Business News Influencing Northern BC
PRINCE GEORGE – Tracy Calogheros, longtime CEO of the Exploration Place, is retiring after 30 years with the organization.
John McNamee has been names new chief coroner of BC following the retirement of Lisa Lapointe.
Cathy Mackay
Cathy Mackay, the COO at Environmental Dynamics, will take over as CEO after serving the company for eighteen years. Her new position will begin in April.
BC Cancer will host an info session for Nuclear Medicine PET/CT Technologists on February 26 via Zoom. The session will cover working at BC Cancer, using advanced equipment, and engaging in research initiatives.
The Ulkatcho First Nation and the McLeod Lake Indian Band have formed a business partnership through the signing of an economic development agreement. A limited partnership has been formed between the Ulkatcho Group of Companies and five other companies: Duz Cho Group, DWB Consulting, Omineca Aggregates, Draganfly Inc. and Kode Contracting.
The Northern BC Women in Business Association is hosting a launch party on April 17th, 2024 at the Northern Lights Estate Winery in Prince George.
The BC Craft Farmers Co-Op (BCCFC) is set to host the 2024 BC Craft Farmer’s Cannabis Summit from April 19-21 in Prince George, on the traditional territory of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation.
The Prince George City Council approved a reduction in cannabis retail license fees to match those of other businesses.
A sum of over $1.5 million, with in-kind contributions from partners, was awarded to a research team at UNBC by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance for a five-year project. The project will be led by Lisa Wood.
The CBC’s National Indigenous Strategy will be headed by former Prince George journalist Robert Doane. He will take the lead in putting the new three-year plan into action, which is intended to improve Indigenous peoples’ representation and employment going forward.
Mediacorp ranks University of Northern British Columbia as one of the best employers in British Columbia.
A grant of $76,513.17 was given to the Prince George Supertrak BMX Club by the Rotary Club of Prince George Downtown and the Prince George Community Foundation.
The Northern Health Lab Outpatient Improvement Project (LOIP) has been awarded the BC Quality Award for Excellence in Quality: Strengthening Health & Wellness by Health Quality BC (HQBC).
The Prince George Airport Authority (PGAA) has received the passenger figures for 2023, which indicate that the Prince George Airport (YXS) served as the destination for 417,848 individuals. As compared to 2022, this signifies a growth of 15 per cent.
The province issued a bulletin on February 14 concerning public cannabis use, which stated that people who hold valid licenses are permitted to advertise a location where individuals can use cannabis and then socialize.
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce welcomes its new members, Krell Wellness Center, KARE Property Management Group Ltd, Open Waters Design and Manufacturing, 3M Ventures Ltd, and Invision Immigration Consulting Ltd.
On February 28, the BC Construction Safety Alliance will host a webinar on the Certified Concrete Pump Operator Program and Asbestos Control Training.
The 2024 TRUENORTH Business Development Forum will be presented by the Prince George Chamber of Commerce and Lheldi T’enneh First Nation on June 11-12.
PRINCE RUPERT
Prince Rupert Port Authority has been recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers for 2024.
A bilateral agreement has been signed by the federal and BC provincial governments to invest $733 million into BC over the next five years to improve health care for seniors.
Jim Vallance, an influential figure in Canadian music, is establishing a scholarship in music at Nechako Valley Senior Secondary.
The Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Program of the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) had been granted $600,000 through the TD Ready Commitment program of TD Bank Group (TD). The Tahltan HEO pilot program will be funded for the following two years with an equal distribution of the grant.
The TNDC Mobile Training Centre, stocked with simulators that offer thorough heavy equipment training, has been inaugurated by Finning Canada, the leading dealer of Caterpillar (CAT), and the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC). The centre’s principal goal is to bolster the Tahltan Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) program including the TNDC Employee HEO training program.
FORT ST. JOHN
Lorraine Gerwing, a Northern Rockies Regional Municipality councillor, has recently been named to the board of directors for the British Columbia Rural Health Network.
Sue Kenny
Sue Kenny is retiring as general manager of Community Futures Peace Liard after 23 years of service.
Councillors Tony Zabinsky and Jim Lequiere were appointed by the City of Fort St. John to the Peace Williston Advisory Committee of BC Hydro.
The TUNNEL, an interactive LED public art installation, was unveiled at Fort St. John on Thursday, February 15, nearby of the Centennial Park stage. The 100-foot exhibit will illuminate the park throughout the annual High on Ice Winter Fest, serving as a focal point for both local residents and visitors until March 3.
The Home Hardware Building Centre FSJ, headed by Doug and Shelley Gallinger, was honoured with the Janet Taylor Award at the Be an Angel Gala hosted by the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre.
The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
The city council of Fort St. John recently met with the chiefs of the Doig River First Nation and the Blueberry River First Nation to promote collaboration. The city and DRFN have reached an agreement to collaborate on future projects through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
KITIMAT
The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine has teamed up with ABC Recycling and Red’s Recovery to offer free collection and disposal of derelict vehicles on May 21.
Qualified passengers travelling from Kitimat to the Kitimat-Terrace Northwest Regional Airport may be eligible to receive 80% of their taxi or shuttle fare as reimbursement through the District of Kitimat’s Airport Transportation Subsidy Program. There is also a transportation reimbursement available for the return trip to Kitimat. Get further information about this program at the Kitimat Municipal Offices (270 City Centre, third floor of City Centre Mall), Tamitik Jubilee Sports Complex (400 City Centre), or Riverlodge Recreation Centre (654 Columbia Avenue).
TERRACE
Dr. Natasha DeSousa, who works in the emergency room at Mills Memorial Hospital, has been chosen to be a fellow in the Emergency Leadership Fellowship program at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Two $10,000 grants-in-aid were awarded to the Tom and Eliza Thornhill Community Association, which will be used to support their operations and community projects.
Fire department in Terrace will now compensate volunteers, resulting in an extra $50,000 annually and a tax hike of 0.27 per cent.
On February 24, 2024, the Ksan Society will host the Coldest Night of the Year event, which will benefit local charities that help people who are hurting, hungry, or homeless.
BC Housing plans to build 35 units of supportive housing on a large vacant lot and two lots with existing houses on Tetrault St., near the new Mills Memorial Hospital project. The properties are situated on the same side of Tetrault as Joe’s Place and Ksan Society’s homeless shelter.
An upgraded mental health residential facility, located on the grounds of Mills Memorial Hospital, has been opened by the Northern Health Authority.
Nominations for the 2024 Order of Terrace are being accepted by the City of Terrace until March 22nd. This recognition honours notable achievements and community service in a range of fields.
WILLIAMS LAKE
The City of Williams Lake‘s application for a $20,000 Business Façade Improvement Program grant for 2024 to upgrade retail and commercial building façades in the downtown area and highway commercial corridor has been approved by the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT). Applications will be accepted by the City through March 30, 2024.
Residents of the City of Williams Lake are invited to an upcoming information session on March 14 at the Gibraltar Room inside the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex to learn more about and offer feedback on the City’s 2024 budget.
The City of Williams Lake has acquired five pre-reviewed designs and will distribute them to residents at no cost when they apply for an Accessory Dwelling Units building permit. This is another step toward streamlining the process for residents to construct ADUs within City limits.
Sarah Green of MicroArtistry and Mary Inthapagna of M.int Beauty are offering a Microblading and Permanent Makeup Technician course in downtown Williams Lake from March 7-10, 2024.
Downtown Williams Lake BIA teamed with Women’s Contact Society to host the “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” event for the women of Williams Lake on March 8.
T.M.B. The Nurse’s Edge has officially opened in Williams Lake at 199B 3rd Ave. N. offering services such as: prescribed injections, doctor ordered dressings, suture and staple removal, liquid nitrogen treatment for warts, and ear syringing (adults only).
SMITHERS
The Canadian Home Builders’ Association Northern BC welcomes its new member, Jcole Construction Ltd. from Smithers.
An Agricultural Water Management Workshop will be held in Smithers on March 5th by the BC Government.
The Smithers Town Council supports the rezoning of three Alfred Avenue properties to construct BC Housing’s proposed 40-unit supportive housing complex behind Goodacre Place.
The YMCA Bulkley Valley Collaborative Learning Society and Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre made suggestions regarding the construction of a new building close to the Ranger Park Building, for the expansion of childcare in Smithers.
QUESNEL
Erin Rossman, a native of Kersley, has been named the 2023 National Volunteer of the Year by 4-H Canada.
Northern Health is currently in the business planning stage for long term care development in Quesnel and exploring potential locations.
The BC Summer and Winter Games, which include multiple sports, will be supported by a one-time donation of $2 million from the BC Government to the BC Games Society.
City Council has scheduled a Special Open meeting to talk about the 2024 Operating Budget. There will also be an open question period for the public to participate in the budget process on February 27, 2024 at Council Chambers, City Hall, 4th floor, 410 Kinchant St.
The province is advancing with the third road recovery project in the Cariboo region. Kersley-Dale Landing Road was closed in 2020 as a result of unstable slopes caused by historic landslides. The ministry intends to issue a request for bids for the project during the spring of 2024, with construction scheduled to commence in the fall of the same year.
The council has appointed the following organizations to the Housing Solutions Table, a Select Committee of Council. This committee will serve as an advisory body, providing recommendations to the council to enhance housing supply, affordability, and diversity to meet community housing needs both now and in the future.
- CHAIR, Councillor Scott Elliott
- Alternate CHAIR, Councillor Laurey-Anne Roodenburg
- Staff Lead, City of Quesnel, Director Development Services, Tanya Turner
- Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area B Director, Barb Bachmeier
- Cariboo Regional District, Manager Planning Services, Nigel Whitehead
- Lhtako Dene Nation, Representative
- Nazko First Nation Representative
- Lhoosk’uz Dene Nation Representative
- ?Esdilagh First Nation Representative
- Northern Health, Health Services Administrator Quesnel, Daryl Petsul
- Ministry of Children and Family Development, Will Valenciano
- Quesnel Shelter and Support Society, Executive Director, Tammy Janzen
- Dakelh & Community Housing Society, Executive Director, Luanne Ruotsalainen
- South Quesnel Business Association, Vice-President, Charlotte Kurta
- West Quesnel Business Association, Director, Susan MacNeill
- North Cariboo Seniors’ Council, President, Colleen Gauthier
- Seniors Advocacy Service, Coordinator, Susan MacNeill
- Quesnel Lions Club, President and Secretary, Brent and Sandy Oxenbury
- Community Construction Representative, Joe Hart
- Community Real Estate Representative, Emma Dyer
100 MILE HOUSE
The 100 Mile House Legion has officially appointed Karen Pellerin as its first Indigenous Liaison officer.
The District of 100 Mile House will demolish the Valley Room to aid in preserving the historic 100 Mile Lodge.
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