News Impacting Southern Vancouver Island Business
VICTORIA
Madone Pelan
Madone Pelan, General Manager of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia, has been recognized as the Hotelier of the Year for the 35th Annual Pinnacle Awards 2024, producers of Hotelier and Foodservice and Hospitality Magazines.
The K’ómoks First Nation has appointed Marion Buller as its justice of the peace.
Emily Ortis has joined BC Hydro as its new Director, Safety Systems & Assurance.
BC Care Providers Association welcomes Marc Kinna (Baptist Housing) as its new President, as well as Gavin McIntosh (The Care Group) as Vice President and Angela Grottoli (Optima Living) as Treasurer.
Russel Metals has acquired Tampa Bay Steel, which will join their Southern US businesses.
Chard Developments has been granted permission by the Victoria Council to alter the layout of its previously authorized mixed-use project at the intersection of Douglas Street and Caledonia Avenue. The majority of the intended office space has been removed in lieu of new residential units.
In an effort to reduce GHG emissions, BC Transit has revised its approach for purchasing buses and intends to add more than 900 new vehicles to its fleet in the coming three to five years. Victoria Transit has placed an order for 80 double deckers, and the first electric buses are expected to be in service in 2025.
According to Insolvency Insider, San Industries Ltd. et al., a group of British Columbia-based lumber companies, obtained CCAA protection on November 29. The San Group was founded in 1979 and operates a multi-faceted forest products enterprise involving harvesting timber within British Columbia, transporting the timber to a sawmill in Port Alberni for primary processing, transferring the processed lumber to re-manufacturing facilities to create lumber products, and selling those products to end users. The San Group currently has approximately 250 employees. Historically, the San Group has run its operations profitably, but says it began facing significant liquidity challenges in 2023 due to external factors including an erosion in the lumber markets, inflationary pressures which increased labour and other input costs, and rapidly escalating interest rates. Compounding these issues was the closure of BC Highway 4 — the only highway that connects the island’s two coasts — over summer 2023 due to a wildfire on Vancouver Island. The San Group attempted to negotiate a restructuring with its primary lenders, BDC and RBC (formerly HSBC), but was ultimately unsuccessful. BDC is currently owed over $43 million, while RBC is owed over $105 million. The purpose of the CCAA proceedings is to implement a monitor-run SISP, as the current ownership and management intend to participate as a bidder. Deloitte is the monitor. KPMG is the financial advisor to the San Group. Counsel is Farris for the San Group, Fasken for RBC, Blakes for the monitor and BLG for BDC.
A month after the federal government announced it would provide the non-profit $2.7 million, Small Business BC has filed for bankruptcy.
MNP announce that it will join forces with the Vancouver-based professional services firm, Farmanara & Rezai CPA LLP, effective February 1, 2025.
A new downtown live music venue is scheduled to open in early 2025 in the former Hermann’s Upstairs, following the City of Victoria‘s acquisition of Hermann’s Jazz Club on View Street.
Dine Around and Stay in Town is set to take place from January 24 to February 9, 2025. Over 50 restaurants will participate, with newcomers such as Bin 4 Burger Lounge, Rudi, Table Nineteen, Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse, Saxe Point Public House, MeeT on Blanshard and Jacks on the Water joining the lineup.
An agreement was inked by the Other Guise Theatre Society and Thrive Impact Fund to establish 716 Johnson St. as a performing arts venue. The arrangement provides up to $400,000 in flexible debt financing.
Camosun College‘s Centre for Trades Education and Innovation is currently known as the Bhalla Centre for Trades Education and Innovation, in honour of a family that gave $1 million to the Camosun College Foundation.
Until December 15, the City is offering a digital coupon for a $6 discount to motorists through the ParkVictoria smartphone app. Use the code JOY to score a one-time discount.
Other Guise, a Victoria theatre company, hopes to raise $1.8 million to build a new performing arts centre at 716 Johnson St. downtown.
Townhouses and multi-plexes, ideal for families and less expensive than single-family homes, were approved as part of the small-scale, multi-unit housing zoning when the Official Community Plan was amended. This will likely remain a priority for Saanich council for the next two years.
A rezoning permit was granted for the construction of a three-story structure containing dental offices and four residential apartments on a long-vacant site on Quadra Street, north of McKenzie.
The Nellie McClung branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library, which is located on McKenzie Avenue at Cedar Hill Road in Saanich, will be closed on December 14th until a new structure with affordable residences and a modern commercial component opens at the same location in 2027.
Located close to the junction of Burnside Road and Watkiss Way, a new park is set to be built in the Township of View Royal along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail. By 2025, the first section of the park will be ready for visitors.
Randall Garrison, the veteran NDP MP for Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, has declared his intention to retire before the conclusion of the current session of the 44th Parliament of Canada.
Brian Jonker has been appointed as the new secretary-treasurer of the Sooke School District, succeeding Harold Cull, who is retiring on December 30.
Island FanCon, taking place from March 28th to the 30th at the Langford Event Centre, is teaming up with Sooke School District 62 to offer one hundred complimentary tickets to students in aged thirteen and above.
New facilities have been installed at the Parkinson Road Garbage and Recycling Depot of Port Renfrew to collect and store oil filters and antifreeze containers.
The 26th annual Christmas Dinner, presented by Dodd’s Furniture, will take place at Our Place Society, 919 Pandora Ave., on December 20th.
Santa Paws will be collecting donations for the Sooke Food Bank at the Sooke Craft Fair and Artisans Market on December 14 and 15 at the Sooke Community Hall (2037 Shields Rd.).
Sea to Tree Health & Wellness, which was established by Tara Munro, celebrates its fifth anniversary of offering a comprehensive selection of affordable counselling services
Scotty Manufacturing Ltd., a Sidney-based company, has been honored with the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Maritime Achievement, highlighting its significant contributions to the maritime industry. The award was presented to company president Ian Scotty by Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin during a ceremony held at Government House in Victoria on November 26.
Sidney Pet Centre located 9769 Fifth Street is holding a Christmas Sale running now through December 31. The shop also features a donation tree supporting Dog Bless Rescue and V.P.A.W.S.
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