Fraser Valley Business News
DELTA
The province has selected the Cross Fraser Partnership, which consists of four businesses: Arcadis Canada Inc., Pomerleau BC Inc., Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd., and Bouygues Construction Canada Inc. for the next stage of the new Richmond-Delta tunnel crossing. The replacement tunnel is expected to be finished in 2030 and cost $4.15 billion.
Several parks in North Delta will soon be able to host food trucks as a result of a new pilot program that the Delta council has authorized. The initiative will begin on October 14 and include 32 sites around the city.
A six-story, thirty-nine-unit apartment complex situated near the intersection of Scott Road and 75A Avenue was given third reading by the Delta council on Monday, July 22. According to a city staff report, the Delta School District anticipates that the development will accommodate around 18 school-aged children.
On September 19th, the Ladner Business Association is hosting their LBA Art & Wine Stroll. This casual adult-only experience takes you through various participating businesses located in the historic Ladner Village. Each business will feature an artist showcasing their work or talent while offering wine tasting.
Delta Community Living Society (DCLS) is excited to announce a new name and logo for the organization. Through extensive consultation with families, persons served, employees, and its Board of Directors, DCLS has selected the name Kyndred Community Living Society.
WHITE ROCK
Foster Street in uptown White Rock will soon be home to Imagine Cannabis, a brand-new cannabis retail establishment, after the three-year temporary use permit for the site was approved by the council on July 15.
SURREY
Debra Doucette
Vancouver-based investment firm Odlum Brown is pleased to announce the appointment of Debra Doucette to the role of Executive Chair. Doucette has been with Odlum Brown since 1991 and served as President and CEO for the past 17 years. In her new role, she follows immediate past board Chair Andy Eisenbock. Doucette was honoured with the Order of British Columbia in 2021 for her community leadership and her vision, passion and dedication as a business leader. In addition, longtime Odlum Brown Portfolio Manager Trevor Short takes over the role of President from Doucette. Short was a Vice President of Odlum Brown and has earned the Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) designation along with the highest designation granted from the Canadian Securities Institute, the Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI®).
Michael Pickup, who served as the Auditor General of British Columbia for four years, announced his retirement effective on November 15.
Rocky Mountaineer has taken first place in the Best Fiduciary Board – Family-Owned category for Canada’s Best Private Board award.
Since most BC communities have updated their ordinances to permit small-scale multi-unit housing, 90% of BC municipalities currently permit this type of housing.
Richco Contracting Ltd. has been awarded a $4M contract for the drainage and road construction at Crescent Beach in Surrey.
As the wine sector struggles with persistent climate-related issues and vine damage, the province has announced new regulations that would allow wines to be created with grapes and juice from outside the province for the 2024 vintage year. These provisions will go into effect on April 1, 2025, and expire on March 31, 2026.
Envision Financial is giving $414,000 in grants to 26 nonprofits in Kitimat, the Lower Mainland, and the Fraser Valley through the First West Foundation.
The 2024 Men’s World Fastpitch Tournament will take place at Softball City in South Surrey from August 10–17.
Clio, a global leader in legal technology, announced it has raised US $900 million, based on a US $3 billion valuation, in a Series F investment round led by New Enterprise Associates (NEA). The round also includes new partners Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Sixth Street Growth, CapitalG and Tidemark, who join current investors TCV, JMI Equity, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and by T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc., respectively, and OMERS. Marking a new era in its growth journey, Clio will continue to expand its multi-product platform, including further investments in its burgeoning AI portfolio and integrated legal payments. It will also accelerate its rapid market expansion upmarket and internationally, deepening its organic growth to more than 130 countries across the globe.
According to Insolvency Insider, Bentley & Co. Ltd., a retailer selling luggage, handbags and leather goods across Canada, filed an NOI on July 17 listing $26 million in liabilities, including approximately $8.8 million in secured debt to HUK 89 Limited. The company operates more than 140 retail stores and employs more than 700 employees across the country, including 70 at its head office. The company had previously filed an NOI in 2008 and filed again in 2019, at which time it was acquired by HUK 94 Limited, a subsidiary of turnaround specialist Hilco Capital. Despite Hilco’s significant investment in Bentley, sales have fallen short of expectations in recent years and the business has been facing serious liquidity constraints. In late 2023 and early 2024, Bentley was the target of two ransomware attacks that compromised its systems and caused it significant financial losses. Furthermore, the company has been unable to maintain profitability in the long-term since the pandemic, in part due to consumer preference for online shopping, which has made it difficult for Bentley to remain profitable while operating more than 140 stores. The purpose of the NOI proceedings is to consummate a sale to a company owned by Paul Nassar, a well-experienced player in the Canadian retail market who owns the Hart chain, which has approximately 130 locations in Canada, and recently acquired the Korvette chain, a prominent player in the Quebec retail market with approximately 60 stores and 600 employees in Quebec. Raymond Chabot is the proposal trustee. Counsel is Davies for Bentley.
LANGLEY
The Dream Lottery fundraiser for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation is offering a two-home Langley prise package valued at 2.6 million, which includes Essence Properties – Eastin Town Home Unit 13 – 8120 200A St.
The Langley Good Times Cruise-In charity car show is back for its 25th year and will be held on Saturday, September 7, along Fraser Highway between 264 and 272 Streets in downtown Aldergrove. Online registration is now open.
The 12,000 square foot library, which will be located at 80 Avenue in Yorkson Park and is a third larger than earlier designs, has been approved by Langley Township. The project, which will include a pool, athletic facilities, and multi-purpose rooms, is expected to cost $17.4 million to construct.
Somnara Studios has announced an exciting event called “Dreadworks Haunted House” that will take place at the Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre for five weeks starting on Sept. 27. Dreadworks Haunted House is a collaboration of the co-founders of Somnara Studios, Alexander J. Baxter and the Jonkman family.
Langley Chamber of Commerce welcomes new member Arodal Services Ltd.
Langley’s Brodie Hofer helped Volleyball BC win bronze at the Winnipeg 2017 Canada Summer Games. Now, he’s representing Canada at his first Olympic Games in Paris.
ADENTRA Inc. announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries has completed the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Woolf Distributing Company, Inc. and has assumed certain working capital liabilities. The Acquisition of Woolf was completed for an upfront purchase price of US$130 million, financed by the Company’s existing credit facilities. An additional earn-out consideration of US$5 million may be payable related to each of the calendar years ending 2024, 2025 and 2026 contingent upon achieving certain earnings performance targets. Woolf is a value-added distributor of architectural building and millwork products for residential and commercial markets, serving customers in seven US states from four facilities located in Northern and Central Illinois, and in Northen Wisconsin.
ABBOTSFORD
Abbotsford city council will discuss authorizing a secondary suite incentive program on Tuesday, July 30 to make adding and registering secondary suites to existing homes easier. The $25.6 million the city received in 2023 from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund may provide a $10,000 incentive to the owner of an authorized newly developed or registered suite.
JC Optical & Hearing has officially opened at Highstreet Shopping Centre, 3122 Mount Lehman Road, Abbotsford.
The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 28th Annual Business Excellence Awards 2024
CHILLIWACK
Wilfred Robinson has joined Delta Watertec in Chilliwack as the new Branch manager.
The Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary has recently become a registered charity. The auxiliary is a non-profit group that helps Chilliwack General Hospital through fundraising and volunteer support.
Chipotle Mexican Grill is looking for an Apprentice General Manager for its new restaurant opening soon in Chilliwack.
The Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium congratulates Larry Potozny and Northcoast Building Products Ltd. for acquiring a Chilliwack location for their new manufacturing facility and welcomes them to the EMC Family of Companies.
Matthew Birch celebrates 10 years with Empyrion Technologies Inc.
PITT MEADOWS
The Constable Rick O’Brien Youth Lounge at the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre, 12027 Harris Road, had its grand opening on July 25, 2024.
Mahal Berry Farms at 18659 Ford Road, Pitt Meadows, is having the annual blueberry U-pick.
The West Coast Visions opens on August 3 in its new space on the main floor of the South Bonson Community Centre.
MAPLE RIDGE
Victoria Pitsiaeli, a competitor at the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Country Fest and a member of the Golden Ears 4-H Community Club and Pitt River 4-H Lamb, Beef and Swine Club, has been appointed as one of the coordinators who assist in the festival’s execution for its attendees.
One of the nine properties up for grabs in the 2024 Dream Lottery, which is being held in support of BC Children’s Hospital, is a townhouse in Maple Ridge at 23697 Fern Crescent. The townhouse is part of the Everwood development, which is a 35-townhouse project being constructed by Woodlock Developments.
MISSION
Gabi Guerrero has been named the new Affiliate Director of Destination Imagination BC.
Fraser Health has announced that Mission Memorial Hospital is currently implementing a variety of sustainment strategies, including recruitment initiatives, an incentive program, and the potential expansion of urgent and primary care centre hours.
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