News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
The District of Port Hardy and the Heritage Society have partnered to improve Visitor Centre Services that will help the Museum connect visitors to the community’s rich heritage. The Port Hardy Heritage Society will run Visitor Centre Services at two locations in summer 2024 starting in February.
‘Namgis Business Development Corporation (NBDC) is spearheading a new investment with Island Coastal Economic Trust that enables the ‘Namgis First Nation to establish a local food production system utilizing Growcer hydroponic technology. The undertaking will improve regional food security, stimulate fresh economic endeavors, and make a positive contribution to the overall welfare of the community.
Port Hardy Harbour‘s (6602 Hardy Bay Rd.) launch facilities will be accessible during the temporary closure of the Bear Cove Boat Launch from February 19–24 as the work on a new launch gets underway.
The Port Hardy Job Fair is taking place on February 28 at the North Island Mall, 9250 Trustee Road.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Recipients of the BC Maritime Industries Infrastructure Modernization and Expansion Grant Program, sponsored by the Province of British Columbia, have been announced by the Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI). Among the recipients are: Titan Boats, Campbell River Marine Terminal, Liquid Metal Marine Ltd., KingFisher Boats Inc., EagleCraft Boats Inc., Jr Marine Manufacturing Ltd, Cota Aviation Ltd., Zodiac Hurricane Technologies, Inc., Jastram Engineering Ltd., Tyee Pacific Marine Operations Ltd., Open Ocean Robotics Inc., Platinum Marine Group Ltd, Ideal Welders Ltd., Ocean Pacific Marine Store & Boatyard, Canadian Maritime Engineering Ltd. (CME), Meridian Marine Industries Inc., Seaspan ULC.
Kinetic has completed and made operational the tenant improvements at Quinsam Crossing in Campbell River for the Starbucks café.
Naturally Pacific Resort in Campbell River, which will hold its Grand Opening in May 2024, is now accepting online reservations.
Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) and Tesla, Inc. announced they will adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) on their battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2025. Toyota and Lexus customers will have convenient access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in North America following Toyota’s vehicle electrification strategy, which offers many electrified powertrain options.
The City of Campbell River is pleased to announce its membership in the Pacific Seaweed Industry Association.
RE/MAX Check Realty is hosting the 3rd annual Campbell River-Opoly, a fundraiser split between Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North and Children’s Miracle Network, on February 20, 2024 at Riptide Marine Pub.
This year, the Campbell River Visitor Info Centre and its operations will be transferred to 4VI, formerly known as Tourism Vancouver Island. Additionally, 4VI will offer training and coaching services.
COMOX VALLEY
Lourdes Gant
Lourdes Gant, Co-Owner of Manatee Holdings, Country Partner of EdTech company GeniusU and Pitch in the Sky Canada, will be hosting the Blue Ocean Revolution Conference on February 28th and 29th virtually all from your preferred spot. More details available herehttps://app.geniusu.com/events/5020.
North Island College and its community partners have collaborated to create short-term training programs aimed at connecting employers with skilled workers. These programs have received $802,000 in funding from the Community Workforce Response Grant.
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) has launched a new program called Home Energy Navigator in partnership with the City of Courtenay and the Village of Cumberland. The program’s goal is to assist homeowners in understanding how to upgrade their home’s energy efficiency and how to get rebates for those upgrades.
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce is scheduled to hold its Annual General Meeting at 40 Knots Winery on April 23, 2024.
Downtown Comox BIA is engaged in a collaborative effort with the Town of Comox to develop the inaugural Economic Development Strategy and Downtown Action Plan. By February 26th, turn in this BUSINESS SURVEY and make a valuable contribution to the groundwork of this ambitious plan.
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest member, Mid Island Co-op.
PORT ALBERNI
Aaron Colyn
Aaron Pritchett is set to be the headliner at this year’s Okee-Dokee Slo-Pitch tournament and music festival for the Canada Day long weekend, from June 29 to July 1.
A new location for Twin City Brewing, owned by Aaron Colyn, is set to open in late 2024 in the historic train station of Port Alberni.
Producers and growers in the Alberni Valley are invited to attend a full-day “On-Farm Water Management Workshop” on February 16. Representatives from the BC Ministry of Agriculture and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District Government will be present at the Beaver Creek Community Hall, located at 8505 Beaver Cr. Rd.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
Samantha Hackett
Samantha Hackett has been appointed as the new executive director of the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.
District Group, a land development company, is putting forward a plan for 300 homes at 221 Minato Road, which includes a combination of high and low density rental units. To gather input from the community, the company organized an open house in Ucluelet on Jan. 25, where residents had the opportunity to learn more about the project and share their feedback.
The District of Tofino invites the community to engage in the public consultation phase regarding Short-Term Rental Regulations on Monday, February 12 from 4 to 6 PM at Tofino Community Hall.
The Tofino Chambers’ new member CR Lawyers has served the Island for over 50 years.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
The Career Centre’s annual Hiring Fair will take place Friday, March 8th from 12-4pm at Jensen Centre, 132 E. Jensen Avenue. This is a terrific opportunity for local businesses to enhance their recruitment strategies and meet with hundreds of job seekers face-to-face. Space will be available for on-the-spot interviews!
This spring, the BC Bird Trail is hosting an event to celebrate the return of millions of migratory birds. Birdwatchers of all ages are invited to bring their binoculars and enjoy the peak birdwatching season in British Columbia. Read on for more details https://bcbirdtrail.ca/.
The Qualicum Beach Seedy Saturday is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Property taxes in the Town of Qualicum Beach are projected to increase by 7.7 per cent in 2024.
Mavis Dumont presents Indigenous Stories from the Northwest Coast in Parksville Shown on February 23 as part of the ‘Tales for the Telling’ series by Mid Island Storytellers at Parksville’s McMillan Arts Centre (MAC).
A development permit was granted by the Parksville council for a 116-unit residential development located at 413 Wembley Rd. The development has been rezoned from single-family residential to high-density residential and is designed to be net zero energy ready.
NANAIMO
Tony Harris Group and partner District Group have recently acquired two adjacent parcels of land in North Nanaimo’s commercial district. A mix-use project is in the works to offer nearly 160 rental apartments, addressing the pressing need for more housing options.
The Awards Gala evening of the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Conference, scheduled for March 7, 2024, at the Victoria Conference Centre, will present the 2024 BC Tourism Industry Awards upon the finalists. See here for the complete list: https://bctourismconference.ca/2024-award-finalists
The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island is launching the Mindful Mentoring program in partnership with the City of Nanaimo’s Youth Resiliency Strategy. Starting March 27th at Dover Bay Secondary, this initiative aims to support youth mental well-being through mentorship, aligning with efforts to enhance youth resilience and community safety.
Dr. Melissa Huggan, a math professor at VIU, has received a total of $135,000 over five years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) as a Discovery Grant, and an additional $12,500 from the Discovery Launch Supplement, a grant for early career researchers, to fund her research into two-player adversarial games and their potential applications in problem modelling.
The Windsor Plywood Foundation has generously donated a remarkable $3 million towards the new Critical Care expansion at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. This donation marks the largest in the history of the Foundation.
The Nanaimo Foundation announced that the Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter has been awarded a $15,000 grant to fund a kitchen and laundry room renovation that is desperately needed at the shelter.
The La’lum’utul development in Cedar, situated on land belonging to the Snuneymuxw First Nation, is now under construction. Later this year, affordable housing on the First Nation’s Cedar reserve will be completed through a partnership between the Snuneymuxw and the provincial and federal governments.
One of the five resolutions presented by the Nanaimo city council at the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities conference called on the provincial government to provide public libraries with more basic funding so that they can “expand and evolve their programming” in response to the increasing demand. Municipalities and regional districts will see a rise in library taxes of 15 per cent in 2024 thanks to a 15 per cent budget increase approved by the Vancouver Island Regional Library board.
The province has announced its intention to construct fifty transitional housing units at 1300 Island Highway South and to increase funding for fifty supportive housing units at 250 Terminal Avenue through a memorandum of understanding signed by the BC Ministry of Housing and the City of Nanaimo.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Businessman Warren Goulding will host a 1950s sock hop for the grand reopening of Archie’s Ice Cream Parlour and Diner at the Chemainus Public Market on Saturday, Feb. 17.
A new city hall and residential housing units were to be constructed on the property of the Ladysmith Museum, which is located at the intersection of Buller Street and 1st Avenue. The council members of Ladysmith voted to finalize a partnership and lease agreement with Catalyst Developments.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Nathan Bird
Nathan Bird has been appointed as the new general manager of Malahat SkyWalk.
Travis Berthiaume, the owner of Duncan’s Dairy Queen, has been honoured as the recipient of DQ’s Miracle Maker Award for 2023.
Health care assistants David Currie and Meagan Kirk have been nominated for the inaugural Site Stars award in recognition of their exceptional patient care, by the Cowichan District Hospital.
British Columbia Infrastructure Benefits board chair David Miller updated the Cowichan Valley Regional District and local municipalities on the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project. By providing skilled trade careers to local residents, BCIB boosts the community’s economy beyond employment, which also creates inclusive and respectful job sites, addresses worker retention, and promotes diversity.
Send your business news regarding anniversaries, announcements or new employees to media@businessexaminer.ca
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