VICTORIA – John Espley of Connection Skills, has joined the team at tuf-turf, owned by Lee Smith. He will still support his Connection Skills clients, but one day a week you’ll find him at the Saanich office of tuf-turf working on marketing and communication needs.
John Espley
The Fuller family, founders of Earls and Joey Restaurants, announced the acquisition of 100 per cent of Cactus Club Cafe from founder and president Richard Jaffray.
Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, produced by Paquin Entertainment Group and Annerin Exhibits, is coming to Victoria for a limited engagement. The global hit, which has sold over 2.5 million tickets, was created by French-Canadian Creative Director Mathieu St-Arnaud and his team at Montreal’s renowned Normal Studio.
Leadership Victoria has opened the annual call for nominations for their Community Leadership Awards (VCLA), which recognize and honor local residents who are making a difference in the world via community leadership.
The Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) Project is one of five new initiatives announced by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. Shift Environmental will collaborate on the Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) Project alongside T’Sou-ke Nation, Saab Technologies, BlueNode, the Canadian Coast Guard, Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) and the National Indigenous Fisheries Institute. The Ocean Supercluster will fund $4.4 million of the almost $10.5 million projects, with the rest coming from partners.
Club Kwench, a co-working space on Store Street and Discovery Street in the Burnside-Gorge neighborhood, is being renovated to incorporate a ‘creative workspace’ for UVic students, professors, alumni, and community partners.
Naughty and Nellie’s dining room at 4081 Shelbourne Street is now open.
Falcon Equipment will launch a second branch on Vancouver Island on March 1, 2022, near the southern extremity of Vancouver Island (7450 Butler Road). The branch will provide sales, servicing (both in-store and on-the-go), rentals, and parts support for all of the company’s major product lines.
The province has announced a $7.6 million queue-jumping enhancement for transit buses is coming at the crossroads of Highway 17 and Mt. Newton Cross Road in Central Saanich.
Camosun College offers massage therapy in collaboration with the View Royal rehabilitation community. The collaboration brings together students enrolled in the school’s two-year massage therapy diploma program and members of the community, benefiting both groups.
Langford’s proposal to revive Station Avenue has received a financial boost thanks to a $25,000 grant from the THRIVE small capital program to support three interactive mural and lighting works.
Eight businesses were recognized in 11 categories by residents and champions in the wider Sooke region at the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Business Excellence Awards. The categories, sponsors, and recipients of the Business Excellence Awards are as follows: Dining and Hospitality sponsored by Rustic Roots Hair Studio: Cathy’s Corner Café; Home-Based Business sponsored by EnerTech Solutions: Meanwhile in Sooke; Manufacturing and Industry sponsored by Sooke 2 for 1 Pizza: Sheringham Distillery; Not-for-Profit and Volunteer sponsored by District of Sooke: Sooke Food Bank; Pandemic Pivot Award sponsored by Stick in the Mud: Sooke Food Bank; Professional Services sponsored by Reliance Signature Services: West Coast Family Medical Clinic; Retail and Services sponsored by Chamber of Commerce, Group Insurance Plan: Collar & Comb Grooming; Trades and Skilled Labour sponsored by Menard Plumbing & Heating: West Shack Auto Service; New Business of the Year sponsored by A Sea of Bloom: D.A. Forbes Pharmacy Sooke; People’s Choice sponsored by Village Food Markets: Sooke Food Bank and Business of the Year sponsored by CHEK+: Cathy’s Corner Cafe.
Mike Menard
Mike Menard, the owner of Menard Plumbing and Heating, has been elected president of the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce.
The Ruffell & Brown Window Covering Centre has been acquired by Peter and Lori Stofko, owners of Pacific Rollshutters & Awnings. Ruffell & Brown was established by Debra Ruffell and Nigel Brown 35 years ago and has grown to be one of the largest independently owned window fashions stores in Canada. Nigel will continue his involvement in the business as a consultant and a business development expert.
Camosun College‘s applied research department – Camosun Innovates – designed and manufactured foam trays for the safe transport of up to seven syringes containing a pre-drawn, single dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
The Bread & Butter Collective, a hospitality industry collective based in Victoria, has launched Eco Reusable, a program aimed at reducing waste from take-out food containers.
Josh Handysides
Josh Handysides, Chief Administrative Officer of the Malahat Nation is the recipient of The Victoria Chamber’s Award of Distinction in 2022.
Craig Thomas has been named as the Banyan Group of Company‘s Chief Operating Officer.
Fishbooker.com has ranked Vancouver Island as one of the best fishing destinations in Canada.
Preston Rissley, a Camosun graduate, was recently elevated to Director of Operations at Victoria’s famed Delta Hotels Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort.
Westcoastees has opened a store in Victoria at 1807 Store Street, directly across from Value Village and Capital Iron.
Certn, a market leader in background screening solutions, announced the acquisition of Credence, a global provider of background checks headquartered in the United Kingdom. Certn will broaden its product offerings and expand its client base.
The West Coast League team is pleased to announce the addition of two infielders and two outfielders to its squad for the 2022 season, which will begin on May 31 at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP against cross-straight opponent Port Angeles Lefties. Luke Cheng of Illinois State, Cole Posey of New Mexico, and a pair of outfielders in Joseph Redfield (Sam Houston commit) and Clark Henry (U Texas-San Antonio commit) are the latest players to pledge to the HarbourCats for the summer.
The South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) was awarded two gold and one silver medal at the International Economic Development Council’s 2021 Excellence in Economic Development awards.
Habitat for Humanity Victoria is interested in forming a collaboration with the City of Colwood to assist both parties in increasing the availability of affordable housing in the neighbourhood. Council has asked staff to provide a report on the outcomes of a collaboration between Habitat for Humanity Victoria and the Greater Victoria Community Social Planning Council, as well as to host a session to discuss affordable housing possibilities in Colwood.
The Victoria Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of new board members, committee chairs, and staff: New Board Chair – Rajiv K. Gandhi; New Board of Director – Tamara Napoleon and Honorary Governors President – Dr. Grace Wong Sneddon. The following changes have been made to the Victoria Foundation’s committee membership: Victoria Pang has completed her maximum six-year term on the Victoria Foundation Finance and Audit Committee; Clark Lawrence has been appointed to the Finance and Audit Committee of the Victoria Foundation; Ruth Young has been appointed to the Victoria Foundation’s Committee on Community Engagement; Carey Newman resigns from the Victoria Foundation’s Community Engagement Committee following the conclusion of his six-year term on the board of directors.
Personnel Updates: The Victoria Foundation welcomed the following new employees in 2021: Hayleigh Chafe – Granting Initiatives Associate, Jaime Clifton-Ross – Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Jonathon Dyck – Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Karen McMillan – Philanthropic Services Administrator, Karen Ng – Senior Accountant, Maria Campos – Administrative Assistant, Special Funds, Roxann Corpuz – Graphic Designer and Multimedia Specialist and Scott Antaya – Special Funds Administrative Assistant.
Erb Technical Contracting is pleased to announce the appointment of Jay Pallan as Vice President.
Fibre Arts opened on February 5th at #6 – 4517 West Saanich Rd.
Malahat Nation and Alexzi are now discussing additional economic collaboration prospects with the purpose of directly impacting and benefiting Malahat Nation residents and advancing Reconciliation in accordance with their community plan.
Capone’s Chicken is opening a downtown facility at 4-612 Head Street in Esquimalt.
VDQ-NRG Systems presented a $55 million proposal to Sooke council for a biofuel factory. The corporation is considering 15 properties worldwide for manufacturing to commence.
Sidney’s first brewery and taproom, Beacon Brewing, opens at 9829 Third Street.
Island Pedicure is now open in Sidney at 102-9842 Second St.
Randall Mang has noined the Vancouver Island offices of Engel and Volkers.
A new self-storage facility in Langford was purchased for $20.2 million. The Class A facility, which includes 37,025 square feet of storage and 2,500 square feet of commercial space on a 1.5-acre lot in Langford. William Wright Commercial was brokerage responsible for the deal.
The future of North Saanich’s Official Community Plan (OCP) review will be discussed at a special council meeting set for Jan. 31. The discussion comes nearly two months after the council deferred critical OCP decisions, including whether to authorize more financing for the review, which is anticipated to cost close to $500,000.
The Malahat Nation is receiving assistance with its Salish Sea cleanup efforts, which they anticipate will include the removal of “ghost gear.” The federal government contributed more than $330,000 toward the cost of acquiring a remotely operated vehicle.
The Boathouse Spa at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria, has recently been named the best spa on Vancouver Island, the best spa in British Columbia, the 4th best wellness experience in Canada, and the 25th best spa in the world for 2021.
The Bread & Butter Collective, a hospitality industry collective based in Victoria, has launched Eco Reusable, a program aimed at reducing waste from take-out food containers.
Pani Energy of Victoria has been named to Cleantech Group’s 2022 Global Cleantech 100 list, which was compiled after reviewing submissions from over 10,000 entrepreneurs worldwide.
Project Zero, a business incubator program founded by ecopreneur Jill Doucette and the Synergy Foundation, announced this year that it will expand to include startups from across British Columbia.
Helen Edwards, Bob Swanson, Mike Macdonell, John Schnaderbeck and Victor Vendetti have joined the WCL’s Victoria HarbourCats, led by Rich Harder, John Wilson, Ken Swanson and Jim Swanson, the group that owns two West Coast League teams and a Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) entry.
Developer Townline has obtained approvals for a co-living residential skyscraper, Victoria council has approved a 16-story residential tower with co-living flats for the 900 block of Pandora Avenue.
Eagle Creek Medical Clinic has announced its closing effective April 15 on its website. According to the advertisement, two of the clinic’s physicians, Dr. George Zabakolas and Dr. Chelsie Velikovsky, have decided to retire from family medicine practice in Victoria.
Seacliff Properties has entered into a 50-50 partnership with Reliance Properties, a developer with a track record in downtown Victoria. The two intend to invest a combined $1.2 billion in redeveloping the former quarry sites, proposing to build 2,850 residential units — a mix of single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments – as well as 47 acres of parkland and commercial space.
Jeneece Place, run by Frankie Edroff, is celebrating ten years since it opened its doors in View Royal and began providing an affordable, safe place to stay for families and children undergoing medical treatment in Victoria.
Two round rides on Helijet, two nights in a penthouse suite at the Chateau Victoria Hotel and Suites, and gift cards to Cactus Club, Nautical Nellies Steak & Seafood House and Pizzeria Prima Strada were among the prizes in the Dine Around and Stay in Town Victoria festival’s lottery draw.
Jonathan Wilkinson, the federal minister of natural resources, and BC Environment Minister George Heyman announced a new $134 million commitment to the CleanBC Communities Fund’s third round of funding.
The Saanich Community Association Network has been collaborating with the District of Saanich and the province to develop solutions to the housing problem that may arise in 2022.
Saanich council unanimously accepted a proposal for $80,000 in funds to promote marine shoreline mapping and advanced it to budget deliberations. Mapping approaches are intended to aid in the protection of ecologically fragile habitats.
Sooke and Natori, Japan will soon become sister cities, cementing a partnership aimed at fostering cultural, educational, and business ties. The federal and provincial governments partnered with the Canadian forest industry to provide $4.5 million to support reconstruction efforts using wood-framed construction techniques and materials indigenous to Canada.
Influence Boardshop, a skateboard store in Sidney, has opened a new location at 2378 Beacon Avenue.
Sidney staff are now evaluating plans for MGF Project Services‘ proposed four-story condominium project on the junction of Henry Avenue and Fifth Street in Sidney.
Aidan Wells, a firefighter from Oak Bay, has been named executive director of the Oak Bay Firefighters’ Charitable Organization. The foundation is comprised of 21 firefighters who volunteer their time and talents to generate funds and awareness for a variety of causes.
The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station 33 (Oak Bay) team is looking forward to the production of a new standardized life-saving vessel with search and rescue-specific designs in Sidney.
Nazar Ozman‘s new drugstore, Atlas Drug Mart, has opened at 73 A Goldstream Ave.
