COMOX VALLEY
Wayward Distillery, Canada’s first distillery to use primarily British Columbia honey in the production of its spirits, has pledged to donate one per cent of all spirits sales to Pollinator Partnership Canada (P2C), a charity organization safeguarding and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems.
Comox Valley secondary school trades students are benefiting from community partnerships that enable them to explore career pathways and gain valuable experience in the trades industry such as carpentry, electrical, welding, fabrication, and mechanics. Some of the participating organizations include: Westview Ford, Dale’s Plumbing, CanWest Mechanical, Edgett Excavating and CSN-Reliable Autobody.
LUSH Valley received a $10,000 voluntary contribution from a major donor, followed by a $5,000 donation from another supporter of the permanent home project in the city.
The City of Courtenay and CUPE Local 556 have agreed to a new four-year collective agreement. For unionized employees, the agreement includes the following scheduled wage increases: $0.68 effective January 1, 2021 and annual increases of 2 per cent in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Angela Fletcher was named as the new coordinator for the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness.
The Comox Valley Fall Home Show, produced by Parkville’s Evergreen Exhibitions will return on September 26-28 at the Comox Community Rec Centre.
British Columbia issued a new 5-year farmgate license for small-scale producers to sell within their own regional district border. The license will take effect on Oct 1, 2021. Ian Tostenson, the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association’s president, said the new regulation will provide opportunities for small and local businesses to help boost the province’s economy.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
The City of Parksville is on track to receive an additional electric vehicle charging station. Blaine Russell, director of community planning and development, informed council of a Mid-Island Electric Vehicle Charging Station Network participation agreement
The Qualicum Beach and Parksville & District Chambers of Commerce have collaborated with the Old School House in Qualicum Beach and the McMillan Arts Center in Parksville to organize and supervise the Oceanside Benchmark Project.
Parksville council has endorsed the award of $195,000 to Suttle Recreation for the supply and installation of playground equipment in the Parksville Community Park.
The Parksville and District and Qualicum Beach Chambers of Commerce are hosting the ‘Chambers’ Open Golf Tournament’ at Qualicum Beach’s Pheasant Glen Golf Resort on September 23.
Morningstar Golf Club is no longer in receivership and has a new owner, the International Union of Operating Engineers’ pension fund, operating under Realcor Golf Inc. Morningstar Golf Club celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Chief Mike Wyse
Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Mike Wyse (pictured), Murray Rankin, BC’s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and Carolyn Bennett, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, celebrated continued progress in their relationship with a new tripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Dr. Sharon Hobenshield was recently appointed as the Executive Director of the Kw’umut Lelum Foundation, by Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services. She most recently served as the Vice President for Indigenous Education and Engagement at Vancouver Island University.
Douglas Holmes will join the Regional District of Nanaimo as their new chief administrative officer (CAO), as of August 23. He joins them from the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District in the same role.
Six new public EV fast-charging stations have opened between Cassidy, Nanaimo, and Port Alberni: 3455 Johnston Rd., Port Alberni, one new station, operated by BC Hydro, 6435 Metral Dr., Nanaimo, one new station, operated by BC Hydro and 3350 Spitfire Rd., Cassidy, four stations, operated by the Nanaimo Airport Commission.
Chinook Scaffold Systems has been named as a finalist for the WSIB Award for Canada’s Best Health and Safety Culture. The winner will be disclosed on October 21.
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog announced that the city has finalized the purchase of the former Jeans Burns Building, a property on the corner of Commercial Street and Terminal Avenue.
The Artisan’s Studio, owned by Sue WIlliams, located at 70 Bastion Street is celebrating its 45th anniversary.
Gaya Sushi, located at #11-6908 Island Hwy N, is now open from Monday to Saturday, 10 am – 8 pm
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Kathleen Grouhel, former mayor, will be honoured with an interpretive sign and poem at Transfer Beach. She was the first female mayor of Ladysmith, who was elected in 1964 and held the position for 17 years.
COWICHAN VALLEY – DUNCAN
Lydia Hwitsum, a former Cowichan Tribes Chief, is one of two indigenous liaisons who will provide help and guidance to First Nations and the administration as the new $12 million British Columbia residential school response budget commences distribution.
Unsworth Vineyards donated $1 per bottle of select wines sold during the month of August 2021 to the BC Hospitality Foundation.
Tabitha’s Beauty Oasis, owned by Tabitha Lumley, located at 101-15 Canada Avenue in Duncan, officially opened its doors on July 29.
Baando’s Stir Fry, located at 2680 James St. across from the Cowichan Center, is celebrating its 16th year in the Cowichan Valley.
Rides 4 U, a new business in the Cowichan region, owned by the Valley’s Darwin family, opened on August 16.
Economic Development Cowichan has collaborated with the Synergy Foundation and the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce to advance the circular economy movement in Cowichan once again. Business leaders are welcome to join a free virtual workshop, Circular Cowichan: Business Opportunities in the Circular Economy, on Tuesday, September 21 from 10 – 11:15 am.