News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
Gwen Hansen, a resident of Quatsino, has been awarded the provincial BC Achievement Awards in the Community category.
Alex Nataros MD has been elected to the Board of Directors for BC Family Doctors.
The grand opening of Rumble Beach Gallery and Gifts will take place on May 9th at 1011 Marine Dr. in Port Alice.
Hardy Building Supply located at 6945 Market Street, Port Hardy, has officially opened.
Kwa’lilas Hotel has been featured by Indigenous SME Business Magazine as one of the Top 5 Indigenous-Owned Retreats in BC.
Silver Fox Barber Shoppe, located at 7040 Market St Unit#3, Port Hardy, is now open.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Seymour Pacific Developments has received the Award of Excellence in the Hospitality & Tourism category for Naturally Pacific Resort at the annual Vancouver Island Commercial Building Awards.
Flirty Beauty Studio is celebrating 9 years in business.
The newest Quesada location is now open at Tyee Plaza, #1015 A – 1287 Shoppers Row, Campbell River
Pacific Nations Auto Sales is celebrating 8th year in business.
COMOX VALLEY
Bill Parkinson and Jess Aldred have been appointed to the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. This comes after the organization’s Annual General Meeting, which took place at 40 Knots Winery on Wednesday, April 23.
Wayward Distillery, a member of Island Good and VIEA, is requesting support for the recently launched petition in order to increase awareness and advocate to support local businesses.
Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association‘s Executive Director and members of the Board of Directors will once again be volunteering for McHappy Day® on May 8th as it marks its 31st anniversary in Canada. The fund raised will support Foundry Comox Valley and Ronald McDonald House BC (RMHBC).
Creative Cove Courtenay will be opening in June at 2925 Comox Rd.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
The Tofino Chamber of Commerce announced the following award recipients at the 2024 Tofino Business Excellence Awards on April 24th. Business of the Year: Hotel Zed Tofino; Business Leader of the Year: Maria Clark, Tin Wis Resort; Small Business of the Year: Adriana’s San; New Business of the Year: Ahous Adventures; Non-Profit of the Year: Long Beach Golf Course; Employer of the Year: Tofino Resort + Marina; Employee of the Year: Jenna Pearce, Westcoast Community Resources Society; Green Business of the Year: The Den Refillery Tofino and Customer Service Excellence: Jeju Restaurant.
PORT ALBERNI
An agreement has been made between the City of Port Alberni and the Alberni Valley Drag Racing Association for the drag racers to use the Somass Lands for an event from August 8th to the 10th, 2025.
The Book Wyrm Bookshop, located at Redford St., Port Alberni, is now open 7 days a week.
The Pacific Rim Ale Trail has officially launched with participating breweries: Alberni Brewing Company, Dog Mountain Brewing, Twin City Brewing, Ucluelet Brewing Company, and Tofino Brewing Company.
Pete’s Mountain Meats has been sold to Uchucklesaht Capital Assets Inc.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
Alexandra Eady joined the team at Synergy Foundation as Regional Business Advisor with BC Green Business.
Mid-Island Pharmacy, owned by Luisa Loberiza, will soon open near the Parksville downtown area at 7-162 Harrison Ave.
A recent donation of $37,000 was made to Inclusion Parksville by the 100-Plus Women Who Care Oceanside club.
BC Hydro has scheduled a power outage for May 7, which will result in the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre, situated at 100 Jensen Ave E, being closed to the public.
NANAIMO
Shelley Legin
Shelley Legin has been elected as the Chair of All Island Equity REIT, effective April 1, 2025.
Danielle McCullough has been hired as an insurance adjuster at the Nanaimo office of Coast Claims Insurance Services.
Jo-anne Freelund has been appointed as a Commercial Executive Assistant at Hendry Swinton McKenzie Insurance Services Inc.
Giselle Rodriguez, an audiologist, has joined the Nanaimo Hearing Clinic.
IWCD is looking for a Front Desk / Receptionist to join its Nanaimo team starting mid-June.
Woodgrove Chrysler has officially joined the Omni Auto family.
Canada’s Store, located at 4585 Uplands Drive, Nanaimo, has re-opened.
Advanced Health + Sports Clinic is set to open soon at Norwell Corner in Central Nanaimo.
Ryder Architecture has proposed a 22-unit, three-story complex care housing building at 1850 Boxwood Rd., Nanaimo, between Dufferin Crescent and Madsen Road. The presentation was made to the city’s design advisory group on Thursday, April 24.
Nanaimo’s Medical Arts Centre, a clinic catering to residents without a family doctor, will stop accepting patients through line-ups. Starting May 5th, the clinic will transition to phone-in bookings.
The Country Club Centre is hosting a spring pop-up store by Global Village Nanaimo that will be open until May 29.
The reconstructed Marie Davidson BMX Park at Beban Park was inaugurated on Sunday, May 4.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Jake Ebner, the head coach of the Kerry Park Islanders, signed on a two-year extension.
Ortega Tempest, the most renowned product of Enrico Winery, is now available in 250ml cans.
The Chemainus + District Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the Giant Street Market in Chemainus on July 5th.
The Shining Tree Studio located at 1-9765 Chemainus Road has re-opened last week.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Duncan’s Allure Spa, situated at 81 Trunk Rd, has been acquired by Kara Bayley, the owner of Orka Gems.
An open house and grand inauguration were held in Crofton to celebrate the completion of the Crofton Fire Hall on May 3.
On May 6, FortisBC‘s director of energy solutions, Jason Wolfe, will speak at the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce‘s next Speaker-Series Luncheon.
The installation of a new, completely computerized health record system at the Cowichan District Hospital began on May 3.
The new food processing and innovation hub facility at 2431 Beverly St., located in the Cowichan Green Community, is expected to be completed this fall.
The Downtown Duncan BIA has elected a new board during its AGM on April 16. The board includes both new and familiar faces, including treasurer Kevin Gamble, governance officer Jacquie Braun, John Hirst, Francine Lavalee-Murray, Casey Thompson, Francis Brady, Barb Stevens, Kortnee Smith, Seth Godbey, and Linda Roseneck.
On April 15, the Arbutus Ridge Golf Course hosted the 25th anniversary celebration of the Duncan chapter of the PROBUS retiree social group.
Send your business announcements, news, celebrations or new hires HERE
