News Impacting Southern Vancouver Island Business
Sarah Miller Wright
VICTORIA – Sarah Miller Wright (MBA, ICD.D), a former executive at Inovia Capital, Manulife, and Shaw Communications, has been appointed president of Certn, in charge of its worldwide operations.
Magda Melounova, an experienced real estate advisor has joined Engel & Völkers Vancouver Island.
Oliver Lang, CEO and Co-Founder of Intelligent City, will be a keynote speaker at the 2024 Rising Economy Conference in Victoria from March 6th to 8th.
Dr. Robert Halpenny has been named as the new chair of Interior Health’s board of directors.
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.
Sarah Morstad
Sarah Morstad is the new Events & Administration Assistant for the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce team.
GeoVerra has acquired Bull’s-eye Alignment Services, a settlement monitoring and machine alignment company based in Victoria. The team is excited to broaden its services, improving the nationwide options for clients in manufacturing, construction, industrial, and paper and pulp industries.
The AGM Conference of the British Columbia Stone, Sand & Gravel Association is scheduled for April 25-26 at Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort.
Fat Sisters Vintage and Consignment, Victoria’s first plus-size vintage & consignment store, has recently opened at 813 Fort Street.
Tombo Eats opened their new location on 732 Yates Street.
The Body Shop Canada Limited, the Canadian subsidiary of the global beauty brand with 105 stores across the country, announced that it has commenced restructuring proceedings by filing a Notice of Intention to Make a Proposal pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. As part of the NOI process, The Body Shop Canada is immediately commencing liquidation sales at 33 closing stores. Those located in BC are Semiahmoo– White Rock, Hillside Shopping Centre-Victoria and Village Green Vernon.
Cineplex Inc. announced that it has closed its previously announced private placement offering of $575 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625 per cent senior secured notes due March 31, 2029, as well as the other aspects of its comprehensive refinancing originally announced on February 8, 2024.
Sportswear retailer JD Sports is opening a retail location at Mayfair Shopping Centre in Victoria.
Cedar Coast, a Vancouver based real estate developer, is currently building an 84-unit rental community called Aura, along McCallum Road, close to Costco.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest Chamber members, Northrock Technologies Inc., Voila Cleaning Services Victoria, Oak Bay Coaching and Consulting, and Sol Inc.
Havn Saunas has added a lounge with a cafe to enhance its wellness experience, which features local food and beverages like charcuterie boards, kombucha, and locally roasted coffee.
The Wilson’s Group of Companies is reintroducing the “Tofino Bus,” with initial trips along Vancouver Island starting on Easter weekend.
A $6 million grant has been awarded to the City of Colwood for the construction of a waterfront walkway connecting the Lagoon Bridge to The Beachlands.
Code Ninjas Westshore, located at 890 Goldstream Ave, Langford, is offering 15 per cent off camps until March 13th.
Liquor Planet opens it’s second location at 2792 Peatt Road, Langford.
The WestShore Chamber of Commerce recently launched the Business Breakthrough Blueprint, a 12-month initiative designed to assist women entrepreneurs with a minimum of three years of experience and aspirations for expansion. The program will be led by Ingrid Vaughan of My Smart HR & Leadership. Registration deadline is on March 25th.
The BC Securities Commission and the Board of Trade will launch a new short course on mining on April 8 for industry professionals and capital-raisers, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
A minimum of $237 million will be invested by the province of British Columbia to guarantee that the nurse-to-patient ratios set for various hospital settings are met. There will be signing bonuses for urban nursing vacancies that are difficult to fill and nearly $170 million in one-time funding to increase rural retention incentives.
An increase from $16.75 to $17.40 per hour will be implemented for workers earning the minimum wage in British Columbia as of June 1, 2024. Agricultural piece rates will rise on December 31 to prevent wage disruptions during harvesting season, although most wage rates will go up every year.
The 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments of University of Victoria graduates in three distinct categories: the Presidents’ Alumni Awards, the Indigenous Community Alumni Awards, and the Emerging Alumni Awards. Danielle Stevenson, received the Presidents’ Alumni Award; Scott Beatty has been honoured with an Emerging Alumni Award; and Jess Housty (Cúagilákv), has been named the recipient of an Indigenous Community Alumni Award.
The Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest member, Triton Handscaping and Landscaping.
The Fickle Fig, located at 1780 Mills Road, North Saanich, has joined our Sidney by the Sea gift card program.
Island Health is hiring a physician assistant to work in Saanich Peninsula Hospital’s emergency department, which has been closed overnight since July due to staff shortages.
Lu’ma Development Management CEO Dave Ward announces the provincial Rental Protection Fund-aided purchase of a 16-unit apartment building at 860 Carrie St. in Esquimalt.
Saanich Peninsula celebrates the opening of a new $1.7M turf field at Blue Heron Park, ending a 15-year wait. The project was financed by contributions from North Saanich, Sidney, and Central Saanich, showcasing community effort and municipal collaboration.
The Sooke job fair, co-hosted by the WorkLink Employment Society and the Work BC Victoria/Saanich office, will be held at Edward Milne Community School (6218 Sooke Rd) on March 9th.
Sooke Night Market is now accepting vendors application. Click the link to apply.
The proposed mixed-use development project by Barefoot Planning at 6676 Sooke Rd. in downtown Sooke has received unanimous preliminary approval from the Sooke district council.
Recurrent Energy recently held an open house to discuss plans for a 100-megawatt solar project on 235 hectares of land between Sandcut and Jacob creeks, east of Jordan River. Once operational, the Jordan Solar and Energy Storage Project will be able to provide electricity for approximately 20,000 households.
Sea breeze Restaurant has officially opened at 9819 Fifth St., downtown Sidney.
Patrick and Lynnette Schile are the new owners of Focus Tax & Accounting Ltd., located at 2-9843 Second St.
Bob and Colleen Haney, Laura and Donavan Harris, former owners of Sidney Home Hardware, have passed on their business to Deanne and Craig Sharp.
Lisa and Martin Pedersen celebrate five years as owners of Ecotopia Naturals, located at 9816 Seaport Pl.
Capital Bike is hosting five bike skills courses in Sidney until March 10 with funding from the BC Alliance for Healthy Living to help adults learn to ride e-bikes and kids learn bike skills.
iSpa Wellness just opened in the Albion Place building at 304-2453 Beacon Ave. They provide various services such as traditional Thai massages, Thai foot reflexology, therapeutic hot oil massages, and more.
REUZ Textile Collection & Recycling, founded by Sarita Stenerson, has opened at 108-2423 Beacon Ave
Send your business announcements, news, celebrations or new hires to media@businessexaminer.ca
