SEPTEMBER 2016
» MEETING PLACES
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VICTORIA Great White Cladding & Decking specializes in sheet metal fabrication
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Victoria
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Harbour Air’s Victoria Operations Among The Company’s Busiest
VICTORIA Heavy Metal Marine provides construction & pile driving services
Victoria Harbour Airport Terminal An Exceptional Asset BY DAVID HOLMES
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INDEX News Update
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West Shore
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Saanich Peninsula
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Greater Victoria
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ICTORIA – Like an additional jewel in the Victoria Inner Harbor’s world famous crown, the new Victoria Harbour Airport terminal is a city asset that far exceeds its business functionality. Modern, elegant, stunning and a boon to the local air travel sector, the terminal building is home base for both Harbour Air and Seattle-based Kenmore Air’s downtown Victoria air service. “We opened the new terminal officially on April 4, it’s a 6,000 square foot building if you count the deck outside,” explained Randy Wright, Executive Vice President for the Harbour Air Group. “The company’s growth over the years has been substantial which spurred us on to upgrade SEE VICTORIA HARBOUR | PAGE 15
The new Harbour Air floating inner harbor airport terminal is more than 6,000 square feet
Big year for local business with 50-year birthday, award and new building Creating healthy work environment is good for productivity and overall worker satisfaction BETH HENDRY-YIM
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A A NICHTON - Graphic Office Interiors has a lot to celebrate: a brand new, bigger and better showroom and warehouse space, its 50-year birthday and the prestigious 2016 Platinum Partner award from Steelcase, a leading office furniture manufacturer. It’s been an exciting and busy
past two years for Steve Nagy, one of three owners of the company, and the pinnacle of a long standing career as business owner and supplier of fine quality specially designed office furniture, flooring and modular wall solutions for the Greater Victoria region. “We were only one of 33 dealers in North America to win this award,” he said. It came at a good time after a
BUSINESS SYSTEMS
busy year that included Graphic’s July 2015 move to a much larger facility. “We transported 100 semi-trailers of product and 60 five-ton truck loads of loose goods over three weeks in the middle of a heat wave,” Nagy said. “We now have 10,000 sq ft of showroom that is handicap accessible and allows our staff to have one-on-one consultations with our clients, a
BUSINESS SYSTEMS
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32,000 sq ft of warehouse space with an efficient containerized storage system.” “Citta Construction did a fantastic job, keeping the project on track and on time. Our last building wasn’t wheelchair friendly so we made sure that every aspect of the new building was accessible to all abilities.” SEE GRAPHIC OFFICE INTERIORS | PAGE 11
NEWS UPDATE
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Hans Hans Van Van de de Kamp Kamp
VICTORIA
Direct Direct Phone: Phone: (250) (250) 704-8275 704-8275 Email: hans@vicommercial.com Email: hans@vicommercial.com
Victoria Airport breaking travel records
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Passenger numbers at the Victoria International Airport (YYJ) are breaking records as domestic travel demand continues to rise. Over the first half of the year, a record of 859,661 passengers were counted at YYJ; an increase of 5.4 per cent from the same months last year, when 815,511 passengers passed through. The first six months of the year puts the airport on track for another record-breaking year. Last year, there were 1.71 million passengers, up from 1.65 million in 2014. Each month this year has surpassed the previous month. Paul Nursey, Tourism Victoria chief executive officer, noted that higher passenger numbers are tied to increased capacity at the airport and with the capital region’s strong performance as a tourism destination. International passenger numbers continue to remain at around 4,000 to 5,000 per month in the winter time, when airlines offer flights to warmer destinations. In the summer months, international flights are primarily limited to charters.
past five years. The first production units are expected to be completed in early 2018.
VICTORIA Victoria to bid on world hockey event Victoria and Vancouver are joining forces on a bid for the 2019 world junior hockey championship. Canada was awarded the 2019 championship by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Ontario cities of London, and Windsor have also indicated plans to submit a joint bid. The BC bid would have preliminary games played at Victoria’s Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre and at Vancouver venues, while the semi-finals and final would take place in Vancouver, likely at Pacific Coliseum or Rogers Arena. The tournament starts on Boxing Day 2018. The 2017 world junior hockey championship, hosted by Montreal and Toronto, begins December 26th. The 2018 tournament is in Buffalo, New York. The deadline for cities to bid is August 31st. Hockey Canada will announce the winner on December 1st.
VICTORIA
VICTORIA
Victoria home sales remain hot
Building permit values grow in Victoria
A total of 972 properties were sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this July, an increase of 22 per cent compared with the 796 properties sold in July last year. “Though we saw the seasonal slowdown that we expect this time of year, we had another record breaking month,” says Mike Nugent, 2016 President of the Board. “The last time we saw a July this busy was in 2009 when 933 properties were sold.” Inventory levels remain lower than last year, with 2,161 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service at the end of July 2016, 45 per cent fewer than the 3,942 active listings at the end of July 2015. “The provincial government’s approved new legislation may affect the real estate market in our area, though at this time we can only guess how a foreign investor’s tax in the Metro Vancouver region will impact sales here in Victoria,” said Nugent. The Multiple Listing Service Home Price Index benchmark value for a single-family home in the Victoria Core in July, 2015 was $599,800. The benchmark value for the same home in July 2016 has increased by 23.6 per cent to $741,100.
Building permit values have been soaring within the Greater Victoria region. The value of building permits climbed by 115 per cent to $140.3-million in June, up from $65.3 million in the same month this past year, according to Statistics Canada’s latest available data. The month-over-month rate also rose by 115 per cent in June from May, when permits remained at $65.2-million. In the Greater Victoria area, construction is underway at sites like the Capital Park mixed-use development in James Bay, where offices, commercial and residential projects are being built. While the capital region’s permit values are on the rise, BC saw its numbers decline 5.1 per cent to $1.027-billion in June from $1.082-billion in the same month in 2015. The monthly drop was larger, sitting at 11.5 per cent. A total of $1.161-billion worth of permits were issued in May. The drop followed two consecutive months of increases. BC is among five provinces that saw permit values decline month to month.
VICTORIA
SAANICH
Turner Building pursues redevelopment
Quester Tangent inks major deal with Chinese business
The boarded up Turner Building on Richmond Road may be rezoned and developed. The owners of the Turner Building, Island Cardiology Holdings, hope to begin construction at the site along Richmond Road in six months. Plans call for a 29,000-square-foot building with ground floor commercial, topped by offices for cardiologists. A rental building has also been proposed by the owners on their other property. The City of Victoria is in the process of reviewing the rezoning application. No public hearing date has been set thus far. Architect for the project Alan Lowe, noted that he is hopeful the project will go before councillors within two months, and
Quester Tangent, a Saanich-based developer of train-monitoring systems, has landed a major contract with China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation. The contract will see Quester develop diagnostic and monitoring systems for a series of rail cars to be delivered to the Chicago Transit Authority. The Chinese firm won a $1.3-billion contract this year to deliver 846 new subway cars. Quester Tangent started 33 years ago as a developer of ocean-mapping equipment and has been building a relationship as a vendor with the Chicago Transit Authority for the
NEWS UPDATE
SEPTEMBER 2016
if approved, construction could begin within six months. The build is anticipated to take two-years once construction begins.
BC ICBC proposes referral system T he Insurance Corporation of BC is considering the idea of working with vehicle retailers who would pay ICBC a referral fee for customers. It would be aimed at ICBC customers who are searching for a replacement vehicle after their own is written off. Customers would receive a referral to a seller or sellers from ICBC when receiving money from the corp. ICBC issued a request for information to find out if retailers are interested in participating in the program. Customers would not be required to purchase a vehicle from a referred company. They would continue to have a choice on whether to replace a written-off vehicle and where they want to buy from. The proposed regime would not involve ICBC in any of the sales process. Last year, 48,000 ICBC customers had their vehicles written off, with a total loss in payments surpassing $500-million. Around 900,000 claims are handled each year.
The program would bring in revenue for ICBC at a time when the corporation’s insurance rates have been steadily increasing along with the number of claims and related costs. The fee paid to ICBC by sellers has not been set, so there are no revenue projections as of yet.
VICTORIA Victoria company sells Tofino Motel An Island businessman has teamed up with two professional hockey players to take over Marina West Motel and Marina in Tofino. The four-acre property was previously owned by Victoria-based LeFevre and Company. Willie Mitchell, the former captain of the Florida Panthers and Dan Hamhuis, a former Vancouver Canucks defenseman who signed a contract this summer with the Dallas Stars partnered with Andrew Purdey, a Mill-Bay based developer to purchase the 63-room motel, restaurant and marina. Marina West offers affordable adventures in Tofino, including whale watching, hot-springs, bear watching and a variety of other services. The new owners are planning on adding fresh resources, energy, and eyes to the property. Colliers International listed the development in March for $6.5-million. Its 2015 assessed value
was $5.8-million. The selling price is unknown.
BC BC Ferries first quarter shows promise BC Ferries released its first qu a r ter resu lts i n l ate-August. Net earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2016 (the first quarter of fiscal 2017) were $27-million, compared to net earnings of $18.8-million in the first quarter of the previous year. These earnings reflect the effects of higher traffic levels, higher ferry transportation fees, higher retail sales and lower costs, partially offset by lower social program fees and higher operating costs. In the first fiscal quarter of 2017, revenues increased by 4.9 per cent to $219.2-million, while operating expenses increased by 1.5 per cent to $178.6 million, compared with the first quarter of 2016. Along with releasing BC Ferries’ first quarter results, Corrigan announced there would be upcoming pricing promotions in the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017. Details of the promotions are to be announced in the coming months. Passenger traffic increased by 2.5 per cent and vehicle traffic rose by 5.1 per cent, compared with the first quarter of 2016. During the three months ended June 30, 2016, BC Ferries provided over 42,000
sailings, carrying over 5.3-million passengers and over 2.1 million vehicles.
SIDNEY Affordable housing project begins in Sidney The site of a new affordable housing project in located on Fourth Street in Sidney has been cleared recently. R o om i s b ei n g m a d e for a $11-million five-storey condo structure built by the Greater Victoria Rental Development Society (GVRDS). The Town of Sidney officially approved the project in late July after signing off on a series of financial concessions. The residential portion of the building will consist of 56 units. More than half of these units will be deemed affordable (residents will not have to pay residential taxes for 10 years). Additionally, the Town dropped permit and development fees. They agreed to the GVRDS’ request to assist in making the project viable and to match the Town’s desire to have more affordable homes built in the area. The GVRDS has noted that more than half of their residential units will be offered at below market rent. The commercial portion of the structure on the ground floor would still be subject to municipal taxation.
3 BC Visitors to BC on the rise The number of overnight international visitors to British Columbia surpassed the two-million mark for the first six months of 2016. According to Statistics Canada, 2,307,624 visitors came to BC from January to June, a 12.4% increase (254,935 additional visitors) over the same period last year. During the same time frame, other highlights include visits from the US which rose 12.4%, visits from Mexico rose 38.6% and visits from China rose 22%. In addition, 656,676 international visitors came to BC in June alone an 8.6% increase compared to June 2015. A number of factors are contributing to the growth in visitor numbers, including increased air access and capacity to Vancouver, a low Canadian dollar and Destination BC’s new international market strategy. The Canadian Transportation Agency just announced a sixth mainland China based air carrier, Capital Airlines, will start servicing Vancouver International Airport in December. The new flights are in part a result of the government’s elimination of a 2012 international jet-fuel tax to reduce costs for airlines and give travellers more choices.
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WEST SHORE/SAANICH PENINSULA
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SEPTEMBER 2016
2016: CONFIDENCE AND OPTIMISM
WEST SHORE JULIE LAWLOR
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he other day one of our members, Carlene McDonald of Westshore Town Centre, asked me for my observations on business activity and current trends in the West Shore. It was a welcome opportunity to review and reflect, and one of the first things I was able to tell Carlene is that in the period from January-July 2016 the WestShore Chamber welcomed twice as many new members as for the same period in 2015. Raymond James recently opened a West Shore office to complement their office in Victoria, an extension that Collins Barrow also made towards the end of 2015. T he movement is
certainly not just one way, as Langford-based Party Crashers has opened a new location at 2642 Quadra Street. It’s a busy year for owners David and Paul Scotthorne as their Langford store will be moving and ex pand ing at their new location of 2364 Millstream Road, which will open its doors on September 16th. We like to describe the West Shore as the best place in the region to live, work and play and 2016 has seen further developments that support our description. In May, the beautiful facilities at the YMCA-YWCA Westhills opened in Langford, in tandem with a new Heritage Branch of the Victoria Public Library and the Victoria Conservatory of Music. May also saw the launch of the Westshore Express shuttle. A partnership between View Royal Casino and Wilson’s Transportation and supported by West Shore municipalities, the Westshore Express brings people from Victoria out to the West Shore and offers free park and ride for West Shore residents heading into Victoria or out
to the Airport. In June, the Royal Bay development in Colwood was unveiled, and Eagle Creek Village opened in View Royal. And I have to mention Rugby Canada’s Langford-based women’s rugby sevens team winning bronze for Canada at the Rio Olympics – a very proud moment. It’s in this mood of confidence that we look towards the Best of the West Shore 2016, our annual awards ceremony which celebrates the best the West Shore has to offer. Voting opens in September and will cover 40 categories ranging from “the best place to take an out-of-town visitor” to the favourite “best restaurant.” Supported by our T itle Sponsor Peninsula Co-op, the Best of the West Shore culminates in an Awards dinner which will take place this year at Olympic View Golf Club on October 26th. Julie Lawlor is the Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at 250478-1130 or jlawlor@ westshore.bc.ca
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
SAANICH PENINSULA DOUG WALKER
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ccording to Statistics Canada’s July Labour Force Survey, BC still has Canada’s lowest unemployment rate, at 5.6 per cent (4.7 per cent in greater Victoria!). Total employment in BC is up by about 85,000 over the past 12 months, the highest in Canada. We all know what this means for our private sector: increased difficulties finding and keeping great employees. Employee recruitment and retention are among businesses’ greatest immediate challenges. Businesses can improve their recruitment success by being visible, deliberate, and thorough with their recruitment strategies. Delays
in starting recruitment or cutting corners due to lack of time or expertise rarely produce a better recruitment result. When it comes to hiring the right new employee, there is painful truth in the cliché “if you can’t take time to do it right you will find time to do it over”. Other than retirement or lack of competitive compensation, employee resignations are most often due to conflicting values, where employees conclude that their futures are better served by changing employers, either locally or in another community. Employers can reduce the impact of this by taking time to set out, communicate, and live by a set of core values. These values should also be part of the screening criteria used during employee recruitment. How do Chambers of Commerce help with recruitment and retention challenges? We help directly by providing networking opportunities where business owners can build relationships with peers and trusted advisers, seminars and workshops for improving skills, free or lowcost mentoring programs
for startups, access to member directories to help find support resources, and lower-cost benefit programs through group providers. The Chamber Group Benefits programs are often the only such programs available to small businesses, providing a valuable employee recruitment and retention tool. We also hold public events where businesses can build their profile and reputation through sponsorship, recognize business excellence, and even attract potential employees. We help indirectly by lobbying all levels of government on issues such as personal and corporate tax policies, community planning and development processes, workforce housing, and quality of community life. Doug Walker is Vice-President of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at (778) 351-3544 or doug@ cambiumleadership.ca. The Chamber of Commerce can be reached directly at (250) 656-3616 or execdir@ peninsulachamber.ca.
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SEPTEMBER 2016
NANAIMO’S SHORT SEA SHIPPING SERVICE CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS “The Duke Point Logistics is main component of quarry industry
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facility serves as a main artery for connecting our product
P World Nanaimo’s Duke Point container terminal is a crucial links to success for Philip Callant of Callache Stone Quarries. He said they play a key role in multiple levels of production, from shipping raw material to its finishing facilities, to getting the finished stone to consumers. “Up to 70 per cent of our costs involve logistics,” he said. “The Duke Point facility serves as a main artery for connecting our product to the international marketplace.” Located at Head Bay in Nootka Sound, Callache has only recently begun shipping its elite, high-end white and grey marble to evaluate how the stone cuts and takes a polish. “The quality of the marble rivals that of the stone Michelangelo used from Carrara, Italy,” he said adding that field exploration was completed early this year with the product now being evaluated for viability. It’s been a two-year process, from discovering the deposit, evaluating viability, finding
to the international marketplace.” PHILIP CALLANT OWNER, CALLACHE STONE QUARRIES
For Philip Callant, president of Callache Stone Quarries, DP World’s barge container services enabled a higher volume of marble shipped for testing from location in Nootka Sound CREDIT: CALLACHE STONE QUARRIES
suitable extraction points, completing geological testing, and then extracting the blocks for production, testing and transporting to customers. “Logistics is the main component of the quarry industry,” he said, adding that part of the
initial research involved more than analyzing rocks and geological formations, it included looking at how to move the uncut marble and get large volumes and weights of product from the West Coast of Vancouver Island to Vancouver and beyond.
“DP World has been very accommodating throughout the project, from the first discussions about logistic plans to meeting our loading timeline and providing information on where we could save on costs.” Callant stressed that for his and most other industries transport logistics keep the economy moving forward. If they aren’t sustainable physically or financially the product won’t get to the marketplace. “As a third generation stone cutter, my passion is for discovering these 80 million-year-old deposits and extracting them from the ground. DP World specializes in moving products and they worked hard at finding the best solutions for Callache’s logistics needs as well as providing advice on where we could be more efficient, saving time and money.” He pointed out that not everyone knows where to look for answers to logistic problems or how to find out what works best, yet finding the right fit is vital for a continuous flow in the transportation chain. Guy Stephenson of Westwood Sh ipping agrees say ing that Japan, Korea and China place value on quality products so there is a real opportunity for products from the island looking for
a marketplace in Asia. Callant said that throughout the transportation chain there are large and small roles played by different companies and individuals that most businesses may not even consider. For him, moving large slabs and chunks of rock presents some unique challenges, especially as it is coming from a remote area. “DP World invested a lot of time and effort into reducing the company’s costs by helping us with efficiencies and connecting us with key players along the transportation routes. Its service was excellent and all the connections were well organized.” He said that using the Duke Point container service has allowed him to increase the volume of marble shipped to four containers of test rock per week. With a fixed schedule through Westwood Sh ippi ng’s seven ships, companies like Callache are better able to plan production and service schedules, especially as the majority of port calls are in Japan, followed by Korea and then China. Making sure it gets where it needs to, at a reasonable price, ensures Callache can compete with other high quality marble and for Callant, that makes the past two years of hard work and effort worthwhile.
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GREATER VICTORIA
6
SEPTEMBER 2016
THE RETAIL PLASTIC BAG - NECESSARY? Businesses already feel heavy pressure to keep costs low as possible to remain competitive not just regionally, but
GREATER VICTORIA
globally as well
PEGGY KULMALA
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he City of Victoria Council is presently considering a “phased in ban or required retail bag fee, at a cost of no less than 10 cents per bag, to incentivise the adoption of sustainable reusable bags, with the City’s recommendation to re-invest those funds to improve business packaging and sustainability programs and future packaging reduction initiatives.” (Council Minutes - May 26, 2016). Plastic retail bags are fast becoming more than just a portable container for our purchases. They are a symbol for consumer waste, a symbol of what is threatening our environment, even a symbol for poor choices. Symbolism aside, retail plastic bags usage is just the tip
of t he proverbia l iceberg. In Greater Victoria, we do well i n re sident i a l wa ste d iversion, i.e. separating out our recycl i ng, orga n ics, etc. from what goes to the landfill. But we perhaps have a way to go in overall solid waste reduction. For example, when I put out my curbside recycling, I see an increasing number of blue bins throughout my neighbourhood overflowing w it h si ng le-use packag i ng. This is the packaging that we all use in our day-to-day activities. The bulk of what I see in the blue bins are the plastic containers encasing the food we buy and - ironically - carry home in our reusable shopping bags. So why the focus on plastic bags? Business owners and leaders are already actively engaged in solid waste management. Not just because they themselves are also environmentally-aware citizens, but because collection and transport of solid waste is increasingly costly. Businesses often employ waste minimisation strategies, e.g. preventing waste by the three Rs, Reduce, Reuse or Recycle – often on their own time and dime. These businesses encourage their employees and customers to reduce waste, such as by giving discounts for use of their
SEPTEMBER CHAMBER EVENTS • Thursday, September 8 Prodigy Group Mingle 5 pm to 7 pm - Victoria Premium Automobiles Ltd. • Tuesday, September 13 Business Leader’s Luncheon: Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change 11:30 am to 1 pm - Union Club of BC • Thursday, September 15 Business Mixer – Swans own reusable containers, e.g. cloth shopping bag or beverage container or like at The Chamber, removing all garbage cans from offices and common areas! Businesses already feel heavy pressure to keep costs low as possible to remain competitive not just regionally, but globally as well. Business should not have to spend their time and money to sort through their employees and consumers’ solid waste looking for what can be diverted from landfill, when the end-user can much easier do so pre-disposal. Both ou r env i ron ment a nd
Hotel & Brewpub • Wednesday, September 21 Summer Social Series: End of Summer Soiree l Art Gallery of Greater Victoria • Wednesday, September 28 Business Leader’s Luncheon: Connie Fair, CEO Land Title & Survey Authority of BC Hotel Grand Pacific
economy need a coordinated and region-wide approach to solid waste reduction, one that that engages consumers, businesses, municipalities and industries throughout Greater Victoria. One that reduces costs on businesses and creates incentives to do business in Greater Victoria. Peggy Kulmala is the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s manager of policy and public affairs. 250-383-7191, policy@ victoriachamber.ca, www. victoriachamber.ca
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SEPTEMBER 2016
LONG-TIME ACCOUNTING FIRM EXTENDS REACH WITH PARTNERSHIP “I have great confidence Largest SEC filling firm for small and middle market companies acquires 50 per cent ownership in local accounting firm
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A NA IMO - Early this y e a r, l o n g-t i m e a ccounting firm Morine & Company partnered with Gregory Wahl, founding member and majority managing partner of Anton & Chia, LLP (A&C). The new partnership, Anton, Bryson & Schindler, Chartered Professional Accountants LLP (the ‘Firm’), will be used to run joint projects between Canad i a n a nd US compa n ies a s well as serving existing clients. Fou nded i n 1985 by George Morine, Morine & Company has provided accounting services from offices in Nanaimo and White Rock for 35 years. It specializes in aboriginal client services, audits, reviews and c ompi l at ion s, e s t ate pl a nn i ng, ma nagement adv isory services, estate and trust tax preparation and US and International taxation. “I have persona l ly worked with the partners of Morine & Co. for almost 17 years. When G eorge was ready to tra nsition out of day-to-day Fi rm m a n agement, I felt it wa s a good time to acquire the comp a n y a n d e x t e n d o u r p l a tform,” said Wahl. “We also like the pa rtnersh ip w ith Travis Bryson, aud it i n cha rge a nd Kevin Schindler, pa r t ner i n charge of taxations services, as they bring their unique skill sets to the Canadian market.” Travis Bryson, heads up both offices in Cobble Hill and Nana i mo a nd Kev i n Sch i nd ler, the White Rock office, with the entire Firm run by the named partnership Anton, Bryson & Schindler. Morine & Co. said that they are excited by the opportunities the new partnership will bring.
that we as a team can continue to provide excellent service to the existing client base and bring US tax expertise to Canada.” GREGORY WAHL ANTON, BRYSON & SCHINDLER
Gregory Wahl is the founding member and majority managing partner of Anton & Chia LLP CREDIT:ANTON & CHIA
“We know th is w ill bu ild a stronger, deeper team for the firm. Our clients will now have access to US tax and accounting advice. I feel like we can now go toe-to-toe w ith a ny other fi rm when it comes to breadth of services to our clients,” said Bryson. A nton, Bryson & Schindler will now have offices in Vancouver, Nanaimo, White Rock and Cobble Hill, with a combined experience working in a va riety of fields i nclud i ng not-for-prof its, tech nolog y companies and the mining industry. As part of the A nton & Chia network it can access
comprehen sive capabi l it ies with an international reach. “I have great confidence that we as a team can continue to prov ide excel lent serv ice to the ex isti ng cl ient base a nd bring US tax expertise to Canada,” Wahl said. “Our firm in the USA has been able to generate a significant amount of Canadian projects which further led us to adding ourselves i nto t he ex i s t i n g Ca n ad i a n partnership. The opportunity to have an office in my home town in White Rock, where my parents are still residents, was also a nice opportunity for me personally,” Wahl said. Wahl added that the partnership will also provide greater suppor t ser v ices for its cl ients and create international g row t h op p or t u n it i e s a s it connects with its affiliates in Hong Kong, Mexico City and Mainland China. “With the dual listing we are able to increase our access to local capital markets. Our clients benefit from having the same people looking after their accounts but with a stronger ability to service international connections,” said Bryson. Wahl has almost 17 years of experience as a certified public and chartered accountant, developing particular expertise with financial institutions a nd specia lty f i n a nce companies. In the past ten years he has worked with companies
Kevin Schindler is partner in charge of taxation service for Anton, Bryson & Schindler
Travis Bryson is audit in charge at Anton, Bryson & Schindler CREDIT:ANTON & CHIA
CREDIT:ANTON & CHIA
all over the world, completing going public transactions and secondary public offerings a nd work w ith aud iti ng a nd consulting companies to resolve complex accounting and Secu r it ies a nd Com m ission Exchange (SEC) issues. “We are able to take companies public on the international exchange markets of Toronto, New York, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong,” Wahl said. He added that the firm has a seasoned and skilled team of consultants, advisors and audit specialists many of whom a re bi-l i n g u a l or mu lt i l i ng u a l who spea k a va r iety of languages including French, Spanish, Afrikaans, Mandari n, Ca ntonese, Korea n a nd Hebrew. “We are the largest SEC fili ng f i r m on t he West Coa st of the United States, not including the Big 4 accounting firms with over 135 SEC filing public companies and broker dealers.” Morine & Co said that being able to access the expertise of one of the top SEC auditors in the US w i l l help those of its clients with big plans for their businesses.
Servicing more than 2,400 clients around the globe in the small to middle market, A&C and the Firm professionals have been early pioneers in the use of reverse merger coupled with a Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) to provide private companies an alternative method of going public and raising money. A&C, the Firm and its experts also offer clients ongoing educational webcasts and hosted events that include roundtable and panel discussions in a variety of topics. A&C was founded by Wahl and his wife, Georgia Chung, in late 2009. Anton holds 45 per cent of shares, and Chung another 45 per cent. Since that time, the firm has acquired and merged with other CPA firms to build its bank of experience and knowledge. On Thursday, August 18 the Firm will host a meet and greet and introduction to the new entity, Anton, Bryson & Schindler, at the Fairmount Pacific Rim in downtown Vancouver f ro m 5 p m to 8p m . C l i e n t s, friends a nd referra l sou rces are welcome to attend. A nton, Bryson & Schindler is at 975 Terminal Avenue in Nanaimo www.ancsecservices.com
Chartered Professional Accountants LLP Full Service Accounting Firm Serving Vancouver Island
975 Terminal Ave, Nanaimo 250-753-9193 • 1486 Fisher Road, Cobble Hill 250-743-2861 • www.ancsecservices.com
8
SEPTEMBER 2016
COMPANY PROVIDES BUILDINGS WITH THE FINISHING TOUCH Great White Cladding & Decking – A Specialized Sheet Metal Fabricator
V
ICTORIA – The exterior cladding of a commercial or institutional building is more than its outer shell. The cladding is the finishing touch, the signature that clearly states to the world the identity of the owner of the building and what they bring to their customers, clients or guests. In many ways well designed and constructed exterior cladding is a form of subliminal signage that encompasses and embraces the entire structure. For more than seven years Great White Cladding & Decking Ltd. has helped to envision and apply that signature to some of Vancouver Island’s premier commercial, retail and institutional buildings, and for the company the story has only just begun. “The company’s roots are in metal fabricating and sheet metal work. There are many other companies that specialize in specific products, such as ventilation ductwork, but we work primarily as a cladding contractor,” explained company President Danny White.
Proud to supply Great White Cladding & Decking Victoria 2948 Ed Nixon Terrace Victoria, BC, V9B 0B2 Tel: 250-474-5733
Fax: 250-474-5770 www.convoy-supply.com
The new Andrew Sheret building in Victoria is one of Great White’s more recent major projects A t r u e f a m i ly-ow n e d a n d operated busi ness, W h ite co-ow n s t he compa ny w it h h i s f a t h e r D o n W h i te , h i s step-mother Lorrel White and silent partner Jim Fitton. While the company has operated in V ic tor i a for t he pa s t seven years, its roots actually go back more than 20. Originally Don W hite owned and operated a sheet metal fabricating business in Campbell River called CamAir Systems, a firm that had a Victoria branch administered by Danny W hite. Eventually Cam-Air Systems was acquired by Nelson Roofing & Sheet Metal Ltd. The new owners elected to close the Victoria office, leaving the younger White with some personal decisions to make.
“So it was either go work for another company or start up my own business and that’s basically the reason Great White came into being,” White remembers. “It was good timing actually, I was ready and mature enough to take on the challenge, and I had been running the Victoria office. I had been estimating jobs for years so I already had the skills needed to launch the company.” A certified Sheet Metal Mechanic for more than 20 years, it was White’s skills in successfully planning and estimating jobs that gave him the confidence to embark on his own. “I had been running the Cam-Air division down here already so when Nelson chose to close it I took my Dad aside and said I’m going to start my own company and I want you to be my estimator,” he said. The Great White Cladding and Decking company name came about as a play on words of the White family name, with the added incentive that the world’s deadliest shark was also Danny White’s favorite animal. “I love that shark, and for logos and marketing we felt the shark image was a good one.” The fledgling company grew gradually, at first working as a sub trade provider out of the back of their truck, with Don focusing on the estimating and Danny working on the job site. In time the company grew, increasing in size, confidence and crew compliment year by year. Today, operating out of a 4,000 square foot
More than an exterior covering modern cladding can also function as an effect form of advertising facility at A2-6702 Rajpur Place, Great White Cladding & Decking provides a wide range of services including roof decking, wall cladding as well as the fabricating and installing of architectural panels. “We just got bigger each and every year so we ended up getting our own shop to make our own materials. We were primarily buying materials from suppliers. But after a couple of years we were big enough and busy enough to justify taking on that overhead and getting our own shop. I’m born and raised in Victoria and I know a lot of people so that was also a big help when we first launched the company.” Great White Cladding & Decking’s staff count rises and falls, depend i ng on the sca le a nd complexity of the projects the company is working on. While typically having a team of about eight employees, the firm’s ranks can swell to 30 or more when involved in major projects. Having worked throughout Vancouver Island, Great White has completed a wide range of projects including office structures, car dealerships, restaurants, recreational facilities and even high end homes. “While we do fabrication I’d have to describe us primarily as an installer. Many of the products
that we put on buildings we have to buy as it’s not possible to make them ourselves,” White explained. While capable of fabricating materials in its shop, the bulk of the company’s trade is devoted to installation, working alongside of some of the leading commercial construction firms in the province such as Farmers Construction Ltd., Campbell Construction Ltd., Norson Construction Ltd., Island West Coast Developments Ltd., Knappet Projects Inc., Knight Contracting Ltd., and many others. Excited for the future Great White is about to embark on one of its largest projects to date, the Capital Park Project, a six building mixed used development in Victoria’s downtown core. Great White will be involved with the first two buildings, but that could be just the beginning. Located in proximity to the provincial legislature, the Capital Park Project is being jointly developed by Jawl Properties Ltd. and Concert Properties Ltd. and will in time will encompass a full city block and will include a mixture of offices, retail space and residential elements. For example the developers expect as many as 175 rental and condominium styles homes to be included in the overall project. “It will probably be the biggest construction project on Vancouver Island right now. This project could provide five years work for us if things go right. The interesting thing about Jawl Properties is that they build their own buildings and they then retain them to be rented out. Most of their clients are people like the government, high end office clients,” he said. Despite having grown dramatically over the years White has never lost sight of what has made their company so successful, quality and customer service. “The heart of our ongoing success has always been the quality of our work. Even though we’re bigger we’re still a Mom and Pop type operation, providing quality personal service.” For more information visit the company’s website at: www.gwcd. ca
On behalf of Dan and Staff congratulations on your success! We have enjoyed working with Great White Cladding & Decking since its inception and look forward to working with them in the future.
1-844-920-9691 www.advantagecrane.com Victoria, BC and Nanaimo, BC
9
SEPTEMBER 2016
Quality Victoria Drywall: The Name Says It All
V
ICTORIA – For Jason Green, the coowner of Quality Victoria Drywall (QVD), the company’s name is much more than a business identifier, it’s a true corporate philosophy. “The name really does say it all for us: Quality. That’s what we want, quality workmanship and professional results every time we take on a job.” QVD is the result of a merger between two existing Capital Region drywall companies, a melding of two firms that collectively bring more than 30 years of combined drywall experience to every job they carry out for their customers. Quality Victoria Drywall recently becoming a member of the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA) and has amassed an impressive list of completed residential and commercial projects over the years. “We are confident that you will be more than pleased with the level of care and attention to detail in the work produced by our team. We pride ourselves on the ability to complete projects on time and within budget. That said, we kindly ask that QVD will be included in your tender list for upcoming projects,” the firm’s marketing literature states. “I would have to describe us as a mid-sized company as we’re not small, but we don’t really want to be big either. We want (and enjoy) being able to work hands-on every day. Both I and my partner Joe Ambasse work with a crew of tapers everyday so we actually put on our tool belts each day and go out on the job site,” he said. “We want to work with the great contractors who always expect and need quality work, that’s what we’re after. We could take on more work but we won’t because if we took everything that came our way the quality would suffer and that’s something I’m not going to accept. As far as the other drywall companies go, I’m not going to be the lowest priced and I know I’m not the highest-priced,
What it’s all about: Quality Victoria Drywall brings quality and an attention to detail to every job
The Red Barn Market in Oak Bay was a significant recent project for Quality Victoria Drywall
The company works on all types of construction projects including both residential and commercial
is the solid relationships it has developed with some of the region’s top general contractors. “It can be a slow build trying to meet the new contractors that are up and coming, creating positive relationships. But our goal always, with every job, is to keep them happy, that’s what leads to the next job.” Looking toward the future Green anticipates a continued slow but steady growth for his company. “It’s difficult to envision what the future holds, I think right now we’re in a pretty comfortable spot work-wise, we’d like to add a few more to our list of contractors and do everything we can to keep them happy.” To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www.qualityvictoriadrywall. com
With its fleet of service vehicles the company can work on projects across the Capital Region
“The name really does say it all for us: Quality.” JASON GREEN CO-OWNER, QUALITY VICTORIA DRYWALL
I’m aiming for that middle ground which I think is the right spot for us to be.” While much of the work carried out by the company involves single family residential homes, increasingly QVD is taking on multifamily housing projects, with the company about to start work on a pair of townhome developments. “Right at the moment we have two townhouse projects coming up one is on Toronto Street and another on Wagar Avenue in Langford,” he explained. “The Langford project is being built by JP Creations while the other is for Bennefield Construction. One of the projects will be a sixplex while the other involves five units. As our company slowly expands we’re gradually taking on new types of projects.” Just a few of the company’s successful commercial projects include the new Red Barn Market in Oak Bay (for Gorter Construction) and a trio of dental offices for Seabrook Developments. A key part of the company’s ongoing success
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SEPTEMBER 2016
I CONTINUE TO LEARN
HR CHRISTINE WILLOW
O
ur company recently went through a merger. What I learned or more accurately was reminded of is that even as subject matter experts, there are still things we don’t always get quite right. The usual process involves negotiations and discussions and a strategic plan for implementation. As business owners and entrepreneurs, we are usually very good at working out all the logistical and financial aspects of such a process, but what about the people side of the equation? Bringing two different groups of employees, each with their own culture and working style together and there are bound to be some bumps along the way, no matter how well you plan the process. In our situation, we thought we had taken all the necessary steps to ensure that the integration of the two teams would go smoothly, and for the most part we did. We; met with the new team members individually; had a meeting as a group with both teams; provided company information on payroll, benefits and policies and prepared an orientation plan. But was our HR onboarding process and orientation plan sufficient and detailed enough? Well it turns out we missed some things. And while they were small in the scope of all the other activities, it still created a negative outcome in the sense of frustrated new employees. A s a n exa mple: we requ i re our employees to change their password for their computers/ email/ etc. every three months. For those of us working here for some time, this is just one of those regular routines you don’t even think about anymore. However, if you are new and come in to work on Monday morning, with pressing deadlines and you can’t log in, frustration! W hile this may seem like a small thing, for a new employee it can present their new employer as either careless or “I’m not important”. Not the tone that I wish to set in our work environment. It re-emphasized the importance of ensuring that we provided all the information needed by a new employee to set them up for success right from the start.
Starting a new job comes with many emotions; excitement, confusion and vulnerability are just a few. So as a reminder to all of us managers and employers, here are some of the steps to remember to ensure our new employees feel welcomed through a fulsome onboarding and orientation program: 1. E f fe c t i v e o n b o a r d i n g starts during the recruitment and hiring phase. This is when you can inform the potential new employee of your culture and the type of environment in which they will work. 2. Ensure that they know the expectations right from the start by providing a copy of the job description and a copy of the performance appraisal so that they know how their performance will be measured and what they will be held accountable for. 3. Create an orientation template that identifies some or a l l of the fol low i ng: • Compa ny over v iew; •A d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e quirements such as what documents need to b e completed for payr o l l , s e c u r i t y, c o n f id e nt i a l it y, k e y s, e tc.; •C o m p a n y t o u r and introductions •What they can expect on Day 1, Week 1 and Month 1; •W h o w i l l b e t h e i r key contact to a n swer questions? 4. Company tour – welcome new employees with a tour of the company and introductions to co-workers. 5. On the job training – identify the training the employee will receive for the first three months in their new position. 6. Mentors h ip – c on s ider ident i f y i ng a not her employee i n either the same or similar position to be the go-to person for questions. As I have been recently reminded of, when onboarding and providing orientation for your new employee don’t overlook the little things, have a system with checklists and relevant company information and don’t just focus on the paperwork. Make your new employee feel welcomed and valued right from the start. The benefits of a successful onboarding and orientation program ensures that your new hire is engaged, builds trust, connects them with the rest of your team and reduces turnover. Christine Willow is a partner with Chemistry Consulting and can be reached at c.willow@ chemistryconsulting.ca
GRAPHIC OFFICE INTERIORS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
As the building is also up a hill, a 250,000-gallon water holding tank was installed under the floor to ensure proper water pressure in case of an emergency. Before moving into the new facility, Nagy’s journey with the company began over 36 years ago, when as a young 24-yearold looking for a business opportunity, he spoke with his friend and original owner of Graphic, John Varrelman. “John was looking for a succession plan and I wanted to take over the business.” Nagy describes the business as helping offices visualize what the idea l work env i ron ment would look like and then creating that space. “We take a room and create a 2D and 3D rendering with furniture, walls and flooring using proprietary software and Oculus Rift eye goggles for a virtual image,” he explained. “A large portion of what we do is design furniture that works for function, the individual and the environment.” He said that Graphic manages entire office projects, specifying, ordering and sequencing the installation, making sure the resources and installation fit the timeline. “Having a large warehouse has been key to managing any
On the right owner of Graphic Office Interiors, Steve Nagy with one of his business partner and Vice President of sales South Island, Wade Neilson CREDIT:GRAPHIC OFFICE INTERIORS
construction delays and providing our customers with peace of mind,” he said. Although owning a successful well-known business is an exciting accomplishment, Nagy said winning the Platinum Partner award made for a proud moment as part of the requirements included measu ri ng customer satisfaction. “Steelcase rates suppliers on their bottom line, performance and community involvement, but most importantly it ranks us based on customer’s feedback,” he explained. “We were in the 95 percentile for an overall satisfied customer experience.” He claims that part of that excellent service comes from a very stable workforce of long time,
experienced staff, including son Chris and daughter Katie Guyon, both project managers and furniture design consultants with more than ten years’ experience with the company. “The two other shareholders, Wade Neilson, vice president of sales South Island and Rick Kent, vice president of sales North Island have also been with the company more than 20 years. Both Rick and Wade are highly active in the business community and reflect Graphic’s core values of customer satisfaction and honest communication while ensuring great solutions,” said Nagy. Graphic Office Interiors has offices in Victoria and Nanaimo www.graphicoffice.com
If your Company is considering any Office Technology changes be sure to call Island Office Equipment for a no obligation consultation. Whether you’re looking to replace an aging printer/copier or would like to learn how your existing technology can integrate document workflows to increase productivity, we can help! VICTORIA 104-3375 Whittier Ave. Victoria, BC V8Z 3R1
NANAIMO 33-1925 Bowen Rd. Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1
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12
SEPTEMBER 2016
COMPANY SPECIALIZES IN HEAVY CIVIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS “The best way to explain Heavy Metal Marine: Providing Construction & Pile Driving Services
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ICTORIA – If something is to be built to last, it has to begin with a solid foundation. When building large scale commercial and industrial projects that requirement is even more important. For Victoria’s Heavy Metal Marine Ltd. building that foundation, pile driving to bedrock for both land-based and shore-based assignments is at the heart of everything it does. Co-owned by Brian Freethy and Ashly Williams (who met in High School), Heavy Metal Marine is described as Vancouver Island’s most diverse marine contracting firm, involved in projects ranging from building seawalls and dredging, to installing docks, building marinas, pile driving piers, building boardwalks, marine towing and much more. “We focus on the individual building needs of each customer,” Freethy said. The company began in a small way when the two high school friends worked for William’s father who was the operator of a small marine construction firm. “We worked for him for a while,
CONGRATULATIONS TO BRIAN AND HEAVY METAL MARINE ON YOUR SUCCESS!
604.241.9487 WWW.WTL.CA CLINT@WTL.CA
what we do is to describe us as a heavy civil construction company.” BRIAN FREETHY CO-OWNER, HEAVY METAL MARINE LTD.
but in 2004 we decided to break out and do our own thing,” he explained. “The best way to explain what we do is to describe us as a heavy civil construction company. We literally do everything from all marine structures to highway bridges to having just completed the new Coho ferry terminal in downtown Victoria,” Freethy said. Working all across the province, Heavy Metal Marine does far more than marine-themed projects and has worked for both corporate and government clients. The core of its business remains its pile driving operation, but the company also provides a full range of welding and metal fabricating services, constructs a variety of marine floatation systems for floating docks, builds a range of bridges from small private projects to major highway structures and can even handle sea-going towing assignments. “Of course depending on the size and scope of the project our staff count can vary. Typically we have about 20 core people but we can bring on a fair number of other employees when needed. We also have a corps of sub contractors who work for us on an ongoing basis,” he said. In addition to the skills of its crews Heavy Metal Marine also operates an extensive fleet of specialized equipment including tugboats and boom boats, a trio of spud barges equipped with 50 ton cranes, trucks, excavating equipment, dredging and drilling gear, welding trucks and much more. “T he equ ipment l ist keeps growing as the company has. We
Heavy Metal Marine operates an expanding fleet of tugboats and custom designed barges operate close to 10 cranes of various sizes right now. We also own three highway tractor low-beds, three excavators and a rock truck, three flat barges, two tugs, a collection that seems to be growing daily,” he jokingly said. While originally focusing on marine-based projects such as pile driving for docks, and installing f loating structures, Heavy Metal Marine increasingly finds itself taking on extensive land-based drilling assignments, a division of the business that is becoming ever more important to the operation. “In recent months we’re really gotten into the down-hole drilling business, for rock sockets and caissons and things like that. As a result we’ve also made a substantial investment in drilling gear as we’re actively pursuing drilling projects on the water and for the foundations of buildings, bridges and other things,” Freethy said. An example of the work Heavy Metal Marine undertakes includes hav ing just completed the pile driving for the new Starline Windows Ltd. warehouse in Langford. The company is bidding on bridge projects for the provincial Ministry of Highways, one of any number of
Heavy Metal Marine recently completed a major industrial project at the Chemainus sawmill assignments that takes it far from its shoreline roots. “It’s been a couple of years now since we deliberately began to diversify away from solely marine jobs,” he said. “At the time the economy was rougher and there were fewer available jobs for us. But we recognized the work we do is adaptable for any number of applications so we were pretty
We wish Heavy Metal Marine continued success. Congratulations on your achievements. From all of us.
www.pipe-piling.com
much forced to d iversi f y to survive.” The Heavy Metal Marine business plan has proven simple but effective; perfect the skills needed to carry out heavy civil construction, train your employees to be adaptive, acquire the equipment to complete the HEAVY METAL MARINE | PAGE 13
Best wishes for continued success
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13
SEPTEMBER 2016
Not all of the work carried out by the company is on water; they also built a bridge for the CRD
Down-hole drilling and pile driving is one of the core services provided by Heavy Metal Marine assignments and be willing to travel to take on the jobs, wherever located. “We basically stuck with what we knew; the niche construction projects. We’re also careful about hiring good people to work for us and we aren’t afraid to go after the work. It’s a plan that has worked really well for us,” he said. The ideal Heavy Metal Marine staff member is one who enjoys working outdoors, and isn’t concerned about working in remote or isolated locations, especially when it comes to installing docks for industrial clients. “Definitely some of the places where we work can be pretty challenging. We often work out on the West Coast, places where the weather can be pretty nasty sometimes,” he said.
“T hat’s where it really is a benefit that we have such a good group of people. It’s always fun to be out working with these guys, many of whom have been with us a long time.” While specialists in heavy civil construction, Heavy Metal Marine has various other divisions including carrying out the design and installation of floating docks, using the DuraFloat floatation system. Ideal for floating docks, boathouses, rafts and other applications the DuraFloat billets are made of extruded polystyrene insulation (Styrofoam) encased within a tough plastic shell. Easy to fabricate, durable for use, the floats resist the growth of mussels and other sea life, they inhibit the absorption of oil and other contaminants in the water
and their light weight allows for fast and easy construction of floating structures. The system is ideal for camps, resorts or any application requiring moveable and easy to maintain floating structures. The billets are extremely buoyant (one cubic foot of DuraFloat can float 65 pounds of weight in salt water), they can be fabricated in any size, and they even come with a five year warranty. Another key part of the Heavy Metal Marine output is its expanding drilling and pile driving operations, for both land and sea based uses. “Our heavy focus this year has been with our drilling business, a part of the operation we really want to see grow in the coming years,” Freethy said. To create the solid foundation needed for an industrial client piles must be driven into the ground and then rock socketed into place. “We do down-hole drilling. The Coho ferry terminal is a good example of that part of our work. For that project we drilled more than one hundred 24” piles with four and a half meter rock sockets to ensure stability and longevity,” he said. Serving a specialized niche market, Heavy Metal Marine is one of only a handful of companies in British Columbia experienced and equipped to handle this sort of work, it’s a service it is increasingly being called up to carry out. “We’re seeing a lot of engineers
who favor the rock socketed pile approach for long term stability, for seismic reasons and others. We feel as time goes on this service will become increasingly important for us,” he said. The need for pile driving and caisson usage is especially important in a situation where a large amount of overburden is present. A heavy structure cannot be build on century old refuse or mine tailings, so the only option is to drive piles through to the bedrock to ensure a solid base. With its specialized skills and equipment the company is ideally situated to tap this increasingly important market. All over BC communities are
recycling former industrial lands for commercial and residential uses. Lands that were once located well beyond an urban center have now become prime commercial properties, but require special techniques to be put to a 21st Century use. “You have to drill down through the overburden, whatever material has been dumped there, before getting down into the rock. Once there you drill the pile four meters down into the rock or whatever is specified before construction can begin.” For the future Heavy Metal Marine expects to grow, expanding on its pile driving services while exploring other opportunities as they appear. A partial list of the firm’s clients include governments, Seaspan, Western Forest Products, Lafarge and others, encouraging Freethy to be optimistic about what lies ahead. “We intend to continue to grow and expand, while responding to the needs and changes the market shows us,” he said. “There are certainly plans to expand our fleet of equipment in the coming years, bigger cranes and bigger barges, while taking on more assignments that are not strictly marine-based. Thanks to our loyal customers who have helped us grow we’re excited about what’s still to come.” For more information visit the company’s website at: www. heavymetalmarineltd.com
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14
SEPTEMBER 2016
BIG OR SMALL – RENOVATION COMPANY HANDLES IT ALL “Sometimes you can take Orian Construction: Specialists in Residential Renovation
V
ICTORIA – Dorian Jeck, the owner of Orian Construction Inc. has become one of the Victoria area’s premier residential renovation specialists. Having essentially grown up around woodworking he has brought more than 25 years of experience to the task of updating and enhancing residential properties all across the Capital Region “I grew up around carpentry, my Dad always had a workshop and he worked in the shipyards doing boat building and furniture making and that sort of thing,” he explained. “Later my Mom and Dad opened a home based business where we had a huge wood working shop fabricating wood products. If I don’t smell sawdust it’s like there’s something wrong.” Prior to launching Orian Construction Jeck had spent more than 12 years working with his brother in a similar business before he felt prepared enough to branch out his own. “I grew up on Gabriola Island with that community-focused, small island mentality. Communities where personal service and trust are very important,” he said.
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We are proud to continue our successful partnership with Orian Construction and wish Dorian and his team continued success for future projects.
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something that initially looks pretty ugly and turn it into something beautiful.” DORIAN JECK OWNER, DORIAN CONSTRUCTION INC.
“So I always try to bring that sense of caring and personal attention to everything I do. I always treat my sub trades with respect, making sure they’re looked after and paid on time. If you pay your trades right away you’ll always get the best service from them. I think it’s something very important to do as they’re depending on me and I’m equally depending on them.” Specializing in residential renovation Jeck has done everything from small upgrades to major rebuilds, consistently treating his clients big and small to the same level of respect and personal service. Orian Construction consists currently of Jeck, six carpenters and one office person, but the firm regularly works with a corps of specialized sub trades as the projects warrant. “My ca r penters do a l l t he finishing, framing, enveloping and demolition and I then employ
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Proud to support Orian Construction. All my best to Dorian and the team.
“All of the guys I have working with me take legitimate pride in everything they do as well. So keeping the client informed, being organized, doing quality work and providing exceptional customer service are all part of the process. That’s something I strive for every time I go out.” Enjoying the unique creative challenges of home renovation work, coupled with the satisfaction of being his own boss Jeck feels he’s found his chosen vocation. Looking toward the future he’s confident the Victoria area market has enough work in store to keep him busy for the rest of his career. “I figure I’ve got another 25 odd years of work ahead of me before
I have to retire and look forward to seeing what the future has in store,” he joked. “I can’t imagine branching out into new home construction, at least not at the moment. I really enjoy renovation work it’s more of a challenge. Sometimes you can take something that initially looks pretty ugly and turn it into something beautiful so that can be a lot of fun.” The scale of the projects the company takes on is as varied as the customers it serves. From handling small jobs like fence repairs or bathroom updates to major tasks like a complete home renovation Orian Construction has the skills, the crew and the heart to do the job right, regardless of the size or complexity. With as many as six renovation projects on the go at any one time Jeck and his crew will typically complete up to 50 jobs per year. Given the pace of his workload, and the positive response from his clients, he doesn’t expect his market to dry up any time soon. Jeck finds that thanks to word of mouth promotion from his satisfied customers there is little need for formal advertising, as he is generally fully booked in terms of his company’s ongoing workload. “Regardless of what success we have it’s certainly not a one man show by any stretch of the imagination. No matter what the job is it simply couldn’t be done without my trades. We have a great team, I’ve been working with the same trades for years, and my guys are terrific,” he said. While currently focusing solely on the residential renovation market Jeck does not discount the idea of branching into new home construction at some point in the future. “Certainly if the opportunity came up I would not automatically turn it down. I won’t say it will never happen,” he said. “It’s an exciting time and I’m looking forward to what the future has to offer.” For more i n formation v isit the company’s website at: www.orian.construction
We are a proud partner in the success of Orian Construction. Congratulations Dorian 250.418.1385 | adrianlise@shaw.ca Victoria, BC
Updating an older home can include everything up to a complete rebuild if the clients desires
Orian Construction is specialists in updating homes from new kitchens to complete renovations trades for everything else,” he stated. For Jeck there are three keys to his businesses success: good communication, an attention to detail in terms of quality and proper planning and organization long before the project actually begins. Providing proper communication with the clients at every stage of the project is an important part of Orian’s business model. “If the job can’t be done right I won’t do it. Doing work of a consistent quality is vital for any successful project. I won’t do the job unless there is quality. When you’re a small company owner like me my name is on everything I do so it’s important I do the job right,” he said.
We are proud of our strong relationship with Orian Construction, and we are pleased to wish Dorian and his team all the best. 3955 55 Quadra Street | Victoria Victoria, BC | (250) 479-7151 | www.lumberworld.net www lumberwo
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SEPTEMBER 2016
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VICTORIA HARBOUR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
our Victoria presence. At the same time we had a lease coming up with the city and that was part and parcel of the negotiations for the locating of the new facility.” In the City of Victoria’s Official Community Plan it had been envisioned that Harbour Air’s new terminal would be built on land, but in its discussions with the city the airline realized that given the value of the city’s limited supply of waterfront property, there could be other potential uses for the land that would have been otherwise occupied by the new terminal. With that in mind it was decided to place the facility in the harbor itself. “So we put out the idea of building a floating terminal, an idea the city agreed to so we started going down that road. It wasn’t something that happened overnight to be sure, but the end result of five years of planning, construction and installation,” Wright said. Harbour Air is considered to be North America’s largest floatplane airline, with 50 aircraft. The company, which opened for business in 1982, currently operates a dozen seaplane bases up and down the BC coast. The company has its head office and principle maintenance facilities in Richmond, close to the Vancouver International Airport.
The floating air terminal serves as a base for both Harbour Air and Kenmore Air for its Seattle runs
At a special ceremony in May First Nation carver Richard Hunt unveiled his unique artwork for the terminal
For Wright the effort that went into creating and opening the new terminal has been well worth the effort. “I think it has turned out better than anyone expected it to be. It’s opened the whole area up and the community has totally embraced it,” he said. “The open deck down below is a real crowd pleaser. People are just coming down to walk around and take in the incredible views. I’m personally blown away by how many tour groups will actually come in and see Richard Hunt’s carving inside the terminal. There are actual tour groups coming down to look at the piece. It’s a ten by nine foot piece for our feature wall inside the terminal.” Hunt is a world famous First
“I have not had a single negative comment since it first came in here in early February. Everybody has said it’s an asset to the harbour front.” Strictly an air terminal, the new structure does not feature any corporate offices, but was designed from the start solely to service air travelers in the most pleasant and natural way possible. “Our core businesses include scheduled passenger service, flight-seeing, charter services and freight. This facility was designed to facilitate those functions seamlessly.” Victoria has always been one of Harbour Air’s busiest operations, with an average of 250,000 passengers coming in and out of the facility annually. The opening
Nation carver from Port Hardy whose work has been showcased at museums around the globe including in Ottawa and at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. The terminal’s original concept was designed by Sid Chow (of Chow Low Hammond Architects Inc.) in Victoria. Following his retirement the final design work was completed by the firm of Ted Murray Architect Inc. of Vancouver. CanPro Construction Ltd. of Victoria was the general contractor for the actual construction of the project. “I’m so pleased with the fact that everywhere I go I hear from the public ‘wow I just saw the new terminal, it’s just great’ – that’s especially rewarding as I’m Victoria born and raised,” Wright said.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS CONVEY EMOTIONS & INFORMATION “One of the most Company Specializes In The Unique Field Of Food Photography
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ANAIMO – For professional photographer Tim McGrath taking a great picture is important, but how that photo is taken can be even more crucial. Specializing in the field of food photography for clients as varied as restaurants, newspaper flyers and cookbooks, McGrath has learned during the past 10 years that the techniques used when capturing an image can play a huge role in conveying emotion and in eliciting a response. “One of the most important things to look for in a good picture is the composition. Don’t make it look too cluttered, think about the message you’re trying to convey and who will be viewing it,” he explained. As a food photographer understanding the end use of the image is essential. If for example a photo is to be used in a menu, it should make the person looking at it hungry. The image might be lighted in an indirect fashion, or shot at a low angle with a narrow depth of field to make it look seductive and appealing.
important things to look for in a good picture is the composition” TIM MCGRATH, OWNER, ITS-FOOD.CA
If on the other hand the photograph is to be used within a cookbook it’s more important to show how the dish will look in its finished state to aid future chefs wanting to try the recipe. In a situation like that the item will likely be placed in a more direct light, perhaps shot looking directly down on it, as the end result needs to be more instructional than emotional. “What is it you’re trying to say with the picture? It you’re trying to make them hungry you want to focus on the texture, the color and that sort of thing. What you don’t want to see is a cracked table or a cluttered and distracting background. Those things will draw the eye away from the food, which is the last thing you want,” he stated. The needs of the client, the eventual use of the photo and the
Focusing on the meal, the blurred backgrounds only help to draw the viewer’s attention to the plate
When working for a restaurant McGrath will seek to create images that illicit hunger and interest attitude and expectations of the persons who will view the photograph are all factors McGrath has to take in before he even begins his work. Each image is unique and conveys a different message. “Basically what it comes down to is you’re telling a story,” he said. For more i n formation v isi t t h e f i r m’s w e b s i te a t: www.its-food.ca
of the new centre should help to enhance that passenger flow, as it was designed to accommodate anticipated future growth. The new center also includes a full, permanent Canada Customs facility staffed by officers of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). “The harbour is the jewel of south Vancouver Island and the terminal fits in perfectly, above any expectations I may have had about it,” Wright said. “It has assumed the role of a hub in the harbour, as it is an idyllic location. As far as I’m concerned there’s nothing like it in the world!” For more information visit the company’s website at: www. harbourair.com
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SEPTEMBER 2016
CASCADE AQUA-TECH: SPECIALISTS IN GLAZING ACCESSORIES Family-Owned Business Has Served The Window Industry Since 1987
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ICTORIA – Since 1987 Cascade Aqua-Tech has been the supplier of choice for glazers, glass shops caulking contractors and waterproofing professionals in BC and Alberta. With four outlets in British Columbia (including Victoria) and two in Alberta, the company began as a small family-owned business
serving the window industry, but today has grown to service the full range of trades involved in the building envelope industry. “We supply the construction industry, specifically the glazing contractors and Waterproofers,” explained David Hyldig, the Branch Manager of the Victoria Cascade Aqua-Tech outlet. “We’re essentially serving a niche market, glass, window installs, building envelope wall systems and waterproofing supplies,” he said. “If you’re a window shop or a glass company you’ll likely be dealing with us for caulking and tapes and related materials, but
not the glass itself. We don’t sell the glass but all types of glazing accessories.” Cascade Aqua-Tech represents an extensive list of quality construction supply manufacturers including BASF, Henry Bakor, Dow Corning, Tremco, Q Railing, 3M, Siga, Kryton, Durock and many more. The company has grown over the past 29 years into one of the largest wholesaler and contractor outlets serving the glass and building envelope industries in Western Canada. Located at 540 Hillside Avenue Cascade Aqua-Tech’s Victoria branch features a sales and
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Cascade Aqua-Tech is located at 540 Hillside Avenue in a 5,000 square foot office / warehouse facility administrative office as well as a 5,000 square foot supply warehouse. One of its biggest assets of course is its staff of five who are trained and equipped with the sorts of real world industry knowledge their clients have come to rely upon. Cascade Aqua-Tech’s product line and knowledge base has expanded dramatically over the last three decades. While originally focused on providing glazing supplies, today the branches are also equipped to support the air vapor barrier industry, offer an assortment of architectural hardware products such as railings and stainless steel cladding and sell a wide range of coating and waterproofing options. “We’re regularly working with engineers and architects so we
have a broad scope and I like to think that we play a role in bringing the contractors and the engineers and all of the available products together.” For the future Cascade AquaTech anticipates remaining at the forefront of the industry by incorporating new technologies into its product lines as they become available. “We’re the service oriented, technical resource building supply outlet. There may be some places where you can go to get some of the same things but without the same level of technical support provided by our staff,” Hyldig said. Experienced in the glazing and air vapor barrier industry, a representative of most of the leading product manufacturers, a resource of current technological information, Cascade Aqua-Tech has grown and expanded over the years to become an industry leader, a position it expects to retain in the coming years. “Technology aside the real strengths of our business are the relationships we’ve developed over the years. We’ve gotten to where we are by doing everything we can to ensure projects go smoothly by finding the right solution for every application. That’s probably been the real key to our success, in the past and in the years to come,” he said. For more information visit the company’s website at: www.cascadeaqua.com
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SEPTEMBER 2016
BUSINESS LICENCE PROCESSING IMPROVES
ESQUIMALT RJ SENKO
Y
our Chamber is starting off September with an equal dichotomy of emotions as we say “A la prochaine” to our Office Administrator, Willow Thompson. Willow has been a tremendous asset these past few months as we transitioned our office administrative procedures. Unfortunately for us, Willow has been accepted full time to complete her Chartered Accountant schooling. We wish Willow all the best with her studies and are also pleased she will continue to work with us as a member of the Board. At our last Board meeting Willow was elected to serve as our Treasurer meaning
members can rest assured our accounts are in competent hands. Presently, we are working with our colleagues at the Greater Victoria Chamber to ensure continued staffing of our office and possibly even some enhanced service offerings to our members. Our effort to integrate our two Chambers has made such an arrangement possible and is a concrete example of the benefits of joining forces. Of course, the final decision on the integration will be up to members. It is hoped the Integration Committee will be in a position to report out later this fall, which will provide us with an opportunity to take the final agreement to members. We were disappointed to see Esquimalt lagging far behind other Island communities in terms of multi-family developments and building permits. Accord i n g to t he second quarter stats released by the Urban Development Institute Esquimalt had no multi-family units under construction as of June
30th and ranked 7th out of 8 municipalities in the Capital Region in terms of the number of units that are currently in the rezoning or permit stages. Speaking of permits the same statistics show Esquimalt did not break the top ten in terms of the value of total building permits issued Island wide in the first six months of 2016. Victoria topped the list at $156 million followed by Nanaimo ($99M), Saanich ($87M) and Langford ($77M). However, keeping with the dichotomy theme, Esquimalt has reported a positive improvement in its Business Licence processing times. Esquimalt staff say streamlining and improved tracking have cut average processing times in half (from roughly a month down to two weeks). On behalf of all our current and future members we say, “congratulations and thank you”! RJ Senko is a Vice-President at the Esquimalt Chamber and President of RJStrategies. He can be reached at 250-888-3534.
Westwood Shipping creates direct call to Nanaimo Port rotation permits higher value cargo from Japan and Korea
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ANAIMO - Westwood operates seven ships on a fixed schedule that permits shippers and receivers to better plan their production and service schedules. The majority of our port calls are in Japan, followed by Korea and then China. As a niche carrier, this port rotation permits Westwood to focus on higher value cargo from Japan and Korea for delivery in the Pacific Northwest, and into the interior of Canada and the U.S. As such, into the Pacific Northwest Westwood is the second largest carrier of containers from Japan and the fifth largest carrier of containers from Korea. Our China container business is conducted by use of feeder ships between China and our major Korean port of Busan. We also carry a substantial amount of heavy lift and project cargo from both Japan and Korea.
“We know in our trade lane that Japan, Korea and China place value on quality products.” GUY STEPHENSON PRESIDENT, WESTWOOD SHIPPING LINES INC.
On the export side, Westwood’s carries local and intermodal containerized a nd non-conta i nerized cargo direct to both large and small ports in Japan and Korea. Containerized cargoes include agricultural products (both by dry and refrigerated containers), stock for milk and juice cartons, and lumber. Westwood offers container service to China, again by feeder service from Busan.
Non-containerized cargoes are primarily wood pulp and lumber from B.C. and rolled paper products from Washington state. We also make a direct monthly call to China to serve BC’s forest product industry. As far as Vancouver Island in particular, as you can see Westwood offers a great deal of flexibility for shippers with a direct call to Nanaimo. On a total cost basis, direct service from Vancouver Island should be cost effective for shippers, especially with a carrier that can take both containerized and non-containerized cargo. And, we know in our trade lane that Japan, Korea a nd Ch i n a pl ace value on quality products, so we would expect that demand will increase for products from Vancouver Island. We believe that there is opportunity here, perhaps some of it yet to be discovered.
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SEPTEMBER 2016
PASSION FOR BUSINESS KEY TO COMPANY’S SUCCESS “Our business is our MGM Mechanical Works On Both Commercial & Residential Projects
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ICTORIA – If one word could be used to describe what drives Max and JacLyn Mickelson, the co-owners of plumbing and gas-fitting firm MGM Mechanical Ltd., that word would be passion. The husband and wife team share a passion for their business, their team and for the commercial and residential projects they build for their expanding client base. “I work tirelessly at this business. I work for my kids, my crew, our clients and the community at large and I’m passionate about that and so is Jac-Lyn and I think that it shows in everything that we do,” explained Max. “Our business is our passion, when we work on a project we want to deliver the best work every time and that sense of caring is reflected by our staff.” A family-run business, MGM Mechanical specializes in commercial, institutional and residential plumbing, heating and gas-fitting services. Located at 408 Alpha Terrace the company has a staff of 10 (plus the two owners) and operates a fleet of five service vehicles to reach clients all across southern Vancouver Island. Having met while both were attending the University of Victoria (UVic) the pair (she has a Bachelor of Physical Education and he a Bachelor of History Degree) has drawn from their educational experience to provide their company with a unique flavor, especially in terms of dealing with clients. A Red Seal certified Journeyman Plumber and Gas-Fitter Max quickly discovered after launching his plumbing career (once he completed university) that he particularly enjoyed the project management side of the operation. “I drew from my educational background and very quickly
passion, when we work on a project we want to deliver the best work every time.” MAX MICKELSON CO-OWNER, MGM MECHANICAL LTD.
realized my strength was more on the estimating and project management side of the operation so I went on to pursue a one year Construction Management program at BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology),” he explained. Having had prior experience working as an estimator / project manager (and eventually Operations Manager) for another mechanical contractor, he was able to use those skills, coupled with his formal education to launch his own company with a very solid administrative and project management foundation. “I’m a Red Seal Plumber but my strengths are more on the organizational end, I guess you could say my focus has always been on the Business of Construction,” he said. Since its launch MGM Mechanical has amassed an impressive list of completed projects and satisfied clients. Some recent projects showcasing MGM’s versatility include Harbour Air’s new Victoria Seaplane Terminal, which saw MGM working with Can Pro Construction. Another good example was The Meridian Residences a project that features 24 high end condominium units. This exceptional multi-family residential development, which is nearing completion, was developed by the Marker Group and is being built by Knight Contracting. “We’re in essence a mechanical contractor in that we have in-house plumbing, heating and gas-fitting, basically anything to do with pipes or piping. As a mechanical contractor we also work with a team of sub trades who
The husband and wife team of Jac-Lyn and Max Mickelson are the co-owners of MGM Mechanical
MGM Mechanical vehicles are a familiar sight on city streets make up the mechanical systems of the building and houses that we work on,” Max stated. Sub trades the company regularly works with include those providing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) services as well as fire and sprinkler system installation and all aspects of refrigeration. Typical clients for the company include Victoria’s premier commercial general contractors, some of the city’s top high end residential builders, developers, property managers and institutional customers including governments and UVic. A good example of a current MGM project is the restoration
and repurposing of the Lum Sam / Lee Chong Building, an iconic Victoria landmark in the city’s historic China Town. Developed by Lefevre and Company and being built by Campbell Construction, this exceptional structure is being re-imagined as a high end residence featuring 25 unique loft style condos. Another recent MGM project involved completing a seismic upgrade at the Cloverdale School, working with Farmer Construction. Other work on hand includes projects at the Pacific Forestry Centre, University of Victoria, work at Eagle Creek Shopping centre, a Vet Clinic, a medical clinic
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and a local bakery “While institutional and new commercial construction forms part of our business, we also do a lot of work with new custom homes and multi-unit residential projects such as large condo and townhouse projects,” he said. “High end custom homes are especially important to us and we’ve worked with many of the premier builders in the city including Zebra Construction, Horizon Contracting, CW Campbell Homes as well as many others.” A Physical Education teacher (she was actually Max’s rugby trainer at UVic) for more than 10 years, JacLyn is gradually becoming more and more involved with the daily operation of MGM Mechanical. “The company was Max’s brainchild and I was involved right from the beginning with assisting and helping with the creation of the business, such as running the front office, handling PR and marketing and in a managerial role as well,” she explained. With the co-owners of the family run business both coming from an educational and creative background, the evolution of MGM Mechanical from a start-up to a sought-after mechanical services provider in only a few years, is due in large part to the quality of the service provided and to the focus of the firm’s owners. “Our company image and culture are not typical of a construction company or a plumbing trade contractor. All of that has been as the result of Jac-Lyn’s artistic mindset, providing a different viewpoint than would be found in most other companies. That’s where she has been invaluable to our growth and in how we are differentiated from our competition,” he said. Bringing her educational and creative background to the business has given the company a modern and progressive flavor. “I really enjoy showcasing our work in a creative way so I believe effective marketing is an important part of the business,” she explained. “First and foremost the success of our business rests with Max and
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250-652-6771
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SEPTEMBER 2016
top down mentality that has presented ourselves and our company in a very positive light,” he said. “The feedback that I get from our customers is amazing. In our industry you still see a lot of the Old School mentality and I think our approach to business is refreshing for a lot of people.” For the future MGM Mechanical expects to see continued growth, but not at the expense of quality or personal service. A true family business (the couple have two sons, Matt, 3 and Jack, 1) so one long term goal is to grow a business that could eventually be passed on to them, but obviously that’s still distant future vision. “Presenting a professional face to the community, with our business and with our staff is crucial,” she said. “All of our team has the same dedication and work ethic that I do, which make the process much easier. Our guys aren’t just looking professional, they can back it up with an amazing skills set. They do quality work, they’re organized, they’re a real asset to us,” he explained. The field staff is run by General foreman/field supervisor, Steve Shepherd, who works to maintain quality control and scheduling. Steve facilitates the information flow from office to site and back. This role helps to turn Max’s vision into reality and ensures the highest standards for the client. Established, professional, experienced and dedicated to doing the job right the first time, MGM Mechanical looks forward to what the future has to offer. “I always send the best guys to do the best job possible every time,” he said. “We deliver high quality work at a fair price. Our goal is to be the premier mechanical contractor in Victoria. We want the clients to think of us first, we want to be top of mind for all of the contractors that we’ve worked to build that relationship with,” he said. “Regardless of how the company grows in the future the vision will stay the same, the culture will stay the same and the quality of the work will stay the same.” For more information visit the company’s website at: www.mgmmechanical.ca
Backbone of the company’s success has always been the skills and professionalism of its crew
MGM also worked on Harbour Air’s new floating terminal located in the city’s Inner Harbor
you’ve really outdone yourselves.
The Lum Sam / Lee Chong Building projects involves a complete re-imagining of the structure
MGM is currently working with Campbell Construction on the Lum Sam and Lee Chong condo heritage restoration project
in our whole vision of our company in having solid values. We provide value for the client and for the community, developing relationships with the people that we work with and work for.” “A real strength for us is the long standing relationships I have fostered over the years, along with the quality of the work that we have
done for our customers. That history has given our clients confidence in us,” he said. The company’s motto is: Honest, Professional and Reliable – a business philosophy that touches all aspects of the firm’s operations, and is a concept embraced by all of its employees. “The people we’re hiring all share that culture, it’s a
Congratulations to MGM Mechanical on your success. It's always a pleasure doing business with you. From all of us at Bartle & Gibson
4248 Glanford Avenue, Saanich Phone: 250-727-9976
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AUGUST 2016
MEETING PLACES Victoria Conference Centre One Of The Best In BC Conference Centres Are An Effective Way To Promote A Community BY DAVID HOLMES
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he concept of a meeting place, a universally recognized location where the public can gather and where important discussions and business transactions could occur has been a part of the human experience since the dawn of civilization. British Columbia’s First Nations perfected the concept with the building of elaborate Longhouses that served a variety of social and cultural purposes. In Europe every village had a community hall or Great Hall that served an identical function. Far from diminishing, in the electronic age the need for such facilities has become ever more important, only now the style, size and variety of the venues has reached unprecedented levels. A formal meeting place by definition can be anything from an intimate boardroom cloistering a handful of individuals in private discussion, to a full blown conference centre with 1,000 plus
The Conference Centre is across the street from the Crystal Garden and is attached to the Fairmont Empress Victoria delegates coming to the location from around the world. Typically a formal meeting place would be found within the structure of a
major hotel, or in a specially designed and constructed conference facility. Regardless of scale all have the same things in common:
facilitating the coming together of people in the most positive and efficient manner possible. “What a meeting place does is bring outside business, individuals and organizations to this community, which exposes it to these individuals who will ideally then look at it for alternate purposes such as leisure, travel, destination, residential and others,” explained Denise Tacon, General Manager of the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) located in Nanaimo. On Vancouver Island the Victoria Conference Centre (VCC) and its companion Crystal Garden comprises the largest operations of its type on the Island. The VCC alone provides more than 73,000 square feet of meeting space, features 19 different multi-purpose meeting rooms (including a 400 seat lecture theatre). Located directly across the street is the 25,000 square foot Crystal Garden, a historic structure in the provincial SEE MEETING PLACES | PAGE 21
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with the latest in audio visual and Internet based resources. “As the Okanagan’s only full-service convention facility, the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre annually plays host to conventions and conferences,” its website states. For Tacon from the VICC, a meeting place acts as a silent promotional partner for a community. “A meeting place can manifest a number of different opportunities for the community from the people who come here, depending on their interests. In many ways a facility like the VICC is a physical ambassador for the community.” One of the largest venues of its type on Vancouver Island, the VICC is a 38,000 square foot meeting and banquet space capable of hosting major conferences, trade shows and other person a l a nd bu si ness functions. The Centre can accommodate events involving as many as 1,300 people at a time, but also offers smaller meeting rooms. “Having a facility like this offers an environment where people can gather and have events in larger numbers. Having a major facility allows larger numbers of people to come
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together and celebrate or be informed all under one roof, in ways not possible if several smaller venues are used,” she said. One of the premier meeti ng places i n Northern British Columbia is the Prince George Civic Centre (PGCC). As with all of the major provincial facilities adaptability and flexibility has proven to be its key to success. The largest space in the centre is its auditorium which can be either partitioned into three separate rooms, or opened wide to provide 18,000 square feet of conference or trade show space. Created to accommodate as many 2,000 people at a time it is the facility’s largest meeting space. The operation also houses eight smaller meeting rooms (for groups ranging from five to 140), an outdoor plaza area and pre-function area for visitors to gather, register and meet and mingle prior to entering the main hall. Regardless of scale, location or design, the province’s inventory of conference facilities is among the best and most attractive in the country and will continue to well serve the province in the decades to come.
Meetings Spaces
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capital that is capable of accommodating groups of up to 1,100. “In our 25 years, the VCC has hosted 6,495 events generating more than $670 million in estimated economic impact for Victoria,” it states on the VCC website. “Our conference centre is a key economic driver for our community. Our clients and their delegates come from all over the world. We attract business travelers and see them return as tourists, residents and investors.” Another major meeting place in the province is the expansive Penticton Trade and Conference Centre (PTCC), a vast multi-function facility offering more than 60,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibition space. Idyllically located only blocks from the shore of Lake Okanagan the operation is the largest centre of its kind in the region and has served as a successful community ambassador for decades. The Centre’s main ballroom offers more tha n 15,000 square feet of space, there are eight additional meeting rooms of various sizes and it is fully equipped
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Speak up for safety Partnering with the construction industry to raise awareness about falls from heights
F
alling from a height is a risk many of us face in our working lives. No one is exempt from the possibility of a fall on the job —regardless of industry or occupation, age, or gender. In the construction industry, falls are a risk that workers and employers know far too well. In fact, from 2011 to 2015, falls from elevation accounted for 35 per cent of all serious injuries and 26 work-related deaths. In the past five years, there have been over 5,800 fall-related injuries in the construction industry — making them the third most frequent incident in BC construction workplaces today. Through the help and dedication of the construction industry, these numbers are improving, but statistics show that falls are still happening in workplaces all over the province. Workers are falling down stairs and off ladders; they’ve been injured falling from unguarded scaffolding, off of roofs, and as a result of not wearing proper fall protection. Working from heights may be a reality of the job, but steps can be taken to minimize the risk of falling. How? By speaking up for safety.
Building a culture of health and safety WorkSafeBC encourages everyone to speak up for safety on the job, even though many workers may not feel comfortable speaking up, for fear of looking weak in front of their peers. A great way to create this culture is to “walk the walk.” If your co-workers see that you’re making an effort to create a safe worksite, and are following the safety rules yourself, they’re more likely to follow suit in their own behaviours. You can set a strong example of safety by: • Leading and participating in safety meetings • Being open to discussing onsite safety • Wearing the correct personal protective equipment • Using safety checklists • Usi ng tool s sa fely a nd correctly • Following all onsite safety procedures Once it’s in place, a strong culture of health and safety can go a long way to ensuring that everyone goes home safe every day. Resources available to help you manage a safe worksite WorkSafeBC has resources you
can use to help prevent falls from heights on your jobsite. For more information and to access these safety resources, visit worksafebc.com/health-safety. Also, check out the BC Construction Safety Alliance (www. bccsa.ca) for safety training, consultation services, and resources
to help improve safety on worksites throughout the province. Fall prevention workshop for construction – Kelowna, October 15, 2016 If you’re a tradesperson, supervisor, safety officer or safety committee member, contractor, or supplier in the construction
industry, this one-day safety workshop is for you. Learn from industry experts about fall prevention solutions through handson experience. To register to go www.bccsa.ca/fallsworkshop or for more information visit the news & events page on worksafebc.com.
Fall prevention workshop for construction Who should attend? If you are a tradesperson, supervisor, safety officer, safety committee member, contractor, or supplier in the construction industry, this oneday safety workshop is for you. Learn from industry experts about fall prevention solutions through hands-on experience.
Register today! When? Saturday, October 15, 2016 8:00 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
Safety sessions
Doors open at 7 a.m. Space is limited, so register today
• Responsibilities for fall prevention in the construction industry
Where?
• Fall protection planning and procedures
Okanagan College, 1000 KLO Road, Kelowna, B.C.
• Ladders and scaffolding in construction
Four hands-on practical sessions
How to register Go to www.bccsa.ca/fallsworkshop
• Planning for safety — scenarios and written plans
Cost
• Fall protection equipment — selection and inspection
$25 + GST (lunch included)
• Fall protection options — from anchors to horizontal lifelines
for more information
• Ladder and scaffold safety — from selection to inspection
Visit the news & events page on worksafebc.com
WHO IS SUING WHOM
SEPTEMBER 2016
WHO IS SUING WHOM The contents of Who’s Suing Whom is provided by a third-party resource and is accurate according to public court documents. Some of these cases may have been resolved by publication date. DEFENDANT 1972 Productions Inc 602-732 Broughton St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Bastion Inn Ltd. CLAIM $75,132 DEFENDANT Aryze Developments Inc 1839 Fairfield Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Queen Bee Painting CLAIM $14,740 DEFENDANT Bell Tech Systems Ltd 7TH Flr 1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Owners of Strata Plan 1336 CLAIM $25,256 DEFENDANT Brittain Construction Corporation 1212-1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Owners of Strata Plan 1336 CLAIM $25,256
DEFENDANT Broadstreet Properties Ltd 100 St Anns Rd, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF Prager, Scott CLAIM $9,657
Ltd 102-1497 Admirals Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Hourigans Carpets & Linos Ltd CLAIM $25,490
DEFENDANT CTG Building Solutions 970 Wild Ridge Way, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Property Stars Home Rescue CLAIM $10,481
DEFENDANT Homefront Ideas 6788 Wendonna Pl, Brentwood Bay, BC PLAINTIFF Sublime Custom Tile & Stone CLAIM $8,608
DEFENDANT CWS Global Welding 12774 Ivey Rd, Ladysmith, BC PLAINTIFF LJB Excavating & Trucking CLAIM $20,532
DEFENDANT Ikonomou Holdings Ltd 8-911 Gordon St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Owners Strata Corporation EPS 1336 CLAIM $10,176
DEFENDANT Dealers Own Publishing Inc 2107A Pierpont Rd, Coombs, BC PLAINTIFF Publico Properties Company CLAIM $8,322
DEFENDANT LVB Strategic Negotiations & Research Group Inc 103-9816 Seaport Pl, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Fritz, Justin CLAIM $6,469
DEFENDANT Dereks Appliance Services Ltd 958 Downey Rd, North Saanich, BC PLAINTIFF Fitzgerald, Wendy CLAIM $25,216 DEFENDANT Group3 Homes and Developments
DEFENDANT Manatee Holdings Ltd 1984 Comox Ave, Comox, BC PLAINTIFF Altech Diesel Ltd CLAIM $11,757 DEFENDANT
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Out West Window Glass Home Maintenance Ltd 1476 Larkin Rd, Merville, BC PLAINTIFF Coastal Windows Ltd CLAIM $12,170
DEFENDANT
DEFENDANT Outpost Bike Co 3202A Happy Valley Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Raleigh Canada Ltd CLAIM $25,156
DEFENDANT South Island Inspectech Building Inspections Inc 816 Dalewood Lane, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Burnside, Valerie Patricia CLAIM $25,216
DEFENDANT Pacific Rim Exteriors Ltd 3248 Puffin Pl, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Redblue Heatpumps & Refrigeration Inc CLAIM $9,272
DEFENDANT Valley Tech Contracting 3-961 Trunk Rd, Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF Mooney, Christopher Darryl CLAIM $20,000
DEFENDANT Reg Midgley Motors Ltd 202-1007 FORT ST, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Bingley, Bryden CLAIM $10,206 DEFENDANT Rock Steady Restorations Ltd 201 Selby St, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Hourigans Carpets & Linos Ltd CLAIM $12,176
Shelimar Developments Inc 1202 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Jordans Rugs Ltd CLAIM $15,492
DEFENDANT Victoria Vintage China Rentals 5252 Old West Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Paille, Bernie CLAIM $5,196 DEFENDANT Watertek Contracting 1781 Evergreen Rd, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF Lift Up As CLAIM $86,513
MOVERS & SHAKERS
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Linda Hasenfratz, Chief Executive Officer of Linamar Corporation, a diversified global manufacturing company of highly engineered products, has been named 2016 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year by the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business. In her tenure as CEO, Linda has grown Linamar from a $800-million enterprise to a company worth more than $5.3-billion.
Western Canada Music Awards far exceeded expectations of organizers. In a report on the event, organizers noted 2,495 hotel-room bookings and $5.8-million in visitor and delegate spending according to Tourism Victoria. The data showed the event added $3.2-million to BC’s GDP, paid $1.7-million in wages and provided more than $700,000 in tax revenue and fees for three levels of government.
Raw Food and Juice Bar in Duncan is scheduled to open in early October. The Island-based restaurant chain currently has a location in Victoria and two in Nanaimo.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals recently confirmed a new majority owner. Ray Zhang is an international businessman from China and will take over from former owner Cory Wanner of Saskatchewan, who bought the club in 2013. Local minority owners still remain in the Duncan-area. Bob Beatty will continue with the team as general manager and head coach.
The Victoria Caledonian Distillery and Brewery recently celebrated their grand opening. The new brewery hosts tours and has historical and distilling technology exhibits. John Hamilton, a former vicepresident with WestJet Vacations has joined the Caledonian as its vice-president of tourism and guest services. The brewery was created with investments from 250 investors across the country, plus $2.37-million in funding through the federal Agriculture Department’s AgriInnovation Program that fosters innovation in new products and helps speed the commercialization of new products. The Victoria Caledonian Distillery and Brewery is located in the 17,000-squarefoot building at 761 Enterprise Crescent in Saanich. Academy Dental has a new location at Eagle Creek Village at 29 Helmcken Road in Victoria. Departures Travel is pleased to welcome Fiona Anderson to their team of travel experts. Fiona recently completed a Master of Arts in Tourism Management program at Royal Roads University. Departures is located at 1889 Oak Bay Avenue. Salt Spring Island has a new authorized Telus dealer located in the Upper Ganges Centre located at 342 Lower Ganges Road. Former Camosun College president Kathryn Laurin has taken over as CEO of the Victoria Symphony. Laurin looks forward to expanding the orchestra’s attendance, attracting younger audience members and eventually working with a new music director, as the current conductor, Tania Miller will be leaving next May.
75%
of employers rate workers with intellectual disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder as GOOD TO VERY GOOD on performance Inclusive Hiring Works www.readywillingable.ca
SEPTEMBER 2016
Abraham Anghik Ruben, a Salt Springbased sculptor has been recognized with an appointment to the Order of Canada. Ruben was named as an Officer of the Order of Canada in an announcement made recently by the Governor General of Canada’s office. Ruben was recognized for his artistic contributions as a sculptor and for his preservation of Canada’s northern heritage and national identity. Origin Bakery is moving their West Shore location to 713A Goldstream Avenue in Langford. Origin specializes in 100 per cent gluten-free artisan baking, combining pastry chef expertise with innovative gluten-free ingredient blends.
Vector Yacht Services is now open at 2300 Canoe Cove Road. Vector has been in the community for over 30 years and offers factory trained service technicians to fully service customers yachts. Orangetheory Fitness has expanded by adding a location on the West Shore. Partners Troy Biever and Heath Gabrysh have been friends since they were children and have 12 employees between the two locations. The franchise located at 2945 Jacklin Road has been open since late last year, while it’s Yates Street location opened in 2014. The deadline for submissions for the BC Small Business Roundtable’s 2016 Open for Business Awards has come gone. Finalists will be notified early this month and winners will be announced during Union of BC Municipalities from September 26-30th at the Victoria Conference Centre. Lowe’s is preparing to open in Tillicum Shopping Centre. The store is being reconfigured in the former Target location in the mall and is expected to hire as many as 160 people. The store has nearly 93,000-square-feet of retail space between the two levels, with lumber and heavy building materials on the ground and other products on the second floor. Duncan will be home to the country’s first teaching incubator seed farm, thanks to a $70,000 grant awarded from the provincial government. The funding will be used to establish a 3.5-acre farm near Alexander Elementary School. The land is owned by the Municipality of North Cowichan, which has provided a five-year long lease to the Cowichan Green Community Society. Kilshaw’s Auctioneers is relocating to 1007 Langley Street at the end of October. The move will make way for Abstract Developments $30-million Black and White commercial and residential project. Kilshaw’s new home will be on twostoreys of The Promise Block, a heritage renaissance-style building which has renovated to suit its new tenant. Fort Royal Pharmacy is celebrating their 5th anniversary, located at 1912 Richmond Road near Fort Street.
The ABC Country Restaurant at 2900 Douglas Street has been transformed into a new Ricky’s All Day Grill. The franchise is owned by Gary Marnewick and Darrel Crawford.
Victoria Residential Builders Association members, Canada’s leaders in sustainable West Coast design will gather to celebrate the 2016 CARE Awards on October 1st at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
The economic impact of past year’s
SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 25
SEPTEMBER 2016
MOVERS & SHAKERS and Craig Walters. The Top Listers are Bev McIvor and Shelley Mann. Brad Tippett, former coach of the WHL’s Regina Pats will be taking over as coach of the Peninsula Panthers. DFH Real Estate Ltd has announced their July officer leaders for the month of July in the Victoria area. They are Jilly Yang from Victoria, Fiona Phythian of their Sooke office and John Bruce from Sidney.
Vice-President of the Union Club of British Columbia and President and co-founder of the Victoria Whisky Festival and Christopher Jones an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria and current President of the AGGV Foundation.
The Northwest Aboriginal Canadian Entrepreneurs (NW-ACE) Program, a partnership between the Tribal Resources Investment Corporation (TRICORP), regional and provincial governments and University of Victoria’s Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, received the 2016 Alan Blizzard Award from the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
My Secret Salon & Hair Esthetics is celebrating their first anniversary this month. The shop is located on Station Street in Duncan and is a full-service hair and esthetics salon.
The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce is pleased to introduce new members; EmPower Natural Wellness, Jenny’s Country Pantry and Tea Shoppe and East Meets West, a Fusion Bed and Breakfast.
Mike Corrigan, CEO of BC Ferries, said that he will resign, effective March 31, 2017. The announcement was made at the annual general meeting of the ferry corporation. An executive search has already commenced and will look at potential candidates both within BC Ferries and outside.
Franchise owners Curtis Vertefeuille and Ken Shapkin announce the opening of their new store, Moe’s Home Collections, located at 523 Fisgard Street in Victoria’s Furniture District. This is Moe’s Home Collections’ first franchise location that has opened following their 25 years of business in British Columbia.
RBC Dominion Securities welcomes Mike Verran and Joanne Burton to their team of professionals at their Sidney office. Mike Verran will be joining their team as an Investment Advisor and Joanne Burton will work as his Administrative Assistant.
Saunders Subaru has been sold to the Jim Pattison Auto Group, which will leave the building and move to 1784 Island Highway in Colwood. Automobile dealer Bob Saunders, well known as a community activist and for his philanthropy, is saying goodbye to the car business after 36 years.
Jenny Gilbert is the new owner of Bistro 161 which she has renamed Gourmet Gardens Restaurant. Jenny bought the restaurant eight months ago and developed her own menu, based on culinary skills she developed in Hong Kong and over the years. The restaurant is located at 161 Kenneth Street in Duncan, BC.
MOVERS & SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24
Cafe Mexico in Market Square is expected to reopen in September. Cafe Mexico is one of several restaurants downtown to be damaged and closed by fire over the past few years. Saaz Restaurant has also reopened, following an electrical fire resulted in $150,000 in damage in early June.
McCall Gardens and the Sequoia Centre, a funeral and celebration of life centre has reopened their longstanding location in Saanich. Additionally, their facility on Vancouver Street in downtown Victoria will close on August 2nd, and will reopen in a new smaller office at 1315 Cook Street. Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps will lead a 19-person delegation to China this October to strengthen economic ties between Victoria and China. Mayor Helps will be joined by representatives from Royal Roads University, Tourism Victoria, the University of Victoria, Camosun College and Alacrity Foundation, a local Victoria technology startup incubator. Beginning on October 14th, the eight-day mission will include trips to Nanjing, Shanghai and Suzhou. The Women’s Enterprise Centre is launching the Victoria PeerSpark mentorship program. The program was developed by Alberta Women Entrepreneurs and was aimed at women entrepreneurs who are in the growth stage of developing their business. The Board of Directors of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria have announced four additions to their board of directors at the Gallery’s AGM. The new board members are Paul Barron a Portfolio Manager with Odlum Brown and Assistant Branch Manager at their Victoria office, Lynda Gammon an Associate Professor Emeritus in the Visual Arts Department at UVIC, Lawrence Graham the current
The second phase of the Fairmont Empress renovations is set to begin this October. The new renovations will include upgrades to the lobby, pool, spa and remaining rooms. The first stage of renovations produced 235 refurbished rooms and the new Q Restaurant and Q Bar which were unveiled in June. The Victoria HarbourCats head coach and managing partner were recognized by the West Coast League (WCL) for their contribution to this season’s recordbreaking successes. Graig Merritt was named WCL Coach of the Year and Jim Swanson was named WCL Executive of the Year. McKimm & Lott is celebrating their 40th anniversary. Additionally, they have a new Sidney location at Unit 7 - 9843 2nd Street. Boyd Autobody & Glass has opened two brand new locations in the Victoria area. They are located at 25 - 6809 Kirpatrick Crescent in Saanichton-Keating and 103 2031 Malaview Avenue in Sidney.
Detective Sergeant Kris Rice of the Victoria Police Department has been recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) with its inaugural 40 Under 40 Award.
Melissa and Mai Tong have purchased the Fairfield Book Shop and will be turning it into a spa, expected to open in the fall. After more than 20 years in business, the local used bookstore closed its doors indefinitely. Tourism Victoria will provide the City of Victoria with $1-million for the development of the David Foster Heritage Pathway. Once complete, the five kilometre pathway between Rock Bay and Ogden Point will include special sites to increase downtown public spaces and draw people to the waterfront. The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has moved to a new suite location in the same building at 100 - 1019 Wharf Street. Oughtred Coffee & Tea has hired two new accredited coffee graders. Nelson Tesky has joined their team as Director of Manufacturing, and Jon Patterson has taken on the role of Business Development Specialist. Galaxy Motors has named Alex Tiginagas as their salesperson of the month for July, located at 1772 Island Highway. The Independent Contractors and Business Association is launching a social media campaign to attract construction workers for major projects on Vancouver Island. Workers are being asked to submit resumes to the association’s website at ww.icba.ca. Pemberton Holmes is pleased to welcome Hans Pansegrau to the Pemberton Holmes team of agents. Hans has been a realtor for 30 years in Victoria.
ange is here to stay. Ian Robertson CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority
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Cannor Nursery has now become Wildwood Outdoor Living Centre. The rebrand comes with the introduction of Beachcomber Hot Tubs, Jackson Grills, pond equipment, outdoor furniture and an installation division. Re/Max Camosun is pleased to introduce their top realtors for the month of July. The Top Producers are Gay and Anthea Helmsing, Karen Dinnie-Smyth, Jeff Bryan
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OPINION
26
SEPTEMBER 2016 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Head Office 200-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria V8T 3J5 Ph: 1.250.204.7678 Fax: 1.250.642.2870 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Website: www.businessexaminer.ca
PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald SALES | Josh Higgins – josh@businessexaminer.ca, Joanne Iormetti – joanne@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Julia MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim, John MacDonald, David Holmes, Kristin Van Vloten WEBSITE | John MacDonald
GOOD ECONOMICS IS BAD POLITICS IN THESE TUMULTUOUS TIMES
MARK MACDONALD
“I
didn’t know what I was voting for.” Those words still haunt me. It was one of several similar quotes from British citizens who cast their Brexit votes in favour of Great Britain leaving the European Union. Whether or not the “yes, let’s leave” vote is good or bad for the United Kingdom remains to be seen, and we’re not about to debate it here. Nevertheless, I do believe there is a dangerous mindset that pervades today’s electorate, which is not thinking at all. Citizens are urged to get out and exercise their votes, which is a good thing. But being informed and educated about the issues and candidates who will make decisions on our behalf is even more important.
If voters don’t do their own due diligence, their ballots will most likely be cast based on the last emotional outburst to catch their attention prior to scribbling down their ‘X’. Most sales decisions are made from an emotional base, and marketing reflects that. Mood swings very clearly drive many consumer purchases, but if that’s all that determines the outcome of an election, we’re all headed for big trouble as a society. During a recent election, a group of young to middle-aged people met to hear from candidates – or be heard. Many were unemployed and/or on income assistance. At the beginning of the session, candidates were asked, bluntly: “What are you going to give me?” Just the brashness of the question, which came from multiple sources, was shocking. But it was the mindset behind it that was most troubling. What they were asking - and by doing so, suggesting - was they would vote for the person that would give them the most in terms of more government funding. One candidate’s response to the question was the party they represented would offer opportunity, in terms of education
and training so individuals who needed a helping hand up so they could move towards being economically self-sufficient, which would result in feeling better about themselves and having a bright future. The response to that was, generally, blank looks. Followed by another question, much like the first: “What are you going to give me?” That question, obviously, is pervasive in North America. It seems to get elected, all politicians need to do is promise to continue to shovel more money off the back of the truck into the hands of those who vote for them. Yet that isn’t corruption. On the other hand, if a candidate went to a company and promised to give them contracts and funding if they voted for them, that would be corruption. What’s the difference? There isn’t any. Both “methods” are corrupt. It’s just that the former hasn’t been identified as such, and most likely won’t by those who fear they’d be branded for “poor bashing”, or being heartless and cold. The end result is where we sit today: Political class warfare, where it’s okay to bash the “one per cent” or “two per centers”
– you know, often the ones who create private sector jobs. And simultaneously empower those on the other end of the spectrum who either have to be, or want to be, totally government dependent. If this trend continues – and i t s h o w s n o s i g n s o f a b a ting – we could soon reach the point where the most powerful people in a country would be the unemployed and, perhaps, uninformed. I recently sat through a seminar that discussed whether good economics could be good politics. The conclusion reached by most was that it could not. If what really needs to be done to improve and sustain a country’s economy is promised, i.e. realistic budgets and fiscal restraint where necessary, voters would turn it down. Belt tightening and “tough love” are necessary ingredients in strong and poor economies. Restraint is needed during times of largesse, in order to store up for leaner periods that doubtless will come through other stages of economic cycles. When government revenues are weaker, they can’t provide as many services as voters demand. This is how the “real world” works, isn’t it?
It is how government should work, but doesn’t. If a politician today said they were going to trim government spending – meaning reductions in public service jobs – don’t you think there’d be a concerted, forceful pushback? It would have to be a genuine financial mess before the majority of the electorate would vote for someone to clea n it up. And at this moment, North America isn’t there. A sudden jump in interest rates would get it there instantly, as would a major international conflict. So here we sit, with yet more major elections looming that are so important to millions of people. And all we seem to hear is emotional outcries designed to enrage the masses and avoid important issues, drowning out reason and policies that could affect generations to come. Most are now asking, “What are you going to give me?” John F. Kennedy who famously put it another way during his U.S. P resident ia l ca mpa ig n decades ago: “A sk not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Would JFK get elected today asking that now?
HOUSING IS A ‘CAN-DO’ ATTITUDE THAT MOST CITIES JUST DON’T GET
ROGER MCKINNON Business Examiner Vancouver Island welcomes Roger McKinnon to our team of contributors. Roger has over 40 years experience in the real estate industry and other business operations across Vancouver Island, and is well know n for his candid opinions.
A
sk literally every business owner, builder or developer about the attitude towards business from Vancouver Island bureaucrats and you will hear things like “We can’t do that,” “No, that’s not possible,” or just collective groans from the front counters
of city halls. Why are many areas on Vancouver Island not growing at the pace they should? The answer is simple: Most regions of the Island are not very business friendly, and bureaucracies and rules are out of control. A n example of a ‘Yes’ attitude and how to eliminate red tape is Langford, which is one of the fastest growing cities in BC. Not too many years ago it was nicknamed “Dogpatch”, but you can’t say that now, as they have grown by 26 per cent since 2001 and are projected to double their growth by 2026. They w ill be getting close to the population of Victoria! Here is a quick overview of some of the major things Mayor Stew Young, council and staff of Langford has done to get growth going at a record rate and build a healthy city with a live, work, and play balance. • Rezoning applications in less than 3 months. Compare that to most cities of 6 months to 2 years. • 2 day residential building permit approval.
• Development Permit processing in 30 days: guaranteed in most cases. • Deferring Public Hearing Fees: A “pay as you go” approach allows fee payments immediately prior to a Public Hearing. No hearing, no fee. • Landscaping bonding has been reduced from 125 to 100 per cent. Landscaping checks will be completed within 48 hours of notification, and bonds returned within two weeks - not like 2 years in most other cities. • Subdivision Statements of Conditions (also known as ‘preliminary layout approvals’ or PLAs) can be issued within 45 days of a subdivision application. Previously they took up to six months or more to be issued. • New regulations keep coming to further remove construction and planning barriers. This quick list offers huge incentives to business, developers, builders, and taxpayers. Also, Langford has not raised taxes for over 10 years. Langford actually proactively engages with, and creates relationships with developers and
builders, and “gets” the Supply and Demand rule of law. The principle of supply and demand is common sense. If we want reasonable housing prices, then slow demand by creating more supply. Most regions on the Island do the exact opposite, and create more red tape, by-laws, fees, and even more confusing interpretations of building inspections, which are a developer’s nightmare. Langford has a very different approach to creating relationsh ips w ith business and is a contrast to many other communities, which add time and extra costs to developments which in turn raises prices due to slow processing time and extra red tape. The added hassle of trying to work with municipal and/or city leadership has led developers to choose not to work in certain cities. It’s just too much hassle. Local governments need to turn the prevailing “No” attitude into a “Yes” if they really want to get on top of affordable housing and sustainable growth.
Some people th i n k it’s not good to g row, a nd that they s h o u l d j u s t s t a y t h e s a m e. My arg ument to this is simple: Cities and municipalities need to grow. It is the basic rule of economics. . .it is why we call it economic growth, not economic-stay-the-same. T h is “No” attitude k i l ls growth by frustrating business leaders to go elsewhere, and in the end, when we need more services, taxes go up to cover the shortfall. Red tape laden bureaucracy gets in the way and slows things down, creating peaks and valleys in housing pricing, inflation and worst of all, stops development opportunities altogether. A “ C a n-D o” a t t i t u d e c a n change that from both sides. Business leaders can create groups to help open better lines of communication, and elected leaders ca n actua l ly lead, and not just be led by senior staff.
Roger McKinnon can be reached at roger-mckinnon@shaw.ca
SUBCRIPTIONS | $45 PER YEAR (12 ISSUES), $80 FOR 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES), SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.NET. DISTRIBUTION: FOURTH WEEK OF EACH MONTH VIA CANADA POST AD MAIL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Produced and published in British Columbia. All contents copyright Business Examiner Victoria, 2016. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240
LAW
SEPTEMBER 2016
27
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CANADIAN MUSIC BUSINESS Through its acquisition
LAW
of MediaNet and Audiam,
SOCAN can identify music on digital services
SOCAN has greatly increased its ability to be
S
OCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) collects royalties based upon tariffs approved by the Copyright Board of Canada for Canadian performances of songs for Canadian and international songwriters and music publishers. Tariffs have been set for recorded or live music ranging from concerts to restaurants to fitness classes. Of particular relevance to this article are the tariffs for performance of songs on the internet and on mobile devices. In May of 2016 SOCAN announced that it had acquired Seattle-based MediaNet. This was followed by an announcement by SOCAN in July of 2016 that it had acquired New York-based Audiam. As with all performing rights organizations, SOCAN’s main functions are firstly to determine what music is being performed and, secondly, to collect the applicable royalty prescribed by Canadian law. Collection of royalties relating to the internet
effective at identifying uses of music on the internet and collect royalties Michael Cooper and Doug Thompson of ThompsonCooper LLP and mobile devices create technological challenges. MediaNet has more than 51 million sound recordings in its database, each containing a unique audio identifier. By acquiring MediaNet, SOCAN will be able to identify digital performances from around the world in real-time. Audiam similarly, has one of the world’s most complete databases of sound recording and underlying song/composition metadata. In addition, Audiam has technology to proactively find works that are not licensed and for which royalties have not been paid.
With the combined strength of MediaNet and Audiam, SOCAN can identify the use of music on digital services such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Google Play. When songs are performed, in addition to royalties compensating the songwriters and music publishers, there are also royalties compensating the artists who perform the songs and music recording companies. Prior to acquiring Audiam, SOCAN was not involved in collecting royalties for performing artists and music recording companies. In contrast, a significant portion of the business of Audiam
was the collection of royalties for performing artists and music recording companies. With the acquisition of Audiam, SOCAN now has the capability to collect songwriter-music publisher royalties and performing artist-music recording companies royalties. With changes brought on by the internet, songwriters and performing artists had become frustrated by the ineffectiveness of the performing rights organizations in the collection of royalties, resulting in a fracturing, with new performing rights organizations being formed by the disenchanted. Through its acquisition of MediaNet and Audiam, SOCAN has greatly increased its ability to be effective at identifying uses of music on the internet and collect royalties. SOCAN’s acquisition of Audiam’s expertise in collecting royalties for performing artists and music labels, has been heralded by some commentators as an important new development that raises the possibility of SOCAN becoming a “one stop shop” on the Canadian music scene. The fact that MediaNet and Audiam are U.S. based also suggests that SOCAN will become more active in collecting royalties in the United States.
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