News Impacting Central and North Vancouver Island
NORTH ISLAND
Parallel 50 Realty and Property Management has moved to its new location at 7125A Market Street.
Akvafuture, a Norwegian salmon farm that combines concrete float collars and an impermeable bag with a nett, intends to expand to the North Island.
New EV charging station installation is expected to start in the spring of next year on the North Island.
A $5,000 Rural Tourism Action Grant has been awarded to the Hyde Creek Recreation Society to support the July 13 musical element of Hyde Creek Daze.
CAMPBELL RIVER
Brent McCrea, the owner of McCrea’s Welding, won the top honour at the annual Safety Pinnacle Awards Gala—the Soaring Eagle Leadership Award—for his commitment to safety in both his business and community.
Sealand Aviation Ltd. is hosting the annual Wings ‘N’ Wheels car & aviation show and fundraiser for Teenflight Campbell River on July 14 at Campbell River Airport.
Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours (HWCT) based in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, is excited to announce the launch of two innovative hybrid electric/diesel wildlife viewing vessels. These state-of-the-art boats were designed and produced in collaboration with EagleCraft Custom Boats, Canada’s top aluminium boat manufacturer.
Congratulations to Stephanie Welsh for achieving the Pacific Nations Auto Sales – Sales Champion Chain for June!
Work has begun on the groundbreaking new We Wai Kai Administration Building on the Quinsam Reserve! Way Key LP will announce key updates from their operations with Ketza Pacific Contracting as site construction gains momentum. This development will provide essential office space for the We Wai Kai First Nation and additional commercial office space that will foster economic growth for the We Wai Kai community. Construction began in March, and the building is expected to be completed in 2025.
Royal Lepage Advance Realty Ltd opened their new Willow Point location at #1 2204 Island Highway S. in Campbell River.
COMOX VALLEY
Alana Zanbilowicz
Alana Zanbilowicz, a family lawyer, has joined Swift Datoo.
Chef Lesley Stav of the Comox Valley was awarded the Camosun College Distinguished Alumni Award.
Terra Thomsen is back at The Green Room and is currently accepting new clients. The Green Room is located at 331 – 6th St., Courtenay.
TOFINO – UCLUELET
Liviu Andrei has been named the new Director, Corporate Services & CFO with the District of Tofino effective July 8 2024.
The Topaz and Saphire Safety Pinnacle Awards were presented to Creative Salmon for their accreditation in WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Safety Standard of Excellence.
Tofino Beach Lodge, a new environmentally conscious hotel project by Eerkes Architects, is scheduled to be constructed on Vancouver Island. It will be located inside the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve on the island’s untamed west coast.
PORT ALBERNI
Dodi Clark celebrated 7 years as Program Manager with Alberni Lifeline, part of the West Coast General Hospital Foundation.
Uchucklesaht Tribe Government has officially launched Thunderbird Spirit Water in Port Alberni, sourced from Hucuktlis Lake. The water undergoes zero manipulation by any mechanical or industrial intervention, which means it contains 0.0ppm nitrates or nitrites. Both the still and sparkling water have won gold at the FineWaters International Taste & Design Awards and the 10-litre boxed water won silver at the 2024 Taste & Design Awards for its design by Uchucklesaht artist Matthew Titian. Thunderbird Spirit Water is available at the Uchucklesaht Tribe Government admin office and at the Port Alberni Visitor Centre.
The City of Port Alberni will be permanently moving the Development Services and Engineering Departments across the street from City Hall to 4835 Argyle Street across from City Hall.
A record number of students from North Island College’s 3 Vancouver Island campuses graduated this month including 64 from the Port Alberni campus.
The Community Arts Council is hosting a series of “Teas at the Mill”at the McLean Mill National Historic Site, operated by the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce. The events include culinary delights, local art, and musical entertainment. Teas take place July 14 & 28, August 11, 22, and 25.
The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and North Island College announced that 8 students have graduated from this year’s Meat Processing Training Program at the Port Alberni campus. This is the second time the program has been available.
Bowerman Construction has completed both the Harbour Quay and Train Station sections of the City of Port Alberni’s Connect the Quays Pathway Project.
Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation is currently looking for mentors for their Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Grant and Mentorship Program.
The Nuu-chah-nulth Employment & Training Program is hosting an open house on July 24th, 11:30am to 3:00pm.
The annual Uptown Port Alberni Customer Appreciation Day is taking place July 17th 5 pm to 8 pm. The event includes vendors, food, entertainment and a kids zone.
Almost 60 performers are scheduled at this year’s Pachena Bay Music Festival taking place at Huu-ay-aht First Nation’s Pachena Bay Campground from July 19-21 in Bamfield. The festival is sold out with a waiting list of 450. This year only Bamfield residents can buy day passes, while Anacla residents get in for free.
Portal Players Dramatic Society represented North Island at TheatreBC’s Mainstage event where they performed their award-winning production “The Pillowman”.
New business Witch’s Brew Cafe & Bakeshop is hosting a Grand Opening July 13th.
The final local flight of the Martin Mars Water Bomber takes place July 27th 11am – 3pm from Sproat Lake.
The Alberni Valley Food Security Society is gearing up to launch its annual Gleaning Program.
PARKSVILLE – QUALICUM BEACH
At its June 5, 2024 quarterly meeting, the 100 Men of Oceanside selected the Canadian Federation of University Women Parksville Qualicum (CFUWPQ) Scholarship and BursaryTrust to receive its quarterly award and presented it with the full $13,600 donation on July 3, 2024. The next meeting of the 100 Men of Oceanside will take place on September 4, 2024 at 7 PM at the Morningstar Golf Club, 525 Lowry’s Road, Parksville. A social hour starting at 6 PM will precede the meeting and is open to all members and guests.
Raven Indigenous Capital Partners and Iskwew Air have agreed to work together to improve air travel for B.C. and their communities.
NANAIMO
Calum Matthews
Calum Matthews has been appointed as the President of 4EVER Strategies Inc.
Two new judges, Paul Pearson and Parveen Nijjar, have been appointed to the Provincial Court by the government of British Columbia. Their terms will begin on July 25, 2024.
Serge Aube is taking a new job at Harmac Pacific, Nanaimo Forest Products, Ltd. as a shift engineer and supervisor.
The Rotary Club of Lantzville is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the Lantzville Mental Fitness Trail on July 12, 2024, taking place at 11:00 AM, at the Clark Drive end of the trail (corner of Clark Drive and Aulds Road, Lantzville).
Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island, in partnership with WestJet, is launching the Coming Home Raffle on August 9, 2024.
4VI is expanding its social enterprise model to encompass its tourism non-profit, a charitable giving directive and a for-profit corporation, which collectively comprise the 4VI Group.
BC Hydro has announced plans to invest over $3 billion in capital projects on Vancouver Island in the coming decade as part of its 10-Year Capital Plan. These include the construction of a new substation in Langford and the replacement of ageing underground cables that serve Victoria, Esquimalt, and Saanich. Additionally, there will be significant investments in distribution to increase power-line capacity in various areas such as Bear Mountain, Langford Heights, Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt, Saanich, and Nanaimo. BC Hydro also plans to upgrade transmission capacity to Vancouver Island by replacing old undersea cables with new ones near the Gulf Islands. Lastly, seismic upgrade projects are in the works for BC Hydro’s three dams within the Campbell River system – John Hart, Strathcona, and Ladore.
Starting July 18, 2024, landlords will need to utilise the Landlord Use Web Portal, a new website, to generate Notices to End Tenancy for personal occupancy or caretaker. This change aims to enhance renter protection by preventing unjust evictions and streamlining the process for landlords.
LADYSMITH – CHEMAINUS
Thanks A Latte, located at 10862 Chemainus Rd, is hosting a Newcomers Meet-and-Greet event on July 17th to celebrate its pre-grand opening.
Ladysmith & District Credit Union will be launching its new mobile banking app on July 10th.
Norms Plumbing Heating A/C announced a new partnership with Bradford White Hot Water Tanks, to supply the best tanks to homes from Ladysmith to Parksville.
COWICHAN – DUNCAN
Rob Barlow is starting a new position as Superintendent, Mechanical & Electrical at EllisDon on the new Cowichan hospital in Duncan.
The Cowichan District Hospital Replacement project will be BC’s first all-electric and Canada’s first CaGBC Net-Zero Carbon hospital, reducing its environmental impact despite being three times larger.
Intelligence House is pleased to announce that The Richmond by Forum Properties in Duncan, is over 50 per cent rented after two months.
Duncan Dairy Queen is excited to be hosting the annual Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, August 8th. Donations raised on Miracle Treat Day fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment, and research to benefit the children receiving lifesaving care at BC Children`s Hospital.
Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce welcomes new members: International Montessori Academy & Noorunissa Montessori Academy, MacDOWELL RUGBY, Callisto Window Cleaning, Lucky Toad Tattoo and The Pulse Accounting Services Ltd.
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