MARK MACDONALD
Smokin’ Georges barbecue restaurant at the corner of Mostar Road and Boban Drive has a new owner, the current manager Shawn Sannes. Shawn takes over from the original “smokin’” George and his wife Lea, and promises to continue the tradition of creating and serving amazing southern style barbecue.
Freshly Squeezed is opening soon near Winners inside Woodgrove Centre.
Westmark Construction Ltd. has started construction of The Mint Nanaimo at 6340 McRobb Avenue in north Nanaimo. The city’s newest condominium project a block away from Costco features 66 units.
A big shout out to Arrowsmith Bikes for their excellent customer service. Staff members are always friendly and accommodating, and the speed at which they do repairs is dizzying. It’s refreshing to see a team so attentive to providing a great experience while helping get bike riders back out on the trails and roads of Nanaimo.
If you haven’t had a look at Waves Car Wash on Northfield Road near the Inland Island Highway exit, owner Adam Courtnall and his team have done an amazing job primping the facility, with bright new signage and features to clean vehicles inside and out.
A new 306-bed long-term health facility will be built on Lantzville Road across from May Richards Bennett Pioneer Park. The provincial government announced the facility is expected to be completed in 2027 – in four years.
Lantzville-based a-Dolus Technology has been working on the Microsoft Digital Defence Report this year, which focuses on vulnerabilities in industrial control systems. Eric Byrnes is Chief Technology Officer at a-Dolus.
More delays on the development of the former Howard Johnson Hotel site at Comox Road and Terminal Avenue (the old Island Highway).
The City of Nanaimo pushed back a decision to adopt a re-zoning bylaw for the lots at the property, where owners want to put in an eight-unit, mixed use development that includes 760 residential units, commercial space and a conference centre.
BMT Group Services Ltd., which opened a Nanaimo branch last spring, and the Island Hino dealership it operates have been sold to Victoria-based Wilson’s Group of Companies. BMT founders Fraser Sim and William Whitelaw have been working on the deal for awhile, and John Wilson, President, CEO and owner of Wilson’s, notes that they will be equal partners with Western Stevedoring in running the bus, motorhome and truck mechanical and body repair service.
Glenn Morphy has been hired as the new Director of Public Works by the District of Lantzville.
A tip of the cap to Nanaimo companies for being involved in creative community events. The third annual Great Pumpkin Toss is set for November 4 at the East Wellington Fire Hall, where Halloween pumpkins will be tossed through the air by cannons built by Alair Homes, Rogers Trucking & Landscaping and VMAC. Alair’s unit is dubbed “Pumpkin Slay-Alair”, while VMAC’s is called “Gourdon Blamsay”. Alair has been a major driver behind the soapbox derby event in downtown Nanaimo, while VMAC has one of its leaders involved in the “Toss the Boss” activity at the Bungy Zone, as does Chinook Scaffold Systems Ltd. , which had Cody Woolf and Wendy Gaskill take the plunge.
Peterbilt Pacific Inc. at 6826 Metro Road in Lantzville has completed renovations of their facility. They now have new offices downstairs and drive-through bay doors.
Congratulations to Molly Copeland, who has received the Nanaimo Airport Employee Training Scholarship that will help with her studies in Airport and Management at BCIT.
A 30-unit, six-building residential complex at 6704 Metral Drive continues to make forward steps, after City Council approved first and second reading for the project.
The Town of Ladysmith has canceled a tender to build a new art studio on its waterfront after bids to construct the budgeted $2.1 million project came in over 200 per cent over budget.
Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. mark@communicationink.ca