A dynamic community full of cultural, business, entertainment, and recreational opportunities, the North Shore continues to be a leading choice for business leaders, investors, and influencers. Get to know the local businesses that have participated in this feature and hear from the three mayors of our beautiful North Shore.
You can make a positive impact in your community; WVPD is actively recruiting
Strong relationships of mutual trust between police agencies and the communities they serve are critical to maintaining public safety and effective policing.
The West Vancouver Police Department (WVPD) endeavours daily to meet and exceed these objectives They strive to engage with the public to form special connections and represent diversity in the community.
“Im very proud of our staff who provide an unsurpassed service delivery to our residents, visitors and businesspersons in West Vancouver and on the Squamish Nation,” says John Lo, chief constable
“We focus on our people and take care of our people, who in turn, show up for work every day to keep our community safe ”
The WVPDs efforts to keep the community safe have been highlighted in the 2022 Vital Signs Report where community residents provided an “A” rating to feeling safe in West Vancouver westvanfoundation ca/insights/vital-signs/
“The best thing about working in West Vancouver is the support that we receive from the public and from our schools,” adds Lo “While other departments in the region may face challenges such as defunding the police or the removal of specialized services like school liaison programs, the confidence that we receive from the West Vancouver community has been unwavering It is an honour to work in a community where we are supported, wanted and welcomed,” Lo says
The WVPD has undergone significant change in the last two years, hiring 29 police officers and 12 civilians since January 2021 (out of a staffing complement of 79 police officers and 22 civilians)
“This is a remarkable accomplishment given the current climate, labour market and competition for talent that exists throughout the policing ecosystem in British Columbia,” says Lo “With all of our new people and the fresh energy
that they bring, we ’ re building a new culture and a new identity for our department The people who are hired today will be the leaders of tomorrow, so we are focusing on employee wellness, training, and succession planning and well continue to focus on these three key areas in the years to come ”
If you have a desire to make a difference in your community and are interested in a career in law enforcement, there are employment opportunities for experienced officers, new recruits and civilian staff
They also have short-term contract opportunities for members of other departments who have retired or are nearing retirement
WVPD not only offers a highly competitive wage and benefits package that focuses on physical and mental wellness, but their tight-knit culture is like a family. They build camaraderie, not only while working together, but with social functions outside of work too “When you join the WVPD you are joining the WVPD family We are such a close group that a lot of the time we will know the names of each other’s spouses, children and even their pets,” says Lo
When asked what makes a person a good fit for the WVPD, Chief Lo says that “today’s police officers are challenged with being the backstop for so many complex social issues such as homelessness, mental health, and the opioid crisis This is in addition to the every day expectations of preventing crime and apprehending offenders So
to be a successful police officer in West Vancouver you will need to have a high level of compassion, resilience and emotional intelligence. But at your core, you must care about the West Vancouver and Squamish Nation communities If you have that in you then we can train you up on everything else ” “Because at the end of the day, we want the public to have a positive feeling when they see our police officers. We want all of our residents in West Vancouver and on the Squamish Nation to know that we are here to help and to keep everyone safe ” For anyone interested in a West Vancouver policing career or for more information, visit westvanpolice.ca and/or email recruiting@ wvpd.ca or contractpolicing@wvpd.ca.
heNorthShoreisa vibrantanddynamic community,offering awealthofbusiness, entertainment,cultural,and recreationalopportunities withinitsrelativelycompact area Nestledamidstbreathtakingnaturalbeauty, thisregionishometoadiverseandthriving businesscommunitythatcontributessignificantly toitseconomicvitality.
AttheheartoftheNorthShore’seconomic landscapearemajorportterminals,shiprepair facilities,andbustlingindustrialareas These industrialsectors,coupledwithmodernwaterfront businessparks,formarobustfoundationfor commerceandtrade Complementingthesekey players,theregionboastsanimpressivemixof integralsmallbusinesses,encompassingretail
Testablishments,not-for-profitorganizations,anda rangeofprofessionalservices.
Thesymbioticrelationshipbetweenthese businessesandtheregion’swell-developed infrastructureisthedrivingforcebehindthe NorthShoressuccessstory Bystrikingadelicate balance,thecommunityfostersapositiveclimate forbusinessgrowth,housingdevelopment,and long-termeconomicsustainability,allwhile preservingthearea’sgreatestasset itsaweinspiringnaturalbeauty
AsatestamenttoourcommitmenttotheNorth Shorecommunity,theNorthShoreNewstakes immenseprideinpresentingourProgress Report.Withinitspages,weprovideaninsider’s perspectiveintothejourneysoftheselocal businesses,sheddinglightonhowtheyhave shapedourcommunityandexploringtheirpivotal roleswithinoureconomy Moreover,wedelveinto
theirfutureplans,revealingtheexcitingprospects thatlieahead.
Wearealsohonoredtofeaturelettersfromour esteemedmayors MayorLindaBuchananof NorthVancouverCity,MayorMikeLittleofNorth VancouverDistrict,andMayorMarkSagerofWest Vancouver Theirmessagesprovidefurtherinsight intothevisionandprioritiesofourlocalleadership, highlightingtheirdedicationtofosteringa prosperousandsustainablebusinessenvironment Together,wecanappreciatetheremarkable evolutionofourregionandembarkonaprosperous futurebuiltuponcollaboration,innovation,andan unwaveringdedicationtopreservingtheessenceof ourbelovedNorthShore.
MattBlair Publisher
As Canada’s partner under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, Seaspan is transforming our shipbuilding and marine industries through innovation, unique partnerships and developing world-class talent. As we lead the growth of a West Coast centre of excellence in shipbuilding and ship repair, we are investing in our communities and creating well-paying jobs for Canadians
A recent study conducted by Deloitte on Seaspan’s socio-economic contributions found that our new construction and repair businesses have contributed a total of $2 3 billion in GDP, 3,372 annual jobs and $71 million in local government revenues to North Vancouver over the past ten years
To help us achieve success, we embed a strong commitment to social and environmental standards in everything we do We are focused on continuous improvement and adopt best practices to see results As an example, last year we were able to divert from the landfill more than 75 per cent of the waste generated across our three shipyards, which earned Seaspan the highest performance rating under the Green Marine Performance Indicator for Waste Management
We also helped complete habitat restoration projects at the estuary that connects MacKay Creek in North Vancouver to the Burrard Inlet These are providing valuable salt marsh habitat and critical areas of refuge for salmon.
Seaspan recognizes the importance of Indigenous Peoples’ long history and connection with the lands and waters We continue to advance new partnerships with our Indigenous neighbours, create employment and economic development opportunities, and support the ongoing relationships with local First Nations at our business and project sites
Seaspan has a proud history of giving in our communities and last year was no exception
In 2022, Seaspan and its subsidiaries donated approximately $250,000 to local organizations Additional donations were made in conjunction with the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, contributing to an additional $500,000 to charitable and philanthropic causes. Together, we have invested more than $18 5 million into our communities since 2013
From donations to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, YWCA and Capilano University, to supporting Canada Day events and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s Canoe Festival, we are committed to being a good corporate neighbour
We are also proud to report that 2022 was a recordbreaking year for our annual fundraising campaign for United Way Seaspan donated $200,000, which represents the largest single contribution that weve ever made to support their mission of building strong and healthy communities.
Seaspan is a major employer in B.C. and a workplace of choice not only for its employees, but also for apprentices and interns As a significant contributor to training and skills development initiatives across the region, we can help ensure a pipeline of top marine talent for generations to come
Over the next year alone, we will be adding hundreds of people to our team to help us deliver
on our promise of ships built in Canada by Canadians Our workforce will be building worldclass ships for the next 25+ years and many of these career openings are quite literally a once-in-alifetime opportunity
We have built a sustainable, competitive industry on the West Coast that is creating a new generation of shipbuilders and marine experts here at home in Canada. The hard work and collaboration of the talented teams at Seaspan are setting the stage for success for many decades to come
To learn more about Seaspan’s operations, career opportunities and community connections, visit our website at seaspan.com.
John McCarthy, CEO of Seaspan Shipyards
Construction is underway on a transformational lift replacement project at Grouse Mountain Resort.
The state-of-the-art gondola will replace the aging Blue Skyride and mark the start of a new chapter for the Resort leading up to its 100th anniversary in 2026.
Clearing of Gondola Easement Area Completed
Building of Foundation, Plateau Station
Spring & Summer 2023
Building of Foundation, Base Station
Fall 2023
Assembly of Towers and Line Work Spring & Summer 2024
System Testing
Fall 2024
New Gondola Opens
Winter 2025
To learn more, go to: grousemountain.com/gondola
As part of Grouse Mountain Resort’s commitment to sustainability, a Forest Management Plan is being developed to identify opportunities for restoration and/or improvement of biodiversity The long-term visionary plan will allow for the creation of a stable, resilient longlived forest community and protect the integrity of the steep slopes and water courses that feed into the District of North Vancouver.
Citiesareaboutthepeople. That’swhythepeoplewho live,work,andplayinour communityareattheheartof council’sdecision-making
Wehavemadegreatstridestoward ourgoalofbecomingthehealthiest smallcityintheworld Ashining exampleofthisisthecontinued successoftheShipyards.Our summersplashpark,winterice
skatingrink,andamenityspace continuetogrowinpopularity, advancingusasavibrantcity.We continuetoimprovemobilityfor allpeoplebyenhancingouractive transportationnetwork,providing optionssoeveryonecanmove efficiently,andprioritizingsafetyfor allroadusers.
Iamparticularlyproudthatwebroke groundonanewHarryJerome CommunityRecreationCentre,and weannouncedthatPhase1ofthe NorthShoreNeighbourhoodHouse redevelopment,whichincludes89 below-marketrentalhomesaswellas adayandnightrespitecarecentre, willbreakgroundthissummer.
Overthelastyear,theCityof
NorthVancouverwelcomednew businesses,created168new childcarespaces,advancedtwo newparksinCentralLonsdale,and expandedoururbantreecanopy. Wehavebeenintentionalingrowing ourcityinsuchawaythatsupports peopleandoureconomyfor generationstocome
Aswelookahead,weknowthere willbechallenges.Butthestrength andresiliencewehavebuiltasa communitywillallowustomove forwardtogether.Ihaveneverbeen moreoptimisticaboutthefutureof ourcity
If you believe the journey is the destination, visit The Shipyards District where flights go from lager to stout and the only cab you’ll be grabbing comes from California. It’s a bar-hopper’s scene, a boutique-shopper’s dream, where culture vultures dine and the mindful unwind.
theshipyardsdistrict.ca
The Indigenous Digital Accelerator builds digital capacity and business acumen
In a business world fuelled by ideas, one of the biggest barriers for tomorrows entrepreneurs is the ability for those ideas to accelerate and travel beyond local borders
In this context of getting ideas off the ground and into larger markets, picture the Indigenous Digital Accelerator program as the travel agent that bridges all of those gaps.
This program offered out of Capilano University advances reconciliation, decolonization, and indigenization by giving students, funders, and partners the tools they need to breathe new life into digital commerce projects across numerous business types throughout B.C.
Now in its third year, the program acts as a link to attract outside funders who help subsidize the program and its participants – from there, program participants are partnered with mentors and other business professionals in the working world to build up the Indigenous entrepreneurs of tomorrow
“Our goal is to nurture digital capacity and to help Indigenous businesses grow beyond their regional coverage, ” explains Doreen Manuel, director of the Bosa Centre for Film and Animation and Inclusive Community Projects at Capilano University “We want them to expand provincially, nationally and hopefully, internationally ”
Indigenous women have always played a vital role in building community, using skills and knowledge to sustain both cultures and economies.
At the same time, however, Indigenous women are often excluded from mainstream business opportunities, which leads to a lack of voice and representation in leadership positions
This is because women are the family caregivers –for both elders and children – and its exceedingly difficult for them to leave their community and give up this responsibility
And because most business schools are in cities and towns, leaving their community to attain that
education is simply too costly both financially and personally
The Indigenous Digital Accelerator program, however, is designed to address those longstanding problems
“As a residential school survivor myself, I was raised by two residential school survivors, no one taught us how to buy a house or a car, or build a financial portfolio,” Manuel says “And so the women were learning about finance after the men and under the men. We’re growing our way out of that financial dependency and into independence and thats a hard step to take.”
Program participants Alissa Assu and June Anthony-Reeves are proof positive of the program ’ s dynamic and life-changing impacts. AnthonyReeves business, Up the Hill at Loakin, has begun to flourish due to the mentorship received as part of the Digital Accelerator Program, which has allowed her to navigate the complex regulatory process of shipping botanicals internationally
Meanwhile, Assu is a young entrepreneur and owner of Bear Essential Oils, a sustainable and thriving business built in her own backyard that offers 100 percent organic, ethically sourced and wildcrafted
essential oils.
Through their cultural heritage and technology, these Indigenous women are breaking down barriers, creating meaningful change, and building their successful small businesses in order to contribute to economic growth and their communities. “Our participants are always part of a family once they join this program, ” Manuel says. ” For more information on Capilano University’s Indigenous Digital Accelerator, visit capilanou ca/indigenous-digital-accelerator
Our goal is to nurture digital capacity and to help Indigenous businesses grow beyond their regional coverage.
DistrictofNorthVancouverMayor mayor@dnv org
thatbalancesbetweenachievingour goalsasacommunityandrespecting thesefiscallyconstrainedtimes
Overthelastyear,theDistrict ofNorthVancouverhasmade progressonmanyinitiatives relatedtoissuesthatthecommunity hassaidmattermost,including supportiveandsocialhousing, transportation,andclimateaction. Whilewemoveforward,weface uncertaintyduetoeconomic pressureslikeincreasinginterest rates,inflationandthethreatofa recession Wedeliveredabudget
Thisyearwewillcontinuethe planningworkfortheeasternsection oftheSpiritTrail(wecompleteda keyconnectionlastyearwhenwe finishedthebridgeacrossLynn Creek)andaddingtoourartificialturf fieldsinventory.
Trafficandhousingaffordability remaintwoofourbiggestchallenges Councilhasadvancedimportant housingprojectsandrezonings atkeysitesliketheDelbrook lands,RiversideandLynnCreek tohelpaddressoursupportive andsocialhousingneeds.We alsocontinuetolookforwaysto reducecongestionandincrease
sustainabletransportationoptions andpartnershipopportunitieswith otherlevelsofgovernmenttocreate lasting,impactfulchange
Theunpredictableweather underscorestheimportanceofour climateactionwork Lastyear,to helpusachieveourclimateaction goals,councilapprovedamendments toourConstructionBylawlimiting fossilfueluseinnewconstruction, approvedaClimateReadyRezoning Policytoencouragelow-carbon, climate-resilientbuildings,and createdaClimateActionAdvisory Committee
Iamproudofourprogressandlook forwardtocontinuingthisgoodwork throughouttherestofcouncil’sterm
Elected in 2020, Karin Kirkpatrick (BC United) serves her community as MLA for West VancouverCapilano in the BC Legislature and as the Shadow Minister for Housing, Childcare, Autism & Accessibility, Gender Equity & Inclusion. Karin also sits on the Select Standing Committee for Children and Youth
Regarding some of the immediate priorities that reflect her North Shore constituents, she has been focusing on various issues, including small business, housing, and childcare
“I feel that my background in running a business and also in social services is giving me some real insight to solutions that we can look at to enhance and make our life on the North Shore even better,”
says Kirkpatrick“I absolutely believe employees need sick days and should be supported, and to make this possible, government needs to understand the costs and increasing burdens on our small businesses,” Kirkpatrick
states“New taxes, red tape, and other significant stressors have recently fallen on B C ’ s businesses - all on top of a pandemic. North Shore businesses are being hammered just when they need the most support.”
Kirkpatrick continues that she supports the fact that wages need to increase However, the issue lies in placing this burden on businesses Government could be offsetting these increased costs with other subsidies or tax incentives
“Were going to end up putting people out of business,” she says. “We are really hurting our North Shore communities because were losing those small businesses that can’t afford to continue to operate The entire community suffers when vital businesses are forced to close their doors ”
From affordable housing to density, there’s no shortage of topics with housing concerns on the North Shore
The B C government released the Homes for People plan in April 2023, but the pace for resolving supply and demand has been moving too slowly, according to Kirkpatrick
“Lackofsupplyplaysabigroleindrivingprices up,andalthoughthegovernmentispushingthe municipalitiestoincreasedensity,they’vegotto playabiggerroleinsupportingthat,”shedescribes, statingthatthereisadireneedforincreaseddensity andincreasedtypesofhousing,notjustaffordable housing,butallkindsontheNorthShore
“We must look at the whole continuum of housing If theres no market housing, were never going to move people up the continuum to make room for other people needing affordable housing,” explains Kirkpatrick
“We have to give people a place to move from, and then on to the next level of housing, or for people
to downsize All housing is important to reduce this crisis.”
Regarding the province’s Childcare Fee Reduction Initiative Program ($10-a-day care), while the fee might be attractive, available childcare spots are well below demand
“Currently, there are 12,500 $10 spaces in B C out of 135,000 spaces, and theres a real inequity on how these $10 spaces have been rolled out,” says Kirkpatrick
She also feels the fee reduction is coming at the expense of the childcare provider
“Government talks about how many spaces are opening They’re not saying these are net new spaces because these childcare centres are closing; they cant get staff. They’re giving up and saying, This isn’t a business I can afford to be in anymore, ” she says
“Many parents are not getting those spaces, so it doesn’t matter how cheap they are if the space doesn’t exist ”
For more information, contact Karin.Kirkpatrick.MLA@leg.bc.ca.
North Shore businesses are being hammered just when they need the most support.
MarkSager
DistrictofWestVancouverMayor mark@westvancouver.ca
Asthenewlyelectedcouncil, wegotrighttoworkbringing tofruitionplansthatwill haveabigimpactonourbeautiful community Theyshareasimilar themeastheyallrelatetomaking themostofWestVancouver’snatural assetsandofferingopportunities forincreasedphysicalactivityand gettingoutside
Togetusclosertothecompletion ofourwaterfrontparkplan,we purchasedoneofthetworemaining waterfronthomesinAmblesideas partofadecades-longplantobuyall ofthelandbetweenAmblesidePark andJohnLawsonParkforpublicuse Thedistrictisalsomovingforward withtheplantosaveandrestoreour belovedNavvyJackHouseforuse asawaterfrontcafé.Thedistrictwill beworkingwithapartnerwhowill undertakethisimportanthistorical restoration,sowatchthisspace!
Weareveryexcitedaboutthenew partnershipwithTennisBCandour
collaborationtopursuethecreation ofanewcommunityfacilitythatwill includeindoortennisandpickleball courtsatHugoRayPark Thisis win-winforeveryone,andtheWest VancouverPlaceforSportproject continuestoberefinedandwillallow foropportunitiesforthecommunity tobehealthyandactive.
Additionally,councilworkedvery hardtokeepthe2023taxincrease aslowaspossibleandarrivedat2.14 percent,aswehavearesponsibility tokeepexpendituresdownatatime whenmanyresidentsarefeeling increasedfinancialpressures
