News Impacting Southern Vancouver Island Business
VICTORIA
Tracey Drake
Krista Bourgeois marks her 15th anniversary at Acera Insurance, formerly known as Megson FitzPatrick Insurance.
Ben Bechtel recently joined the Galaxy Motors Colwood team at 1772 Island Highway, Victoria.
Tracey Drake, the chief executive of the Royal B.C. Museum, has been reappointed for another term until December 31, 2025.
Sarah Williamson won the MLS Bronze Award, while Mike Hartshorn and Jenn Raappana of the South Island Home Team – Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty, were named MLS Gold Award winners for their exceptional performance in 2023 as VIREB Realtors.
Freya Harrison
Freya Harrison, as graduate of the University of Victoria, has joined Terra Archaeology Limited as the new Staff Archaeologist.
Victoria Airport Authority‘s YYJ Victoria International Airport maintained its position as one of British Columbia’s leading employers for the fifth year in a row.
Starting on February 12th, all Harbord Insurance branches will be operating under the Waypoint name as a result of the merger between Waypoint and Harbord Insurance. This will create a stronger and more comprehensive insurance provider.
The Inclusive Employers Hiring HUB and Small Business BC are collaborating for a 90-minute Free Disability Inclusion Workshop on February 27.
The City of Victoria is one of five municipalities receiving funding from the Rick Hansen Foundation‘s BC Accessibility Grants to improve accessibility and inclusion for residents with disabilities.
Evergreen Hospitality Group and Floyd‘s are proud to announce their partnership to bring the beloved Floyd’s Diner to The Vic, a distinguished member of Choice’s Ascend Hotel Collection. The Vic, which underwent a comprehensive renovation and reopened in early 2023, epitomizes a new standard of hospitality in the area, boasting impeccable service, stylish decor, and luxurious amenities such as premium bedding and rainfall showers in every room
Coachwerks, a Victoria auto restorer, gained international recognition when a restored Mercedes-Benz 300SL gullwing coupe it worked on was sold for $3.41 million US.
Aryze Developments is constructing the Songhees Nation‘s first new housing on 1502 Admirals Road, with the assistance of government funding totaling nearly $24 million.
Capital City Recycling has moved its office to 1627 Mchattie Rd, Brentwood Bay, BC.
$33.5 million of the $4 billion federal housing accelerator fund is going toward Comox, Campbell River, and Victoria projects in an effort to speed up the construction of 900 new homes within three years. Nearly $18 million, $10.4 million, and over $5 million will go to Comox, Campbell River, and Victoria, respectively, for high-density projects, affordable housing, student housing and housing near transit.
The affordable rental-housing project by the Capital Region Housing Corporation near the University of Victoria, which will feature 119 townhouse units in two six-storey buildings, has received unanimous support from the Saanich council.
Erica Mattson
A total of four individuals have been appointed to the Board of Governors of the Victoria Conservatory of Music: The society’s most recent annual general meeting marked the election of Amanda Wilson, Erica Mattson, and Neil Barman to the Board, while Jeremie Grandbois, an employee of the Conservatory, was acclaimed as the non-voting staff representative to the Board for 2024. Michael McEvoy takes over as Vice-Chair, Brock Campbell as Secretary, and Alison McCluskey as Treasurer. Shelley Williams is promoted from Vice Chair to Chair, making her the 19th Chair of the Victoria Conservatory of Music (the first being Mrs. Alix Goolden). At the end of a remarkable era of growth and transformation for the institution, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the Victoria Conservatory pays tribute to outgoing Chair, Shannon von Kaldenberg. While Shannon was a member of the Board, the Conservatory developed new programs including the School of Music Technology and Creativity and the Chwyl Family School of Contemporary Music. In addition, in collaboration with the YMCA YWCA of Vancouver Island and the Greater Victoria Public Library, the Conservatory established a second site in the rapidly expanding city of Langford, complete with seven recording studios.
The Downtown Victoria Business Association and the city have partnered to offer businesses in the downtown area a $10,000 grant to help upgrade their storefronts. A total of $100,000 has been set aside by the city for the program, and the funds will be distributed according to the order of receipt.
The Power Legion Gym at 264 Island Highway, Victoria, now offers boxing classes for survivors of brain injuries, every Sunday at 3:00 PM.
BC Cancer will host an info session for Nuclear Medicine PET/CT Technologists on February 26 via Zoom. The session will cover working at BC Cancer, using advanced equipment, and engaging in research initiatives.
H Mart, an Asian specialty market will soon open at the Mayfair Shopping Centre at the former Toys R Us location.
The flagship Lululemon store in downtown Victoria is moving to Government Street at Humboldt Street from Lower Johnson Street between Government and Store streets, the area known as LoJo.
Irish Linen Stores is moving from 1019 Government Street at Fort Street to the 600-block of Fort Street between Broad Street and the TD bank branch.
TKA+D Architecture + Design Inc. recently announced the occupancy of Building A and Building B at the Pacific Ridge Business Centre in Langford. Located on Luxton Road and Chidlow Connector, this new industrial development is the only new dock loading industrial strata development in one of Greater Victoria’s fastest-growing areas.
The City of Langford plans to hold a referendum to measure taxpayer support for expanding Starlight Stadium, where Pacific FC plays. Council plans to allocate $50,000 in its 2024 capital budget for design renderings and cost estimates to increase seating capacity by at least 2,000 on the north side of the stadium.
Half of the 99 units at Abstract Developments‘ Central Block, a condo building at 1075 Tillicum Road in Esquimalt, directly across from Esquimalt Gorge Park on the Gorge Waterway, have already sold out, and construction on the second phase will soon begin.
The District of Saanich has been recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers for 2024.
This summer, the second phase of stores at Sandown Park Shopping Centre in North Saanich will open, making it the biggest shopping plaza on Victoria’s northern Saanich Peninsula. McDonald Park Road, Red Barn Market, Dollarama, a Springs Group liquor store, a restaurant, and a pharmacy are among its confirmed retailers.
The District of Saanich and BOMA BC are hosting a webinar on February 28th about 𝗦𝗮𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵’𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀.
The 2024 draft financial plan for Central Saanich has been released, showing a 7.76 per cent property tax hike.
Alan Lowe
David Vidalin, developer, and Alan Lowe, architect, will soon start building the Centro, a 28-unit luxury condo building at 1932 Mount Newton Cross Rd.
Larry Underwood has been named the new chief of the T’Sou-ke Nation.
The province’s First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund, overseen by the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, has provided funding for clean-energy projects that will power the communities of the T’Sou-ke, Pacheedaht, Malahat, Uchucklesaht, and Ahousaht Nations.
On Thursday, February 15, the federal, provincial, and municipal governments announced a $8.8 million investment to upgrade and modernize the infrastructure for treating wastewater and storm water.
The federal and provincial governments are investing nearly $20 million into a Songhees Nation affordable housing development that will be used to construct a 66-unit apartment building on Admirals Rd., close to the View Royal Canadian Tire.
The Town of Sidney and the BC Alliance for Healthy Living have generously supported Capital Bike‘s initiative to offer free E-Bike and Kids’ courses at the Panorama Rec Centre this February and March.
Mike Geric Construction is currently selling and constructing two pet-friendly projects: Tresah West in Midtown, Victoria and The Rise on Fifth in Sidney.
The Rotary Club of Sidney BC will host a traditional BINGO event at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney on February 25, 2024.
Send your business announcements, news, celebrations or new hires to media@businessexaminer.ca
