Harris Auto Group Buys Richmond Hyundai, Expands To Lower Mainland
MARK MACDONALD
NANAIMO – Paladin Security has acquired Footprints Security. The deal was completed on November 1, and the combined operations include 1,200 personnel on Vancouver Island and 32,000 across 98 offices throughout the country, making it one of Canada’s largest private, employee-owned security companies. Paladin started in 1976. “Having a relationship of over 25 years with CEO Ashley Cooper and the management team, we trust that Paladin is the best fit for our team as they hold the same values within their organization as we do,” says Footprints President and CEO Simon Collery. “We were confident and happy that their management will build on our success.”
Harris Auto Group has announced they’ve acquired Richmond Hyundai, formerly known as OpenRoad Hyundai Richmond. Jesse Campbell has been appointed General Manager of the store. This is the 12th member of the Harris Auto Group, which has seven on Vancouver Island, two in Penticton, one in Kelowna and one in Grande Prairie, Alberta. The Nanaimo stores are Nanaimo Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Harris Mazda, Harris Kia and Harris Used Vehicle Superstore, and on the Island they also have Harris Oceanside GM in Parksville, Duncan Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Harris Victoria Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.
City council has approved a six-storey, 42 unit affordable housing building by Snuneymuxw First Nation across the street from the Nanaimo Fire Rescue Station 4 at 1435 Cranberry Street. MacDonald Hagarty Architects is designing the structure. Knappett Projects of Victoria has earned the contract for the City’s public works yard upgrades project.
Congratulations to Alvin Tan upon being a second year eXp ICON Agent, a significant production milestone for the veteran real estate salesman.
Thrifty Foods Longwood Station celebrated their grand reopening in November.
Angelika Valchar has been appointed Executive Director of the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society. She was previously director of client services.
A tip of the cap to Catrina Elliott-Kaminski, who is celebrating 15 years owning Elite Image Print and Design. The business is on Wallace Street downtown.
A new light industrial warehouse for Pepsi is being built at 200 Tenth Street in south Nanaimo by IWCD. Iceberg Projects Inc. is the developer and prime consultant is Aplin Martin Consultants. The two-storey building will be 35,000 square feet. The $10.2 million project is slated to start construction in the first quarter of 2026.
Jomo Green
Jomo Green has been appointed as the new Vice President of Marketing and Sales at VMAC. Jomo was formerly Vice President of Sales at IEC Holden.
The Tony Harris Group has completed the acquisition of a major stake in the Wenner Group of Companies, which includes O.R. Wenner, Intuitiv and Wenner Security. Founded in Nanaimo in 1945, O.R. Wenner is a family business led today by Ryan Wenner and Adam Stowe, who remain as partners along with the Tony Harris Group.
Nanaimo Foundation CEO Tracey Brown was in Ottawa in November along with other community foundation leaders from across Canada for Day on the Hill, where she met with MPs, Senators and government officials.
Matthew Gagnon and Garrett Hunt have been named the newest principals at Rocky Point Engineering Ltd.
Aaron Dovell, Trevor Topping and their team from Smythe LLP in Nanaimo have officially joined Doane Grant Thornton LLP, whose office is at 25 Cavan Street downtown.
The British Columbia Hotel Association (BCHA) announced its Board of Directors for 2025-26. Past Chair and Governance leader David McQuinn of the Coast Bastion Hotel has passed the Chair to Tanya Stroinig of Prestige Hotels & Resorts in Kelowna.
Mountain Equipment Company opened their first location in Nanaimo at Unit 1, 2517 Bowen Road on December 13.
Ryan Dermody
Ryan Dermody has earned the seat as Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Island Ferry Company which operates the Hullo fast passenger ferry to Vancouver on a permanent basis, after serving as interim CEO.
Local Oldtimers’ hockey legend Brad McCarthy has sold his White Sails Brewing operation on Comox Road to a new owner from Penticton. Brad first opened the doors in 2015 and has won accolades for producing award winning beer in their taproom.
M&N Mattress Shop Ltd. of Parksville in Customer Service & Sales and Marmot Heating & Cooling of Ladysmith in Heating and Air Conditioning have been announced as winners of the 2025 Torch Awards by the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island.
Alair Homes is growing again, as they opened their first office in the United States capital with Alair Washington DC.
The Port of Nanaimo has welcomed its first-ever direct to Canada shipment of Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada vehicles to its BC Vehicle Processing Centre.
LaFarge and Hub City Paving have been bought out by Amrize.
U-Haul has announced that local hardware and home improvement store Deals 4 You at 6313 Metral Drive has signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer.
JD Sports is now open in Woodgrove Centre.
Congrats to Graeme Parker, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Professionals, which has opened a new office on First Avenue in Ladysmith.
Janice Krall is the new Chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.
Tectonica has completed the new Cowichan Urgent and Primary Care Clinic at 940 Government Street in Duncan.
There’s a new name for Steve Marshall Ford – Dealer Principal and Owner Ann Marie Clark has rebranded the dealership as Sunshine Mountain Ford Lincoln. Ann Marie, who also owns Family Ford in Parksville, is Vice Chair of the New Car Dealers Association of BC.
Rumor of the fall: Costco keeps being mentioned as a possible future tenant in the proposed project next to the Island Highway in Lantzville.
Allegra Marketing Print Mail at 2217 Wilgress Road has new ownership, as Saurabh Patel and Hardik Patel have purchased the business
DP World has chosen Pomerleau as the design-build contractor for Phase 2 and 3 of the Duke Point Terminal expansion in Nanaimo.
VitaCare Natural Health Clinic has a new home, and will be in their new location at 102-1801 Bowen Road on December 19.
Landmark Cinemas has announced it will be renovating its Woodgrove Centre location to include IMAX with Laser, Landmark’s proprietary Premium Large Format movie-going experience.
Specsavers has upgraded to a new and larger location within Woodgrove Centre.
Pacifica at Hillcrest is a new 160-unit multi-family complex designed by Christine Lintott Architects Inc. at the corner of Foster Street and Wakesiah Avenue. It will feature three four-storey buildings.
A tip of the chapeau to 100+ Women Who Care Mid-Island, which donated $11,700 to support the work of Coco Café and Cedar Opportunities BC Society and the work they do to empower individuals with diverse disabilities.
Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. mark@communicationink.ca
Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. mark@communicationink.ca
