News Influencing Decision Makers in BC
Chris O’Riley
Chris O’Riley, who has served at BC Hydro for 35 years, has announced his retirement.
Dr. Satwinder Bains has officially retired from his role as the founding director of the South Asian Studies Institute at UFV, effective August 15.
Darius D’Cunha has joined the BC team of Solucore Inc. as a Solutions Consultant.
Susan Wali has been appointed as the Manager of Portfolio Operation at Allied Properties REIT in Vancouver.
Loring Phinney has been appointed as CEO at the Pacific Autism Family Network.
Laura Ferguson is starting a new position as Regional Director of Operations at Amica Senior Lifestyles.
Chelsea Nicholson has been appointed as the Building Energy Manager at the BC Non-Profit Housing Association.
Brenda Knights, CEO of the B.C. Indigenous Housing Society and a respected member of New Relationship Trust’s Board of Directors, has been named to Business in Vancouver’s 2025 BC500 list.
Maelin Cheung has started a new position as Consulting & Engagement Manager at CityHive Vancouver.
Michael Brimer is now the VP of Construction at Townline.
Susannah L. Pierce, the director of the GVBOT Board, has been chosen to receive the Order of British Columbia, the province’s highest award.
Dr. Robin Love, long-time volunteer and director at Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration, has been appointed to the Order of British Columbia.
Stephen Smith has been appointed as Principal of Commercial Property Management & Leasing at BGO.
Tony Chow, President of Coke Canada Bottling, inaugurated a new can production line at the Richmond Manufacturing Facility. The significant upgrade, which follows a $12.55 million investment, enhances supply chain resilience throughout Western Canada and reduces dependence on third-party manufacturers, as well as expands local production capacity.
The Sprott Shaw College, a private career college in British Columbia with a distinguished reputation, has been acquired by BPP Education Group, which has increased its global presence.
Peninsula Co-op has achieved 2025 Great Place To Work Certification™.
Keywest Projects Ltd., a Calgary-based engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm that is known for its innovative approach to energy project execution, and CIMA+, one of Canada’s largest private consulting engineering firms, are pleased to announce a strategic partnership.
The federal government announced in June that the Canadian Armed Forces would receive an investment of more than $9 billion to ensure that they have the necessary capabilities and support to safeguard Canadians and fulfill our international obligations. The Prime Minister declared that all members of the Canadian Armed Forces will receive a salary increase.
The British Columbia Service Centre of UNIFIED ALLOYS has moved to its new location on August 8, 2025 at 7330 Telegraph Trail, Langley.
The Wildfire Resilient Futures Initiative of Natural Resources Canada has granted $2.3 million in funding to the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS) in collaboration with the University of British Columbia, Okanagan (UBCO).
Clutch announced the opening of its new facility in Richmond at 5400 Minoru Boulevard.
The P-8A Poseidon aircraft was selected by Canada for its long-range Multi-Mission Aircraft requirements, and Boeing demonstrated its dedication to the aerospace and defence sector in British Columbia by investing $345 million CAD in ITB investments.
Equiton Inc has acquired a Metro Vancouver apartment complex for $45.6 million, marking its entry into British Columbia.
Bite Brands Ltd. is opening Dave’s Hot Chicken locations in Victoria, Granville, and Abbotsford.
Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has announced that a multi-unit Yolks Breakfast franchisee is expanding their portfolio with a fourth franchise agreement and has secured a real estate location in Chilliwack.
The Apartment Fund (Equiton Residential Income Fund Trust) has officially expanded to British Columbia, with the acquisition of Mountain Park Residences, a 117-unit rental community in Burnaby, one of Canada’s fastest-growing and most in-demand rental markets.
The Nordex Group has officially joined Clean Energy Association of British Columbia as its newest member.
Waypoint and Navacord have announced that Brownridge Insurance, a reputable multi-regional brokerage that serves clients in British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, and Nunavut, has also joined their ranks.
ETSI-BC will begin a 6-month AI certification program for economic developers in September 2025, which gives Southern Interior economic development professionals the resources, skills, and confidence to use AI in their daily work.
$1 million in funding is available to support economic development projects for local communities, First Nations, community economic development organizations, and industry groups in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. The ETSI-BC Fall Funding Intake is open from Tuesday, September 9, to Thursday, October 9, 2025.
A new engineering contract was awarded to the JGC-Fluor joint venture that completed Phase 1 of the LNG Canada project on August 1, which represents a significant advancement in the development of the prospective second phase of the project.
Nominations are now open for the Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Business Excellence Awards.
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest members, Givens LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, Floras Atelier Inc., and Rolling Mix Concrete.
Business Improvement Areas of British Columbia will be gathering in Penticton for the 2026 BIABC Conference from May 24 – 27, 2026.
Tickets for the 18th Annual Rise Awards Night by BC Food & Beverage are currently available for purchase. The event is scheduled to take place on November 20th at the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station, located at 1755 Cottrell Street in Vancouver.
The 2025 AGM and Dinner presented by the President and Board of Directors of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Northern BC will take place on September 18, 2025, at the Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum, located at 850 River Road, Prince George.
The BC Chamber of Commerce’s Business Unplugged Executive Dinner Series will be conducted on September 18, featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Chaitanya “CK” Kaligotla.
The Business & Retail Crime Response Forum will take place on September 4th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel in Prince George. Hosted by MLAs Sheldon Clare, Kiel Giddens, and Rosalyn Bird, the forum will bring together business and community leaders to discuss growing concerns around crime and public safety in the retail sector. The event will feature insights from MLA Elenore Sturko, Critic for Solicitor General and Public Safety, and MLA Gavin Dew, Critic for Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, who will share their perspectives on addressing crime-related challenges and supporting safer, thriving business communities across the region.
Prince George has secured a $500,000 grant from the Province’s Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP). The City’s economic development division is backing a collaboration involving the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, Northern Health, and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). This partnership aims to assess the economic implications of establishing a life sciences economy in northern B.C.
According to Insolvency Insider, Uvaro Inc. and its subsidiary Lighthouse Labs Inc. filed assignments in bankruptcy on August 1, with Uvaro listing liabilities of $5.7 million (including $3.9 million to Lighthouse Labs) and Lighthouse Labs listing liabilities of $3.1 million. Uvaro is a provider of tech upskilling and reskilling programs across North America, while Lighthouse Labs provides web development and technology-focused online bootcamps and is licensed as a private career college in Ontario, Alberta and BC. Following Uvaro’s acquisition of Lighthouse Labs in January 2025, the companies experienced a significant decline in revenue, in part related to a shift in government funding away from broad, cross-sectoral funding to targeted, sector-specific support in the wake of US tariffs. This was aggravated by an increased in fixed costs, leading to a liquidity crunch that resulted in the bankruptcy filings. Glass Ratner is the bankruptcy trustee, represented by Loopstra Nixon. The trustee is working closely with provincial regulators to transition student records and assist with the transfer of students to other education providers where possible.
According to Insolvency Insider, United Earth Group et. al., a Delta, BC based civil and earthworks contractor, was placed into receivership on July 30 on application by RBC, owed $12.1 million. The business of the United Earth Group is focused primarily on civil construction and earth-moving projects in the lower mainland, including government tenders. RBC advanced funds to the companies in December 2023 and January 2024. The United Earth Group has experienced persistent financial distress since around October 2024, from which time the companies began failing to make payments to their subcontractors and suppliers generally as they became due. This financial distress was caused primarily by cost overruns and various contract disputes related to United Earth Group’s work on the Fraser Valley Highway 1 expansion project. All work by the United Earth Group on the project has been halted since approximately March 2025, and BA Blacktop Infrastructure Inc. and Carmacks Enterprises Ltd., the contractor on the project, has ceased all progress payments to the United Earth Group. This halt of work on the Highway 1 project constitutes a default under the terms of the work contract with the contractor, which may result in extended and costly litigation. The companies have been in default of their payment obligations under the RBC loans since February 2025, and subsequently breached the terms of a forbearance agreement. Grant Thornton is the receiver. Counsel is BLG for RBC, Farris for the receiver, Lindsay Kenney for BDC, Whitelaw Twining for Western Surety Company, Sevenoaks Law for Anthony Ciccozzi, and Dentons for the City of Surrey.
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