News Influencing Decision Makers in BC
Geoff Ritchie
Geoff Ritchie has been appointed as the new President and CEO of the Prince George Airport Authority, effective July 2, 2025. Ritchie has accumulated more than 30 years of international aviation experience, which includes prominent leadership positions at British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. He most recently served as the director of strategic development and commercial air service at Kelowna International Airport. Ritchie’s appointment indicates that YXS is placing a significant emphasis on infrastructure development, economic growth, and regional connectivity.
Amanda Claeys has rejoined the Monarch House leadership team as the Director of Operations for Western Canada.
Dan Slavik has joined Nature United as BC Conservation Portfolio Manager.
David Thomas has been appointed to the West Vancouver Police Board.
Anaïs Bénard has joined Zero Emissions Innovation Centre as the Communications and Marketing Specialist for Retrofits program.
Drazen Jerkovic joins Mac’s II Agencies team as a member of its Project & Specification Sales – Lighting.
PCL Construction is building a new parkade for Northern Health-BC’s University Hospital of Northern BC in Prince George.
Joseph Pallant
Joseph Pallant has joined Great Bear Carbon as CEO effective July 28.
The Burnaby Board of Trade is pleased to announce the addition of several new members: Sandler by EleWin Consulting Inc., Stagevision, Stream of Dreams Mural Society – Fish on Fences, TLD, A Corporation Division Group of London Drugs, Value Property Group, Veridian Wellness Clinics, and WonderPoint Wellness Centre.
UNIQLO, the Japanese global apparel retailer, has announced the opening of new stores in Canada this fall which includes its first location in Victoria. With the upcoming new store openings in fall 2025, UNIQLO will have a total of 37 locations across Canada.
In response to the province’s increasing need for mental health services, the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) has seen a considerable increase in membership, surpassing 10,000 members. In BC, 90 per cent of clinical counsellors and psychotherapists are currently Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs), making the association the largest for the profession.
A new trade and investment office for British Columbia in Taiwan has been formally launched. New opportunities in clean tech, digital innovation, and sustainable resources have opened up for British Columbian enterprises as a result of this strategic growth, which also enhances our economic links with one of Asia’s most dynamic marketplaces.
Abbotsford has been chosen to host the 2025 BC Culture Days Provincial Kickoff, which will highlight the city’s expanding influence in the fields of arts, culture, and creative leadership throughout British Columbia.
Jeff Brown
Jeff Brown has been named the new Vice President, Advisory and Regulatory Solutions at Stabilization Central Credit Union.
The Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth announced on Thursday (July 24) that applications are now open for the next round of Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) grants.
British Columbia’s government has pledged $200 million to Haisla Nation, funding their goal of constructing an LNG facility with a world-class carbon footprint.
The province’s shift to a low-carbon future has advanced significantly with the official extension of the BC Energy Regulator‘s (BCER) jurisdiction to cover renewable energy projects. In addition to its long-standing regulatory responsibility in oil and gas, BCER will now supervise developments in renewable energy, including solar, wind, geothermal, and hydrogen.
The Seeking Blue Agency has officially launched, specializing in custom music for film, television, gaming, and more.
KF Aerospace’s first ATR 72-500F officially completed its inaugural revenue flight for Purolator Inc.
Teck Resources Limited‘s board has given the green light for the Highland Valley Copper Mine Life Extension Project (HVC MLE). This initiative marks the largest investment in critical minerals in British Columbia’s history and aims to prolong the operational life of Canada’s largest copper mine by nearly two decades.
Wickaninnish Inn is proud to present Shannon McWhinney‘s Paintings of the Coast in the Henry Nolla Gallery from July 1st to September 3rd.
Purdys Chocolatier, a chocolate brand that is both Canadian-owned and manufactured, will now be available at 131 Save-On-Foods locations throughout Canada.
The first Lululemon store in Italy has opened in the centre of Milan’s famous shopping district on July 19, further expanding the company’s global reach.
Sarah Cameron
Sarah Cameron has been appointed Vice President of Commercial Lines at Westland Insurance.
The BC Government announced that construction has begun on a new BC Cancer Centre in Kamloops to improve cancer care in Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap.
The accounting profession’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing compliance efforts have been fortified by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia and FINTRAC.
CIB invests $50M in Creative Energy to speed low-carbon district energy upgrades in BC and Ontario buildings. Starting with a large refit at Thompson Rivers University, converting 12 buildings, and supplying low-carbon heating to the new Indigenous Education Centre, this alliance will help customers lower emissions by over 90 per cent.
BC Ferries is investing locally to recycle the Bowen Queen and the Powell River Queen as part of their long-term fleet renewal strategy. The project contributes to the augmentation of marine recycling capacity in British Columbia and the preservation of BC employment opportunities. The work will be concluded at a recycling site in Surrey after being carried out by Marine Recycling Corporation (MRC) at Esquimalt Graving Dock, a federally managed facility. The project will receive the assistance of up to 25 employees from Point Hope Maritime Ltd. in the City of Victoria.
To address a long-standing need for additional recreation and gathering spaces in the City, the City of Nanaimo has acquired land in the Chase River neighbourhood for a prospective community centre. The province of British Columbia’s Growing Communities Fund provided a $2.5 million contribution to partially finance the $5.1 million purchase.
West Fraser is pleased to announce that LBN Forestry, owned by the Lake Babine Nation, has been granted a new First Nations Woodland Licence.
The Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) has announced its latest round of Innovation Booster funding, investing $1.2 million in 13 pioneering food-tech projects worth over $2.4 million, with four of the projects are from British Columbia. BC Food & Beverage Innovation Ecosystem spearheaded the Western Canada Food Innovation.
The Government of British Columbia has announced that the Wildlife Information and Licensing Data system (WILD) will shortly enable recreational freshwater anglers to purchase BC freshwater fishing licenses. This will consolidate fishing and hunting licensing into a single, user-friendly online platform.
Empire Hydrogen Energy Systems Inc. has successfully completed the installation of its Hydrogen Enhancement Systems across several Municipalities in Northern British Columbia.
UNBC has designated its most recent research facility as the Seawise Biopolymer Processing Lab in honour of a substantial equipment donation from Brown’s Bay Packing Company Ltd. (Seawise Innovative Packaging).
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