Business Examiner Victoria - June, 2018 by Business Examiner Media Group

» WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

JUNE 2018

– PAGE 11

SAANICHTON Eurocraft Marble & Granite has been serving clients for more than a quarter century

Victoria

WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA

PAGE 26

VICTORIA Bauco Access Panel Solutions celebrates its 20th anniversary

Comfort Keepers Brings Award-Winning Health Care to Victoria Homes

Victoria Franchise Recognized for Excellence In Private Home Care

PAGE 8

INDEX West Shore

Saanich Peninsula

Greater Victoria

Who is Suing Whom 30 Movers and Shakers 31 Opinion 34 Contact us: 1-866-758-2684

OUR 30TH YEAR

IC T OR I A - Com for t Keepers Victoria is putt i ng t he ca re i n home

care. T h e c o m p a n y, s t a r te d b y Brecon Gage, has been serving the area for about five years, work i ng pri ma ri ly w ith the elderly, providing the assistance they need to live as safely and independently as possible. The Comfort Keepers brand began in 1997, and now boasts almost 600 franchised offices in Canada, the United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Among the many franchises in Canada, Comfort Keepers Victoria stands out, ranking first in Employee Satisfaction and first in Employee Retention in a 2017 nationwide survey. I n the sa me yea r, Com fort Keepers became Victoria’s only privately a nd loca l ly ow ned home care company to become SEE COMFORT KEEPERS | PAGE 24

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Retro-Chic Hotel Zed Bringing Rebel Styling to Tofino Fun And Funky Flash Is A Trademark Of The Unique Hotel Zed Brand BY VALORIE LENNOX

ofino is about to be Zedified, which couldn’t happen in a more appropriate location. In early May, Hotel Zed acquired Jamie’s Rainforest Inn. Known for its retro-chic hotels

1.800.663.3923

From left to right, Brecon Gage, Owner; Chloe Hale, Admin Assistant/Scheduling Coordinator; Rebecca Lypkie, Operations Manager; Suzanne Tonna, LPN, Client Care Manager; Alex Irwin, HR Manager

in Victoria and Kelowna, this creative and funky division of the Accent Inn chain is already dreaming up ideas for its new location. Already on the list are a vint a ge shut t leb u s a nd rot a r y dial telephones but for a place as special as Tofino, the group

i s pl a n n i n g to ‘ta ke it up a notch’, says Hotel Zed President and CEO Mandy Farmer. “I think Tofino and Hotel Zed are a match made in heaven,” Farmer said, adding that she suspects the Tofino vibe was what first inspired the Hotel Zed concept. Fo r t h e s u m m e r J a m i e ’s

Rainforest Inn will continue to operate under the current name with transformation into the newest Hotel Zed slated to start in autumn 2018. “Each Hotel Zed has its own personality and unique SEE HOTEL ZED | PAGE 28

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JUNE 2018

VICTORIA

Farming in BC Goes High Tech

Selected by City of Victoria

Farmers and food processors in British Columbia will have $14 million in federal and provincial government support over the next five years, to help them develop new products and processes that will support food production in BC. BC farmers are already using computerized sensors, drones and wireless technology to monitor the growth and condition of their crops and livestock. They are also experimenting with new varieties of traditional crops and growing experimental ones, such as quinoa, wasabi and tea. The Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program encourages entrepreneurs and tech-leaders in BC by supporting projects that advance innovation and competitiveness, including: ▪ investments in applied science for major sector commodities; ▪ improved support for minor sector commodities and emerging/transformative areas including agri-tech; ▪ enhanced efforts in clean growth, environment and climate change; ▪ accelerating the growth of the sector, particularly in the agrifood and value-added food processing sectors; ▪ strengthening knowledge transfer and adoption. The program will run for the duration of the five-year Canadian Agriculture Partnership. The partnership is a federal-provincial agreement that includes $2 billion in cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories, and $1 billion for federal programs and services through March 2023.

Vecima Networks Inc., an experienced designer and manufacturer of innovative network technology solutions, announced its Telematics division has secured a long-term partnership with the City of Victoria for its fleet management solution, Nero Global Tracking. “We selected Vecima’s Nero Global Tracking solution for their in-depth knowledge of municipal requirements and their exceptional customer serv ice,” sa id Ed Robertson, A ssista nt Director, Public Works for the City of Victoria. “With Vecima, we feel they have the right technology today and understand our needs for a long-term partnership as our requirements evolve in the future.” Nero Global Tracking helps businesses and municipalities increase visibility into their fleet management operations. With its real-time reporting capabilities, it reduces corporate risk, increases safety and security, and improves operational efficiency. The Nero Global Tracking solution is a technology-agnostic platform which allows for easy adoption of new customer requirements and flexibility to integrate with best-of-breed technology from third party vendors. Nero Global Tracking’s open Application Programming Interface (API) allows users to have complete control over the data generated from their GPS system. In addition, PathView, a recent map-based winter operations upgrade, is targeted to municipal government needs. Lindsay Ryerson, Vice-President and General Manager of Vecima’s Telematics division stated, “We’re honoured to have been selected by the City of Victoria. It’s further validation of our world-class solution for municipal governments and a testimony that we have the right combination of service and technology.”

BC Catalyst Paper Enters Into Agreement To Sell U.S. Mills Catalyst Paper announced that it has entered into a Sales and Purchase Agreement with ND Paper LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Dragons Paper Ltd., a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listed company, for the sale of Catalyst’s U.S. operations for US$175 million. Upon the closing of this transaction, ND Paper will acquire Catalyst’s Rumford, Maine and Biron, Wisconsin mills along with the associated staff at the company’s U.S. operations center in Dayton, Ohio. Catalyst has agreed to provide transition support services to ND Paper to assist with the development of certain operational and administrative functions required for the two U.S. mills. “This transaction allows Catalyst to repay a significant portion of our debt and focus on our British Columbia operations,” said Ned Dwyer, Catalyst President and CEO. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter upon the favourable vote of Catalyst’s shareholders, with a meeting of shareholders scheduled for June 11, 2018. Catalyst is headquartered in Richmond and has operations on Vancouver Island. It has been ranked by Corporate Knights magazine for the 10th consecutive year as one of the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada.

VICTORIA Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Announced The Board of the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame announced the names of the athletes, officials and builders who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. The 2018 inductees will be honoured at the annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner scheduled for Saturday, October 27 at the Westin Bear Mountain. Four athletes will be inducted – Dave Calder (Rowing), Rich Harden (Baseball), Alison Murdoch (Golf) and Deb Whitten (Field Hockey). Ca ld er wa s a prol i f ic rower w it h achievements that included winning nine World Cup medals and a silver medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Harden, a product of Layritz Little League, played for the Oakland A’s and the Chicago Cubs and is famously known for his ‘immaculate inning’ in 2008 with the Cubs. Murdoch captured many international gol f i ng awa rds a f ter she joi ned the Victoria G ol f Club i n 1998, i ncludi ng fou r Ca nad ia n Sen ior Women’s SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

NEWS UPDATE

JUNE 2018

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Ch a mpion s h ip s, fo u r I r i s h Senior Women’s Open Championships, and the British Senior Women’s Open Championship. Whitten, a goaltender for the UVic Vikettes and the Canadian National Field Hockey team, is a silver medallist in the Pan A merica n Ga mes (1991) a nd played in two World Cups and the 1992 Olympic Games. In addition, three-time Olympic sw i m mer Ron Jacks w i l l be honoured in the coaching category for services to swimming, and Ian Lamplugh in the official’s category for baseball. Jacks is PacificCoast Swimming’s Director of Swimming and one of very few coaches who has trained able-bodied swimmers, swimmers with a disability and open water swimmers to podium finishes. Lamplugh is BC’s most heralded umpire and a pioneer in his field, havi n g worked over 200 M ajor League games from 2000-2003, in addition to umpiring in the Pacific Coast League as well as overseas in Taiwan and the Caribbean.

VICTORIA Viking Air Rebuilds Waterbombers Viking Air will hire over 200 workers as the aircraft manufacturing company begins a new program to rebuild firefighting water bombers. The company i s col l aborat i ng w it h si ster company Longview Aviation Asset Management of Calgary to launch the Viking CL-415EAF conversion program. Longview will hire 150 technical and support staff at their Calgary facilities, where 11 CL215 aerial-firefighting aircraft ow ned by t he compa ny w i l l u ndergo mod i fication usi ng V i k i n g- s u p p l i e d c o n v e rsion kits. To support the development of the kits, Viking has h i red 50 employees a nd launched a recruitment campaign to hire an additional 50 at their Victoria International Airport location. Vi k i ng w i l l rei nstate thei r Viking Academy paid-training program to provide successful applicants with the technical training required for the positions. Additionally, Longview and Viking are working with post-secondary institutions to develop tech nologies and provide training assistance in support of the program. The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology has been engaged for personnel training in Alberta while Viking is developing partnerships with companies participating in the British Columbia Technology Super Cluster Initiative.

Viking is examining a $ 4 00-m i l l ion prog ra m a nnounced last year to rebuild the newer CL-415 water bomber in Calgary and at its facilities in Victoria. The company has already manufactured over 200 Series 400 Twin Otter planes and owns the rights and plants to all the de Havilland aircraft.

VICTORIA Province Supports Recovery Community The Province of British Columbia announced it will provide $4.7-million in funding to Our Place Society for the recovery-based program at 94 Talcott Road in View Royal. The plan is to transform the former Choices Transitional Shelter location into a struct u red t herap eut ic recover y community. As part of the program, residents would come to the peer-led program through the court system or following a detox program and would stay at the facility for a two-year period, where they would focus on sobriety and addiction recovery. There will be no drugs and alcohol consumption allowed on the property and tenants will be unable to come and go as they please. T he goal is to ensure graduates of the program are in control of their addiction, have a place to live, work, and the life skills necessary to participate in the community. T he format is based on the San Patrignano youth recovery community in Italy, where over 1,300 residents are learning life lessons and the skills necessary to allow them to move on with their lives. The community will begin accepting male clients from 2019 to 2020 for 12-24 months at a time. The municipality of View Royal still must sign off on the deal, which requires the passing of a bylaw which requires first and second reading, as well as a public hearing. T he faci l ity is ex pected to start renovations as early as this summer to open in the fall. Our Place will lease the property from BC Housing, who will cover the property taxes for up to three years and additional funding of $300,000.

single location. Construction on the building is underway next to the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE). T he faci l ity h a s received $43.5-million from the provincial and federal governments while the Camosun College Foundation has planned to raise an addition $5-million from community and industry donors. Once completed, the building will be a four-storey building with a total area of roughly 8,300-square-metres, providing space for around 1,000 students. The building will also feature the latest health care technologies and learning strategies. The new facility is designed to be environmentally sustainable by including material designed to minimize heat loss and lower air conditioning requirements to decrease energy consumption. The facility is scheduled to open in 2019.

VICTORIA Greater Victoria as a Finalist in Canada’s Smart Cities T he va lue of col laboration was evident as Greater Victoria edged out more than 126 cities across Canada to be named one of 10 finalists in Infrastructure

Canada’s Smart Cities Challenge competition in the $10 million prize category. The win awards South Island Prosperity Project (SIPP) with $250,000 in federal funds to further develop a proposal to compete for a $10 million prize. The announcement was made at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference in Halifax. The Smart South Island Prosperity Project submission was selected over other submissions by BC communities including Na n a i m o, Ca m p b e l l R ive r, Langford, Kelowna, Penticton, and Abbotsford. “Being shortlisted for this significant opportunity to bring $10 million in funding to our region is validation of the power of public and private collaboration. Even two years ago, before achieving this level of regional collaboration, this concept wouldn’t have been possible. The possibilities now are endless,” says South Island Prosperity Project CEO Emilie de Rosenroll. In 2017, the Government of Canada announced the Smart Cities Challenge, a competition designed to inspire communities to submit their best strategies and plans for improving the lives of local residents through the use of i n novation, data, and connected technology. The South Island Prosperity Project submitted their proposal

3 in April on behalf of its regional stakeholders—including 10 local governments, five First Nations, three post-secondary institutions, seven industry associations and non-profits, and 17 major employers. SIPP also engaged feedback from over fifty active businesses, non-profit, academic, and govern ment pa r ticipa nts i n various committees, held dozens of information sessions, and engaged over 600 citizens in public symposiums. The local proposal includes three initiatives designed to address citizen wellbeing and economic resilience with more convenient, diversified, and s u sta i n able t ra n sp or tat ion solutions to leverage what is commonly known as ‘smart’ technology and data. The full p ro p o s a l c a n b e v i e w e d a t Smartsouthisland.ca.

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VICTORIA Construction Underway on Health Training Facility Construction is underway on the new health education centre at the Interurban campus of Camosun College. The building first announced in January 2017 will house 18 health science programs, including nursing, in a

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JUNE 2018

TOURISM VICTORIA’S ECONOMIC IMPACT

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s part of Tourism Week in Canada (May 27 – June 2), Tourism Victoria released a new economic impact of tourism study for the Greater Victoria region. The tourism industry has a long and successful history in Greater Victoria. However, it was seven years since an economic analysis of the industry in the region had been completed. The tourism industry contributes directly to the employment and economic growth of the region through activities and operations of firms providing products and services to tourists and is therefore a significant source of economic development for Greater Victoria, the province of British Columbia (BC) and beyond. Here are a few highlights:

• The economic impact of tourism in Greater Victoria in 2016 was $2.3B. It was $1.9B in 2011. • The Greater Victoria tourism industry has 22,300 employees. It was 19,000 in 2011. • In 2016, according to Stats Can, the direct spend from overnight and same-day visitors were $1.3B. • Tourism generated $376M in taxes for all levels of government in 2016. The information corroborates recent underlying statistical trends in the Greater Victoria tourism industry. The tourism industry in Greater Victoria is coming off a stellar 2017 and continues to show strong numbers in 2018. The 2017 numbers show average hotel room rate, BC Ferries Route 1 (Tsawassen-Swartz Bay) vehicle and passenger traffic, cruise ship arrivals and Victoria Airport passengers all increasing from 2016. Mostly notably, Victoria Conference Centre delegate days were 26,761 for the end of March 2018, compared to 9,704 for the same period last year. The year to date average daily hotel room rate (ADR) is $137.89 for the end of March 2018, compared to $124.12 for

the same period in 2017. Year to date revenue per available room (RevPAR) is $87.33 for the end of March 2018, compared to $79.46 for the same period in 2017. Numbers for BC Ferries Route 1 traffic and Victoria Airport passengers are also up. These indicators generally have been on an upward trajectory for the past four-to-six years as well. Moving forward, Tourism Victoria’s strategic focus will be to continue to grow the industry in the region – but in a sustainable manner. There will be a focus on highlighting careers in tourism as fun and rewarding, encouraging the next generation to pursue opportunities in an incredibly varied field. Another focus will be increasing visitation in the shoulder and off-seasons, including conferences. The increased conference delegate day numbers shows there has been some early success in executing this strategy. The report can be found at the Tourism Victoria website at www.tourismvictoria. com. Paul Nursey is the President and CEO of Tourism Victoria.

CHAMBERS: MAKING CONNECTIONS

WEST SHORE JULIE LAWLOR

ne of the favourite parts of my job is m a k i n g c on ne ctions – between people, to information and to new or different ideas. I find it particularly fulfilling to make individual connections between people. Sometimes that is through a face to face introduction or an e-mail. Another way we connect people is by offering networking events, both large and small. In May we held our first ever “Patio Mob” on the Rooftop Patio at The Met located at the Four Points by Sheraton in Langford. Members and guests were able to informally network while bringing business to a fellow member, and I rather

suspect we have not seen the last of this type of event! In April I had the opportunity to make connections in an entirely different way. In the company of a small group of Chamber Executives and Directors from across North America, I went on a 7-day tour of China courtesy of Citslinc. Over shared meals I was able to learn all sorts of things about other Chambers and businesses – from rural Ontario to upstate New York, and from Portland, Oregon to Mobil, Alabama. Side by side with this, I had the opportunity to trek up the Great Wall, take a walking tour through the Forbidden City, stroll around the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lingering Garden in Suzhou and take on the sights and sounds of the Shanghai Bazaar. Simultaneously with sightseeing and shopping was the chance to learn more about China today and experience the warmth of its citizens. I came away with a whole new appreciation of both ancient and modern China. In pa rtnersh ip w ith Citslinc and our member

Expedia CruiseShipCenters, the WestShore Chamber is putting together an April 2019 trip to China which will include everyth i ng I’ve mentioned above plus the terracotta warriors. A travel company focusing on tours of China, Citslinc specialises in running trips for North American Chambers of Commerce and their members. While this is a sightseeing trip, Citslinc can also arrange an evening business conference so that business owners make direct contact with their Chinese counterparts. If you’re interested in finding out more, please join me on June 6th at 5:30 pm, when we’ll be holding an information session at the Expedia CruiseShipCenters West Shore office. You can RSVP by contacting me on 250-478-1130 or at jlawlor@westshore.bc.ca Julie Lawlor is the Execut ive Di rector at t he WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at jlawlor@ westshore.bc.ca

SAANICH PENINSULA

JUNE 2018

OUR ECONOMY IS DELIVERED BY TRUCK

SAANICH PENINSULA DENNY WARNER

ou likely have not given much thought to how the items you buy arrived at the store. Almost 90 per cent of all consumer goods (by weight) in Canada are moved, for at least a portion of their journey, by truck. On Vancouver Island that number is much closer to 100 per cent as we rely, almost exclusively, on trucks to deliver our food, fuel, and other consumer goods. The trucking industry has grown by more than 30 per cent in the last 10 years. According to ICBC insurance data, approximately 1000 new heavy duty commercial trucks are added to BC’s roads each year. There are two issues that are going to materially change the way goods are transported in this country. First, by 2020, trucks and buses will be

required to be fitted with Electronic Logging Devices. This is an important safety initiative and it will have significant impact on communities which will need to be prepared to host trucks and drivers with appropriate space and amenities when they park for their mandated rest periods. Companies are in desperate need of employees. Currently 93 per cent of their drivers are men. Women are interested in the relatively high-paying driving jobs but the lack of safe rest spaces with facilities is a true barrier to employment in trucking for most women. The second issue is an increasing awareness by the trucking industry that they need to become more green. Approximately 14 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions are produced by motor carriers. Tesla is producing an electric semi-truck but the maximum distance it can travel is 800 km before charging and that distance can only be attained on flat terrain with limited load weight. Nikola plans to have its hydrogen trucks in production by 2020. Likely, the trucks of the future will be hydrogen/electric hybrids which will necessitate installation of fueling and charging stations. For the more than 30 years our Information Centre has been in operation on the Pat Bay Highway, the site has acted as a de facto truck stop. Drivers stop here to transfer loads, take bathroom and smoke

breaks, to teach new drivers, and to rest overnight. We don’t encourage all of these activities because their trucks take a toll on our curbs and pavement and the drivers are not always responsible users of the garbage cans and washrooms. Accommodating trucks and drivers is a strain on our Chamber’s limited financial resources. Our signs indicate we don’t allow overnight parking and occasionally the RCMP tell drivers they have to leave, but because they have nowhere else to go, there are several trucks parked here every night. Given our economic reliance on trucks and the goods they deliver, it is in our best interest to be more welcoming by providing safe, rest places with appropriate amenities. For many years we have considered how we could make better use of our site on the highway and potentially make use of the property behind us to accommodate trucks. We will continue consultations with the BC Trucking Association and initiate discussions with BC Ferries, Ministry of Transportation and our own MLA, Adam Olsen in our efforts to provide support for the trucking industry. Our economic well-being depends on it. Denny Warner is the Executive Director at the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at execdir@peninsulachamber.ca

Construction to Begin on Joint Support Ships Seaspan Shipyards and the Government of Canada announced that work will begin soon on the Joint Support Ships (JSS) for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). These purpose-built vessels will play a vital role in meeting Canada’s domestic and international obligations and will fully meet the operational needs of the RCN. By starting construction on JSS, Seaspan is able to realize continuous production and ensure further progress is made on its National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) commitments. This move demonstrates the value of the long-term, strategic partnership established between the Government of Canada and Seaspan under the NSS. “Seaspan Shipyards is a proud partner to the Government of Canada under the National Shipbuilding Strategy,” said Brian Carter, President & CEO of Seaspan Shipyards. “By starting construction on the Joint Support Ships, our company is supporting the operational needs of the Royal Canadian

Navy and the long-term success of Canada’s shipbuilding industry.” With the Seaspan-built JSS, Canada’s women and men in uniform will be able to support our nation’s role in the world. These ships will deliver fuel and other vital supplies to vessels at sea, offer medical and dental services, and provide facilities for helicopter and equipment repair. JSS will be built to highest standard and with modern equipment, propulsion redundancy, a 30+ year life expectancy and the ability to stand in ha rm’s way i f requ i red. The JSS possess the ability to support Canadian Naval Task Groups and operations with Canada’s allies for both military and humanitarian missions and will be fully staffed by the RCN. To d a t e , S e a s p a n h a s $600M in committed cont racts a nd en ga ged approximately 500 Canadian firms thanks to its NSS-related work alone. At its peak, work on JSS will contribute towards sustaining an estimated 1,000 jobs at Seaspan.

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GREATER VICTORIA

JUNE 2018

FACETIME WITH PREMIER FOR BUSINESS LEADERS CHAMBER EVENTS FOR JUNE

GREATER VICTORIA CATHERINE HOLT

hen BC Premier John Horgan broke the news about a potential solution to Greater Victoria’s commuter woes, he chose to do so at a lunch hosted on May 15 by our region’s five chambers of commerce. T he event, orga n i zed by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, was attended by 400 community leaders who understand the value of hearing firsthand from the Premier. Mr. Horgan announced that the Province wants to use the E&N corridor for moving people, and that there is no business case for using rail. He said he was committed to making this happen during government’s current term and suggested the rightof-way will be used for a rapid bus line. Judging by the applause, this was welcome news for many of the folks packed into Crystal Garden. Clearly there is a consensus that someth i ng needs to be done to ease

• Thursday, June 14 P ro d i g y G ro u p Ju n e Mingle 5 to 7 pm @ United Way of Greater Victoria (201 - 633 Courtney St.) • Thursday, June 21 June Business Mixer 5 to 7 pm @ Coast c o m m u te r t ra f f i c b etween the West Shore and downtown Victoria. The decision to move past discussions about using trains on this corridor is, naturally, a tough pill for folks who have long advocated for the return of rail. A fe w d ay s a f te r o u r lu ncheon, t he P rem ier said using the tracks for a train became much less feasible when the City of Victoria chose to terminate the track in Vic West rather than spend money on running rail lines across the new Johnson Street Bridge. But that was a different mayor and council and a different government than we have today. We applaud the decision to find a solution to traffic congestion, and using the E&N corridor makes sense. Running commuter buses along the corridor sounds like an affordable and flexible alternative to a train, though we still need to see the numbers behind the proposal. We also need a schedule for when we can actually expect to see this concept in action. A s M L A f o r

Victoria & Marina by APA (146 Kingston St.) • Wednesday, June 27 11:15 am to 1 pm Governor of the Bank of Canada Luncheon @ Crystal Gardens (720 Douglas St.) Langford-Juan de Fuca, the Premier knows this issue is a longtime concer n for com muters i n Greater Victoria. In fact, the need for a reg iona l approach to transportation planning is a pillar of The Chamber’s Advocacy Priorities. Facetime with this level of government is never easy to achieve, and we are grateful Premier Horgan, Finance Minister Carole James and Education Minister Rob Fleming (also local MLAs) were able to join us. Chambers of commerce like to call ourselves the “voice of business.” We are mandated by our members to listen to their collective concerns and find ways to ensure government decision makers hear them too. At the lunch with the Premier, we heard from him but he also heard from us. Catherine Holt is the CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at CEO@ victoriachamber.ca, www. victoriachamber.ca

Greater Victoria Advocacy Priorities Passed At BC Chamber AGM

Victoria: 905 Fort St., Victoria BC V8V 3K3 Tel: 250-385-9786 Sidney: 2455 Beacon Ave., Sidney BC V8L 1X7 Tel: 250-656-1233

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ICTORIA – Ever wonder how politicians decide on policies that directly affect your wallet? For governments to make smart decisions, they need to hear from the people who will be most affected by proposed changes. That’s why the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce identifies advocacy priorities important to our region. And it’s why we work with like-minded chambers from across the province to craft resolutions that will help government policy makers write better legislation and regulations. Last weekend, seven resolutions that the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce identified as important to our region were adopted at the BC Chamber of Commerce AGM in Kamloops. A total of 54 resolutions were passed after passionate debate and discussion. These policies will become part of the BC Chamber’s advocacy agenda. For a complete list, go to bcchamber. org.

Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce supported policy resolutions • Minimizing undue negative impacts of the Employer Health Tax; • Stabilizing Minimum Wage Hikes; • Using Purchasing Power and Supplier Diversity to Drive Growth and Prosperity; • Abandoned Vessels: Improving Oversight and Accountability; • Providing Salary and Wage Consistency for Fire and Police Collective Agreements in BC’s Labour Market; • Protecting Funding for Tourism Marketing Programs and Projects; • Stop the Harmful Tax Changes on Private Corporations. The Chamber worked with partners across the province on these seven policy resolutions that were voted on at the BC Chamber of Commerce AGM in Kamloops, May 24-26.

JUNE 2018

QUALITY THE NUMBER ONE GOAL OF GOOD GRADE PLUMBING Residential Plumbing Company Specializes In Custom Homes & Boiler Systems

IC T OR I A – For Jason Dupuis the Owner and Operator of Good Grade Plumbing and Gas Company Limited, quality isn’t a good thing, it’s the only thing! “That’s it really. It’s all about doing the job right the first time. Sure, sometimes problems happen anyway no matter how hard you try, but if they do we deal with them right away. That’s the way it’s always been and always will be,” Dupuis explained. While today the owner of one of the Greater Victoria area’s leading residential plumbing firms, Dupuis’ career could have gone in any number of different directions. The one constant in a career path that led to the launch of Good Grade Plumbing is a solid work ethic and a focus on exemplary customer service that never wavers regardless of the task or the challenge. “I g uess I really developed my focus on doing good work by growing up in Port Alberni. I graduated from high school in 1996 and in that town at that time, work was hard to come by, especially for some young guy right out of school. So if you were lucky enough to even find a job you did your very best to keep it. That experience has been a big part of me and my attitude toward work ever since,” he explained. While it’s often the case that individuals who have decided to follow a career in the building trades come from families already in that profession, that wasn’t the situation for Dupuis. His parents had moved to the Alberni Valley before he was born to work at one of the region’s pulp mills, a vocation he had no particular interest in pursuing. Originally he considered a variety of different career choices – from being a butcher to entering the carpentry field.

Good Grade Plumbing’s team works with customers from all across the Greater Victoria region “Really no one in my family was working in the trades, but growing up in school, a lot of my friends ended up becoming trades guys. We all worked together; it just sort of happened. I’ve always been a hands-on sort of person and liked to work with my hands. Growing up when I did, you basically took whatever job you could, including labour jobs. But I took a liking to it and it’s still very fulfilling,” he said. Dupuis’ professional career began when he started working as an apprentice butcher, a vocation he continued to pursue after deciding to move to Edmonton. “Like every kid when I got out of school I had all sorts of things I wanted to do, from opening a business to becoming a professional athlete, but I didn’t really have a plan. The recession had hit Vancouver Island pretty hard during the ‘90’s so that’s when I first got into butchering, first here and later I moved to Alberta where there were more opportunities,” Dupuis recalled. Studying plumbing at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Dupuis credits the technical institution for much of his knowledge and enthusiasm for his chosen profession. Always having the goal of operating his own firm, it was while attending NAIT that the business name Good Grade Plumbing first emerged, thanks to a casual comment made during a lunch break. “Water moves thanks to gravity, so you have to have a ‘good grade’ for water to flow. One day during

Third Year plumbing school, a bunch of us were sitting around the lunchroom talking about what we would name our future companies. Someone said they were going to name theirs ‘Good Grade’ as the journeymen were always telling him he needs good grade on the pipe,” he recalled. “When I moved back to Victoria with my wife, who I met out there, and wanted to start my business, the Good Grade name had stuck with me. So, when we were setting up the company, I found the name hadn’t been taken so we adopted it.” Today a Red Seal Plumber and a Certified gas fitter in both British Columbia and in Alberta, Dupuis’s skills and expertise are such that in 2015 he was invited to Ottawa to participate in the writing of the Red Seal ticket requirements for the current Canadian Gas Code, as gas fitting is in the process of becoming a Red Seal trade. “They brought gas fitters from every province to participate, so it was very interesting to see and to help play a part in helping to draft the new Canadian Code,” he said. Moving to Victoria in 2008 to work with another plumbing firm, Dupuis’ long range goal was always to be self-employed, so within six months of moving back to Vancouver Island, he and his wife and business partner Regan Copeland officially launched Good Grade Plumbing and Gas – initially as a home-based business. “So there we were, starting up Good Grade right when the recession of 2008 hit. Fortunately, my wife had

a good job to help cover the mortgage and I was able to focus on the company. It was an interesting few years,” he said. Initially a one man company, Good Grade Plumbing and Gas quickly grew over the next few years, with its ranks rising and shrinking as the growing pains of operating a corporate start-up impacted the enterprise’s development. Initially tackling virtually every assignment that came its way, Good Grade ultimately became a successful plumbing and gas installation and service company by focusing on what it enjoyed doing most - working with residential clients on both major renovation projects and during new construction. “While we have done some commercial work as we’ve grown and we’re taking more on, we have no goal of ever going into the towers. That’s a game I really don’t want to play.” Now based at Unit A, 4087 Quadra Street, in the city’s downtown core (a location the company has only been occupying for about a year), today’s Good Grade has a staff count of about a dozen, and maintains a fleet of about eight service vehicles to work with clients all across the Capital Region. I n add it ion to work i ng on new home construction a nd home renovations, Good Grade

Plumbing and Gas specializes in creating custom bathrooms and kitchens as well as home heating systems and show-stopping mechanical rooms. The company also has the training and expertise to work on air to water heat pumps, high efficiency boilers, on-demand hot water systems, oil-fired to gas furnace conversions and much more. With an origin based on a solid work ethic and founded on the belief that half measures are never acceptable regardless of the size of the job, Good Grade Plumbing and Gas has survived the hard times and prospered in the good times by sticking to its core belief that good enough is never good enough! “We’ve grown by being able to locate our niche and by then giving it everything we can. While we certainly want to see further growth and expansion in the years ahead, there is no real desire to expand to other areas, or to open other offices. We want to grow in a logical way, as the city we serve continues to grow,” he said. The one thing that will never change for the company is the ongoing desire to do the job right every time - after all the company’s motto really does say it all, Good Grade Plumbing and Gas: “Doing it right, the first time, even when no-one is looking.” www.goodgradeplumbing.com

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JUNE 2018

BAUCO ACCESS PANEL SOLUTIONS CELEBRATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY Unique Access Panel Design Makes It Suitable For Wide Range Of Applications

ICTORIA – Bauco Access Panel Solutions Inc. (Bauco) is celebrating a significant milestone in the company’s history. Twenty years ago in May 1998, the very first access panel manufactured by Bauco in Victoria was shipped and delivered to a local construction site. On May 25th company president Walter Riemann hosted a reception to celebrate with employees, vendors and friends on reaching this 20th anniversary. Riemann thanked the nearly 50 staff for their contributions, both in production and in their extraordinary customer service, without which the company would not be where it is today. Access panels (also called access doors) are used in buildings to gain access to electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment inside walls and ceilings. The innovative aspect of Bauco’s door models for gypsum board is that they are almost invisible when installed. The Bauco brand has become an architect favourite for

Design, Prototype and Manufacturing

www.victoryspring.ca Congratulations to Bauco for 20 years of innovation

hotels, condos and high-end institutional buildings across the continent. That first shipment in 1998 was destined for a downtown Victoria jobsite. Today, shipments are just as likely to go to job sites in Miami, New York City, Houston, Vancouver or Anchorage. Most applications are in high-rise construction projects where gypsum board and steel stud partitions and suspended ceilings fill out the concrete substructure. Bauco was founded by Walter Riemann in Thunder Bay, Ontario in 1995 and relocated to Victoria in 1996. From the very beginning Bauco’s stated mission has been to develop innovative products based on European design principles for the construction industry in North America. This is reflected in the name which stems from the German verb bauen = to build. “Early market research had shown that traditionally access panels are seen as problematic by designers and building owners. Either they are unsightly relative to other finishes, or they are the wrong size for the application, or they might transmit equipment noise and vibrations. This business was built to provide solutions to these problems,” he said. Bauco’s headquarters, located in the Esquimalt Industrial Park along Devonshire Road since 2004, houses a state-of-the-art 13,000 square foot production facility as well as 3,000 square feet of office space for customer service, logistics, development and administration. As a Vancouver Island based manufacturer and distributor, Bauco relies on a wide range of local vendors for materials and services. “We work where we live in Esquimalt or at least close by in Greater Victoria” says Riemann. “Given our wide market reach, the Island may not be the best location for a manufacturing plant, but our company’s staff are a critical resource and most of us live right in town or close to it. So staying here makes a lot of sense for the company and contributes to making Bauco a desirable place

Bauco Access Panel Solutions’ team has a lot to celebrate, as the firm just marked its 20th anniversary in business to work.” In 2016 the growing business volume demanded that they expand their operations, it made sense to take over a building right across the street from its original location, rather than moving to the suburbs. Extensive renovations turned the warehouse into a custom-tailored production and distribution centre and created office spaces that allowed staff to continue collaborative approach to solving their customers’ problems. Teams of customer service specialists and product technicians regularly gather to discuss the best approach to unusual applications for access panels, delivery timelines, construction documentation and contract administration. All team members follow a proven process in taking care of the clients. Last year, the business cut to size about 8,500 sheets of gypsum board on its two saws, none of them with a knife. In addition to gypsum board, in a typical year, the staff now process over 100,000 pounds of aluminum, 3,000 sheets of plywood, 14,000 cardboard boxes, and millions of fasteners. Any scraps and waste products left over are recycled whenever possible. All of this production is aided by the office staff which every year process thousands

Bauco currently has a staff count of about 50, working from the company’s production facility located in Esquimalt of individual estimates, orders, shipping manifests and technical information requests. There are two main product lines: Bauco plus and Bauco plus II which are access doors with gypsum board inlays that are sold in standard and custom sizes. In addition Bauco also resells some simpler sheet metal access doors. These European-designed doors (Bauco softline) offer clean lines and are popular in some regions. Besides offering all models in a range of standard sizes, Bauco’s

product and service specialists also work with architects, contractors and homeowners to create solutions and custom-sized doors for specific building design challenges. “Ongoing product development and exceptional service have yielded high levels of customer satisfaction and business growth for Bauco, leaving this Victoria business poised for continued success in the future,” Riemann stated. www.accesspanelsolutions.com

Congratulations on

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20 Successful Years! 202 | 1007 Fort Street, Victoria, BC V8V 3K5 T 250.383.3838 F 250.385.4324

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JUNE 2018

Realtors Urging Province To Stop New Regulations Set For June 15

ith the province s e t to i m p o s e punitive and restrictive regulations on the real estate industry June 15, the newly formed BC Real Estate Alliance (REAL BC) has been speaking up, in hopes of persuading the government to stop and re-think the process. Ian Thompson, Managing Broker of RE/MAX of Nanaimo, notes the government’s decision to end self regulation for the industry and stop Limited Dual Agency, where one agent, w ith consent of both parties, represents both the buyer a nd the sel ler is send i ng shock wave s t h rou g hout t he industry. “The goal was supposed to be more protection for the consumer,” says Thompson. “The result, however, is the government is taking away the right for a public to decide who will represent them. “In addition in the rush to get t hese new r u les started there will be no formal training on the new

rules for the 23,000 realtors prior to June 15. We are told all realtors will be trained by October. So we are going to start using the new rules with no training? How does this protect the consumer?” T hompson adds that Finance Minister Carole James recently appointed a lawyer to review how real estate is regulated in BC. “T his is because the Superintendent and the Real Estate Council are now in Supreme Court to see who actually has final authority,” he adds. “This why the Alliance is calling for a complete stop to the proposed new rules. Only the Finance Minister can do this.” T he cessation of dua l agency and the appointment of a non-industry superintendent are the latest causes for concern for re a ltors, who h ave watched the province implement a punitive tax to discourage Foreign Buyers, and are still threatening to move ahead with a “speculators’ tax” on

h o m e s i n a re a s w h i c h feature the costliest real estate in BC. In order to determine the level of public support for our positions, REAL BC engaged the publ ic research and polling firm Insights West to conduct a public opinion survey of over 1,000 respondents from every region of BC to gain their feedback on some the issues at stake w ith the proposed ru le changes, and have submitted those findings to the government. They are in stark contrast to the province’s own survey of 169 individuals, from which they concocted their plan. For more information, visit www.therealbc.ca

PROTECTION??? The Real Estate Services Act is legislation designed to protect the rights of consumers. Then why is the legislation taking away a consumers right to choose? As of June 15th, consumers are losing their right to choose who they want to represent them in the sale or purchase of real estate. If you list your home with your trusted REALTOR®, they will not be able to introduce a buyer to your property. If your REALTOR® of choice has had any previous dealings or knowledge of the other party to a real estate transaction, they must recuse themselves in the middle of the transaction. You will need to find a replacement REALTOR®. These are just a few of the complications resulting from the new rules proposed by the Minister of Finance. The Real Estate Alliance of BC believes consumers are best protected and empowered by their ability to make independent and informed decisions. Ultimately by retaining the right to work with the Real Estate professional of their choice. The Real Estate Alliance of British Columbia is a grassroots coalition of BC consumers and real estate Professionals. Visit www.therealbc.ca for more information on the loss of your rights in BC. Email: Hon. Carol James - Minister of Finance FIN.Minister@gov.bc.ca

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JUNE 2018

CARPENTERS’ UNION WORKING TO INCREASE ITS FEMALE MEMBERSHIP BCRCC Female Members Working On Projects / Developments All Across BC

ICTORIA – There is no more iconic representative of the modern construction industry than a carpenter. A key player in any construction job, residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial carpenters are quite literally building our modern world. For more than 130 years, working on behalf of its membership, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America has successf u l ly strived to improve the working conditions, workplace safety and wages of its members. Represented in British Columbia by the BC Regional Council of Carpenters (BCRCC), the mission of the union continues to be as relevant today as it was more than a century ago – but the one thing that has changed is qu ite l itera l ly the face of the industry. As in all aspects of modern Canadian society, women are increasingly taking on more dominant and leadership roles, including in the construction sector. “Today in British Columbia our union has approximately 3,000 members in a variety of fields. In Victoria our membership is made up primarily of carpenters, but we also represent scaffolders who make up a large segment of our membership in the Interior and the Lower Mainland. We also represent ceiling installers and floorlayers,” explained the BCRCC’s Communications Lead Travis Tambone. “Women of course are working in all of those areas today and are increasingly recognizing the benefits of a career in carpentry but at present only make up a small per centage of our membership. To help encourage women to take this career path, the Council has set a growth goal that would see it double its female membership numbers within the next two to three years.” In 21st-century Canada, women represent more than half of its

BC Regional Council of Carpenters members take time out during the recent International Women’s Day breakfast workforce but only between five and seven per cent of all workers in the construction industry. Increasing that number, showcasing the industry as a valid and attainable career for young people of any gender, is part of the BCRCC’s ongoing mandate. “I’m actively involved in prov id i ng prog ra ms promoti ng the i ndustry for women a nd others and have worked extensively with the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) and Camosun College,” explained Carpenter’s Union Representative Jordan Kersch. “VICA runs the programs, and they then help to get people new to the industry placed in jobs after I’ve made a presentation to them. It’s pretty fair to say that a five-per cent-female involvement on the jobsite provincially would be an accurate number, so obviously there is a lot of room for growth. There is a tremendous opportunity for women in all areas of the construction industry.” T h e s e c u r e j o b s , b e tter-than-average wages and benefits, as well as the numerous other support systems championed by the BCRCC are some of the reasons the construction trades have helped

attract new members of both genders. In essence, by following a construction career path, a young person can enter into a professional level job without the crushing burden of a large student loan so common in other higher-paying vocations. For union member Rachelle Premack, a n employee w ith Campbell Construction, the changing face of the industry is an important evolution of the sector, and it makes it more reflective of Canadian society as a whole. “I keep meeting new women all of the time through VICA’s Women in Construction (WiC) group. Whenever I attend the meetings, I keep seeing new faces, new union faces, and it’s great,” she explained. “A few of us just came back f rom t he Ca r p enters I nternationa l T ra i n i ng Center i n Las Vegas, which was a terrific learning experience. It’s important for women in construction to get to know each other, to share their experiences and to build comradery. Even if we’re working on different sites, it’s nice to know that there are other women out there doing what I’m doing. It helps to show that we’re part of something much bigger.”

For Yuka Yoshino, a u n ion member and second-year apprentice carpenter with Farmer Construction, while it’s not always easy to be one of the few women on a worksite, the potential rewards and satisfaction of seeing a job done well, all while securing a future for women and their families, are well worth it. “It’s fair to say that construction isn’t necessarily the most politically correct business out there, but from a personal level, any commentary or ribbing I received when I first started out didn’t bother me. I definitely didn’t play the ‘female card’ – expecting any special treatment. I went to be part of the crew and worked just as hard, or maybe even harder, as the men I worked with. That’s how you get the job done,” she explained. “I’m an apprentice carpenter a nd went to work ex pecti ng to be treated as an apprentice, not as a ‘fema le’ apprentice carpenter. I think for any new person on the jobsite they have to have a thick skin anyway, regardless of gender. That’s what the world of work is like. I’m just part of the team.” For Yoshino, special treatment based on pre-conceptions or

gender has no place in the modern workplace, an attitude she has never been afraid to express. “I don’t want to be treated special just because I’m a female. If I feel I am being treated differently than everyone else I’ll let them know. I’ll tell the boss. I’m here to be a carpenter – period,” she said. With roots stretching back more than a century, but with its vision squarely on the evolvi ng f utu re before it, t he BC Regional Council of Carpenters anticipates continuing to support, attract, and encourage its membership of either gender for decades to come. Fo r H a m i s h S te w a r t , t h e BCRCC’s Executive Secretary Treasurer (EST), increasing the organization’s female membership is not only important for his union’s future success, it is vital for the nation as a whole as it moves forward. Canada will need its unionized carpenters, male and female, if it hopes to build the best possible future for the country. To him it’s all about the skill, professionalism, and dedication of the individual. “Gender doesn’t determine one’s attitude, talent, willingness to learn, or ability to lead,” he said. www.bcrcc.ca

BC Regional Council of Carpenters

JUNE 2018

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION Women In Construction: Increasingly Important Segment Looming Labour Shortfalls an Unprecedented Opportunity For Women BY DAVID HOLMES

ack i n a si mpler, more sex i s t t i me a bra nd of ciga rettes was created with the sole goal of attracting additional female smokers. The catch-phrase of this women-friendly brand has now become an advertising icon: You’ve Come A Long Way Baby! W h i le l au g h ably d ated a nd about as politically correct as a men’s locker room, there are some parts of the sentiment that continue to ring true. Women have come a long way, especially in the world of work, with women earning leadership roles in virtually every sector, vocation and profession. Even one of the last real bastions of m a le-dom i na nce, Ca nad a’s construction industry is slowly recognizing that for it to survive and thrive in the coming decades, a fresh influx of talent and labour is necessary, with women i ncrea si ng ly ta k i ng on roles that would have been nearly unimaginable only a few SEE WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 13

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JUNE 2018

Women In Construction: Career Path With Extraordinary Potential VRBA Advocating For Increase In Female Construction Industry Participation

ICTORIA – The Victoria Residential Builders Association ( V R B A) h a s been the professional voice of the residential construction industry since 1940. On behalf of its membership, VRBA advocates for education, housing affordability, consumer protection, energy efficiency programs like Built Green, and a host of other key issues. VRBA’s 180 members include 100 builders, as well as designers, trades, suppliers and services. They are focused mostly on si n g le fa m i ly a nd sm a l l multi-family projects such as townhomes, although there are a number of condominium and commercial builders as well. Today the VRBA is also an active supporter of gender equality in the workplace as increasingly women are playing central roles in the construction sector. During a time when the overall workforce is aging and the industry is facing trade shortages, women have an unparalleled opportunity to create lucrative and long-lasting careers in a field traditionally viewed as a male bastion. “It’s important that our industry embraces a wide demographic reflecting society in general and that means strong representation by women,” says Todd Halaburda, President of VRBA. “We are fortunate to have three very capable women on VRBA’s Board of Directors - Jenny Martin, Jenny Martin Design, Lisa Dunsmuir, Step One Design and Ellie Sercombe, Limona Group – all of them CARE Award winners.” As a professional interior designer for the past dozen years, Jenny Martin has seen first-hand how the industry has been slow to include women in the sector, but she says progress is being made. “Interior design has always been a fairly female-driven part of the industry, and the people I routinely deal with who are

Ellie Sercombe is a member of the Board of Directors of the VRBA and an advocate for women in construction

Another VRBA Board Director, Jenny Martin, says more should be done to increase the industry’s female participation

Board Director Lisa Dunsmuir encourages people to not make judgements based solely on a person’s gender

male understand that,” says Martin. “However I do see more and more women on jobsites and being actively involved in the trades. So yes, there are definitely women out there, but it generally remains a male-dominated business.” Federal government statistics suggest that women make up approximately 54 per cent of the nation’s workforce, but perhaps only about five per cent of the construction industry. That disparity means for Martin that there is plenty of room for women to take on a much larger role in the future. M a r t i n s ay s, “ I t h i n k it’s very encouraging to see more women getting involved on the construction side of things but obviously we need to see much more of that happening. It all comes down to not being afraid to get involved. Women bring something special to a workplace, perhaps a sense of order or nurturing that wouldn’t be there otherwise which ultimately helps make the entire jobsite a better place.” Another member of VRBA’s Board of Directors, interior designer Lisa Dunsmuir echoed Martin’s assertion that the construction sector provides women

(and all young people) with an excellent career path – thanks to its lucrative nature and the ongoing need to replenish its employment ranks. “There is huge room to grow in construction, especially when you consider how many areas can be explored,” says Dunsmuir. “When you say the word construction, you’re not just talking about swinging a hammer. There is planning and design, site work, the project management side and of course the actual trades and physical construction. People are needed in all of these areas and women are increasingly taking that important first step and becoming part of the industry.” Dunsmuir says, “There is definitely disparity within the industry in terms of gender. As an interior designer I’m in an area that strongly favours women, but on the construction side it remains a male dominated area. Women working hands-on at the jobsites are still rare, but increasingly I’m seeing more. I think it’s especially important from the Board perspective that we do whatever we can to encourage change in the industry.” For D u n smu i r, workers of any gender should be graded and appreciated solely on their

“I think it’s especially important from the Board perspective that we do whatever we can to encourage change in the industry.” LISA DUNSMUIR BOARD DIRECTOR, VICTORIA RESIDENTIAL

performance, not by any preconceived notions based on their sex. “It shouldn’t matter in the slightest if the worker is a man or a woman. The only thing that should matter is how well they can do the job. Job skills and performance at the workplace should be the only criteria. I am really saddened if judgment is based on gender and hope that in the future people will champion respecting others for who they are, not because they represent any one group,” says Dunsmuir. VRBA Director Ellie Sercombe says she would also like to see more women in the trades and construction side of the industry. “We have just as much ability, if not more in some cases, and I am seeing signs that we are starting to move in that direction, especially during the last 5 years,” says Sercombe. “ I wo u ld l i ke to s e e more women in the trades and being builders if they have the interest, because they are equally capable of being successful.” Sercombe adds, “It’s like anything else, we just have to advocate and keep pushing to be a bigger part of the industry.” Casey Edge, Executive Director agrees. Edge says the key to success in the construction industry, whether a person is male or female, is a willingness to learn and a desire to do the job right. “To be successful in life, you have to be willing to work hard and pay your dues. It’s true for construction and it’s true for just about everything else,” says Edge. The opportunities are there. Edge reminds Canadians that “Home building is really one of the few remaining locally manufactured products. When you promote home building, you’re providing good-paying, skilled jobs for young people - both men and women - in every community across Canada.” www.vrba.ca

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WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

JUNE 2018

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

short decades ago. In formation compi led by t he federa l gover nment suggests that women comprise approximately 54 per cent of the nation’s workforce, but represent less tha n 10 per cent of Ca nad ia n constr uction industry employees – a statistic that ma ny say does not accurately reflect the workplace reality. “ I b el ieve t he s t at i stics include women who work in the office and in ad m i n istrative capacit ies i n t hose nu mb ers, and essentially lump all ticketed trades not just construction trades under the overa l l u mbrel la of construction. This would include persons such as hairdressers, which are certainly not part of construction,” explained Katy Fairley, a Director with the Canadian Construction Association (CAA). “If we were to drill down into those numbers, and from what I know through

Katy Fairley is on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Construction Association, and is a vice president with Kinetic Construction

“It’s not a problem you’re going to fix by looking at only 50 per cent of the population.” KATY FAIRLEY DIRECTOR, CANADIAN CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION

SEE WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 15

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JUNE 2018

MICHELLE MATTE INTERIORS PROVIDES CLIENTS UNIQUE DESIGN / BUILD PACKAGE

ICTORIA – Combining the creative talents of a multiaward winning interior designer with the practical skills of a general contractor and framer, have helped to make Michelle Matte, the owner and founder of Michelle Matte Interiors, the industry leader she is today. Working primarily for commercial clients and select residential customers, this leading interior designer has been providing her clientele with some of the most expansive lists of services in the industry for more than 20 years. Her clientele for Interior Design work range from sports celebrities, through to large national corporations. She and her team offer clients a unique design / build approach that can quite literally take a project from concept right through to completion. A big part of their success hinges on the fact that Michelle combines her hands-on construction knowledge and her training in interior design to help her clients realize their space. She has the skill to see the whole picture - analyzing space, function, aesthetics and the fine details while being attentive to costs. Matte’s interest in construction began at an early age. “It’s not that I was necessarily a tomboy, but I was always the kid who was obsessed with building tree forts and furniture, often taking them apart to redesign and build them. Each time it was a different design or theme” she recalls. “When I was in my mid-twenties (after traveling the globe) I worked in framing and general contracting, which has certainly helped to prepare me for the work that we do today.” Becoming a leader in interior design was never part of Matte’s original plan, but was something that happened serendipitously on its own. Once, when working on a few framing projects for a builder, Michelle was asked to take different clients to a custom kitchen showroom. It was here, after a few client meetings with the showroom’s owner, that she was complimented on her strong instinctive talents for interior design, an epiphany that would ultimately set her on an unplanned but successful course.

KeyNexus software company project is an excellent example of the company’s Interior Design and Construction Project Management package

The company’s work for Megson Fitzpatrick could only be described as innovative and fresh, another of the design / build projects “That set me on a new path. I decided to go to design school (at BCIT), where I was top of my class and found myself working in Vancouver on large penthouses, waterfront homes and redesigning heritage homes into multi-unit condo projects, some of the first in Kitsilano actually, all while I was still in school.” She solidified her transition from framer to interior designer in 1997 when she formally founded Michelle Matte Interiors. Flash forward 21 years to an expanding catalogue of commercial and residential customers, where Matte brings her creative energy and her practical hands-on knowledge to every job the company undertakes. In 2017 her husband John Wolfe became a partner in the firm, assisting in the role of overseeing the construction project management side of the company. “We have worked together in the industry in so many different capacities since we met over 20 years ago, that with the successful growth of the company, and John’s construction knowledge, it seemed like in an obvious and inevitable collaboration” Today, Michelle Matte Interiors is a boutique firm, with a team of seven fully certified and professional staff, five of which are female. “We are a pragmatic group with a ‘joie de vivre’ approach to

our work day,” she said. “Personally, I am all about efficiency and details, so I tend to be very direct when talking with people. On the other hand I am easy going in my one-on-one approach to people which translates into a happy and productive work environment that people like being a part of. This is super important to me- as they take ownership and pride in being part of our team which results in delivering a high quality product to our client.” In the context of women in construction, Matte considers herself more of an “Equalist” as any gender should be given equal opportunity and support in any field or pursuit. The Interior Design industry is predominantly women, but fully embraces men in the profession. For Matte it’s especially satisfying to see more women in construction, a sign that the industry just like the rest of Canada is changing, for better equality. “When I walk into a client’s office or home for the first time, as an Interior Designer, there is no judgement on my skill based on my gender. Unfortunately that is not always the case on the construction side. Occasionally new sub-trades will make negative stereotypical assumptions because I am a woman running the jobsite, but they find out quickly

Michelle Matte and her husband John Wolfe are partners in the firm Michelle Matte Interiors

“I am excited that more women have discovered how creative and rewarding the construction industry can be.” MICHELLE MATTE OWNER / FOUNDER, MICHELLE MATTE INTERIORS

that it isn’t my first project,” she stated. “The current generation is far more inclusive than when I started out, so I’m expecting that as we move forward, seeing women on the worksite won’t be such a novelty. When I first started framing, which wasn’t really all that long ago, you definitely had to prove yourself as a woman on the job. Today I often hear from

experienced journeymen in the industry, that the women in the trade are conscientious and detailed when on the job. It’s something I like to hear, as I believe women can and are bringing new energy, perspective and quality to construction, I am excited that more women have discovered how creative and rewarding the construction industry can be.” Referrals from past clients are definitely a driving force in Michelle Matte Interiors growing success in Victoria. “Our team is so dedicated to our clients, to create innovative and quality work environments. We love hearing that we exceeded expectations and how much our clients love their spaces. When the client moves in, we know they are proud to show it off and talk about us,” she said. Michelle Matte Interiors provides three key services in the Greater Victoria area; leasing, test-fit and preliminary project budgets, complete commercial Interior Design Service and the very popular Complete Interior Design and Construction Project Management Package – a comprehensive interior design, permit drawings, and construction project management turn-key service. “Why do our commercial and professional clients like using our concept to completion package? Really I think our company motto says it best: We take care of you so you can take care of growing your business.” states Matte. www.michellematteinteriors.com

Award Winning Commercial Interior Design and Construction Project Management. Concept to Completion. www.MichelleMatteInteriors.com 778.433.6504

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

JUNE 2018

The face of the Canadian construction industry is slowly changing as women are playing increasingly significant roles

Proud to support Women in Construction

Women are involved in all aspects of the construction industry, from design and supervision to frontline tradespersons

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

personal experience, the actual per centage of women directly working in the industry in an active role would likely be closer to five to seven per cent, so obviously there’s lots of room for improvement.” In addition to being a memb e r o f t h e C A A’s B o a r d o f Directors Fairley is a former member of the board with the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) and is currently the Vice-President of Business Development at Vancouver-based Kinetic Construction. Fairley says that despite there being a current gender imbalance in the construction industry, conscious efforts are being made to promote the sector as a positive career choice for young women just entering the working world. “The CAA at its annual conference held in March for the WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 17

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WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

JUNE 2018

CREATIVE

CREATIVE SPACIZ DESIGN STUDIO WAS FOUNDED IN 1993

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Tracey Lamoureux 28 years design experience • Interior Design • Technical Drafting • Colours & Finishes • Planning & Logistics Unit G, 661 Alpha Street, Victoria BC, V8Z 1B5

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Multi Award-Winning Designers Work For Residential & Commercial Clients

ICTORIA – As an award winning interior designer Tracey Lamoureux the Founder and Senior Designer at Victoria’s Spaciz Design Studio has seen a lot of changes occur in the construction industry since launching her career more than 25 years ago – but the one element of the sector that hasn’t changed is the need to offer a variety of services, approach every job as a professional and to provide a distinctive look for all our clients. “My team and I regularly work for both residential and commercial clients as well as with builders and developers – essentially all sectors of the market. Interior design is certainly one of the few areas in the construction industry that is dominated by women, but honestly I’ve generally always had positive experiences with construction teams and enjoyed being part of project problem solving, which is a big part of my job” she explained. “That said I am seeing more a nd more women ta k i ng on more active roles in the industry,

space that you have. Often it’s the simple changes that can make a big difference to how a room feels and functions,” she said. In addition to Lamoureux, the compact and focussed team at Creative Spaciz Design Studio includes Designer Carley Petillion, Designer Emily Fisher, and Designer Madison Leslie. All of whom share either in the business profits or bonus’s. She states, “If Spaciz is growing they all deserve to be growing along with us” Thanks to a creative background that includes millwork and her own home building projects Lamoureux has a thorough understanding of the construction process which proves invaluable when working with clients, builders and trades.\ “It does help to know the process and I enjoy working with builders and seeing the process through from concept to completion. We’re helping to create something that will be used and enjoyed for a long time and that has a satisfaction of its own,” she said. Creative, experienced and truly passionate about interior design, Creative Spaciz Design Studio has, as its website Mission statements states: Spaciz Designers aspire to avoid predictable, question existing standards, blend visual influences, listen with fortitude, and nudge you to go further. www.spaciz.com

NEW SAFETY DESIGNATIONS CREATED TO PRODUCE SAFER WORKSITES

Complete 10 compulsory and 2 elective courses

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including trade positions, which I think is super exciting and helps bring a balanced perspective to any project.” A graduate of the highly accredited Interior Design program from Mount Royal University in Calgary Alberta, Lamoureux has been the creative force behind a number of award winning projects over the years, including having garnered the Victoria Real Estate Board’s (VREB) Commercial Real Estate Award of Excellence and multiple CARE (Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence) awards from the Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA). Lamoureux and her all female staff has worked for clients all across Western Canada since the firm was launched in 1993 and have assembled over the years an extensive portfolio of projects that include exceptional single family homes, entire multi-family developments and numerous retail outlets. We call ourselves “The Broad Thinkers” says Lamoureux. “I love working directly with the clients, listening with fortitude to capture the vision they have, not just my own. It’s highly important to understand the limitations of the budget of course, but good design doesn’t have to be expensive. Interior design isn’t an elitist thing and it isn’t about spending a lot of money. In realty it’s all about making the best use of the interior

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BC Construction Safety Alliance Promoting Two Enhanced Health & Safety Initiatives

ICTORIA – A staple of Canadian worksites for decades is the presence of a trained and certified first aid attendant. Now a pair of enhanced health and safety designations promoted by the BC Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) could see the attendance of construction safety officers ideally become just as ubiquitous. The National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO™) and the National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA) designations are expansions of earlier programs designed to provide construction companies with a valuable resource to aid with the implementation and administration of their health and safety programs. “To achieve this designation recipients have to show proof of continued work in the industry, not merely the amount of training that they’ve taken. So I’d have to say that it is the most hands on designation for construction safety that can be attained in the industry,” explained Ammar Kavazovic, BCCSA’s NCSO™ Coordinator.

Samuel Livingstone was recently certified as a National Construction Safety Officer through the NCSO™ program, and will be putting his upgraded skills to work as the Health & Safety Advisor with Kenaidan Contracting Ltd. For Livingstone the training provided by the program will make his company a safer place to work. “The newly rebuilt NCSO™ designation is unique as it is a focused offering that is designed for people with existing construction skills, to build a company’s safety program and ensure ongoing continual improvement,” he said. “The NCSO™, as a national designation, is one that is recognized as demonstrating a level of competency. It is important to recognize that the NCSO™ of today is different from what it was a couple of years ago. Prior, the bar was set very low to get an NCSO™ designation, and those who held it did not have to do anything to maintain it.” The BCCSA is a not-for-profit association created to provide services to over 40,000 construction companies in the province, firms with a combined workforce of more than 180,000. The Association is funded by the construction sector, plus select aggregate and readymixed industry operators who pay the group through a portion of their WorkSafeBC annual assessments. www.bccsa.ca

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

JUNE 2018

First in Quality, Victoria’s Leading First in Service

HVAC Representative

Victoria’s Leading HVAC Representative Cheryl Hartman is the Chair of the Victoria chapter of VICA’s Women in Construction, a network for women working in the industry

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

very first time hosted a session add ressi ng t he topic of women in construction, where senior industry leaders discussed what they have been doing in their businesses to encourage a greater female involvement,” she said. “It should also be noted t h at t h e c u r rent c h a i r of the CA A is a woman, Zey Emir who is with Revay and Associates Ltd. Her ability to reach that

position is certainly ref lective of the cha nges that are occurring in the industry. Certainly there is a long way to go, but progress is definitely being made.” O r i g i n a l ly cre ated i n 20 01 a s t h e Con st r uction Sector Cou nci l, B u i l d Fo r c e C a n a d a i s a national industry-led org a n i z at ion c om m itted to working with the con s t r u ct ion i ndu s t r y to prov ide i n formation a nd resou rces to assist with its management of

workforce requirements. I n its recently released National Summary covering the years 2018 to 2027, BuildForce projected that the present skilled labour shortage that is impacting compa n ies across t he nation w i l l conti nue to get worse as older Canadian workers head into retirement. The organization has estimated that within the next decade as much as 21 per cent of the current SEE WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 18

Price Pressure Continues on Lower-Priced Housing in the Capital Regional District

total of 755 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this May, 25 per cent fewer than the 1,006 properties sold in May of last year, and a 2.5 per cent decrease from April 2018. The sales of condominiums were down 17.4 per cent from last year in May with 237 units sold. Sales of single family homes were down 23 per cent from 2017 with 406 sold this May. “It’s no surprise that our current market is very different than it was last year,” says Victoria Real Estate Board President Kyle Kerr. “Due to recent changes in mortgage qualification rules, many buyers’ purchasing power has been reduced. Unfortunately, in our area we have one third fewer single family homes for sale under $750,000 when compared to last year, so we’re seeing pressure from increased competition on a smaller number of homes, which is really pushing the under million-dollar market. We have a much larger inventory of

higher value homes this year. For listings priced at $1.5 million and above, the number of active listings is almost 50 per cent higher than last year at this time. Arguably, many of these properties may be listed due to new and incoming taxes from the provincial government. The Foreign Buyer Property Transfer Tax, the Speculation Tax, and the increased School Tax are putting pressure on those high value home owners. Unfortunately, these taxes are not resulting in what the government said it intends - to increase the availability of affordable housing.” There were a total of 2,394 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service at the end of May 2018, an increase of 19.6 per cent compared to the month of April and 26.3 per cent more than the 1,896 active listings for sale at the end of May 2017. “We’re in an interesting time here - we are seeing different levels of price pressure and price relief

in micro-climates of our area,” adds President Kerr. “You may find more flexibility if you are shopping for a multi-million-dollar estate in certain areas. You may be in for a competition if you’re shopping for a lower priced home or condominium. If you’re thinking of buying or selling, it’s a good idea to meet with a local realtor to understand how the current environment will affect you.” T he Mu lt iple L i s t i n g Service Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core in May 2017 was $820,800, while the benchmark value for the same home in May 2018 increased by 7 per cent to $878,100, higher than April’s value of $866,700. The MLS HPI benchmark value for a condominium in the Victoria Core area in May 2017 was $426,900, while the benchmark value for the same condominium in May 2018 increased by 15.7 per cent to $493,900, slightly lower than April’s value of $495,100.

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WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

JUNE 2018

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

Ca n ad i a n l ab ou r force w i l l leave the industry – creating a gap that can only be filled by actively recruiting and training the next generation of construction industry leaders now. Increasingly women are being viewed as one viable way to fill that looming staffing shortfall, but one that can only be filled by taking immediate action. In the summary of the BuildFo r c e C a n a d a r e p o r t , B i l l Ferreira the g roup’s Executive Director said the industry has to take steps to head off a potential labour crisis. “This

WESTERN INTERIOR DESIGN GROUP Sara Peddle, Ambre Fisher, Samantha Province

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A symbol of the changes occurring in the industry, Zey Emir is the current chair of the Canadian Construction Association

BuildForce Canada predicts that the construction industry will need to fill more than 277,000 vacancies by 2027

decade, Canada needs as many as 277,000 construction workers to meet labour demands and cou nter r isi ng ret i rements. With these challenges in mind, the industry will need to step up recruitment efforts and do all it can to encourage far more new Canadians, women, and Indigenous people to join Canada’s construction workforce,” he said. A good example of that effort

in action is the two Women in Construction (WiC) chapters that have been launched and supported by the Vancouver Island Construction Association. The groups, one in Victoria and the other based in Nanaimo, is a grassroots network created to promote and support female participation in the industry. Cheryl Hartman who is the Ch a i r of t he Victor ia g roup says the potential rewards of

a career in construction, from pure economics, to the range of skills and opportunities available make it the right choice for young men and for women just entering the workforce. “It’s not just the trades that are in need of new workers, it’s every aspect of the industry. 30 years ago women’s career options were l i m ited to becoming a teacher or a nurse or a mom, but today the options

are endless. It just takes the courage to try, and to not be discouraged, but the rewards are there if you’re willing to ta ke t he ch a nce. T he doors for women have now opened everywhere, so this is the time to step through,” she said. T he Ch ief Esti mator a nd a Project Manager with Brewis Electric Company Ltd . i n SEE WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION | PAGE 20

VANCOUVER ISLAND CHAPTER - THE INTERIOR DESIGNERS INSTITUTE OF BC

“Good Design Is Good Business”

Thomas John Watson Jr., Chairman and CEO of IBM, 1952 - 1971

Interior design is about more than just aesthetics. It's about Þnding creative design solutions for interior environments while supporting the health, safety and well-being of occupants and enhancing their quality of life - at work and at home. Designing or renovating an interior space often involves a signiÞcant investment of time, money, and eﬀort. Hiring a professional interior designer is the best way to ensure you get value for your investment.

As Registered Interior Designers we are are certiÞed with the National Council for Interior Design QualiÞcations, and are professional members of the Interior Designers Institute of BC and the Interior Designers of Canada. We plan space considering Building Code and Health, Safety & Welfare requirements; design lighting schemes; layout plumbing Þxtures; design custom millwork and furnishings; oﬀer complete speciÞcation packages of Þnishes, Þxtures and equipmentÉ all while coordinating our design work with architects, engineers and other building professionals on your project team.

We are a profession dedicated to creating meaningful spaces no matter where you live, work or play.

Visit us at designcan.ca for a listing of all Registered Interior Designers on Vancouver Island

and Þnd out what great design can do for your next project.

JUNE 2018

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

Amy Carr (Award Winner) Journeyperson, Sheet Metal Worker

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Amy Car Journeyperson, Sheet Metal Worker

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20 WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Victoria Hartman says pursuing a career in the construction industry is an excellent way for a young person to enter a lucrative field without carrying a large student debt that other vocations might require. “There is always going to be a need for the trades, if you enter this field you’ll always be able to find work and you’ll be able to do it without a boatload of debt. I’d recommend this for anyone,” she said. For Fairley, while progress has been made, and increasingly women are th in king of construction as a career path, the present small per centage of female involvement is an obvious sign that there’s still plenty of room for improvement. “There’s no escaping the fact that the older segment of our industry is leaving which creates a real potential for women. We’re now acutely feeling what a labour shortage does to construction and it’s not a problem you’re going to fix by looking at only 50 per cent of the population, you simply have to put it on the table for the other 50 per cent as well, make it an option and women will recognize it and take it,” she said. w w w.cca-acc.com & w w w. vicabc.ca

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION

JUNE 2018

Expanding Female Membership A Goal Of The MCABC

Mechanical Contractors Association of BC: Province’s Largest Trade Association By David Holmes

ICTORIA – The largest trade association in the province, the Mechanical Contractors Association of British Columbia (MCABC) is quite literally the official voice and advocate for the province’s mechanical sector. Originally founded in 1905, the MCABC currently has a membership that includes approximately 200 companies – firms directly responsible for employing thousands of workers around the province. “Our members look after plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and the fire protection components of a building. Our members essentially look after all of the guts of the building. I like to think of the electrical as the nervous system and we look after the guts,” explained the MCABC’s Executive Vice President Dana Taylor. As with most aspects of the construction industry in Canada, employment in the mechanical sector continues to be dominated by men, a trend that is slowly starting to change as women increasingly recognize the potential benefits of pursuing a mechanical systems career. “I really do think things are changing, but only incrementally

Mechanical contractors are the professionals who look after all of the internal systems found within buildings at present, however at five per cent of the workforce, it’s a number we’ve seen for a long time,” he said. “While the male to female employment ratio in the trades hasn’t changed much in recent years there’s been a definite change in the various support roles related to our sector, including project management, contract administration, estimating and design -essentially the softer side of the industry.” T he d em a nd i n g phy sic a l challenges of a mechanical career aside, Taylor admits that

workplace resistance to female participation in the industry is a factor. “We have low female participation in the trades and in construction generally, in large part because we are a male-dominated culture and we have to look at that. We need to identify the barriers which include issues of harassment. The hard physical work may be a part but add to that a hostile work environment, and ask what woman would want to work in such an industry?” he said. “Women have made more inroads from the management side

of things. There has definitely been some improvement in areas such as equipment handling. But not really in what you’d have to describe as the field work in the trades itself – so clearly that is an area where there certainly is plenty of room for improvement moving forward.” Construction work provides a good living to many who develop the trade skills, acquire the experience of supervision, and for some who go on to project management and eventual business ownership – women included! www.mcabc.org

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION NETWORK CELEBRATES FIFTH ANNIVERSARY VICA Organized Groups Created To Promote Construction Careers For Women

ANAIMO – The roots of the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) can be traced back more than a century, with its membership quite literally responsible for turning a wilderness into a prosperous and contributing part of British Columbia. Today, serving the institutional, commercial, industrial, civil, and multi-residential construction sectors on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and other coastal areas of British Columbia, VICA continues to be an advocate and champion for the Island’s construction industry. But like all parts of society the face of the construction industry in Canada is changing, with women playing increasingly important roles in all aspects of the sector - from ownership and managerial positions to frontline labourers working on jobsites across the nation. For Rory Kulmala, VICA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the increasingly important role women are playing in the workforce couldn’t come at a

better time as the sector is facing a pending labour shortage as the Baby Boomer generation heads into retirement. “Con s t r uct ion d r ive s approximately 8.6 per cent of British Columbia’s GDP and is ranked as the number one employer in our province’s Goods Sector. With such inertia within the construction industry, we predict that by 2026 we will be short over 14,000 jobs in our province alone. Nationally, the statistics are similar. There has never been a better time for women to enter the trades, and the proof is in the numbers,” he said. One way that VICA has helped to encourage women to consider a career in construction is through the organization of its highly successful Women in Construction (WiC) network, which only recently commemorated its fifth anniversary. With one chapter based in Nanaimo and a second in Victoria, WiC is a venue that allows female construction industry workers to meet, mingle, share ideas, and work out solutions in a positive and informative setting. “We have somewhere around 150 participants right now, with about 40 or so regularly turning out for our meetings, and new faces being seen all the time, which I find especially encouraging,” explained Tina Bos,

Chair of the WiC Nanaimo chapter. Working within the industry for the Herold Engineering group, Bos says a core mission of WiC is to provide education and information for women. “The goal is to educate people about construction as a career option, and inform them that this is a potentially lucrative path that women can and, frankly speaking, should take,” she said. “We encourage people everywhere to celebrate women in construction. We want to help elevate them and to essentially get more people interested in construction. It’s a great field and women shouldn’t be intimidated. If this is what you want then by all means just go for it – you won’t be disappointed.” For Kulmala the time is right for women to step up, fearlessly and take their place in this crucial segment of the nation’s economy. “I see women who have proven their ability to work in construction, demonstrating a level of competency and drive that is comparable to any man on site, in the office, and at the table,” he said. “Having a gender-biased opinion that women are not capable to meet the demands of construction is simply false; these women have proven their ability to succeed within any tradecraft that our industry offers.” www.vicabc.ca

JUNE 2018

BIG WHEEL BURGER WINNER OF BEST RESTAURANT AWARD Three-Outlet Chain Specializes In Producing Fast Food – Not Junk Food

ICTOR I A – W h i le it’s okay to call Big Wheel Burger’s menu items fast food, don’t ever let them hear you call it junk food! Inspired by the classic American style hamburger, this uniquely Victoria-based chain of three outlets was founded on the premise that handmade meals can be produced quickly without sacrificing quality or taste. “Today there a re th ree Big Wheel locations, with the first one having opened for business in 2011 within the Cook Street Village. We’re very excited about the response we’ve received so far, especially as we just recently won the Best Restaurant 2018 award at the Business Examiner’s Awards of Excellence competition,” Big Wheel’s co-owner Calen McNeil explained. Not merely an award-winning restaurant chain, Big W heel Burger has strived to be environmentally-friendly right from the outset, and in fact is recognized as Canada’s first carbon neutral fast food restaurant. Founded on the philosophy that sustainable food comes from more than just providing compostable containers and routinely carrying out recycling, Big Wheel Burger’s management and staff pride

Calen McNeil is the co-owner of Big Wheel Burger as well as Zambri’s Italian restaurant, both known for quality food

“It’s not junk food, our specialty is quality fast food and it is certainly catching on.” CALEN MCNEIL CO-OWNER, BIG WHEEL BURGER

themselves on helping to preserve the environment all while serving quality meals. Examples of some of Big Wheel’s focus on being a good corporate citizen includes the fact that 100 per cent of the packaging used by the chain is fully compostable, making for customer areas that are virtually trash free. In addition the restaurants are able to divert at least 90 per cent of its generated waste thanks to its ongoing

What it’s all about – Big Wheel Burger was created to produce its own quality take on the classic American cheeseburger efforts to recycle everything from soft plastics and cartons to Styrofoam – essentially everything that other restaurants typically throw out. Big W heel is a believer that local landfills can be kept from f i l l i ng up u n necessa r i ly by actively composting. This in turn aids the regional environment by helping to reduce the off-gassing of methane which is a potentially damaging (and foul smelling) greenhouse gas, a direct by-product of improperly disposed of organic waste. Big Wheel Burger wants to help the community by working to preserve the local environment. I n add it ion to its on goi n g commitment to environmental sensitivity, Big Wheel Burger

is also a multi-faceted community supporter. In addition to providing aid to various local events and activities the three restaurants are excellent sources of local employment, including paying its staff better than average wages and offering benefits not typically found in fast food restaurants. “The response from the public to the opening of our first restaurant was so positive that we opened our second location (Gateway Village) about two years ago, with our most recent outlet opening at the Westside Village last year,” McNeil said. Co-owned by Calen McNeil who also owns Zambri’s, the idea beh i nd Big W heel Bu rger is that there’s always room

in the marketplace for a good quality hamburger. Zambri’s opened for busi ness i n 1999 to tempt Victoria diners with a range of excellent quality Italian fare. That same philosophy of providing simple yet quality meals is an important part of the Big Wheel Burger business model. T he i n s pi rat ion wa s to go back to simple culinary roots. Just as Zambri’s offers simple Italian foods, Big Wheel Burger was envisioned to recreate the simple, classic American cheesebu rger u si ng qu a l ity fresh ingredients. In addition to basic burgers, cheese bu rgers, hot dogs, chicken burgers and fries Big Wheel features items designed to appeal to any palate, such as vega n bu rgers a nd even a selection of salads. Unlike with more traditional fast food outlets Big Wheel Burger locations are licensed, but are still the perfect place for comfortable family dining. “We recognized the need for a good fast food restaurant that wasn’t selling junk food, so certainly based on the response we’ve had so far it’s definitely not impossible that further Big Wheel Burger restaurants might be opened in the future,” he explained. “It’s not junk food, our specialty is quality fast food and it is certainly catching on. Good, simple, fast and always fresh, that’s the best way to describe t h e fo o d we p rov id e at B i g Wheel Burger.” www.bigwheelburger.com

Union Club Hosts Red-Eye Royal Wedding Viewing Over 100 Guests Attend 4 A.M. Ceremony Event

ICTORIA - Love was in the air, and the coffee was flowing. At 3-5 a.m. on Saturday, May 19th, over 100 enthusiasts gathered at the Union Club to celebrate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding. The event was brought to the Union Club by Ken Lane, president of the Monarchist League, and David Spence, of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Vancouver Island Chapter. “They came to us around November, saying they wanted to do a viewing, and we decided to do it,” says Tiffany Armstrong, Sales and Marketing Manager at the Union Club. “Over a hundred people showed up, so we were really happy with the attendance.” The event had a dress code, so guests showed up in full wedding attire, complete with dress hats for many of the women in attendance.There was a chef on duty who made a buffet style traditional English breakfast. “Everyone was wide awake,”

says Armstrong. “They all did great, and I was pleasantly surprised. Some of them had been here from as early as 2 a.m.” This event was one of the only live viewings of its kind in Canada, besides the Royal York in Toronto, who hosted a 7:00 AM viewing. “We felt really supported, which was lovely, and everybody had a great time,” says Armstrong. The Union Club was founded in 1879, and has been in its current 805 Gordon Street location since 1913. It’s a private member social club with various amenities including a dining room, fitness room, reading room, and a bar. “The Union Club is actually Victoria’s newest National Historic Site of Canada, which we’re really excited about,” says Armstrong. Inspired by the classic clubs of London, they are the only club of its kind in Victoria. “A lot of people don’t realize that over half of our membership is female, and the event was mostly

Guests showed up in full wedding attire, complete with dress hats for many of the women in attendance attended by females,” she says. This was the first event of this kind that the Union Club has hosted, and Armstrong was very happy with way the community

embraced the v iew i ng. “I shouldn’t have been so surprised because of our city’s ties to the UK,” she says. “It’s the last big royal wedding

until Prince George, and Harry was just na med the A mbassador for Youth for the Royal Family. There’s a lot to be excited about.”

JUNE 2018

HARTMAN BUSINESS MACHINES ROUTINELY SERVING CLIENTS ACROSS VANCOUVER ISLAND Victoria Company Specializes In Office Document Systems

ICTORIA – While the concept of a paperless office has been discussed for decades, the reality is that despite (or perhaps even because of) the introduction of modern business machines, paper documentation remains a vital part of virtually every functioning business. Serving that sector with the latest in office document systems, along with unmatched service and maintenance has put familyowned and operated Hartman Business Machines Ltd. at the forefront of this sector all across Vancouver Island. “Hartman Business Machines actually began 25 years ago, all the way back to 1993 in Kelowna, with Robert Hartman and Kathe Hartman the company’s founders, who are also my mother and father-in-law,” explained Hartman’s Vice President Troy Giles, who co-owns the operation with his wife Katelyn Giles. “A second generation family business, Hartman began with the two founders and one technician and grew from that point, eventually working with clients all across the Okanagan region. Originally a Panasonic business machines dealer the company later became a Kyocera dealership and eventually evolving into the Ricoh business machine dealership it is today.” In 2006 Robert Hartman purchased the assets of a Vancouver Island-based business machines dealership that had gone into receivership, which allowed him to more quickly establish a Hartman Business Machines presence on the Island. The company describes itself as a single source provider of business communication technology including digital copiers and printers (both black and white and colour) as well as

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The Hartman team (l to r) George Vladar, Brandon Leppan, Katie Giles, Troy Giles, Gary Bowen and Alex Cassel all aspects of corporate imaging, scanning, document management and Information Technology (IT) support. Hartman Business Machines deals in Ricoh office equipment and Neopost mailing solutions, offering a full range of sales and service for all of the systems it sells. In addition the company’s network specialists have the training and experience to ensure that all of the hardware or software it provides can be seamlessly integrated into their client’s business – ideally without interruptions or loss of productivity. Hartman Business Machines’ technical and sales team has literally decades of experience working with the latest in office equipment, a knowledge gained by supplying, supporting and selling multiple product lines over the years. Hartman’s team believes strongly that the current generation of systems it now sells and maintains is the best and most technologically advanced documentation systems ever offered, while also being the most cost effective to operate. “By purchasing an existing business network, rather than having to start building it from scratch, my father-in-law was

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able to jump-start Hartman right away, as an existing network of clients and systems was already in place,” Giles, who has been with the firm for the past 11 years, explained. “The terminology used when you acquire the assets of a firm that had gone into receivership is that you are purchasing a base. However with that base came residual issues related to the former firm, but over the years we’ve gone through that and have successfully added to our client base with new customers and new systems. With clients from Campbell River to Victoria Hartman Business Machines is definitely a Vancouver Island business now.” With a staff of about eight (including three service technicians) and located in a combination showroom and service centre at 3378 Tennyson Avenue in Victoria, Hartman Business Machines has built its ongoing success on delivering unmatched customer service at every stage of the process – from the initial sale to the ongoing maintenance of the systems, to ensuring that every component a client acquires works seamlessly within its existing network. “Customer satisfaction really is our highest priority. This means we consult with our customer to uncover their true business needs and then provide cutting edge solutions for both their existing and anticipated future demands,” Giles explained. “We then strive to keep our customers happy and efficient by providing the very highest level of service. Decisions and accountability to our customers is possible because we are a local company with our head office based right here in Victoria.” Beginning his career with Hartman Business Machines at its Kelowna operation, there’s a definite romantic flavour to Giles’ involvement with the firm. Meeting his future wife and business partner while on vacation in Europe,

the pair had a chance encounter in Venice that blossomed into a whirlwind romance and eventually, after their return to Canada into marriage. Coming with her to Canada in 2007 (Giles is Australian) he went to work in the family business as a salesman and even for a time lived in his future in-laws basement as he adjusted to his new role in his newly adopted country. “I was obviously very lucky, to be embraced by both family and business at the same time. It has been a great decision on my part and I’m actually just in the final stages of getting my Canadian citizenship so I’m nearly a Canadian in every sense now,” he said. An experienced salesman prior to coming to Canada, Giles was able to quickly adapt to his new nation and distinctive product line. Thanks in part to a background that included computer science and accounting in his native Australia, he has helped to turn what was essentially a startup venture into a leading regional business machines sales and service centre. In addition to business machines Hartman Business Machines is also an authorized Neopost (mailing machines) dealership, working with clients across the Victoria area to assist them with all of their daily postal needs. A new and expanding part of the operation is Hartman Business Machines’ IT services, working with businesses to ensure systems operate efficiently and seamlessly. As interest in this service increases, Giles anticipates that this expanding range of service will become an increasingly important part of the company’s overall workload. In 2009 the company founders Robert and Kathe Hartman sold their original Kelowna operation, making the Victoria branch the firm’s sole outlet. Giles had actually remained in Kelowna working with the firm’s new owners for a time before moving to Victoria to take over the operation of the

local outlet. “At one point Rob was operating both stores, the one in Kelowna and the Victoria operation. But he found he was spending a lot of time going back and forth between them. Eventually it simply made more sense to sell the Kelowna store and to focus on Victoria. While he’s not really retired and his presence is certainly still being felt, increasingly the founders are becoming less active in the day to day operations of the business,” he said. One key to the success of Hartman Business Machines has always been its focus on providing exemplary customer service, a level of care Giles is very proud of. “If something is not going right for the customer I can’t focus properly – that’s how important good customer service is to me,” Giles said. “We’ll never leave a customer in the lurch if they’re having a problem. For example one Sunday morning I received a call from the SPCA here in Victoria saying they had run out of toner. So I went down immediately and got them some to help keep them running. That’s the sort of steps we’ll take to keep our clients operating. We’re nothing without our customers and by providing quality service we hope to keep them as our customers.” For the future, Hartman Business Machines anticipates continuing to grow by adding to its existing client base, offering the latest in office documentation systems, by expanding its range of IT related services and by consistently providing a level of customer service that goes above and beyond the client’s expectations. For Giles, working as he is with businesses all across Vancouver Island, he’s confident the need for his firm’s product lines will continue to be in demand – despite the warnings of the paperless office advocates. “Since the first day I walked into an office I’ve been told about the looming paperless office. But here I am 11 or 12 years on and paper continues to be vital. There is something tangible about holding and working with a document. It may come someday, but certainly not for the foreseeable future. Until it does Hartman Business Machines will be there to provide the systems business needs to function and to look their best,” he said. “The systems today are faster, the colours are truer and more vibrant and the costs of producing documents continue to go down. We’re here to work directly with businesses and to help businesses succeed. It’s a very exciting time and the new technology just keeps on getting better.” www.hartmanbusiness.com

JUNE 2018

Qualicum Virtual Reality Designers Turning Heads Cloudhead Games Shakes Up the Entertainment World from Vancouver Island Headquarters BY ROBERT MACDONALD

“We were responsible

for a number of industry

UALICUM BEACH - Software company Cloudhead Games is driving a new entertainment revolution. The company has set up shop in Qualicum Beach, where they create software and entertainment experiences for emerging Virtual Reality technology. Den ny a nd T racey Unger co-founded the company five years ago, but it’s only now that the Virtual Reality (VR) industry has a significant foothold in the entertainment market. Denny Unger’s fascination with Virtual Reality began around 1992, when he had his first experience with Virtuality, a line of VR gaming machines. “Overall, it was a bad first experience with VR, but I recognized that it was a really promising technology,” says Unger. “I was in my early 20s, and since then, I’ve always kept one foot in the water with VR.” Following this experience, Unger would put together headsets and displays in his garage, constantly experimenting with this new technology. “My fascination led me to a messaging forum community, where

Denise Barber Partner- CPA,CA

firsts that have since been adopted as best practices in VR development.” DENNY UNGER COUDHEAD GAMES CO-FOUNDER

we would discuss strategies for VR Headsets,” he says. “It was all very experimental at the time.” Du ri ng th is period, Den ny formed a friendship with Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus VR and designer of the Oculus Rift a virtual reality console. Luckey’s company was purchased for US$3 Billion by Facebook in 2014. Because of connections like these, Unger has developed relationships with the biggest players in the VR industry, an asset that points toward a promising future for his company. A s the new V R tech nolog y was emerging, Unger decided to take his small team from World Works Games (founded by Unger in 2002) and launch the first ever VR game for the new generation

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of VR systems. This game, eventually titled Call of the Starseed, started as a successful Kickstarter campaign in the spring of 2013. “We discovered very early one that we had to tackle some problems with the hardware,” says Unger. “Because of this, we were responsible for a number of industry firsts that have since been adopted as best practices in VR development.” VR Comfort Mode, or “Snapturns” software was created by Cloudhead in 2014, and has become the industry standard for dealing with one of VR’s earliest problems: nausea. Through studying strategies dancers use to compat rotational disorientation, Cloudhead found found a way around the issue, and their technology has since been adopted industry wide. Cloudhead has developed several other solutions, including Blink Locomotion (also known as “Teleportation”), that have laid the foundation for the eventual launch of inaugural release, Call of the Starseed. “We had to invent solutions and standards before we could even build a game,” says Unger.

“We had to rebuild our product several times as the technology itself improved. Our first title was bundled with the HTC Vive and garnered both critical and commercial success.” How did such a significant player in the VR industry end up in Qualicum Beach? “I had a business prior to Cloudhead. My girlfriend (now wife) Tracey and I were living in Leduc, Alberta, and all of our sales were online,” says Unger. “We eventually asked ourselves ‘why are we living here?’ and moved to BC.” After a couple of years in Vancouver, they decided to move to the Island fto raise a family, eventually settling on Qualicum. “Sof twa re development i s stressful and hectic, so when you can step outside your door and be so close to natural beauty, it makes the job a lot easier,” he says. Si nce settl i ng i n the a rea, Cloudhead has attracted many other like-minded programmers who like the Island pace, and want to settle down with their families. From this location, Unger can focus on developing for the entertainment systems of the future. “The world of VR is incredibly broad,” says Unger. “There are

a lot of challenges as we move to mass adoption, but it’s clear that this industry is just getting started in a powerful way.” For Cloudhead, the first five years of VR game design involved a hard learning curve as their team had to figure out the best ways to take advantage of the new medium. “It took longer than anybody wanted it to, but now that the hardest questions have been answered, we’ve got a lot of momentum,” says Unger. “As a studio, because we took the risk early on, we’ve become a significant influencer in the VR space. It’s an interesting position to be in with the contrast of small island life at our doorstep.” According to Unger, the tipping point for VR is generally expected in around 2020. Cloudhead Games has forged key relationships with HTC, Oculus, and Valve, which are the main players in the industry, and they are almost at a point where the initial drawbacks of VR systems have been addressed. As the industry approaches this tipping point, Cloudhead Games stands ready to ride the wave of this ground-breaking technology. www.cloudheadgames.com

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JUNE 2018

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Accredited with Exemplary Standing through Accreditation Canada. This accreditation indicates that the company is meet i ng t he h ig hest standards in health care, with policies in place that ensure safe, quality care to clients, open communication with staff, and free professional development programs to keep the staff up to date on the most current health care practices. L a st Novemb er, t hey were recognized by the Better Business Bureau for t he t h i rd ye a r i n a row, with a Torch Award for Business Ethics & Integrity in the Health and Wellness Category. This season of success culminated in Comfort Keepers Victoria winning a Vancouver Island Business Excellence Award in early 2018 for Health Care Company of the Year. “This recognition was incredible,” says Gage. “I’m very proud of ou r te a m . T h at’s why a n d how we win awards: because of our caregivers and management staff. We can accomplish great things because we’ve surrounded ourselves with great people.” Gage sta rted to th i n k ab out gett i ng i nto t he business after several of his family members needed home care assistance. “We were frustrated with our experience in the industry, and knew there

was a better way to do it,” he says. “About seven or eight years ago, we started to look into starting our business and did some market research. We started Comfort Keepers Victoria a couple years after that.” This important health care company is steadily growing as they continue to meet and exceed some of the highest industry standards. Comfort Keepers Victoria offers th ree ma in tiers of service. The first, called “homemaking and companionship” involves caregivers providing assistance with tasks such as housekeeping, driving, organizing activities, or meal preparation. The second tier, “personal care” offers assistance with important tasks like showering, toileting, medication management, and dementia care. “24-hour care,” the third tier, is typically reserved for cl ients w ith severe health challenges like hip replacement, advanced dementia, or for those in a palliative stage of life. While Comfort Keepers Victoria was winning a string of awards and recognition, they were continuing to improve their services with several innovative changes. T h roughout 2017, the compa ny i nt roduced a new or ientat ion program. Caregivers meeting a client for the first time would have another caregiver on site to provide orientation with said

client. This helped clients feel much more comfortable as they worked with new caregivers. In the same year, they added E-Learning courses on over 250 health-related subjects that were given free to all caregivers. This is helping Comfort Keepers Victoria employees offer the best possible care to their clients. The business is continuing to grow, thanks in part to a lot of referrals from other clients and new marketing initiatives. This growth is also due to high levels of employee satisfaction, and a willingness to offer services that many other health companies won’t. Comfort Keepers Victoria has a local 24/7 answering service to meet sudden health crises. If a client has an accident or passes away, one of their managers will be on site within an hour, even if the incident occurs outside of working hours or on the weekend. “O u r pla n for the f uture is to improve a little bit every day,” says Gage. “We don’t want to grow so much that we become impersonal. T his business is all about relationship and trust, so we can on ly be a s good a s ou r caregivers. “Ou r goa l is to be the best home care company i n Victoria, the best i n BC, and the best in Canada. That’s where we’re heading.” www.victoria.comfortkeepers.ca

JUNE 2018

Aged To Perfection: Riot Brewing Takes Gold In World Brewing Competition Chemainus Micro-Brewery Racking Up National And International Awards

World beaters Riot Brewing coowners Aly Tomlin and Ralf Rosenke display the company’s gold and bronze medals, earned at the World Beer Cup championships on May 3 BY VAL LENNOX

HEMAINUS - It was seven years in the making, but when Aly Tomlin, Ralf Rosenke, and Morgan Moreira decanted their Riot Brewing micro-brewery in November 2016, they were ready to take on the world. Except they didn’t know it. Sure, they entered the Business Examiner’s Excellence in the food production category but didn’t attend those awards. Yes, they sent a three of their unique microbrewed beers to the biennial 2018 World Beer Cup competition in Nashville Tennessee, but the tight budget for their fledging business demanded that they stay home. So on May 3 they watched the delayed live feed of the event from Music City Centre to see how many of their fellow Canadian brewers they could spot in the crowd. Then both their cell phones lit up. Message after message from Canadian brewers from across the country congratulating them. The new little micro-brewery from Chemainus had beat the world – twice. First they took a bronze in the Coffee Beer category with their Breakfast of Champions, a coffee infused lager created in collaboration with Drumroaster Coffee in Cobble Hill. Then they took gold – an amazing accomplishment – in the English style mild ale category for their Working Class Hero Dark Mild, which has notes of coffee and chocolate integrated into a light, flavourful brew. “We were an overnight sensation that was seven years in the making,” said co-owner Tomlin. When the live feed caught up with the phone messages, the partners saw the announcements of their wins. It was real and a major victory at which is generally regarded as the Olympics of beer brewing. The World Beer Cup was judged by an international panel of 295 experts from 33 countries. The 2018 competition was the largest to date and drew more than 8,000 entries from 2,515 breweries in 66 countries. Riot Brewing was the only Canadian brewery to win twice, claiming two of the 14

Riot Brewing’s custom built building at 101A - 3055 Oak Street in Chemainus includes the brewery, tasting and meeting rooms, and an outdoor patio awards received by Canadian brewers. Nine of the 14 went to BC brewers. Word of their win spread quickly. On May 4 there was a line-up out the door at Riot Brewing as beer lovers showed up to taste the brews that been judged among the best in the world the night before. “Initially we couldn’t keep our winning brews in stock,” Tomlin said. “It took us seven years to open and after we won, we became an overnight success.” The winning didn’t start or end with the World Beer Cup. A few months after opening, Riot Brewing took a silver at the 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards for their Good Vibrations Classical Pilsner. They picked up “Best New Business” in Island Savings’ online awards in November 2017 and were selected as Business of the year – Agri Food & Food Production in the January 2018 Business Examiner awards. In April 2018 they were selected for the Black Tie Awards’ Business Achievem e n t Aw a rd – 1 to 10 E m p l o y e e s . On May 28 – fol low i ng thei r World Beer Cup wins – they received a silver medal for their Vortex Robust Porter at the Canadian Brewing Awards. “We are absolutely blown away!” said Moreira. The 2018 Canadian awards drew entries from hundreds of breweries and cideries from across Canada. “I’m super proud of all our staff and what they have accomplished. BC breweries are kicking ass right now and we are so stoked to be a part of it.” R iot Brew i ng sta rted i n 2009 as a sh a red d rea m by f r iend s A ly Tomlin and Ralf Rosenke. Aly has been a champion for craft brewing ever since she operated a U-Brew, which she describes as “the only job I didn’t hate.” Being told she couldn’t work in the industry because she was a women just fuelled her determination: she landed an assistant brewer’s job and then a scholarship to a brewing program in Chicago. In 2013, Riot Brewing was incorporated but it took the addition of Morgan Moreira as a partner in 2015 to bring the dream into being. A custom-built building was completed in 2016. It houses the brewery and adjoining performance, meeting and dining spaces,

including an outdoor patio with a fire pit. Staff were hired, including Head Brewer Fabian Specht, formerly of Central City Brewers & Distillers and Howe Sound Brewing. The company now employees 10 people. Their space presents live music performances (see riotbrewing.com for more information and link to Facebook events page), hosts meetings, supports community events, and serves a range of unique

sessional beers plus their five core brands: Lipslide Lager, Life Partners Pale Ale, Junk Punch India Pale Ale, Working Class Hero, and Sorry We Took So Long. A recent addition to the business is equ ipment to produce ca n ned beer. Next step will be a commercial kitchen. At present, any profit is being invested back into the company. Eventually the partners hope to get paycheques.

JUNE 2018

EUROCRAFT MARBLE & GRANITE: CREATING THE FINISHING TOUCH Master Craftsman Learned His Trade While Working For Hollywood Movie Stars

AANICHTON – Elegant, functional and beautiful – kitchen and bathroom countertops made of natural granite, quartz or marble add a stunning finishing touch and enhance everyday usability in ways that artificial laminates simply can’t. Master craftsman Jeff Gibson, the owner of Eurocraft Marble & Granite, and his team of skilled professionals have been providing that finishing touch for more than a quarter century, and their story is just only beginning. “Tile and marble are the same trade, so when I first got into this business it wasn’t making countertops, but working with tile. I actually learned about tile when working down in Southern California when I was about 19,” Gibson explained. A local resident, Gibson went to High School in Victoria but when he graduated in the 1980s the weakness of the local employment scene encouraged him to explore opportunities elsewhere. A desire to get away and seek adventure saw the youthful entrepreneur head to California where he became involved with the construction industry, being particularly drawn to the elegance and creative appeal of classic tile work. “I basically did it all, working with kitchen and bathroom tiles. I was lucky enough to be trained while working in Beverly Hills, in Bel-Air and other higher end neighbourhoods in Los Angeles. I worked on a lot of beautiful custom jobs,” he recalled. “I had grown up here but wanted to see more of the world so I sort of followed the heat and moved to LA. While not really apprenticing, I managed to start working with builders down there and really fell in love with working with tile. It was pretty informal training, kind of that shotgun approach to

The use of custom designed and fabricated natural stone countertops can be the perfect finishing touch for a home

Master craftsman Jeff Gibson, the owner of Eurocraft Marble & Granite learned much of his craft when working in California

Eurocraft Marble & Granite can make an already beautiful bathroom absolutely spectacular

business – ‘here’s the job, so get it done’ – I’d be told, and I did.” By luck or through serendipity Gibson had the chance to work on many exceptional custom homes, situated in the city’s most prestigious neighbourhoods. That impromptu exposure introduced the youthful artisan to working with building materials of the highest quality including marble, granite and limestone flooring. He was particularly drawn to working with marble and granite flooring, but was involved in producing everything from marble staircases to stone fireplaces. That initial hands on experience ultimately encouraged and inspired Gibson to continue his new found

Much of Eurocraft Marble & Granite’s work can be found in high end residential kitchens and bathrooms

passion for stone once he returned to the Victoria area. “Those California jobs were really beautiful. After working on properties like that all day, by the time you got home you felt really good knowing you had played a part in creating something that would last, that was just gorgeous. I actually had a chance to work in the houses of some movie stars, for example I worked on Kevin Costner’s house, Cher’s, Sylvester Stallone’s and others. It was definitely quite the experience for a kid my age,” he said. Despite learning a craft and making a life for himself in Los Angeles Gibson knew that living in Southern California was never

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JUNE 2018

The projects designed, created and installed by Eurocraft Marble & Granite can be found in homes across the region

“I always have a certain quality that I work to, so I’m involved at every stage of the job.”

Company owner Jeff Gibson first entered the field when he was 19, working originally with tile

JEFF GIBSON OWNER, EUROCRAFT MARBLE & GRANITE

The use of natural stone in a countertop adds value to a home and creates an elegant work space for the homeowner

Kitchens equipped with Eurocraft Marble & Granite counters are as beautiful as they are functional going to be a permanent situation. The smog, traffic and pressures of big city life eventually encouraged him to return home, but with a new found skill and a young family after a stay of about a decade. Returning to Vancouver Island in 1993 Gibson launched Eurocraft Marble & Granite that same year. “I had fallen in love with working with tile and stone, so it was my intention to return home and to start my own business. So essentially as soon as I got back I got going and have been doing it ever since,” he said. Currently situated at #19-6782 Veyaness Road in Saanichton, Eurocraft Marble & Granite are specialists in producing custom stone and tile work for their residential customers. Not a mass production facility, in essence each Eurocraft assignment is a custom job, as distinctive and individual as the clients they are produced for. “I’m particularly drawn to the more complex jobs, the kind that require more than a

little creativity,” he said. “When you’re given beautiful material to work with and are working in some very beautiful homes, it is very satisfying at the end of the day to know you’ve created something that makes that home even nicer. Sure we do a lot of counters, but we also do custom shower stalls and just about anything that can be made out of stone.” Now into its second generation, Gibson’s eldest son Andrew Gibson is a key part of Eurocraft Marble & Granite, bringing a different and more technologically-driven focus to the business, enhancing the classically trained skills the company’s founder has employed since the firm’s inception. “I’m one of these guys that just can’t do a ‘good enough’ type of job – I give it my all every time no matter what we’re working on. I was always expected to do an ‘A +’ job because that’s the way I was trained, I simply can’t do it any other way,” Gibson said.

“But if you always do an A + job for the client you never have any problem getting paid. It also helps when it comes to getting that next job. Most of my work has come through word of mouth because we always do the job right, which is something I’ve always stressed with my son. He’s basically grown up in the business, but brings design and computer skills to the business that simply didn’t exist when I first got started, along with a lot of talent in his own right.” One of the first providers of quality custom marble and granite products for the local building sector, Eurocraft Marble & Granite quickly became the go-to source for these materials for many of Victoria’s leading custom home builders. Today with a staff count of about half a dozen, and working out of a 4,500 square foot production facility, the company has worked all across the Greater Victoria area and beyond for a select group of custom builders and other entities such as cabinet shops and even individual homeowners. Gibson esti mates that approximately 50 per cent of his firm’s trade comes via assignments given them by custom home builders and other firms, with the rest originating from the homeowners themselves. Updating a kitchen or bathroom with new

counters or other additions is among the company’s most frequently asked assignments. “We enjoy the custom renovation jobs, where the owner wants to replace their original counters for example. The design is usually already done as the kitchen is the kitchen so we have to work with the space that’s available. But they just have to choose the material that they like and if our prices work for their budget we do the job,” Gibson said. “We have a lot of stone here that people look at (more than 60 varieties), and we bring material in if we don’t have what they want on hand. There is a huge range of choices these days and it isn’t possible for us to have everything in our warehouse. There are probably a couple of thousand different colors and textures for them to choose from and we can’t carry them all.” Working with its expanding client list, Eurocraft Marble & Granite can take any project from inception through to a finished product – including the design, fabrication and final installation. By working directly with Eurocraft the client essentially has access to a one stop shop, and isn’t working with a number of sub trades along the way. For Gibson the Eurocraft advantage is being able to work with the product provider from

start to finish as he will be actively involved in all aspects of a project. “I always have a certain quality that I work to, so I’m involved at every stage of the job. We’re a pretty small and lean team, but that is by design. By being small and focused we can give the client the attention they need, and we can do the job to the quality that I demand, and ultimately everyone wins. Now with Andrew here I’m confident that we can continue to provide that level of quality moving forward, with the added advantage of the computer assisted design skills he’s brought to the business,” he explained. Eurocraft Marble & Granite has been serving clients for more than a quarter century, bringing a love of the material and a dedication to quality that has made it one of the region’s preeminent providers of stone, marble and granite products. For Gibson the lessons he learned early in his career have guided and inspired him across the decades. “One thing I can say is that I’ve never missed a deadline, because that’s another part of the training I received when I first got into this business all those years ago. We’re willing to work a lot of hours if needed to get the job done right,” he said. “We pride ourselves on always being on time, being professional and for doing a good job. That’s the way it’s been for the past 25 years and I’m sure that will continue to be the way it is for the next 25.” www.eurocraftmarble.ca

OFF THE COVER

JUNE 2018

Fun And Funky Flash Is A Trademark Of The Unique Hotel Zed Brand HOTEL ZED CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

experiences and the Tofino property will build on that,” promises Farmer. “It will be completely different from our other properties because it has to fit with the Tofino community.” Farmer describes her unique three-hotel chain as retro-chic, a style which combines current technology with time-warped featu res from the m idd le of the last century. Think bright, psychedelic patterns, working typewriters, candy-coloured

donut phones, and mid-century modern furniture. The current Victoria and Kelowna hotels are like destination resorts, offering a fun-filled meld of accommodation and activities. There are rent-free vintage bikes, watery fun in pools, a waterslide, and a hot tub, a Ping Pong lounge, a typewriter station with complimentary postcards, a vinyl record listening station in the lobby, and the free ZedBus shuttle. The shuttle, of course, is a Volkswagon bus painted in bright colours. Farmer is considering an equally funky shuttle for the

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Tofino Hotel Zed. The Victoria Hotel Zed also boasts a vintage Airstream trailer that can be booked for that 1960s rock star experience. In Kelowna’s Hotel Zed the highlights include a mini-disco with fog machine, three rooftop patios, and classic roller skate rentals. These amenities are in addition to the usual Hotel Zed perks, such as free coffee, Wi-Fi, and Wii stations. What will happen in Tofino is currently being imagined by the creative Hotel Zed team. “We’re in the brainstorming stage. We have so many wild and crazy ideas,” Farmer said. “We have a great team. “I liken it to a canvas – we’re

constantly trying to come up with something new and fun.” What could not be improved is the location. The four-acre property is “stunningly gorgeous”, located in a rain forest that is on the lagoon side of Tofino. The property also backs onto an amazing, world-class bird sanctuary. Farmer said Tofino’s Zed Hotel will showcase the bird sanctuary and the exquisite setting. She images bird watchers strolling the acres of trails and paddle boarders enjoying the inlet from the hotel’s private waterfront. Hotel Zed will be bright and fun but it will also be environmentally conscious and reflect its setting. “This is a very, very special place,” Farmer said. “I loved it from the moment I first saw it. We are going to preserve and highlight its natural beauty.” She hopes to create a space which will be loved by locals while drawing visitors to the renowned resort community. Hotel Zed describes its look and its fans as ‘Rebels Against the Ordinary’, which also sounds like a perfect motto for Tofino. Together, Hotel Zed and Tofino promise to be epic.

JUNE 2018

NEW CANWEST OWNERS CREATE ONE-STOP MECHANICAL SHOP New Ownership Group Merges CanWest With CoGen in Ground-Breaking Deal

A N N Y B AY - A n e w ow nersh ip g roup has welded together two Vancouver Island mechanical companies in a ground-breaking new deal. T h is dea l sta r ted w ith the pu rchase of CanWest Mechanical Inc., and was followed by CanWest’s subsequent purchase of the tenured Co-Gen Mechanical Services. The result is one company that specializes in two sectors: commercial and industrial. CanWest Mechanical is an Island-based company that services Vancouver Island and the surrounding region. “We’ve always had a local focus, and we’ve always been a building trades union shop,” says coowner Jim Stewart. Currently, CanWest offers a wide variety of services, including HVAC fabrication and installation, pipe fabrication, g a s f it t i n g s, m a i nten a nc e, c u s tom du c t s a nd f it t i n g s, and complete mechanical and plumbing installations. The company is now owned by President and General Manager Gerry Horan, Project Manager Brian Delves, and Pipe Fabrication Manager Jim Stewart. This new ownership now owns Stewa rt’s old compa ny, CoGen, and has begun the process of merging the two businesses into a single operation. “The process started thanks to the John Hart Dam project,” says Delves. “Gerry and I were working in Northern Alberta, and Jim approached us about work i ng on t he project i n Campbell River.” T h e t h re e of t h em a g re e d that i f they were successf u l in securing a contract, Delves and Horan would manage the project. “When we got the contract, we reached a mutual agreement that due to my age and the size of Gerry and Brian’s undertaking, they would purchase CoGen,” says Stewart. Later in the process of changing hands, CanWest came i nto the pictu re. T hei r specialization in HVAC and commercial plumbing was a good fit with Co-Gen’s industrial background. “It wa s a go o d f it for u s,” says Stewart. “CanWest had more equipment, but Co-Gen had been around for 15 years longer.” Accord i ng to Hora n, Ca nWest is fi l l i ng a u n ique role in the market. “With the two specialties, we have almost a

Gerry Horan, President and General Manager for CanWest Mechanical Inc. fifty-fifty balance of commercial and industrial services,” he says. With a shop that is capable of fabricating their own materials, including duct work and stainless steel piping, CanWest is able to offer services few other local companies can match. W it h t he newly e x pa nd e d shop, staff and resources, CanWest is now breaking into the world of general contracting. “ We ’ r e a b o u t o n e m o n t h away from completion for the Cape Mudge Water Treatment Plant,” says Horan. “It’s the first project where we’ve been general contractors, and it looks to be qu ite a success for the stakeholder.” T h is is one of the new d i rections the ownership group plans on taking the company. “We can be competitive as general contractors because we do so much of our own installation,” says Horan. In addition to general contracting, the group has eventual plans to expand into the oil and gas market. “Brian and I have extensive oil and gas experience,” says Horan. “There’s enough work on the Island for us right now, but when we’ve fully integrated the two companies and the market stabilizes, we plan on

Preparing to install a Bypass Outlet Valve for the John Hart Dam project doing more work in that area.” For now, it’s still going to take some time to fully meld the two together. “We’re making sure we don’t lose any of our market share,” says Stewart. “Municipalities still need to get used to calling CanWest to get Co-Gen’s services.” The company is operating out of the facilities originally owned by Co-Gen. Their new location at 390 Station Road in Fanny Bay underwent some renovations to prepare for the move. “We already had a good building on the site, but we did a big

Congratulations CanWest on your newly expanded shop facility.

reno to add new office space,” says Delves. “We went from having two office people to a total of eight office people, and we plan on growing.” CanWest’s new team includes: Gerry Horan, President, GM, and Director Brian Delves, Vice President, Sen ior Project Ma nager a nd Director Jim Stewart Shop Manager and Director Lee Wilkie, Operations Manager / BD - Victoria Warren Hill, Estimating Manager / Project Manager Brandon Manderson, Project

Manager Coleen Kennelly, Controller AR/AP Kristen Pelletier, Administration PR/AP Alana Thomson, Administration HSE/DC R h i a n n on Hora n , Administration Greg Lawlor, Estimator Ken Morris Estimator / BD Darrin Boyd – Fabrication and Installation Greg Koster – Sheet Meta l Shop Foreman Ken Docherty – Site Supervision www.canwestmechanical.com

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30 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 0775658 BC LTD 2995 Moray Ave, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF Smith, David CLAIM $8,142 DEFENDANT 1946338 Ontario Limited 7th Flr 1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Jerome, Stephanie Sarah Claim $15,746 DEFENDANT 401949 BC Ltd 2591 Ruby Court, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Nelson, David CLAIM $7,316

WHO IS SUING WHOM DEFENDANT AFC Industries Ltd 111-2452 Cousins Ave, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF JMR Landscaping Ltd CLAIM $ 62,774 DEFENDANT Alan Jones Construction Limited 202-1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Shimizu, Ken CLAIM $ 5,688 DEFENDANT Andrew Sheret Limited 401-740 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Baddeley, Ralph CLAIM $ 8,289 DEFENDANT BC Whale Tours Limited 200-931 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Titan Boats Ltd CLAIM $ 25,566 DEFENDANT Bidgood Strong Projects Inc 3RD FLR 26 BaStion Square, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF

Island Custom Cabinetry LTD CLAIM $ 36,540 DEFENDANT Cobble Hill Holdings LTD 1-505 Fisgard St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Sperling Hansen Associates Inc CLAIM $ 54,887 DEFENDANT Cottonwood Management Corporation 432 10th St, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF Stead, John William CLAIM $ 81,476 DEFENDANT Dash Directorate of Agencies For School Health BC 1111-1030 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Halkett, Philip CLAIM $ 35,176 DEFENDANT Grounded Systems Ltd 5-3131 Delta St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Lohr, Aaron Bryce CLAIM 16,176

DEFENDANT Guardian Inspection Services Ltd 795 Elkhorn Rd, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF Grakermel Holdings Ltd CLAIM $ 5,961 DEFENDANT Highwater Enterprises 110-171 Wilson St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Titan Boats Ltd CLAIM $ 25,566 DEFENDANT Kaki J ConStruction 2591 Ruby Court, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Nelson, David CLAIM $ 7,316 DEFENDANT Lakecroft Holdings Ltd 204-655 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Kiley, Matthew William CLAIM $ 10,575 DEFENDANT LDI Realty Western Ltd 3371 Edgewood Dr, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF

JUNE 2018

Dowe, Fred CLAIM $ 35,216 DEFENDANT LDI Realty Western Ltd 3371 Edgewood Dr, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Dowe, Carol CLAIM $ 35,216 DEFENDANT Linwood Homes Ltd 8250 River Rd, Delta, BC PLAINTIFF Dealmeida, Jodie CLAIM $ 35,176 DEFENDANT Lixil Canada Inc 1500-1055 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Baddeley, Ralph CLAIM $ 8,289 DEFENDANT MIB Excavating 480 10th St, Courtenay, BC PLAINTIFF Sky Hi Scaffolding Ltd CLAIM $ 9,844 DEFENDANT Quality Foods Ltd 1800-1067 West Cordova St, Vancouver, BC

PLAINTIFF Etherington, Debbie CLAIM $ 35,176 DEFENDANT SCG Construction Group 3rd Flr 26 Bastion Square, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Island Custom Cabinetry Ltd CLAIM $ 36,540 DEFENDANT V2V Vacations 1800-510 West Georgia St, Vancouver, BC PLAINTIFF Gaertner, Jessica CLAIM $ 43,335 DEFENDANT Villa Eyrie Resort 7th Flr 1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Jerome, Stephanie Sarah CLAIM $ 15,746

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

JUNE 2018

The Victoria Chamber of Commerce held their annual Business Awards on May 10 th . This year’s winners are: Canadian Tire Hillside for Business Leadership; COTE Consulting Inc. in New Business; Engaged HR in Business of the Year (1-10 Employees); Russell Books in Business of the Year (11-39 Employees); Peninsula Co-op in Business of the Year (40+ Employees); Inn at Laurel Point in Outstanding Workplace; Vecima Networks Inc. in Innovation; Urban Smiles Victoria for Outstanding Customer Service; Waymark Architecture in Sustainable Business Practices; Christine Willow of Chemistry Consulting Group as Business Person of the Year; Raul Caballero of Oui Jewellery in Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Greater Victoria Housing Society in Non-Profit of the Year; Al Hasham of Maximum Express, Logistics & Freight and Max Furniture in Chamber Member of the Year; and Eric Charman in Governor’s Lifetime Achievement. Departures Travel held their grand opening celebration for their Sidney office on June 2 nd at 105 – 2506 Beacon Avenue. Re/Max Camosun Peninsula congratulates their top producers and listers for the month of April. The top producers were Daniel Juricic, Jeff Bryan and the Gower/ Smith team. Meanwhile Brooke

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Miller was both the top lister and a top producer. Re/Max Camosun Peninsula is at #14 – 2510 Bevan Avenue in Sidney. Salon Modello is celebrating their 15 th anniversary at 104 – 2590 Cadboro Road. The salon also welcomes Donna Wills to their team. A plan to expand Smuggler’s Cove Pub seating by 20 seats and extend their liquor service 30 minutes earlier has received Saanich council support. Smuggler’s Cove Pub is at 2581 Penrhyn Street. Re/Max Camosun congratulates their top producers of the month. They are Shirley Zallo, Jennifer Bruce, Deborah Cobun, Kevin Koetke, Don Burnham and Shannon Jackson. Re/Max Camosun is at 101 – 791 Goldstream Avenue. Brentwood Bay’s deVine Wines & Spirits was named British Columbia Distillery of the Year at the New York International

Spirits Competition. DeVine’s spirits were judged alongside 600 others from around the world in a blind tasting. The local distillery also received accolades for their Geneever Gin, which earned a silver medal. The distillery is at 6181B Old West Saanich Road in Saanichton. Camosun College’s culinary arts program is launching a student run food truck on campus that is planned to open in June. T he truck will serve food on both Camosun’s Interurban and Landsdowne campuses. Sidney Natural Foods is celebrating their 40th year in business at 2473 Beacon Avenue in Sidney. Victoria’s DoubleTree by Hilton hotel has launched an innovative car sharing program for their guests called “My Stay. My Car”. The program allows hotel guests to use environmentally-friendly vehicles during their stay for $20 SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS| PAGE 32

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MOVERS AND SHAKERS

JUNE 2018

MOVERS AND SHAKERS E

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

-S

per night. The car shari ng prog ra m is of fered through Turo, a car sharing marketplace where local car owners provide travellers with vehicles. The fleet includes two single passenger electric vehicles made by Electra Meccanica, a Canadian electric vehicle manufacturer and designer, and two hybrid SOLO cars that are made in Vancouver, based on a Victoria-built chassis. ™

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Alice Finall Alice Finall, the mayor for North Saanich announced she will retire from her position in October, when civic elections are set to replace the current council. Finall has served the District for 16 yea rs as mayor and has 35 years of experience serving the North Saanich community in varying capacities. Your Grace Beauty Boutique celebrated their grand opening on May 31st at 2120 Oak Bay Avenue. Organizations and individuals are invited to nominate their favourite philanthropists for the 2018 National Philanthropy Day (NPD) Award Celebration. NPD is a day that recognizes the contributions of philanthropy and those people, businesses and active organizations who enrich our philanthropic community. Nomination deadline is June 15, 2018. The event will be hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Vancouver Island Chapter and the 19 th Annual National Philanthropy Day Celebration will take place in Victoria at the Victoria Conference Centre on November 16th, 2018 from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. Candice Lee, a teacher at Deep Cove Elementary School, and Scott Alexander, a teacher with Oak Bay High School, have received a Prime Minister’s teaching award.

Leslie Denko T he Mortgage Centre welcomes Leslie Denko to their Sidney office at Unit 10 – 9843 Second Street. The District of Oak Bay’s CAO, Helen Koning, has left her position and the District’s director of finance and deputy CAO Debbie Carter will take over her position temporarily. Bruce Anderson has been added to the district’s team as the director of building and planning. Anderson holds a master’s degree in regional planning and resource development and has extensive experience in the planning and development field in the public and private sectors. T h e GA I N Group h a s opened a Maserati dealersh ip i n Victoria at 740 Roder ick St reet a s t he company invests $25-million in new expanded facilities for its automobile brands. The location is a temporary space for the dealership which will move into a new 15,000-squarefo ot space on Dou g l a s Street and Summit Avenue by the end of the year. The other building going up on that property is a new 20,000-square-foot home for the GAIN Group’s Audi dea lersh ip, wh ich w i l l move from rented space at 1101 Yates Street. A grand opening for the site is expected in the spring. T h e C a n a d i a n A u tomobile Association has taken over the top spot in the annual Brant Trust Index published by the University of Victoria’s Peter B. Gustavson School of Business. The organization surpassed Mountain Equipment Co-op, which was No. 1 last year and the year before that. Costco came behind Mountain Equipment in third. Smokin’ T u na Café opened on May 2 nd for the season at 241 Becher Bay Marina next to East Sooke Park. T he Victoria Residential Builders Association

(VRBA) has announced a Call for Entry for the 2018 Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence (CARE) Awards of Vancouver Island. The entry deadline is Monday, June 11th at 4:00 pm. All entrants must be members of the VRBA and the winners will be announced at the awards gala on September 29th at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. A i r N o r t h h a s c o mm e n c e d t w ic e-we e k ly flights between Victoria and Whitehorse starting at $ 420 per person for a round-trip, including ta xes a nd fees. Fl ights are made on Mondays and Fridays and include two checked bags that can be up to 160 k i log ra ms i n total. Air North will also provide Victoria-Kelowna flights, starting at $200, including taxes. Congratulations to the top sa les people of the month from dealerships across Victoria. They are Wes Harrison with Harris Auto, Nelson Antoine with Jim Pattison Toyota, Fra n k li n Foo w it h Ji m Pattison Lexus, Ed Daniel with Pacific Mazda, Ted Sakousky with Wheaton, David Vollet w ith Audi Autohaus, Brent Moroz with Volkswagen Victoria, Lance Kubbernus with Victoria Hyundai, Matt Kennard with Porsche Centre, Daniel Low with Three PT Motors, Jorge Roldan with BMW Victoria, Nick Sitonin w ith Volvo, Frank Burgaretta with Wille Dodge, Justin Stacey with Jenner, Rosario D’A ngelo w it h Campus Honda, Tamer Feitah with Graham KIA, Frank Percorrelli w it h Campus Nissan, Mauricio Bingham with Jim Pattison Subaru and Nick Lee with Campus Acura. The Maritime Museum of BC is planning on finding a permanent waterfront home to showcase their col lection by 2021, the 150 th anniversary of BC joining the confederation. T he mu seu m w i l l seek funding from the provincial and federal governments – which would be the chief source of capital for a new building. The Museu m was forced to move in 2015 from their home for nearly 50 years in Bastion Square after the building fell into disrepair. The museum is now located in a 3,000-square-foot space i n Nootka Cou r t SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS| PAGE 33

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

JUNE 2018

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

You take care of business. We’ll take care of your cleaning.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

on Humboldt Street and has most of their artifact collection in climate-controlled storage supplied by the province. The Board of the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame recently announced their inductees into the Hall of Fame this year. Four athletes will be ind u c te d – Dave Ca lder (Row i ng), Rich Harden (Baseball), Alison Murdoch (Golf) and Deb Whitten (Field Hockey). T hreetime Olympic swimmer Ron Jacks will be honored in the coaching category for services to swimming while Ian Lamplugh will be honored in the official’s category for baseball. In addition, the two builder inductees will be Yeiji Inouye (Judo) and Hugh MacDonald (Multi-sports). The 2018 inductees will be honored at the annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner scheduled for Saturday, October 27 th at the Westin Bear Mountain. Karen Stones held a n open house on May 26th at A Sea of Bloom to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her f loral design, jewellery and gift shop at 2052 Otter Point Road in Sooke. Vancouver Island-based Cascadia Liquor has won two provincial awards BC Hospitality Summit’s BC Retailer of the Year and ABLE BC’s Liquor Retailer of the Year. The company specializes in local and ha rd-to-f i nd products from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Beyond their extensive product selection, Cascadia Liquor was recog n ized for their continued investment in staff training, their commitment to educating customers and creating an enhanced guest experience, and for regularly giving back to the community. Immunoprecise Antibodies Ltd. announces that as part of their annual review of management and board members it has appointed Jennifer L. Bath, the chief executive officer and president of ImmunoPrecise, as a member of their board of directors. The company has also appointed Charles Wheelock as the global chief technology officer and Kari Graber as the director of global client services and project management.

Tierra Madani

John Hanna

Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) BC & Yukon annou nced thei r w i n ners for the 2018 Professiona ls Awa rds. Vancouver Island Brewing’s Tierra Madani (a CPHR Candidate) received the Rising Star Award. Vancouver Island Brewing is at 2330 Government Street.

Business in Vancouver and the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC partnered to recognize and celebrate the top Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in BC at the 2018 BC CFO Awards. John Hanna, CFO at Vecima Networks, won in the category of Small Public Company.

T h e Greater Victor ia Chamber of Commerce has h i red Cyrus Lee as t hei r s u m mer website developer and marketing assistant. Lee is a secondyear student at the University of Victoria a nd specializes in Commerce and Computer Science. The Chamber is at 100 – 852 Fort Street. Tou r ism Victor ia recently presented two awa rd s to i nd iv idu a l s at their A nnual General Meeting at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort. Hugh MacDonald was the recipient of the Life Member Awa rd, wh i le Mike Murphy was presented with the Miracle Award. MacDonald is the owner of the 10 Acres Commons, Kitchen and Bistro restaurants as well as the 10 Acres Farm. Hugh is the recently retired executive director of SportHost Victoria. Oaks at Bellewood Park celebrated the g ra nd open i ng of t hei r presentation centre on May 26 th at 1010 Fort Street. Once completed, the 51unit, six-storey concrete condominium unit will include premium one-, two- and three-bedroom residences in the Rockland neighbourhood. Pemberton and Son has received an award for the re s to ra t io n of P ro m i s Block at 1006 G overnment Street by Heritage BC. The restoration which took place from 2011 to 2017 received the Seismic Upgrade and Tenant Improvements award at the 2018 Heritage Awards.

On June 1 st the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority welcomed the Norwegian Bliss, the largest cruise ship ever to visit Victoria. The Bliss is 994 feet long, has 20 decks, and weighs 169,028 tonnes and is the newest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Lines fleet. Ann Archibald has been named executive director of the Integrated Cadastral Information Society. The Integrated Cadastral Information Society is a notfor-profit organization, created as a partnership between local government, provincial government and major utility companies in British Columbia, Canada to share and integrate spatial data. Codename Entertainment announced the hiring of veteran Wizards of the Coast and Dungeons & Dragons Designer and Producer Chris Dupuis. Dupuis will be overseeing the design, production, and development of the studio’s officially-licensed Dungeons & Dragons game, Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, as well as the award-winning Crusaders of the Lost Idols. Codename Entertainment Inc. is the award-winning indie video game studio based in Victoria. VI Fitness has closed all 8 of their gym locations across the Island abruptly and announced they are facing bankruptcy. The company directed members and employees to contact the bankruptcy trustee The Bowra Group Ltd. for all further questions. SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS| PAGE 35

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OPINION

JUNE 2018 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. 200-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria V8T 3J5 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, Cheryl Lee – cheryl@businessexaminer.ca John MacDonald - john@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Julia MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim, David Holmes, Kristin Van Vloten, Val Lennox

IS IT TIME FOR A TAX REVOLT BY BUSINESS OWNERS?

MARK MACDONLD

s class warfare has taken the Canadian political landscape by storm, what can businesses do to escape the hail of tax increases and extra fees unleashed by elected officials? With populist catch phrases like “one per centers”, asking businesses to “pay a little bit more”, and “income sprinkling” becoming accepted terms of reference for the business community, it is clear that many Canadians see the current anti-business rhetoric as a leveling of the playing field. “Tax the rich”, aka business owners, is what they’ve said they were going to do, and they’re doing it, with nary a reprieve in sight. What, if anything, can be done to stem the tide of the rising minimum wage, Medical Service Plan payroll hikes and Canada Pension Plan increases? Not to mention the

foreign buyers’ tax, the “speculation” tax, and another NDP whopper, a new school tax levied against property owners? When does it end? How can it end? A tax revolt. A full-fledged withholding of taxes and levies that goes directly from business bank accounts and payrolls. Are we there yet? Is it possible? Absolutely it is, and truth be told, this might be the only way to finally get government’s attention and get them to stop milking the business community. Tell Ottawa, Victoria and your city of choice that the udder is getting dry, and they’ve siphoned off far more than what is acceptable. Today’s anti-business governments are reminiscent of the old-time “shopping sprees” of yesteryear, when winning contestants would run for their lives down the aisles of grocery stores, hair and clothing bristling in the wind as they two-armed every item they could grasp and whisk it into their carts before reaching the till. Clearly, they see their seizure of government power as “their turn” to withdraw funds from the till as they see fit. Rather than cultivate an environment where business can prosper and therefore create more government tax revenue

through increased sales, they see businesses as loot stashers, ripe for the picking by 21 st Century Robin Hoods to redistribute to the poor and their own pet projects. It’s not enough for them to leave the business community alone and redirect surpluses to projects they deem worthy; it’s obviously payback time for business owners they see as worthy of repercussions for “filling their bank accounts off the backs of workers”. A tax revolt might be tough for businesses to pull off, since our unofficial moniker seems to be “Tax me, I’m Canadian”. But surely we’re getting to the point where our version of the Boston Tea Party is becoming a viable option. W hat do you think governments would do if businesses – in unison – decided to withhold the various taxes and fees they regularly collect from customers and employees and remit to the government? How long would it take before they raised the white flag and realized this time, they really, really have gone too far? Not just that, but they’d ratchet back some of the punitive tax measures they’ve introduced. Isn’t it worth a try? It’s been done before. During Bob Rae’s ill-fated term as Ontario’s only NDP premier two

decades ago, a tax revolt in London was credited with choking off the government’s cash flow. T hey d id so by w ith hold i ng property taxes until sensibility returned, and participants were encouraged to place those taxes in an interest bearing bank account that would yield at least as much as any potential penalty the government might try to instill. The pinch helped, followed by the Common Sense Revolution under Mike Harris. A Nanaimo city councilor once said, aloud: “We will tax until we find opposition”. That was just prior to the City of Nanaimo unilaterally implementing a “head tax” back in 2001, where businesses were to pay $110 apiece for anyone in their employ who had a professional designation. It would have cost one real estate company over $10,000 a year. Busi nesses were outraged, and the Chamber of Commerce sprung into action, demanding an immediate rescinding of the bylaw, or else businesses would boycott paying business license fees to the city. A filibuster at the weekly council meeting featured prominent members of the business community taking their turns at the lectern, lambasting council for their lack of foresight and brazen

tax attack. Business owners and managers crammed into council chambers to support the speakers, who continued to speak forcefully and demand instant retraction. Initially, council members, led by the mayor, sniffed at the delegates. Their disdain soon turned to soberness as they realized they were faced with a determined group that wouldn’t take no for an answer. Late in the evening, they called for a 30-day memorandum to study the issue further. The tax was completely withdrawn after the month was up. It did work. Politicians can be backed up. But it does take a unified front, determined to not take no for an answer. If governments of all levels were to be confronted by the people who actually do pay most of the bills for public services, either through their own companies or the payrolls they cover, and demand fairness, there would be positive results. Even hard-ofhearing idealists in government can sense they’ve gone too far. So, M r. a nd M rs. Busi ness Owner: Are you ready for a tax revolt, with the sole purpose of telling governments to stop their punitive and growth-prohibiting taxation? Let us know what you think: info@businessexaminer.ca

own task force warning that such a move will undermine the province’s competitive position. Making matters worse, just as the U.S. cut its top federal personal income tax rate, BC created a new, higher rate of 16.8 per cent, making the combined federal-provincial top rate a hair away from 50 per cent and the ninth highest rate in Canada and the U.S. This shows a worrying disregard for the ability of the province to attract and retain skilled workers and entrepreneurs. In keeping with its high tax mantra, the government also ra ised ta xes on h igh-va lued homes and “luxury” cars. New regulations are being contemplated on labour in addition to a substantial minimum wage hike. It’s all about the signals. And the signals as a whole don’t instil confidence among investors. All this is happening against a backdrop of an enduring investment problem in the province. For more than three decades, investment per worker in BC - a measure of the tools available to workers to improve their

productivity - has lagged behind the rest of the country. The most recent data (for 2016) shows BC’s investment per worker 19 per cent below Canada’s overall level. This means BC workers have significantly less capital (machines, equipment and technology) to do their job than workers in other provinces. The situation has worsened in recent years. Business investment in BC (excluding residential structures) fell from 2014 to 2016 by nearly a fifth after adjusting for inflation. A nd yet, the govern ment’s latest policies will likely further discourage investment and ultimately reduce the long-term prosperity of British Columbians. This is taking the province down the wrong track. We saw this movie before, in the 1990s. It doesn’t end well.

BC CLOSING DOORS TO INVESTMENT

THE FRASER INSTITUTE CHARLES LAMMAM AND HUGH MACINTYRE

ore British Columbians think the province is on the wrong track than the right one, according to a new Angus Reid poll. And there’s good reason to be concerned about BC’s policy direction. Since assuming office last year, Premier John Horgan’s government has done little to reassure investors and entrepreneurs that British Columbia is an attractive place to invest. In fact, its policies have signalled the opposite. Consider the attempt to block

the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, which had already been approved by a thorough federal review. In the 11th hour, the government erected an unexpected roadblock, arguing in court that BC has the right to stop the project. The ensuing war of words - and legal action - between Alberta and BC has been well-documented. The result? Immense policy uncertainty. Partly because of this pipeline project, BC - and Canada more generally - is gaining an international reputation as a place where major resource projects can’t get done. And this is turning investors and entrepreneurs away from the province at a time when serious concerns already exist about BC as a destination for resource projects. In a recent survey of upstream oil and gas executives, BC ranked dead last among Canadian provinces and in the bottom quarter internationally for investment attractiveness. While the provincial government hopes to see liquefied natural gas (LNG) development,

pipeline obstructionism has undermined its credibility on that file. Moreover, BC’s tax competitiveness has taken a major hit recently. The province’s longstanding high effective tax rate on investment (one of the highest in the developed world) was made worse when the government increased the statutory corporate income tax rate (from 11 per cent to 12 per cent) shortly after taking office. At the same time, the United States has dramatically eased its taxation of capital, which will encourage investment dollars to go south. Additionally, at a time when the U.S. is eschewing carbon pricing, BC is significantly raising its carbon tax rate (by 66 per cent, from $30 to $50 per tonne) while abandoning any pretence of revenue neutrality - whereby new revenues into government coffers are offset with new tax cuts. BC is also replacing Medical Service Premiums with a new employer-based payroll health tax, despite the government’s

Charles Lammam is director of fiscal studies and Hugh MacIntyre is senior policy analyst at the independent non-partisan Fraser Institute

SUBCRIPTIONS | $45 PER YEAR (12 ISSUES), $80 FOR 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES), SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.NET. DISTRIBUTION: FOURTH WEEK OF EACH MONTH VIA CANADA POST AD MAIL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Produced and published in British Columbia. All contents copyright Business Examiner Victoria, 2018. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

JUNE 2018

MOVERS AND SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

The Community Association of Oak Bay recently celebrated thei r 10 t h anniversary. Tourism Victoria recently made a $10,000 donation to the Southern Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition for Chinook salmon enhancement in the Sooke Basin.

The 2018 National Inclusive Education Awards recently presented a Saanich team of educators with an award. The Saanichton School District 63 Team of Principal Kal Russell, teacher and IST Jodi Beaudry, IST Erin Stinson, Assistant Superintendent Scott Stinson and EA/School Secretary Jessica Tamburino have received the Inclusive Education Team Award. The annual Inclusive Education Awards are presented

in partnership with Inclusive Education Canada to re cog n i z e i nd iv idu a l s or groups nominated by their communities who initiate or support unique opportunities that enrich i n c lu s ive e d u c a t io n a l experiences. If you have any announcements for Movers and Shakers, please contact Josh Higgins at josh@ businessexaminer.ca.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO OUTSOURCE YOUR HR? “These days, HR outsourcing goes beyond the “simple” administrative and recruitment tasks, and now encompasses more of the professional services like compensation programs, policy and job

description development, and performance management systems”

CHRISTINE WILLOW

ver the past five years or so, the continued growth in the economy has been positive, yet at the same time has brought along challenges, in particular when it comes to the people side of business. Human Resources (HR) continues to go through a transitional phase with regards to how it is viewed, what functions or set of activities are involved and the impact from external forces such as regulations, employee expectations, and the wide-spread skills and labour shortage. When you are a small to medium sized business you may not have a dedicated person or department to oversee HR functions, and simply react to immediate needs and challenges on an as-needed basis. So how do you ensure that not only the basic HR tasks such as payroll, recruitment, compensation and benefits management, and general administrative duties are covered, but also the strategic side of HR including your company culture, employee engagement, and professional development? As a first step, efficiencies can be attained by looking at how basic administrative duties can be streamlined. Can some of the functions (payroll and benefits administration) be outsourced or done through a technology based HR management system, and if so, which is the best method for your

business? By allowing your managers to move away from the time consuming administrative functions, it allows them to spend more time on performance m a n a ge m e nt a nd e mployee engagement which in turn may reduce your turnover and time spent on recruitment. If a technology-based system is not right for you, can all of your HR or specific parts of HR be outsourced to allow you to focus on other important business matters. Outsourcing HR functions to professionals with the expertise to perform tasks more effectively, and in many cases more economically, makes sense. Outsourcing is gaining in popularity, as employers realize the benefits of bringing in HR subject matter experts - after all you don’t repair you own car or do your own electrical work. As an example, recruitment has been outsourced by many companies for years, particularly at the executive level. This trend continues to grow as many organizations now outsource recruitment for entry level positions as well, since it is a very time consuming task. These days, HR outsourcing

goes beyond the “simple” administrative and recruitment tasks, and now encompasses more of the professional services like compensation programs, policy and job description development, and performance management systems. Outsourcing can also ensure that you are both aware of and meeting all legal and legislative HR changes. For example, how has your organization addressed the hot subject of the day - the upcom i ng lega l i zation of marijuana? Does your Employee manual have a policy that addresses impairment in the workplace, or the use of medical marijuana? Having an external HR professional advise you and keep you informed can save you from issues in the future. Outsourcing is not new, what is changing is the expansion in the number and type of services that organizations are willing to outsource, ensuring core and strategic HR functions are met while allowing owners/ managers to focus on the success of their business. Christine Willow is a Partner at Chemistry Consulting.

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