January 2022 Victoria Movers & Shakers

VICTORIA – Claire Flewelling-Wyatt has been named as CEO of Pemberton Holmes

Bryan Erwin has been appointed as the new fire chief by the City of Colwood.

Bread & Butter Collective is proud to offer a sustainable option to the community by partnering with the City of Victoria to provide multi-use take-out containers that contribute to waste reduction. The program for Eco Reusable Containers began January 15th, 2022.

Russell Books, a third-generation family-owned bookstore in downtown Victoria, partnered with Parametric Pro Consulting to donate over $2,000 worth of children’s books to elementary schools throughout the province.

The provincial government of British Columbia is investing $1 million to expand a program aimed at preventing drug overdoses in the construction industry. The funding will be used to expand the Vancouver Island Construction Association‘s existing Tailgate Toolkit project, a harm-reduction initiative that began on the island in January 2021 as a pilot.

Jodi Westbury has been appointed Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Destination Greater Victoria.

The City of Victoria has approved a new privately-run complex in downtown Victoria that would provide around 121 affordable rental housing units, 54 of which will be co-living spaces.

Fern Cafe and Bakery, a 100 per cent vegan cafe and bakery open 24 hours a day, has opened in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood.

BC Transit is experiencing labor shortages throughout Greater Victoria, resulting in delayed or canceled bus service on some routes, according to communications manager Tessa Humphries.

The BC government announced the establishment of a Tourism Accommodation and Commercial Recreation Relief Fund, which will distribute up to $15 million to three types of businesses: BC-owned large accommodation providers employing more than 150 people; Indigenous-owned large accommodation properties employing more than 100 people and located on reserve, and tenure and BC Parks permit holders operating as tourism businesses.

Thirteen local food trucks will participate in Street Food City 2022, which will take place on the plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery from January 15 to January 23. The list of food trucks and carts in Street Food City 2022: Chickpea, Disco Cheetah, Mama’s Fish & Chips, Melt City Grilled Cheese, Mom’s Grilled Cheese, Mr. Arancino, Old Country Pierogi, REEL Mac and Cheese, Salty’s Lobster Shack, Shameless Buns, Super Thai, Taste of Malaysia and Via Tevere Pizzeria Napoletana.

Langford has been named BC Business Magazine‘s #1 Most Resilient City and Best Place to Work in consecutive years. This latest award adds to a long list of accomplishments for the City of Langford during the pandemic, including the following: #1 Most Resilient City in BC, by BC Business Magazine (2021, 2022); #1 City for Work in BC, by BC Business Magazine (2021, 2022); #1 Best Community in BC, and #18 Best Community in Canada by Maclean’s Magazine; Most Liveable City in Canada, by RATESDOTCA; Economic Resiliency and Recovery Award, population over 20,000 by the BC Economic Development Association (I AM Langford campaign).

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Vancouver Island is pleased to announce its Board of Directors for the year 2022. The 2022 BBB Board of Directors are: Executive Committee – Chair: Richard Michaels, Maccrim Solutions; Vice-Chair: Gary Eisenstein, Falcon-Software; Past Chair: Richard Gordon, Consultant; Treasurer: Robyn Walle, Baker Tilly; Secretary: Gregg Meiklejohn Retired and Member at Large: Walter J. Donald, The Executive Network. Directors – Mike Regimbal, Consultant; Mark Breslauer, United Way; Colin Watson, Deputy Chief Constable Victoria Police Department; Brody Funk, The Super Plumber; Marek Gomolka, Allterra Construction; Ian Taylor, Monk Office; Derek Ballman, FloFORM Countertops and Bruce Simpson, Hatley Memorial Gardens. Honorary Life Director: Paul Chow, Retired and Independent Legal Counsel: Sharon Cartmill-Lane, Pearlman Lindholm, Barristers & Solicitors.

The District of Saanich recently announced the addition of twenty new level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as part of its Zero Emissions Vehicle Incentive Program (ZEVIP).

Monsters Haunted House in Saanich will transform University Heights’s former Landmark Movie Theatre into Love Hurts, a Valentine’s Day scare from February 10th to 13th.

The District of Saanich is hoping to secure federal funding to cover the about $3 million cost of electrical repairs to Cedar Hill Recreation Centre.

Starlight Developments‘ plans for two six-story rental buildings in Central Saanich, which would add 235 units, have been put on hold until mid-February.

The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce is launching a campaign called Sooke’s Hidden Treasures to encourage residents to shop locally.

Shane Sparks takes the helm as President and CEO of Enrollment Resources the global leader in career education marketing innovation. Gregg Meiklejohn has stepped down as CEO of Enrollment Resources Inc.

Dana Carroll has been appointed as Chinook Business Advisory Ltd.‘s newest Business Intermediary.

Redbrick has acquired Delivra, a company that specializes in smart email marketing automation. Redbrick has announced its second significant acquisition in the last two years, with Delivra becoming the portfolio company’s fifth.

Jeriel Mella has been named Kinetic Construction‘s Project Director. He has held positions as Project Executive and Project Director at Clark Builders and Stuart Olsen.

Lucky To Go, owned by LTG Technologies, is starting a shuttle service with two lines connecting downtown Victoria and Langford to the ferries and near the airport.

Microsoft Accelerate Atlanta partners with Safe PC and Victoria’s Locelle on their Accelerate Atlanta effort to give mentorship to underserved women seeking to advance their careers in the digital arena as part of the career readiness program.

Staffing shortages forced WestJet to cancel flights between Victoria Airport and Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary recently.

Odd Burger Corporation has inked a franchise deal for Victoria, British Columbia. Owners John Bowker and Luke Ceraldi are looking for a location in Victoria to sell Odd Burger’s delicious vegan fast food.

BC Housing has teamed up with Chard Developments to build a mixed-use development on the site of the former Capital City Centre Hotel and White Spot.

The updated 2022 Home Owner Grant level in British Columbia ensures that 92 per cent of residential homes are eligible for the grant, which decreases homeowners’ primary residence property taxes.

The new Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) branch in Sooke has finally opened its doors to the public.

The Boston Pizza franchise, owned by Jeremy Dewey, located near the intersection of Hillside Avenue and Blanshard Street, has closed after 35 years in operation.

Dr. Alec Walton joins the Urgent and Primary Care Centre at 890 Esquimalt Rd.

The Victoria Film Festival announced its Program Guide at The Vic Theatre’s annual PreFest Launch on January 6, 2022. Tickets go on sale in advance for both in-cinema and online viewing until February 14. For additional information, see their website.

Connect Hearing, an all-star team of trusted hearing professionals committed to providing patients with the most sophisticated hearing technology has collaborated with Darryl Sittler, a member of the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame, to educate Canadians about the significance of hearing health.

Liberty Kitchen, a new eating concept from Browns Restaurant Group, has opened at #103 3005 Merchant Way in Langford’s Belmont Market Shopping Centre.

Eva Schnitzelhaus, a 600 square foot restaurant and Victoria’s newest addition to the Chinatown neighborhood, has opened at 509 Fisgard Street.

BC Transit plans for the construction of a complete Peninsula Rapid Bus Line that will soon provide 15-minute service seven days a week from Victoria’s Parliament District to Swartz Bay.

Randy Humble, Sidney’s chief administrative officer (CAO), said BC Hydro is seeking to impose a monthly premium to pay the cost of the replacement lights, which will be partially offset by energy savings.

Mary Lou Newbold has been selected 2022 Member of the Year by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

Telus Ocean‘s downtown Victoria project at Douglas and Humboldt streets has been approved.

Jason Cridge, a pharmacist in Victoria, has teamed up with a local physician and phycologist to launch Cognito, an online healthcare platform for persons suffering from mild to moderate anxiety and depression.

has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer of InBC Investment Corp. (InBC) a newly created Crown corporation responsible for a $500-million strategic investment fund that will help BC-based businesses grow and diversify the economy.

Salish Heron, BC Ferries‘ newest liquefied natural gas-powered vessel, has departed Europe on a nearly two-month journey to Victoria.

Abstract Developments is looking to rebuild 2621 Sooke Rd. into a townhome complex, following 23 years of construction in Saanich, Victoria, and Oak Bay.

The Victoria Beer Society has announced a new program of events for its eighth annual Victoria Beer Week, which will return from March 4 to 12, 2022. The society’s new main facility, The Powerhouse at 2110 Store St., will host the launch celebration.

The province is extending for another year an interim order capping restaurant delivery costs at 15 per cent, according to Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery, and Innovation.

Jim Townley, president of the Saanichton Village Association, and Martina Redman, treasurer of the association, presented Tyson Elder of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank with a cheque for almost $14,000 raised at the business group’s annual fundraiser.

Saanich is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Cedar Hill Golf Course, Vancouver Island’s only 18-hole municipal golf course.

Sidney Council has seeded a new reserve fund to combat climate change with nearly $90,000. The funds will be used to support projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and buildings, which account for 56 per cent and 29 per cent of the community’s GHG emissions, respectively.

Sidney Street Market will not return to Beacon Avenue in 2022 after council relieved West Coast Impressions of its obligation to hold the market there. West Coast Impressions intends to reopen on a temporary basis in the Mary Winspear Centre’s parking lot, where it previously operated in 2021.

Sidney will soon begin selling monthly daytime parking passes in the Oceanna parking lot. Passholders will be able to stay longer than the three hours allowed for all other lot users.

The group that owns two West Coast League teams and a Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) entry announced the expansion of the investment group — from four members, to 10. The WCL’s Victoria HarbourCats have been led by Rich Harder, John Wilson, Ken Swanson and Jim Swanson since 2015, and are excited to oversee the expansion Nanaimo NightOwls, along with the first-year Victoria Golden Tide of the CCBC. Added to the group are: Helen Edwards, former minority owner of the Vancouver Canucks, and a baseball fan; Bob Swanson — Retired from real estate and uncle to Ken and Jim Swanson; Mike Macdonell CPA and longtime HarbourCats season ticket holder; John Schnaderbeck, a Transportation Design and Construction Manager and has helped as a HarbourCats assistant coach in past; Victor Vendetti from Pittsburgh, Sales and Business Development executive and a sixth individual who prefers not to be named publicly at this time.