News Influencing Decision Makers in BC
Jeff Block
Jeff Block has taken on a new position at Spire Mechanical LTD, where he will be focusing on business marketing and development in a sales role for Western Canada.
Firas Al-Tahan has been appointed Stantec’s Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley Practice Leader for Transportation.
Beneficial Insurance Solutions (BIS) was acquired by Westland Insurance, one of Canada’s largest independent insurance brokerages, with effect from October 1.
VEER Business Advisors Ltd. celebrates its 11th anniversary.
Revamp Wellness is opening a new location in Cloverdale in January 2026.
Scotti Ogden
Scotti Ogden has been named the President of BNI Oceanside in White Rock.
Corporation (“Parkland”) (TSX: PKI) and Sunoco LP (NYSE: SUN) announced that the Government of Canada has approved the previously announced proposed acquisition of Parkland by Sunoco, in accordance with the terms of the Investment Canada Act. The Transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to obtaining certain remaining regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions.
According to a National Association of Home Builders report on Most Used Principal Exterior Wall Material in 2024, vinyl siding was the most used principal exterior wall material for homes started. It holds just over a quarter share of homes, slightly surpassing stucco for the first time since 2018.
Insolvency Insider reported, Real estate led all industries with 18 filings mentioned, followed by manufacturing and retail with 7 filings each, and technology with 6 filings. 43 filings mentioned were in Ontario, followed by 10 in Alberta, 9 in British Columbia, and 8 in Québec.
Pomerleau has been chosen by DP World as the design-build contractor for Phase 2/3 of the Duke Point Terminal expansion project in Nanaimo. The project is being funded through a combination of public and private investments, including $46.2 million from the federal government’s National Trade Corridors Fund (NTCF) and $15 million from the Province of British Columbia under the Regional Port Enhancement Program, a component of B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan. The project is also supported by the Snuneymuxw First Nation and a 50-year lease agreement between DP World and the Port of Nanaimo.
Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority has been recognized as the Canadian Business Leader of the year.
David Podmore has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Allyson Jule, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Community, and Human Development at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), assumed the role of Interim President of the Association of Canadian Deans of Education (ACDE) on October 1, 2025.
VANCOUVER ISLAND
Nanaimo’s Allegra Marketing Print Mail has announced a change in ownership, now led by local entrepreneurs and business partners Saurabh Patel and Hardik Patel.
Dr. Blossom de Bruin, Dr. Melissa Jung and Dr. Karyn Arthur have joined Duncan’s Kinsol Veterinary Clinic.
Deadhead Brew Co, located at 5301 Chaster Road #203, Duncan, celebrates its 1-year anniversary.
Port McNeill is celebrating 60th anniversary in February 2026.
Jim Zsiros
of J. Zsiros Contracting has been awarded the Maverick Award for sustainable building.
Frontrunners has opened a new story in Cumberland at 2699 Dunsmuir Ave.
Fiona McQuillan has been appointed as the new Rural Business Advisor for the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce‘s Rural Business Retention and Expansion Project.
Wickaninnish Inn was named the third-best resort in the United States and Canada category and the first-best resort in Canada in the annual Readers’ Choice Awards, as announced by Condé Nast Traveller.
Kevin Hall, former UVic president, will take over as president and chief executive officer of Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates on November 1.
The Magnolia Hotel & Spa in Victoria was voted Canada’s #1 Best Hotel for 2025 in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.
Natasha Olivia Yaworsky has been appointed as the newest Events and Administration Assistant Co-op student at the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards have ranked Victoria as the No. 1 Small City in the World for the third consecutive year!
Trail Tire Supply has acquired Vancouver Island Tire Distributors and will now operate under the name Trail Tire Supply (Victoria).
Make Space Storage has officially opened its new storage facility in North Saanich, situated at 1921 Mills Road, close to the Victoria International Airport.
Meadowcure Pharmacy + Coffee has officially opened at 1331 Westhills Drive, Langford.
Jayne Nelson, a Sidney BIA Board Director, has opened the second Waterlily Shoes location at Mattick’s Farm in Cordova Bay.
OKANAGAN
Arpa Investments‘ proposal to construct a massive rental and senior housing complex at 1100 Ord Rd. in Kamloops was approved by city council.
Thompson Rivers University has received board approval to launch a new Technical Theatre Certificate program.
4AG Robotics of Salmon Arm, announced that Don Listwin has joined the company’s Board of Directors. Listwin is a longtime technology executive and philanthropist, known for senior leadership roles at Cisco, service as CEO of Openwave Systems, CEO of med-tech company RapidAI, board member of Carbon Robotics, and as the founder of the Canary Foundation.
Cahoots Kitchen & Little Red Hen Artisan Bakery is now open in Downtown Salmon Arm.
The German-owned company FlixBus requested permission from the Vernon council to use its Greyhound subsidiary to start an intercity bus service in British Columbia.
Michael Ballingall
Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President of Big White Ski Resort Ltd., has been recognized as the 2025 Business Leader of the Year by the Kelowna Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards independent judging panel. The award will be presented on October 30 at the Delta Grand.
Gregg Zaun, a former Major League Baseball catcher and TV analyst for the Toronto Blue Jays, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast League.
The last two stages of the project on Belaire Avenue in Kelowna, which is being carried out by the Resurrection Recovery Resource Society, have now had their development applications submitted.
Laurie Koss, an artist from Kelowna, has been acknowledged by Art New York magazine.
The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce has announced the finalists for its business excellence awards. Winners will be honored at the Power Play: A Night of Champions gala on Thursday, Oct. 30, at Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort.
The finalists are:
- Excellence in Agriculture: Days Century Growers Inc., AgriForest Biotechnologies Ltd., and Helen’s Acres
- Excellence in Arts & Entertainment: Aesthetiks LAB, DK Productions, and New Vintage Theatre
- Excellence in Business Ethics: Hero Security Company Ltd., Vinyl Pursuit Inc., and Touchstone Law Group
- Excellence in Community Impact: Kelowna Women’s Shelter, Canadian Mental Health Association-Kelowna, and Purppl
- Excellence in Environmental Impact: Chickpeace Zero Waste Refillery, Unbounded Canada Foundation, and Kimco Controls
- Excellence in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: Harmony Chiropractic & Wellness, KCR Community Resources, and OCCA Communities Association
- Excellence in Not-for-Profit: Southern Interior Construction Association, Downtown Kelowna Association, and OCCA Communities Association
- Excellence in Tourism: Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery, Holly Jolly Travel Co, and Big White Ski Resort
- Indigenous Business of the Year: Bebia Cho Foods Co., Kekuli Cafe Coffee-West Kelowna, and Métis Financial Corporation of BC
- Large Business of the Year: Troika Developments, Hero Security Company Ltd., and Evergreen Building Maintenance Inc.
- Mid-size Business of the Year: Kelowna Concierge Ltd., Greenstep Solutions Inc., and Trufinity Ltd
- Rising Star Business of the Year: Cabin 5 Granola, Roobear Kids, and Loyly Floating Sauna
- Small Business of the Year: Hiilite Creative Group, Body Bar Laser Clinic, and Pine Lighting
- Technology Innovator of the Year: Acres Enterprises Ltd., SYNC Robotics Inc., and Dr. Phone Fix
- Top Sales Professional of the Year (inaugural): Dan Brown, Royal LePage, Shannon Stone, REMAX Stone Sisters, and Michael Wu, Genesis Kelowna
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Gabi Goossen, FILL Kelowna’s Refill Store, Jillian Haller, Kelowna Concierge Ltd., and Mitchell Goodwin, GW Hoops
Voyent Alert! has formed a partnership with the District of Summerland to protect and inform the community during critical events.
SIRIUS, had been awarded wine of the year in the British Columbia Wine Awards.
Executives Property Management (Formerly Real Property Management) announced its merger with Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. and will be under the continued visionary leadership of Treena and Aaron Piva of Executives Property Management, together with Kim Davies of Century 21 Assurance Realty.
NORTHERN BC
Nathan Saarela
Incoming President of CHBA of Northern BC, Nathan Saarela is the owner and operator of Ulko Contractors Ltd. With deep roots in Prince George, Saarela is experienced in residential, commercial and industrial construction – from custom homes to multi-level apartments.
The 2025-2026 Board of Directors elected to represent the CHBA of Northern BC include: ● Kaitlin Bardarson, Window to Wall Contracting and Renovations (Prince George) ● Jason Blackman, Acera Insurance (Prince George) ● Trevor Hedstrom, Winton Homes (Prince George) ● Chris Kelly, CNC Trades (Prince George) ● Mike Kuemmerle, All West Glass (Prince George) ● James Lambert, Lambert Built (Prince George) ● Randi Nicholson, Nicholson Properties Corp. (Prince George) ● Kaylie Ramsay, IDL Projects (Prince George) ● Garrett Turner, Central Builders’ (Prince George) ● Shawn Wiebe, Holistic Building Performance (Williams Lake).
Retiring from the Board of Directors this year include: ● Shay Bulmer, Northern Homecraft (Vanderhoof) ● Joel Baerg, GOTT Energy (Prince George) ● Matt O’Flynn, Mainline Roofing (Williams Lake/Quesnel) ● Martin Lachapelle, Artistic Homes (Prince George) ● George Hackle, Windsor Plywood (Prince George) ● Jeff Young, Bragg Construction (Prince George) ● Ryan Mayoh, Northern Lights College (Fort. St. John).
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