Indigenous Trucking Company Starts Rolling in Nanaimo
MARK MACDONALD
The Trotman Auto Group has purchased Nanaimo Toyota from Robert and Gary Eaves. The Trotman organization also owns Abbotsford Chrysler, Abbotsford Hyundai, Abbotsford Mazda, Cranbrook Toyota, Comox Valley Dodge, Comox Valley Toyota, Genesis Langley, Langley Chrysler, Mainland Ford, Sunshine Coast GM, White Rock Dodge, White Rock Volkswagen, TAG Auto Body and TAG Customs.
Diver Lake Dental is now in their sparkling new building, constructed by R.W. (Bob) Wall Contracting Ltd., at 3789 Shenton Road. The practice, owned by Dr. Chris Gill, Dr. Vic Kooner and Dr. Zachary Lim, moved over from their long-time location next door last month.
Probus Nanaimo North celebrated their 20th anniversary in Nanaimo, notes local president Wendy Pickering. The club offers numerous activities and educational opportunities for semi-retirees and retirees, and is an extension of Rotary. The first Nanaimo club was started by dentist Dr. Fern Savoie and colleagues and they met at the Nanaimo Golf Club.
Ron Hart Architecture principals met with the City of Nanaimo’s design advisory panel April 24 to present plans for a permanent supportive housing unit at 250 Terminal Avenue. The temporary supportive housing units between Mount Benson and Bryden Streets on the Island Highway have been a contentious addition to the neighborhood, and many believe the project was the main reasons for the closure of several businesses in the area, including the long-time White Spot location.
The former Johnston Franklin law offices behind Country Club Centre at 3260 Norwell Drive, which the firm relocated to downtown from following a fire, has been completely restored and is now home to the new Central Nanaimo Urgent and Primary Care Centre, managed by Shelley Birchard. Nanaimo’s other urgent care facility is at the Medical Arts Centre.
Sarlequun Transport Inc. is a new indigenous-owned trucking company launched by Petroglyph Development Group (PDG), which is the economic development arm of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Sarlequun’s focus will be on forestry, construction, mining and general freight, and is operating out of a fully-equipped seven acre facility with trucks, forklifts and a warehouse. Profits generated from the business will contribute to Snuneymuxw community programs. Guy Carpentier is President of Sarlequun.
Peter van Dongen, in Business Development and Strategy at MNP, is the Vice Chair at the Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation. The organization is on the lookout for their first Executive Director.
Ash Chadha
Congratulations to Ash Chadha, formerly of Nanaimo Golf Club, who is now at the Glencoe Club in Calgary and recently earned his Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation.
Townsite Planning Inc. has submitted a development permit to the city on behalf of 2779022 Ontario Ltd. to build a two-storey data centre at 2086 and 2090 East Wellington Road. When the 10 blocks are completed in the total build-out on the 2.3 hectare lot, it will include 194,000 square feet of floor space.
There is a new Board of Directors at the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, led by new Chair, Janice Krall of Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, Vice Chair Jason Yochim of Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, treasurer Aaron Surkan of MNP, and Executive Secretary Stacie Chappell of Stacie Chappel Consulting.
Paris Nails and Spa is applying for a liquor permit so they can serve alcohol to clients at 201-70 Commercial Street. Ivy Ha is the owner of the business.
Central Walk has listed the Woodgrove Centre shopping mall for sale with Colliers Canada. Central Walk, led by Weihong Liu, purchased Woodgrove, which was built in 1981, in 2020 and also owns Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria and Tsawwassen Mills on the lower mainland. Woodgrove is the largest shopping centre on Vancouver Island and has 153 tenants. The property is 27 hectares. Liu has been in discussions to buy properties from The Bay across Canada.
Ladysmith and Nanaimo have had film crews take up temporary residence recently, with Resident Alien being staged in Ladysmith, aka Patience, Colorado, with The Last Of Us, which is on HBO and Crave filmed in Nanaimo.
IWCD is in the ground on its newest project, the five-storey, 80 unit purpose built rental building called Horizon, in Campbell River.
A tip of the hat to Dan Little, the long-time partner of chartered accountant firm. Hayes Stewart Little & Co. based in Duncan, which merged with Doane Grant Thornton LLP. Dan received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia.
Congratulations to the Nanaimo Golf Club on marking the 20th anniversary of its spectacular clubhouse.
Fairwinds Marina held a ribbon cutting for the official completion of their renovation project in April.
Bobatime Milk Tea recently opened its doors at Woodgrove Centre.
Congratulations to Alvin Tan for being recognized as an ICON Agent with eXp Realty.
A hearing panel of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization recently announced the results of a hearing pursuant to the Investment Dealer and Partially Consolidated Rules and that it has accepted a settlement agreement, with sanctions, between their Enforcement Staff and Michael Rowland Tomkins, who conducted business as a Registered Representative with Assante Management Ltd. at a branch in Nanaimo. Tomkins admitted to engaging in business conduct or practice which is unbecoming or detrimental to the public interest by misappropriating client funds. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Tomkins agreed to pay a fine of $1,000,000 and disgorgement of $1,270,396.50. Additionally, he is permanently prohibited from seeking approval in any capacity with CIRO and from employment in any capacity with a CIRO-regulated firm. Tomkins will also pay costs of $10,000, and is not currently registered in the securities industry in any capacity. The Settlement Agreement is available at: https://www.ciro.ca/media/12346/download?inline
Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. mark@communicationink.ca
