Former Nanaimo Manager Appointed Home Depot CEO
MARK MACDONALD
NANAIMO – Congratulations to Nanaimo companies that have been named finalists for the Better Business Bureau’s 2024 Torch Awards, which will be held November 1 at the Union Club in Victoria. The firm are: D&D Clean Exteriors Ltd., Pride Painting Ltd., Service XCEL, The Bride’s Closet and The Comfort Group.
Alair Homes has announced another addition to their expanding team, with this being their second location in California. Alair Tri Counties is the former AAA Development Inc. operation that has served the region that includes Malibu, Santa Barbara and Ventura Country for 25 years.
Northend Automotive at 2317 Cienar Drive has three new owners: Tyler, Nathan and Brian.
Kinsu Chocolates has opened at #1 4851 Cedar Ridge Place just off Rutherford Road, next to the new Pharmasave drug store.
There will be a new burger outlet at the corner of 5th Street and Bruce Avenue in mid-November. Burger Factory is the name of the new operation, which will be in the former location of Big Wheel Burger.
Certified Financial Planner Marc McKnight held the grand opening for their new McKnight Financial office at 100-5279 Rutherford Road On September 26.
Cody Dreger
Cody Dreger is the new Director of Partnerships for the Tom Harris Community Foundation. He has played a key role in helping raise $2.5 million for local charities and also services on the boards of the Tom Harris Foundation and the Nanaimo Hospital Foundation. Tom Harris Foundation Chair Tony Harris also announced that the Tom Harris Charity Classic golf tournament raised a record-breaking $1 million in its annual tournament this summer.
A new daycare is moving into the location that formerly housed The Keg restaurant, followed by Medium Rare, downtown. It’s just around the corner to Mambo Gourmet Pizza.
Harbour Air is changing gears, by adding wheeled services between Vancouver International Airport and the Victoria Harbour Airport starting November 4, in addition to their regular seaplane services throughout the coastal region.
Congratulations to the City of Nanaimo for being awarded the Union of BC Municipalities Community Excellence Award for Excellence in Sustainability and the Community Energy Association’s 2024 Climate & Energy Action Award.•
Wilson Group of Companies leader John Wilson has declared his candidacy as the Conservative candidate for the Esquimalt-Colwood riding.
A tip of the hat to Houle Electric Ltd. upon receiving the inaugural ECABC Innovation Award recently in Penticton for their Third Space Commons project.
Snuneymuxw First Nation has purchased their second casino on Vancouver Island, signing an agreement through their Petroglyph Development Group Ltd. to buy Elements Casino Victoria from Great Canadian Entertainment. Petroglyph bought the downtown Casino Nanaimo earlier in the summer.
Hullo, the downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver foot passenger ferry, has announced that its staff of 80 has unionized, certifying with the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers Union. It’s an interesting move in the transportation world, as WestJet began as a non-union operation and was able to make significant inroads into the Canadian air travel market in its formative years.
Jeff Kinnaird, who is a former manager of the Home Depot store in Nanaimo, has been appointed Chief Merchant and Canada President of The Home Depot and CEO of parent company Peak Group of Companies effective October 1. He’ll work with Peak founder John Gross, who is now the Executive Chair of Peak.
Embers Nanaimo is a new restaurant that opened recently at 91 Front Street In downtown Nanaimo. The location used to be called the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition before Covid, and the establishment has been transformed into a wine and charcuterie cellar.
Former Nanaimo resident Owen Kelly is now in a new position as Account Manager – Surgical Innovations and Endoscopy at Medtronic in Vancouver.
David Prescesky has joined the sales team at 460 Realty. He was formerly with Labatt Breweries of Canada and worked with the Nanaimo Clippers hockey club.
IWCD is building another vehicle dealership on Vancouver Island, with the next one being a 30,000 square foot, two-storey dealership for the Kot Victoria Hyundai/Genesis dealership at the border of Langford and Colwood north of Victoria.
Rene Uvanile, Print Manager of the Elite Print Group, announces that Darcy Hebert, formerly with London Drugs, has joined the production team at Elite’s outlet on Wallace Street.
VMAC announces that Rafael Marcao has joined their team as Director of Enterprise Excellence. The underhood air compressor company’s manufacturing facility is on Kipp Road in south Nanaimo. VMAC joined with Alair Homes to put on the annual Hub City Soapbox Derby this year, which attracted over 50 racers.
Kudos to Mike and Alexis McClenaghan for becoming the August Vital4Lyfe champions, for the May through August period. Mike is also the owner/operator of Factory Direct Hot Tubs on Mostar Road.
Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. mark@communicationink.ca