News Impacting Southern Vancouver Island Business
Lane Trotter
Lane Trotter will serve a second five-year term as president of Camosun College, starting on January 1, 2027.
Fiona Wilson has officially taken the oath as Victoria’s first female police chief during a ceremony at Government House on August 28.
Viion Systems Inc., headquartered in Victoria, is enhancing the safety of roads worldwide by manufacturing and designing AI-powered traffic cameras in British Columbia.
Happy Belly Food Group Inc., a pioneer in the acquisition and expansion of emerging food brands throughout Canada, is delighted to announce that the first real estate location of its Multi-Unit Franchise Agreement for five stores on Vancouver Island, has been secured at the University Heights Shopping Centre – University of Victoria.
South Island Prosperity Partnership was recently recognized as one of the top three economic development organizations in the world and received the Bronze award for Economic Development Organization of the Year from the International Economic Development Council.
Purity Life Health Products LP has announced the acquisition of the assets of Horizon Distributors Ltd., PSC Natural Foods Ltd. of Victoria and Ontario Natural Food Company Inc. The merger will create one of Canada’s leading full-service distributors of organic and natural grocery and wellness products
Expressions of Interest for the inaugural innovation challenge at the new BC Marine Energy and Decarbonization Hub are being accepted until September 5th by the University of Victoria and the SIPP-initiative COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies).
ITC Construction Group has acquired Farmer Construction, a well-regarded builder from Vancouver Island boasting over 70 years of expertise.
GWL Realty Advisors has proposed a 13-storey rental tower featuring more than 260 units, along with 21,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.
The 1983 Creamy Espresso Martini beverage cans, which are now available in BC Liquor Stores throughout the province, were just launched by Gabrielle Mustapich and Sheereen Price.
Songhees Events & Catering will have exclusive use of the restaurant facility at Oak Bay Marina through the end of September 2025, according to an interim agreement announced by the District of Oak Bay and Songhees Development Corporation.
The Literacy Circle Society, an organization located in Greater Victoria, was awarded an honourable mention in the 2025 Canada Life Literacy Innovation Awards for its Learning for Life program.
Two companies, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems of Germany and Hanwha Ocean Co. of South Korea, have been designated as qualified suppliers for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project by the federal government, marking another stride toward the modernization of the Royal Canadian Navy‘s submarine fleet. Negotiations with the two suppliers are ongoing.
This autumn, the Victoria International Wine Festival will be held at the Victoria Conference Centre on October 3 and 4. The festival will showcase over 467 wines from 15 countries.
The Greater Victoria School District is expanding its child care facilities by 76 spots, including 40 spots at the Kids Klub Centre McKenzie school and 36 at a facility at Victoria High Secondary School. This expansion is made possible in part by $23.5 million from the ChildCareBC New Spaces fund, which is being provided by the government.
PISE (Pacific Institute for Sport Education) has initiated a campaign to raise $150,000 by December in order to increase the availability of high-quality, inclusive physical activity for schoolchildren as classes resume in Greater Victoria.
Ken Bennett
Ken Bennett has been appointed as a Strategic Advisor for the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), a prominent institutional investor in Canada.
Azuma Sushi has closed down after a 24-year operation.
The proposed housing project at 2625 Arbutus Rd., the former Cadboro Bay church, was unanimously approved by the Saanich council to proceed to a public hearing on Sept. 16. This hearing is the mandatory next stage in the process of potential rezoning and land-use changes.
Western Financial Group marked the 40th Anniversary of the Taber Cornfest, engaging with the community through a BBQ and fundraiser organized by the Western Financial Group Communities Foundation, who is also accepting applications for the 2025 Community Infrastructure Grant.
A new campaign has been launched by the BC Craft Brewers Guild, urging locals to cease supporting large corporations and instead support small, independent craft brewers.
T.J. McFaul’s South Island Lunchbox is making its way into Sooke and will be parked outside of Castle Liquor Store.
SpeedWash Colwood, which opened on August 22, is changing its late night hours and will no longer operate around the clock.
The Sooke Apple Festival will take place on Sept. 21 at the Sunriver Community Orchard, organized by the Sooke Region Food CHI Society.
The BC Agriculture and Food Export Program is now open for applications until September 5, offering funding to assist food and beverage producers and associations in their efforts to enter international markets.
Gillian Carter has been named the new Corporate Sales Associate of Peninsula Panthers.
According to Insolvency Insider the Summit Automotive Group, a group of companies which operate seven car dealerships across Alberta and BC, were placed under CCAA protection on August 22 on application by BMO, owed approximately $58 million. The Summit Automotive Group’s operated brands are Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Ford, and the dealerships employ approximately 103 individuals in total.
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