at the Greater Victoria Chamber are also hard at work addressing homelessness, mental illness and addictions, not just to mitigate its effect on our economy but, as our board frequently says, “it is the right thing

WEST SHORE JULIE LAWLOR

s I was reviewing the material for this month’s article three events caught my eye, and as it turns out they are all at Royal Roads University. On July 8th there is a Canada 150 screening of the film “Whatever the Cost: Hatley Park and the Dunsmuirs” at Hatley Castle. This will be complemented by a performance of Elinor Dunsmuir’s original songs by vocalist and researcher

Elizabeth Gerow. Tickets are free with a suggested donation of $10, and can be booked online. Then on July 29th, RRU’s Learning and Innovation Center w i l l be hosti ng TEDxRoyalRoadsU. The theme is “REINVENT: inspiring people to reinvent themselves through learning and innovation.” A student-led event, TEDxRoyalRoadsU looks forward to welcoming leaders and entrepreneurs, and hopes “to spark meaningful interdisciplinary dialogue and create stronger connections throughout campus and the greater community.” Last but not least, on August 27th the RCMP Musical Ride makes its way to Royal Roads after a performance in Topaz Park the day before. Presented in partnership with the Victoria Military Music Festival Society, the Musical Ride will be a full troop of 32 RCMP riders

and their horses performing “cavalry figures and drills choreographed to music.” As the Musical Ride hasn’t been out to the Island in some time, these free events are likely to be extremely popular. I highlight these events in a business column to similarly highlight the diverse role Royal Roads University plays in the WestShore – and regional - economy. A nationally and internationally recognised university is no small economic driver, and in RRU’s case you can also add historic site, wedding venue, film location and event host to RRU’s list of economic impacts, making the University a busy place 12 months of the year. Julie Lawlor is the Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at jlawlor@ westshore.bc.ca

JULY 2017

BAYSHORE HOME HEALTH ACQUIRES ALPHA HOME HEALTH CARE Newly Expanded Home Care Provider Now Operates With A Team Of More Than 150

ICTORIA – The concept is both simple and effective. The longer an individual can remain safe, healthy and independent in their own home the better the quality of life they can enjoy. Victoria-based Bayshore Home Health, part of the national Bayshore HealthCare network of health care providers and support services, has become the Vancouver Island leader in this specialized form of compassionate in-home care. Now, thanks to a recent acquisition, the organization’s impact on the region’s elderly and house-bound has become even more extensive. Effective June 1, Bayshore Home Health acquired Victoria-based Alpha Home Health Care, a firm that had been providing services similar to Bayshore’s for its local clients for more than 40 years. Owned by local businessman Don Swindell, Alpha Home Health Care’s clients and team of 25 care providers has been seamlessly incorporated into the Bayshore system, dramatically expanding the firm’s reach and client database. “Don hasn’t retired from business, but only from the home care field.

The Bayshore team: (seated) Stasia Hartley & Lisa Solhjell (former Alpha), (l to r) Kerry Bowman, Hillary Kroeke, Melody Harrison, Giselle Miles, Julianne Burslem He actually operated two different businesses and decided he’d be better served focusing his energies on his other interest, a tire franchise,” explained Stasia Hartley, Bayshore’s Area Director. “Alpha Home Health Care had actually been founded by Don’s mother Lois Swindell, some 40 years ago and he in essence inherited it, having worked in it and then he became President when she retired. He’s operated both businesses over the years but has decided that the time was right to devote his attention to just one.” Operating a home care business in a market as demanding and as competitive as Victoria’s requires the sort of dedicated attention, and time commitment that Swindell

felt he could no longer provide. “When it came time to consider retiring from home care I researched home health care on the island so I cou ld be su re that our staff and clients would go for wa rd w it h the best possible solution a nd minimal difference,” Swindell explained in a re c ent me d i a

release. “Bayshore HealthCare is the ideal choice. Our patients will have the same caregivers and the same attention to their health that we have been providing throughout our history.” Bayshore’s national parent company, Bayshore HealthCare, is one of the Canada’s leading providers of home and community health care services and is a 100 percent Canadian-owned firm. The company’s wide range of services are purchased by government care programs, insurance companies, workers’ compensation boards, health care organizations, the corporate sector and the public. Under Hartley’s directorship Bayshore Home Health operates

PHOTOGRAPHER NOTICES A RESURGENCE IN PRINT ADVERTISING ACTIVITY ITS-Food: Food Photographer Increasingly Producing Images For Trade Publications

ANAIMO – For a business to effectively market its services or products it must be willing to use all of the communication mediums available to it, with consistency and with a continuity of branding and imagery. But for many, according to professional photographer Tim McGrath, the world of Social Media may have lost some of its luster. Increasingly he has found that a return to more traditional forms of advertising – such as magazines and newspapers – is becoming increasingly effective. “I would never dissuade any business from using Social Media. It remains a key part of my business, and has the potential to reach specific audiences with focused messages and with an immediacy that can’t be attained any other way. But branding, and carrying your branding to a more traditional type of exposure is proving to be increasingly important as well,” McGrath, the owner of ITS-Food.ca explained.

The object of a quality food photograph is to illicit a response in the viewer’s mind, ideally that they’re hungry Specializing in food photography, McGrath has been working for clients as diverse as restaurants, grocery stores and publishing houses for more than a decade. His work has appeared in everything from newspaper and magazine advertisements, to cookbooks, menus, Social Media marketing campaigns and even on posters. “Restaurants and places that sell beverages such as public houses and even craft breweries can benefit from advertising in outlets such as specialized trade publications and even newspapers. The sorts of bars I work in typically aren’t your basic beer parlor, but the more upscale public house that offers good food and craft beers. For businesses like that photography has to reflect their brand, it has to encourage the viewer to come in and share in the

unique experience that can only be found there,” McGrath said. In his experience branding is at the heart of any effective marketing campaign. Much more than a logo or a colour scheme, true branding has to effectively capture the spirit of the business, reflect its character and showcase its business philosophy. Increasingly that presentation is taking place within the pages of traditional publications. “I’ve noticed recently that I’m doing more print based work than before, but not so much in the traditional newspapers. Increasingly I’m working in specialty magazines, those serving niche markets such as industry trade publications. Whether it’s in Beer BC or Growler Magazine or in food magazines such as Taste or Eat Magazine, the businesses are turning to these sorts of publications for at least part of their marketing,” he explained. McGrath’s overriding message to any business interested in marketing is to use all forms available, as each offers avenues to different segments of the potential audience. “Social Media has in a way matured. That’s why many businesses are finding that what’s old is new again, and are going back, at least part of the time, to print advertising.” To learn more visit the company’s website at: www.its-food.ca

today with a staff of more than 150 (with the inclusion of the team of former Alpha care providers), health care employees working all across Vancouver Island, from Sidney to Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and everywhere in between. Bayshore’s successful service model is tailored exclusively to meet the needs of seniors or those with health issues, providing them with the opportunity to personalize their home care service to meet their individual needs or budget. The company has recently moved to a new location at 380 - 1900 Richmond Road in Victoria. In addition to housing the administrative team for the home health division, it is

Congratulations to Bayshore Home Health on your continuing growth and success. We look forward to our continued partnership.

also the new home of a six-chair Infusion clinic for their specialty Rx services. For Hartley the acquisition of Alpha Home Health Care could serve as one more step in the operation’s goal of providing exceptional service for clients all across Vancouver Island. “You’d certainly have to say that Bayshore is in a growth mode. We’re growing and looking for new opportunities. The need for our services is clearly increasing, with the aging of the population, so I expect us to be expanding into other markets in the years to come,” she said. To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www.bayshore.ca Winner - 2017 Business Excellence Award Winner 2017 Business Excellence Award “Health CareBusiness Company of the Year” Winner -- 2017 Excellence Award “Health Care Care Company Company of the Year” “Health Year”

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www.bayshore.ca Stasia Hartley, Area Director Stasia Hartley, Director Debbie Short, Area RN Manager Sidney | 778.749.0014 Debbie Short, RN Manager of Clinical Practice of Clinical Practice #102 9840 Fifth Street

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ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGIST HAS HAD LIFELONG LOVE FOR HOME DESIGN Victoria Design Group Proves The Perfect Platform For Showcasing Her Work

ICTORIA – For architectural technologist Nathalie Thiffault, an almost genetic love of building things, coupled with a desire for the West Coast lifestyle made joining the creative team at the Victoria Design Group (VDG) the perfect career choice. “My career started long ago in Quebec,” Thiffault explained. Joining VDG three years ago, she explained that a desire for warmer climates, political stability and her then spouse’s business ventures had brought her to the Capital Region. “I began working here in 2014 after achieving my architectural technologist’s diploma at a local college. But prior to that I was a framer and carpenter, coming from a construction background in Quebec,” she said. “I was pretty much born into it. Where I come from in a small town in Quebec, my father and two of my uncles had built houses for themselves and other family members. That’s how I was introduced to construction trades.”

Architectural Technologist Nathalie Thiffault began her love of home design when she was only 12 in her native Quebec

The Victoria Design Group itself has been envisioning and designing custom homes, unique commercial properties and select multi-family developments for nearly 50 years. Founded by designer Robert Thomas in 1970 the firm quickly earned a sterling reputation for the innovative and forward thinking designs it developed for its clients located all across Western Canada. The firm’s current owner and chief designer Wil Peereboom joined the firm in 1986 as a draftsman, purchasing it outright in 1990. Continuing with the company’s tradition of excellence in design, Peereboom has expanded on the portfolio of unique properties created by his predecessor, evolving the company into one of the province’s preeminent housing

design firms. Located at 103 – 891 Attree Avenue in Victoria, VDG currently has a staff that includes 10 technologists and an administrative team of two. Being involved with the hands-on aspect of construction has aided Thiffault throughout her career, first working with her husband’s flooring business and later after moving to Montreal where she became a general contractor. “The economy in Quebec was so bad at the time we moved out West, where for the first 10 years or so I kept my hand in the construction business. But after we split I went back to school to upgrade my skills to allow me to fulfill my childhood dream of designing and drafting houses,” she said. Now an experienced architectural technologist with a premiere design firm, Thiffault looks forward to a future limited only by her imagination and the challenges offered by the company’s clients. “Our business is evolving on a daily basis, so it’s very important to keep learning and seeking better ways to do things. Being at the forefront of this industry is something that really makes this job interesting,” she said. To learn more visit the firm’s website: www.victoriadesigngroup.ca

VICTORIA’S BUILDING BOOM HAS KEPT LOCAL LIGHTING STORE BUSY Pine Lighting: Serving The Illumination Needs Of Individuals & Lighting Contractors

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ICTOR I A – T ha n ks i n large part to Victoria’s ongoing construction boom the owner and staff at the local Pine Lighting franchise are busier than ever – and it doesn’t look like they’ll be slowing down any time soon. “We’re definitely having the best year we’ve ever had, in reality the last year and a half has been just incredible with all the building that’s been going on,” explained store owner Andrea Cracknell. Pine Lighting Victoria is a franchise lighting store specializing providing a wide range of illumination fixtures, supplies and solutions for both homeowners and lighting contractors. The locally-owned Pine Lighting outlet is one of three in British Columbia. Located at 790 Spruce Avenue, the Victoria store has a staff of seven, including Cracknell, who has been with the operation since 2007, the last four as its owner. “L ately we’ve been m a i nly involved working on building

Andrea Cracknell has been with Pine Lighting for the past 10 years, serving as the store’s owner for the past four projects and custom homes, as opposed to spec houses or developments. We also do a lot of work with renovators, persons looking for just the right lighting option,” she said. Pine Lighting’s spacious showroom allows clients to see how certain products will look in a real world setting, but the extensive collection on display is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the expansive list of items that are readily available. Having access to a practically unlimited number of items, thanks to its vast catalog selection, Pine Lighting can find exactly the right fixture at exactly the right price for any lighting need. Thanks to the outlets’ easy to navigate website, clients can browse the online catalogs of such industry leading manufacturers as Progress

Lighting, Nuevo Living, DVI Lighting, Capital Lighting, Feiss and many more. “Right now I’d say that I’m dealing 50 / 50 between custom builders and individual homeowners. The builders we work with are doing so many more custom homes than they used to we’re having the opportunity for individuals to come in and pick out their lights – which is something I find personally satisfying,” she said. “Everyone is an individual, they want their own spin on their home, so it gives us the opportunity to dig into the catalogs and find the fixtures ideally suited to that individual property.” For Cracknell new technologies such as LED lighting has changed how the lighting industry operates, introducing a range of products undreamed of when she first got into the business a decade ago. The one thing that hasn’t changed is her interest in helping her clients find the right product for their homes and truly enjoy the process. “This past decade has certainly been quite a ride, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” she said. “I am now looking forward to seeing what the next 10 years brings!” To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www.pinelightingvictoria.com

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BIG O TIRES WEST SHORE ADDING NEW SHOWROOM TO THE OPERATION Automotive Service Center Has Operated At The Location For Nearly A Decade

I C T O R I A – Fo r D o n Swindell, the owner of Big O Tires West Shore the future is looking bright – and it comes on a set of bright shiny new rims! “While it’s true we’ve been in business here for nearly 10 years we’ve actually only been a Big O Tires franchise for about a year, but what a year it’s been,” Swindell explained. Strategically located at 1705 Island Highway in Victoria (right across the street from the View Royal Casino) Big O Tires West Shore first opened for business in 2008. Beginning life strictly as an auto service centre the outlet had operated under the name Island Highway Automotive. “In our previous incarnation we focused primarily on auto repairs, something that continues to be our main strength. But since buying the Big O Tires franchise and operating under that very recognizable banner, we’ve branched out into tire / wheel sales, truck lift kits and a maintenance program which is becoming increasingly important for us,” he said. Swindell is no stranger to operating diverse business ventures. Until very recently, in addition to working at the auto and tire service centre he was also the President of Alpha Home Health Care, a provider of support services for the elderly and the housebound. Founded by his mother Lois Swindell 40 years ago, Alpha Home Health Care had been operating from offices adjoining the Big O Tires shop, with Swindell having to do double duty to maintain both businesses following his mother’s retirement. “I was lucky enough to have a long time office manager who helped run Alpha, but when she decided to retire it was obvious that trying to operate both would be too labour intensive – something would suffer,” he said.

Big O Tires West Shore is located at 1705 Island Highway and was previously operated as Island Highway Automotive

Mechanic Dave Morrison is a key part of the Big O Tires West Shore team of qualified technicians

“The terrific people we have to do the work are really the key to our success.” DON SWINDELL OWNER, BIG O TIRES WEST SHORE

The solution was to sell the business, with the client base and staff of Alpha Home Health Care joining with the Victoria-based Bayshore Home Health team June 1. The closing of the home care business provided Swindell with a unique opportunity, to convert the 600 or so square feet of office space previously occupied by Alpha into a comfortable waiting area and a state of the art showroom for his extensive line of Big O Tires products. “Right now I’d say our workload is about 75 per cent auto servicing and 25 per cent tire sales and service. I’m anticipating that as we progress and we get the new showroom operating our tire business will eventually represent half of the work we do,” he explained. “Once we expand into the Alpha Homecare space at the end of the building we will vastly improve our street exposure as well. We have 40,000 cars a day that drive right by us at our location on the Wilfert Road. Lights allows for a safe entrance into the parking lot.

A true family business, Troy Swindell, son of owner Don Swindell, is a large part of the service center’s success So not making use of that kind of excellent exposure is essentially a lost opportunity.” The new showroom will feature a comfortable lounge area, bright displays of items such as after-market wheels, the latest Big O Tires products as well as interactive screens to allow customers to visualize how the new wheels will look on their present vehicle. Big O Tires is projecting to have the showroom open and ready for customers by September 1 “The shop has also seen a makeover recently with new hoists,

Another experienced member of the Big O Tires West Shore service team is mechanic Chris Mitchell

laser wheel alignment system, laser balancer as well as the introduction of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment for all makes and models of vehicles,” he said For Swindell, despite an exceptional location and access to the vast product range and marketing muscle of the British Columbia-based Big O Tires organization, the key to the expanding success of his venture are his team, his son Troy Swindell and the other Big O Tires West Shore employees. “The terrific people we have to

do the work are really the key to our success. All the great equipment and shiny surroundings means nothing at the end of day unless you deliver great service with quality workmanship. “The skills of my team are what make my business successful. The combined professional experience of the people working in our shop add up to 80 years which is a level of technical experience that is pretty hard to beat,” he said. To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www. bigowestshore.ca

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Emerging Technologies Revolutionizing The Automotive Industry Electric, Hybrid, Autonomous – Technology Changing How Cars Are Built & Driven BY DAVID HOLMES

t’s no exaggeration to say the development of the automobi le h a s resh ap ed t he planet and has helped to fuel the global economy. Motorized transportation’s fiscal impact extends far beyond the actual production of vehicles. Car makers directly impact a vast interconnected network of industries on a daily basis. The oil and gas sector, the construction industry and an expansive list of service industries are all directly dependent on the production, sale and maintenance of vehicles. The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association (CVMA) reports that presently one in seven Canadians is either directly or indirectly employed in some facet of the automotive industry. The Association also states the auto industry generates 12 per cent of the Canadian Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and that automobiles and vehicle parts are some of Canada’s major export

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Blair Qualey is the President of the New Car Dealers Association of BC, a group representing 374 dealerships in BC 36,000 employees directly and indirectly. Car dealerships in communities both large and small are significant local employers, major land owners and large taxpayers. New car dealers are also historically significant community contributors, on the direct economic side and from the philanthropic side – car dealers tend to be very active in their communities doing all sorts of great things.” The economic impact of the auto industry isn’t just a Canadian experience but is a truly global phenomenon. Based on recent statistics, despite any economic uncertainties that may be present in North America, consumers are still very interested in acquiring the latest in automotive

STARFISH MEDICAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

That initial project began as the continuation and development of a concept originated at Cornell University in New York State. One of the doctors involved in the project happened to be working in Vancouver and needed a company to collaborate with to turn a concept, into a tangible p ro d u c t re a d y fo r t h e m a rketpl ace. Sta rFi sh Medical answered the call and the success of that first venture has helped to fuel the company’s growth and expansion for the better part of two decades. Today, operating out of a 24,000 square foot research, production and administrative space at 455 Boleskine Road in Victoria, StarFish Medical has become Canada’s leading med-tech development firms with a staff count in excess of 130. “W hen we first began I fou nd, that a lthoug h trained as a technical engineer, my ultimate destiny actually lay in being good at sales. Learning the fundamentals of running the business side was one of the hardest parts of making the company grow

products. During 2016 auto makers sold nearly two million new vehicles in Canada, the fourth consecutive year that sales have hit a record total. In the United States car sales reached in excess of 17.5 million new vehicles of all types, a marginal increase over the sales numbers recorded in 2015. On a global scale the auto industry is a significant player in the planet’s economic mix. Forecasters expect that more than 77 million passenger cars will be sold worldwide by the end of 2017 which is a slight rise over the 2016 totals – which was itself a record year. To put a perspective on the real value of the auto industry Volkswagen, the world’s largest auto maker, is projected to have revenues this year of more than $236 billion. That’s higher than the GDP of New Zealand, Finland or Greece. “The industry is certainly in pretty good shape. We’ve come off a few record years in terms of vehicle sales, one year after the other. We’re seeing a fairly strong start to this year but of course we’ll have to see how the rest of the year unfolds, but I’m certainly optimistic that 2017 will be another good year for our industry,” Qualey explained. In addition to being a major global economic engine, the auto industry is also a catalyst for technological change as competing firms strive to produce the

“The next steps will involve us opening one or two offices in the United States within the next two to five years.” SCOTT PHILLIPS CEO, STARFISH MEDICAL

and succeed,” Phillips said. “That is why I joined peer groups like Entrepreneurs’ Organization and Acetech BC and why I mentor and encou ra ge tech nolog y leaders to join as well.” The Colin Lennox Award was bestowed to recognize the leadership role Phillips has consistently shown for both his company and to the overall technology community in general. “Colin Lennox was someone who really served as a catalyst for the start of the technology boom that has taken place in the Victoria

newest and best products to attract the car buying public. That motivation for improvement is sparking a technological revolution that is reshaping the industry in ways still unimagined, a revolution that will ultimately impact how people travel and how the cities of tomorrow will function. T he expanding acceptance of hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles will directly impact the oil and gas sectors and will influence city planners for generations. The looming prospect of autonomous vehicles soon attaining mainstream status is another emerging technology that will forever change how people move about and how urban infrastructure is constructed. This technological revolution is also changing how the people who will maintain the automobiles of the future are trained. The days of the back yard mechanic are quickly fading as the stereotypical ‘grease monkey’ of past generations is replaced by skilled technicians more akin to an engineer than a mechanic. “Certainly people with computer skills are necessary. Having the ability to read over very technical information, interpret that information and then apply it in a diagnostic situation is one of the critical things that we teach,” explained Patrick Jones an instructor and Program Leader at

area, so being recognized with this award is especially meaningful for me,” he said. “I’m a firm believer in VIATEC and the role they pl ay i n nu r t u r i n g a nd building the Victoria technology community. They are an invaluable asset to technology entrepreneurs and professionals.” Today with between 30 and 40 different products currently being worked on to satisfy the evolving needs of medical professionals across the continent, Phillips is confident his firm will continue to grow and expand to meet those technological and business challenges. Recently StarFish entered the eastern region of the North American marketplace by purchasing an existing Toronto-based medical services design group. Phillips views the move as merely one more stage in the firm’s ongoing expansion efforts. “The next steps will involve us opening one or two offices in the United States within the next two to five years, so we’re very much in a growth phase,” he said. To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www.starfishmedical.com

Camosun College’s Automotive Service Technician Program in Victoria. (www.camosun.ca) “ M a n y e l e m e n t s of a u tomobiles, the brakes, suspension, tires, wheels and things like that are much the same as they have been for years. As the mechanical elements of car servicing remain much the same, we are still teaching fundamental automotive theories. But on top of that is the latest in the automotive technology that is expanding at a very rapid rate which means great changes in how and what we teach our students.” More accurately referred to as an Automotive Technician than a mechanic, tomorrow’s auto service centres are requiring skilled personnel as adept at reading a computer screen as they are pulling a wrench. For Dean Cadieux, an instructor and Chair of Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Automotive Department, preparing students for tomorrow’s technology-focused workplace is a key part of his program’s efforts. (www.viu.ca) “The technology is changing for our trade faster than for just about any other. Each year there is more and newer technology, which can make it increasingly difficult for technicians to stay up to date. That of course affects us as we have to incorporate that new information into our curriculum. We have to have the right tools and the

13 right equipment to provide our students with the training they’ll need in the workplace,” he said. To accommodate the needs of contemporary Automotive Technicians VIU’s automotive program is temporarily in a slowdown mode as a new state of the art training facility is currently under construction at its Nanaimo campus. Once completed this fall the new training centre will have the necessary systems in place to provide the real world training tomorrow’s technicians are going to need. “We’re scheduled to be opening back up in September and once we start up again we will have approximately 54 students in the program. The facility is larger and provides us with the option to expand the program if the demand is there, but that would be a future decision,” Cadieux said. For Jones the industry is entering a new and very exciting phase, encouraging him to be equally excited about what the future has to offer. “The Automotive Technician trade is and will continue to be the most dynamic trade. I’ve managed to stay enthused about the trade over the past 30 years because it’s constantly evolving. Things change with regularity. If you’re not a person who likes change then this isn’t the field for you.” To learn more please visit the association’s website at: www. newcardealers.ca

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THE WETCLEANER: PROVIDING A NON-TOXIC DRY CLEANING SERVICE Company Offers A Safer & Healthier Alternative To Traditional Dry Cleaning Methods

ICTORIA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; While it may sound like a misnomer, Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The WetCleaner Inc. is a local leader in providing dry cleaning services that are better, safer and healthier than what has traditionally been available. Now into its tenth year of operation, WetCleaner is the only non-toxic dry cleaner on Vancouver Island, a pioneer in using techniques and systems that are both environmentally sensitive and free of the cancer causing agents commonly found by using other more traditional cleaning methods, such as PERC (perchloroethylene). â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sort of the dirty secret of the dry cleaning business â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that some of the chemicals used in the process can be very harmful to you, in fact, some are carcinogenic. From the start we have worked to provide a service that is safer and kinder for the environment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and our customers have come to recognize and appreciate that,â&#x20AC;? explained Cindy Hatt, Founding Partner of the WetCleaner. Along with her business partner and husband Dave Hatt, The WetCleaner has been serving the Capital Region with healthy, earth friendly, extremely effective dry cleaning since 2006. Coupled with providing outstanding customer service, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;one-two punchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of service and safety has proven to be a winning business combination. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are the only cleaner on Vancouver Island that offers a non-toxic dry cleaning alternative. Most typical dry cleaners use a chemical called perchloroethylene, commonly referred to as PERC; a known carcinogen. PERC affects the staff who work with it, and the customers who wear it. To compound the

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problem, PERC doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get rinsed out off your clothes during their process. Customers who frequent traditional dry cleaners are wearing PERC directly against their skin,â&#x20AC;? Hatt explained. A rep or t pro du c e d by Environmental Defence, a leading environmental action organization, stated the cleaning solution PERC, which serves as an effective solvent and stain remover for organic materials, has since the 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become one of the most popular chemicals used in the dry cleaning industry across North America. T he orga n ization reported that while steps have been taken to restrict or phase out the use of PERC in the United States, it remains an all-too common

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chemical in the Canadian dry cleaning industry. The group (and the owners of WetCleaner), believe action is necessary to protect the health of Canadians from the potentially harmful effects of this chemical. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In a traditional dry cleaning operation the chemical is reused repeatedly. It can leach into your flesh from wearing the clothing treated with PERC. Dry cleaned clothing sitting in your closet for weeks and weeks is off-gassing PERC and becoming part of the environment of your home,â&#x20AC;? Hatt said. Environmental Defence reports that even short-term exposure to PERC can cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, skin, eye, and lung irritation. Longer-term exposure can create even more severe problems. PERC exposure has been linked to various forms of cancer and even reproductive health issues. When spilled onto the ground (or improperly disposed of), the chemical can even find its way into the local water table, spreading the risk beyond the staff and clientele of the dry cleaner itself. Recent studies suggest an association between PERC exposure from drinking water and increased risk of several cancers, including lung cancer, breast

Serving the Greater Victoria area for the past 10 years The WetCleaner uses non toxic dry cleaning methods cancer, non-Hodgkinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lymphoma, and even leukemia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why is it still used in the industry? Mainly because it has been used for such a long time that it has become the norm, and many people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realize there are healthier alternatives. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s much the same way that PCBs (polych lori nated biphenyls) were routinely used in electrical equipment for decades â&#x20AC;&#x201C; because no one realized they were dangerous,â&#x20AC;? she said. L o c a te d i n a c e n t u r y-ol d building at 1019 Cook Street in Victoria, the WetCleaner also operates a drop store through the Heart Pharmacy at the Cadboro Bay Village shopping centre. Since opening its doors The WetCleaner has dedicated itself

to building a triple bottom line business, with its business philosophy stating: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We take pride in our commitment to our team members, our customers and the planet. If we do our job well, we have the privilege of supporting all three.â&#x20AC;? Becoming an industry leading pioneer in healthy dry cleaning wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily part of the original plan when Dave and Cindy Hatt first began exploring the world of business. Originally the couple started in the cleaning business offering a valet service, picking up clothing at clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offices for another dry cleaner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got into the business by going door to door in the downtown offices offering a pick-up and delivery service. We had

â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one plans to fail, most simply fail to plan.â&#x20AC;? Philip Bisset-Covaneiro BSc., CFP FINANCIAL CONSULTANT Investors Group Financial Services Inc.

250-727-9191

Philip.Bisset-Covaneiro@investorsgroup.com

JULY 2017

Dave Hatt is Cindy’s husband and business partner - the pair originally operated a clothing valet service

The WetCleaner is located in a distinctive heritage building located at 1019 Cook Street in downtown Victoria flyers printed, bought bags from Victoria Box and Paper and started pounding the pavement. Our first delivery vehicle was Dave’s Grandpa’s 1968 Oldsmobile. It was a crazy time as we had a young family, we were doing deliveries during the day, tagging clothes after supper and Dave also worked at Totem Towing doing dispatch over nights.” Hatt recalled. “Our customers are the ones who challenged us to provide a non-toxic service. That reinforced our desire to provide a

healthier, greener dry cleaning service. That was the catalyst that ultimately led to us opening WetCleaner.” Hatt said the availability of a dry cleaning operation of their own was the catalyst that saw them transition their business from a clothing valet service to full time dry cleaners. “We approached Rick Nathorst who owned and operated Elite Earth-Friendly. He and his wife Laurel had recently transitioned from a traditional dry cleaner to a non-toxic cleaner. Rick was

ready to move on so we were able to make a successful offer to buy out the business,” she said. Learning the business from the ground up with the help of White Rock’s Carousel Cleaners owners Charlotte and Mac Mackenzie; the Hatts grew their company over the past decade to assume the industry leading position it enjoys today. Operating with a small staff and continuing to provide the pick-up and delivery service that was its founding service, The WetCleaner has set the bar high for the industry in Victoria and across the Island to emulate. The WetCleaner’s many clients appreciate the work and the dedication to community wellness the pair have devoted themselves to – and are eager to offer accolades. Philip Bisset-Covaneiro a Financial Consultant with the local Investors Group Financial Services Inc. office and a long time client is typical of the customers wanting to congratulate the pair for reaching their 10 year milestone. “Congratulations to Dave and

Lucinda Hatt on the success and accomplishment of 10 years in business! As a local business owner and supporter of our local small business community, it is a rare achievement that a business can make it 10 years and ensure that they have kept their integrity and brand at the highest level possible,” he said. “Not only is this a business that I am proud to use monthly, but they are also cherished clients that I am very proud to know and work with. The WetCleaner provides a terrific service in our local community and they do it in a sustainable and health conscious way. Dave and Cindy are helping Victoria stay in line with a healthy future. Thank you to you both and your employees.” Usi ng t he sp eci a l i zed wet clea n i ng process, customer clothing is placed (even wool suits) in custom wet cleaning machines that use gentle agitation and Earth-friendly detergents to clean and refresh the garments. “A wool suit in your washer at home would disintegrate. Our system gently cycles the clothing, it’s not aggressive. The clothing is then rinsed, placed on a former (depending on the type of clothing) that assists with the shape and structure, and then it is air-dried. The final stage is the hand pressing of collars, lapels and other details. Our signature process requires expert hand

finishing, and that’s part of what makes this process so much safer and gentler – on the clothing and on the environment,” Hatt said. The WetCleaner has battled through a recent fire in their building to continue to serve customers from all across the Greater Victoria area at 1019 Cook Street. They have regular customers who travel across Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands from Sooke to Salt Spring and Nanaimo just to take advantage of the pair’s unique service. The WetCleaner anticipates continued growth and expansion in the years ahead. O ne t h i n g t h at w i l l never change is the Hatt’s core belief in the non-toxic WetCleaner approach to dry cleaning, a process and an educational mission to which the company is devoted. “We are working toward our goal of being the leader of change in this industry. We’re always looking for the cleanest, greenest, safest and most convenient way to serve our customers. We may only be ‘cleaning people’s dirty drawers’ - but we believe it is important, necessary work. The WetCleaner has the unique opportunity to rid the world of an unnecessary, carcinogenic toxic chemical; which is something we consider well worth our effort,” Hatt stated. To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www. thewetcleaner.com

Congratulations Dave & Cindy on 10 years of business success!

Congratulations on 10 years in the business. Wishing you continued success in the future.

The unique wet systems employed by The WetCleaner are effective but safe enough for even delicate fabrics

906 McClure Street, Victoria, BC Tel: 250.388.5363 www.abigailshotel.com

250-598-6998 | contact@nkpg.ca 202 – 4400 Chatterton Way, Victoria, BC

JULY 2017

SERVICEMASTER OF VICTORIA: TWO INTERCONNECTED CLEANING SERVICES The Franchise Has Operated In The Greater Victoria Area For More Than 30 Years

ICTORIA – For 30 years ServiceMaster Restore of Victoria has taken care of the worst that nature, disaster and time can throw at it. Now, working in concert with its non-emergency maintenance sibling ServiceMaster Clean of Victoria, the company can handle virtually any clean-up assignment – from routine janitorial services to large scale restoration efforts. “They really are two separate businesses, but both operate out of the same location. Both Ser v iceM a ster R estore a nd ServiceMaster Clean has been a rou nd for 30 yea rs, but we only purchased ServiceMaster Clean about three years ago. The company had existed earlier, but under different ownership,” explained Sean Knoles, the co-owner of both franchise operations. “Both companies operate as part of our ServiceMaster license which covers the entire southern end of Vancouver Island, which essentially includes everything from Duncan south.” Located in a 12,000 square foot combination corporate office, warehouse and operations center at 1075 Henry Eng Place in Victoria, the two firms have a combined staff count of more than 40 and currently operate a fleet of 35 service vehicles. Providing a full range of fire, flood and restoration services, ServiceMaster Restore is the company to call when dealing with the largest of clean up tasks, such as after a disaster or cleaning up a worksite. ServiceMaster Clean’s forte is in providing traditional custodial and maintenance services, such as home and office cleaning. ServiceMaster Clean has also become the ‘go to’ cleaning service employed by various property management firms across the city.

We are proud to support ServiceMaster. Congratulations on your success. Suite 303 - 1111 Blanshard St, Victoria, BC T: (250) 920-0656 F: (250) 385-9841 www.tuckerfung.ca

Both ServiceMaster businesses are based at 1075 Henry Eng Place in Victoria, the company has 35 service vehicles

ServiceMaster’s two Victoria operations are housed in a 12,000 square foot office and warehousing facility

Both divisions of the firm are based at the Henry Eng Place location and share the same warehouse and office space ServiceMaster Restore specializes in fire, flood and disaster restoration assignments including a special hoarder service “ServiceMaster Restore has been around for 30 years, long before my time. I’ve been with the company for 17 years, 15 of those as an owner,” Knoles said. “The disaster restoration side of the business has 27 employees, with 16 on the clean side of the operation. ServiceMaster Restore’s main focus is to respond to all levels of emergency services. These would be things like cleaning up after a fire, flood, trauma, mold, asbestos – essentially we deal with anything that’s nasty!” T he restoration element of

Congratulations to Bayshore Home Health on your Business Excellence Award!

Congratulations to ServiceMaster on your many years of success! www.coastalhvac.ca 250.656.6868 Victoria, BC

ServiceMaster Restore can also handle the actual reconstruction of a site. “We can do the rebuilds. We can do any size project, residential, commercial and we can even do full houses if we need to. We’ve bid on projects up to $1 million in the past which is about the largest we’ve been involved in,” he explained. A new addition to the range of services provided by ServiceMaster Restore is a speci fic type of operation they refer to as hording clean up. “A surprisingly common call we might get

Congratulations Service Master on 30 years of business in Victoria!

250.727.6181 | 3950 Quadra Street www.comino.ca | Victoria, BC

“We plan on having this as a long term family business for the foreseeable future.” SEAN KNOLES CO-OWNER, SERVICEMASTER OF VICTORIA

would be from a grown child who lives elsewhere, but their parents live here. The parents go into a home or pass away and the child is suddenly required to look after the estate – only to discover the older couple has kept everything they’ve ever accumulated since 1940. We can then facilitate the clean-up of that house,” Knoles explained. “It can get quite extensive and would include such things as the removal of all of the old contents. Along the way we would leave the client the things they want to keep, get rid of the rest, clean the house up, give it a facelift and basically get the property ready to go back on the market.” ServiceMaster Clean handles routine janitorial services including commercial and residential carpet cleaning, window cleaning, project maintenance and

more. The company has worked with everyone including homeowners, property managers and even REALTORS® when preparing a property for sale. The Greater Victoria marketplace has proven to be a positive location for the cleaning and restoration services the two interconnected enterprises can provide. “There has definitely been some significant fiscal growth with the business over the years, so the community has definitely been supportive of us,” he said. For the future the company plans to increase its South Island footprint, adding to its client base while turning a business venture into a true multi-generational enterprise. “We have four kids, so the plan is to continue to the next generation, building for the future,” he said. “It’s very much a family-oriented business. I work in it, my wife works in it, my brother is my partner, my son works in it right now and my daughter will be coming to work here this summer. We plan on having this as a long term family business for the foreseeable future. In many ways really we’re building the business for them, and business is looking pretty good.” To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www. servicemastervictoria.com

JULY 2017

BAYVIEW CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES GAINS FULL-THROTTLE MOMENTUM IN NICHE MARKET With a Combined 100 Years of Experience, Bayview Custom Motorcycles Can Accommodate all Needs And Wants of Motorcyclists Today

ARKSVILLE - In 1987, Paul and Lori Nielsen’s backyard saw the humble beginnings of Nanaimo Motorcycle Salvage. “We moved here thirty-two years ago from Calgary, Alberta,” said Lori. “We had always talked about starting our own business because we both knew that we didn’t want to work for somebody else.” As Paul was working in the auto-salvage industry, he thought that a motorcycle-salvage would be a good idea as there was nothing like it on (Vancouver) Island or anywhere else on the West Coast. With faith in their dream and in her husband, Lori sold her car and handed Paul a thousand dollars and told him to go start his motorcycle salvage company. Between word of mouth and small ads in the local Buy Sell & Trade, word travelled fast with Nanaimo Motorcycle Salvage quickly gaining full-throttle

The Bayview Crew does not discriminate. “We just like bikes.” CREDIT:EMPIRICAL PRESS

momentum and moving closer to getting out of the backyard and into an actual storefront. “I scouted out a place in the Lantzville Industrial Park,” said Paul. “We rented out a twenty-foot by forty-foot building for one-hundred and fifty dollars per month and just started buying motorcycles and salvaged bikes. After a year and a half, we bought the property and built a shop on our own.” No longer a dirt-floor dream, Nanaimo Motorcycle Salvage grew overnight, expanding into new and untapped territory. “That’s when we really started to get into custom builds,” Lori said. “We started doing that way before Orange County Choppers and Jesse James made it trendy. In fact, everyone thought that we were a little bit crazy.” Paul explained that the company built custom motorcycles, grafting

“We were now playing in the big leagues; Walmart, Toys R Us, Canadian Tire and Lordco to name a few.” LORI NIELSEN OWNER, BAYVIEW CUSTOM MOTOCYCLES

Japanese race bikes and integrating them to make hybrid Harleys. “We were the first along the West Coast to coin the phrase, ‘We Just Like Bikes’. Everything that is in vogue now, we were doing thirty years ago.” “Back then, you didn’t just go

Bare Bones Leather will custom make Jackets and Vests as well as do alterations CREDIT:EMPIRICAL PRESS

and buy a Harley like you do today. Sometimes there was a two or three-year wait, which is why we got into doing rebuilds. We’d

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SEE BAYVIEW CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES | PAGE 18

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actually wrench on bikes, refabricate and rebuild motors,”

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JULY 2017

Choppers, bobbers, café racers, original stock motorcycles of all types are welcome Tuesday through Saturday twelve months per year CREDIT:EMPIRICAL PRESS

BAYVIEW CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

said Nielsen. “The culture was a lot different. We would bore our own cylinders, grind valves, we’d install our own guides, we’d do hand-built motors, and we’re doing all of that again.” After growing Nanaimo Motorcycle Salvage to full capacity, the Nielsen’s sold all inventories and Paul funneled his brainpower into the next big thing. Enter ‘Rite On Time,’ the world’s first Harley Davidson timing tool for the righthand side of your bike. “My father, John Nielsen and I, were responsible for the invention of the Rite On Time Timing Tool. I learned everything that I needed to know from him.” In 1995, in between businesses,

The Nielsen’s ‘all or nothing’ motorcycle mentality fueled several successful ventures

Paul and Lori Nielsen’s backyard saw the humble beginnings of Nanaimo Motorcycle Salvage in 1987 CREDIT:EMPIRICAL PRESS

CREDIT:EMPIRICAL PRESS

the Nielsen’s moved to a five-acre homestead where they lived off grid and raised their two children. “I went back to school and took a marketing course at the then, Malaspina College. I decided that I was going to take the timing tool that dad and I had shelved and market it. I had no experience marketing an invention, but I did have a lot of drive.” The Nielsen’s ‘all or nothing’ motorcycle mentality fueled what most people thought to be yet another ‘off-the-wall’ decision. “We scraped everything we had together and literally flew against the grain,” said Lori. “We now had patent pending, which let us proceed to promote and market ‘Rite On Time’ to the masses. We flew south to Florida, and on our way to Daytona Bike Week to meet with distributors, we took a shortcut through a back alley and came across our next ten–year business venture.” Lori explained that as she was sitting down to take a break, she saw Paul looking at some L.E.D. lighting products. “I thought to myself, ‘Here we go again.’” The Nielsen’s picked up a few packages of L.E.D bicycle wheel lights and upon returning to Vancouver Island, started distributing to retail venues. This turned into the launch of a new company with over one hundred L.E.D products for the automotive, marine and motorcycle markets. “We were now playing in the big leagues,” said Lori. “Walmart,

Toys R Us, Canadian Tire and Lordco to name a few.” Working within a ten-year plan, the Nielsen’s sold and retired. Not surprisingly, this was short-lived as Lori’s famous quote goes, ‘Paul Nielsen never sleeps.’ With a nudge here and there from friends and acquaintances, Paul formed Bayview Custom Motorcycles 2011 Corp. “I saw a real need for a custom motorcycle shop in this area,” said Paul. “There is a huge void to be filled within the V-Twin motorcycle industry,” he said. Always passionate about motorcycles, the Nielsens expanded from their initial one-thousand square-foot ‘Ma and Pa Shop,’ located in Parksville’s Industrial Park, to their now five-thousand square-foot, full-service retail venue. The store carries unique product geared to the biking crowd, from Bare Bones Leather jackets, riding vests and custom clothing to brake and clutch lever covers and leather bandanas. It stocks pre-owned bikes, Harley Davidson Take Off parts and fabrication parts as well as its own branded BCMC merchandise. “We’re not the norm,” said Lori. “We’ve always thought outside of the box.” The Bayview Crew does not discriminate. We just like bikes,” said Paul. “Choppers, bobbers, café racers, original stock motorcycles of all types are welcome Tuesday through Saturday twelve months per year.” “Everything old is becoming new

Doug McFeely and Rick Kocis will help the Bayview crew create the perfect bike to fit a customer’s style, personality and needs CREDIT:EMPIRICAL PRESS

again,” he added. “One-hundred plus years of combined experience allows us to accommodate all needs and wants of motorcyclists today. Our shop has the capacity to work on everything from old knuckleheads to the latest computer-controlled bikes of today. We’re able to effectively diagnose all North American motorcycles with our electronic diagnostics computer, which also gives us the ability to fully tune these ECU-controlled bikes. Much like changing carb jetting in the old days, we’re able to correctly map your late model bike’s ECU to account for any performance modifications that you want to make to your bike.” Bayview will also create the perfect bike to fit a customer’s style,

personality and needs, assisting in its design as well building it from the ground up. “It doesn’t matter if it is a café racer or a pro-street chopper, we will make sure the bike you dream of is the bike you will be riding.” Voted Employer of the Year, by the City of Parksville’s Chamber of Commerce, the Nielsen’s are proud to support local businesses as well as up-and-coming entrepreneurs. “Providing training and local job opportunities is very important to us,” said Lori. “Everyone deserves to love what they do and do what they love.” Bayview Custom Motorcycles is at 1480 Industrial Way in Parksville www.bayviewmotorcycles.com

Excavators Bobcats Gravel Trucks

WHO IS SUING WHOM

JULY 2017

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 0748003 BC Ltd 1211-1175 Douglas St., Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Bongarzone, Adam CLAIM $24,065 DEFENDANT 0807159 BC Ltd 201-2377 Bevan Ave., Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Progressive Home Warranty Ltd CLAIM $141,041 DEFENDANT 0964919 BC Ltd 301-910 Fitzgerald Ave., Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF All Island Equities Mortgage Investment Corp CLAIM

$1,663,073 DEFENDANT 1003708 BC Ltd 321 St. Julian St., Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF Mazzei Electric Ltd CLAIM $52,952 DEFENDANT All Season Tire Co Ltd 2222 Alberni Hwy, Coombs, BC PLAINTIFF National Tire Distributors Inc CLAIM $20,502 DEFENDANT Boorman Investment Co Ltd 7th Floor, 1175 Douglas St., Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Maber, Jenny CLAIM $8,564 DEFENDANT British Columbia Ferry Services Inc 500-1321 Blanchard St., Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Simpson, Sheila CLAIM $25,176 DEFENDANT Bruce Gamble & Sons Construction

282 Pringle Farm Rd, Salt Spring Island, BC PLAINTIFF Pardiwala, Rohinton CLAIM $90,000 DEFENDANT C1 Contractors Ltd 813 Goldstream Ave., Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Vantreight, Ian Stuart CLAIM $15,656 DEFENDANT Campbell River Fibre Ltd 9701 201 St., Langley, BC PLAINTIFF Carmac Diesel Ltd CLAIM $6,157 DEFENDANT Comox Valley Farmers Market Association Box 3301, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF McNeice, Trina CLAIM $25,176 DEFENDANT Deramore Construction Services Inc 33695 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC PLAINTIFF Dalcon Construction 2001 Ltd CLAIM

$242,852 DEFENDANT Fisgard Asset Management Corporation 26 Bastion Square, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Echelon General Insurance Company CLAIM $10,167 DEFENDANT Gro Ing Gardens 655 Burnside Rd., Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Bower, Thomas CLAIM $25,165 DEFENDANT Ground Effects Excavating Ltd 2135 Sherrit Dr., Nanoose Bay, BC PLAINTIFF Minhas, Gurpreet CLAIM $25,176 DEFENDANT Hillside Veterinary Hospital (ANC) Ltd 200-911 Yates St., Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Gagne, Pierre CLAIM $25,206

DEFENDANT Home Depot of Canada Inc 900-1 Concorde Gate, Toronto, ON PLAINTIFF Dheenshaw, Rajinder CLAIM $16,016 DEFENDANT Image Pro Exterior Contracting Inc 1032 Nakini Pl., Brentwood Bay, BC PLAINTIFF Michigan Projects Ltd CLAIM $104,155 DEFENDANT Ink Media Inc 2056 Glenidle Rd., Sooke, BC PLAINTIFF Westra, Thomas Edward CLAIM $46,500 DEFENDANT Island Centre of Hockey Excellence Ltd 2657 Wilfert Rd., Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF G Reid Holdings Ltd CLAIM $303,481 DEFENDANT Island Water Hauling Inc 3272 Roper Rd., Ladysmith, BC

19 PLAINTIFF Berks International Ltd CLAIM $14,130 DEFENDANT Mortel Development Ltd 157 Trunk Rd., Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF ABL Masonry Ltd CLAIM $14,822 DEFENDANT South Vancouver Island Zone Housing Society 7601 East Saanich Rd., Saanichton, BC PLAINTIFF Maber, Jenny CLAIM $8,564 DEFENDANT Trident Custom Homes B16-4012 Jingle Pot Rd., Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Duck, Howard Robert CLAIM $10,216 DEFENDANT Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company 3020-1055 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF J Robbins Sand and Gravel Ltd CLAIM $319,886

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

20 Re/Max Camosun is expanding and will be doubling in size, taking over the adjacent office space at 2239 Oak Bay Avenue. Renovations are underway and are expected to be completed this summer. Sparling Real Estate is now under new ownership. Owner Don Sparling negotiated the sale of his company to SeaFirst Insurance Brokers, another Sidney business, after 92 years of Sparling family ownership. Point Hope Maritime Ltd. has signed a major contract with BC Ferries. Point Hope will undertake the maintenance and repair for eight BC Ferry vessels. They hope to begin the construction of a $50 Million graving dock, a move that could double their current 200-strong workforce. Madone Pelan of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is the president-elect for the BC chapter of Meeting Planners International. Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s concierge, Dillon Carfoot, is the new national secretary for Les Clefs d’Or. As of June 1, Modo car share service is now available in Sidney. City council has granted the car service two reserved parking spaces in town. The Saanich Police have a new office at 57 Cadillac Avenue. The police force has transplanted 48 positions from their 760 Vernon Avenue location to their new office. The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce has announced some

JULY 2017

Muffet & Louisa celebrate the 32nd anniversary of their store. The outlet is at 110 2506 Beacon Avenue.

changes in their office team. Corey Anderson will be their new project manager, and Nick Gakena will be returning for the summer. Additionally, Aline Doiron is moving on from her former position as office manager. After 22 years at the school, Bob Snowden is retiring as head of St. Michaels University School. The Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society has elected Barbara Armstrong to their board. Peter Van Geisen (Novaport Management Services) and Stephen Lyons (Stevenson, Luchies and Legh) were elected to their second three-year terms at the same AGM. Tanner’s Books is celebrating their 35th Anniversary. The store is at 2436 Beacon Avenue in Sidney. Ilka Bene, assistant vice president of human resources at First West Credit Union has been recognized for her work. The Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of B.C. and Yukon named Bene as their HR Professional

of the Year for her leadership and efforts to improve her organization’s bottom line. Alistair Vigler is now the investor relations manager for Bon Macaron, a french dessert store that opened in Victoria in 2012, and looks to expand across BC and Alberta. Sunset Casuals is closing its doors. The business, located at 3989 Quadra Street, is shutting down as owner Uta Mardaus’ is retiring. Bill Knowles of DFH Real Estate Ltd. was recently awarded a 50-year pin from the Victoria Real Estate Board (VREB). Bill has served on multiple committees, held the director position for VREB, and served on the Real Estate Council for 8 consecutive years. The Q Centre Market is now open for business. The new market will run every Wednesday until the end of September. Run by Christie Schick, The Q Centre Market will be open from 5-8 p.m. at the West Shore Parks and Recreation lower bowl.

Sutton West Coast offered congratulations to its Sutton Award Winners. Million Awards went to John Byrne & Chris Barrington Foote for Top Producing Team, and Janet Yu for Top Producing Realtor. Pinnacle Awards went to Bruce McCulloch and Danielle & Blake Moreau. Masters Award winners were Gary & Linda Brown, Kumal & Karn Dodd, Shelly Davis & Ellen Bergerud, Chris Ellsay, and Mikko Ikonen. Diamond Awards went to Jackie Ngai, Suart Price, Daniel Stapleton, Nick Honour, Julie Demelo, Rajesh Chicher, Dave Thibault, Barry Chrabasz, Brian Mills, Jonas Solberg, Marius Friedlander, and Kim Mohns. Platinum Awards were given to Shelly Reed, Zelko Miokovic, Troy Petersen, Clifton Mak, Allan Poole, Wally Marcinkovic, Diego Lauricella, Sandra Lomax, Fred Lerch & Kathryn Alexander, Gaylene Salina, Lynn & Bill MacDonald, Mike Graham, Yongli Zhang, Colin Walters, Matt Loken, and Dean Bayles. President Award winners were Chris Fairlie, Bob Starr, Inder Taneja, Ian Jules, and Brenda Ferguson. Director Awards went to Zane Willis, Charmaine Cung, Catherine Hallock, Bashir Qureshi, and Samantha Brachat. On June 15, TruckPro celebrated the grand opening of their new Sidney location. They can be found at 1785 Mills Road. David Gudgel will join Tobias Haack as a co-chief executive for Clipper Navigation, which runs passenger ferry service between Seattle and Victoria. Jo-Ann Kevala is the new VP of Digital Strategy and Innovation at Suburbia Studios. The marketing agency is based in Victoria and Vancouver, and has been in business since 1989.

Serving all of Vancouver Island

The Mortgage Centre’s Sidney Branch has moved locations. They will now be found at Unit #10 9843 Second Street. Royal Roads University’s board has elected Kathleen M. Birney as their next chancellor and chair of the Board of Governors. This new position was effective June 13. Anne Delves has been appointed as the new manager for the Mt. Newton Cross Road Edward Jones branch in Saanichton. Westhills in Langford will soon be selling 19 “small footprint” homes in their Nova Lands development. These homes are about 1,340 sq ft, and will be available in July. Pricing will start at around $550,000.

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Three Point Motors Victoria announced that Adam Mikasko has been appointed to the Pre-Owned President’s Circle for 2017. This recognition is given to top sales consultants and sales managers for outstanding results and customer satisfaction throughout the past year.

Newport Realty has announced the addition of Dave Brown to their team. Valhalla Pure Outfitters celebrated their grand opening at their new location on 1824 Store Street. As of June 17, Victoria Hyundai has opened a new showroom in the Westshore Town Centre. The 280 square meter facility is located close to Winners, and will enable visitors to sit in vehicles, book test drives, and get sales information. The former home of the Christian Bookstore (on Blanshard between Fort and View) will now be home to Price’s Lock & Safe Ltd. Bayshore HealthCare recently acquired Victoria’s Alpha Home Health Care. Alpha Home Health Care has been operating in the area for over 40 years, and employs over 200 people. Bayshore will retain Alpha’s staff during the transition. Nickerson Consulting Services’ Catherine Nickerson has been named a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Nickerson is one of 37 new Fellows for 2017. After over 30 years in business, Pacific Trekking will be moving from its long-time location on Government Street. The outdoors retailer will now be located at 688 Broughton Street. Leadership Victoria Society welcomes Brad Buie (University of Victoria), Don Evans (Our Place Society), and Nicole Huk (Modo) to their Board of Directors. Provenance, a Sidney jewelry store, is celebrating their third anniversary. They are located at 2536 Beacon Ave. Dave Lowry, head coach of the Victoria Royals, will be leaving for a job as assistant coach for the LA Kings after five seasons in the Western Hockey League. He will be replaced by former Royals assistant coach Dan Price. Times Colonist sports reporter Cleve Dheensaw was honoured with the Fred Sgambati Media Award during a ceremony in Toronto. This makes Dheensaw the first Victoria reporter to win this award since 1975. The award recognizes exceptional coverage of Canadian university sports. Restaurante La Tortilla Mexicana is opening a new location. Their new restaurant at 1205 Quadra Street joins 910 Esquimalt Road as the eatery’s locations. Pearson College UWC in Metchosin has appointed Heather Gross as their new Chief Academic Officer and Vice-President of Education and Programming. She will be in charge of student admissions and counselling. Business owner Bill Rai of Maxxam Insurance Ltd. on Goldstream Avenue in Langford has now opened a real estate brokerage, Maxxam Realty

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

JULY 2017

Ltd. Veteran realtor, Rob Angus, is managing broker of the new company. Maxxam Realty Ltd. Can be reached at 250-940-3133 or info@ maxxamrealty.com. Sutton West Coast Realty welcomes Sebastian Kaiser to their team. Find out more about Sebastian at www. sebkaiser.ca. Pemberton Holmes recognized their monthly Sales Leaders recently: Tracy Menzies, Cathy Trais, Bo Han, Susan de Stein, Yuan Chen, Drew Saville, Eli Mavrikos, Chris LeBlanc, Erin Parsons, Dan Johnson, Mark Watt, Denise Tutte, Jacqueline Baker, Ivica Kalabric, Jacqui Thompson, Arran McLellan, Rob Davies, Jerry Bola, Ray Little, David Scotney, Nancie Vieira, Kira Laing, Aaron Hambley, Darron Hambley, Gerry Beltgens, Patrick Achtzner, Phil Rooke, and Tricia Keller. Sarpino’s Pizzaria held the grand opening of their 2571 Cadboro Bay Road location recently. Ray Dahl Optical & Optometrists is celebrating their re-opening. They recently moved into their new location at 101 2376 Bevan Avenue. Bob Phillips has resigned after 18 months as board chair for the Sooke School District. Phillips cited personal and family matters as the reason behind his resignation. Re/Max Alliance Victoria has named their sales leaders for the month. They include Ron Neal, Alex Burns, Julie Swift, Manpreet, Kandola, Mark Salter, Claude Delmaire, Laura Godbeer, Laura McCollom, Karie Seiss, and Glen Glowinski. This June marked the 125th anniversary for the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. They will also be celebrating their recent achievement: a Green Marine Certification. The Institute of Ocean Sciences in North Saanich recently opened its doors. The Institute held a celebratory open house, organized by Randy Enkin of Natural Resources Canada and Peter Chandler from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The Victoria Women’s Newcomers Club has announced their new executive board. It includes Esther Silver (president), Fran Ackerman and Lynn Hewitt (vice-presidents), Lauren Buchner (treasurer), and Trudie Lazaruk (secretary). The executive coordinators include Debby Solloway, Pat Preston, Margaret Bell, Caroline Anderson-Zsolay, Becky Walz, and Marion Robertson. Northstar Air Tours launched their flight between Victoria and the San Juan Islands on June 1. The flight is the shortest international flight in North America. Millstream Village is celebrating their 10th anniversary. Find out more at www.millstreamvillage.com. V2V Vacation has named Martin

Rissley as their new general manager. Rissley will be responsible for marketing, guest relations, sales, and operations teams. Victoria’s Julia Phillips was one of 13 BC chartered professional accountant students named to the national honor roll for her final examination results. BC Hazmat Management welcomes John Espley to their team. Espley recently left his position at Accent Inns, and will be BC Hazmat’s new director of marketing and communications. Victoria Distillers held an event at the Fairmont Empress Hotel to launch their new Empress 1908 Gin. The gin changes colour from indigo blue to a rose petal pink when citrus or tonic is added to the spirit. This June marks the 40th anniversary for Willis Point Hall, a community hall near Central Saanich. Re/Max Camosun has named their top productions for the month. These include producers Brent Munro (Victoria), Oliver Katz (Sooke), Dan Juricic (Sidney), Jason Leslie (Westshore), Tony Joe (Oak Bay), Don Bellamy (Sidney) Mark Rice (Victoria), Paul Askew (Victoria), Jane Johnston (Victoria), April Prinz (Victoria), Shelley Mann (Sidney), Darren Day (Victoria), Blair Veenstra (Victoria), Tori Feldman (Victoria), Jean Omelchenko (Victoria), Dale Sheppard (Westshore), Craig Walters (Sidney) Gerogia Wiggins (Victoria), Bonnie Johnston (Victoria), Jeff Meyer (Sidney), and Marlene Arden (Sooke). This year, Quality Foods celebrates its 35th anniversary. The Vancouver Island grocery chain was purchased by The Jim Pattison Group earlier this year. Amica at Saanich’s presentation centre is now open. The residential care community offers three neighbourhoods for its residents: independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Find out more at amica.ca.

Victoria Car Dealerships have announced their Salespersons of the Month. These include the following: Luke Hawkings (Harris Auto), Jay Dick (Jim Pattison Toyota), Chris Rowbottom (Jim Pattison Lexus), Todd Lindsay (Pacific Mazda), Ted Sakousky (Wheaton), David Vollet (Audi Autohaus), Brad Taylor (Volkswagen Victoria), Matt Kennard (Porsche Centre), David Bercovitz (Three Point Motors), Matthew Traynor (BMW Victoria), Dustin Hofer (Volvo), Chris Hoeg (Wille Dodge), John Weiers (Campus Honda), Rome Tewelde (Campus Infiniti), Katrina Kamper (Graham Kia), Frank Pecorelli (Campus Nissan), Phil Hines (Jim Pattison Subaru), Nick Lee (Campus Acura), and Connie Wilde (Jenner). Long-time Victoria Businessman John Larsen is retiring and selling his company, Larsen Music, after more than 20 years in the business. Oak Bay Volunteer Services celebrated its 40th anniversary. The City of Langford announced that Chris Aubrey will be replacing outgoing Fire Chief Bob Beckett. Aubrey was promoted from his position as Assistant Fire Chief, and will be replacing Beckett, who is retiring after 20 years with the department. Western Foods celebrated their 43rd anniversary last month. They held a celebration event in their Sooke and Langford locations to mark the occasion. North Saanich company Viking Air recently gave 136 employees a 60 days’ notice of temporary summer layoff. The company cited a drop in worldwide demand for their Twin Otter aircraft as a primary reason for the dismissals. Clayton Critters is now celebrating their first anniversary! Learn more about this young company at www. claytoncritters.com.

Lakeside Village welcomes a new business, Hair Etc. to their facility. The company is run by Ira, Linda, and Kari, each of whom have over 25 years of styling experience.

Country Grocer has been honoured with the MS Society’s Division Award of Merit, titled the Heroes Among Us award. The award recognizes the outstanding contributions of a business in furthering the work of the MS Society.

Mark Turner is the new head of school at St. Michaels University School. Turner, who has served as head of three different independent boarding schools, will replace retiring head Bob Snowden.

John and Vijaya Taylor are selling Eclectic Gallery to Chris and AnneLouise Brooks. The incoming couple recently moved from Alberta, and will be taking over after nine years of the Taylors’ ownership.

The Coast Waste Management Association has announced their new executive. This includes chair Harmony Huffman, vice-chair Avery Gottfried, secretary Jeff Ainge, and treasurer Peter Grant. The board also includes Anke Bergner, Mark Kurschner, Leo Lawson, and Brenden McShane.

Sherwood Marine Centre is celebrating their 35th anniversary at 6771 Oldfield Road.

McConnan Brion O’Connor and Peterson Lawyers welcome Reid Fraser to their firm.

Lowe’s Canada has begun converting the Langford Rona Home Store into a Lowe’s outlet. The renovations will include construction, re-merchandising, branding, new racks and information technology conversion. Work is expected to be completed by the fall. Once opened, the store will staff over 130

permanent employees and roughly 30 seasonal workers. A Stable Way of Life is celebrating their 30th anniversary at 5325 Cordova Bay Road. The local retailer offers a selection of shoes, handbags and accessories. Congratulations to Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty’s top producers. From the Saanich area, they are Todd Mahovlich, James Liu, Justen Lalonde, Bill Walters, Mark McDougall, Mary Brookes, Morley Bryant, Jackie Adkins, Dean Innes and Bernie Wilkinson. Oak Bay’s top performers are Neil Bosdet, Cheryl Becjar, Sarah West, Rick Hoogendoorn, Sharen Warde, Saira Waters, Shaunna Jones, Vicky Turner and Pat Meadows. The West Shore’s top producers are Justine Connor, Cheryl Laidlaw, Mike Hartshorne and Sarah Williamson. Sooke’s top producers are Tim Ayres and Tammi Dimock. Eye Etiquette Optical Boutique is celebrating their 10th anniversary at 189-2401C Millstream Road. As part of their environmental initiatives, Harbour Air has installed four new beehives holding roughly 10,000 bees on the roof of their floating terminal. Anyone interested in watching the bees can go to harbourair.com and watch them through their recently installed bee cam. Harbour Air became North America’s first carbon-neutral airline a decade ago. Victoria’s police board has named Del Manak as the department’s new police chief after former chief Frank Elsner stepped down amid two ongoing misconduct investigations. Manak is a born and raised Victoria local who has served as interim chief since December 2015. The 2017 VIATEC Technology Awards were recently held to celebrate the Victoria region’s leaders in technology. The winners are Scott Phillips (Colin Lennox Award for Tech Champion), RevenueWire (VIATEC Member of the Year), Rasool Rayani (CIN’s Angel of the Year), Pareto Logic (Community Champion), Scott Lake (Newcomer of the Year), Udutu (Team of the Year), Checkfront (Tech Company of the

21 Year in 50+ Employees), SendtoNews (Tech Company of the Year in 11-49 Employees), Momentum Dash (Tech Company of the Year 1-10 Employees), TelmedIQ (Emerging Tech Company of the Year), VRX Simulators (Product of the Year), HYAS (Startup of the Year), Trick Analytics Inc (Innovative Excellence in Software or Service), Redlen Technologies (Innovative Excellence in Hardware), Hunter MacDonald of Tutela Technologies (Emerging Leader of the Year), Kim Krenzler of RevenueWire (Leader of the Year) and Go2Mobi (Employer of the Year). Fairfield Bicycle Shop is celebrating their 25th anniversary at 390 Moss Street. Vancouver shoe designer John Fluevog is opening an outlet this month at 566 Johnson Street. The location was previously occupied by American Apparel and has 3,000 square feet of main floor space. Brian McRae is the new head coach of the Victoria HarbourCats. McRae played outfield in MLB from 1990 to 1999 for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays. Vanessa Johnson is the new Marketing Manager for Prima Strada Pizzeria. Johnson has 10 years of tourism experience and was most recently a Marketing and Media Relations representative for Harbour Air Seaplanes. Trevor Sawkins of ColdStar Solutions Inc was elected Chair of the BC Trucking Association for 2017-18 at their recent Annual General Meeting in Kelowna. Greg Baynton, formerly with the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA), is now Director at Victoria Civic Heritage Trust. CEO Sandra Richardson is pleased to note that the Victoria Foundation has recently received re-accreditation from Imagine Cnaada, a leading benchmark for the operation of a Canadian charity. Only 223 of over 170,000 charitable and nonprofit organizations in Canada have achieved such accreditation.

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OPINION

JULY 2017 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

POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND INSTABILITY HOLDING BC’S ECONOMY HOSTAGE

MARK MACDONALD

usiness likes certainty. Business can’t be happy with what is happening in Victoria these days, as from one day to the next, it is anything but certainty. Almost every group and organization is being “targeted” in either the campaign promises of the NDP/Green coalition, or the Throne Speech, dubbed the “clone speech” by Vancouver Province columnist Michael Smyth. Except the business community, which, at the end of the day, will be saddled with paying for the enormity of the promises made, if indeed they are kept at all. The tremors have already started in some corners. It’s not just the Site C dam project, the companies that have geared up to build, and the 2,200-plus workers onsite that the two-headed Green/ NDP monster has its sights on that

are trembling at a potential stopwork order. It’s other companies and sectors that wonder what is next. Some developers have already pushed the pause button on projects, adopting a wait-and-see attitude to see what the immediate future holds. That’s what business does when it can’t see what’s coming. If the forthcoming months and years provide a climate of certainty, owners and investors are inclined to move forward. Stormy political climates produce the opposite effect, as the brakes are applied to other projects that create wealth for investors and jobs for those who build them. A one-year delay in the construction of Site C dam in northern B.C. will result in $630 million in extra costs, as the massive project will miss a critical seasonal window for damming the Skeena River for the third time. Green leader Andrew “Dream” Weaver’s claims that these jobs are “imaginary” and “temporary” are incredibly callous and naïve at the same time. Isn’t every construction job temporary? That’s because once something is built, the builders move on to build something else. While NDP leader John Horgan is calling for a brief moratorium/ study of the project, it remains to be seen whether or not he’ll have the guts to issue to place pink slips in

the hands of the 2,200-plus workers at the site, despite the Green demand to stop the project outright. Reading between the lines, Horgan seems to be suggesting that those working on Site C will find immediate replacement jobs elsewhere in the province. There is no mention of what those jobs might be. Surely he doesn’t believe that 2,200 workers will be absorbed in building the social housing the NDP promises. The ramifications of stopping Site C now – even being so close to the point of no return construction-wise - will be widespread and devastating. It will immediately hammer northern BC, and because the electricity generated by Site C is earmarked for the Liquid Natural Gas industry, it will thump northwestern BC, where much of the action is supposed to be. Many of those jobs have their roots and head offices in the vote-rich lower mainland. Those high-end construction jobs that would be eliminated when large companies are told their services are no longer needed to build the dam will not instantly result in comparable jobs elsewhere. The six-figure-plus salaries that bigger firms can afford to pay won’t transfer over to the same income for workers at other, smaller projects. Bigger companies can cover bigger paycheques. Smaller companies

typically pay less, because that’s what they can afford. What the recent election has demonstrated is that each of the parties will say literally anything to get elected, or stay in power. BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark’s throne speech read like it was lifted directly from the NDP. It was an almost 180-degree turn from her campaign promises just weeks earlier. Clark’s dramatic about-face may have made Clark not only unelectable, but could have driven a permanent wedge in the federal Conservative/Liberal coalition. Clark may have succeeded where others have failed – re-creating a viable, second free-enterprise party for Conservatives who can no longer align themselves with the increasingly left-leaning BC Liberals. It seems that voters who only tune in, briefly, during elections, hear any party say they’ll “create jobs” and think that’s good enough and the same as any other party. The campaigners seem to realize that few dig deeper than those headline grabbing comments to see if the party platforms actually can create jobs, or have at any time. Yet jobs “created” from each party are completely different. Jobs from a typical free enterprise government come from the private sector – which is really THE

job creator. Which create jobs and growth. Jobs from socialist governments come from an expansion of the public payroll. They use tax dollars to create more programs to hire ideological soul-mates and friends. All paid for by the increasingly-burdened private sector. The mainstream media has treated the Greens with kid gloves, like they’re well-meaning and harmless. They barely pat the party gently on its head even when they step offside. Nobody believed the Greens would get elected. Except now the Greens hold the balance of power in the province, even though Weaver gave all his negotiating power away by acquiescing to every major NDP policy in order to overthrow Clark. The Greens don’t appear to be so cute and cuddly” and “harmless” anymore, do they? Yet this is who they were all along. It’s just that they cloaked themselves with motherhood, feel-good environmental “principles”, while understanding virtually nothing – or choosing to be clueless - about how B.C. is driven by resources. The Green party has one goal: Stop the extraction of resources. And now, this small group of economic terrorists is close to hi-jacking the high-flying economy of resource-dependent British Columbia.

WHY TRUDEAU AND NOTLEY ARE RIGHT TO SUPPORT PIPELINE EXPANSION

KENNETH P. GREEN FRASER INSTITUTE

he outcome of last month’s BC election raises serious questions about future energy policy in British Columbia. T he ele ct ion pro du c e d no clear winner, although the New Democrats and the Green Party have agreed to unite with an eye on forming the next government. That’s where the questions come in. During the campaign, the two parties offered policy perspectives that were considerably more stringent on both energy and climate change than the incumbent Liberals.

A key element of the Green/ NDP coalition is their opposition to the proposed Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which was approved by the federal government last November after a review process that lasted nearly five years and imposed 157 additional requirements on the project. The new coalition pledges to use “every tool available” to stop the pipeline, including preventing additional tanker traffic off the coast of BC. I n response, Pri me M i n ister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley have expressed, in no uncertain terms, that they expect this pipeline to be built. T he pr i me m i n i ster noted several important facts while maintaining his support. He recognized that the pipeline project was rigorously assessed by the National Energy Board and that elections don’t change the past. “Regardless of the change in government in British Columbia or anywhere,” he said, “the facts

and evidence do not change.” Notley made two important observations about the pipeline. She noted that provinces don’t have the right to negate projects that have received federal approval and that providing such provincial rights would damage Canada’s overall national interest. But there’s still another reason why the Kinder Morgan pipeline (and several other proposed pipelines) should be approved: to protect human health and the environment. In 2015, the Fraser Institute analyzed data from the Transpor tat ion Sa fety Boa rd a nd Transport Canada, to assess the relative safety of moving oil by pipeline versus moving that same quantity by rail. The researchers found that while both modes of transport are overwhelmingly safe, delivering more than 99 per cent of product to market without accident, pipelines were somewhat safer than rail. Specifically, pipelines were found to be 4.5 times less likely to have an accident or incident

than rail transport. Moreover, 70 per cent of pipeline spills are very small, releasing less than one cubic metre of oil. And pipeline spills mostly occur at facilities - only 17 per cent of pipeline occurrences took place in the actual line pipe. As for tankers off BC, the Fraser Institute noted in a separate study that tanker safety has improved vastly while oil shipped by tanker has increased markedly. There has been no major oil spill in Canadian waters in 20 years. Clearly, while all transport mo d e s a re ne e d e d a nd w i l l continue to be used, the decision about which mode to use (after accounting for safety) should be more about economics and less about environmental superstition. Pipelines aren’t only safer for moving oil, they’re up to three times cheaper. Other studies have shown moving oil by pipeline is also safer for people - fewer workers are injured when moving oil by pipeline than by rail.

Whether you agree or disagree with their climate policies, you have to respect the strong resolve shown by Trudeau and Notley in advancing this pipeline project, particularly in the face of strong opposition from their own side of the political spectrum. Of cou rse, they not on ly should, they basically have to - both have staked their reputations, at home and internationally, on the idea that Canada’s implementation of stringent greenhouse gas policies would allow pipelines to be built and Canada’s oil resources to capture full value on hungry markets outside of the glutted U.S. If nothing else, for the sake of showing the world (and its investors) that Canada can still manage to build important national infrastructure, the PM and premier should stay the course. Kenneth Green is senior director of the Centre for Natural Resource Studies at the Fraser Institute.

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JULY 2017

LIQUID CAPITAL: LENDER’S PHILOSOPHY GEARED TO NEEDS OF BUSINESS

partner Stephen Ison, opened Liquid Capital West Coast Financing Corp. office in early 2016. “We compliment bank financing. The difference between the bank and us is the business model. T he bank is primarily financial statement based,

looking at the past, whereas we focus on the assets and current situation. As asset-based lenders we have different ways to be creative and flexible,” she said. From its inception the firm’s business model has been tailored to work with small,

med iu m a nd emerg i ng m iddle-market businesses, providing the resources, expertise and service capabilities of a much larger financial services company. This unique approach has allowed Liquid Capital to provide unmatched client service that is personal, reliable and scalable. Being responsive to changing conditions is a key to operating a modern business, but sometimes a firm can be profitable based on the work completed or products sold but lean in terms of cash f low. To access those intangible but still legitimate assets Liquid Capital can provide a company financing based on its current accounts receivable – essentially functioning as a form of collection agency. This is just one of many innovative approaches to business financing that has set Liquid Capital apart. “We have spent a lot of time teaching clients about these

Acquiring Beanstream in 2015 Bambora only recently completed rebranding itself under its new name, but not before being recognized by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce as its 2016 Business of the Year (40+ employees). “W hen the company entered the Chamber competition it was still known as Beanstream, funny enough only two days after we received the award we became Bambora. So now we’ll have to enter under our new name,” he joked. Bambora’s North American division is helmed by Weatherston and by its Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Ryan Stewart. Currently operating with a staff of about 70, the company has a number of distinct departments i nclud i ng sa les, customer service and technology infrastructure, which equips Bambora with the necessary talents to fulfill its planned future expansion.

“Our focus has always been small and medium sized business. We prov ide a ra nge of services and products that can be tailored to the needs of any sized enterprise. Much of our business occurs through integrated partners who have a product they’re selling but are in need of payment processing,

so obviously we help there,” Weatherston said. Part of Bambora’s future expansion includes the opening of a satellite office in Toronto to better serve the Central Canada marketplace. “That’s very exciting for us. I like that we’re doing it this way, having our headquarters in Victoria

Firm Created To Look After The Capital Needs Of Small To Medium Sized Businesses

ICTORIA – From a single person entity to an internationa l cor poration, capital is the lifeblood of any business. Like hematologists for commerce, Victoria’s Liquid Capital West Coast Financing Corp. uses its expertise on a daily basis to ensure that business has the resources it needs to operate and prosper. “We specialize in financing working capital, which is like oxygen to a business,” explained Rebekah Hutchison, a Principal with Liquid Capital. Created to help compa n ies secure the funding required to operate, grow and to realize ongoing opportunities Hutchison, along with her life and business

BAMBORA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

provider of this rapidly expanding form of financial service. “You can look at us as being the person in the middle between e-commerce companies that employ e-commerce shopping carts and the banks on t he ot her side. We operate between those two entities to facilitate payments and electronic money transfers,” Weatherston said. Based in Victoria, Bambora North America, expanding on the groundwork developed by its predecessor Beanstream, currently process 25 per cent of all e-commerce payments in Canada, and envisions expanding on that success while furthering its impact on the vast A merica n ma rketplace. T he company currently looks after the payment needs of more than 30,000 customers.

Stephen Ison and Rebekah Hutchison are the two Principals of Victoria’s Liquid Capital West Coast Financing Corp.

different tools, approaches that are not well known in British Columbia but are common elsewhere,” Ison explained. “Purchase Order Financing is one example, a program that would be very beneficial for a firm suddenly needing to expand its production due to a large order. As long as we can be confident that the contracts are legitimate we will buy the order, they will arrange shipment, and we will collect payment (all from the background) and just send them their margin minus our fee. With a program like this we can fulfill an order that otherwise wouldn’t have happened.” A business resource, a conduit to innovative funding solutions for small business, Liquid Capital was created to support the entrepreneurial spirit, and business is looking good. To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www. lcwestcoastfinancing.com and a satellite office in Toronto which is the reverse of what normally happens. But we have a larger number of customers in the Greater Toronto area that we want to serve even better,” he said. To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www. bambora.com

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