Business Examiner Vancouver Island - July 2015

JULY 2015

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NANAIMO Nanaimo Sports and Entertainment Complex Proposed

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DUNCAN Nicon Developments Wins Grand Vibe Award

Credit Union signs on to anchor new Oyster Bay Development Financial institution inks lease for Stz’uminus First Nation project north of Ladysmith

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ADYSMITH - An exciting new chapter for Stz’uminus (Chemainus) First Nation opened with the June 24 groundbreaking ceremony for the Oyster Bay Development.

Chief John Elliott was emotional as he described the lengthy process that preceded the official start of Oyster Bay, a massive commercial/residential development by Coast Salish Development Corporation just north of Ladysmith.

Ladysmith & District Credit Union (LDCU) signed a lease to open a 1,200 square foot branch in the commercial component of the project next to the Trans Canada Highway, across from the A&W Restaurant and Husky service station.

“I’m overwhelmed. It seems

like it took a long time to get here, but we got here,” Chief Elliott said. “Today is an opportunity to bring partners together that have been sharing in this process that started seven or eight years ago. We wanted to make change.”

Oyster Bay is the fi rst development undertaken by the Stz’uminus since their historic signing onto the First Nation’s Land Management Framework (FNLM).

Chief Elliott said “We are really excited about the relationship we are building with the Ladysmith & District Credit Union.

Ou r com mu n ity has needed these kinds of services for a long time now and it’s all starting to happen.”

SEE CREDIT UNION | PAGE 21

Stz’uminus First Nation Chief John Elliott, left, digs in alongside Ladysmith & District Credit Union President Brian Childs at official groundbreaking ceremony

Windley delivers masterpiece with Songbird Condominium project launches in Central Nanaimo

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ANAIMO – Behind every project lies a developer with a vision.

In the case of Songbird Place, Windley Contracting took the initiative to turn a former employee’s property into Nanaimo’s newest condo development, located off of Uplands Drive at 4960 Songbird Place.

“We’re really proud of how everything turned out,” says Jeff

Windley, company General Manager. “We looked at the demographics of the area, and saw a need for something like this.”

He credits Daryoush Firouzli Architecture as a key part of the positive reception Songbird has received to date.

“To be successful in this business you need to make sure you have the right product on the right piece of land,” he says. “We feel

fortunate to have worked with Daryoush and his team.

“The original concept fit the profile of the property, and took advantage of the different landscape components. Blending the pond and the building together is a perfect fit for the site.”

Songbird features open concept, 1 and 2 bedroom suites with dens, 9-foot ceilings, full kitchens, covered decks and large

windows. In addition to secured underground parking, a spacious lobby and multi-purpose room.

Units start from $186,900.

“T he concept was to bu i ld something really modern and clean,” says lead realtor Sandy Harper, from Re/Max of Nanaimo. “The aesthetics are very appealing, and the units have SEE WINDLEY DELIVERS | PAGE 41

NEWS UPDATE

2 BC Chartered Professional Accountants of BC Established

BC International students continue to choose BC as a study destination

Latest statistics show the number of international students choosing British Columbia as their study destination increased 22 per cent from 94,000 students in 2009-10 to 114,600 in 2013-14.

International students enrol in all levels of education in BC, including public and private post-secondary, private language schools and K-12.

2013-14 International students i n BC: P ubl ic post-secondary: 39,600 students, Private post-secondary: 17,400 students K-12: 14,100 students and Private language schools: 43,500 students International education is a key sector of the BC Jobs Plan and is a driver of a strong, diverse and growing economy. In 2012-13, international students in BC spent $2.3 billion on tuition, accommodation and living expenses, arts, culture and recreation, which supported almost 25,500 jobs.

This created a positive economic effect on communities throughout the province.

The top five source countries for international students in 201314, were: Brazil - 8,900 students, China - 28,700 students, Japan - 13,500 students, Saudi Arabia 6,200 students and South Korea - 13,600 students The only education sector that experienced a decline in the number of international students between 2012-13 and 2013-14 was the private language schools with a 12 per cent decrease (5,700). Nationally, this sector saw a 9 per cent drop. Alberta

and Nova Scotia saw a 19 per cent drop. Influencing factors include job action by Foreign Service workers and strengthened federal requirements for institutions that host international students.

BC’s International Education Strategy includes the goal of a 50 per cent increase in the number of international students in BC by September 2016. In support of the strategy and this target, government continues to advance collaboration opportunities between jurisdictions, opening doors for an even greater two-way exchange of students, faculty and ideas.

For example, during trade missions to India and China, the government announced scholarship funding to several BC institutions to contribute to programs that help attract international students to the province and facilitate opportunities for BC students to study abroad.

During the mission to China led

by Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson, government provided $130,000 to BCIT, Langara College, SFU and UBC to support the development of scholarship programs with education partners in China. Participating BC institutions, Chinese post-secondary institutions, the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission and MITACS matched the funding for a total of almost $1.4 million to provide for more than 300 scholarships benefiting both BC and Chinese students.

VANCOUVER ISLAND Vancouver Island Aerospace Alliance facilitates growth The recent formation of the Vancouver Island Aerospace Alliance (VIAA) will ensure that Vancouver Island Industry and Academia will be in a prime position to play a far greater role in this exciting new era of aerospace manufacturing than ever before. VIAA will facilitate the growth and marketing of Vancouver Island’s higher education, products, services and infrastructure to both regional and global aerospace markets.

Their key objectives include promoting the Island’s aerospace response readiness to the R&D, Commercial and Defense sector - while raising Island student under/post graduate training and career options.

Comprising both Industrial partners (Airport Authorities) and Educational partners (UVIC, Royal Roads University, VIU and Camosun College) the Alliance will be able to offer leading high tech talent that includes structural design, analysis, composite research, analytics, avionics, simulation, manufacturing and rapid prototyping plus expertise in green technology - wave, tidal, biomass, solar and wind energy.

The executive, which consists of: SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 3

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The President/Chairs and CEOs of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC (ICABC), Certified General Accountants Association of BC (CGA-BC), and Certified Management Accountants Society of BC (CMABC) are pleased to announce that the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) has been established through legislation as of June 24, 2015.

“The provincial government enacted CPA legislation, allowing the CAs, CMAs, and CGAs in BC to amalgamate, and establish CPABC - one of the largest professional organizations in the province,” said Dan Little, FCPA, FCA, President of ICABC. “By establishing CPABC as the only regulatory body for designated accountants we’ll be able to better protect the public interest.

Marketplace confusion about the different accounting designations will also be eliminated.”

The CPA designation is Canada’s pre-eminent accounting and business designation. With more than 38,000 members and students in BC, and over 190,000 members across Canada, CPAs are providing crucial financial expertise to businesses in every sector of the economy.

“The first CPA students started the CPA Professional Education Program in September 2013,” said Simon Philp, FCPA, FCMA, Chair, CMABC. “Now they can convocate as CPAs after successfully completing the program. The new CPA program builds on all three accounting designations’ strengths, and best prepares candidates to meet the needs of employers both here in BC, Canada, and internationally.”

The CPA program is the key that opens the door to boundless career opportunities in business, public accounting, government, not-forprofit, and education. The profession is developing the next generation of BC’s business and accounting leaders in order to meet the economic needs of the province.

“We’re excited to have successfully arrived at this significant milestone, having merged all three accounting designations. It showcases our province’s leadership both here and across Canada,” said Brian Friedrich, FCPA, FCGA, Chair, CGA-BC. “We are building a new profession, one that we can all be proud of that honours our collective past while striving for a future that positions Canada and British Columbia on strong footing within the global business community.”

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strategic partnerships, serving as the exclusive provider of Konica Minolta products and services on Vancouver Island, with the capability to fulfill copier and other I/T requirements. A distribution partnership with DIRTT (www.dirtt. net) enables Monk to lead the industry in environmentally responsible and high productivity interior design. Monk also carries a wide range of furniture from affordable chairs and desks to the iconic Herman Miller line.

CAMPBELL RIVER Planning Institute of BC names Campbell River a winner for St. Ann’s block upgrade The Directors for Vancouver Island Aerospace Alliance from Left to Right: Scott Dewis, Mark Sylvester, Dr.Jenner Richards and Ray Brougham

The City of Campbell River is bringing

home another honour for the St. Ann’s block upgrade project.

At a June 18 ceremony, the Planning Institute of BC’s Silver award for Excellence in Planning Practice (for populations under 80,000) went to the City and project partners Highland Engineering, PWL partnership and Dialog. The project will also be featured in an upcoming issue of Planning West magazine.

The Excellence in Planning Practice categories recognize the efforts of planners to turn policy into reality, whether it is crafting a new urban space, protecting the industrial land base, using community partnerships to secure funding for much needed projects, engaging the public with creative approaches or new directions in project management. The City’s project was award winning for its innovation, because the results are SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 4

PHOTO CREDIT: ELDAD ALBER

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

President, Mark Sylvester (President of ASAP Avionics, Campbell River) Vice President, Scott Dewis, (CEO and Founder of Race Rocks 3D, Victoria), Acting Secretary Dr Jenner Richards (CTO of the University Centre for Aerospace Research) and Treasurer Ray Brougham (President of Prototype Equipment Design, Victoria).

We initially reached out to Boeing Commercial Aircraft Company to secure intern positions for three Island Students – these were acknowledged as a great success and resulted in full-time job offers for the students concerned.

Plans are now afoot to expand the program next year to accept additional Island students at Boeing locations in Washington and beyond.

We aim to further engage with regional and global aerospace primes and hope to further push forward with increasing our visibility in order to build on membership.

Our Executive will be reaching out to all Island based Airport Authorities, Post-Secondary Education Deans of technology and Aerospace Industry Leaders. In addition, plans are also underway to host Vancouver Island’s first Aerospace Trade Showcase.

The Vancouver Island Aerospace Alliance is now reaching out to all private industry and government leads for funding support and to expand its membership. For more information or to find out how to connect with VIAA contact: admin@viaa.ca

VANCOUVER ISLAND Monk Office Brand Identity Reflects “Office of the Future” Mon k Of f ice, a Va nc ouver I sl a nd owned and operated company, is rolling out a new brand identity that captures its vision to deliver today’s needs and the office of the future to clients.

After 10 years as “The Helpful Office People”, the office solutions provider is encouraging people to “Think Monk” for all their workplace needs, including supplies, office designs and interiors and technology.

Monk Office is officially rolling out its new look starting July 2nd, and will phase in changes over the months ahead.

“Monk Office has grown in scope to a level beyond the conventional public perception of office supply stores and services,” says CEO Mark Breslauer. “Our Sales division serves a broad range of accounts on the Island with everything from copy paper to ergonomically-designed workstations, IT networks and modular interior building materials.”

With ten retail locations Island-wide, customers can choose from stationery supplies, office technology, imaging centres, office furniture, and other products and services.

Monk Office has developed important

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NEWS UPDATE

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COMOX VALLEY The Comox Valley Airport new air service, passenger growth and strong financials at Annual Public Meeting

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transferable to other locations for smaller or larger projects, because the project deliberately incorporated economic, cultural, social and environmental benefits and for the public process that invited public input and kept people informed about the project.

“The planning behind the St. Ann’s block upgrade worked with the timing of new development to replace aging infrastructure and create what’s now a great public experience through a new investment in the downtown core,” says Mayor Andy Adams.

“Piece by piece, and thanks to the foundation laid with this project, we’re seeing a more dynamic downtown taking shape, in keeping with the visions in the official community plan to encourage walkability, lively public spaces, green infrastructure, arts and culture and a revitalized downtown Campbell River.”

FEBRUARY 2015 39

The Comox Valley Airport reported a seven per cent increase in passenger numbers for the first quarter of 2015 at its Annual Public Meeting. New capacity and improved scheduling with WestJet were responsible for the majority of this growth and YQQ expects to see passenger numbers continue on an upward trend with the addition of Air Canada’s new service to Vancouver.

“We expect to see many more passengers using the terminal over the next year thanks to air service improvements implemented in 2015,” said Bigelow. “This translates into a positive economic benefit for the community.”

The increased capacity from WestJet includes an early morning departure and late evening return with the Q400 aircraft. The new schedule ensures a minimum of three daily non-stop departures from Comox to Calgary at any time of the year, as well as increased service throughout the summer. The additional flights and schedule improvements opened up about 14 additional WestJet markets that were previously not served from Comox in at least one direction.

Air Canada’s new service to Vancouver began May 1 and includes two daily flights under the Air Canada Express brand using a 50-seat, made-in-Canada Bombardier Dash 8-300 aircraft. Air Canada’s codeshare agreement with Central Mountain Air continues to provide additional options for linking into the Air Canada network, with approximately six flights available to/from Comox each day.

“This new Air Canada service provides access to destinations around the world starting right from Comox,” said Bigelow.

“Passengers can enjoy the convenience of checking in for their flight at our airport and then seamlessly connect to destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe and across North America, all on the same ticket.”

While the Comox Valley Airport believes a case still exists for non-stop service to the United States, Bigelow explained that some of that demand can be filled by Air Canada and WestJet. It will take some time to determine how well needs are being addressed, SEE NEWS UPDATE | PAGE 5

NEWS UPDATE

JULY 2015

NEWS UPDATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

but in the meantime Bigelow says the best way to bolster YQQ’s case for new service is to use the services that we have now.

“Air Canada and WestJet have responded to our request for additional freq u e n c y a n d i m p ro v e d scheduling into their hubs.

This will help our passengers connect to more destinations and now we must do our part by filling up these planes,” Bigelow explained.

In addition to growing passenger numbers, the Comox Valley Airport reported a successful fiscal year, with a three per cent increase in revenue to $4 million and a one per cent decrease in expenses to $3.2 million for 2014/15. YQQ also reported a healthy surplus of $816,925.

NANAIMO Western Forest Products receives $30 million investment Premier Christy Clark, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson helped Lee Doney, chair, Western

Forest Products, celebrate $30 million in new capital investment in the Duke Point sawmill.

Of the $30 million, $28 million will be invested in Western Forest Products’ Duke Point sawmill to modernize the sawmill, planer mill and install new auto-grading technology to improve productivity and reduce production costs.

The company is investing $2 million in its Chemainus and Ladysmith sawmills.

These investments are part of the company’s $125-million capital strategic investment program, which Western expects to improve its competitiveness and gain access to new markets.

Duke Point is one of seven

sawmills that Western Forest Products has on Vancouver Island. The company also has two remanufacturing facilities and is North America’s largest cedar lumber manufacturer. The company ships products to 28 different countries and provides jobs to 2,000 employees and 1,500 contractors.

Western Forest Products chair, Lee Doney said, “Our harvesting strategies and continued demand for our western red cedar and specialty lumber products allows us to make the needed strategic capital investment at this time. We recognize we need to continue to invest in our operations to maintain our strong competitive position.”

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Nanaimo Sports and Entertainment Complex Proposed

BY SPENCER ANDERSON NANAIMO DAILY NEWS

A

n ambitious vision for a dow ntow n Na na i mo spor ts a nd enter ta i nment complex - as well as new residences, a hotel and options for tourism development - has been proposed for the site now occupied by the Howard Johnson Hotel at Terminal Avenue and Comox Avenue.

City support, but not capital funding, is being sought for the project. It is spearheaded

by Brian Martin, who owns the hotel and the roughly eight-acre property it sits on.

Dan Brady, manager of Martin’s Howard Johnson Harbourside hotels i n Na n a i mo a nd Victoria, said on Friday afternoon that he and other representatives for the project met with Mayor Bill McKay and other senior city officials earlier in the day to discuss the project.

“To do a megaproject like this, you have to have the support of city hall,” Brady said.

He estimates the project’s total cost at $80 million.

Brady also said he is seeking comments from the public on the proposal, and said people can call him at 250-753-2241.

The Western Hockey League has also been informed and is “excited about the project,” said Brady, also president of the Nanaimo Hospitality Association a nd t he Nanaimo Econom ic Development Corporation’s representative on the Nanaimo Tourism Leadership Committee.

A request for comment to the WHL was not returned by press time, although the league has in the past stated it views Nanaimo as a potential franchise ex pa nsion, subject to a new arena. Concept drawings for the

development show a 5,000-seat arena and a 160-to 170-room hotel on the site, plus a five-storey mixed residential and commercial building.

“It’s in its infancy right now, we’re still putting it together,” Brady said.

A development permit application has not been filed yet and Friday’s meeting is the first effort to gauge support for the project, he said.

W hile the city is not being asked to invest directly in the proposal, Brady said the municipality is being asked to consider working with the proponent to relocate sewer, water and utility lines beneath what is now the parking lot of the Howard Johnson.

Brady said the aim is also to have the city support the facility by running some of its recreational programming through the arena.

“We would like the city to have it as part of their inventory for ice time, or floor time,” Brady said.

A private-sector partner may also be sought for the arena portion of the project.

M ayor B i l l McK ay sa id he wants to learn more about the project, but wants specific details on what sort of commitments - financial and otherwise - that the city may be asked to make to the project. He said residents of the city will also have questions.

“We’ve got to have the answers to those questions,” he said. “It’s an intriguing project.”

Projects like these often spur growth in downtown areas, said the mayor.

“It’s a great starting point, no ifs or buts about it,” McKay added. “I don’t think there’s anyone on council who wouldn’t want to see redevelopment on that site.”

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ANAIMO – After 20 yea rs of providing recruitment services to organizations across Vancouver Island, t here i s no dou b t t h at StaffQuest has been making an impact.

“O ne of t he mos t rewarding things for me is when I visit a customer and see people still working for them that I helped to hire,” says Melodi Wood, company President. “I feel like we’re contributing to other’s success, it’s very satisfying.”

Her compa ny fi lls the gap for many small and medium sized businesses that don’t have a high level of internal human resources capabilities. Their services include executive sea rch a nd pl acement, complete personal assessments, interviews and reference checks.

“We take the hassle out of the often painful hiring and vetting process,” says Wood. “Our goal is to provide the highest level candidate possible. We’re able to consistently deliver on our commitments because of our experience in the industry.

“Our job is to effectively

Melodi Wood, Founder of the StaffQuest Placement Group assess the competency and character of potential employees, it’s something we’ve become really good at. We are the eyes and ears for our clients, and that means we’re carrying a level of responsibility for their future. We take that very seriously.”

StaffQuest’s origins date back to when Wood first moved to Nanaimo back in 1994.

“I was looking to start a business that was going to serve the community,” she says. “After completing a feasibility study, and talking to businesses throughout the area, it was apparent that there was a need, and the rest is history.

“So far we’ve been able to help more t h a n 700 companies across Canada, it’s been an incredible journey.”

Her company has served a wide-variety of clients, including: provincial gover n ment cont racts for temporary ministry placements, BC Ferries, Island Health, the Nanaimo Port Authority, first nations groups, radio stations and law and engineering firms.

Serving an elite customer base has come as a result of a commitment to ethics and excellence.

“We have always been absolutely honest with our clients,” says Wood. “I believe that the work we do is a reflection of who we are.

It’s our responsibility to do the best job that we can.”

September 15th will be the official 20 th Anniversary for her company, but the milestone is just that, a milestone. StaffQuest has growth in its sights, and is in the process of expanding its technology sector placement division, which is focused specifically on high level tech position placements across BC and Canada. www.staffquest.ca

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Major Chinese Investor Acquires Minority Share in Harbour Air

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arbour Air, the world’s l a rgest seapl a ne a i rline, has entered into a strategic partnership with China’s Zongshen Industrial Group Co., to export the seaplane commuter service to major cities throughout China.

Z o n g s h e n G r o u p , f o u n de d a nd r u n b y Ch i ne se bi ll iona i re a nd entrepreneu r Zuo Zongshen, has acqu i red a minority share in Harbour Air. Zongshen Group believes Harbour Air has built a model for seaplane commuter air travel that w i l l benefit m i llions of Chinese living in cities on the coast or near major waterways.

T he st rateg ic pa r t nersh ip w i l l not i mpact Ca nad ia n c o n t ro l o f H a r b o u r A i r, whose Ca n ad ia n ow nersh ip retains 75 per cent of voting shares. All Canadian regulatory requirements have been satisfied.

“This strategic partnership is a tremendous opportunity for Harbour A ir, its employees and Canadian aviation to export its services and grow,” said Harbour Air founder Greg McDougall, who will continue on as CEO. “We have created an airline model that can be appl ied to u rba n ma rkets i n countries around the world.

“We are delighted that one of China’s most respected business leaders i s i nvest i ng i n t he Br it i sh-Colu mbi a m ade airline we have built and will take our airline model into the world’s largest market place.

This unique investment from China is an historic moment for Canadian aviation,” added McDougall.

China has recently opened the door to low-altitude commercial flights, making seaplane travel a viable method of transportation in many of China’s cities on the coast or near other waterways. Zongshen Group, one of China’s largest public companies, intends to work with Harbour Air and its employees to create seaplane ser v ices i n key Ch i n a m a rkets. It will offer air travel to millions of Chinese, many of whom a re ma ny hou rs away from airports but near waterways where se apl a ne ba se s can be established.

“China’s rate of urbanization cre ates enor mou s dem a nd s for innovative transportation needs,” said Zuo. “In partnership with Harbour Air, we will bring this unique airline model to China to give the Chinese people an efficient, affordable and sustainable way to travel and connect with each other.”

Started in 1982 by CEO Greg McDougall, with just two aircraft, Harbour Air has become the world’s la rgest seapla ne a i rl i ne, a n essent ia l pa r t of British Columbia’s transportation system that con nects the province’s coastal cities and communities. The scheduled airline has an average of 200 flights a day and 60,000 flights per year that transport more than 420,000 passengers annually. It is also the world’s f i rst a i rl i ne to of fset a l l its greenhouse gas emissions from all flights and corporate operations by purchasing offsets.

“Harbour Air will continue to be operated as it always has been, with a commitment to service, safety and sustainability that leads the industry,” said McDougall. “I’m proud of the people who have helped me build Harbour Air. We will continue to build Harbour Air to ge t h e r i n C h i n a a n d n e w markets. We have created an a i rl i ne that w i l l be a British Columbian and Canadian — export to the world.”

ZongshenGroup was founded in 1992 by Zuo Zongshen, who started as a motorcycle mechanic in 1983, and became one of the leading motorcycle and eng i ne compa n ies i n Ch i na.

Zongshen Group is dedicated

to the continuous expansion of its business segments, now c o op e rat i n g w it h s t rate g ic pa r t ners to s t ren g t h en t h e development of t he genera l aviation market in China and

to integrate overseas technology with local manufacturing.

The Zongshen Group seeks to become t he i ndust r y leader in China’s emerging general aviation industry.

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT Murray McCulloch earns CPA designation

Murray McCulloch J.A. Smith & Associates Inc. is pleased to announce that Murray McCulloch has received his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. Murray came to J.A. Smith & Associates Inc. with a variety of experience both in industry and in financial services. Murray completed his Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Accounting in April 2010.

Murray’s interest is in income tax, he plans to focus in this area by continuing his studies in the in depth Tax Courses.

We welcome Murray to our professional staff.

For more information please contact:

JA Smith & Associates

250-751-3383

2147 Bowen Rd., Nanaimo BC

NANAIMO

10

JULY 2015

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ver recent months, Nan a i mo’s Ch a m b er of Commerce has been developing plans to aid recent Chinese immigrants in achieving more success in their new business ventures on Vancouver Island. Many of these investors have purchased businesses from people who wished to sell the ‘family shop’ they’ve built over decades in a desire to retire and move on.

Some of the challenges for these new investors include a lack of support systems to help them understand the differences between doing business in their native land and here. Specifically, marketing and promotions, human resources, customer service and good neighbourly relations can present challenges when you are new to a language and culture.

like workshops, seminars and mentoring – to help welcome our new investors and position them better for success Working with our local Multicu ltu ra l Society a nd g roups representing the Chinese community, we are establishing tools – like workshops, seminars and mentoring – to help welcome our new investors and position them better for success. We know there are many ways we can contribute for the benefit of our economy and the community at large.

But… in early June we began to see some hints of racial intolerance. Some of us received what can only be described as ‘hate mail’ at our homes in an unaddressed letter from a previously unheard of group. Many expressed outrage at this display of

ignorance and racism by reporting this to authorities while discussing it widely on social media and around the water cooler.

This was just the preface to an ugly weekend that saw bus bench posters featuring Asian realtors marketing their services in their own language to potential buyers defaced with messages of hate.

People offered to orga n ize clean-up crews, police opened an investigation, the city sent crews to remove the graffiti and hands reached out to individual realtors and the Asian community. The Chamber of Commerce and other civic leaders sought ways to assure local Chinese that they were safe and most welcome.

The Chamber continues its efforts to ensure all new arrivals feel secure about their decision to place their dreams and hopes in our fine community and support their business efforts. We emphasize that the ignorant thoughts expressed and actions taken are those of a very few people who need to rethink what they’re saying and doing to their neighbours lest it happen to them someday. Feel free to let us know where you stand on this issue: ceo@nanaimochamber.bc.ca Kim Smythe is CEO of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

He can be reached at ceo@ nanaimochamber.bc.ca

Robust Housing Market Shows No Signs of Slowing Down

N

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· Section 85 rollovers Kevin Beausoleil BA, MBA, CPA, CGA

250 754 2111 kevin@beausoleilcga.com beausoleilcga.com

A NA I MO – A rob u s t provincial economy and bolstered consumer confidence are fuelling home sales in the VIREB area, with a strong spring sales market showing no signs of slowing as we head into summer.

In June 2015, 636 single-family homes sold on the MLS system compared to 527 last month, an increase of 20 per cent. Yearover-yea r, sa les rose 36 per cent over the 469 single-family homes sold last June. Inventory levels continue to decline in our area, with active listings down approximately 13 per cent since June 2014.

BCREA Chief Economist Cameron Muir reports that British Columbia’s economy is leading Canada, with 2.4 per cent growth expected this year. Low interest rates, confident consumers, and limited inventory in many areas are driving BC’s strong housing market.

“With no interest-rate hike on the horizon, we’re unlikely to see any cooling in the next couple of quarters,” says Muir. “Consumers are out buying in a big way, and there is lots of competition

for available listings.”

Muir stressed that using a realtor is even more vital in an active housing market to ensure you are receiving expert advice.

“When there is a finite supply of homes and high demand, a local realtor has the insight and knowledge to help you make the best pricing decision when buying or selling a home,” said Muir.

VIREB President Jason Finlayson confirms that although the summer months are traditionally quieter, activity in our area shows no signs of slowing down.

Even with declining inventory levels, however, the benchmark price is up just a little over four per cent from last year.

“Despite healthy sales and declining inventory throughout our area, our market is still balanced,” says Finlayson. “We see occasional multiple offers, but homes still need to be competitively priced to sell. However, if inventory levels continue dropping, we could begin to see sellers’ markets in some areas.”

Finlayson reiterates that the VIREB area offers tremendous value for buyers in comparison to many larger urban Canadian

centres, so it is still an excellent time to enter the housing market.

In June 2015, the benchmark price for a single-family home in the VIREB coverage area was $335,400, up 4.24 per cent from last year. Benchmark pricing tracks the value of a typical home in the reported area. The average price was up four per cent, with a single-family home selling for $359,970 compared to $346,713 in June 2014.

T he Ju ne 2015 b ench m a rk price of a single-family home in the Campbell River area was $283,300, an increase of 6.51 per cent from last year. In the Comox Valley, the benchmark price was $334,000, up 2.89 per cent over 2014. Duncan reported a benchmark price of $298,300, an increase of 6.42 per cent over the same month in 2014. Nanaimo’s benchmark price rose 3.51 per c ent to $350,200 wh i le t he Parksville-Qualicum area saw its benchmark price rise a little over four per cent to $369,800.

The price for a benchmark home in Port Alberni was $190,600, down 6.36 per cent since June 2014.

11

JULY 2015

PRESLEY & PARTNERS WORKS FOR THE SUCCESS OF ITS CLIENTS AND ITS COMMUNITY “We want our business Partners Ann Scott and Murray Presley are Fellows of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC

owners to be successful and we also want them to enjoy their life right now while they’re living

C

OURTENAY - This past Ju ne 2 4, A n n Scott, a partner in the Courtenay accounting firm of Presley & Partners, was honoured with a Fellowship in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC. This honour is given to chartered accountants to recognize the exemplary service and/or goodwill that they have brought to the accounting profession over the course of their career.

To be considered for the Fellowship, a member must be nominated by their peers and elected to Fellowship by the Institute’s cou nci l. To be selected, the member must demonstrate distinction in more than one area of four categories: their work with the Institute or a similar professional association; their career; community service; and research, teaching, writing or speaking. Only three per cent of cha rtered accou nta nts i n British Columbia are Fellows.

Scott’s business partner and hu sba nd, Murray Presley, a founding partner of the firm, is also a Fellow of the Institute. Together, they ma ke a rare professional couple. Scott’s new designation gives Presley and Partners one of only three married couples that are each Fellows of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC. “It’s a big honour,” Scott said, adding that she believes it is her community involvement that was a strong factor in her nomination. She spent 12 years as a board member including as chair of North Island College and Vancouver Island University. She has also served on the board of the United Way as well as many other non-profit organizations.

“I rea l ly bel ieve i n h ig her education,” she said. “Through education, people can improve their situation and look after their families. And when you become educated, you begin to understand other people and cultures.”

P re s l e y h a s a l s o re c e n t l y

it. Don’t put it off for 30 years. Be successful but also be successful in life.”

ANN SCOTT PARTNER, PRESLEY & PARTNERS

Ann Scott received an honorary degree along with children’s entertainer Raffi from Ralph Nielsen, president of VIU Ann Scott was recently honoured with a Fellowship in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC

achieved outstanding recognition by being named one of the Citizens of the Century for Courtenay, in celebration of the city’s 100 th anniversary. Presley served on city council for 15 years and received the award along with the other founding board members of the Comox Valley Community Foundation.

“T his is what our firm is about,” Scott said “We contribute to the community. There are other people in the firm who a re a lso doi ng g reat th i ngs.

We have a strong community sense.”

Presley & Partners is certainly well known for contribution, not only to the community, but also to the people and businesses it serves in a professional capacity.

Presley & Partners is a full service accounting and financial consulting firm. Founde d i n 19 8 1 b y P r e s l e y a n d George McCreadie, the fi rm is known for comprehensive business consulting, complex estate planning and management, strategic tax planning, bookkeeping, accounting and auditing. T he firm is also up-to-date on the latest

Murray Presley is one of the founding partners of Presley & Partners technology including cloud accounting. Presley & Partners has had clients for 30 and 40 years and garners new clients every year who are drawn to its expertise in a variety of areas.

But most importantly, Scott said, the firm cares about its clients.

“We like to work with our clients on improving their business and their life. Our mission is, ‘We help business owners live their dreams.’ That is our thing. We want our business owners to be successful and we also want them to enjoy their l i fe rig ht now wh i le they’re living it. Don’t put it off for 30 years. Be successful but also be successful in life.”

While the partners and employees at Presley & Partners do their best to help their clients l ive thei r d rea ms, they also continue to work in the community. This is a constant theme at the firm, Scott said.

The partners at Presley & Partners aim to help business owners live their dreams “We need to give back. The valley has been good to us. Part of the thing about being a chartered accountant is that there are many opportunities to give back. Lots of volunteer boards need financial expertise.”

One of the firm’s partners, Brenda Kelm, is the chair of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation and sits on the board of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. Another partner, Colleen Ellison, has also sat on ma ny boa rds i n the past.

C u r re n t ly s h e d e l i v e r s t h e well-known national business

prog ra m, “Ju n ior Ach ievement,” to yout h i n schools.

Scott said that’s just scratching the surface of what people in the firm contribute. “ I t’s a l l a b o u t l i v i n g t h e d ream,” she said. “We want our clients to be successful. We contribute to them with the financial part of it. But we don’t want them to just make money.

We want them to have the time to pursue what they dream for their life.”

Presley & Partners is at 951 Fitzgerald Avenue in Courtenay. www.presleyandpartners.com

Growing your business is more successful (and fun) with the right advice.

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(250) 338-1394

12 COMMUNITY IN

JULY 2015

NANAIMO Nanaimo’s economy could reach $ 4 billion in 2015 Small business drives Nanaimo’s economy

Ferry Terminals provide service to the lower mainland and the Gulf Islands.

CREDIT:TOURISM NANAIMO/CINNABAR VISTA PRODUCTIONS

BETH HENDRY-YIM

L

ocated i n cent ra l Va ncouver Island, Nanaimo is home to the isla nd’s largest commercial port and b oa s t s t wo fer r y ter m i n a l s t h at prov id e ser v ic e to t he m a i n la nd a nd Gu l f Isla nds.

With a population closing in on 100,000, it’s a city known for its adaptability, innovation and hard work ethic.

From a centre of Fi rst Nations activity to a resource-focused economy dependent on coa l, fisheries a nd forestry, the city continues to adapt and transform itself to accommodate changing economic needs and a growing population.

Tod ay, t he city i s home to leading edge businesses, serv ices a nd tech nolog y a nd a demographic attracted by its m i ld cl i mate, a f ford abi l ity, amenities and natural beauty.

Mayor Bill McKay has a s t r o n g v i s i o n fo r t h e c i t y.

Drawing on the need for sustainable development, he said his council is looking at ways to create public places where people can connect, growing s e l f-c ont a i n e d n e i g h b o u rhoods and encouraging success at a l l levels a nd for a l l ages.

O ne of h i s i n it i at ives, t he Green Tape Committee, will have city councilors, business ow ners and citizens looking at ways to encou ra ge b u siness success. He said it would connect stakeholders and help d e t e r m i n e w h a t m o d e l fo r development looks best for a successful and thriving downtown and waterfront core. “ T h e c i t y i s d e m o n s t ra ting that it wants business to s u c c e e d a n d i s c re at i n g a n environment for that to happen by remov i ng ba rriers a nd prov id i n g i nc ent ive s,”

“Our economy this year will have topped over $4 billion. On a per capita basis, that is better than Vancouver or Victoria.”

SASHA ANGUS CEO NEDC

Sasha Angus said Nanaimo’s economy will top $4 billion in 2015 CREDIT:TOURISM NANAIMO/CINNABAR VISTA PRODUCTIONS

sa id K im Smythe, president of t he Nanaimo Chamber of Com merce, add i ng t h at t he city’s act ive engagement i n cutt i ng t h rou g h red tap e i s

encouraging investment and allowing development to happen more rapidly.

SEE NANAIMO’S ECONOMY | PAGE 13

NANAIMO

JULY 2015

13

Nanaimo Airport saw a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers.

CREDIT:TOURISM NANAIMO/CINNABAR VISTA PRODUCTIONS

NANAIMO’S ECONOMY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Sasha Angus, CEO of the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation, said his organization is seeing a steady i ncrease i n the nu mber of entrepreneu rs setti ng up i n Nanaimo, giving the city the second highest rate of self-employed persons in BC. “Our economy this year will have topped over $4 billion,” he said. “On a per capita basis, that is better than Vancouver or Victoria.”

Smythe stressed that small businesses, with five to 30 employees, a re the l i feblood of the BC economy.

“Eighty eight per cent of l icen si ng i n Na n a i mo i s for m icrob u si ne sse s,” he sa id .

“T hese a re people who have figured out a way to make a decent living in this community.”

A c c o rd i n g to A n g u s , Nan a i mo i s a l so se ei n g i ntere s t f ro m t h e i n te r n a t i o n a l m a rk e t p l a c e . H e s a i d t h e y are attracted by the business opportunities, strong economy and supportive environment. “ I n t he s pr i n g t he F i n a ncia l T i mes of L ondon l isted Nanaimo as the most cost effective place to do business in North America for a city of our size,” he said.

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Janice Stromar said consumer confidence is high and buying power strong owners comes from a community effort and strong working relationsh ips. T he Nanaimo Cha mber hosts sem i na rs on how business is conducted in Ca nada, how to u ndersta nd government business requirements and regulations, how to be a good neighbour and how to promote a business.

“We look at how we can actively support business owners through lobbying and advocacy,” Smy t he sa id, add i ng that a cooperative env i ronment with both the city council and the NEDC encourages better communication and improves the Chamber’s ability to serve its clients.

Working partnerships are an i mporta nt pa rt of the city’s success strateg ies. Worki ng w ith I n novation Isla nd, the NEDC has created a co-worki ng space to support the g row th of the tech nolog y i n d u s t r y, a s e g m e n t o f t h e economy that adds $204 million a nd prov ides 2,730 jobs i n more t h a n 350 bu si nesses. Square One, a technology i ncubator, wa s created i n a downtown heritage building and supports the startup culture for tech entrepreneurs.

“Sta rtups tend to g row i n sca le qu ick ly i n a short amount of time,” Angus said adding that Innovation Island SEE NANAIMO’S ECONOMY | PAGE 14

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NANAIMO

JULY 2015

Nanaimo’s waterfront is evolving with walkways, retail space, and unique homes CREDIT:TOURISM NANAIMO/CINNABAR VISTA PRODUCTIONS

NANAIMO’S ECONOMY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

and Square One provide vital resou rces that i nclude professiona l development programming, advisory and mentor i ng ser v ices a nd t he right connections for growth.

Although seeking new business investment opportunities is important, Angus stressed that the NEDC is also looking at what it ca n do to support existing business.

“A b i g p i e c e o f a h e a l t h y economy is around business retention and expansion,” he

said. “So we asked CEO’s what thei r needs, cha l lenges a nd wants are and how the NEDC can help.”

He added that one of those wants is a global supply chain to facilitate the faster movement of merchandise to customers. In 2014 FedEx landed at Nanaimo Airport f ly i ng cargo to and from the island to a transfer station on the Lower Mainland.

T he airport, a strong indicator of the city’s growth and success, has seen a dramatic increase in the number of flights, s e r v i c e s a n d te c h n olo g y it

prov ides for the centra l a nd northern island. Boasting daily f lights w ith Westjet and Air Canada, to Vancouver and Calgary, the airport has once again seen an increase in passenger numbers, up 10 per cent from last year. With a planned $11 m i l l ion ex pa nsion of the a i r terminal building, passengers and business will see improved opportunities, less congestion and cargo traffic growth.

House sales in the first qu a r ter of 2015 a l so ref lect the city’s appeal and growth, rising 21 per cent in May 2015 from the same time last year.

According to McKay, an unprecedented number of homes over the $700,000 price range were sold in the first quarter of 2015.

Although average provincial housing prices are on the rise, Na n a i mo’s a re s t a bi l i z i n g.

T h at a nd low i nterest rates serve up exciting opportunities for new homebuyers.

Janice Stromar, director for the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, sa id the BC Real Estate Association found sales on Vancouver Island to be the strongest since 2007. “ We’re i n a b a l a n c e d

market,” she said. “Consumer confidence is high and buying power strong.”

Stroma r added that the average th ree bed room, two bathroom home is selling for a benchmark price of $351,600, with some brand new homes in South Nanaimo selling for $269,000.

A s Na n a i m o c o n t i n u e s to evolve, develop its impressive waterfront, grow as a transp or t at ion hu b, em bra c e it s diversity and capitalize on its ability to morph and adapt, it will continue to thrive, serve and enrich its citizens.

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15

Vancouver Island Conference Centre building an enviable reputation Nanaimo facility continues to overcome challenges and to thrive

N

ANAIMO – Since opening its doors to the public in 2008, the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) has experienced success, challenges and continuing growth.

The challenges came early. The conference centre was planned along with a hotel to provide accommodations. The hotel was not built. At the same time, 2008 marked the beginning of a global economic downturn that put a severe damper on conferences everywhere.

Despite that, VICC began to make a name for itself for its modern amenities, flexible spaces and outstanding customer service.

General manager Denise Tacon said that delegates to conferences have accessed surrounding hotels, often finding accommodation as far away as Parkville.

She said that if a conference is a particularly intense one with many activities, delegates need to stay close – and that has been one of VICC’s challenges. However, VICC has actively marketed to business sectors such as science, aquaculture, academics, fisheries and agriculture with great success. VICC also has a strong First Nations market.

“We align ourselves with almost

all of their areas of interest,” Tacon said. “And children, school districts and forestry are also huge areas of interest to us. We penetrate these markets throughout BC.” She added that as the global economy improves, VICC is considering expanding its marketing into the US, particularly Washington State.

She said that one of the best marketing tools for VICC has been the delegates who have come in the past – and who return, some every year.

“We have been compared to the Vancouver Conference Centre,” she said. “From day one, our vision has been to be one of the best in our competitive set. Our customer service has been consistent from day one – and that is the only thing that will keep anything sustainable today. We continue to nurture relationships and I think that has kept us top of mind. Our accolades, repeat clientele and repeat conferences speak to that.”

The list of organizations that have accessed VICC, many on a repeat basis, includes: ■ Vancouver Economic Alliance Summit ■ Western Cities Hu ma n Resources

VICC’s Shaw Auditorium offers a superb hi-tech meeting space ■

BC Assembly of Frist Nations ■ Department of Fisheries and Oceans ■ Pacific Biological Station ■ Municipal Information Systems Association ■ Order of the Eastern Star In addition, Tacon noted that VICC is the meeting place of choice for many aquaculture and agriculture groups. The largest conference it has hosted topped 1,400 delegates.

VICC boasts spaces that can accommodate any type of group.

The Mount Benson Ballroom can

be broken down into four smaller spaces with five breakout rooms.

Additional meeting rooms include Nanaimo A&B, the Shaw Auditorium, the Dodds Room a dynamic space in the Nanaimo Museum plus other spaces for a total of 15 – 16. Tacon said that ideally, conferences would accommodate 600 – 1,200 people.

She also noted that VICC has made recent upg rades to its custom built technology as well as the installation of Shaw hot spots. Top-f light Internet is available throughout.

As for the future,

accommodation continues to be a challenge, but one that the centre has been overcoming with a good deal of aplomb. Tacon said that VICC is sitting at a plateau where it expects 19,000 – 25,000 delegate days per year. That said, the future is bringing positive news.

“Tourism is on the rise and airport traffic is increasing and that is opening other opportunities,” Tacon said. “It’s almost like the perfect storm – we are moving into the next stage of growth in our region and we will all benefit from that.” She added that VICC is also reaching out to the community. This January it is hosting a children’s festival that will bring together many groups including school organizations.

“There will be lots of helpful information for families and g reat f u n for ch i ld ren,” she said. “We’re bringing them all under one roof. And when the children are here with their parents, they’ll have fun and maybe learn something. Our focus is to be in the whole community as well as a voice in the business community.”

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

16

JULY 2015

NICON DEVELOPMENTS WINS GRAND VIBE AWARD “Trumpeter Pointe is Nicon’s Trumpeter Pointe hailed as best on Vancouver Island

a community, not a subdivision. Quamichan Lake is the focal point of

D

U NC A N - C o n g ra t ulations keep pouring in to Nicon Developments Limited - winner of the 2015 Vancouver Island Building Excellence (VIBE) Grand Award in the prestigious category, Residential Community of the Year for its development at Trumpeter Pointe on the shores of Quamichan Lake in the Cowichan Valley.

Awards were presented at the Gala May 23 in Nanaimo.

This latest achievement is perhaps the company’s most exciting to date and joins a raft of awards it has won in the past including a host of CARE awards, the Master Builder Award from the New Home Warranty Program and Job-Site Innovator Award from CMHC in a Canada-wide competition. Talking about the VIBE award, company owner and president Nick Woywitka said, “I was totally taken by surprise. To win that was a big honour for Nicon and for myself.

And I was in awe for many days.

I had to phone and email everybody and spread the good word

Trumpeter Pointe and it has set a new standard for the development of Vancouver Island lakes.”

NICK WOYWITKA OWNER AND PRESIDENT, NICON DEVELOPMENTS LTD.

before it hit the newspapers.”

Woywitka’s excitement is easy to understand given how long Trumpeter Pointe has been on the books and in his dreams.

He made his first application to build in 1998. Because the development is on the lake, there were almost countless hoops to jump through.

In 2000, Woywitka hired Patrick Lucey of Aqua-Tex Scientific Consulting Ltd. to help develop a storm water management program and establish a 200-year flood plain elevation.

I n Ja n u a r y 2 0 01, t h e n e w

Nick Woywitka says that Trumpeter Pointe is a special vision he never gave up on

SEE NICON DEVELOPMENTS | PAGE 17

Years of planning went into the creation of Trumpeter Pointe

Congratulations Nick on an outstanding project.

We’re proud to be part of your team.

Bruce Rowbotham

250.995.3560 Bruce.Rowbotham@cwbank.com

1201 Douglas Street, Victoria BC V8W 2E6

17

JULY 2015

In the spring, cherry trees blossom at Trumpeter Pointe

NICON DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

streamside protection regulations came into effect. At that point, Woywitka was dealing w ith three levels of government: loca l, prov i nci a l a nd federal. In 2002, Aqua-tex put a report together for the Federal Fisheries.

“My vision was to use bioswales, wetlands and ponds to treat all the storm water prior to it being discharged into Quamichan Lake,” Woy witka said.

“Pipes and culverts would only be used where no other options were available.” Protecting the riparian area was essential, he said, not only from the government’s point of view, but for his vision as well.

Constr uction of T r u mpeter Pointe was scaled in three phases: ■ Best management practices for underground services and earthworks ■ Preparation of building lots ■ Individual house construction Before a builder or a sub trade was allowed to work on the project, they received a program outlining the lake’s ecosystem and how to protect it. Homeowners were given the same program. Contractors had to sign, saying they had received it. The ecology of the area was top of mind for Woywitka at all times.

O ne of h i s ch a l lenges wa s keeping the clusters of beautiful old trees while opening viewscapes to homeowners. Through judicious pruning, he not only created the desired effect but satisfied Federal Fisheries as well. He also had to put in a sewer line along the lake. With that completed, the company had to re-landscape the riparian area and bring it back to its natural state. The company then built a rock wall, effectively separating the area from home lots SEE NICON DEVELOPMENTS | PAGE 18

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NICON DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

and protecting it. At the same time, Nicon provided riparian approvals for boardwalk access to the lake from each lot.

One of the compa ny’s biggest challenges was installing a sewage pump station to pump uphill to the main line. Other challenges included continued upkeep and pruning of trees and managing the bio-swales, which consisted of a pond located 500 feet from the lake’s shoreline followed by three interlinked ponds not connected to the lake.

In April 2006, Nicon received final approvals of the drawings for the subd iv ision. I n Ju ne 2008, Nicon submitted its final registration of the land titles for 66 lots. Today, Trumpeter Pointe is 80 per cent built out.

A nd while some people have purchased lots and hired their own builder, Nicon has built 90 per cent of the homes, all on spec – and all following Woywitka’s innovative and progressive vision.

“I put my ideas together and I do the designs.” He added that Trumpeter Pointe has strong design guidelines that cover almost 35 pages and include landscaping and exterior views. Boulevards are lined with blooming cherry trees. Colours are from a limited palette of earth tones. Exteriors must include brick or stone facades.

All homes at Trumpeter Point are high quality W hen the subd iv ision was brand new, Nicon built a show home that epitomized the standard Woywitka expected from both himself and other builders.

“Some people said my guidel i nes were too rest r ict ive,”

Congratulations to Nick and all the Staff at Nicon Developments Ltd on your 2015 VIBE award!

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Woywitka said. “But I just kept on going. I did not relent during the recession. I did not relent on my standard of building or my subdivision standard. Now, everyone thanks me.”

Trumpeter Pointe features 17 waterfront lots and 49 view lots.

Fully 15 per cent of the subdivision is given over to parks and trails. All the homes are Built Green Gold or Platinum. The neighbourhood has developed into an eclectic one that includes young families, professionals a nd you n g ret i red couples.

Asked how he would best describe Trumpeter Pointe now that it is almost complete, Woywitka said, “Trumpeter Pointe is a commu n it y, not a s u b d iv i s ion .

Quamichan Lake is the focal point of Trumpeter Pointe and it has set a new standard for the development of Vancouver Island lakes. The greatest of care and attention has gone into the planning and design of every

Best wishes from Creative Woodcraft as you celebrate your VIBE Award win.

detail to preserve the habitat and eco-system.”

He added that the work was worth it. And, in fact, the work began even before 1998. Woywitka’s father first bought the land in 1968, when he developed 24- half acre lots.

“It’s been a vision of mine and my dad’s,” Woywitka said. “And now it has finally come to be. I’m a very determined person and I don’t give up easily.”

Woywitka grew up in the industry. His parents owned a lumber yard in Alberta and lived on site. By age 10 he was driving the forklift and serving customers in the yard. His father sold the business in 1967 and moved the family to Duncan.

Wo y w i t k a m o v e d b a c k to Alberta in the spring of 1972.

Needing a job, he wrote his real estate exam and qualified the same day. But real estate wasn’t the career for him. Three months later he took a job as a cleanup contractor for a residential

facility, repairing deficiencies after construction.

Three weeks after being on the job, he was promoted to the position of superintendent.

The company he worked for was building about 400 houses a year under the supervision of four project managers. Each manager, Woywitka included, was responsible for 25 homes each quarter. If each home came in on time and on budget, the project manager received a bonus. Woywitka recalls that he spent his first quarter learning the ropes and his next three quarters collecting the maximum bonus.

At age 23 he was outperforming everyone else. “I was really good at scheduling and delegating,” he says, recalling that he spent every Saturday inspecting every house under construction that he was responsible for and drawing up the next week’s schedule for each.

SEE NICON DEVELOPMENTS | PAGE 19

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19

JULY 2015

Nicon Homes is a new division of Nicon that specializes in custom builds

NICON DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

One of the secrets to his “ontime and on-budget” success was his relationship with the subtrades that he had to share with the other project managers. He offered them a share of his bonuses – the enticement worked like a dream. “I wasn’t in it for the money,” he says. “I was out to prove something to myself.”

In September 1974, he moved back to Duncan and built his fi rst spec home a nd i n 1976 founded Nicon Developments Ltd. Within a year he was hiring staff and beginning to delegate while he managed his projects.

In the early 1980s, Woywitka brought an expert commercial project manager to Duncan from Alberta and Nicon Developments became known for a wide variety of com mercia l projects

Wishing Nicon Developments continued success.

HAYES STEWART L ITTLE & C O.

including: ■ Fuller Lake Arena ■ I nternationa l Plastics, Duncan ■ Fulford Harbour School, Saltspring ■ United Buy & Sell, Duncan ■ P ubl ic Work s Ca n ad a, Calgary ■ D r i l lwel l E nter pr i se s, Duncan ■ Chemainus Safety Building ■ M i n i s t r y o f Fo r e s t s , Chetwynd Warehouse ■ Cow ich a n Com mu n ity Centre ■ Chemainus Dinner Theatre ■ C o w i c h a n H a t c h e r y, Duncan ■ Lighthouse Pub & Bistro, Port Renfrew In 1997 he opened a second office in Airdrie, Alberta just north of Calgary to build single family

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and multi-family homes. For the next seven years he commuted back and forth, building 160 units with a sales manager on site at the development.

In 2004, after closing the office in Airdrie, he began to focus strongly on residential development in the mid-Vancouver Island area, first with the Heritage Park Development in Ladysmith and then with Pondside in Duncan.

The company’s multi-family new home projects include: ■ Heatherton, Duncan ■ M’Akola Housing, Duncan ■ Nanaimo Lions Housing ■ CMHC affordable housing, Duncan ■ Rock wood Terrace, Duncan ■ Oakgrove, Duncan ■ Waterton Place, Nanaimo ■ Silver Springs Terrace, Airdrie Currently, Nicon is planning a

Congratulations!

townhouse project in Courtenay and also building The Sequoia, a 46-unit project in Duncan, with phase two complete. If that’s

not enough to be excited about, Woywitka also has a brand new custom homes division, Nicon Homes, which is in the final stages of completion. This new division rounds out the list of services the Nicon name offers by providing the quality craftsmanship it is famous for on land clients already own – or they can opt to have Nicon assist them in locating land.

“This allows for the budget flexibility required in today’s market,” Woywitka said. “Build the home you want at prices you can afford.” He added that Nicon’s technical abilities are supplemented by prominent specialists who are retained for all its projects.

“I have a key project manager, Terry Pearson and an excellent office manager/controller, Debra Woodward and a great marketing and sales manager, Nadine Gendall. We also have an employee, Lou, who has been with Nicon for 27 years. I do the planning and hand it over to Terry and he takes it from there.” He added that being able to rely on his people is key to his success.

“I build it and they come,” he said. “I’m a bit of a visionary.

I see a piece of dirt and I check it out and if I think it’s going to work, I start throwing darts at it. I always have several balls in the air.”

Nicon Developments Ltd. is at 2922 Allenby Road in Duncan. www.nicon.ca

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Wishing Nicon Developments continued success!

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Both consumers and Accredited Businesses can go direct to deals.bbb.org and register to create an account. Consumers can customize their profile and preferences to have BBBDeals send them information about discounts being posted by businesses within their local area, and from categories of interest to them. Similarly, Accredited Businesses can create their own company profile, complete with logos, photos and videos, then upload their coupons and discount information direct to the site.

Realistically we expect it will take a of couple months to get the site populated with a wide variety of discounts from our Accredited Businesses. In the meantime, we are offering our Accredited Businesses a four-month introductory period where they can post coupons for no charge.

We are also embarking on an aggressive campaign to spread the word to consumers that this awesome new discount site exists and that it’s free and easy to use. This is a very new endeavor for our BBB and it holds incredible potential for our Accredited Businesses to connect with and expand their customer base.

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CREDIT UNION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The master plan for the 65 acre development saddling the highway includes a grocery store and office space in a 70,000 square foot shopping centre. A hotel is planned for a 3.7 acre site overlooking Ladysmith harbour.

The residential area is projected to include 77 single family homes, 35 two-storey, 1,600 square foot townhouses, and two low-rise apartments buildings of three to four storeys, with 12 units per floor. The assisted living site is 21.3 acres, where the senior-oriented residential neighbourhood will feature patio homes, assisted living and extended care space.

Brian Childs, LDCU President, noted “I’m thrilled to be here.

We are a small credit union that the Band council has decided to accept into their community.

“We’ve been wanting this for a long time. This is not a gamble for us; this is a stake in the community and we’re going to be here for a long time.”

LDCU CEO John De Leeuw said “LDCU is very happy to be joining the Oyster Bay project. The Stz’uminus First Nation is a fast-growing community and we recognize there is an immediate need for financial services in the region.

“The access from the Trans-Canada Highway will make it even easier for all of our members to access our banking

From left: Stz’uminus First Nation Chief John Elliott, Coast Salish Development Corporation CEO Ray Gauthier, Ladysmith & District Credit Union CEO John De Leeuw and LDCU President Brian Childs sign the lease for the LDCU branch at Oyster Bay services.”

Chief Elliott stressed the project demonstrates the power and value of partnerships.

“So many have been created in the last few years,” he said, noting the project has involved the Town of Ladysmith, Vancouver Island University, the Cowichan

Valley Regional District, TimberWest, Fortis BC and the Ladysmith Maritime Society.

Ch ief El l iott tha n ked Joh n Du nca n, former M i n ister of Aboriginal Affairs and current Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North who is running in the Courtenay-Alberni

riding in the October federal election.

“I want to thank him for his time and effort in helping us th roug h th is process,” says Elliott.

“Most of all, I want to thank my community,” Elliott said, adding this project will result in

opportunities for their children.

“It’s not only creating revenue, but it will help them create businesses for themselves,” he notes.

“This will create an economy for all people to share. We are here to celebrate partnerships that will last 50, 60, 70 years down the road.”

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JULY 2015

GNB BUILDERS IS SMALL VOLUME BUILDER OF THE YEAR “We truly do build homes Ladysmith company builds high quality custom homes

for the client. We nurture what it is that they want and bring that to life.”

L

ADYSMITH - GNB Builders Inc. in Ladysmith was recently honoured with the

GREG BIANCHINI PRESIDENT, GNB BUILDERS INC.

GNB Builders won the VIBE award for Best Small Volume Builder of the Year

Greg and Heidi Bianchini strive to build the perfect dream homes for their clients Grand VIBE award in the category Small Volume Builder of the Year at the Vancouver Island Building Excellence Awards. It was also a finalist in three other categories: ■ Best Single Family Home 1,500 – 3,000 sq. ft.

■ Best Single Family Kitchen - New over $50,000 ■ Best Residentia l Home Renovation over $350,000 Spea k i ng about t he Gra nd VIBE award, GNB president Greg Bianchini said, “It felt great. It was such an honour to win it and it was the award that really meant the most SEE GNB BUILDERS | PAGE 23

A log home renovation was a recent VIBE finalist

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JULY 2015

GNB BUILDERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

to us.” What makes GNB an outstanding builder?

“It’s our attention to detail,” Bianchini said. “We’re client driven and we’re professional and accountable.”

T he pro c e ss of b u i ld i n g a home with GNB Builders often starts with a client searching for a property for their dream home. Bianchini and his wife and business partner/designer Heidi Bianchini help them find the property that best suits their needs and the type of home they want to build. Each client also needs a different degree of assistance.

“Some know exactly what they want,” Greg said. “Others, you have to work with and you have to develop what they want. Both of us are hands-on right from the start. I design the homes starting with brainstorming session and priority lists from clients. Heidi spends a lot of time with the clients at the beginning to create an image or idea of what their tastes are.” Heidi continues to build on their vision by spending time with clients looking at and starting specifications for cabinets, lighting fixtures, flooring, granite and tiles that they are drawn to.

“She starts to shape their design and what it is about them

GNB Builders recently completed a custom waterfront home

SEE GNB BUILDERS | PAGE 24

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JULY 2015

An expansive kitchen was a recent VIBE award finalist

GNB BUILDERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

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that we want to bring out,” Greg said. “We truly do build homes for the client. We nurture what it is that they want and bring that to life. That’s what’s really important and we really strive to put that all together.” But it’s not just the end product that’s important, he added – the entire process has to be enjoyable – and even exciting.

“You hear stories about how stressful it is to build a custom home. We take the stress out of it. We want our clients to have a lot of fun building their home.

It should be fun. Let us do the

Congratulations to the team at GNB Builders on their VIBE award. www.emcobc.ca www.facebook.com/EmcoCorp

heavy lifting and take care of the stress – they can have a good time picking colours and cabinets and so on.”

The proof that GNB delivers is in the end result, Heidi said that it’s not unusual to see happy tears when they turn over the keys to their new home. She said that recently they handed over another new home. “ T h e o w n e r s w e r e o v e rwhelmed. They felt that they’d won the lottery, being able to live in what they had dreamed of. It’s very emotional when you hand over a house – and that’s our motivator. We strive to make it better than they had anticipated.” Greg added that GNB

treats every project as if it was their own home.

“We go the extra mile. We do all the little details. At the end, we want to see the expressions on their faces.”

Heidi noted that in this last instance, the crew was also present when the owners took possession. They also strive to do their best, Heidi said, and are part of the GNB culture of building a dream.

For Greg, building is a way of life. As a child he used to enjoy visiting his grandfather’s workshop where somet h i ng was always in various stages SEE GNB BUILDERS | PAGE 25

Congratulations on your VIBE award, from all of us.

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Travelers Canada would like to congratulate GNB Builders on their 2015 VIBE Award for Small Volume Builder of the Year!

travelerscanada.ca © 2015 The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (Canada Branch) and Travelers Insurance Company of Canada. Travelers and the Travelers Umbrella logo are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries. All other registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. M-17778 Rev. 6-15

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JULY 2015

“It was designed to have two or three people cooking at one time so it had three surfaces including a lowered butcher block and granite countertops. And I think the simplicity to it gave it real elegance.” Clerestory windows in the 11-foot ceilings provide natural light while the open concept room gives everyone in the kitchen magnificent ocean views.

Heid i noted that both new homes are Built Green Platinum and the Energuide rating for the renovation increased from 61 to 76 – and possibly higher given the use of hydronic heating.

Moving ahead, GNB Builders continues to build dream custom homes. At the same time, it is building its first multi-family project, The Gales, in Ladysmith.

The Gales is a project it took over from another builder and GNB is now adding Built Green certification and its special sense of design and quality to a new show home and to the other ocean view townhomes.

Greg and Heidi are also completing their own home, which they will use as a show home for their clients.

“This will be the f lagship,” Greg said.

Heidi added that the new home will also showcase the company’s suppliers and trades as well as everything that GNB is capable of doing.

GNB Builders Inc. is in Yellow Point, Ladysmith. www.gnbbuilders.ca

Greg Binachini said that he and Heidi are hands-on builders

GNB BUILDERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

Congratulations from

Brent Mckinlay Cell 250 710 2567 Ph 743 9922 brent@victoriatrussltd.ca Head Office/Manufacturing P.O. Box 280 3605 Cobble Hill Road Cobble Hill, BC V0R 1L0

of creation. When he finished school in Victoria, there was no doubt in his mind that he would be a builder.

“It just seemed to be a fit,” he said. “I really enjoyed it and even early on I knew that I was capable of running bigger jobs.” It wasn’t long before he was taking on bigger projects and building dream custom homes.

In 1999 he created GNB Builders at Aquila Estates near Ladysmith. Since starting his company he has built many homes and a few small commercial buildings as well. The four VIBE finalists

this year are strong examples of the kind of work GNB does.

The renovation over $350,000 was a challenge in many ways.

The original home was an old log cabin that many would have torn down, especially given the challenge of rodents and beetles in the structure. The clients loved the old-fashioned feel of the house but knew that it needed many updates.

“It turned out absolutely fabulous but there were definitely some challenges,” Heidi said.

“That’s actually what drives us too,” Greg added. “There isn’t anything we can’t overcome. You get better when you meet adversity and you move forward. You

have to be solution focussed in all areas of construction.” The GNB crew took out the old concrete slab and installed hydronic in-floor loops, pouring new concrete in place. At every new challenge, Heidi and Greg kept budget in mind as well as giving the client what they wanted. The completed project is unique and met all the client’s requirements and wishes.

The finalist in the new home category is proof that people can have a comfortable, beautiful, quality-built home on a budget.

The new kitchen finalist is in an oceanfront home in Nanoose with spectacular views. It’s a very special kitchen, Heidi said.

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JULY 2015

AUTOMOTIVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY Fueling Clean Flames of Competition Automakers unseal patents to stimulate competition and speed up infrastructure for energy efficient vehicles

V

ICTORIA — These days it’s hard to find an automaker that doesn’t offer an energy efficient vehicle as part of its line up. Every year billions of dollars are invested in the pursuit of better fuel economy and a smaller carbon footprint.

With BC posting some of the highest gas prices in the country, consumers are looking for the best options that pull double duty, saving on their fuel bill and caring for the environment.

Toyota hit the market first with the Prius more than 15 years ago and started a revolution in hybrid technology.

But the revolution is far from over. Automakers are following the dotted lines leading to a rapidly increasing market, with estimates by Navigant Research showing a compound annual growth rate of 23.7 per cent. In fact, the auto industry is fueling the flames of competition and speeding up construction of vital infrastructure by sharing technology and patents.

Roy Lancaster, general manager of Prince George Toyota said that Toyota led the pack when it sold its hybrid patents to Ford.

Then in June of 2014, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk said, on the motor company’s blog, that it promised that it would not “initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology.”

And recently, Ford added its push for product advancement, announcing it would be opening up its portfolio of EV technology patents.

It’s an important move for electric vehicles and the industry.

Kevin Layden, director of the Ford Electrification Program, said, “ … by sharing our research with other companies, we will accelerate the growth of the electrified vehicle technology and deliver even better products to customers.”

Good news for consumers and the environment.

NCDA of BC is making it easy for consumers to cash in on incentives for purchasing a clean energy efficient vehicle said Blair Qualey

Eventually all vehicles on the road will be electric of fuelcell powered said David Gray

CREDIT:BLAIR QUALEY

focused on producing electric vehicles,” she said.

Though the popularity of EV’s is growing, there are still consumer drawbacks. The biggest is the distance travelled on a single charge.

After all, British Columbians like to drive, and not just around town. Tesla’s Model S rear wheel drive, with an 85 kWh battery, has a range of 425 km; other EV’s have up to 200 km. Both the latter can take up to six hours to recharge at a regular charging station.

To address the range issue, Tesla has begun installing supercharging stations throughout BC, allowing Tesla drivers to charge their car in 20 minutes.

“Stations strategically placed along the TransCanada Highway allow the driver to seamlessly get back on the road after taking a quick pit stop and recharge,” Georgeson said. She added that station locations in BC currently take drivers to Calgary, and future plans for extending the supercharger’s reach are in the works.

For cars like the Nissan Leaf, M itsubish i i M iev, Mercedes Smart for Two, Chevrolet Volt and Ford Focus Electric, the commute to and from work sees the most returns, providing a no-cost traveling experience and easier access to charging stations.

Today electric vehicles include battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that run only on a battery and an electric drive train and plug into an external source to recharge.

There are also plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that can use both a plug-in source to recharge and/or internal combustion should the battery run low.

Currently, hybrid technology can be found in a range of models from compact two-seaters to the popular sport utility, and fully electric vehicles can be found from compact to sedan. But as fuel costs continue to rise and technology improves, the roads could be seeing more variety in models and sizes of electric vehicle.

Tesla spokesperson Alexis Georgeson said that a strong market demand in BC could see a fully electric sport utility model as early as 2016.

“Last year saw an important step in our technology with the release of an all-wheel-drive Model S,” she said, adding that the high performance sedan won the number one spot on Consumer Report’s list of Top Ten Cars for 2015.

“We have a no-compromise philosophy and are 100 per cent

CREDIT:DAVID JAMES RAY

Ken Kirubi, sales manager for Kelowna Infiniti Nissan, said, “With the Leaf you get a lot of bang for your buck, and a luxury ride for the commute to and from work.”

He added that, currently, the electric model serves a niche market to individuals who want more than fuel savings; they want to be part of the solution to climate protection. He also said that BC still has a learning curve when it comes to energy efficient vehicles.

“We’ve been using gas to power our vehicles for decades; it will take time to learn a new system.”

Lancaster said that sales of EV’s revolve around gas prices. “When gas prices are high, sales of hybrids goes up, when gas prices are low, sales go down.”

David James Gray, sales consultant for Steve Marshall Ford Nanaimo, who converted his own car to solar powered electric, believes the day is coming when all vehicles on the road will be either electric or fuel-cell powered.

“For Canadian drivers a viable option for long range driving and city driving is a car that can run on electric but has gas for a backup,” he said, adding that with hybrids, gas is used if there is more power drawn, as in acceleration or traveling up a grade.

“During acceleration the gas is powering the vehicle, but once you reach speed, you can switch to electric by taking your foot off the gas pedal and then putting it back on. At that point the electric motor kicks in.”

Blair Qualey, president and CEO of the New Car Dealers Association (NCDA), said the hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle is also a contender for future energy efficient automobiles. At the 2015 Vancouver International Autoshow, Hyundai unveiled its latest energy efficient vehicle, the CUV fuel-cell electric Tucson, and other automakers like Honda, Toyota and GM promise SEE FUELING CLEAN | PAGE 27

AUTOMOTIVE

JULY 2015

David James Ray converted his car to solar powered electric CREDIT:DAVID JAMES RAY

FUELING CLEAN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

to introduce their own version in the next couple of years.

But the key still remains that BC needs infrastructure, recharging stations and fuel centers.

“There is only one hydrogen fueling station in the lower mainland,” said Qualey. That limits the viability of purchasing a car with planet-saving technology. You can’t fill up with hydrogen at a corner gas station, at least not yet.

According to Ministry of Energy and Mines spokesperson, David Haslam, there are currently, 550 publically-available Level 2 charging stations across BC and 13

DC fast charging stations along strategic corridors.

“Investments in infrastructure will be based on the results of a charging infrastructure gap analysis, currently underway. It will identify critical gaps and where provincial investments can have the most impact,” he said, adding that details of the charging infrastructure program will be available by the fall of 2015.

Though NCDA of BC acts as an advocacy group for new car dealerships, providing training, publications and liaison services between the government and media, it is also partnered with the Ministry of Energy and Mines to administer the Clean Energy

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Vehicle Program for BC (CEVP).

Initially running from 2011 to the spring of 2014, the program has recently been renewed when on March 23, 2015, Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennet announced that it would once again subsidize Canadians purchase of an electric, hybrid or fuel cell vehicle.

“We wanted to make the process as uncomplicated for the consumer as possible,” said Qualey.

In the program, BC residents, businesses, non-profit organizations and local government organizations (including municipal and regional governments and First Nations, but excluding provincial, crown, and federal government agencies), who purchase or lease qualifying new vehicles, will be eligible for up to $5,000 off qualifying electric, fuel-cell electric, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and up to $6,000 for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

“The car dealership takes the incentive value off the negotiated price, before taxes, and then it applies to the CEVP of BC for reimbursement,” he said.

The CEV program will run until March 31, 2018 or until the more than $5 million in the program is exhausted, whichever comes first. The long-term goal is for five per cent of new light duty vehicle purchases in BC to use clean energy by 2020. That means lower spending on imported transportation fuels and more use of locally produced electricity and hydrogen.

According to Green Car Reports, the number of electric and hybrid cars on Canadian roads is growing. In January 2015 EV’s hit a landmark number with a total of 10,000 vehicles sold. And the total of all models and types of plug in hybrids sold in Canada in 2014 was 10,175. In BC, there are currently, 1700 CEV’s on the road.

27 With added cash savings incentives, BC may see more EV’s plugging into clean, cheap power.

And that spells greater diversity for the province’s auto industry, a new direction for getting ahead in the race for fuel efficiency and auto sales and new opportunities for a skilled and specialized work force.

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ANAIMO - When Brenda and Emile Houle bought Trojan Collision 13 years ago, they brought to the business a very specific set of skills - business acumen from owning other businesses, a planning vision and a new, fresh set of eyes. “We took a step back and looked at the process of repairing a vehicle and removed the steps that caused delays,� Brenda Houle said. “We wanted to get the car repaired and back to the customer as quickly as possible and that meant making the repair process as efficient as possible, at the highest standard of quality.�

As a result of changing the whole process, repair turn-around-time was cut by half of what is normally seen in the industry. “We still provide exceptional customer care, value and quality.

We just do it faster,� she said.

To get to the level of efficiency the company wanted, several areas of the business needed revamping, including workflow, front end, waiting area, painting booth, work bays and offices. “We designed each space to be inviting, comfortable, transparent and safe for our customers and

done well and on time.�

BRENDA HOULE OWNER, TROJAN COLLISION

employees,� Houle said, adding that an estimation bay was one of the most important additions. “Specialized equipment measures if something is out in the vehicle by as little as a millimeter,� she said. “And customers are welcome to watch and ask questions throughout the whole estimation process.�

The job paid off. In 2015, Trojan Collision won the Industrial Renovation of the Year award through the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board.

Houle said that the new process and design works because staff was willing to trust management decisions, make the changes, get specialized training and provide transparent customer care. “Most importantly, we thank our customers for their ongoing support, trust and belief in our ability to get the job done and get it done well and on time,� she said.

Trojan Collision is at 3601 Shenton Road in Nanaimo. www.trojancollision.com

We have a team of highly-experienced sales, parts and service staff to serve our customers with the highest level of automotive expertise and customer care. We encourage you to browse our online inventory, schedule a test drive and talk to us about financing options. We are happy to help with any automotive needs that you may have

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JULY 2015

DEMAND DRIVES ARROWSMITH OPENING Flooring company provides unique service offering

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ORT ALBERNI – They celebrated their grand opening just one and a half months ago, but the owners of the Arrowsmith Flooring Center have deep community roots.

“I’ve been working in the tile trade for the past 38 years here in Port Alberni,” says Johnny Ruissen, company Co-Owner. “Over that time I’ve had the opportunity to build a strong network in the area, but most of my work was done by providing my services to contractors.

“In the past few years I’ve been asked to provide different services and products related to construction and renovation projects, but it just wasn’t something I’d done before.”

Last year, both him and his wife Kathy started planning to launch their store in response to the steady stream of work requests they had been receiving. Their company provides flooring products, blinds and customized bathroom renovations to residential and commercial construction projects.

“With the amount of opportunities that were out there, it was a logical move to make,” he says.

“The other motivating factor was the fact that a lot of people were leaving town to purchase their flooring products.

“Locally there wasn’t a lot of selection, and money was leaving the City. With that in mind we decided to venture out and start the store.”

Johnny co-owns the store with his wife Kathy, who has retired from the financial services industry and now handles all customer service inquiries. Colleen van Adrichem is the store manager, and brings 18 years of experience to their customer base.

Despite having been in operation for a few months, Johnny’s extensive industry background gives Arrowsmith customers access to more than just products.

“When people come in, they want ideas,” he says. “We’re able to help

A view of the inside of the new Arrowsmith Flooring Center showroom

From left to right: Arrowsmith Flooring Center Store Manager Colleen van Adrichem, and Co-Owners Johnny and Kathy Ruissen them out with concepts and designs they wouldn’t have thought of on their own.

“Many times customers are coming in to do their first project or renovation, so they’re limited in experiences to draw from, aside from maybe an idea they’ve seen on TV or read in a magazine. I’ve worked on so many over the years that I have a good idea as to what will or won’t work in a given space or situation.”

A specific area of expertise for Arrowsmith is their full bathroom renovation service.

“We’re not limited to just selling tile,” says Johnny. “We have the ability to work with a client through a complete renovation, everything from tearing out all the components of the original bathroom, to providing the products and sub-trades necessary to install the new ones.

“This service really sets us apart, and we’ve noticed a lot of business has been coming from large format shower design and installs. It’s very trendy right now, and because Johnny and Colleen have so much experience, we’re able to provide some very unique and high-end solutions for our customers.”

Being in business for 38 years, Johnny has been able to bring many

of his past customers over to the new venture.

“I recently got a new project from a client I’ve had for the past 20 years,” he says. “I believe the reason is that I’ve really focused on doing things right, to the best of my abilities. I want to make people happy with the work I do for them.”

Kathy added, “When you work in a small town, everyone knows everyone. Your reputation is really important, and we’re fortunate to have a good one. We make a point of following up with all of our customers, we don’t just finish a job and say goodbye. Building relationships are very important.”

Since opening, Arrowsmith has been very busy, an enviable situation for any business.

“There’s been so much going on that we haven’t had time to get around and set goals yet,” laughs Johnny. “We’re taking it day-byday. Over the next few months our objective will be to grow steadily and continue providing a high level of service.”

They also plan on hiring new staff members in the fall.

The company has had the opportunity to work throughout Central and North Vancouver Island, including out-of-town projects in

Ucluelet, Tofino, Qualicum and Bamfield.

Locally they’ve been able to work on the Alberni Toyota dealership, and Sproat Lake Landing.

“The Sproat Lake project was really special to be a part of,” says Johnny. “We ended up doing some things we had never tried before, everything turned out really well.

“We were the company behind the mural in the main lobby, it’s a map of the lake sandblasted into a polished Italian slab of marble.

The end result was really special, something I’ll always be proud of.”

In addition to the mural, Arrowsmith provided flooring products for the project’s lobbies, washrooms and individual hotel rooms. www.arrowsmithflooringcenter.com

A large format shower that was designed and installed by Arrowsmith Flooring Staff

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PORT ALBERNI

New value-added wood biomass business in Port Alberni

P

ORT ALBERNI — The Port A lberni Port Authority (PA PA) announced the establishment of CanTimber Biotech within its terminal facilities. With the introduction made by the City of Port Alberni Economic Development Department PAPA successfully negotiated a long term agreement for CanTimber to create and operate a new environmentally-sustainable, value-added wood-product business that will create upwards of two-dozen direct full time jobs in Port Alberni.

The public wasinvited to learn more about CanTimber and its operations at an information session.

CanTimber explained how their business will capitalize on the current wood waste left behind from logging operations (much of which is currently openly burned) by transforming it into a variety of highly valued products in an environmentally positive process.

“CanTimber was first i n t ro d u c e d to u s l a s t

su m mer by Pat Deakin t h roug h t he posit ive partnership of community economic development the Port enjoys with the City,” ex pla i ns Di rector of Public Relations & Business Development for PAPA, Dave McCormick.

“Over the past year we and the City have worked with the company as they have conducted their necessary due diligence with respect to environmental investigations and reporting; facility planning and business analysis. We are proud that CanTimber has not only selected Port Alberni as their location but that we have developed a positive relationship built on respect for the community and environment.”

T hese sentiments are echoed by City of Port A lbern i Econom ic Development Manager, Pat Deakin, “CanTimber was looking at a number of different communities throughout BC to set up shop. We worked to convince them that Port Alberni provided the greatest

strategic advantages including close proximity to a sustainable supply; existing suitable facilities; availability of qualified and talented workforce; and growth opportunities that align with the plans of the company, the Port and the City.”

C a nT i m b e r s p o k e sperson, Michael Liu is happy to be in Port Alberni, “we looked at a number of different locations but Port Alberni represents the best opportunity for us to establish our business and look forward to possible expansion. We have signed a long term agreement with the Port Authority to use their facilities. Both the Port and City have been very helpful to encourage us to come here and provide support as we undertook extensive business and environmental analysis.

The public is encouraged to come to our information session to learn about our business and our company representatives who are now also residents in Port Alberni.”

JULY 2015

ALBERNI VALLEY AIRPORT RUNWAY EXTENSION PROPOSED Currently Coulson Aviation is busy with the conversion of a Lockheed L-100 Hercules for fire-fighting purposes, the preparation of two Challenger

PORT ALBERNI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

600 jets for air charter service, putting finishing touches on a helicopter for a movie to be filmed in Montreal this

PAT DEAKIN

summer and fabricating their

T

newly approved sand-filters for

he Alberni Valley Regional Airport (AVRA) was built in the 1990’s. Although the Coulson Group’s Aviation division has been an airport tenant for the entire time, they have been better known for their work with the Sproat Lake based Martin Mars Water Bombers. However their activity at the airport has ‘ramped up’ considerably in recent months. Currently Coulson Aviation is busy with the conversion of a Lockheed L-100 Hercules for fire-fighting purposes, the preparation of two Challenger 600 jets for air charter service, putting finishing touches on a helicopter for a movie to be filmed in Montreal this summer and fabricating their newly approved sand-filters for Sikorsky helicopters working in desert environments.

The very entrepreneurial and diversified company has also modified the military version of the L-100 which is the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Some of that work has been done in San Bernardino, California and Singapore and a Coulson C-130 is on contract with the US Forest Service.

The debt-free Alberni Valley Regional Airport is owned by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and the Board would like to ‘repatriate’ as much of the Coulson work as possible and attract more aerospace activity by extending the AVRA runway from 3,952’ to 5,000’ in length and widening the runway from 75’ to 100’. The Coulson Group has said they would add 15 new Aircraft Maintenance Engineer jobs immediately if the runway extension was done. They would also add a new hanger to accommodate Hercules aircraft. The new runway would also mirror the length and width of the Long Beach Airport runway thus providing a summer ‘fog-free’ alternative. A few other organizations in the Alberni Valley have also stated the longer runway would serve as an incentive for projects they are considering.

A ‘Class A’ estimate of $5.9 million has been prepared for the runway extension work which includes removing over 20,000 dump truck loads of soil, laying over 4,000 tonnes of asphalt, clearing 29 acres as well as grading and draining 14 acres. This work will provide for the extended runway and the lower 2.5 per cent approach slope required by the lengthened runway surface and GPS. Applications have been made to three potential funding sources and the ACRD Board sees this as such a high priority they are prepared to borrow the entire amount if necessary. The work that has been done to this point includes geotechnical analysis of

Sikorsky helicopters working in desert environments

the current runway and surrounding land to confirm capacity to bear the weight of anticipated aircraft; a pre-design study to consider the options and cost estimates; a business case to determine the feasibility and benefits; a detailed site survey including Obstacle Limitations for GPS approach; construction drawings, sections and specifications for the tender process for the runway expansion and proposed lighting; consultation with airport users; discussion with effected license holders on crown land; communications with the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations; discussions with the Alberni Valley Drag Race Association and Agricultural Land Commission; and much more. An extended runway would indeed fulfill the original intentions of building the airport for ’economic development purposes’.

For information on other investments being made and upcoming events, please email, call or text Pat Deakin: patrick_deakin@ portalberni.ca or 250.720.9117.

WEST COAST

JULY 2015

TOFINO’S WATER SHORTAGE ADDRESSED

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The Barr’s Mountain reservoir will be replaced with a larger tank that will help with water supply and fire protection in town Familiar with Dropbox, Sugarsync, etc?

TOFINO JEN DART

T

he biggest news in Tofino so far this summer is the announcement of a water reservoir expansion project, a joint federal, provincial and municipal development that will increase Tofino’s water storage capacity significantly.

As most people know, water quantity is not the issue here – it’s storage to meet peak demand during the high visitation summer months. The Barr’s Mountain reservoir will be replaced with a larger tank that will help with water supply and fire protection in town. In remarks during the presentation June 26th that included the Hon. John Duncan, Minister of State and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North, Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne said that the expansion of Barr’s Mountain reservoir was first identified as a need for the community in the early 1980s.

This issue, and the length of time taken to address it, highlights the infrastructure challenges of small resort municipalities.

Tofino benefits from funding through the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI), as well as Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT), but neither of these sources can be used to fund infrastructure projects.

This much-needed announcement will go a long way to relieving Tofino’s water shortage issues. From here, the Chamber will be actively involved in the town’s next infrastructure challenge – sewage treatment – as part of the District of Tofino Liquid Waste Management Committee. ■■■Our congratulations go out to Bobby Lax and the Tofino-Ucluelet Culinary Guild (TUCG) for winning the grand prize at the Social Enterprise Catalyst Gala at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo on May 20th. The TUCG is an example of a social enterprise working to solve the unique challenges

of an area. Local area restaurants, grocery stores and residents benefit from the TUCG’s sourcing of healthy and affordable food products, mainly from Vancouver Island producers. The organization stepped in to solve the issue of local restaurants that had abundant access to the area’s shellfish and seafood, but a lack of access to fresh local produce and other products.

This transportation network, founded on relationships with sustainable producers, also benefits local residents, who can be members of the guild. Part of the prize package for the TUCG is $15,000 funding, as well as consulting from Coastal Community Credit Union, Tartan Group, and Hollyhock Social Ventures Institute, as well memberships to the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance and the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce for 2016.

Congratulations to this great example of a successful local social enterprise. ■■■The Chamber’s thanks go out to our members Jupiter Juicery and Bakeshop, Smashing Glasses Event Rentals and Tofino Botanical Gardens for co-sponsoring our June Members Luncheon on June 24th at the gardens. This was our final event before our summer break, but the Chamber will resume with events in the fall.

Earlier in June we hosted an After 5 Professionals event that brought together many local small business people and contractors to network and share information.

The evening, held at Shelter Restaurant, was a big success and we plan to continue in the fall. ■■■We welcome the following new members to the TLBCC: Cathie’s Cottage, Claire Watson Illustration and Design, Harvey House, Merge: An Artisan Collective, Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities, Petrichor Hair Workshop, Tofino Cabinas and Ucluelet Charters.

Have a great summer!

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32

JULY 2015

CHEMAINUS INN IS A CROWD PLEASER Best Western in Chemainus garners praise on Trip Advisor

C

HEM A I NUS - On June 18 of this year, The Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn celebrated its 10 th anniversary. Its record year and continuing rave reviews on Trip Advisor were, perhaps, an even happier way to celebrate than t he del iciou s ca ke t h at wa s served.

In 2014 The Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn was named the number one Best Western hotel i n British Colu mbia. But general manager Peter Watts said that it’s the Trip Advisor reviews that are making such a big difference. A small sampling includes: “I can’t say enough about this place. We were disappointed we only stayed the one night on our way to Vancouver. The rooms were spacious, well fitted out with a lounge room and kitchen, even a small balcony. Staff were very helpful and breakfast was above the usual Best Western norm. There was even a high pressure hose to clean your hire car. Would certainly recommend.”

Congratulations on your

10th Anniversary! www.haarsma.ca

The Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn enjoys rave reviews on Trip Advisor “T he Best Western Plus i n Chemainus is an excellent hotel for both business and leisure travelers. The staff is wonderful and the rooms are excellent. It is centra l ly located.

Particularly enjoyed the suite with balcony.”

“The Best Western Chemainus is definitely my favourite Best Western on Vancouver Island.

The property is fresh, clean and appealing, the breakfast includes lots of healthy options, including fresh fruit, the room was clea n a nd com for table, the grounds immaculate. Each and every staff we encountered, f rom t he F ront D e sk to t he Housekeeping and Maintenance staff was friendly, helpful and welcoming. Definitely will be back!”

Watts said that two th ings elicit such outstanding praise: clea n l i ness a nd customer service.

“We’ve built a nice reputation

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33

JULY 2015

Peter Watts says that cleanliness and customer service are the winning combination for the hotel

“All my guests say, ‘Wow!’ when they walk in. It’s a comment we hear throughout – ‘Wow! This room is clean!’ It’s a good reputation to have.”

PETER WATTS GENERAL MANAGER, BEST WESTERN PLUS CHEMAINUS INN

Kitchen areas are a feature of many suites

CHEMAINUS INN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

online and it’s helping us out a lot. Our housekeeping team is led by our executive housekeeper, Elena Bangle. She has very high standards in cleanliness and that does us very well from a guest perspective.” In fact, Watts said that a great many guests comment on the cleanliness of the rooms and suites, particularly the bathrooms.

“A ll my guests say, ‘Wow!’ when t hey wa l k i n ,” Wat t s said. “It’s a comment we hear throughout – ‘Wow! This room is clean!’ It’s a good reputation to have.” He added that the

Best Western Chemainus offers a complimentary full hot cooked meal for breakfast

SEE CHEMAINUS INN | PAGE 34

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34

JULY 2015

Chemainus Theatre Festival congratulates electrical contracting

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CHEMAINUS INN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

other side is customer service.

“We have an amazing team.

When I hire people, I look for people who can welcome guests with natural sincerity. People ca n sense when you mea n somet h i ng si ncerely. So we are sincere to the guests and they appreciate it.” He added that guests also appreciate the breakfasts, which always include fresh fruit and baked goods.

Watts said that about 30 per cent of the hotel’s business is corporate and that’s an important clientele. For them, the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn is the preferred hotel in the area.

T h e B e s t We s t e r n P l u s Chemainus Inn was originally planned by the Chemainus Theatre Foundation to provide additional accommodation for t heat re-goers. D u r i ng construction, the foundation sold it as a strata investment, which it is today. Currently, about 48 people own the hotel with some owning two or three or more suites and others being in possession of only one suite. The owners’ committee is also the management committee: The Chemainus Inn Management Services.

Over the past 10 years, few th i ngs have cha nged for the hotel, other than a constant watch on how to make things si mpler a nd more enjoyable for the guests. Check-in has been streamlined and, for theatre-goers, they can now purchase tickets right at the hotel.

Rooms a re spacious a nd extraordinarily comfortable.

A standard room is a one-bedroom suite with a queen bed and separate living room area and kitchen with a Keurig coffee maker. Some suites have balconies and two queen beds; king suites are also available.

T h e h o te l o f fe r s a m i n e ra l pool, a hot tub, a well-outfitted fitness room and free Wi-Fi throughout.

Watts noted that the hotel is a lso noted for its “g reen”

i n it i at ives. Fr idges a re u nplugged with doors left open when not i n use. Soap is recycled, as is orga n ic waste.

Community connections are also important. The hotel offers memberships for local citizens for use of the fitness facility and the pool. Special offers are available for the local police and emergency services personnel. The boardroom is also available for community groups such as the Chemainus Festival of Murals.

“We want to support these g roups a nd help t hem out,” Watts said. “We work with the community on various events and festivals. We support the Savour Cowichan Festival that is on October 1 in Chemainus this year. We’ll be doing a package deal for anyone visiting the area. We want to show off the wonderful food and wine we have in the Cowichan Valley.”

Watts said that the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn is big on promoting local attractions and businesses. It continues to build its relationship with local businesses and, in particular, continues to grow its fan base among its guests.

“The first thing that people do when they walk in the door, is they grab a fresh baked cookie,” Watts said. “They’re immediately happy. We always have fresh baked cookies available at check-in. It’s good to walk into a nice lobby and smell the fresh cookies.”

Above all, Watts said that the success of the hotel over the last 10 years is due to the team that dedicates its time and energy to making it such a well-loved destination.

“We could not succeed without our wonderful staff,” Watts said.

T h e B e s t We s t e r n P l u s Chema i nus In n is at 9573 Chemainus Road in Chemainus. www.chemainushotel.com

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Information contained herein has been obtained from the owners or sources deemed reliable by DTZ Nanaimo Real Estate Ltd. While we have no reason to doubt its accuracy, we regret we cannot guarantee such information. All measurements and other information herein should be independently verified by the reader or prospective user and is subject to the user’s own inspection of the premises and due diligence work and to the user’s satisfaction with the results of such review.

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36

JULY 2015

GLASS SHOP PUTS QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FIRST “We just treat people North Pacific Window continues to grow after 35 years

the way we expect to be treated. I guess I’m really old-fashioned but

Q

UALICUM BEACH - North Pacific Window, wh ich has been in business in Qualicum Beach for 35 years, is a full service glass, window and door shop that puts quality and customer service first. Along with glass repairs and selling and installing windows and doors, it is also a distributor for West Coast Windows and Innotech Windows and Doors. Company president Tom Andres noted that North Pacific is a true one-stop facility, handling everything from patio doors to mirrors, window repairs and auto glass.

Andres and his brother, Tim, purchased the business in 2001.

“We recognized the opportunity to operate a business in a nice, small town,” Andres said. “We live locally and we saw that the business had a lot of potential for growth – and that has proved to be true.” He noted that although he had no specific experience with glass before purchasing the business, he had learned a lot about the trade from his father, who was an exceptional general handyman.

“We give excellent customer service,” he said. “The company now does the amount of business in a month that it used to do in a year. It started with just being friendly and doing good work. You do what you say. This is a great marketplace and we just service it to the level that it deserves.”

The shop also added products such as quality window lines and then followed up by servicing those lines very well. The shop also works with clients on design ideas for new construction. The secret to growth, Andres said, is quality people and quality products.

“We have long-term staff,” he said. “Everybody here has the

that’s the business ethic I learned from my dad and that’s what I pass on to my sons.”

TOM ANDRES PRESIDENT, NORTH PACIFIC WINDOW

same dedication to servicing the customer and that works really well.”

In 2013, Andres became the sole owner of the business. Two of his sons, Joseph and Sam, also work in the business part-time while they complete their education.

Andres said he hopes to see North Pacific Window thrive for generations to come.

Customers appreciate the quality of the products and the service they experience at North Pacific.

“Sometimes we go into situations where people have been treated poorly by other companies,” Andres said. “So we go in and try to make it right and make their experience positive.

We hear back from them and get good feedback. We also have personable installers who are neat and clean and we hear back from customers who are very happy with that. We try to be on time for our appointments. We just treat people the way we expect to be treated. I guess I’m really old-fashioned but that’s the business ethic I learned from my

Tom Andres says that the company succeeds through a quality product and excellent customer servcie

Tom Andres and his team pride themselves on providing exceptional customer service

North Pacific Window can supply full lift and slide panels that open up a whole room dad and that’s what I pass on to my sons.” Andres also hopes that his sons pass the same ethic on to their children.

“I’m building a business that my grandchildren can be operating in this town 40 or 50 years from now – and they can be well thought of.”

North Paci fic Wi ndow has a w ide ra nge of cu stomers.

Someone might come in looking for a roller for their patio door or they might be building their dream home on the ocean that requires dozens of top quality windows and doors.

“We’ll help them design their window and door package that’s both good looking and energy efficient,” Andres said. “And we install a lot of what we sell. We

CONGRATULATIONS TO NORTH PACIFIC WINDOWS ON 35 YEARS ANNIVERSARY !

NEW CONSTRUCTION - RENOVATIONS - INSTALLATIONS

www.westcoastwindows.ca

250.752.5312

Congratulations North Pacific Windows, From your friends at Vanfax

ensure their long-term life by installing them right.”

People also come in for rock chip windshield repairs or the replacement of a vehicle side window. Others need parts for old windows.

“Someone will come in with an old hinge that needs replacing,” Andres said. “And right after that we’ll put together a huge window

37

JULY 2015

North Pacific Window provides entire packages for new homes

North Pacific Window has a wide selection of quality doors package. Our sales will range from 50 cents to $200,000.” The days are never dull and they’re never monotonous for the staff at North Pacific. The shop even does commercial window and door repairs and replacements.

Andres said that he prides himself on selling quality products that are made in BC. Homeowners can easily get into trouble by dealing with companies that are less than reputable. “ We m a k e s u r e t h a t t h e compa n ies we represent a re long-standing, reputable companies that use proper products to build their windows. A lot of companies are putting warranties on products that aren’t very good. A customer could be buying a horrible window that

has a warranty attached to it but when that company disappears in four years, all they have is a piece of paper. The clients who use us, are clients who want a better product backed locally. I encourage people to buy a quality window because they will be well served by it.”

North Pacific sells the whole gamut of windows and doors ranging all the way from simple patio sliders to full lift and slide panels that open up the whole room to the outdoors. It sells top quality solid wood windows and doors as well as more economical products that are good quality while still fitting into a budget.

Three years ago, North Pacific built a new facility to accommodate its continued growth. Future

North Pacific Window is a full service window, door and glass business plans call for a new showroom to better highlight its range of quality products. As the business grows, Andres said he is also planning on adding more staff.

An area where Andres sees particular opportunity for growth is

on the builder side.

“We can offer builders a onestop solution, especially for those looking for mid to high end products,” he said. “We can help it go smoothly right through the construction process. We’d like

to work with the top builders in each community on Vancouver Island and service them well.”

North Pacific Window is at 142 Fern Road East in Qualicum Beach. www.northpacificwindow.ca

Congratulations to North Pacific for 35 years in business!

We believe in exceeding performance standards And so do our building partners

beautiful living : for generations

COMOX VALLEY

38

JULY 2015

CHAMBER SUPPORTS COMMUNITY PRIDE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Downtown Courtenay Mural Project will involve professional artists working directly with youth to use art to

COMOX VALLEY

beautify and accentuate the heritage of the downtown core

DIANNE HAWKINS

S

ummer’s arrived and the weather on the island couldn’t get any better.

Vancouver Island was listed as a top contender for its beaches for all of BC and it’s certainly easy to see. I doubt there are many Valley residents who haven’t been kayaking, walking, swimming, biking or boating over the past month with all the glorious sunny days.

T he Ch a mber’s su m mer is shaping up to be busy with our Annual Chamber BBQ at Glacier Greens on July 9th and the Great Valley Rally on July 25th.

On Saturday, July 25th, the Great Va l ley R a l ly w i l l once again bring three communities in the Comox Valley together in support of a positive, valley-wide community building initiative. The event is modeled after The Amazing Race with teams facing challenges; check points, business stops and much more.

We are excited to announce MNP as our Title Sponsor, 97.3 the Eagle and the Record are our media sponsors. Axis Heating and Cooling Ltd. will also return as our bronze sponsor th is yea r. For those who a re interested in sponsoring, call our office, we have lots of great opportunities and ways for local businesses to support this

community event through team goody bags, grand prizes, and event sponsorship.

Each year, the Great Valley Rally benefits a different community project in the Comox Valley. Last year’s event proceeds of $7000 benefitted the Cumberland Community Forest Society. This year, we look forward to supporting the Downtown Courtenay Mural Project.

T he Dow ntow n Cou r tenay Mu ra l P ro j e c t w i l l i n volv e professional artists working directly with youth to use art to beautify and accentuate the heritage of the downtown core.

T h i s proje c t s upp or t s t he Dow ntow n Cou rtenay BI A’s commitment to increase commu n ity pride a nd econom ic development. The Chamber is pleased to help them achieve this goal.

FM I on ou r BBQ at Glacier Gre en s on Ju ly 9t h a nd t he

Great Valley Rally, check our website events listing at www. comoxvalleychamber.com or email communications@comoxvalleychamber.com.

Welcome to new members A w a r m w e l c o m e go e s t o our new members joining the Chamber family as of the end of June. Del Rio Academy of Hair and Esthetics Ltd., Precision Tree Services Ltd. and Toneff Funeral Services. We look forward to supporting you and the future of your businesses.

Dianne Hawkins is president and CEO of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. Reach her at dhawkins@ comoxvalleychamber.com

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CLARICE COTY

from 2.4 per cent in April

K

2014

ris Mailman of Seymour Pacific Developments and Broadstreet Properties recently delivered a presentation about his company’s success at a Chamber luncheon, which took place in their new office building in Campbell River. The audience was attentive, as everyone listened to Mr. Mailman speak authentically and at times humourously of his father’s humble beginnings in the construction business in the Campbell River area.

Valuing the family-oriented nature of his father’s business, Kris launched his own construction company with his wife Cheryl in 1983. The name, Seymour Pacific Developments, was inspired by the beautiful Seymour Narrows, a strait of the Pacific Ocean’s Discovery Passage located alongside his hometown of Campbell River.

T he new building that was constructed to house the offices of Broadstreet Properties and Seymour Pacific Development was recently awarded the Judges Choice Award and the Award of Excellence from the VIREB Commercial Building Awards in

April. It is located in the heart of downtown Campbell River at 100 St. Ann’s Road. To find out more, go to their website at seymourpacific.ca/ ■■■ CMHC Spring Rental Vacancy Rates Declined in BC According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) spring Rental Market Survey the BC apartment vacancy rate declined to 1.8 per cent in April 2015 from 2.4 per cent in April 2014.

“Vacancy rates moved lower this spring as increased rental demand outpaced additions to rental supply,” noted Carol Frketich, CMHC’s BC Regional Economist. “Most of the province’s 27 centres surveyed in April reported lower vacancy rates compared to a year earlier.

Apartment vacancy rates ranged from 1.0 per cent in Parksville to 8.9 per cent in Dawson Creek.”

The two-bedroom apartment

average rent in BC was $1,136 per month and the one-bedroom apartment average rent was $973 per month. For two-bedroom apartments, the estimated annual increase in the same sample rent was 3.0 per cent. For one-bedroom apartments, which make up more than half of the privately-initiated primary rental stock in BC, a similar pace of increase was reported.

For t he Comox Va l ley a nd Ca mpbel l R iver a rea, we, at Building Links have noticed that during the past two years, at least 200 units have been built as rental apartments. This trend is expected to continue as the vacancy rates continue to decline.

For more information, go to: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/ or contact Daryoush Aslebiza at daslebiz@cmhc-schl.gc.ca Telephone: 604 737-4087 Clarice Coty can be reached at clarice@buildinglinks.ca, and through www.buildinglinks.ca

39

JULY 2015

FAMILY BUSINESS PASSES FROM FATHER TO SON New owner is in the business of keeping indoor air quality healthy

C

OURTENAY - After more than 40 years successfully building Oliver’s Power Vacuum and Chimney Sweep, owner Craig Oliver is retiring. Well, mostly retiring.

He’ll still have his hand partly in the company, but when he isn’t working with son, Richard Oliver, on financial projections, goal setting, and adding his “45 cents worth,” he’s got some major playing planned.

“I have a Triumph Spitfire and a small sailboat I’ll be working on, cooking classes to take and a golf game to improve,” he said.

It looks to be an easy handover. Richard has 11 years experience w ith the compa ny, including his National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) and Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) certification.

“Richard is good at the job,” Cra ig sa id. “He’s sma rt a nd willing to learn.” Proud words from a man who has spent most of h is l i fe bu i ld i ng a strong company legacy.

“This is truly a family business,” he said. “My wife, Rebecca, runs the office, which is in our home.” The close proximity between home and work means at the end of the day that Richard, his dad and mom can sit on the front porch going over the day’s work brainstorming ways to ma ke thei r systems work even better.

For Richard, taking over the business is a natural next step.

He’s worked with his dad since he was 18, enjoys the challenges it presents. He is also looking forward to seeing where he can take the company.

“We’re seeing an increased dema nd for ou r com mercia l and residential services,” he said. “Serving the island from

On January 1, 2016, Craig (centre) retires, selling the 40-year-old company to son Richard (right)

”I have a Triumph Spitfire and a small sailboat I’ll be working on, cooking classes to take and a golf game to improve.”

CRAIG OLIVER RETIRING OWNER OLIVER’S POWER VACUUM AND CHIMNEY SWEEP

Proper duct cleaning helps homeowners ensure a safe and healthy indoor environment CREDIT:REBECCA OLIVER

Courtney to Duncan and even seeing jobs in Victoria, Bella Bella and the Okanagan.”

The company provides power vacuum services for duct cleani ng a nd ch i m ney sweepi ng.

With specialized equipment it cleans air handling units, furnace ducts, heat recovery ventilation systems and dryer vents.

One of the aspects R ichard most enjoys about his work is the diversity. He said he gets to work in some beautiful homes while witnessing breathtaking views and helps homeowners

ensure a safe and healthy indoor environment.

“We once cleaned out a flock of 56 starlings from a chimney,” he said. “It wasn’t a healthy situation. T he mason had to bre a k op en t h e ba ck of t h e chimney before we could remove them.”

Richard said business is doing well. He feels part of the reason is because home and business owners are promoting a healthy environment.

“People a re more awa re of the importance of indoor air

quality,” he said, adding that in both industrial and residential settings poor air quality can cause ongoing respiratory health issues. He stressed that keepi ng ductwork reg u la rly maintained and cleaned can provide peace of mind.

“In our climate, duct and furnace cleaning should be done every three years. But if there are health issues, especially a l lerg ies or asth ma I adv ise annual maintenance.”

The accumulation of debris, whether it’s dust, pet dander and fur, rug nap, construction dust, dust mites and their feces, pollen or vermin, can encourage the growth of mould and

bacteria. By using high-powered vacuum technology and trained technicians, Oliver’s safely and effectively removes these conta m i na nts i n the cleanest way possible.

Richard said that with ductwork in crawlspaces, especially dryer vents, it’s even more i mp or ta nt for homeow ners to keep a regular schedule of maintenance. He said in one set of ducting he found seven rat’s nests and in another crawlspace all he saw were gleaming eyes.

He added t h at homeow ners should seal any access points to crawlspaces with screening and keep the space clean so vermin have no reason to get in.

W hether it’s carpet fibres, dust, nesting material or dryer fluff, Richard said that a buildup could also pose a fire hazard in any ducting. And if a home uses wood for heat, there is the added hazard of carbon monoxide poisoning.

“A not her reason t he company is busier is that people a re u s i n g more a lte r n at ive heat sources, like woodstoves a nd he at p u mps, ” he sa id , adding that Oliver’s provides ch i m ney-sweepi ng serv ices for wood furnaces and woodstoves, as well as WETT certified chimney inspections and flue installations.

“A chimney inspection can a lert the homeow ner to potential problems before they become a crisis,” Richard said.

Craig added that the simple installation of a CO monitor could prevent death or injury from carbon monoxide poisoning.

“They aren’t expensive,” he said. “But they save lives.”

With Craig looking forward to ramping up his car’s racing engine and Richard excited about continuing his dad’s legacy, the compa ny is set to move forward and continue the service it has provided for the past four decades.

Oliver’s Power Vacuum and Chimney Sweep is at Box 3121 in Courtenay. www.oliverspowervac.ca

Congratulations on 40From all of us at Bennett’s

SINCE 1961 741 McPhee Ave. Courtenay Courtenay - 250-334-3621 Campbell River - 250-287-3108

www.bennettsheetmetal.com

Celebrating 40 years in Business www.oliverspowervac.ca • 1.866.734.8056

CAMBELL RIVER

40

JULY 2015

BUSINESS LEADERS LUNCHEON SHARE INSPIRED BUSINESS STORIES

CAMPBELL RIVER COLLEEN EVANS

T

he Chamber’s Business L eader Lu ncheon w ith high profile local business and community leader, Kris Mailman Sr., CEO of Seymour Pacific Developments and Broadstreet Properties was a sold out success.

The luncheon was hosted in the state of the art Seymour Pacific building. Kris was engaging and inspiring sharing insights and inspiring stories on how his family businesses were founded on hard work, strong family values and a progressive vision.

His story traces its roots back to his childhood, during which he spent long hours on construction sites managed by his father’s business, Mailman Construction. Those job sites are where Kris learned firsthand what it takes to succeed in the

construction industry, and where he developed the strong work ethic that would become the fabric of the organization represented today as Broadstreet Properties and Seymour Pacific Developments.

In 1983 Kris and his wife Cheryl took over Mailman Construction from Kris’ father. Over the next 10 years, Kris and Cheryl grew their business in Campbell River, building an average of more than 20 single-family homes each year.

They later diversified into subdivision development, duplexes and, eventually, their first rental apartment complex.

Throughout the remainder of the 1990s and early 2000s, Kris and Cheryl expanded into 12 cities across four provinces, accumulating an impressive portfolio of 2,000 units. Seymour Pacific Developments earned a reputation as specialists in four-story, wood construction apartment complexes.

The Broadstreet Properties and Seymour Pacific Developments building was awarded the top honour at the eighth Annual Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Awards in April, earning the Judges’ Choice honour for Best Overall Entry as well as the Excellence Award in the Office category of the gala.

The Mailman family is actively involved in daily business decisions and Kris’s son, Kris D., is

From left to right - Brad Piercy, Partner & Business Advisor, MNP; Kris Mailman Sr., Colleen Evans, Chamber President & CEO; and Corby Lamb, Chamber Board Chair - taken at the Kris Mailman Sr. luncheon himself growing into a prominent role within the organization.

Daughter Amanda is a strong community ambassador, actively involved in volunteer and leadership roles in many local charities and not for profits. The families commitment to philanthropy and giving back was most recently demonstrated through their gift of $2.2 million for 1.5T Medical Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine to ensure Campbell River medical practioners have the tools and resources to support a high quality of life for Campbell River citizens.

“Mr. Mailman said a comment was made to him from one of his team to change the name of the Campbell River office from “head office” to “home office”,” said luncheon guest, Clarice Coty of Building Links. It appears that

everyone working at Seymour Pacific and Broadstreet Properties agrees with that sentiment, furthered Coty.

“Building succession and hiring people who are keen and interested creates success, but equally important is the environment you provide them to flourish and it was clear at the luncheon that Kris is doing that well”, commented Chamber Board Chair Corby Lamb.

T he next Business Leaders Luncheon is set to take place on Thursday, October 15th and will feature Gordon and Christopher Denford of Berwick Retirement Homes.

■■■ Be sure to save the date for the Chamber’s 3nd Annual Summer BBQ! The summer BBQ will be

held on Thursday, August 13th from 11:30 – 1:00 at the Chamber office. Come to enjoy a delicious barbeque, fantastic prizes and great networking as we show our appreciation for our members and their support of the Chamber.

This event is FREE to Chamber Members and $10 for Future Chamber Members. RSVP online today at www.campbellriverchamber.ca/events. Pre-registration is required for this event.

Interested in raising the profile of your business at the barbeque?

Contact Lindsey Innes, our Events and Member Services Manager, at mbrservices@cmapbellriverchamber.ca to donate a draw prize!

■■■ Campbell River is the host city for Tourism Vancouver Island’s 2015 Conference & AGM. The 2015 Conference & AGM will take place September 15-17, 2015 at the world famous Painters Lodge Resort.

The Planning Institute of BC names Campbell River the Silver award for Excellence in Planning Practice winner for St. Ann’s block upgrade, a vital link to downtown revitalization.

Colleen Evans is CEO of the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at colleen.evans@ campbellriverchamber.ca

CANADA REVENUE AGENCY (CRA) AUDIT PROCESS

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eing audited can be a stressful and expensive experience, but being informed and well-organized will help speed up the process and can relieve the anxiety that many feel when being audited. Hiring a professional accountant to assist you can relieve most of the stress that accompanies dealing with an audit by yourself.

Businesses that involve a high volume of cash transactions such as construction, food and beverage, hairdressing, and retail are particularly scrutinized by CRA. If your business expenses vary greatly from that of other businesses in the same industry, or if someone who is associated with your business (such as your business partner) is being audited, you are at a higher risk for an audit.

If you are selected for an audit, remember that you have to give the auditor all information that is requested. However, be careful not to give them too much, as this could lead to further investigation. Provide only what is requested and nothing more.

You will be notified that you have been selected for an audit by letter or by phone, and you will be told what the scope of the audit is and what is required by you. Normally this audit will take place at your business. It is recommended that you involve a professional accountant in the process and have them accompany you when you meet the CRA auditor.

The auditor will look through the

Joyce Smith, President and CEO of JA Smith & Associates records that you have provided to see whether your tax return is in compliance with the Income Tax Act, and may ask to speak to your bookkeeper or other employees.

While there is no set time limit on an audit, keeping your records organized and accessible will speed up the pace of the audit. After reviewing your records the auditor will either determine that your tax return is correct and make no changes, or will propose changes to be made to your return. This could result in additional taxes owing or, in some cases, a tax refund.

If you disagree with an auditor’s proposal you are entitled to dispute their changes. After you receive the auditor’s proposal you have 30 days to respond with questions or discuss possible errors made by the auditor, and this may resolve the issue without having to file a formal notice of objection. If an agreement is not made at this stage, you have 90 days

from the day you receive your notice of reassessment to file a formal notice of objection with CRA. A professional accountant or a tax lawyer can assist you with these proceedings.

While there is no definite way to avoid being audited there are some things all business owners can do to minimize their chances of an audit: Avoid having consecutive years of losses: CRA expects that businesses have a reasonable expectation of earning a profit. While this may be unavoidable, the CRA can see this as a red flag if it happens consistently.

Claim reasonable expenses: When claiming business expenses, especially discretionary ones such as business use of personal vehicle and meals and entertainment, be careful to track the reason for the expense, be able to explain how it relates to your business, and keep your receipts!

File and pay your taxes on time: Late filing your taxes can be a red flag to CRA, so ensuring that you file on time can help you avoid “sticking out”.

If your business is being audited phone your professional accountant for assistance.

J.A. Smith & Associates Inc. is a team of dedicated professionals who provide reliable accounting, financial management and tax services to businesses and individuals. They can be reached at 1-800-343-6133.

OFF THE COVER

JULY 2015

41

WINDLEY DELIVERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

everything you’re going to need.

“There are beautiful mountain views available, and you’re surrounded by that inherently natural Vancouver Island landscape.”

Construction began in June of last year, with completion coming this past May. Residents began moving in on May 22nd.

The 63-unit condominium project was built with retirees, firsttime homeowners, and real estate investors in mind, and ensures security for purchasers through a unique, 100-year developer’s rental disclosure statement.

“We really wanted to make this as appealing as possible for buyers,” says Harper. “The Windley team went the extra mile by removing rental restrictions for purchasers until the year 2115.

The rental restriction removal was made possible by a legislation change to the Strata Property Act. “This assures buyers of the ability to rent their units for any reason, at any time. It removes succession planning complications, and for investors, there’s an element of added liquidity that’s not always available with strata real estate.”

For him, the removal of restrictions is peace-of-mind for buyers.

“You’d be surprised at how many units in other projects don’t sell because the potential buyers wouldn’t be able to rent them out,” he says. “What this is really about is protecting buyers down the line, you know exactly what you’re getting from day 1, and don’t have to worry about the rules changing all of the sudden.”

Location is the key for Songbird.

It’s centered in the heart of Nanaimo, very close in proximity to the Nanaimo North Town Centre and Oliver Woods Community Centre.

Within seven kilometers are t he Nanaimo Regional G eneral Hospital, Nanaimo Parkwa y, Wo o d g r ove S h o p p i n g Centre, Costco, Home Depot and the Nanaimo Golf Club, providing occupants with convenient access to recreation, retail, transit and dining activities.

“The development’s positioning enables residents to maintain

An evening panoramic view of Songbird Place quality of life at any stage,” says Harper. “It’s attractive to a wide demographic due to the surrounding amenities. Maintaining independence has been a priority for many buyers.”

Windley’s involvement is based on more than the project’s strong business case.

“Nanaimo is our home, it always has been,” he says. “We make investments and build projects like this because we believe in the City.

“We want to see it grow, and be a part of the growth. Songbird Place is one way we’re able to contribute.”

Sandy Harper has been a part of a number of different Windley projects, and is a big believer in the company.

“I’ve worked with them for a long time,” he says. “They have an extensive history in this town, and a strong reputation for quality. They stand by their products, and follow through on development timelines. They don’t do surprises.”

Their portfolio includes residential projects like Amblewood Village, Kaden Place, The Shores and a wide variety of custom homes. They’ve completed a number of civil and commercial projects, including the new Nanaimo Golf Club – Clubhouse, work for BC Hydro and the City of Nanaimo. www.songbirdplace.com www.windleycontracting.com

The inside of a 2-bedroom Songbird Place condominium

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WHO IS SUING WHOM

42 WHO IS SUING WHOM The contents of Who’s Suing Whom is provided by a third-party resource and is accurate according to public court documents. Some of these cases may have been resolved by publication date.

DEFENDANT 0587667 BC LTD 4503 Tyndall Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Downs Construction Ltd CLAIM $5,497 DEFENDANT Burns & Taylor Registry Services Ltd 4th Floor 888 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Lac Ross Law Corporation CLAIM $37,038 DEFENDANT Cantech Construction Ltd 7th Floor 1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Line Level Landscaping & Development CLAIM $261,336 DEFENDANT Care Biotechnologies Inc 1212-1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Bailey Walsh & Co LLP

JULY 2015

CLAIM $13,355

CLAIM $5,050

DEFENDANT CC Coastal Construction Ltd 201-2377 Bevan Ave, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Van Isle Bricklok Surfacing and Landscape Supplies CLAIM $141,995

DEFENDANT GMG Consulting Services (2012) Inc 300-736 Broughton St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF White, Lee CLAIM $17,790

DEFENDANT Koole Bare Enterprises Ltd 602-732 Broughton St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Line Level Landscaping & Development Corp CLAIM $261,336

DEFENDANT Gold Star Auto Sales Ltd 2439 Calais Rd, Duncan, BC PLAINTIFF Chapman, Miranda CLAIM $5,300

DEFENDANT New Pacific Designs Ltd 837 Burdett Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Rushworth Electrical Services Inc CLAIM $56,425

DEFENDANT Clo-oose Holdings Ltd 13690 Long Lake Rd, Ladysmith, BC PLAINTIFF Carroll, Richard CLAIM $15,186

DEFENDANT Goldstream Projects Ltd 202-1006 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Lamar Transit Advertising Canada Ltd CLAIM $7,486

DEFENDANT Owners of Strata VIS5132 4103 Gordon Head Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Downs Construction Ltd CLAIM $5,497

DEFENDANT CRD Housing 4th Floor 1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Wong, Melissa CLAIM $25,000

DEFENDANT Heavy Metal Marine Ltd 107-2605 Bridge St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Advanced Subsea Services Ltd CLAIM $20,026

DEFENDANT Citta Construction Ltd 1002 Wharf St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Wilkinson, David CLAIM $6,350

DEFENDANT Gardeners Plumbing Heating & Gas Fitting 5388 West Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Cole, Shane Alexander

DEFENDANT Island Dream Kitchen Cabinets Inc 204-655 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Isaacs, Roland CLAIM

DEFENDANT Rolling Tides Construction Inc 1929 West Shawnigan Lake Rd, Shawnigan Lake, BC PLAINTIFF Wilkinson, David CLAIM $5,468

$25,176

DEFENDANT Ruskin Construction Ltd 3542 Blanshard St, Victoria BC PLAINTIFF McFarlane, Tim CLAIM $ 25,216 DEFENDANT SHS Services Management Inc 14-91 Golden Dr, Coquitlam, BC PLAINTIFF Longview Roofing CLAIM $8,946 DEFENDANT Spenceres Excavating Ltd 560 Fulford Ganges Rd, Salt Spring, BC PLAINTIFF Parkland Industries Ltd CLAIM $ 22,722

DEFENDANT Pre Electric Inc 2111 Wenman Dr, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Holland, Dorothy Lynn CLAIM $15,836

DEFENDANT Stint Construction Ltd 1-1938 Northfield Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Wilkinson, David CLAIM $35,752

DEFENDANT Reda Enterprises Ltd 400-888 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Durham, Jordan CLAIM $54,196

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

JULY 2015

COWICHAN VALLEY Barnacle Barney’s Fish and Chips, located at 9796 Willow Street in Chemainus, is moving to the former location of the Stelur Restaurant in Ladysmith at #2-341 1st Avenue.

South Island Reman, a division of Western Forest Products in Chemainus, has announced a permanent shut down of that operation, effective by the end of July.

Three Point Properties is leading a development team to build Seabright Station, a new, 30-home housing development.

The Cowichan Valley Regional District and United Steel Workers Local 1-1937 have reached an agreement in principle in the current labour dispute.

Cowichan Bay’s Beate Weber-Schuerholz has been named a recipient of the 2015 Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development.

NANAIMO Do C Rock, a new sushi-to-go restaurant, has opened for business at 427 Fitzwilliam Street.

The Soap Exchange Nanaimo, located at Country Club Mall, is now for sale.

Doug Ross has been named the new store manager of Island Natural Markets.

Dr. Brad Hunter is setting up a new dental clinic at 3042 Ross Road, formerly located at 1551 Estevan Road.

Harbourview Volkswagen will be building a new showroom in the current location of its service department.

Country Grocer’s Chase River location is paving its former gravel parking lot section to enhance the customer parking experience.

Lan-Mar Contracting Ltd. is building a new house at 107 Bray Road.

Chelsey Schreyer has joined the staff at Hey Beautiful on Commerical Street. She offers pedicures and manicures and hails from the Kingfisher Resort in the Comox Valley.

Haven Vet Clinic, located at #5-4800 North Island Highway, has opened for business.

Jim Pattison Hyundai has appointed Jon Beekman as its new sales manager.

Kyla Karakochuk has left her position as Assistant Manager, Marketing and Communications at Fairwinds Community & Resort to pursue a new role as Marketing & Communications Officer with United Way Central & North Vancouver Island.

of the proposed conference centre hotel development. The development would have potential to link up the facility to a new hotel, as well as the existing conference centre and theatre.

Harbour Air has entered into a strategic partnership with China’s Zongshen Industrial Group Co., Ltd. to export the seaplane commuter service to major cities through China. The Zongshen Group, founded and run

by Zuo Zongshen, has acquired a minority share in Harbour Air.

welcomed Cindy Driver, formerly of Centry 21 Harbour Realty, to its team of sales professionals.

Cabpro Cabinets has received a Best Service Award and badge on its Houzz website from Houzz – the leading platform for new home construction and modeling.

Ohana’s Café and Gain Foods Ltd. has recently relocated to #32-1708 Bowen Road.

McLean’s Specialty Foods, a popular food destination in Downtown Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter, celebrated its 23rd anniversary.

Sephora has opened its first Nanaimo location at Woodgrove Centre, under the management of Eric MacNeil.

Southgate Mall is undergoing some renovations in preparation for the opening of Riverside Fresh Food Market.

43

John Russell, Harry Fiddick and Levar Hayden have all been welcomed to Sharecost Rentals & Sales’ Landscape Sales team.

Cindy Driver Nanaimo’s Realty Executives Mid-Island has

SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 44

Michael Melenchuk of Newcastle Nissan is leaving his position to become the Sales Manager at the Kelowna Nissan dealership.

The Caledonian Medical Clinic building, located at 340 Campbell Street, is offered for sale at $3,300,000.

Julia Dow has been named the new manager at Woodgrove Centre Shopping Mall.

The Quizno’s at Brooks Landing will now be operating as The Sandwich House.

Liquor Plus is the new owner of the Harewood Pub Liquor Store.

A new four-storey, 40-unit condo of one and two bedroom units has been planned for 210 Caledonia Avenue.

Dean Carto of Sun Life is opening up a new independent office at the end of July at 6543 Portsmouth Road. The space will be occupied by between four and five advisors.

Karelyn Goodall, formerly of PV Events, has taken a position as PPC consultant with Real Estate Webmasters.

Cross & Company has welcomed James MacIntyre, formerly of PIGranite, as an associate.

The former location of Earls Nanaimo will be partially occupied by a new Smitty’s restaurant, with the second part being taken by an unannounced tenant.

Great Canadian Casinos, which owns Nanaimo’s Casino, has discussed plans to expand its casino in the downtown in light

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

MOVERS & SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

Top-Lite Car Service Ltd. has moved from its long-time location in Harewood to 11 Cliff Street.

Nanaimo city council has approved a $13,826 heritage grant for restoration work to the exterior of the SW Apartment Block in the Old City Quarter.

The Young Professionals of Nanaimo has welcomed the following additions to its membership: Katherine Toth, Marc Secord, Sharri Secord, Adam Mabbott, Christopher Schmerk and Deanne Orrell.

Furniture Warehouse store at 6461 Metral Drive, and encompasses more than 35,000-square-feet of property.

has allocated $24 million for new air transportation infrastructure over three years, which will fund over 38 airports.

Nanaimo city council has voted to pursue a broad-based appeal and stay of a provincial order for upgrades at the lower Colliery dam this year, despite advice from the city’s solicitor that the process will likely fail.

GeoStabilization International has informed the city that it will no longer be involved in the project.

The City of Nanaimo is moving to replace two senior administrators. Finance director Brian Clemens has retired after 27 years with the organization, while Terry Hartley, former director of human resources and organizational planning, has recently left his position for a job in Wood Buffalo, Alta.

The City of Nanaimo’s new 2015/2016 Financial Plan is now available on the City’s website for public viewing.

460 Realty Nanaimo has welcomed Marrilee Tognela to its real estate sales team.

Jay Somerville, one of the owners of Webacom Media Company, is celebrating his 15th anniversary with the company.

Michelle Corfield has been appointed for a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the Nanaimo Port Authority as of June 30.

The Nanaimo Medigas outlet has moved to a new location at the Rock City Centre strip mall.

Stz’uminus First Nation conducted a formal groundbreaking ceremony at its Oyster Bay Development project.

DP World is operating a 45-meter tall crane at Nanaimo’s Duke Point terminal, and will be joined this summer by a higher lift capacity mobile harbour crane that will provide DP World with increased flexibility in handling cargo. The terminal is now Vancouver Island’s busiest container port.

Nanaimo played host to this year’s Aquaculture Canada 2015 conference, held from May 31 to June 3 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre.

Nanaimo’s Inaugural Poet Laureate, Naomi Beth Wakan, has received a special award from the Federation of British Columbia Writers.

Pleasant Valley Landing, one of Nanaimo’s newest retail developments, is nearing completion. The project, being built

by Island West Coast Developments, is a redevelopment of the former United

Nanaimo has ranked 142nd overall out of 209 cities across Canada in a survey of Canada’s most livable cities put out by MoneySense magazine. The survey takes into account unemployment numbers, average income, housing affordability, access to health care, arts and sports communities, crime rates and weather.

Under the new BC Air Access Program, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of BC has presented Nanaimo City Council with an Award of Engineering Excellence in the Energy & Industry Category, for completion of the Nanaimo Reservoir No. 1 and Energy Recovery Facility.

Devon Ethier has been named the new Investment Representative at Quadrus Investment Services Ltd. A New Balance footwear and apparel store has opened for business at 1825 Bowen Road.

Dennis Campbell, owner of the Shenton Road Budget Brake & Muffler location, and two investors from the Lower Mainland, have purchased McKenzie Self Storage on Old Victoria Road, and changed its name to AllPurpose Storage.

Nanaimo’s Ken Puls and Port Alberni’s Tania Dick were recognized during Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Vancouver Island University Culinary student Kaya Peters received a silver medal at the national Skills Canada culinary competition.

JULY 2015

PARKSVILLEQUALICUM The city of Parksville has received $6,000,000 in Federal and Provincial funding towards its upcoming water inlet project from the Englishman River.

The Regional District of Nanaimo’s Parks and Recreation department has moved to a new location at 1490 Springhill Road in Parksville.

Marsha Dawley, former vice-principal of Qualicum Beach Elementary School, will be taking of the position of principal at Errington Elementary School (EES). Active vice-preincipal of EES, Brian Worthen, will move to the official vice-principal of the school. Also in the school district, Lori Marshall will be moving from her position of vice-principal at Springwood Elementary School to principal at Kwalikum Secondary School (KSS). Marshall is replacing Jesse Witte, who will become the direct principal of alternative programs. Lesley Rowan, former vice-principal of summer programs and teacher at CEAP, will be replacing viceprincipal Don Bold at KSS.

PORT ALBERNI The City of Port Alberni has completed construction of the new $4 million water treatment plant, but it may not be enough to sustain the drinking water on its own.

The Port Alberni Port Authority has welcomed the appointments of Allan Robert Haggard and Dennis Lawrence Jonsson to its board of directors for two-year terms.

Merv Unger has recently been named General Manager of the Vancouver Island Raiders football team.

Harbour Quay will be getting a brand new digital entry sign valued at $50,000.

The province will cover half of the estimated $3-million cost to complete major intersection upgrades in the Highway 19 and Northfield Road area in Nanaimo.

The City of Port Alberni has awarded the tender for the Dry Creek flood improvement project to Bowerman Excavating at $1,593,770.

The owner of Nanaimo’s Howard Johnson property is spearheading plans to redevelop the site, proposing a five thousand seat arena that would be large enough to a WHL team.

Sandra Faust, Mickey Bliss and Albert Balbon, all North Island College educators, each received a National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award at the annual conference in Austin, Texas.

The law firm of Geselbracht Brown, located at4488 Wellington Road, is celebrating Michael Brown’s 20th year of providing legal services in the mid-Vancouver Island region.

Laurie Payne celebrated its grand opening of her new store, Shift Change Scrubs and Stuff, located at 4268-10th Avenue.

Two bylaws for the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District to borrow $6 million funding for improvements to the regional airport have been submitted to the provincial government for approval. The 30-year loan would cost Alberni homeowners about $23 on their yearly tax bill for an assessed property value of $200,000.

CAMPBELL RIVER The new Campbell River Indian Band office celebrating its grand opening, located between the Island Highway and 16th Avenue.

Locally owned & operated

Please send any business news to Shawn Bishop. shawn@businessvi.ca 250-758-2684 ext. 130

After an audit, it was found that the Strathcona Regional District is performing well financially and when compared to other regional districts of a similar size. The SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 45

MOVERS & SHAKERS

JULY 2015

MOVERS & SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44

district’s assets to liabilities is at 4.32, while the median is 2.02.

The city’s Homelessness Coalition, in its present form, will be dissolved, following a decision made by city council.

Campbell River City Council has appointed seven new members to fill terms on the Community Partnership Committee. Appointees include: Scott Cessford, Lesia Davis, Kevin Weighill, Gregory Batt, Danna Lamb, Poppy Steele and Mary Storry.

The City of Campbell River is

moving into the next phase of re-tooling delivery of Rivercorp services, planning to establish an independent tourism board by the end of the year as a part of a restructured Tourism and Campbell River and Region corporation.

Todd Stone, the Minister of Highways, has announced a project to improve safety for motorists and cyclists on three sections of highway north of Campbell River.

COMOX VALLEY Courtenay council has approved the addition of an outdoor patio to the

NEW WRITER FOR COWICHAN VALLEY

COWICHAN VALLEY SONJA NAGEL

C

OWICHAN – This is the Duncan Cowichan Chamber’s first regular column sharing news about business in Cowichan. The column’s former author, Kathy Lachman of Economic Development Cowichan, accepted a new position as North Island Representative for the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training. Cowichan’s loss is definitely Campbell River’s gain and we wish Kathy every success in her new position.

Like many Chambers in BC, we operate the Cowichan Regional Visitor Centre (CRVC), delivering Visitor Services at the Centre, and at major events throughout the region. Early numbers at the CRVC are up 20 per cent over last year. Solid spring statistics generally indicate a busy summer season to come and Cowichan is ready with festivals, events and attractions.

■■■ Duncan’s 39 Days of July Cowichan Summer Festival offers continuing performances and displays every day until August 3rd. Maple Bay Marina hosts live music on Sunday afternoons in July, and Coastal Community Credit Union again presents Sunset Cinema, a series of free outdoor family movies that take place all over Vancouver Island.

■■■ The Islands Folk Festival happens July 24 – 26 at Providence Farm, and Rock the Woods runs the same weekend west of Duncan.

Cowichan wineries and cidery are

open seven days a week for summer and visitors can sample a wide selection of award-winning wines. Some vineyards offer fine dining onsite, while others encourage guests to enjoy their own picnic lunch on these exquisite countryside estates. Cowichan also welcomes a new brewery to Cowichan – the Red Arrow Brewing Company, offering five house brews, with more in development.

■■■ Cowichan is home to the Sunfest Country Music Festival every August long weekend – this year Sunfest runs July 30th – August 2 nd at the Cowichan Exhibition grounds, featuring a stunning backdrop of scenic Mount Prevost. Country superstar Keith Urban is the headline performer along with Lee Brice, Joe Nichols and Sam Hunt. Through direct and indirect economic impact, community partnerships, and employment, this single event contributes $4 million to the regional economy. CRVC has partnered with Sunfest, and will deliver onsite visitor services, promoting all that Cowichan has to offer. The event sells out every year, and 45,000 people from all over western Canada and North America attend the Festival.

■■■ The Chamber’s programming takes on a decidedly summer ambience as we organize tours of local businesses, attractions, wineries and restaurants. These tours give host businesses the opportunity to share their brand story, extend B2B opportunities and promote products and services. We founded Chamber on Tour in 2012 and this summer we anticipate visiting 20 businesses and wrangling about 300 RSVP’s to participate in this popular summer program.

We look forward to contributing business news from the Cowichan in the future.

Sonja Nagel is Executive Director of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at manager@duncancc.bc.ca or 250-748-1111

downtown premises of Gladstone Brewing Company.

the introduction of DCC waivers for certain types of development.

Comox council has approved the development of the five-storey Lorne Hotel project, which is set to feature a pub/bistro on the first floor, and a variety of condos from 700 to 1,500 square-feet on the remaining four floors.

Courtenay councilors are considering big increases in the contributions that have to be paid by developers towards City infrastructure costs, especially when new single-family home projects are proposed.

Northern Springs Development, proponent of the Legacy Heights project, has proposed a 19-lot, single family subdivision for Sheraton Road.

Comox ranked 25th on the annual MoneySense magazine list of Canada’s Best Places to Live 2015.

The City of Courtenay is revising its Development Cost Charges Bylaw, which will update the City’s existing DCC rates and consider

Beaufort Vineyard and Estate Winery won six medals at the All Canadian Wine Championships, which included a double gold, bestin-class in Canada, for its 2014 Beaudacious.

45 Construction on Courtenay’s stateof-the-art fire training centre is underway, with completion aimed for late summer.

City council unanimously approved in principle the City’s share of the 2016 RCMP budget, amounting to $5,146,394, which represents an increase of more than $202,000.

The Courtenay and District Fish and Game Protective Association was named winner of the Province of British Columbia and Ducks Unlimited Canada Conservation Award for 2014-15. The award recognizes the dedication and contributions of an organization for all of its conservation work.

OPINION

46

JULY 2015 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Vancouver Island Office 25 Cavan Street,Nanaimo, BC V9R 2T9 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Fax: 1.778.441.3373 Email: info@businessexaminer.ca Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald, lise@businessexaminer.ca SALES | Shawn Bishop – shawn@businessexaminer.ca, Josh Higgins – josh@businessexaminer.ca, Joanne Iormetti – joanne@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Goody Niosi, Julia MacDonald, John MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim WEBSITE | John MacDonald – john@businessexaminer.ca

A WINNING ATTITUDE IS ESSENTIAL, AND IT CAN BE LEARNED

MARK MACDONALD

“D

o whatever you want.

Just don’t lose any money.”

Those words from a boss, in response to my apparently constant queries regarding whether or not I could undertake a new project, have stuck with me like glue. It’s a mentality that has helped guide me. Simple. Direct. Effective.

Of course, there are a lot of ingredients that go into a successful project, but having clearly defined goal posts at the start of the journey is a worthwhile target. In business, if a profitable venture isn’t the end result, well, we won’t be in business long.

What I’ve seen is that the words my boss shared with me are the

essence of a “winning” mentality.

In the case of business, a “win” is a project that, ultimately, makes money. I could understand that, and have applied that ever since.

It has been said that those who think they can - and those that think they can’t - are both right.

We can never underestimate the power or importance of having a positive mindset. Look around at the vast majority of successful people around you, and you’ll likely find one common denominator: A positive, “can do” attitude.

It’s not enough to be simply positive about business, even though it is essential. T here must be goalposts and guidelines whereby we can measure success. Not ones that we effortlessly surpass, but ones that make us stretch forward to reach our intended destination.

Setting goals, ones that are achievable and measurable, is such an important part of business, and life in general. Those that set goals often achieve them.

Those that don’t set goals don’t achieve those, either, obviously.

The result of having no targets is often drifting, and ultimately,

frustration, because we never really know where we are for a certainty.

We recently sat down with some friends to discuss goal setting.

From that, one person has created a “vision board”, upon which are stated goals and photos of what they want to accomplish over one and five year periods of time. It’s exciting to hear them share, already, that some of their goals are within reach.

Surpassing goals brings with it an accompanying sense of satisfaction, and it’s exciting to hear them talk excitedly about what they’re doing, with a building sense of anticipation and expectation.

It is hard to believe, but there are plenty of businesses that don’t even have budgets. Surely that is a recipe for disaster. Perhaps some won’t budget because they don’t want to see what’s happening in their business, and are afraid of the disappointment of failing to meet their financial goals.

Or perhaps they’re intimidated and don’t want the pressure of being accountable to a ledger or calculator.

Ultimately, business comes down to numbers, and “beating” the budget is a big part of a “winning” company.

Participating in sports can be a tremendous training ground for a strong, positive mindset that will pay great dividends in many areas of life.

When I grew up, hockey was fun, but we didn’t win much at all. We enjoyed playing, win or lose. But we became good at losing, being satisfied with individual accomplishments rather than rare team wins.

So, If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. I moved to Nanaimo to play junior hockey, and that’s where I learned how to “win”.

I vividly recall the game that was a turning point in my life.

We were trailing by two goals heading into the third period, sitting in the dressing room, when someone yelled: “Who’s going to get the winner?” I stealthily kept my “inside” thoughts, inside.

“We’re close, what’s the matter with that?”

“I am,” one player replied. “I’m going to,” added another... They simply expected to win, and

they’d done so plenty of times before. Soon after, we went back on the ice, scored at least three goals, and won.

My attitude changed that day.

It was no longer good enough to just participate. My teammates expected to win, and so did I. And we did. Lots.

I brought that mindset into business. It’s not enough to be “close” to making money in a company: Do that for too long, and we won’t be in business. We must “win” on the balance sheet much more than we lose, for the sake of everyone connected to the company.

It is the owner and manager’s job to “win” the battle for profitability. Do we every month?

Not every time, which I suspect is fairly normal. However, we knew that if we stuck with the process, worked the systems properly, and put in as much hard work and hours as required, the “wins” would come. And they have, thankfully.

As it goes in sports, it is similar in business. It all starts with a winning mindset, and it can be learned.

ALBERTA’S NOTLEY CREW SWIFTLY BECOMING BOB RAE 2.0 It’s becoming clear that the Notley NDP is intent on following the disaster policies set by the Rae government JASON CLEMENS AND BEN EISEN

T

here are many parallels between Alberta’s first NDP premier, Rachel Notley, and Ontario’s only NDP premier, Bob Rae. Some similarities, like the fact neither was expected to even contest the election let alone form a majority government, are interesting for conversation but not necessarily impactful on the lives of average Albertans.

There are, unfortunately, other similarities that will adversely affect the Alberta economy and the prosperity of Albertans now and for the foreseeable future.

The first worrying similarity is that Notley, like Rae before her, seems totally unconcerned with

controlling government spending in the face of large deficits. Rae inherited a $3.0 billion deficit when he was elected in late 1990. His government increased spending by over $5.3 billion (or 13 per cent) in one year, resulting in a deficit of $10.9 billion. These increases came on top of the large increases introduced by Liberal Premier David Peterson. In the three years the Peterson Liberals governed as a majority, they increased program spending by 35 per cent.

The early actions of the Notley government suggest it is following the same course. Despite an expected deficit of almost $5.0 billion, the government has announced over $600 million in new spending, including $39 million for social assistance and housing,

over $100 million for education, and a whopping $500 million for healthcare.

The second worrying parallel between Rae and Notley is their proclivity to increase taxes without understanding (or worrying about) how such increases affect competitiveness and economic incentives.

The Rae NDP aggressively increased personal income taxes and raised a host of other taxes including business taxes. These tax hikes came after large increases to the same taxes introduced by the Peterson government. The result was that Ontario was markedly uncompetitive with respect to many key taxes and the incentives for work effort, savings, investment, and entrepreneurship were eroded. The result was predictable: a sluggish economy throughout Rae’s tenure.

Alberta’s NDP government appears determined to repeat the tax and competitiveness mistakes of the Rae government. In the Throne Speech, the Notley government confirmed it will proceed with a 20 per cent increase in the province’s general corporate tax rate and introduce two new personal income tax brackets, eliminating the country’s only single-rate tax.

These changes mean all that

remains of Alberta’s once meaningful tax advantage is the absence of a provincial sales tax. However, most economists agree that this is in fact not an advantage, since consumption taxes are among the least economically harmful taxes. In fact, Alberta would be better served economically with a low sales tax that allowed for even lower personal and business income taxes.

Surprisingly, unlike the Rae government that unsuccessfully tried to promote manufacturing, the Notley government seems uncompromisingly committed to reigning in what has been an anchor of the provincial economy: the oil and gas sector.

There have been a slew of announcements that undermine investment and development in the oil patch including the review of the province’s royalty regime with a clear eye towards collecting greater revenues and new environmental regulation including a doubling of the carbon levy.

And the government has mused about replicating the disastrous energy policies of Ontario which have caused electricity prices to skyrocket and competitiveness to plummet.

The new government’s punitive

approach to the province’s energy sector will have immediate, tangible effects. The marked decline in Alberta’s competitiveness make investment in neighbouring Saskatchewan and British Columbia as well as the Dakotas that much more attractive. It’s reminiscent of a comment by former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein when he joked that the most productive cabinet minister in Alberta was B.C.’s premier because his policies made Alberta so attractive for investment.

As our recent analysis demonstrates, there was nothing inherent about the election of the NDP in Alberta that predetermined bad policies. Saskatchewan’s NDP demonstrated in the 1990s and early 2000s that good policies are non-partisan. Unfortunately, it’s becoming clear that the Notley NDP will walk the same road travelled by the Bob Rae NDP of Ontario, with predictably similar results.

Jason Clemens and Ben Eisen are economists with the Fraser Institute and co-authors of Fiscal Policy Lessons for Alberta’s New Government from Other NDP Governments.

SUBCRIPTIONS | $45 PER YEAR (12 ISSUES), $80 FOR 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES), SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: BUSINESSEXAMINER.CA. DISTRIBUTION: SECOND 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 Vancouver Island, 2015. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

LAW

JULY 2015

47

A NEW BC PNP BUSINESS PROGRAM COMING LAW

Look for PNP changes after July 2nd

1,085 861 746

T

he reason that BC PNP (BC Provincial Nominee P rog ra m) suspended receipt of business immigrat io n a p p l i c a t i o n s fo r t h re e mont h s (a nd h a s sche du le d recommencing on July 2, 2015) was because of the volume of applications it received over the last three years.

Under the busi ness strea m up to 2011, the BC PNP business prog ra m was receiv i ng between 150 a nd 200 appl ications. However four major changes took place at the federa l a nd prov i ncia l levels starting four years ago: ■ 201 1 - C IC s u s p end e d t h e Fe d e r a l E n t r e p r e n e u r program.

■ 2012 - CIC suspended the Federal Investor program.

■ 2012 - Saskatchewa n, Ma n itoba a nd New Br u nsw ick placed l i m its on their programs.

■ 2014 - CIC terminated the Federal Entrepreneur and Investor programs.

A s a re s u lt of t he se m ajor

152

135

197

Federal Entrepreneur Program Suspended

David Aujla

As a result of these major events, the BC Business immigration applications sky-rocketed from a low of 152 in 2009 to1085 applications in 2014

events, the BC Busi ness i mm ig ration appl ications sk yrocketed from a low of 152 in 2009 to1085 appl ications i n 2014.

T he BC PN P was basica l ly inundated with applications without the resources to process the applications.

A second problem was that many applications being re c e i v e d w e re o f l e s s t h a n stel la r qu a l ity. T he depa r tment bega n to not ice t h at prices of the busi nesses being purchased were inf lated, goodwill was far in excess of what g ross sa les wou ld just i f y, b u s i n e s s p l a n s b e i n g

Federal Immigrant Investor Program suspended. SK, MB & NB Business PNPs limit intake

Federal Entrepreneur & Investor Programs terminated Feb 2014

subm itted were suspect, net wor t h cl a i med wa s dubiou s and lastly there was no connection between the business experience of the individual in relation to the business being purchased. As a result, almost 50 per cent of these applications were being refused.

Becau se of t hese d i f f icu lties and because of the inundation of applications, the BC P N P h ad no ot her re cou rse but to issue a moratorium and rev iew the system of i nta ke and system of approving such appl ications a nd is presently d ra f t i ng reg u l ator y procedu res by wh ich to qua l i fy

b u s i n e s s ap pl ic a nt s rat h e r than relying on policy-driven procedures.

Under the new scheme you can expect: ■ Online applications to replace the paper applications.

■ P r ior it i z at ion ba se d on significant economic benefit to various regions.

■ Ranking of entrepreneurs by way of a comparative system based on points.

■ Third-party verification of net assets by established accounting firms.

A n update will be provided on announced changes after July 2, 2015.

Dav id Aujla practises Ca n ad i a n I m m ig rat ion l aw a nd h a s of f ic e s i n V i c t o r i a a n d Va n c o u v e r . www.BCimmigration.com

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