VMAC Wins Pair Of BC Export Awards For Its Products
MARK MACDONALD
NANAIMO – Carly Pereboom is the new Executive Director of Tourism Nanaimo. She has spent the past seven years working in Campbell River.
A new CEO of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce has been chosen, and it’s Corry Gervais, who has been serving in the post on an interim basis. Corry’s resume includes working for Oceanside Initiatives under the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce, and she was Executive Director of the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association.
VMAC won the Exporter of the Year and the top award for Manufactured Products at the 2022 BC Export Awards for its rotary screw air compressor and multi-power system manufacturer.
Diver Lake Dental is building a new home to its existing home at 3767 Shenton Road, overlooking Diver Lake. Dentists include Dr. Chris Gill, Dr. Vic Kooner and Dr. Sean McCarthy.
The Nanaimo Buccaneers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League has a new coach for the Junior B club. Lee Stone, who was announced as the new bench boss, after many years of guiding the Campbell River Storm, has taken a position with a Junior A team in northern Manitoba. Troy Newans will take his place.
Corry Gervais
In other news, former Bucs coach Dave Johnston is now at the helm of the Vancouver Island University Mariners men’s hockey team.
The landmark farm market at Cassidy across from the Nanaimo Airport has re-opened, and is now known as the Stray Coastal Moat Farm Market.
Former Nanaimo Fire Department Chief Karen Fry, who is now Fire Chief for the City of Vancouver, will be receiving an honorary law degree from the Justice Institute of BC in recognition of her support and service of the firefighting community throughout the province.
The official grand opening of the new 172 room Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo hotel next to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre at 100 Gordon Street was held in May.
Snuneymuxw First Nation owns the property in collaboration with PEG Companies of Utah, and was built by Omicron Construction.
Council has approved a plan to transform the former Howard Johnson Hotel site at Comox Road and Terminal Avenue where the Millstone River meets the ocean following a May 18 public hearing. If completed, the project will include six buildings on six lots, and will include 1,000 square metres of commercial retail space and 750 residential units.
Nanaimo Airport will receive a $2 million grant from the BC Air Access Program towards runway instrument approach lighting.
Congratulations to John Hirst and his Ravenwood Financial Services Ltd. upon being named the Best Financial Advisor in the Cowichan Valley for the second year in a row.
John was formerly a manager of Sun Life in Nanaimo, and the Conservative candidate in two previous federal elections.
A $554.4 million contract has been awarded to Ascent Helicopters of Parksville to deliver emergency helicopter medical services.
Wildwood Health is now in the former SupErb Construction office space on Delinea Place.
A five-storey, 44 unit apartment building on Haliburton Street is being proposed by Parkshore Projects. Paramount would be the company’s fourth structure on the street.
Lance Bergeron, former Systems Engineer and Technical Manager at Communication Connection Inc. is loving his new venture, Bergie’s Food Truck beside the Antique Barn at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Henry Road in Chemainus. The food truck is a popular eating spot for the numerous companies located in the nearby industrial park, with offerings including arguably Vancouver Island’s best poutine and gourmet hot dogs. Bergie’s also does catering.
49th Parallel Grocery’s transformation into Country Grocer in Ladysmith is official as of May 26, as all the signage has been changed.
Stormhouse Tattoos has opened on Victoria Crescent downtown.
IWCD is celebrating the completion of one of its recent projects, the DLX residential complex on Third Street. IWCD has also once again been named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum members.
Nanaimo has two members of the BC Construction Association Board of Directors: Stewart Cuthbert, Director of Operations at Mazzei Electric, and Byron Tarby of Tarby Contracting Inc.
Salvation Army will be using the kitchen at the former White Spot restaurant on Terminal Avenue to prepare meals for its New Hope Centre on Nicol Street.
Congratulations to Cheryl Zmaeff upon marking 20 years at Penta Transport.
A new establishment is expected to open on Bruce Avenue this summer in the University Village area. It is called SIP Neighbourhood Pub, and it will include a patio area.
Construction has started on the 195 unit Telus Living development on 1.6 acres cornered by Fitzwilliam, Richards and Wentworth streets. It will include a public plaza and underground parking, and will feature two six-storey towers.
The Coast Bastion Hotel has announced it will begin guest room renovations starting in late November this year, says General Manager David McQuinn. It will include updates to every suite and room.
Island Savings Credit Union has committed up to $60,000 to support ongoing mental health programs through the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation.
Loaves and Fishes Food Bank is receiving $7 million from the provincial government to build a new warehouse for its new 25,000 square foot distribution headquarters off East Wellington Road.
Relief may be on the way for downtown building and business owners who are the victims of rising incidents of vandalism. Businesses may be able apply for up to $2,500 per incident, to a maximum of $5,000 to cover graffiti and repair damage.
Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. and Author of the book “It Worked For Them, It Will Work For Me: The 8 Secrets of Small Business I Learned From Successful Friends”, which can be obtained by reaching him through: mark@communicationink.ca