News Impacting Southern Vancouver Island Business
David Chan
VICTORIA- David Chan has been appointed as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Aplin Martin, taking over from Ed Fujji.
Sandra Smolski and Aubin Soonhwan Kwon are the recipients of the 8th Annual Tanabe Prize for British Columbia painters, as announced by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. British Columbian artists whose work primarily utilizes painting are honoured each year with the Tanabe Prize. Sandra Smolski was selected as an up-and-coming artist, while Aubin Soonhwan Kwon was recognized as an artist in the middle of his career.
Lee Kupiak marks 9 years at Thomic Electric Ltd.
Rob Bennett of VIATEC was honoured with the esteemed Presidents’ Alumni Award at the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards by the University of Victoria.
Gordy Scutt will be taking over as head golf professional atRoyal Colwood Golf Club.
Gordy Scutt
Sheryl (Lim) Peters, Provincial Director, Redevelopment, BC Housing, was honoured with the 2023 WLI BC Outstanding Leader Award at the Women’s Leadership Initiative BC Gala.
Good Buds Company Inc., a Salt Spring Island, BC-based cannabis company, filed an NOI on March 6. The company lists $18.8 million in liabilities, including approximately $3.2 million to the Receiver General on account of excise tax and $2.3 million to Farm Credit Canada. Crowe MacKay is the proposal trustee.
Racerocks CEO Anita Pawluk will be a speaker at the Women in Defence and Security (WiDS) BC Creating Connections event “Allyship in Action” on March 14th, 2024, at Government House in Victoria.
Cognito Health Inc., Canada’s all-in-one virtual mental health care platform, raised $2 million in seed funding from StandUp Ventures, Garage Capital, Graphite Ventures, Spring Impact Capital, and Simplex Ventures. This funding will launch Cognito’s Ontario mental health services and expand partnerships with insurers, businesses, and government partners.
Rechelle Effendy, CAIA, CPA, CMA has been appointed as Acting Senior Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer for BCI.
Otaki, a dry ramen bar with an extensive assortment of anime merchandise has recently opened at 551 Johnson, the space that was formerly occupied by Citizen Clothing.
A&W will be launching a new restaurant in Victoria this spring at 1023 Government Street, a prime retail location previously occupied by Birks, a jeweller based in Montreal.
Darren Leith joined the Victoria and Vancouver Island Real Broker team. Darren is a successful residential realtor with over 14 years of experience serving homeowners in Greater Victoria and Great Vancouver. He also has financial, investment, and home buildingGlorie experience.
Joni, a Victoria-based company, is collaborating with the Victoria Airport Authority to supply eco-friendly, sustainable feminine hygiene products for the facilities at YYJ.
The BC Government launched the new Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Centre of Excellence, which has received an investment of $7.1 million from the province.
A rooftop solar photovoltaic system screening, an energy audit of the band office, and heat pump installations in priority residences will all be funded by the province, with over $150,000 going to Malahat Nation.
40 Knots Winery was honoured with the Sustainability Excellence Award at the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC) Tourism Industry Awards ceremony in Victoria.
The Salvation Army Thrift Store located at 525 Johnson St will be closing on March 23 due to rising operating expenses.
Kuku’s Takeout, Delivery and Catering is marking its 15th anniversary.
Carreiro The Studio beauty salon on Broad Street will be closing its doors on April 1st.
West Coast Waffles, located in the 1200 block of Broad Street, which first opened its doors around 2010, has closed its doors.
Hotel Zed Victoria is marking their 10th anniversary with newly renovated rooms and lobby featuring a 70s and 80s theme.
A grant from BC Campus supported an Open Education Showcase and Recognition Awards event on March 8 at the Sherri Bell Hall in the Wilna Thomas Building, Lansdowne Campus, honouring over 40 faculty members. Read on here.
BlueShore Financial and Coastal Community Credit Union have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore a merger to form a combined credit union serving British Columbia’s West Coast and Vancouver Island communities.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest members, FTS Inc., Martha’s Delectables, Moxies Victoria Restaurant, and Guardian Growth Partners.
The annual PMI-VI Professional Development (PD) Conference will take place on June 7th in Victoria at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
GMC Projects is seeking approval for a proposal to create 96 rental units, 176 condos, 231 parking stalls, outdoor amenities, and communal gathering spaces at 900 Esquimalt Road and 900 Carlton Terrace.
An additional $20 million in provincial funding was announced at Langford’s Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School on March 6. The funding will support field trips, sports teams, and school lunches for students from needy families.
Site preparation is underway for a new three-story public safety building at 500 Park Place in Esquimalt. The facility will accommodate the Captial Region District offices, the Esquimalt Fire Department, and the Emergencies Operation Centre and is expected to break ground this summer.
Members of the WestShore Chamber of Commerce are invited to for a Coffee Talk event with The Extreme Outreach Society on March 26th at 284 Helmcken Rd #102, Victoria.
Adelaide, a 105-unit multi-family building in Esquimalt, British Columbia’s West Bay neighbourhood, has been successfully financed through CMHC MLI Select Construction, according to Canada ICI.
The March Business Mixer of the Esquimalt Chamber of Commerce will be held at Muse – Mind & Body Studio, the newest yoga studio in Esquimalt, located at 481 Head Street.
The Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island names its 2024 Board of Directors: Executive Committee – Chair – Richard Michaels, Maccrim Solution; Vice Chair – Ian Taylor, Think Communications; Past Chair – Mike Regimbal, Consultant; Treasurer – Robyn Walle, Baker Tilly; Secretary – Gary Eisenstein, Falcon-Software and Member at Large – Walter Donald, The Executive Network. Directors – Mark Breslauer, Commissionaires; Mike Darling, Staff Sergeant, Victoria Police Department; Derek Ballman, FloFORM Countertops for Life; Bruce Simpson Simpson, Hatley Memorial Gardens; Gregg Meiklejohn, Consultant and Stephen Gaskin, CIM®, Lighthouse Wealth. Honorary Life Director – Paul Chow, Retired and Independent Legal Counsel, Sharon Cartmill-Lane, Pearlman Lindholm, Barristers & Solicitors.
Richard Mosdell, head instructor of Kenzen Karate, has acquired the property at 4516 West Saanich Rd., along with its 1911 hall, which has been designated as a heritage site.
The second Greek n’ Go, located at 2046 Keating Cross Rd, Saanichton, will launch at the end of March.
Ronaye Matthew and Margaret Critchlow, the authors of Community Led Housing: A Cohousing Development Approach will be attending a book launch in Sooke on Sunday, March 17 at Harbourside Cohousing at 6669 Horne Rd.
Sooke’s SEAPARC Recreation Centre is leading the charge toward sustainability in an attempt to satisfy provincial goals for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Nicole’s Medi Spa opens at Seaflora, 2105 Otter Point Road, Sooke.
Arbutus RV.ca marks its 36th year in business.
The Peninsula Streams Society received $250,000 over a 3-year period from the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (SRIF). The funding will support a comprehensive project in the Colquitz Watershed, covering monitoring, restoration, and stewardship activities in the area, including the Portage Inlet and Gorge Waterway.
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