Business Examiner Victoria - October 2015 by Business Examiner Media Group

OCTOBER 2015

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ESQUIMALT The Township’s Economic Development Strategy was developed after first collecting input from the local community

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INDEX News Upate 2 Saanich Peninsula 5 Sooke 5 Greater Victoria 6 West Shore 23 Sales 25 Cowichan Valley 27 Who is Suing Whom 30 Opinion 34 Law 35 Contact us: 1-866-758-2684

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MAC offers a total access control solution MAC is a new division of McGregor & Thompson Hardware Ltd. that has formed an alliance with the Wenner Group of Companies BY GOODY NIOSI

cGregor & Thompson Hardware Ltd., known as a leading distributor of doors, frames, finish hardware and specialty construction products in Western Canada for 50 years, recently opened an innovative new division. M c G rego r A c c e s s Co nt rol (M AC) is the solution to the changing security and access needs of residential homeowners and commercial business owners. Dave Shelton, regional manager for McGregor & Thompson in Nanaimo said that the days of simple doors are largely gone. “Putting the door on is only half the scope. The other half is the hardware and that usually combines with the security and the electrical contractor. Until now

there has been no real connection between the trades to commission the job properly. So this is going to be a one-stop, pain-free option for the contractors and consumers.” MAC’s focus will be the installation and commissioning of all types of doors, frames and hardware with a focus on electronics and access control. To further improve the ability to execute these projects, MAC has forged an alliance with the Wenner Group of Companies. Wenner has been in business in Nanaimo for 72 years. Between them, the two family-owned businesses have more than 120 years of experience. Rob Andrews, director of Wenner Security Incorporated, said that no one else is currently SEE MAC OFFERS | PAGE 16

The Victoria team left to right: Sean McDowell, Dan Grant, Brent Lalonde, Marco Cavallari, Susan Harcott and Stuart Cuthbert

Total Prepare: Serving Canada’s Expanding Prepper Market Total Prepare’s customers view stocking up on food and other supplies as an investment in their future BY DAVID HOLMES

ICTORIA - A hedge against uncertainty, an investment in the well being, perhaps the actual survival of their families, for many Canadians the concept of preparedness has become mainstream. That quest to be prepared, to have stocks of food, water and basic supplies at hand in the event such commodities

become scarce, was what motivated Niels Baartman to found Victoria’s Total Prepare Inc. “Initially the company started because I was trying to buy earthquake preparedness products in BC and found that there was absolutely nothing readily available out there that was worth buying,” he explained. “For me I wanted a really good water supply where I can store

a vast amount of water, not necessarily an underground tank but something I can place in the garage, and I wanted some real hearty food, not just a five-year bar and that sort of thing. I wanted real food that we could cook while having a really long shelf life – products that would give me some survival options other than just a little knapsack with a few goodies tucked in it.”

But after conducting extensive research across the country, he found that what products were readily available fell short of both his requirements and his expectations of quality and longevity. “For me it became a priority to get prepared and to get prepared for a long time, two weeks to a month at the minimum. I just found that SEE TOTAL PREPARE | PAGE 7

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OCTOBER 2015

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SIDNEY Viking Signs Deal with Rosneft, Russia Viking Air Limited and RN-Aircraft, a Rosneft subsidiary based in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, have signed a multi-aircraft purchase agreement for ten Viking Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft to be delivered between November 2015 and early 2017. The aircraft are destined for the Krasnoyarsk region in south central Russia, where they will be used in multiple roles including 19-passenger regional commuter, corporate shuttle, and cargo operations. With optional float and wheel/ski installations available, the basic aircraft can also be modified for use in waterbased locations or during winter conditions on snow and ice. Rosneft selected the Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft to service the company’s business in remote areas due to its ability to efficiently and reliably perform in extreme conditions on unprepared ground and short-field sites. “The selection of the Twin Otter by Rosneft confirms that this aircraft is a credible and cost effective alternative to helicopters currently found in Russia and CIS when it comes to utility air transportation,” commented Dominique Spragg, Viking Vice-President Strategic Planning. Further to the MOU announced at the 2010 Farnborough Air Show for the development of a dedicated Twin Otter facility in Russia, discussions are still ongoing between Viking and Moscow-based Series 400 sales representative Vityaz Avia with the goal to provide customers such as RN-Aircraft maintenance and service offerings in-country. T he Ser ies 400 T w i n O tter i s t he best-selling next generation turbo-prop aircraft in its class, with Viking aircraft sold and delivered to 28 countries worldwide. Viking provides OEM support for the global fleet of de Havilland legacy aircraft (DHC-1 through DHC-7) and forms part of Westerkirk Capital Inc, a Canadian private investment firm with substantial holdings in the hospitality, aviation, and real estate sectors.

VICTORIA Victoria Real Estate Market Remains Strong All Summer Blue Can Water 50 year shelf life!

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The Victoria Real Estate Board released its report on real estate activity for August 2015. A total of 741 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this August, an increase of 21.7 per cent compared to the 609 properties sold in the same month last year. “Consumer confidence in our area continues to be one of the main drivers of the spring and summer market surge,” Victoria Real Estate Board President Guy Crozier says. “In terms of single family home sales, this month we saw the highest number sold in the month of August since 2007. A total of 379 single family homes sold in August 2015, compared to 399 in August 2007.” There were 3,688 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service at the end of August, 14.6 per cent fewer than the 4,316 active listings in August 2014.

The Multiple Listing Service Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core last year in August was $556,600. The benchmark value for the same home in August 2015 has increased by 8.37 per cent to $603,200. “The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation announced new rules for buyers who have less than a 20 per cent deposit,” notes President Crozier. “Starting at the end of September, buyers who apply for mortgage loan insurance from CMHC will be able to include 100 per cent of the projected income from secondary suites. A change like this may buoy the market through the fall and winter, and we may see increased pressure on areas that permit suites. We’ll watch over the upcoming months and track any trickledown activity.”

BC Measures Taken to Increase use of Wood Residue A fibre action plan recently announced will help generate more value from the province’s forest resources. The plan contains actions that will support forestry-related jobs in BC and increase the efficiency of fibre utilization in the short-term while durable longer-term solutions are developed. The actions are designed to increase efficiency of utilization of lower-quality wood and wood residue for secondary users, including the wood bioenergy sector and other non-lumber manufacturers, such as pulp and paper and oriented strandboard. The fibre action plan provides support and encouragement for business-to-business relationships between primary harvesters and secondary users; support for removing residuals from the forest where business-to-business relationships do not exist; and tenure opportunities for secondary users where there are no primary harvesters. Since 2014, the Forestry and Fibre Working Group, made up of representatives from the lumber, pellet, non-lumber, pulp and paper sectors and ministry staff have been working together to provide the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations with recommendations to streamline and increase the efficiency and recovery of low-quality fibre from BC’s forests. The mountain pine beetle infestation has caused an increase in the amount of low-quality wood that is not suitable for lumber production. However, this wood, and wood residue and debris, is suitable for use by pulp and paper mills that use chips for pulp production, oriented strandboard mills, pellet plants and others. Wood pellet production capacity has doubled over the last few years and there are now 12 pellet plants operating in BC. Pulp and Paper producers also put significant capital investments into their plants to derive energy from wood residue. “With the adoption and implementation of these recommendations, we look forward to improved access to forest fibre residuals generated from harvest operations. We anticipate an elevated level of fibre utilization thereby enhancing economic opportunity for the secondary fibre users. The associated gain in forest stewardship will benefit the entire BC forest industry,” says Craig Lodge, vice

OCTOBER 2015

president, Forestry, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc.

BC BC Invests $2.2 Million Promoting New Wood Use T he BC gover n ment i s i nvesting $2.2 million in the Wood First program to promote the use of BC wood both locally and internationally, and help advance innovative wood-building systems and value-added wood products. The funding is being awarded to six industry trade associations and institutions with proven records i n resea rch, development and marketing of wood products a nd sk i l ls t ra i n i ng to ca r r y out Wood First activities. They include: BC Wood Sp ecia lties Group – $558,910; Canadian Wood Council – $770,109; University of British Columbia – Centre for Advanced Wood Processing – $359,166; University of British Columbia – Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability – $65,000; FPInnovations – $428,928; Design Build Research Institute – $51,762; Funding from the Province will be supplemented with additional funds provided by industry. Wood First is focused on advancing the use of wood in BC.

Since the program was launched in 2009, wood use in the midrise and non-residential construction sectors is increasing a nd recog n it ion of wood a s a preferred building material continues to grow. A recent survey of BC engineers, architects and builders confirmed that 40 per cent are increasing the use of structural wood and 77 per cent believe BC is well positioned to export its products and knowledge. Building taller and larger with wood has a lso become more popular due to new innovative design and building methods. BC’s total forestry GDP reached $7 billion in 2014 and the sector continues to represent one of the province’s top economic engines. Employment figures in the forestry sector have recovered from the low of 50,400 in 2009, with 60,700 direct jobs today. Forestry represents the largest export category in the province, accounting for 36 per cent of commodities exports in 2014, up 5 per cent since 2011. Wood has the smallest environmental footprint of all building products and is much less greenhouse gas intensive on a life-cycle basis than other building materials. Also, BC has more forest certified by third-party organizations than any other region in the world, other than Canada as a whole.

VICTORIA Victoria In Top Thirty Friendliest Cities In The World From the wildness of the region to the character of the destination, Travel + Leisure readers gush about the great things to see and do in Greater Victoria, a nd ra n ked the city i n thei r World’s 30 Friendliest Cities, making it the only Canadian city to make the cut. In their annual survey, Travel + Leisure unveils results from its 2015 World’s Best Awards survey, including the 30 friendliest and unfriendliest cities in the world. Among the results, Victoria is ra n ked #19 i n thei r World’s 30 Friendliest Cities. Galway, Ireland, receives top honours followed by Charleston, South Carolina and Dublin, Ireland. Travel + Leisure describes the World’s 30 Friendliest Cities as having people who are proud of their city, passionate about its culture, invested in its future and who are eager to share that with visitors. The magazine goes on to say residents act like voluntary tour guides, being the first to point visitors in the right direction or share a little-known café home to the most spectacular local delicacy. “It’s a n honou r to b e

recognized by one of the most wel l-k now n travel publ ications,” says Paul Nursey, President & CEO of Tourism Victoria. “It shows tourism businesses and residents in the region continue to deliver outstanding experiences to visitors. We look forward to building on this momentum as we head into the fall and Halloween.” Even with this friendliest city honour, Tourism Victoria is collaborating with key partners to make the destination a bit spookier for Halloween. For the second year, the organization is working to drive business and visitation to the region by building awareness for Victoria as a fall and Halloween destination. Watch for more details to come.

VANCOUVER ISLAND Camosun Receives Health-care funding Provincial funding of $600,000 will support 78 new health-care spaces at three Vancouver Island public post-secondary institutions to deliver much-needed training of healthcare professionals in the region. The institutions and hea lt h-educat ion prog ra ms include:

Camosun College– 32 healthcare assistant program spaces – funding of $246,400 North Island College (Comox Valley campus) – 20 healthcare assistant program spaces – funding of $133,371 North Island College (Port Alberni campus) in partnership with Justice Institute of BC – 2.25 emergency medical responder program spaces (full-time equivalent spaces) supporting n i ne st udents – f u nd i ng of $24,651 Vancouver Island University (Nanaimo campus) – 12 community mental health worker program spaces – funding of $100,819 Vancouver Island University (Parksville campus) – 12 community health promotion worker for Aboriginal communities program spaces – funding of $95,327 O ne-t i me f u nd i n g for shor t-du rat ion hea lt h-ca re prog ra ms helps add ress the immediate needs of specific communities so that the supply of trained health-care professionals is aligned with demand. The one-time funding, which is targeted at programs running for one year or less, was awarded after the institutions answered a call for proposals from public post-secondary institutions. It is in addition to any regular-funded health-care training spaces at the institutions.

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Victoria Residential Builders Association advocates for the industry VRBA is most well-known for its annual CARE awards BY GOODY NIOSI

wards are a familiar experience for the Victoria Residential Builders Association (VRBA). Not only is the organization well known for its annual Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence (CARE) Awards celebrating the region’s best builders and projects, but VRBA has itself been the recipient of numerous awards, including the People’s Choice Award for the Festival of Trees, Leadership for Sustainable and Affordable Home Building for the FlexPlex Housing Affordability Project in Saanich, and numerous Business Examiner awards

such as Business of the Year and Community Leader. VRBA was created in 1940. Executive director Casey Edge, noted that the organization was one of the first of its kind in Canada and was built on a vision of promoting housing affordability, education and training, consumer protection and professionalism in the industry. “It’s very challenging to pursue a vision without knowledgeable people in the industry coming together to pursue these goals,” he said. The organization boasts 162 members, 60 per cent of whom are builders, mostly of

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single family and multi-family homes. He said that those who are members appreciate the organization’s vision and advocacy. They also believe in VRBA’s commitment to giving back to the community through venues such as The Festival of Trees, Habitat for Humanity’s Gingerbread Showcase, and the Goldstream Chum Program. When government funding cuts put an end to school children visiting the salmon run at Goldstream Park, VRBA stepped in to help park staff create the Goldstream Chum sponsorship program and return the children to the park. Still, the CARE Awards are one of the events that puts VRBA front and centre in the public eye. This year’s awards take place October 17 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria. Edge said that the CARE Awards celebrate the best in sustainable West Coast building and design in a number of categories. As materials and styles of homes change, the CARE Awards evolve with them. These include improvements to energy efficiency, electronics and development of smart homes. “The CARE Awards highlight those changes and raise the bar annually,” Edge said. “People also have an affinity for visualizing their dream home. The CARE Awards present that concept, and not just in a dream home. They also present affordable family communities. It’s a broad cross-section. You will see waterfront dream homes as well as entry-level, affordable homes.” He said that the CARE Awards are extremely popular with both the industry and the public. They are a high-profile event where the public is encouraged to participate via the People’s Choice Award. The public can vote for their favourite home online or at the display at Hillside Centre in Victoria. “I believe our members are Canada’s leaders in the design and construction of sustainable West Coast homes,” Edge said. He said that one of the jobs of VRBA is to promote communication between the public and the home building industry so that people have a greater understanding of the industry. He said that home building and renovations create homegrown jobs that are skilled and well-paying. Many VRBA builders are also certified Built Green, meaning they look for energy efficiencies during construction as well as sustainability in everything from landscaping to water usage. Edge said that VRBA advocates for the industry in many ways such as for renovation tax credits, mainly because new homes are already very energy efficient. It is older homes

Casey Edge says that affordability in housing is a key concern of VRBA that are the greatest emitters of greenhouse gasses. Renovations are good for the economy and for the environment. VRBA has also been at the forefront of advocating for mandatory education and training of builders and this spring that legislation was passed in BC. “Education and training are the root of professionalism,” Edge said. “Now, licensed builders will have continued professional development. That’s the future of the industry and that’s a critical component. As energy efficiency is increased in homes, it’s about physics and what’s going on inside the home. Education and training is absolutely critical to achieve energy efficiency without unintended consequences.” He added that the most important issue facing VRBA today – and the industry and public – is affordability, particularly in entry-level homes. He said that increasing regulations equals increasing costs of homes. “Affordability is the number one challenge that we have in this region,” he said. “It’s something that we want elected officials to start paying attention to.” He added that VRBA is a very engaged organization with a membership that cares. “The most important thing to our members is to build sustainable, affordable quality homes as a member of the community.” Victoria Residential Builders Association is at #1 – 3690 Carey Road in Victoria. www.vrba.ca

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SOOKE/SAANICH PENINSULA

OCTOBER 2015

THE CRYSTAL AWARDS

SAANICH PENINSULA CRAIG NORRIS

For all you humble business owners, you know your business the best and are therefore the best qualified to craft a Crystal award application!

ach year the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce hosts the Crystal Awards, an opportunity to showcase and celebrate local business excellence. I’ve had the honour of participating on the judging committee for the past three years and am always excited to read about the achievements noted by the applicants in their submissions. I continue to be surprised by the number of great businesses, which I know are out there, that are not nominated or that choose not to submit an application. It seems, some local business owners are too humble; they are reluctant to seek out nominations or submit applications on behalf their own organizations.

Perhaps they are not aware that the majority of award winners have crafted their own application and actively seek nomination support. For all you humble business owners, you know your business the best and are therefore the best qualified to craft a Crystal award application! Well-intentioned applications submitted on another’s behalf are certainly enticing and welcome, but it’s tough to compete with applications prepared internally by those with a passion and in depth knowledge of the organization. With respect to those reluctant to ask for nominations, I suggest that there should be no shame in it. The majority of nomination and support letters I have read state how honoured the writer is to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of the business. After mustering the courage to request support letters for the application, some business owners have since found it easier to request such customer support and feedback and have made it part of their standard marketing and customer service practice. For those who aren’t confident about their ability to complete a winning application or can’t find the time, consider the benefits! Once the initial time has been invested into collecting and

organizing the required information, subsequent applications will be much easier, and you may find the information gathered may be useful in many areas of your business. The benefits of being part of the Crystal awards are certainly real, evidenced by feedback from past participants. Business awards offer a significant opportunity to provide brand exposure; to showcase a product or service your team may be particularly proud of; and to garner the interest of potential employees, customers or investors. On awards night, it is a pleasure to witness such pride on the faces of owners and employees alike when their organization is mentioned, and especially if they win! If you’re interested in learning what it takes to complete a winning application, come see us at the Chamber offices, we can help point you in the right direction. For now, here are a few key tips: Read the application carefully and include exactly what is asked for. Many award competitions, including the Crystal Awards, require the application be judged on its own merit. This is to remove bias that can result from judges using their own prior knowledge (or lack thereof) of the businesses being judged; therefore, all information to be considered

must be included in the written application. Keep your submissions professional. It may sound obvious but I have reviewed more than one hand-written, partially-legible application submitted on wrinkled paper. It is worthwhile to invest the time to have the application prepared, reviewed, edited and printed. Don’t assume; ask for help! If you have questions about what to include or perhaps about the intent of a given question, don’t assume, please ask us! We would be more than happy to help. Chamber offices are located at 10382 Pat Bay HWY or visit www. peninsulachamber.ca Craig Norris is president of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and can be reached at craigenorris@eagalus.ca

NEWCOMERS CLUB GROWING

SOOKE SEAN DYBLE

s I look at our calendar of events coming up this fall, I am finding it hard to believe that we are fully three quarters of the way through 2015. Summer is long over, the kids are back in school and fall is shaping up to be an extremely busy time. Certainly, for the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce, the calendar is already full, culminating with our Annual General Meeting in early December. Between now and then, we have a variety of other events planned. Fresh off the successes of our annual golf tournament and our economic development symposium in September, we will host an all candidates meeting on October 6th. We anticipate a large and well-informed audience in attendance to hear what the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke candidates have to say only two weeks before

Anyone that has visited Sooke in the past two months will know that we have an incredible amount of road construction underway in our town centre

the federal election. The format will include a moderated question and answer period as well as opportunities for each of the candidates to speak on a variety of topics. Ou r Newcomers’ Club w i l l continue to meet each month at new and interesting businesses around Sooke. This club has grow n to about 70 members in a little over a year and continues to attract interest from new residents looking to learn about their community. At the same time, our monthly business mixers will kick off again after a short hiatus and many of our 165 members will enjoy taking

advantage of the networking opportunities. Anyone that has visited Sooke i n the past two months w i l l know that we have an incredible amount of road construction underway in our town centre. Improved traffic flow, beautification and enhanced pedestrian access are starting to take form and everyone is looking forward to the project’s completion later this fall. Although, the Chamber has worked hard to try and reduce the impact of the road work on affected businesses by promoting our Better Buy Sooke shop local campaign, it will be good to put the delays and the dust behind us. On November 29th, the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce will once again host the annual Sooke Santa Claus Parade. A tremendous amount of work is done by volunteers in making the parade a success and we are proud that we can coordinate their efforts and help ensure the event runs smoothly. As I said, our calendar if full and before we know it our AGM will be upon us in early December. Sean Dyble is the President of the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce and the owner of 120 West Management Consulting. He can be reached at 250-642-6112.

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GREATER VICTORIA

OCTOBER 2015

GREATER VICTORIA - KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO PROVINCIAL PROSPERITY Based on past election results and current predictions, British Columbia has a number

GREATER VICTORIA BRUCE CARTER

e live in a large province with over 4.6 million people, yet we may overlook how key Greater Victoria is to BC. As BC’s second largest metropolitan area with an estimated Gross Domestic Product of $15 billion, what affects our region also affects communities throughout the province. For many years, the Chamber has been concerned about fragmentation in the Capital Region District. We feel that municipal services can be delivered in a more efficient and cost-effective way, which would help draw in foreign investment as well as attract and retain a skilled workforce. As it previously promised, we expect the BC government to commission and adequately

of ridings that could be the deciding factor in who forms our next federal government resource an independent study on local governance within Greater Victoria to maximize efficiencies and encourage our region’s competitiveness. BC Ferries has made considerable progress in measures such as rationalizing routes and adopting alternate fuels. Although its routes were slightly more profitable in 2015, the major routes still operate at a profit, while the minor and northern routes continue to operate at a loss. We believe this puts BC Ferries in an untenable position, leaving them little choice but to further increase fares. We look to the Province to increase the subsidy to northern and minor routes for the system to be sustainable and ferry travel to be affordable.

The Belleville International Terminal is a key international gateway, helping to link BC to external markets, with an estimated economic impact of $180 million a year. Last May, the BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure announced $17.4 million investment to Belleville Terminal, mostly relating to critical marine infrastructure improvements. The Chamber is pleased with this investment, but is concerned about the lack of information about upgrades to the terminal itself. We count on the BC government to secure the funds necessary to upgrade the common use terminal as befitting one of BC’s gateways and a key driver of the region’s economy. An efficient transportation system is key to local economic prosperity, as well as the island’s economy. With our 13 municipalities and the Capital Regional District - and highways running between and through some municipal areas - we need a regionalized approach to ensure the smooth flow of goods and services throughout the region. Last July, Canada’s Minister of State and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North and BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure announced $85-million in federal-provincial funding to improve the McKenzie Avenue Interchange. We are

OCTOBER CHAMBER EVENTS • Thursday, October 1st Victoria Virtual Candidate Forum noon to 1 pm - T he Chamber

Seminar: Financial M a nagement for Sm a l l Business 10 am-noon - The Chamber, 852 Fort St.

• Thursday, October 8 Prodigy Group October Mingle 5 pm-7 pm - Pizzeria Prima Strada, 2960 Bridge St.

• Tuesday, October 20 - Sma l l Busi ness Week Seminar: Networking for Success 2 pm-4 pm - The Chamber, 852 Fort St.

• Thursday, October 15 Fall Marketplace Mixer 4 pm-7 pm - Bay St. Armoury, 713 Bay St. • Tuesday, October 20 - Sma l l Busi ness Week

• Wed nesday, October 21 - Small Business Week Members Breakfast 7:30 am-9 am - Carlton House of Oak Bay, 2080 Oak Bay Ave.

pleased to see such commitment to Province on areas that affect our transportation infrastructure. We region, to help create the vibrant look to the Province to lead long- community we need and a capital term strategic transportation plan- city that British Columbians can ning across all levels of government, continue to take pride in now and as well as secure long-term, stable in the future. funding for transportation infraSTUDIO® A structure improvements to meet the needs of the Vancouver Island Bruce Carter is CEO of the Greater GERM-FREE NO-TOUCH FLUSH Victoria Chamber of Commerce. He economy. CANVicRELYcan ON EVERY TIME be reached at 250.383.7191 or As the voiceYOU of Greater bcarter@victoriachamber.ca www. PRODUCT DESC toria’s businessThecommunity, we is available MODEL new Studio ActiVate as either a 2794.119 RH EL Studio Ac Rightwork Height® elongated Height round victoriachamber.ca will continue our with the or Right front configuration. The smooth sided, high efficiency toilets obtain the best 1,000 g MaP flush score* and include a slow close, telescoping seat and EverClean surface at no extra cost.

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Two year battery life (with low battery indicator)

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†Based on a average of 12 flushes per day.

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* MaP testing performed by IAPMO R&T Lab. MaP report conducted by Veritec Consulting Inc. and Koeller and Company.

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OFF THE COVER

OCTOBER 2015

TOTAL PREPARE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

there was so little available that the search led me to other provinces and into the US. At that point I decided that you know what? There’s got to be something easier than this, there’s got to be someone out there to supply th is product and that’s sort of how the business started. In 2011 we came up with the concept and we incorporated in 2012.” Today Total Prepare operates a showroom in Victoria (48 Crease Avenue) where a sampling of is many products can be displayed and purchased. But for Baartman the real strength of the company’s marketing efforts is the 24/7 power of its online presence. “We have a website where we ship right across Canada, it’s a very interactive website,” he said. “We really go above and beyond just earthquake preparedness products. We service any ty pe of disaster, for any type of concern really. We also actively service the prepper-minded community as well. Whether you’re just getting an earthquake kit or whether you’re in the market for a six month food supply or more we essentially have everybody covered.” Total Prepare has become one of the country’s premier providers of all forms of preparedness products, m a rket i n g ever y t h i n g from first aid and camping supplies, lighting and communication systems, long term storage products and of course a vast range of emergency and survival food and water supplies. The company also actively puts its products to the test in real world applications to ensure the material works as advertised. “We really do look at all of our products closely, making sure it works. We field test what we sell and we stand behind it. If something fails or something doesn’t work out we won’t sell it, we get rid of it. Ray just went out with his sons to a park with some of our gear and tested it out for two or three days,” Baartman explained. The Ray in question is Ray Boeyenga, Baartman’s business partner. “That’s the only way that you can actually market the stuff with confidence. Knowing that you have done the field testing, learning how it can perform under different conditions. Knowing how it would perform if you ever

Niels Baartman often takes samplings of Total Prepare’s products to trade shows where they always get a positive response find yourself in an emergency situation,” Boeyenga explained. “As a point of note, we’ve got a lot of different products on our website. There are eight areas of preparedness that you really should lo ok at. A lt hou g h ou r website goes well beyond those areas the key things that you should be looking at are food, water, heat, shelter, first aid as well as communication, light and sanitation.” While in operation just over three years, the growth of Total Prepare’s business has been remarkable. “We’re growing substantially, especially during the last several months. We’ve had exceptional growth. Every year we grow and we receive awesome customer feedback – I think we’ve only had one product returned and that’s about it,” Baartman said. “Obviously people like what we’re selling them. At the end of the day 90 per cent of our customers come back and buy more products. Repeat customers are the best compliment anyone can pay a business. We have a ton of referral business and a ton of repeat customers and we can honestly say that they’re thrilled with us and they’re thrilled with the services.” In addition to individuals and family groups wanting to purchase supplies as a safeguard against the uncertainties of tomorrow, the pair has been finding there is a large and growing corporate market for the goods and services Total Prepare markets. “Corporate clients are coming all the time. Embassies are buying freeze dried food from us to stock in foreign countries in case of emergencies. What if something happens and they can’t leave their embassy? They need to have stockpiles of food. So we’ve seen the growth of that market,” Baartman said.

Boyenga explained that senior’s facilities have become another significant market for Total Prepare. “Carehomes are another emerging market for us now. They buy food and large water storage containers for emergency water back up supplies. They buy devices for charging cell phones in case of an outage of power, these are huge growing segments for us and we’ve got the solutions for them. We’ve figured out what they need, we’ve figured out how to service them. When we do one, say a senior’s facility, we’ve built a model package that we can now market to another one when they inquire, to show them the solutions, as opposed to having them try to figure it out. It makes it much easier for them.” Being prepared for the unknown, storing goods and supplies in anticipation of future harsher times is not a new concept. For Baartman it’s merely a 21 st Century interpretation of the steps earlier generations would routinely take. “We’ve forgotten what people did generations ago. They would prepare for times of lean years or famines or things like that. We’ve become such a walk to your grocery store society, assuming everything is always going to be available, but that could change in a heartbeat. I think we’re very complacent that way and we just assume the services are always going to be there but if you were to go back just two generations they never thought that way.” “We don’t want to scare people, we’re not fear mongers, we just want to make sure that you’re ready for any disaster,” Boeyenga said. “Food and water are absolutely critical – those are the things you have to have to survive. The water may not come out of the tap tomorrow, so what are you going to do then?” www.totalprepare.ca

As a consistent producer for Century 21, I believe my success is valuing people over properties, building trust and providing outstanding service. Backed by the power of the Century 21 brand name and reputation, my strong work ethic, drive and simply going that extra mile have allowed me to build long lasting relationships with my clients.

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OCTOBER 2015

PRO STICK REPAIR VICTORIA MAKES HOCKEY MORE AFFORDABLE Hockey equipment and maintenance specialist focused on giving back

ICTORIA – ‘Making Hockey Affordable’ is the name of the game for equipment and maintenance specialist Pro Stick Repair Victoria. The company got its start by developing a business plan to repair broken composite sticks and getting them back into the players hands and out of the landfills by using a unique procedure that repairs the broken shaft. Since then it’s grown to offer a number of exclusive product lines, in addition to focusing on making the sport itself as accessible as possible to others. “To have your job center around your passion is an incredible feeling,” says owner Glen Klassen. “I love what I do, I love this game, and I do my best at every opportunity to make sure that as many people as possible are able to play it. This community has given so much to me over the years, the relationships I’ve built through this sport have meant a lot, and now I have an opportunity to give back and help others. “Pro Stick Repair Victoria has given me the opportunity to make

Klassen behind the bench in his role as Assistant Equipment Manager with the Victoria Royals

Pro Stick Repair Victoria repaired and pro stock inventory

PHOTO CREDIT: JON HOWE ONE LION PHOTOGRAPHY

a sport that’s traditionally pretty costly, a little more affordable and by keeping these sticks out of the landfills it’s the ultimate form of recycling. As the business has grown I’ve also been able to expand our product offerings and provide unique services that add more value to my customers, I also support several individually owned and operated Pro Stick Repair Franchises across North America helping making hockey affordable to all hockey players, I’m excited about what the future holds.” K lassen’s ownership of Pro Stick Repair Victoria began a year and a half ago, after taking over operations from the business’s founders. “Everything came together

Klassen in front of the Pro Stick Repair Victoria skate-sharpening machine so organically,” he says. “I had always supported the original owners when they were having trouble dealing with the workload, as they had a number of other projects on the go at the same time. I found out there was an opportunity to become involved almost immediately after my long-term assistant manager position in an electronics retail business ended when the company restructured and the store was permanently closed. Naturally I jumped at the chance to take over Pro Stick Repair Victoria. “I feel like life has prepared me for this, my background is in customer service and retail management, a nd I’ve a lways been involved with hockey in some capacity. I really enjoy connecting and interacting with people, and helping them in whatever way I can. This was a natural fit for me, and since taking things over, the company has started to see some significant growth.” That success has given him the freedom to support local minor hockey programs, recreational leagues and athletics focused non profit organizations. “At the end of the day I want to give back and assist others as much as I can,” says Klassen. “If an organization or an individual reaches out I’m going to do my best to help them out. I’ve been able to help young hockey players find affordable equipment through my contacts, and the

company supports initiatives like KidSport, Ryan O’Byrne Youth Sports Society, The Remembering Elliott Dagg Foundation ‘swap n shop’ fundraiser and many others. “It’s been a very rewarding experience so far, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the company can contribute to the community even further. Recently I started a monthly 3 Stars Social Media Contest that rewards people with prizes for sharing their experiences with Pro Stick Repair Victoria through their own networks. It’s my hope that as the company continues to grow, that I have more opportunities to help out, give back, and enable others to enjoy the game as much as I do.” Currently, Pro Stick Repair Victoria provides customers with a 35 day warranty at the point of repair for all of the reconstructed composite sticks, 5 days longer than one that would come with a brand new stick. Klassen’s focus on delivering value allows his clients to purchase 4 repaired sticks for the price of 1 new stick . In addition, he offers ‘pro stock’ sticks, professional grade equipment not generally available to the public. His pro shop services also include Sani Sport equ ipment cleaning, skate sharpening, heat molding, rivet repairs, Howie’s tape, laces and wax, Gitch Hitch laundry loops, Superfeet insoles, Wipe2Perform blade cleaning products, skate guards, team apparel, team equipment orders

and custom bags. “Every single product that I carry is there to improve my customer’s hockey experience,” he says. “The Sani Sport system protects players from potential infections and bacteria issues, the Gitch Hitch is there to help team trainers and parents of multiple players organize laundry/ apparel better. The blade cleaning wipes prolong the life of the skates blades and prevent rust, and the other products I provide all there for the sole purpose of helping make the game of hockey safe, enjoyable and affordable.” In addition to running the business, Klassen is entering his 5 th season as the Assistant Equipment Manager for the Victoria Royals of the WHL , a nd has worked in the same capacity for the Victoria Salmon Kings, a former ECHL team. Organization’s currently using Pro Stick Repair products include the Victoria Grizzlies and Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BC Junior Hockey League, the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, the South Island Royals Midget A team, as well as the Inter Section Hockey League (ISHL) based out of CFB Esquimalt which is comprised of Canadian Armed Forces and DND employees, in addition to a wide range of regular individual customers. Facebook - Pro Stick Repair Victoria Twitter - @ProStickRepair Instagram - ProStickRepair www.prostickrepair.com

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OCTOBER 2015

MEETING PLACES Huge Range Of Business Meeting Options Available In BC Whatever the size, whatever the need, if you’re in BC there will be a meeting place available to handle any style of business function

ustic to soph isticated, sprawling to intimate, the range of venues available to host business gatherings in BC are as diverse and unique as the communities in which they’re situated. From state of the art conference centres in the urban core, to out of the way retreats that are living echoes of simpler times, British Columbia is blessed with an embarrassing wealth of exciting meeting place options. If you’re in the Victoria area and are organizing an event for several hundred of your closest friends or business associates, the premier Capital Region destination has to be the Victoria Conference Centre (VCC). Located in the heart of the city’s downtown core, this sprawling complex, linked to the world famous Fairmont Empress Hotel, features a mind-boggling 73,000 square feet of magnificent meeting space, spread across no less than 19 separate multi-purpose meeting rooms. The VCC also features a large exhibit hall if a companion trade show is part of your get together plans and a 400 seat lecture theatre for formal training opportunities. Ample parking space is also available for all of attendees, thanks to a large two-tiered underground parking lot located directly beneath the centre. If that isn’t enough, right across the street from the Conference Centre is Victoria’s historic Crystal Gardens, which serves as a companion meeting venue for the VCC. Considered one of the most beautiful meeting places in western Canada, the Crystal Gardens boast more than 25,000 square feet of meeting space, enough legroom to host exhibits or functions for more than 1,000 people. To learn more about the Victoria Conference Centre check out its website: http:// victoriaconference.com/ However, if you’re planning a business or social event in the Okanagan, then consider making the Summerland Waterfront Resort and Spa your target destination. Located on beautiful Lake Okanagan, Summerland is ideally situated only minutes from the area’s main urban centres, yet a world away in terms of lifestyle and idyllic beauty.

Church and State Wines in Brentwood Bay just outside of Victoria has hosted many functions, including one for Porsche

The Victoria Conference Centre features more than 75,000 sq ft of space, including a 400 seat amphitheatre The Summerland Waterfront Resort is the perfect spot for business meetings of 100 or so individuals. The facility, with its magnificent lake backdrop, features a waterfront ballroom (1,800 sq ft) with a capacity of about 150, an intimate

lakeshore boardroom for small gatherings and an outdoor venue perfect for informing or entertaining groups of 100 or more - ideal for open air meetings or team building activities. The Summerland Waterfront

Resort and Spa is the perfect place to unwind, or get down to business (as long as the beautiful views don’t distract too much). The facility has earned a solid reputation for hosting SEE MEETING PLACES | PAGE 10

MEETING PLACES

10 MEETING PLACES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

everything from wedding parties and sporting themed events to business retreats and small scale banquets. To learn more visit its website at: http://summerlandresorthotel.com/ Returning to Vancouver Island, if

a business gathering in the Victoria area is scheduled, but something other than a city centre venue appeals, then consider planning your next session at Church and State Wines in nearby Brentwood Bay. A working winery, Church and State Wines actually operate two facilities in the province, the Brentwood Bay location and its main vineyard

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Share Ideas. Stay Connected. Be Inspired. The Victoria Conference Centre offers 73,000 square feet of functional purpose-built meeting space with 16 meeting rooms, a large exhibit hall, a 400-seat lecture theatre and a ballroom accommodating up to 1,500 theatre style. An open plaza and magnificent entry foyer create a bright, welcoming environment indoors and out.

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and outlet in Oliver in the Okanagan. Described as Vancouver Island’s largest and most prolific winery, Church and State is well stocked to handle small to medium sized functions. “For corporate events, we are able to host up to 300 people, with a full kitchen and bar. Our executive chef can prepare menus ranging from passed canapé’s to full multi-course custom dinners,” explained Church and State’s John Pullen. “We have indoor and outdoor spaces, with the wrap around patio being heated in cold weather. We offer a full building PA system with wireless microphones. In the past, we have hosted events for Porsche, BMW, multiple hospital and health organizations, the BC Wine Institute, and many other high-profile national and multinational businesses.” The facility (only minutes from downtown Victoria) is very adaptable, as the Church and State staff are able to tailor the layout of the building and exterior to meet the needs of its clients. Learn more online by visiting: http://churchandstatewines.com/ If your business activities carry you to the Peace / Cariboo the heart of the region is the bustling city of Prince George, and at the heart of Prince George is the Ramada Hotel. The Ramada Prince George is considered one of the best choices for business meetings in the city. The hotel offers a range of options for business and personal gatherings, from intimate boardrooms for

OCTOBER 2015

Located directly across the street from the VCC is the famous Crystal Gardens, a centre that can host up to 1,000

The original Old House Restaurant continues to operate, offering the culinary delights that have made the restaurant famous private discussions, to the hotel’s spacious convention facility capable of seating as many as 300. The hotel offers seven individual meeting rooms, many of them bright

with natural lighting and views of the active downtown core. The Ramada Prince George’s SEE MEETING PLACES | PAGE 11

MEETING PLACES

OCTOBER 2015

Cedar Hill

Meetings & Banquets

The VCC is one of the largest and most sophisticated business meeting venues in the province

MEETING PLACES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

staff is one of the hotel’s key assets. “Our experienced team is prepared to assist you in choosing the best layout to suit your meeting or event. Each of our meeting and event spaces are able to accommodate many different set up styles. Should you be attending for a trade show, media event or a classroom session, we have many options to best suit your needs,” the hotel’s literature states. As one of Prince George’s principal meeting and conference specialists the Ramada Prince George has partnered with the best audiovisual experts in the region to provide a range of state of the art presentation tools for its visitors. The complex is equipped to provide everything from video conferencing to multi-media presentations. To learn more visit the hotel’s website: http:// ramadaprincegeorge.com/ From large scale business events to small scale team building, the Old House Hotel and Spa in Courtenay on Vancouver Island is the perfect place to get away from it all, without losing access to the latest in services and technology. With an origin story going back decades, the original Old House was just that, a unique riverside character home that had been converted into a restaurant noted for its spectacular fare. But over time the current Hotel and Spa complex sprang up around the original structure, adding volumes of luxurious accommodation and a well-equipped business and meeting centre designed for groups of 60 or more. “Our meeting centre is fully wired for commerce and communication including audio visual equipment, screen, ceiling mount projector and can accommodate up to 64 guests,” as stated on the website. The business centre is actually two separate rooms, the Denman and Hornby (named after two nearby islands), but the staff can quickly shift the walls to convert the location into a single room of nearly 800 square feet. Of course the food and catering the Old House is so famous for is also readily available for the delight of the business traveler. Check out the Hotel’s website to learn more: http://www.oldhousevillage.com/ If you’re in the mood for something completely different, how about the intimacy of a gathering in a rustic log house, a literal stone’s throw from the waters of Lac la

Hache in the heart of the Cariboo? The Cariboo Log Cabin Guest House is located only 200 meters from the expansive body of water that gives this quaint community its name. The Guest House is like a living legacy to the pioneering spirit that opened up the region. The perfect spot for small scale team building or private business functions, far from the stresses of the workplace, the Cariboo Log Cabin Guest House consists of six rustic rooms and a companion restaurant big enough to hold a gathering of a dozen or more. Internet-equipped, the peaceful spot offers personal and friendly service in either English or German. Actually a Bed and Breakfast operation, under normal conditions the related restaurant does not serve dinners, but when a special group session is in progress meals are served throughout the day, according to the owner. Located on Highway 97 just north of 100 Mile House, the Cariboo Log Guest House feels more like a ski lodge than it does a traditional hotel – a feeling experienced routinely by visitors from around the world. To learn more visit the Guest House’s website: http://www. cariboologguesthouse.com/ Finally in our whirlwind tour of some of the province’s best and most unique business venues, let’s end where we began, at an expansive and state of the art urban conference centre, this time in Kelowna. The Delta Grand Okanagan Resort and Conference Centre in Kelowna is the city’s crown jewel for business gatherings. The Hotel itself features nearly 400 guest rooms, while it offers business visitors a choice of 17 different meeting rooms, with varying degrees of size and intimacy, right up to a massive 14,000 square foot conference room with a capacity of about 1,500. Full access to all of the latest in online resources and a full range of audio video services are also on call for business users of the centre. The hotel is located on the shores of Okanagan Lake, while the hotel and conference centre themselves were recently ranked among the Top Waterfront Hotels in Canada by Canoe.ca. When not engaged in business activities (and we know what all work does to Jack), visitors are encouraged to visit some of the many other attractions of the area such as the numerous nearby vineyards and recreational opportunities. Check out the centre’s website to learn more: https://www.deltahotels.com/Hotels/ Delta-Grand-Okanagan-Resort-Conf-Cntr

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OCTOBER 2015

PARSI DEVELOPMENT: BUILDING FOR TOMORROW – TODAY! Victoria developer wants to create integrated residential communities not merely housing developments

ICTORIA - For Victoria a rea develop er Moji Sha hab, a re sid ent i a l building project is more than a physical structure, or merely a source of revenue for his business. To him the project is part of a lasting legacy he and his team are providing the community. “The projects are more than projects for us. Basically we live and breathe the projects when they’re underway. We design it as if we were to going to live in it ourselves,” he explained. “We try to maximize the efficiencies, the usage of space, landscaping and all aspects. The resale value of the property is important to us. When people proudly move in, they enjoy it while they have the unit and then when they want to sell it they gain some revenue out of it. In the long run we’ve built something that lasts longer. Basically we’re building for tomorrow, today – that’s our company motto.” Moving to Canada from his native I ra n i n 2000 Sha hab comes from a creative, technically-based background, a skill set that has aided him in the development of his firm, Parsi Development. “I have an industrial background. I was running a workshop in Iran which was a tool and die making business, so I was both designing and manufacturing my products. The precision was always there when you’re doing the tool and die making you have to be very precise and careful about the measurements and the quality of the product,” he explained. “W hen I ca me to Ca nada I wa nted to pu rsue t he sa me thing but Victoria was not the

Moji Shahab wants to build developments with a positive community impact

“Everyone should win, from the municipality, to the neighborhood, to the trades, to the buyers and

Casa Bella was the first major project undertaken by Parsi Development and involved a mixture of townhouses and condominiums

to us at the end of the day.” MOJI SHAHAB

SEE PARSI DEVELOPMENT | PAGE 13

Landscaping and the way the project fits into its environment is an essential component of any Parsi Development project

Proud to work with the team at Parsi Developments! www.unitedfloors.ca OPERATED BY: SUNDIAL FLOORING LTD.

3335 ‘C’ OAK STREET VICTORIA, BC. V8X-1R2 PHONE: 250-475-3811 • FAX: 250-475-1912

OCTOBER 2015

Properties in The Piano are still being sold, with the entire project to include 50 modern, energy efficient and environmentally friendly homes

The interiors of the properties at The Piano are as thoughtfully designed and finished as their modern and efficient exteriors

PARSI DEVELOPMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Parsi Development’s current project is The Piano which is a high end residential community located on Happy Valley Road

right place for it. But, because it’s so beautiful and we loved the atmosphere and environment I stayed here. This was in 2000. Once here I did different things, different jobs both related and

unrelated to building. I then married Noushin my wife, who I knew back in Iran. I met her while we were both attending an AutoCAD class. But we got married here in 2003. Then I thought ‘okay, what can I do to SEE PARSI DEVELOPMENT | PAGE 14

MAPLE

Congratulations On A Job Well Done! 250 667 5628 www.plygem.ca

Project Management BEST WISHES FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN PHASE 2! As Project Managers for “The Piano Project”, we thank all our Trades and Suppliers for helping us to successfully conclude Phase 1 of this exceptional development. John Berkes, General Manager 380 Sparton Road Victoria V9E 2H4 Phone 250-727-6380

GLASS LTD. Congratulations to Parsi Development, on being a CARE award finalist!

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250-474-0806

OCTOBER 2015

PARSI DEVELOPMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

be as creative as I was back in Iran,’ as well as something that was in her line of work as well. We wanted something to satisfy both of our passions.” Parsi Development (Parsi is the Iranian word for Persia, the ancient name for Iran) is very much a husband and wife collaborative effort, with his wife Noushin Ashtiani providing the architectural and design skills, and Shahab employing his business and managerial background to complete their winning partnership. “Based on my experience and her expertise (she was a working architect in Iran) we thought that building custom houses would be a good avenue for us. She was hired by Misra Architect Ltd., in 2004. We were bouncing this idea back and forth with her office as well until we got some property in Langford. We started a project in 2005 and we called it Casa Bella. The name Casa Bella came from the first Italian class I attended in Iran, so for a while I was studying Italian. I wanted to name it something and I remembered that session so I decided that Casa Bella would be a good name for this project.” The Casa Bella project was the fledgling company’s first residential project, and is one that quickly took on a life of its own. “The project actually ended up

The placement of roof top patios, equipped with natural gas and cozy fireplaces, is another aspect that sets The Piano apart

250-2950 Douglas Street, Victoria

being bigger than we originally envisioned. We added the adjacent property and eventually it became a 30 unit townhouse and a 68 unit condo building,” Shahab explained. “I actually had a partner on this project. My partner and I started Parsi Development. Noushin was always the designer and architect. We had to hire an architectural firm so we took it to Misra Architect where my wife was working. So Misra gave us the overall concept of the project but all of the details were worked out at home between me and with Noushin mainly focusing on the design parts of it.” While the developer and designer of the Casa Bella project, Pa rsi Development does not

www.powellsurveys.com

SEE PARSI DEVELOPMENT | PAGE 15

Congratulations to Parsi Developments!

The Piano, under construction in Langford, features homes ranging from 1,400 to 2,600 sq ft, on compact easy care lots

Inter Island Developments Plumbing, Heating & Gas CIVIL ENGINEERS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

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250-818-7831 Email: interisland@shaw.ca

OCTOBER 2015

The other half of the husband and wife development team is Noushin Ashtiani

The Casa Bella residential project included 30 townhome units and a 68 unit condominium building

PARSI DEVELOPMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

The goal of any Parsi Development project is livability and resale value for the owners, ample greenspace is always an important feature

have the internal staff to look after all facets of such a project, that’s when the firm began to integrate itself with a team of professional service providers from across the region. “During the construction aspects of the project it was primarily my partner and I acting as the general contractor. We hired a project manager because I’d never done a project that size before. We needed their additional expertise during the construction aspects so we hired Dome Construction, Mr. John Berkes who helped us to build it. A project of this size needed an advertising company so we hired Hot House

Marketing, then a real estate company, Royal lePage, came in as well,” he said. “But at the time it was nothing but excitement. There were some scary moments through 2008 and 2009 but one thing that has never been forgotten despite everything is that we love what we do and we are dedicated to delivering a quality project – and a project that should always be a win-win for everybody. Everyone should win, from the municipality, to the neighborhood, to the trades, to the buyers and to us at the end of the day.” Parsi Development’s latest project is called The Piano and is located on Happy Valley Road in Langford adjacent to the Galloping Goose Trail. Eventually

slated to become a 50 home subdivision, it has been designed right from its inception to be more of a community than a more typical housing development. “At The Piano there are basically two units within one building. We built it with the thought of being able to provide privacy for two families or a rental. But it’s built with the same quality as the owner’s unit we never downgrade the lower suite,” he said. “Like everybody else we’re a pa rt of the com mu n ity. Ou r priority is not just making money. We are basically trying to create and offer a product that people can truly call their home, to love it, to live in it peacefully and happily and to eventually create some revenue for them,” he said. “We want them to view their home as an investment for the future of their family. We’re there to serve the community. This is our ability, I’m not a doctor or a surgeon, but I can serve my community in this way. We’re builders and we try to serve our community with our skills. Parsi Development owes its success to the effort of the team, not one person. I’m just a part of the team, from the laborers to the painters or carpenters to the whole trades basically, that’s the product of all of these guys working under a passionate management system. We’re all here to play the same tune.”

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16 MAC OFFERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

offering a complete security solution. “We are providing an endto-end turnkey solution. We’re really excited because we see some real benefits to the client.” He noted that the new alliance is rolling out in Nanaimo first because the city is central in the Island and a convenient place to service all points north and west. Currently MAC is marketing its new service chiefly to general contractors and project managers, who Andrews called the decision-makers. “This will give the marketplace a single solution to what has historically been a headache for general contractors,” he said. “The contractor now has only one point of contact who has the responsibility for making sure the job is done right. There’ll be no finger pointing if something goes wrong. I see that as a very tangible benefit.” Victoria branch manager Stuart Cuthbert said that security is especially paramount especially in commercial and public buildings like schools and hospitals. “Having control of access is key. Even people with a single family house can control access from their cell phone and know who is going in and out of their house.” He added that many businesses that have multiple employees entering and exiting throughout the

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OCTOBER 2015

“We are providing an endto-end turnkey solution. We’re really excited because we see some real benefits to the client.” ROB ANDREWS DIRECTOR, WENNER SECURITY INCORPORATED

day, want more control over who enters and at what times. “There’s a real shift from a traditional door handle with a key,” he said. “There are other options and that’s what the access control part of McGregor Access Control is all about.” Installation is the key, he said, noting that companies, including McGregor & Thompson, have been installing traditional doors and dead bolts for years. Today, there is more specialization in installation that involves low voltage electricity. Installers must be able to get that electricity to the hinge. “This is a seamless solution,” Cuthbert said, noting that MAC

Rob Andrews, Director of Wenner Security Incorporated

MAC and Wenner work seamlessly together to install doors and access control

has already begun operations in the Nanaimo office and is already slated to do access control and installation on the first phase of the hew hospitals in Courtenay and Campbell River. MAC in Nanaimo operates under the guidance operations manager, Dave Taschuk, with 15-years of experience in installation, locksmithing and electronics access control. McGregor & Thompson operates eight locations in Canada and Seattle with two locations on Vancouver Island. Cuthbert said that MAC will arrive in all McGregor & Thompson locations at a steady pace. As always

MAC will sub-contract part of the work, but will oversee all of it with in-house expertise. Cuthbert said that the new division underlines McGregor & Thompson’s commitment to having a strong presence on Vancouver Island. In the last three years the Victoria office and team has doubled in size while the brand new facility in Nanaimo is just over a year old and serves as a distribution, manufacturing and showroom location. “We don’t believe that we can service the island well from the mainland,” Cuthbert said. “That’s why we have manufacturing in Nanaimo to service the

island and we have distribution in Victoria and Nanaimo to make sure we can service both those major markets.” Shelton said his team and the Wenner team are excited about the opportunities MAC creates for them. “We have very experienced people who can sit down together and work on a package together. We can both interview the customer and give them the solution that works best for them.” McGregor & Thompson Hardware Ltd. is at 1920 Boxwood Drive in Nanaimo. www.mcgregor-thompson.com

OCTOBER 2015

CRAIGDARROCH CASTLE INNOVATES WITH VIRTUAL REALITY National Historic Site updates 5-year strategic plan

ICTORIA – Craigdarroch Castle, an internationally renowned National Historic Site and community fixture is preparing to take the next step in its iconic history. For more than 125 years the property has housed some of Victoria’s most respected institutions, and is currently owned and managed by the Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society. Visitors have access to daily tours, live theatre programs and seasonal events. The property itself is also available for weddings and customized corporate and institutional retreats. “We’re very excited about what the future holds,” says John Hughes, the Society’s Executive Director. “This property has such a rich history, and we have been blessed with the opportunity to preserve and communicate it to the people coming through our doors. Since the Society began the restoration process in 1979 so much has been accomplished, but we still have a lot to do. “The Castle isn’t just a tourist attraction, we’re a museum with a very unique background. As a Society we’re responsible for presenting that history in the best light possible, and that really challenges us to continually look for ways to improve and enhance the experience we provide to our guests.” Recently the Society has unveiled their 5-year ‘Evergreen Strategic Plan’ that will turn the Historical Site into one of the most innovative destinations of its kind in Canada. The Plan includes an interactive augmented reality experience, a new visitor center, and the restoration of the Castle’s kitchen. “This is a very exciting step

John Hughes, Executive Director of Craigdarroch Castle (front row), with facility staff and volunteers

The east side of the Castle’s Drawing Room, featuring a hand stenciled ceiling that was originally covered by 5 layers of paint. It took facility staff and volunteers 12 summers to remove the paint and completely restore the ceiling PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREW ANNUAR

Craigdarroch Castle, which was built between 1887 and 1890 for famed Scottish-Canadian industrialist and politician Robert Dunsmuir PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREW ANNUAR

for us,” says Hughes. “We want to shift the current perception in people’s minds that they can come here once a year and see everything, to a place where they know that each visit is going to give them something new and exciting they haven’t encountered before. “The augmented reality component is going to be very innovative, guests are now going to be able to choose the way they want to engage with the traditionally ‘static nature’ of our site. We’re adding a new level of depth to the tours that give visitors the chance to digitally interact with the Castle, the end result will be a literal ‘live animation’ of

our space. T his represents a major milestone for the Castle and for our industry, as we move towards the modernization of destination tourism and historical sites.” For the past few months the Society has been working with a vendor to create the interactive d ig ita l museu m ex perience, and expects to have a completed product ready for launch in March of 2016. Also in the queue is a new $2 million visitor center, which is in the development permit approval stage with the City of Victoria. The intention is to shift the administration offices and gift shop currently housed within

the Castle to a new structure on the property. The center will also feature additional presentation space, a tea room, and a multimedia space. If all goes according to plan, construction will begin in the Fall of 2016. The final component of the ‘Evergreen’ plan is the restoration of the Castle’s kitchen, and is slated for some time in 2019 or 2020. Craigdarroch Castle would not exist in its current state without the creation of the Historical Museum Society. The makeup of the Society, its Board of Directors, staff and volunteers have each made their own unique contributions to the Castle’s restoration and international renown. “There are so many different moving pieces that need to align to make this operation a success,” says Hughes. “One of the things that attracted me to this role initially was the business focused mindset of the Board of Directors. We are a self-sustaining organization through visitor fees and gift shop revenue, and that’s largely due to the wise decision making and visioning of the Board. “The other side to the Society are our volunteer and staff, we have 80 volunteers and 14 staff that provide tours 362 days per

year. Some have been with us for more than 25 years, our curator has been here since 1975, the restoration manager since 1987. Each person involved with our operations is passionate about contributing, there’s so much enthusiasm and enjoyment in everything they do. We would not be where we are today without them, the dedication they have to serving the society and preserving its history is incredible.” In 1992 the City of Victoria sold Craigdarroch to the Society for $1. Since that time the Society has been tasked with the modernization and upkeep of the Castle, which has an annual operating budget of $1.2 million. The City continues to support the site through a Permissive Property Tax Grant, and is the only government agency to regularly do so. The Castle’s origins date back to 1890, when it was built for famed Scottish-Canadian industrialist and politician Robert Dunsmuir. Dunsmuir died shortly before completion, and since that time the property has housed a number of different historic Greater Victoria institutions, including a military hospital, Victoria College and the Victoria Conservatory of Music. www.thecastle.ca

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OCTOBER 2015

COMMUNITY IN

ESQUIMALT Esquimalt Developing A Plan For Its Future Economic Development The Township’s Economic Development Strategy was developed after first collecting input from the local community BY DAVID HOLMES

SQU I M A LT – Wi n ston Churchill is credited with saying: “Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.” For the Township of Esquimalt planning for its future, envisioning the type of community it would like to see for its citizens and business community was the catalyst for undertaking its most recent Economic Development Strategy (EDS) which was approved by Town Council last fall. “We are pleased to present the Township of Esquimalt Economic SEE ESQUIMALT DEVELOPING | PAGE 19

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ountry Grocer, Vancouver Island’s home grown supermarket chain, has built its reputation on quality products, competitive pricing, great customer service and a willingness to listen. Having an ear to the needs and desires of its customers has led the group to recently introduce a range of in-house, freshly made sushi products for its customers. “Basically we’ve launched a new sushi program at Country Grocer. We’ve partnered with a Nanaimo-based Japanese restaurant called Blue Ginger who has been instrumental in building a solid foundation for this in-store program,” explained Brad Boughton, m a n a ger of Country Grocer’s Esquimalt store. “We did a successful test and launch of the program at our two Nanaimo Country Grocer Stores. So now the program has been introduced at the Royal Oak and Esquimalt stores, while our Cobble Hill store is currently in

the process of adding this sushi program to their line up as well. We’ve had Blue Ginger experts in - they’re training their staff both here at the Esquimalt store and also at our Royal Oak Store.” Country Grocer operates a total of seven outlets, including stores in Lake Cowichan and at Ganges on Salt Spring Island. “With this new program you can’t get it any fresher than what we’re offering unless you’re actually at a Japanese restaurant. It’s made every morning and it’s filled throughout the day. There are more than 20 different fresh and flavorful varieties. We also offer a brown rice sushi for customers on more restricted diets. There are both vegetarian and seafood options to appeal to any palette.” Boughton says the new program involves the services of expert sush i m a kers f rom t he Blue

Ginger group itself. “This sushi program is being staffed by their employees. They get everything prepared and we keep the display case full all day long. With this new service the customers can actually interact with the people making the product.” Boughton also says that thanks to this new sushi program local residents have an exciting new option when it comes to choosing their dine-in or take-out meals. “We’re extremely excited about this - it’s been a welcome addition to the store. This new product has given the people of Esquimalt an alternative place to buy their lunch or dinner needs. We also offer to-go platters with our sushi, freshly made to order, perfect for an event with 40 to 60 pieces on a tray – which requires one day’s notice for us to organize,” he said. “The customer response since we launched has been just fantastic. As we continue to move forward and grow our business in the Esquimalt area we’re being customer-driven and so we’re out to please our customers and to offer them a variety of different selections of products that feature top quality and freshness. We’ve heard what the customer wanted and have responded.”

ESQUIMALT

OCTOBER 2015

The Graving Dock, adjacent to CFB Esquimalt is another key part of the local employment mix

You’re never far from the ocean when you live in Esquimalt, everything from Naval Frigates to sea kayaks can be found in its waters

ESQUIMALT DEVELOPING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Development Strategy. The Township is committed to identifying

new opportunities to invigorate our economy and build a healthier community. This strategy identifies the path to a robust and sustainable economy for our community,” the

On October 19th

Canadian Armed Forces Base Esquimalt is the home of Canada’s Pacific fleet and one of Esquimalt’s major employers preface of the document states. The strategy, which was written after collecting input and suggestions from local businesses, the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce, major employers and the general public among others has been both applauded and derided in the community. “Over the last couple of years we embarked on a process of round table discussions with all of the sectors of the community – it went from everything from arts and culture to industry to developers to realtors to education and others,” explained Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins. “What we did was ask people in the community in those sectors to come and participate and tell us what the

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Strengths of Esquimalt are, what the Weaknesses were, what the Opportunities and what the Threats were. So we went through a SWOT analysis of the town. Coming out of those roundtables we were able to create our Economic Development Strategy and that came through to fruition in a policy that came to council last October.” For the Mayor one of the key benefits of the detailed report was the opportunity it provided to receive direct input from the community regarding local issues of concern. “A number of different factors have impacted the Esquimalt economy. An interesting thing about our community is that it has remained relatively stable in terms of population (approximately 17,000) and in

SEE ESQUIMALT DEVELOPING | PAGE 20

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terms of growth. In the boom years it didn’t really grow to any significant manner and in the down years there wasn’t a significant loss. It was felt that we needed to do something to recharge the economic development of the community. We heard that statement as we went through that process.” For the Chamber of Commerce, while drafting the document and collecting the opinions of the local residents has value, the Strategy itself lacked the authority to turn a plan into a reality. “Going into the document, the Economic Development Strategy for the Township of Esquimalt, it is disturbing to us as we view that document as redundant and repetitive. The points of the Strategy have been stated in the Township repeatedly over the past five years without much change in its content,” explained Barry Hobbis, Vice President of the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Economic Development and Tourism Committee. “It has a flavor to it that makes it more of a political document that is warm and fuzzy and nebulous in many, many areas. It simply doesn’t get down to what is needed for real change to occur, in our view it shows a sense of disconnect on the part of the Town Hall.” For Hobbis the Strategy’s major weakness is its lack of measurable yardsticks of achievement for development to occur in the

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businesses in Esquimalt. We actually have a significant number of businesses that are home-based businesses, but what else does community. “The politicians produced this it take to have more visible businesses on the paper. When you go through it, look at all of streets of Esquimalt? How do we process busithese statements that are kind of ‘we may do ness licenses to make it easier for you to come this’ or ‘we might do that’ ‘we’re thinking of into Esquimalt? What are the needs of your this’ ‘this is something we’ll review in five business?” years’ – good Lord, five years! What they don’t For Hobbis the issue of accountability, dedo is direct accountability,” he said. ciding who sets the deadlines for development “So who is going to do this? How are they to proceed, and then assigning the authority going to do this? They talk about performance to do so is the main element missing from the measurements but they don’t say whose going current document. “As far as the project itself is to measure the performance, hopefully it’s not concerned if I read through the Economic Dethe politicians? Where are the performance velopment Strategy I’m going to draw the same standards as well as where is the accountability conclusion on a number of those statements for any change?” that somebody will do the jobs, somebody will “I take a more middle of the road position be accountable, I don’t know who, I don’t know between the two sides. I know that when we when, I don’t know what the yardsticks will be, started there were 200 plus items on a spread- I don’t know if they’ll get a bonus. They should sheet that had been collected through public be able to tell us ‘here’s what’s going to be done’, consultation in advance of the advisory com- ‘here’s the yardstick’, ‘here’s the accountability’, mittee being formed. Our task was to review that’s what’s missing.” Knightley agreed that to make the document the items and try to boil them down to a few short term priorities for council to address,” a genuine engine for change its accountability explained Ash Knightley, a partner in Argentis and enforcement issues have to be worked out. Properties Ltd., the owner of an apartment “There were some things that were using a kind of wishy-washy wording, like ‘support complex in the Township. “I sat on the board with the Mayor on the the community’s market garden event’ but Economic Advisory Council for this latest what does support mean? Do you mean to round of review for the Economic Develop- sanction it, to support it financially, where ment Strategy, so I was involved with the strat- do they want to go with that? So we had some egy through that,” he said. “The limitation was trouble with the wording. Really we want this that while these suggestions had come from to have more teeth.” For Hobbis, to turn the present Economic the community we had no power to change the wording, but had to pick the top three without Development Strategy from an intellectual being able to put our input or inflection on it exercise into a functional blueprint will rewhich I think is where some of the Chamber’s quire someone at City Hall to take a leadership frustration came from.” role. “Unless there’s a champion inside City For Mayor Desjardins, despite any differ- Hall, or with the Mayor and Council who will ence in opinion over the value and influence stand up and say; ‘you know what, we have a of the Development Strategy, the document problem, we have a cultural disconnect, we could not have been produced without the have a whack of accountability issues, we support and input from the local Chamber of have a whack of measurement standards and Commerce. “The Chamber of Commerce has we’re going to fix them’. Then real progress been absolutely a key player and will continue will be made.” Knightley agreed that while imperfect, the to be in deciding how we can move forward. As part of our Economic Development Strategy current EDS has some value. “You have to they have been identified as helping us achieve start somewhere. The fact that we’re even having this discussion I thought was better many of the strategies,” she said. “We are currently going to work with them than somebody just sitting on their hands and on a business forum so that we can hear from saying ‘oh we’re too busy, maybe next year.’ their members so we can learn what it is They should take some credit where credit’s they need to help them build, and establish due, I think the Mayor is trying hard. I think the Mayor does an excellent job in trying to support the needs of the community, looking at things across a broader perspective.” “I think city hall is business-friendThe Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce l y, a n d w h e r e welcomes five new members to the Chamber challenges have occu rred we’re looking at why did the challenges occurred and what can we do to fix that,” Mayor Desjardin said. “ I ge t p e opl e phon i ng me or e-mailing me at least weekly telling me about a good experience they had. I had a developer in just today who said your staff is amazing, JOIN TODAY! they worked with me not aga i nst For more information visit www.esquimaltchamber.ca me.”

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John Duncan Pledges Support for Downtown to Downtown Ferry Service

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MP John Duncan announced Sept. 10 that federal funding for the long delayed foot passenger ferry (inset picture) will go through if a Conservative government is reelected. Candidate Mark MacDonald looked on at the presentation in Nanaimo.

A NA I MO – John Duncan, Con ser vat ive c a nd id ate for Courtenay-Alberni announced September 10 that a re-elected Conservative government will provide the required financial support to establish the Island Ferries proposal. This will be in partnership with the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) to provide foot passenger service from downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver. Duncan has been supportive of this i n it i at ive f rom t he b e g i n n i n g a nd understands the positive impact it will particularly have on Vancouver Island residents. “This service will be a game changer for Vancouver Island,” he said. “This service is green - it will lessen vehicle traffic on the lower mainland. It connects Vancouver Island residents to downtown Vancouver and the LRT system, to the Sea Bus terminal, and to the LRT system, which is a direct link to Vancouver International A irport and other major destinations in the Lower Mainland. It makes day trips affordable and feasible for people traveling in either direction. It improves the economic opportunities for business on Vancouver Island.” He went on to st ress t h at t he development of the service is sound from a business point of view. “It improves business opportunities on Vancouver Island. The project makes sense and it has been widely endorsed by municipal governments on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.” Mark MacDonald, Con ser vat ive Candidate for Nanaimo-Ladysmith, is a longtime proponent. “I have lost count of the letters I wrote and phone calls I made.” He said. “The Foot Passenger Ferry is T HE m issing link in the Central Island’s Transportation

Duncan has been supportive of this initiative from the beginning and understands the positive impact it will particularly have on Vancouver Island residents

Infrastructure.” He described the introduction of the foot passenger service as being a huge benefit for all of Vancouver Island. “You know what? Dreams do come true! This commitment is the single biggest immediate project that will have a positive, long lasting economic impact on Nanaimo, Ladysmith and most of Vancouver Island. A one hour commute to downtown Vancouver makes this area an even more attractive option for people to earn over there, and spend it here.” “The NEDC has been working closely with Island Ferries and other partners over the past several years on this important project,” stated Charlie Parker Vice Chair of the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation. “The project provides new transportation options and will boost a host of different economic sectors in our community.”

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OCTOBER 2015

WESTSHORE TOWING CONTINUES A LONG FAMILY TRADITION

Running a towing company offers variety, from pulling a car from a ditch to transporting a motorhome to a new location

Dave LeQuesne said he wanted a job with lots of driving, and found it with Westshore Towing

Ernie LeQuesne was the owner / operator of the first tow truck in Victoria - this shot shows his original rig in 1925

“It’s not a regular Monday Westshore Towing is carrying on a service legacy in the Victoria area that goes back to the 1920’s

to Friday type of job. Every call is going to be different.” DAVE LEQUESNE

ANGFORD - Some people are said to be born poets, or musicians or generals. Dave LeQuesne, the owner of Westshore Towing, says he was born to drive tow trucks. “My family’s been out here 100 years. We have a street named after us, which is named after my Grandfather Ernie LeQuesne who actually had

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Westshore Towing operates a fleet of six tow trucks, including this 16-ton heavyweight for dealing with big jobs the first tow truck in Langford,” he said. “The logo on the side of my truck has a picture of his tow truck from 1925. In the photo you can see the truck and on its side it says: AC of BC, Auto Club of British Columbia. So there he was in 1925 serving the Greater Victoria area including Langford up to the Malahat when it was a dirt road, he was serving it under the Auto Club of British Columbia banner. That history gives me a lot of pride. Driving tow truck is in my genes. I’ve got pictures of the two tow trucks that he owned and I’ve got pictures of my Grandfather and my two Uncles on a tow truck in the Victoria Day parade. I like it as it shows the connection our family has with the community.” An entrepreneur and a lover of d riv i ng, LeQuesne bega n

operating Westshore Towing in 2008 and today operates a small fleet equipped to handle virtually any towing assignment. “I used to own West Shore Taxi and I had that for 10 years. Later I sold West Shore Taxi and went back to doing what I liked doing which is towing. I started towing in 1984 right out of high school and I was in and out of it – my longest time being with Belmont Towing in Langford for approximately six years. But when I sold the taxis I bought one tow truck in 2008 and started Westshore Towing.” LeQuesne says the company didn’t spring forth fully formed, but slowly evolved to where it is today. “Since 2008 we’re up to three wreckers, two flat decks, I also have a 16 ton wrecker for doing the bigger stuff. So we have six vehicles in the fleet, seven

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if you count the service truck. I have three full time drivers (four counting me) and four part time drivers. We have dispatch in place Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. I wouldn’t say it’s a big operation but it’s getting to the point where either we’re going to have to put more money in and go bigger or just stay comfortable and remain where we’re are.” Born and raised in Langford his company’s focus has always been on serving the various West Shore communities. “West Shore is made up of Colwood, Langford, View Royal, Metchosin and Highlands, when you’re coming in from the Malahat everything you pass through until you get to Saanich is classed as the West Shore, although we have our own municipalities and councils. Our primary service area is the West Shore but we do service downtown Victoria. Basically though we’ll go anywhere, I’ve been as far as Golden, BC. We regularly go out to Sooke and we’ve also done some work for the Sooke RCMP and the Shawnigan Lake RCMP,” he said. “I’m the sole contractor for the West Shore RCMP, I work closely with them and the IRSU (Integrated Road Safety Unit), and I also work closely with the Langford, Colwood and View Royal Bylaw Officers.” While some business owners gear their lives to a typical 9 to 5 schedule, LeQuesne’s lifestyle is much more fluid. “Dispatching ends at 5 o’clock, after that it gets transferred to my cell phone, I answer the calls at home or

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W An active part of the community, Westshore Towing’s big rig, decked out in bunting, takes part in a recent parade

Motorsports are popular in the Capital Region, and Westshore Towing plays a role by helping move race cars wherever I am. Basically on the long weekends and in the evenings if you call in you’ll get me. I’ve been doing the phones by cell since 2008, but then again I used to do West Shore Taxi by cell as well. While there, before I hired a dispatcher I was fielding 4,500 calls a month through my cell phone and dispatching six cars. It got a little complicated sometimes,” he said. Despite his hard work, he realizes Westshore Towing is not a one-man show, and credits much of his success to his staff and the positive business and personal relationships he’s developed over the years. “I have a fantastic working relationship with Mainroad South Island (who is responsible for the plowing and maintenance of highways on southern Vancouver Island). I can call them up at night and say I need a crane truck to come and move the cement medians or I need flaggers because we need to shut down the Trans Canada Highway to one lane,” he said.

“I f we h ave a com merci a l vehicle in the ditch I have a working relationship with Wayne’s Trucking, I have a working relationship with LB Cranes, whose crane can come in and right the vehicle and Wayne’s Trucking will put the vehicle on their truck if our 16 ton can’t carry it and away we go. If we need to call in a tandem axle wrecker I rely on Tiger Towing out of Duncan or I rely on Peninsula Towing – those two companies have helped me out tremendously.” So why put in the long hours, the years without holidays, and picking up emergency calls at 3:00 o’clock in the morning? For LeQuesne the job’s ever changing variety and knowing he and his team are making a difference makes it all worthwhile. “It’s the helping of people and the adrenalin I guess you could say - it’s not a regular Monday to Friday type of job. Every call is going to be different. There are different ways to hook different cars, there’s different ways to pull cars

from ditches, there’s different ways to right a car or a big truck. You don’t get in the trap of doing the same thing every day.” The future of Westshore Towing, while busy now could get even busier in the years to come. “We could stay as we are but once I get the management and the dispatch operating without my direct input I think West Shore needs to go to that next level and take a look at what’s out there for service from the different companies and then maybe look at something that they’re not doing and go into that field of service. We won’t be shutting down, or me retiring any time soon. I’ll probably die in a tow truck,” he said. “When you go to my last high school a n nu a l a nd you look under my picture it says, “Dave wants to have a job that involves lots of driving and making lots of money” – well, I’m certainly doing lots of driving, but I still haven’t got the lots of money part, yet.” www.westshoretowing.com

hen I lived in the U.K., I regularly shopped at one grocery store – not because it was my favourite, but because it was the only choice. One of the many things I love about returning to Canada is the healthy grocery competition, with many diverse shopping opportunities within a small geographic area. The West Shore is no exception – we’re absolutely spoiled for choice! One of our grocery options is Western Foods, which was founded by Charles and Theresa Low in 1974 and built from the ground up. In 1996, the store expanded to what you see today with a full deli and bakery, over 2400 natural and organic products, and hundreds of gluten free products. Western Foods is the only locally owned and operated store with the same original owners in Langford. As the smallest local grocery store in the community, Western Foods prides itself on getting to know its customers by name and is happy to source a product for a customer in both their Langford and Sooke locations. They are big believers in supporting the community, and one of their charities is the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. Quality Foods is a Vancouver Island owned and operated business of 12 grocery stores, one of which is in Langford. It first started in Qualicum Beach in 1982, and right from the beginning the focus was on making the shopping experience both unique a nd positive. Qua l ity Foods introduced the first preferred shopper program in the Canadian grocery industry in 1991, and offered Western Canada’s first full online shopping service in 1997. Sourcing Vancouver Island products wherever possible, Quality Foods has an extensive range of services and departments from many and varied grocery offerings, to a hot Chinese food counter, to wedding services. A community supporter, Quality Foods was a sponsor of the Canada Women’s Seven International Rugby Tournament that was held in Langford in April. The Market on Millstream is one of the two Market Stores in the Victoria area, and their motto is “When you love food, you love

services and departments from many and varied grocery offerings, to a hot Chinese food counter, to wedding services

the Market Stores.” Decked out with funky colours and neon signs, the Market describes itself as “the perfect blend of cool trendiness and warm traditional” style. From the deli to the floral section, every Market department prides itself on providing unparalleled selection and quality. Organic, gluten free, locally produced, vegan - whatever you’re after, they have it or will source it out for you. To better serve their customers, The Market offers custom orders and seven-day-a-week delivery service. Starting off with one Victoria store in 1977, Thrifty Foods has expanded to 26 stores across the Island and on the lower mainland, with a West Shore location in Colwood. When it comes to sourcing, Thrifty’s focus is on “picking BC first” and supporting BC growers and producers. Thrifty Foods stands by a code of ethics which includes putting their customers first and supporting their communities. Their many signature products and brands include Coastal Waters Seafood, which proudly supports the sustainable fishing movement and is an Ocean Wise partner. Thrifty Foods was a sponsor of West Shore Parks and Recreation’s popular summer Neighbourhood Nights and is a huge supporter of the JDRF ride to improve the lives of people with Type 1 Diabetes. Can you pick out the thread that connects them all? Its pride in customer service - a critical attribute in such a competitive market. Julie Lawlor is the Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at 250-478-1130 or jlawlor@westshore.bc.ca

OCTOBER 2015

HIGH-END WORK NETS HUXLEY CARE CONSIDERATION Custom homebuilder named a finalist for Greater Victoria construction awards

ICTORIA – Maximilian Huxley Construction is preparing to continue its winning ways after recently being named as a finalist in several categories for the 2015 Victoria Residential Builders Association (VRBA) CARE Awards. This will mark the fourth consecutive year that the custom home and renovation specialist will have projects featured in the Awards. They will be competing in 3 categories, the Best Residential Renovation or Restoration $200,000 – $325,000, Best Contemporary Kitchen 175 – 250 square feet, and Best Master Suite under 400 square feet. Winners will be announced at an October 17th event at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. “Every year this goes on the bar gets set a little higher,” says Max Huxley, company founder and owner. “The quality of work that we compete against is so high, and it’s an honour to be considered, let alone win. As we have gone through this process of submitting our work for a few years now,

Max Huxley, founder and owner of Maximilian Huxley Construction I’ve really come to appreciate the significance of being a part of this event. “T hese Awa rds a re a g reat opportunity for us to showcase our abilities to the industry and community, as the submission process is very comprehensive. Winning isn’t just about having the best aesthetics; the project’s complexity, environmental considerations and quality of work are all evaluated. We’ve seen success in a wide-variety of categories over the past few years as a result of our collaborations with interior design and architectural teams like ZEBRA Group and JMD Designs. Being named as a finalist is the result of a group effort.”

Proud lighting supplier to Maximilian Huxley Construction 250.475.2561 • mclarenlighting.com Victorial & Nanaimo

A look inside Oro, a 2015 CARE Award Finalist project designed and built by Jenny Martin Design, Maximilian Huxley Construction and South Shore Cabinetry Throughout its 16-year history, the company has had the opportunity to work on a number of very unique high-end projects, which have resulted in 7 Gold and 15 Silver CARE Awards. “Over the years we’ve gone through a maturation process,” says Huxley. “Each of our clients have contributed to our success in their own unique way, but there have definitely been a few jobs that represented major shifts forward. We started out small; back in 1999 it was just myself and 1 other guy working on smaller renovations. “Within a few years we progressed to crew of 12, and got our first big job, which was a complete rebuild of a 13,000 square foot Georgian Style home. Getting that job represented validation that we were capable of executing at a really high level, it was a major growth and reputation catalyst.” In addition to the Georgian rebuild, Huxley and his team built the 24 acre de Vine Vineyards & Spirits in Central Saanich. The development took two and a half years to complete, and included a 7,500 square foot custom home, the planting of 6,000 grape vines, 200 fruit trees and a comprehensive customized transportation

and infrastructure system for the property. Recently the company completed a custom solar powered home on De Courcy Island, which has no road or ferry access, or hydro connection. Construction required concrete to be pumped from a barge, and supplies to be transported, as the tide would allow. The company’s history of award wins and its impressive portfolio can be largely attributed to a clearly defined corporate culture that’s focused on delivering excellence at every opportunity. “We want to produce the best possible quality of work that we can,” says Huxley. “Detail is vital in this industry, and it’s something we’ve become known for. The first 90 per cent of a project is the easy part, it’s that final 10 per cent that’s the hardest. Every measurement, finishing touch and timeline component needs to be dialed in, we put a lot of effort into the little things, and the results speak for themselves. “The process we take each client through, from the original outline, to budgets, design, planning and logistics, contributes to the reputation we’ve built. People remember the way they’ve been treated, and we’ve been fortunate

to see the investment we’ve made in that process be repaid back to us through a very high referral rate.” Those referrals, while in part due to the company’s quality of work, are also largely driven by Huxley’s staff and the level to which they execute their duties. “This company would not be where it is today without the team we have in place,” he says. “To build to a high standard you need staff that are capable and willing to go the extra mile. I’ve employed as few as 2 employees at a time, all the way up to 40, but the team of journeymen contractors I have now are the best I’ve ever worked with. “They make the success and recognition we’ve realized possible. Each guy prides themselves in every aspect of their job, from the aesthetics and work quality to doing things on time and maintaining a clean worksite, they do whatever is necessary to make sure the project turns out the way it was intended.” Outside of day-to-day business, Maximilian Huxley Construction is a member of the Victoria Residential Builders’ Association and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. www.maximilianhuxley.com

The team at Cabinet Works wishes Max and all his professional crew the very best in the upcoming CARE Awards. Cabinet Works is privileged to work with you. A proud member of

250.652.5081 • www.cabinetworksvictoria.com • Located in Sidney A proud member of:

SALES

OCTOBER 2015

THE INTOUCHABLES Learning from mistakes is often the greatest gift that guides great leaders

SALES JOHN GLENNON

he subject of leadership is more of a topic for many of our clients as opposed to management. It reveals a new awakening for many people who want to adjust how they guide their organizations to greater success. Leadership is a tricky topic because there is a distinct line between it and the traditional management role. My personal observation when working with leaders versus managers is their ability to know themselves first, as well as their people. They are in touch with both in a way that is completely different from the management role. Many a leadership expert notes that vision is a key element for leadership however most are not born with the innate gift but it is rather a learned skill. What does one need to work on to build their visionary abilities? The answer

could easily fill several books and it’s important that we be able to look at ourselves and know to what degree we have it and what we need to expand it. Leaders see the big picture. Ma ny ma nagers see the i mmediate and the things that will achieve goals in the next days, weeks, and months. Leaders go beyond the immediate and think in terms of years. They master the context of time and make the purpose of their people and the organization bigger than is obvious and engage others to get behind it. Maybe most important, they know themselves. Most leaders

Coming in November watch themselves closely and are aware of what they do and how it affects others. Learning from mistakes is often the greatest gift that guides great leaders. They don’t hide from their missteps but use them to help others. Mistakes allow them to forge new paths that may have been missed if they hadn’t learned a lesson from the experience. Adapting to these changes is the very essence of leadership. Most leaders are competent communicators. That is different than being a great orator. I have noted hundreds of times that regardless of the role or situation, when things go badly, typically the root of the problem is poor communication. How many times have we intended one thing and it’s been received very differently. Clear communication is the mark of a true leader. They take the time to talk, to ask questions, to listen, and to understand. It is a skill that must be learned if you want to be a leader.

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OCTOBER 2015

CLIENT-CENTRED APPROACH TRIPLES SALES Customers no longer have to run the gauntlet

A new name, facelift, renovations, increased inventory and new philosophy revamp Island GM

of sales people to get to the waiting area as the service lounge is

UNCAN - To better reflect its growing and broadening clientele, Island GM, formerly Peter Baljet GM, gave itself an official name change on July 1, 2015. “We feel this name embodies the dealership’s growth and the community it serves,” Craig Sabourin, general manager, said. Also, over the past two years the new ownership has given the dealership an exterior facelift and interior renovations. But it’s a change in philosophy that, according to Sabourin, has put Island GM on the map as the largest domestic volume car dealership on Vancouver Island, retailing and servicing Buick, Chevrolet and GMC products. “Between new and used car sales, we’ve gone from selling 60 cars a month to almost 150,” he said. “Much of that is due to being diligent about pricing pre-owned vehicles according to the market value and revisiting those prices every two to three days.” Sabourin said that the dealership’s secret to tripling sales is its client-centered focus combined with a mission to ensure transparency at every level, from a new

right next to the service department CRAIG SABOURIN GENERAL MANAGER, ISLAND GM

car purchase to servicing and maintenance. “We have customers coming from all over the island, from Saanich to Campbell River,” he said, adding that when people come to his dealership they are looking for the right product at the right price. What they get is the whole service/ care package. “We have changed the car buying experience because our customers know more and have a better idea of what they want and what they don’t want.” He added that Island GM’s focus is on making the purchase and/or servicing of a vehicle enjoyable, efficient and in a comfortable environment. Recent renovations to the interior reflect that visibility, not only in the showroom, but also in the service department, with an increased

A drive through bay keeps service customers warm and dry CREDIT:CRAIG SABOURIN

SEE CLIENT-CENTRED APPROACH | PAGE 27

Two additional service bays were added to better serve Island GM’s growing clientele.

Cedar siding and river rock give the reimaged showroom a West Coast flavour

CREDIT:CRAIG SABOURIN

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OCTOBER 2015

$10 million worth of inventory provides choice when purchasing a new or pre-owned vehicle CREDIT:CRAIG SABOURIN

A name change embodies the community Island GM serves CREDIT:CRAIG SABOURIN

CLIENT-CENTRED APPROACH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

number of service bays, from 14 to 16, and a new service lounge. “Customers no longer have to run the gauntlet of sales people to get to the waiting area as the service lounge is right next to the service department,” Sabourin said. He added that the repair and maintenance centre also boasts a glass wall so customers can see what’s happening in the shop and watch their vehicle while it is being serviced. “It’s a state-of-the art lounge with food, beverages and complimentary WiFi. The department also has two complete indoor drive-through service bays. Now, when clients bring their vehicle in for servicing, they drive right up to the door, which opens automatically. On cold, wet winter days they don’t have to get out of the car and walk into the dealership.”

But it wasn’t just the inside of the dealership that got a redo. With GM nationally reimaging the overall colours and design, Island GM did the required changes adding a West Coast flavour with river rock and cedar siding. One of the most significant changes, however, has been an increase to Island GM’s inventory of cars, trucks and SUV’s. It now showcases more than $10 million worth of vehicles in stock and ready to go. Sabourin said that this large selection has gotten the attention of corporations and small businesses looking to grow and build their fleet of vehicles. He said that offering a large inventory gives retail customers choice and options in vehicle models, not just to view but also to test drive. For the dealership, more vehicles to choose from translates to a higher volume of sales and Sabourin said there is profitability

in selling by volume. For its corporate fleet customers, a large selection means getting the product when it’s needed and not having to wait for delivery. “We’ve increased our corporate clientele, from serving a large portion of the growing Cowichan Valley companies, to several construction companies located anywhere from Campbell River to Victoria.” He added that special corporate pricing and programs aren’t limited to larger purchases. “Most of the businesses we serve have two or three vehicles, but if the client only has a need for one, they can still get the corporate package.” Over the past two years Island GM has seen some major changes, par for the course in the automotive world. Sabourin said that technology in vehicles is changing rapidly, from engine components to digital connectivity. He added that employees at the dealership participate in monthly webinars and training and the service staff have annual training sessions in Vancouver. He also said that though upgrades, renovations and new values have defined how Island GM grows into the future, what has stayed the same is the relationship it creates with its clients and the ongoing client centered service it provides. Island GM is at 6300 Trans Canada Highway in Duncan www.islandgm.com

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CHAMBER CELEBRATES SMALL BUSINESS MONTH

COWICHAN VALLEY

We are delighted to welcome Aerospace Industries Association of Canada Pacific as our guest speaker for what is sure to be a sell-out luncheon

SONJA NAGEL

h e D u n c a n C ow i c h a n Chamber of Commerce celebrates Small Business Month with our 3rd Annual Business Showcase on Friday, October 23 at the Travelodge Si lver Br idge I n n , D u nc a n . It’s a full day of networking, learning and engaging with the Cowichan business community. The day kicks off with two seminars: Small Business BC will send their Marketing Analyst Mark Eversfield to present M a rk e t A n a l y s i s fo r S m a l l Business. And, after a popular digital marketing seminar last fall, we’ve arranged for Yellow Pages to return to Cowichan to present Maximize Your Digital Presence. Exhibitors have the opportunity to connect with senior staff and elected representat ives of loca l a nd reg iona l govern ments du ri ng a M i n i Business Walk on the Showcase floor. We are delighted to welcome Aerospace Industries Association of Canada Pacific as our guest speaker for what is sure to be a sell-out Luncheon. Join us and find out about one of the fastest growing sectors on Vancouver Island and how its success affects our region and economy. T he Chamber welcomes Scotiabank as this years’ Presenting Sponsor of Business Showcase. T he showcase is open to the public and the business community from 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. It’s a great opportunity for the public to connect with small business owners and service providers to small businesses in the Cowichan region. The day is capped off with an After Showcase Mixer in the exhibit area from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. We are pleased to welcome Community Futures Cowichan as this year’s After Showcase M i xer. Com mu n ity Futu res Cowichan has been in the Cowichan Valley for more than 30 yea rs, helping Cow icha n businesses turn their business dreams into reality by providing business advisory services and access to capital.

••• We take this opportunity to blow our horn, as the recent recipient of the 2015 Communications Award at the BC Chamber Executives Annual Conference. The Award honours a Chamber with 201 – 500 members that has demonstrated exceptional quality in communicating the work of their Chamber to members, the local community and the public. We are honoured to be recognized by our peers in the BC Chamber network. ••• The Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize and welcome the following new members: Jackie Wood Pemberton Homes, CrossFit Anchored Athletics, Chemainus Valley Courier and South Cowichan Echo, West Coast Solutions Inc, Friendsh ip FU Nd a menta ls L ea r ni n g C e n t r e , Fa r m e r B e n ’ s Eggs, Something Celtic, and Twincreeks Vacation Rental and B&B. Membership in the Chamber is a wise investment. Everything we do addresses the value proposition of belonging to Cowichan’s largest business membership organization. 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

OCTOBER 2015

COWICHAN VALLEY HOMEBUILDER NOMINATED FOR FOUR CARE AWARDS “I absolutely believe During the past 22 years Jason Powell Construction Ltd has become one of the Island’s top high-end homebuilders

that I wouldn’t be here, or nominated for these awards without a whole lot of team effort.”

OBBLE HILL - From its humble beginnings constructing wooden fences and other small tasks, to the building of state of the art, multi-million dollar high end homes, Jason Powell Construction Ltd has evolved dramatically over the past two decades. That growth is reflected in the fact the company has been named a finalist in the 2015 CARE Awards - in no less than four different categories! “We’re a residential construction company and we do everything from renovations to high end custom homes,” explained company founder and President Jason Powell. “For the last few years I’ve been working on a project in Lake Cowichan doing a custom home. For the two years before that I carried out extensive renovations to a house in Cordova Bay. Throughout the years I’ve done some spec houses, I’ve played that market as well in fact I’m actually doing another spec house as we speak. I got back into

JASON POWELL

that this year.” Based in Cobble Hill, Jason Powell Construction Ltd was born out of its founder’s love of carpentry. “We launched the company 22 years ago. I started it when I was 18. I started out building fences and smaller stuff like that and it just increased over the years. I’ve always been operating strictly on my own, my father wasn’t involved or anything like that. I started off when I was quite young with a landscaping company and it kind of turned into a construction company over the years,” he said. “I guess you’d have to say I’m an entrepreneur. It’s mainly that I’m not big on bosses. This way if there’s a screw up there’s only one person to blame. It’s just a small company so I keep my employees to one or two guys at a time. When there’s a project underway I have a group of sub-trades I bring in. I’ve been working with the same

The construction work carried out at the Hawks Nest project earned the award nominations for Jason Powell Construction Ltd

In business for more than 20 years, Jason Powell Construction Ltd has earned a reputation for its quality high end construction group of subs for probably the last 13 years. You work up the relationship with the trades and they’ve got your back and you’ve got theirs. It’s the only way to go. You won’t know what you’ll get until the end if you don’t do it that way.” The prestigious CARE (Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence) Awards are presented annually by the Victoria Residential Builders Association, with the 2015 awards being presented October 17 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria. The Awards are considered the premier industry event created to showcase Canada’s leaders in sustainable West Coast design and construction. “We’re actually a finalist for the Care Awards in four of the categories: Project of the Year - Single Family Dwelling, Best Single Family Detached Home over $1,000,000, Best Custom Millwork 2,000 - 5,000 sq. ft. and Best Home Design I believe was the last category. We’re pretty excited,” he said.

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A specialist in residential construction, the company has been named a finalist in four different categories in the upcoming CARE Awards “I absolutely believe that I wouldn’t be here, or nominated for these awards without a whole lot of team effort. When I’m bidding on

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something I always explain to the client that it’s not a one-man show. It just doesn’t work that way. Unless you have your team behind you

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OCTOBER 2015

Specializing in residential construction work, the company works with a team of skilled sub trades to finish its projects Starting the company when he was only 18, Jason Powell has become one of Vancouver Island’s top home builders

Jason Powell Construction Ltd has been involved in the building of some 40 homes across the Island in the past 20+ years you’re only as good as your weakest link. There is a lot of trust involved, but if you treat people well, you respect what they do and then it’s all positive, positive, positive, it always comes back to you.” The 2015 edition of Jason Powell Construction Ltd fairly evenly divides its workload between the construction of new homes, and the renovation of existing properties. “I’ve probably built 35 or 40 homes over the years. In the early days there were quite a few more renos than there were new builds. Then I got into doing spec houses, probably a dozen or so over the years. I would probably say that the work load over the years is about 50 / 50 when comparing renovation work to new home construction. I just build residential single family homes; I don’t do multi family or commercial projects.” While not exclusively, the company works primarily across the

Cowichan Valley. “I don’t work south of the Malahat that much, if I’m going over the Malahat it’s going to be for a good client and a good job. At the end of the day it’s definitely more travel time and getting the trades down there is tougher. If the guys are living on the other side of Duncan they do not want to go to Victoria so I have to use different trades and I try to avoid that. The bulk of the work would be in the Cowichan Valley; from Mill Bay to Duncan would be the majority of it.” The reason Jason Powell Construction Ltd has been so successful has been its willingness to listen to the needs and wishes of its clients. “It’s the client who leads the pack. You have to listen to what they want and try to figure out what the best options are to make everybody happy. It’s their dollar after all, so it’s important to get things the way they want them.”

The quality of the finishing work completed in the Hawks Nest project earned a nomination for Best Millwork

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WHO IS SUING WHOM

30 WHO IS SUING WHOM

1626 Garnet Road, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Brian J Wallace Law CLAIM $11,706

201-2377 Bevan Ave, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Heatwave Plumbing & Heating Ltd CLAIM $14,500

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

DEFENDANT BC Alta Development Ltd 3476 Wishard Rd, Victoria, AB PLAINTIFF K5 Contracting Ltd CLAIM $ 47,250

DEFENDANT Cottle Creek Ventures Inc 201 Selby St, Nanaimo, BC Johnson, Frank CLAIM $5,213

DEFENDANT 0894759 BC LTD 301-830 Shamrock St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Gessler, Gerald Frank CLAIM $ 531,765

DEFENDANT Blue Bridge Theatre Society 2657 Quadra St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Stewart, Cameron Andrew CLAIM $25,156

DEFENDANT Dream Dress For Less 4750 Rutherford Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Irina Ugoric CLAIM $22,331 DEFENDANT Earthbound Homes 2042 Mable Rd, Shawnigan Lake, BC PLAINTIFF Downs Construction Ltd CLAIM $6,085

DEFENDANT Ac Taxi Ltd 210-3260 Norwell Dr, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF MacDonald, Dale CLAIM $ 25,256

DEFENDANT Capital Tree Service 2-3071 Washington Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority CLAIM $5,646

DEFENDANT Allard Renovations 1052 Adeline Pl, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Aldred, Peter John CLAIM $5,176

DEFENDANT CC Coastal Construction Ltd 201-2377 Bevan Ave, Sidney, BC PLAINTIFF Heatwave Plumbing & Heating Ltd CLAIM $14,500

DEFENDANT Lunds Auctioneers & Appraisers Ltd 3rd Floor 612 View St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Atherton, Lorne CLAIM $14,573

DEFENDANT Aplomado Developments Ltd

DEFENDANT Coastal Equestrian Ltd

DEFENDANT North Island Communications Inc

Custom and commercial tile work

OCTOBER 2015

1690 Island Hwy, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF Quinsam Radio Communications Ltd CLAIM $25,236

DEFENDANT

DEFENDANT NVH Homes Ltd 200-1260 Shoppers Row, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF King, Claude CLAIM $25,176

DEFENDANT Woodfellow Flooring 709 Daffodil Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Aldred, Peter John CLAIM $5,176

DEFENDANT Palco Marine Corp PO Box 939, Sooke, BC PLAINTIFF Myhill Jones, Heidi CLAIM $347,813 DEFENDANT Park Seong Bea Enterprise Ltd 105-1633 Hillside Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Ame Consulting Group Ltd CLAIM $6,751

Wingren Floor & Supply Co Ltd 1612 Northfield Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Acclaim Restorations Ltd CLAIM $15,896

DEFENDANT Line Level Landscaping & Development Corp 4118 Hatfield Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Peddle Construction Ltd CLAIM $25,025 DEFENDANT Sandwich Corner Cafe Ltd 2286 Setchfield Ave, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Bergen, Audrey CLAIM $25,216

DEFENDANT TBS Construction Ltd 2671 Sea Blush Dr, Nanoose Bay, BC PLAINTIFF Bellamy, Peter CLAIM $6,516

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To get in Movers and Shakers, call Thom at 250-661-2297 or email thom@businessexaminer.net In the September 15 edition of Business Examiner Victoria, it was reported that “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.” Please note this division is indeed open, and Business Examiner Victoria apologizes for this error. Duncan’s Peter Baljet GM, which is now under the ownership of AutoCanada Inc., has officially changed its name to Island Chevrolet Buick GMC. Cowichan Collision, located at 519 Mearns Road, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Jason Sandquist is taking over as secretary-treasurer of the Cowichan Valley School District as of November 1, replacing Bob Harper, who will be retiring from the position. Island GM has announced its top producers for the month of August: Rob Martin, Jerry Deol and Carson Bailey. The Cowichan Way Clinic has welcomed Dr. Frank Clarke and Dr. Carole Williams to its practice. Discovery Honda congratulated Les Charles on achieving top sales for the month of August. Victoria has welcomed its newest courier company, E-Quick, to the region. The business utilizes a fully electric vehicle fleet with zero emission. E-Quick powers its vehicles using Hydro electricity, and all of its uniforms are made of recycled cotton and plastic bottles. The company offers same-day and overnight service for the Greater Victoria, Duncan and Nanaimo areas, using the best courier tracking software and most reliable electric vehicles on the market. Shanna Hamilton has opened Kids Art Studio in a new storefront location at 6596 Sooke Road. The business, which was formerly home-based, teaches classes to all ages on how to draw and paint. Fiona Phythian of DFH Real Estate Ltd., has newly relocated to a storefront at #2-6649 Sooke Road.

The September edition of Business Examiner Victoria stated that the Sooke Family Resource Society has opened as a new business. The Business Examiner would like to clarify that it is not a new organization, however, it is responsible for opening a new thrift shop in Sooke.

as Treasurer, and independent museum consultants Deborah Hudson as Secretary, and Peter Ord as Past President. Scott Marsden, Liz Barron and Hanna Cho have been elected to the council, joining Lilliam Hunt, Nataley Nagy, Catherine OuelettMartin and Danielle Lemon.

Gail McClymont and Claire Flewelling of the Pemberton Holmes Property Management Group have announced the joining of the Commercial and Residential offices at #101-891 Attree Avenue in Westshore.

A unanimous vote by the Society

Ian Wish has been named the new Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hotel Grand Pacific. The Victoria Book Prize Society has announced the finalists for the 2015 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize and the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize. The $5,000 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize is awarded to a Greater Victoria Author for the best book published in the preceding year in the categories of fiction, non-fiction of poetry. The five finalists are: Grant Buday for The Delusionist, Karen Enns for Ordinary Hours, Arleen Pare for Lake of Two Mountains, Julie Paul for The Pull of the Moon and Nancy Turner for Ancient Pathways, Ancestral Knowledge. The $5,000 Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize is awarded to an author or illustrator for the best children’s book published in the preceding year. The three finalists are: Penny Chamberlain for Shack Island Summer, Laura Langston for The Art of Getting Stared At and Chris Tougas for Dojo Daycare. The Travino Presentation Centre will be celebrating its grand opening September 24. Travino Square, the second phase of the four-phase development is currently on sale, with thirty percent already sold. The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria hosted the BC Museums Association’s Annual General Meeting, in which the association announced its new Executive and Council for the upcoming term. David Alexander, Royal BC Museum Head of New Archives and Digital Preservation, will serve as President for the upcoming year, while Tania Muir, University of Victoria Cultural Resource Management Programs Director, will serve as Vice President. Rebecca Clarke, Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site Executive Director, will serve

for Arts on the South Island will see the Coast Collective move from Heatherbell Road to a new location at Wale Road.

The Village Taverna, Cook Street Village’s newest Greek restaurant, has opened for business at #101-1075 Pendergast Street.

The West Shore Child, Youth and Family Centre is celebrating its 10th anniversary this October.

Domino’s Pizza has moved two doors down from their 4083 Shelbourne St. location. They offer a new look as well as more space.

Bikram Yoga West Shore is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The BC Government has re-opened angling for most streams on Vancouver Island due to the increased rain and cooling water temperatures, effective as of Sept. 11. The exception is the Cowichan River, which will remain closed for the time being.

DFH Real Estate Ltd. has congratulated David Philps of Victoria, Mike Hartshorne of West Shore, and Ann Watley of Sidney on achieving top sales for the month of August. Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, along with the support of at least two SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 32

MOVERS & SHAKERS

32 MOVERS & SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

more councilors, wants to borrow $50 million to build 367 supportive housing units for the chronically homeless, in an aim to end homelessness in Victoria by 2018. Purely Optometry Oak Bay has welcomed the addition of Dr. John Poon to its team, located at 1964 Fort Street. Royal Bay Secondary, a newly built $38.6 million facility, Belmont Secondary, a $50.8 million facility, and Oak Bay High, a $52.5 million facility, have all opened for the school year. The pay for Capital Regional District directors will almost double in January, from the previous wage of $8,940 annually, to $17,000 annually. The board chair will also be paid an extra $25,000 stipend annually. Mandy Farmer, chief executive of the Accent Inns hotel chain and architect of the image behind Hotel Zed, has acquired a Kelowna hotel, which will be undergoing renovations as early as Nov. 1 to fall under the Hotel Zed brand. The 320-residence residential and dementia care project for the Summit at Quadra Village, located at 955 Hillside Avenue, has assigned consulting contracts for the team. Unitech Construction Management will oversee construction of the project, which will be designed by deHoog & Kierulf Architects. Murray Farmer, businessman and philanthropist, has been named the honorary colonel of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s). The Royal BC Museum has been named the best museum in Canada by TripAdvisor for the second consecutive year. Work could begin as early as Oct. 13 on new docks for the Coho car ferry. The project, which could take 18 months and cost more than $10 million, will see Black Ball Ferry Line rebuild its docks,

establish covered walkways for passengers, replace its car ramps, and improve the US Customs facilities. Russ Lazaruk has succeeded Marilyn Pattison as chair of Camosun College’s board of directors. Mike Miller of Abstract Developments has added two new partners, Sam Ganong as vicepresident of development and Kyle Ryan as vice-president of construction. They have primarily built custom homes for the past 16 years but now expanding into multi-family developments. The board of the Children’s Health Foundation has welcomed Maria Kang, Norgrove Penny and Bryan Thompson as the newest members. These newcomers join Bill Snell, Sandra Hudson, Kay Melbye, Margot McLaren Moore, Bob Campbell, Blair Hagkull, Frank Jagdis, Owen Matthews, Doug McCorquodale and Sarah Williams. Saanich’s Save-On-Foods has recently launched its new virtual store, allowing customers to shop for groceries online and have them delivered. This is the first location of its kind in the region. Victoria International Airport has put a temporary baggage screening system into service, which should extend wait time for screening. The existing system has been shut down to make way for a $9.7 million enhanced baggage system that aims to be ready in January 2017. The closed Capital 6 multiplex theatre bordered by Yates, View and Blanshard Streets, has been planned for redevelopment. The project would sport ground-floor

commercial use, topped with condominiums. Owner Empire Company Ltd. is taking bids until Oct. 9, with an aim to close the sale by the end of the year. The new $15 million cable ferry that will run between Buckley Bay and Denman Island, called the Baynes Sound Connector, made its first trip to its home port. The ferry will be attached to three, recently installed cables, and will have capacity for 150 passengers and 50 vehicles. Chemistry Consulting has reported a banner year for Victoria’s tourism industry, with hotel occupancy up 5 per cent through the first seven months of this year. Traffic on BC Ferries also experienced a 6.14 per cent increase in vehicles, six per cent increase in passengers, and 1.26 per cent increase in bus traffic through the end of July this year compared to the same month in 2014. Vecima Networks has added T. Kent Elliot to its board of directors, replacing Barry Baptie, who has retired from his position on the board. The Downtown Victoria Business Association will be unveiling a new website that will lay out data collected by a series of cameras set up around downtown for the past nearly two years. Sales of single-family homes priced at more than $1 million have increased 40 per cent in the Greater Victoria region this year, with 243 sales thus far, up from 172 sold in the same period in 2014. After nine months in business, Category 12 Brewing has released a new ale and received a gold

OCTOBER 2015

medal at the Canadian Brewing Awards.

possibility of adding a brewpub or brewer to the area.

The top automotive salespeople in the Greater Victoria region for the month of August have been announced, and include: Cam McFarlane of Harris Auto; Nelson Antoine of Jim Pattison Toyota; Joe Halasz of Pacific Mazda; Frank Obrien of Wheaton; David Vollet of Audi Autohaus; Brent Moroz of Volkswagen Victoria; Tyson Johnson of Porsche Centre; Adam Mikasko of Three Point Motors; Richard Meng of BMW Victoria; Pierre Toulouse of Volvo; Chris Hoeg of Wille Dodge; Connie Wilde of Jenner; Lloyd Jones of Campus Honda; Ian Lang of Campus Infinite; Nelson Chan of Graham KIA; Frank Pecorelli of Campus Nissan; Mike Delmaire of Saunders Subaru; David Kim of Campus Acura.

Four Victoria organizations have been short listed for the Canadian Tourism Awards, hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. The nominees are as follows: Tourism Victoria’s Victoria Calling marketing campaign has been named as a finalist for the social-media initiative of the year award; Outer Shores Expeditions has been named a finalist for the sustainable tourism award; Eagle Wing Tours and Harbour Air have been named finalists for the traveler experience of the year award.

The Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Development and Prosperity has released a draft economic action plan called Making Victoria: Unleashing Potential. The document has identified six key economic “engines” and a number of “action items” that would help Victoria’s key sectors thrive. The plan could see a new business hub installed at Victoria City Hall, as well as a partnership with co-op programs to place post-secondary students in Victoria businesses.

Katherine Laurin, former president of Camosun College, has been hired as the next Executive Director of the Victoria Symphony.

Malaydian energy-giant Petronas has introduced a program to improve health and safety at its global oil-and-gas operations following an audit that recommended enhanced safety standards in an effort to improve best practices. Nystar, owner of the Myra Falls zinc and copper mine near Campbell River, has announced its commitment to restart operations, but with no set date. The Pointe At Sunriver Estates, which includes 8 south-facing townhomes, celebrated its grand opening. The Hudson district in downtown Victoria is exploring the

Greater Victoria’s industrial property vacancy rate has climbed to 5.69 per cent, reaching its highest level in 15 years.

A foot passenger ferry between Victoria and Vancouver could soon be operating at the Inner Harbour’s CPR Steamship Terminal. Gary Bedell has been named the new General Manager of the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort. True Key Hotels & Resorts is the new management company for a trio of fishing resorts on the Island: Moutcha Bay Resort, Nootka Sound Resort and Newton Cove Resort. Standard Furniture is celebrating its 103rd anniversary, located at 748 Cloverdale Avenue. Brettney Webb, CPAm CGA has joined Karen Dakin as partner at Dakin Webb Inc. Chartered Professional Accountants on Salt Spring Island. Bob Moffat has been recognized as a Canadian Tennis Hall of Fame Member. He was head of Tennis Canada of 16 years and oversaw construction and renovation of SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 33

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

OCTOBER 2015

MOVERS & SHAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

the stadiums that host Rogers Cup events in Toronto and Montreal. Top producers for Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty are: Cheryl Bejcar-Oak Bay, James Kiu-Saanich, Cheryl LaidlawWest Shore, Tammi DimockSooke, David Stevens-Saanich, Justine Connor-West Shore, Gina Sundberg-Oak Bay, Morley Bryant-Saanich, Justen LalondeSaanich, Goran Tambic-Oak Bay, Stacey English-Saanich, Tammy Hatter-Saanich, Tim Ayres-Sooke, Scott Munro-Saanich, Sladja Stojkovic-Saanich, Pat MeadowsOak Bay, Rick Humphries-Oak Bay, Charlie DePape-Saanich, John Monkhouse-Oak Bay, Rick Hoogendoorn-Oak Bay, Mike Vanderkruyk-Oak Bay, Alli MunroSaanich, Krista MacDonaldSaanich, Allan Poole-Sooke and Paul Holland-Saanich. Five year old Go2mobi, a Victoria software development company,

has received funding from a U.S. private equity firm to aid in its expansion across the States. The mobile advertising platform currently employs 32 people. The Victoria HarbourCats have bid on the Baseball Canada Senior Championships in 2017 and 2018. Revolution 3D Printers held an open house at their new premises in Sidney at #5 – 2064 Henry Ave. West. The new Greater Victoria Service BC centre officially opened for business recently with Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services Amrik Virk joining staff and customers to celebrate the first fully integrated service centre in the region. BC’s newest Service BC centre will improve access to hundreds of provincial government programs and provide a one-stop location for a variety of services ranging from liquor licensing to BC Hydro payments to voter registration.

BC’s consumer debt remained highest in country in 2014

n 2014, BC’s consumer debt per capita increased slightly by 0.5 per cent, to reach $58,621. According to the BC Check-Up, an annual publication by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC), BC’s consumer debt per capita remained the highest in the country in 2014, almost $10,000 more than the national average of $49,624. Consumer debt includes personal debt, such as credit card, personal lines of credit, or personal loans, and mortgage debt. BC’s high consumer debt is a financial burden that can potentially strain British Columbians ability to maintain payments, especially if interest rates were to rise.

S W E

On a positive note, total consu mer debt held w ith ba n ks and credit unions grew by only 1.6 per cent in 2014, which was significantly less than in any yea r si nce at least 2006. I n addition, BC consumers have put the brakes on the accumulation of credit card debt, which grew by 2.4 per cent last year, a significant improvement when compared to the 27 per cent increase in credit card debt seen in 2011. At 0.5 per cent, BC’s annual increase in consumer debt per capita was lower that of the national average at 3.4 per cent. Over the last five years, BC’s debt per capita increased by 47.7 per cent vs. the national average, which increased by 59.8 per cent.

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OCTOBER 2015 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Head Office 200-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria V8T 3J5 Ph: 1.250.661.2297 Fax: 1.250.642.2870 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

PUBLISHER/EDITOR | Lise MacDonald, lise@businessexaminer.ca SALES | Thom Klos –thom@businessexaminer.ca, Josh Higgins – josh@businessexaminer.ca, Joanne Iormetti – joanne@businessexaminer.ca WRITERS | Goody Niosi, Julia MacDonald, Beth Hendry-Yim, John MacDonald, David Holmes WEBSITE | John MacDonald

EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIALISM AND FREE ENTERPRISE IS A SIMPLE BUT NECESSARY EXERCISE

MARK MACDONALD

re we equipping our children with tools and information they’ll need to succeed once they leave school? We know – and boy do we know – that our kids are being taught the epi-importance of having a healthy level of self esteem. And the environment. But what about other important things in life? Specifically, what are our children learning about the economy and business? Very little, it seems, and when the lessons are presented, the information can be somewhat jaded. It is a common misconception with young people that just

because someone is in business, they’ve made it. They’re rich! Somehow they’re getting the idea that success in business is achieved “By taking advantage of others, or at the expense of customers,” are other erroneous thoughts. In reality, those that conduct their affairs thusly soon find out they’re putting up “Closed” signs. Businesses are not easy to run, as an estimated 50 per cent of businesses fail – and that number rises to 85 per cent for restaurants and eating establishments. Clearly, it is not easy, and from my own anecdotal research gleaned from 25 years of interviewing business people, I can tell you that anyone who has had corporate success has followed a path complete with many bumps and divots that they’ve managed to navigate in order to reach their goals. And, as I’ve said many times, they’ve injected plenty of elbow grease and good old hard work into their companies. A recent conversation with a young high school graduate (or thereabouts) was, I believe, a microcosm of what kids today are

being taught – or not being taught – about the connection between the economy and the lifestyle we live as Canadians. I asked if he knew the difference between free enterprise-style government and socialism. He didn’t, and I could tell from the puzzled look on his face that this topic had never been broached. So I explained it to him. Free enterprise governments believe in lower taxes for individuals and businesses. To those that don’t understand this concept, they think it will directly result in lower government revenues, and thus less publicly funded programs. In reality, what happens when governments take less from our pockets is that people spend more. They redistribute that money throughout the communities they live when they choose where to spend it. Businesses thrive this way, as they’re busier. Companies also benefit when their tax burden is lightened. With less obstructive up-front tax costs, business owners are more willing to take calculated risks to move their firms forward, which often

results in expansion. Growing companies hire more people, which means more people employed, more taxes for the government, and at the end of the day, business owners write cheques to the government based on their profitability. Government revenues rise this way, meaning the costs of social programs and benefits we’ve come to expect are covered. Literally, everyone benefits. “Oh,” he responded. I could tell that for him, this was an entirely new concept. I then explained socialism, or what I term “Robin Hood Economics”, where governments rob from the so-called rich and redistribute to whom they deem to be in need. That puts government in a position to play favourites when it comes to wealth redistribution, and also makes citizens more government-dependent. Taking more tax dollars away from people and corporations are major disincentives and such initiatives are ambition killing. Why work any harder or expand if employees and owners can’t get more

out for putting more in? A basic understanding of the relationship between salespeople and commission - and in the restaurant business, servers and customers – reveal that people work harder if there’s a reason to, namely more earning potential and bigger paycheques. Is that crass commercialism, or a simple deduction about human nature? I boiled it down for him: “Would you work harder if you kept less and the government kept more?” “No,” he replied. And why would he? Why would anyone? That, I explained, is the bottom line with Socialism. Free enteprise, on the other hand, thrives on incentives and offers opportunity and hope. These are the types of things our young people should be taught in school. They’d be much better prepared for life, and they’d understand the importance of a thriving, healthy business community and economy. It is that, after all, which pays for the services and lifestyle we hold dear in Canada, and provides jobs and futures for individuals and families.

RAISING CORPORATE TAXES IS BAD ECONOMIC POLICY

CHARLES LAMMAM

ne of Canada’s most important positive policy reforms over the past 15 years has been on corporate taxes. Federal and provincial governments of all political stripes realized the economically damaging effect of corporate income taxes and lowered rates to make the business tax regime more competitive. This includes Jean Chrétien’s federal Liberals, Gordon Campbell’s BC Liberals, Ralph Klein’s Progressive Conservatives, Lorne Calvert’s NDP government in Saskatchewan, Gary Doer’s NDP government in Manitoba, Shawn Graham’s New Brunswick Liberals, and Dalton McGuinty’s Ontario Liberals. As a result, from 2000 to 2015, Canada’s combined federal-provincial corporate income tax rate fell dramatically from 42.4 per cent to 26.3 per cent (see chart below).The

cross-party agreement on cutting corporate taxes is because of the significant benefits provided to all Canadians by making the economic landscape more attractive for investment. Jurisdictions that lower business taxes increase the after-tax rate of return on investment. And increased returns improve the incentives for investment. When businesses invest in machinery, equipment and technology, workers have more capital to work with and can produce more and higher valued output for each hour they work, making them more

productive. Because increased productivity leads to higher wages, workers, in the end, benefit greatly from corporate tax reductions. And increased investment can also lead to more jobs and a faster growing economy. Unfortunately, we’ve seen some backsliding recently with governments in Alberta, British Columbia and New Brunswick raising corporate taxes. And now, federal politicians are making pronouncements along these lines. But in the past, Liberal, NDP, Conservative and Progressive

Conservative governments all reduced corporate tax rates to improve our economy because the evidence on the beneficial economic impact of lower corporate taxes is well-documented (see also here). For instance, a recent Department of Finance Canada study analyzed corporate tax cuts implemented by the federal Liberals between 2000 and 2004 and found that each 10 per cent reduction in the after-tax cost of capital increased the amount of capital by 7 per cent. In a study led by former World Bank Chief Economist Simeon Djankov, the authors analyzed data from 85 countries and found that higher corporate taxes produce negative economic effects including reduced investment and entrepreneurial activity. An OECD study explored the direct relationship between various taxes and economic growth for 21 developed countries over the period 1971 to 2004. While personal income, consumption and property taxes all had negative effects on per person income growth, corporate income taxes had the most damaging effect. A similar result was found in an analysis of Canadian provinces by professors Bev Dahlby and Ergete Ferede: higher corporate taxes are associated with greater declines in

the tax base compared to other taxes. Aside from the formal studies, Canada’s recent experience is telling of the beneficial results of tax reductions and fiscal reforms, which helped drive strong economic performance relative to the U.S. and most other G7 countries over the period 1997 to 2007. As corporate and other taxes declined, Canada outperformed other countries on investment growth, job creation and overall economic growth. The reality of the global economy is that countries compete with one another for investment, so any advantage is critical. And the corporate income tax rate is an important component of a positive economic environment. Yet, according to OECD data, Canada’s combined federal-provincial corporate income tax rate (26.3 per cent) is currently 15th highest among 34 OECD countries (our statutory rate, however, is much lower than the U.S. rate of 39.0 per cent—see chart below). The evidence is clear: raising corporate taxes is bad economic policy. Authors Charles Lamman, Director, Fiscal Studies and Feixue Ren, Economist are both with the Fraser Institute.

SUBCRIPTIONS | $45 PER YEAR (12 ISSUES), $80 FOR 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES), SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.NET. DISTRIBUTION: FOURTH WEEK OF EACH MONTH VIA CANADA POST AD MAIL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Produced and published in British Columbia. All contents copyright Business Examiner Victoria, 2014. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

LAW

OCTOBER 2015

TAKING PREVENTATIVE MEASURES LAW

e have seen it many times before. A busin e s s m a n o r b u s inesswoman attends our office outraged that another business is blatantly copying their product. They want action taken and want it taken now. Copyright protection has no time limitation. If we can claim copyright protection on the product, we can take immediate action. However, design protection and patent protection each have a time limitation. If an application for design protection or patent protection has not been filed within 12 months of the first public disclosure of the product, it is no longer possible to obtain design protection or patent protection. Sadly, we mu st somet i mes adv i se t he b u s i n e s s m a n o r b u s i n e s swoman that they missed their deadline (sometimes by several years) and have no recourse. We cannot over emphasize the importance of taking early action to protect your product. Unfortunately, due to time

The law recognizes “common law” Trademark rights, if a competitor is using a similar Trademark in a geographical area in which you have worked hard to establish a reputation for your business

Michael Cooper and Doug Thompson of ThompsonCooper LLP limitations, a decision must sometimes be made before it is clear whether or not your product has significant commercial potential. Equally important is the name of the business and the name of the product or service. The law recognizes “common law” Trademark rights, if a competitor is using a similar Trademark in a geographical area in which you have worked hard to establish a reputation for your business. However, you cannot rely upon a “common law” Trademark if the use by another business is not in a geographical area in which your business operates and has

an established reputation. We were recently consulted by a client who received a “cease and desist” letter from a legal firm. A person, who was aware of ou r cl ient, took t he concept to a different city a few yea rs ago a nd sta r ted usi ng very similar Trademarks. To make matters worse, they subsequently filed and obtained Federal Trademark Registrations. T he lega l fi rm is now demanding our client change the name of their service business and Trademarks used in association with the service. In order to deal with this threat, the client is going to have to

ask the Federa l Cou rt to i nvalidate the Federal Trademark Registration on the basis that it would never have been granted by the Trademarks Office had the facts been known. Unlike other types of property, such as real estate and automobiles, it is possible to lose control of “Intellectual Property” assets. The title of this article is “taking preventative measures”. The intended message is to caution you to take steps to protect your Intellectual Property assets as soon as you realize that you have created something of value that others may wish to take and use for their own purposes.

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