Alvin Tan Joins eXp Realty, Opens Downtown Office
MARK MACDONALD
NANAIMO – Keith Parsonage has been appointed the new President and CEO at Houle Electric. Keith has been Houle for over 18 years, and was most recently Vice President of Projects, Industrial & Design-Build.
Award winning realtor Alvin Tan has decided to move on from Re/MAX of Nanaimo to eXp Realty. Alvin has set up his office at 25 Cavan Street and joining him will be George Ng.
Tali Campbell continues to move up the ladder with the BC Hockey League’s Coquitlam Express, as he joined the team two years ago as Vice President and is now the Chief Operating Officer and General Manager.
Alvin Tan
In his “spare time”, the former member of the Nanaimo Clipper management team is working to help manage the Burnaby franchise in the Western Lacrosse Association.
Speaking of former Nanaimo Clippers, David Robinson has started a new position as Director of Sales for Trumark Homes – Northern Colorado, based in Timnath, Colorado.
David was a member of the highest scoring line in BCHL history, along with John Newberry and Dave Wheeldon, who set the all-time record in the 1979-80 season, which still stands today. David played minor hockey in Nanaimo and attended the University of Miami Ohio on a scholarship.
A job well done to F&M Installations Ltd. upon their recent completion of a project for Island Tug and Barge Ltd. The job entailed replacing four existing 25 KV sub-sea cables and installing one 48 strand fibre optic cable between Winchelsea Island and Nanoose Bay.
Megan Lum, a Recreation Coordinator at the City of Nanaimo, has been honoured by Vancouver Island University as “Mentor of the Year”.
Paris Gaudet, formerly with Innovation Island, is the new Executive Director of the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce. Paris takes over from Dianne Hawkins, who recently retired after doing an amazing job at the helm of the Courtenay-based business organization for many years.
More sports for Nanaimo: Harbourside FC is the name of the newest member of the semi-pro League 1 British Columbia Soccer League, starting in the 2023 season. The league debuted in 2022 with seven teams, including one called the Vancouver Whitecaps. Jason Coates is the Executive Director of the Nanaimo team, which will include men’s and women’s teams and play out of the NDSS Community Field. Other clubs are the Burnaby TSS Rovers, and North Vancouver, Kamloops, Victoria, Langley and the University of British Columbia.
Keith Parsonage
A townhouse development featuring 168 strata units is getting close to gaining approval at 560 Fourth Street and 361 Howard Avenue, near Vancouver Island University. It will be comprised of 22 three-storey buildings on the seven acre parcel of land.
A new commercial plaza to feature a 2,250 square foot drive-through coffee shop, 10,350 square foot dollar store and a six-unit 7,500 square foot building at 1130 Rocky Creek Road has received a development permit from the Town of Ladysmith.
Meanwhile, another project at Holland Creek has been given third reading following a public hearing, which calls for 170 single family homes and townhouses on what is called Lot 5.
WestJet continues to fly new ideas, and has just announced its first reciprocal inter-line collaboration, with Pacific Coastal Airlines. Customers will now be able to purchase a single ticket from either airline for travel within their connecting flights and networks, and expands the existing relationship between the airlines. PCA already operates all Westjet Link flights within a capacity purchase agreement that services 11 communities in BC and Alberta.
A $30,000 grant from Tire Stewardship BC has resulted in 1,709 recycled, scrap BC tires made into new rubberized surface for Maffeo Sutton Park in downtown Nanaimo.
Congratulations to Kelly McBride for marking five years at Community Futures Central Island.
Bruce Molander, well known in Nanaimo baseball circles for his proficiency at the plate and strong arm, has been promoted within the San Group as General Manager – Asia Pacific in Yokohama. San Group operates a remanufacturing mill in Port Alberni and has its headquarters in Langley.
Omair Quraishi
Omair Quraishi is Vancouver Island University’s new Chief Information Officer.
Bil Derby has announced he’s changing gears within Tectonica, stepping down from being one of two managing directors to reduce his workload, although he remains as Senior Project Manager for the award winning construction firm.
City council has approved re-zoning of property at 2086 and 2090 East Wellington Road that will accommodate a data centre near East Wellington Road park on a 2.3 hectare property. Townsite Planning made the presentation to council on behalf of a numbered company.
Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. and Author of the book “It Worked For Them, It Will Work For Me: The 8 Secrets of Small Business I Learned From Successful Friends”, which can be obtained by reaching him through: mark@communicationink.ca