News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
The Port Hardy Chamber of Commerce is celebrating their Business Awards Gala on November 22nd at the Kwqa’lilas Hotel. The finalists can be found here.
The 4VI Social Enterprise Group‘s Road Show will be in Port Hardy with Vancouver Island North Tourism on November 14 at the Kwa’lilas Hotel.
The Filomi Days Society received the Community Spirit Award during the annual Port Hardy Volunteer Appreciation on October 27.
The Festival of Lights will be held at the Port Hardy Visitor Centre on December 5th.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Susan Mowbray
Susan Mowbray, Chief Economist at MNP, will highlight Campbell River’s economic development, supported by statistics from the State of the Island Economic Dashboard, on November 27 at Anchor Inn & Suites.
The Speed B2B Holiday Mixer takes place on December 5th, 2024 at 975 Shoppers Row in Campbell River.
Landmark Cinemas, Campbell River’s only movie theatre, is permanently closing.
Jim’s Clothes Closet is celebrating its 56th year with an anniversary sale, running from November 6th – 23rd.
COMOX VALLEY
West Coast Karma has won the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Small Business BC Awards.
With an open-source aquaponics project, engineering student Jayden Corbeil (Iversen) of Vancouver Island University (VIU) hopes to address the problem of food supply in isolated communities by using the waste of Koi fish to grow fresh fruit.
LUSH Valley Catering now offers in house catering and a venue.
The d’Esterre Comox Seniors’ Centre will host its third annual Christmas Market on November 16th.
With the support of the community, the Comox Valley Child Development Association raised over $115,000 to go towards their important work supporting families of the Comox Valley.
The City of Courtenay has completed a substantial restoration planting project thanks to $7,500 in grant funding from BC Hydro‘s Community ReGreening Program.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
The Tofino & Ucluelet Chambers of Commerce are bringing Lunch & Learn: Business Support Roadshow to the Tin Wis Resort from 12-2 pm on November 20th. Registration required.
The Tofino Ucluelet Culinary Guild will be closed from November 9 – 15.
Treat Yourself Massage has joined the Tofino Chamber of Commerce network.
A HolidayWinter Market is taking place Nov 2 & 3 at the Glenwood Centre and features products made by local and Vancouver Island retailers and artisans.
PORT ALBERNI
Rainbow Lanes is one of several Port Alberni film locations currently being used for a production by One Mile Productions.
The Fenton Group of Royal LePage in Port Alberni recently donated $5,000 to Sage Haven Society. The funds were raised by supporters of their Iceland Trek for Charity and the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.
Port Alberni’s Twin City Brewing received six awards at the 2024 B.C. Beer Awards on Oct. 19, including the coveted title of “Brewery of the Year” for the second year in a row.
Alberni Chiropractic is re-branding as Inlet Chiropractic. Dr. Larry Kozuback will be retiring and will be replaced by Dr. Janusz Szostek as the new practitioner, who brings more than 25 years of experience with a strong focus on personalized patient care.
Dog Mountain Brewing has officially opened “The Doghouse”, a fully accessible picnic area located next door to Dog Mountain Brewing. The Doghouse is a consumption only zone, where beverages and food must be picked up next door at the brewery. The capacity is 30 people, and kids and dogs must be under control at all times.
Ironworks café and crêperie is under the new ownership of Laura and Jason Reid. The cafe is being re-branded to Bombers Café and Crêperie, acknowledging Port Alberni as the former location of the Martin Mars water bomber.
Alyssa Alarie has opened home-based business, Sandy Paws Pet, in Port Alberni.
Antidote Distilling company recently celebrated its first year anniversary.
The First Food is Medicine health fair is coming to Port Alberni on November 2nd and will be held at the Echo Centre. The event connects families to traditional foods and traditional healers.
The 52nd Christmas in the Valley event takes place November 8 – 10 at the Alberni Athletic Hall.
The Port Alberni Funtastic Sports Society recently held it’s annual charity event, where $37,000 was donated to local non-profits and community groups.
The Alberni Pacific Railway‘s Santa Train has returned to the Alberni Valley after 5 years. The Santa Express will run Dec. 7, 8, 14 15. Tickets are available online.
Golden Eagle Gifts is moving locations to a new location on Margaret Street.
The organization 100+ women who care in the Alberni Valley recently donated a $12,900.00 to the Mid Island Kidney Association.
The Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards Gala take place on November 29, 2024, at the Italian Hall. Tickets are now available online.
The Mistletoe Market at the Grove Art Gallery, operated by the Community Arts Council of the Alberni Valley, runs from November 6th until December 21st.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
Parksville’s Nicholas Bennett was praised by the Town, RDN, and Parskville for his remarkable achievement of winning gold and silver in the Paralympics in Paris.
The nominations for the 2024 BC Farmers’ Market Awards are now open online.
Parksville Chrysler is providing fleet pricing on all new and used cars, along with a fleet discount of 15 per cent off all parts and services.
Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company is hosting a Music Bingo event on November 19th.
The Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest member, Clinton Nellist Productions.
NANAIMO
Jeff Christie
Jeff Christie is the new Chief Operating Officer at Harris Auto Group.
Yuho Okada and Kass Harbottle are celebrating their 13th and 8th years with Barkley Project Group Ltd., respectively.
Avery Brohman, the Chief Executive Officer at Victoria Hospitals Foundation, announced the launch of “It’s Time For Surgical Innovation”, a $17 million campaign that will bring minimally invasive surgical procedures, including robotics, to Vancouver Island.
Doane Grant Thornton LLP welcomes Church Pickard Chartered Professional Accountants to its team.
Kelly Mann was officially inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. From 1999 to 2018, he served as President and CEO of the BC Games Society, transforming the BC Games into the world-renowned multi-sport competition they are today.
The 2024 Torch Award winners were announced by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Vancouver Island during a gala dinner and awards ceremony held at the Union Club of British Columbia on Friday, November 1st, 2024. And the 2024 winners are: Carpet Cleaning & Janitorial – Luv-A-Rug Services Inc. (Victoria), Community Service – Prioritas Property Services (Victoria), Customer Service & Sales – The Bride’s Closet (Nanaimo), Environment & Safety – Victoria Tank Service Ltd. (Victoria), Exterior Cleaning Services –Pro Sweep Plus (Victoria), Exterior Design Services – Oasis Landscape Design (Victoria), General Contractor –Birch Bark Builders Inc. (Victoria), Heating & Air Conditioning –ServiceXCEL (Nanaimo), Home Improvement & Renovation –Island Walk-In Tubs Renovations (Victoria), Moving & Hauling –Mikus Transport (Parksville), Plumbing Contractor –Black Fern Plumbing and Gas Ltd. (Sooke), Professional Services – Tellwell Talent Inc. (Victoria), Roofing Contractors –High Definition Roofing Ltd. (Duncan), Senior Health & Wellness –Kathleen’s Yoga-in-a-Chair (Victoria) and Window & Door Installation – Green City Glass Ltd. (Victoria).
On Thursday, October 31, authorities from the City of Nanaimo officially opened eight pickleball courts at Beban Park. A large number of players, including members of the Nanaimo Pickleball Club, were present to play and showcase the sport, which is regarded as one of the fastest-growing in North America.
The Aesthetics and Spa Therapy department at VIU has relocated to a remodeled building on the Nanaimo campus, adjacent to the Hairdressing program.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Wilson & Co., at 411A 1st Avenue in Ladysmith, is holding their grand openeing on November 16th. The gallery and studio is owned and operated by Sarah Wilson.
The Chemainus Sip & Shop will be held on November 16 and will feature a variety of traditional local and seasonal vendors.
Chemainus Crofton Community Schools’ Association collaborates with Mitchell’s Soup Company for its fundraising campaign.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Gulf Island Seaplanes, owned by Sean and Alison Evans, started a seaplane service between Maple Bay and Vancouver on October 25.
On October 27, the Duncan Garage Café & Bakery, which is currently owned by Matthew Huotari, Brennan Morgan, and Casey Thompson, said that it would once again be open on Sundays.
The Pacific Rim School District has partnered with Nourish Cowichan to begin a new school meals program with the goal of feeding every student in the district.
One of the Best Companies to Work for in Canada is
Westland Insurance has been rated as One of the Best Companies to Work for in Canada.
A new automated reverse vending machine will be installed at the Island Return It recycling site on Norcross Road during the November 10–18 closure.
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