Movers & Shakers Victoria – March 2022

VICTORIA – Lakeland Golf Management has been appointed as the new operator of the Cedar Hill Golf Course by the District of Saanich.

Congratulations to Brian Ogilvie, Associate Broker and Director of Operations at Duttons & Co. Real Estate as the winner of the inaugural Business Examiner Content Contest! He won 2 round trips with Helijet.

Randy Fournier has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of PRT Growing Services Ltd, following the retirement of Rob Miller, PRT’s President, and CEO since 2008.

Ava Miller is Chinook Business Advisory‘s newest Business Intermediary.

Luther Court Community Health Center on Cedar Hill Cross Road is set to open on March 16.

The Greater Victoria Coordinated Identity Service (GVCIS) was formed by the Community Social Planning Council (CSPC) in conjunction with several local organizations to improve access to personal identification for the most vulnerable residents of Greater Victoria.

Chip Wilson announced a new enterprise, Solve FSHD, to find a cure for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy where he pledged $100 million.

As part of a new three-year plan to revitalize tourism in British Columbia, the province has pledged $1 million in funding for bid preparation and sponsorships for large-scale events.

In an effort to boost customer service and sales, Canadian Tire Corp. has announced a multi-billion-dollar investment to improve consumer experiences, create jobs, and assist boost local economies.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce and the University of Victoria have teamed together to host a job fair on March 28 to help place students and recent graduates with local employers.

A $2.2 million investment by Destination Greater Victoria this spring and summer is expected to help the region boost its tourism industry.

A collaboration between Indigenous Perspectives Society and non-profit HeroWork in Victoria resulted in a newly refurbished Langford headquarters, which was unveiled to the public recently.

Mandy Webb has announced her retirement from Jazzercise Metchosin after 18 years of teaching.

Missy MacKintosh, the owner of MisMacK Clean Cosmetics, aims to expand her business with an appearance on the CBC television show Dragons’ Den.

Adriana Ramirez, the owner of The Whole Enchilada, the only large-scale maker of corn tortillas on Vancouver Island, has expanded her business to 25 stores and restaurants across the region.

The annual Fix-A-Heart campaign of Canadian Tire raised almost $79,000 for the Royal Jubilee Hospital‘s echocardiography ultrasound system.

Elizabeth Surerus’s Magic Wand, a rental store, is expanding to Saanich.

As of now, the City of Colwood has almost 2 billion flowers, North Saanich has 1.6 billion and the City of Victoria has 1.2 billion in the 47th annual Greater Victoria Flower Count completed on March 16.

The Esquimalt Farmers Market will operate twice weekly beginning in April. Starting April 4, shoppers will be able to visit Gorge Park Esquimalt on Mondays and Thursdays at Memorial Park.

On April 23, the Sooke Country Market will make a triumphant return to John Phillips Memorial Park, where it will be held every Saturday through October.

The multi-sports facility, located at 2430 Phillips Rd. in Sooke, has resumed its construction activities. It will be run by SEAPARC for the Capital Regional District when it is completed.

Sidney’s Winspear Center and Beacon Brewing hope to expand their liquor service zones permanently. Residents are being asked for their thoughts on the town’s growth plans.

Licensed Sooke counsellor Tara Munro‘s Sea To Tree Health and Wellness Centre is expanding its services to the West Shore.

The Right Time Group of Companies has acquired several major Vancouver Island plumbing and HVAC companies this week, including: 360 Super Techs (The Super Plumber and 360 Comfort Systems), as well as The Comfort Group.

Premium Living Victoria, owned by Steve Gaskin, Dave Wight, Raymond Mew, Dan and Lindsey Howley, has announced the acquisition of Doornomics. It builds on their acquisition of Wizard Screens in June, 2020, which was also the founding date of the Premium Living brand.

The Modern Mercantile has officially opened at 539 Fisgard St.

Kieran Cox, a University of Victoria researcher, assisted in compiling a global inventory of ‘fish grunts and squeals’.

The Hillside Shopping Centre in Greater Victoria will soon be home to Walmart Canada‘s third location in the area.

Laurie Hurst, Esquimalt’s top administrative officer for 18 years, is retiring this year.

Jay Tuson, Megson FitzPatrick Insurance Services‘ former CEO and Director of Sales, is retiring after 35 years in the insurance industry.

The City of Colwood will have $30,000 set aside in the forthcoming draft budget for the development of a community performing arts center.

798 Goldstream Ave. in central Langford, where Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church is currently located, has been purchased by Royal Roads University.

Michael Smith Health Research BC (Health Research BC) and Genome BC will receive about $195 million in government grants to assist research in health, agriculture, clean technology and climate change.

The 11-storey building in Langford, BC is now known as RidgeView Place and has a new address of 2770 Claude Road.

Salish Heron, BC Ferries‘ newest LNG ship, arrived in Victoria recently after a journey from Poland.

Small Business BC celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting a webinar titled Breaking Biases in the Workplace. Lindsay Dent, founder of marketing business Pink Crown Creative, led the webinar.

The annual SS BEAVER Medal Awards, presented by the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, will honour nine British Columbians and two organizations for their outstanding contributions to the maritime industry in the province. The 2021 recipients are: Inspector Kenneth Burton RCMP (Ret’ d), Margaret and Martyn Clark, Ian Maxwell, Robert Turner and a special award goes to Allied Shipbuilding Limited of North Vancouver. The 2020 recipients are Gregory Marshall, Gordon Miller, Captain William Noon and Captain David (Duke) Snider.

Mosi Bakery in Saanich is giving revenue from its Ukrainian flag cookies to the Red Cross.

The District of Saanich intends to renovate its outdated buildings at 1040 McKenzie Avenue, which lie on 13 acres and house all of Saanich’s parks and public works equipment.

Naughty Nellie’s Not Just Fish & Chips, located at 4081 Shelbourne Street, has opened its dining room.

Beginning on July 1st, the new sales tax for out-of-country online services, such as Facebook Marketplace, will be extended to include private sale services in BC.

Shoreline Orthodontics has opened its doors at 6691 Logan Lane in Sooke.

SEAPARC Leisure Complex will open the DeMamiel Creek Par 3 Golf Course at 6518 Throup Road on March 17.

The Oaklands Community Association is holding a fundraiser to benefit Victoria’s new Hamilton Park Childcare Centre.

Ma Miller’s Liquor Store in Langford is giving to the Red Cross the proceeds from the sale of Russian-made items.

Mile Zero is awaiting the approval of district council to open up a nano-brewery taproom.

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has announced the 2022 Greater Victoria Business Awards nominees for the event that will be held on May 7, 2022 at the Fairmont Empress. The finalists are: Business of the Year (1-10 Employees): 49 Below Ice Cream, Cold Comfort Ice Cream; Business of the Year (11-39 Employees): Brown Bros. Property Management, Equilibrium Therapeutics; Business of the Year (40+ Employees): Heart Pharmacy Group, Monk Office; Business Person of the Year: Amar Magon of Aroga Lifestyle Medicine and Jill Doucette of Synergy Foundation; Community Builder: Aryze, Island Savings, a division of First West Credit Union; Emerging Business Person of the Year: Megan Johns of The Green Kiss and Mercy Southam of Eir Mobile Medicine; Innovation: BinBreeze, Origen Air; New Business: Iron & Wood Golf Simulators, Working Culture Bread; Non-Profit of the Year: Beacon Community Services, United Way Southern Vancouver Island; Outstanding Customer Service: Coastal Heat Pumps, Luv-A-Rug Services Inc.; Outstanding Workplace of the Year: BC Transit, Engaged HR and Sustainable Business Practices: Eagle Wing Whale & Wildlife Tours, Oak Bay Marine Group.

Ancient Grains from Devine Distillery in Central Saanich has won this year’s overall Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year award.

Central Saanich council approved the development of the next two phases of Starlight‘s Marigold lands project.

Both an indigenous protected area and a residential development are on the table as agreements are reached between the Metchosin First Nation, Pearson College UWC and Habitat Acquisition Trust. The Te’mexw Treaty Association is now negotiating with the federal government to purchase the Mary Hill lands as part of the British Columbia treaty process.

The Sooke Boxing Club has re-established itself and is currently preparing for its first international event this year. They have relocated to a location just across from Edward Milne Community School.

The Bushwakker Brewpub managed by Grant Frew, has dedicated its Arizona Room for fully vaccinated guests.

Langford has contributed a total of $22,000 to organizations including the Royal Canadian Legion, Goldstream Nature House, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria and Area, Open Gate Church, Victoria Sexual Assault Centre, Capital Bike, Fed Urban Agriculture Society and Peninsula Streams.

Deputy Chief Mark Fisher will take over as the new Chief Constable of the Oak Bay Police Department on September 6, 2022, following the announcement of current Chief Ray Bernoties‘ retirement from the position.

Victoria’s council, led by Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe, is considering a ban on the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits.

BC Housing and Chard Development have teamed up to build a condominium complex for people in the middle class at 1109 and 1115 Johnson Streets.

The City of Colwood is in the process of launching GOCO, a new ride-sharing application.

Proline Management Ltd. has added five partners as founder Eric Spurling retires after 37 years. Proline’s new stewardship team will include the following: Kathryn Squires Basson, Director of Culture and Community; Paul Merrien, Manager of Strata Department; Dwight Mueller, Vice President, Finance; Kathy Soetaert, Accountant, Strategy & Compliance and Kelly Whitney, Vice President, Operations.

The Victoria Foundation welcomes Rajiv K. Gandhi as board chair and Tamara Napoleon as director. Gandhi, a graduate of the University of Victoria replaces outgoing Chair Zaman Velji. Napoleon was named a Lexpert Rising Star in 2020, one of Canada’s top lawyers under 40. She also serves on the BC Cancer Foundation Board and the Mistahiya Group of Companies‘ Economic Development Committee.

Dragons’ Den is now accepting virtual auditions from promising business owners interested in pitching their concepts to a panel of renowned Canadian business magnates.

Bruce Vasarhely has been promoted to Contracts Manager at Kinetic Construction. Bruce will handle all Project Management tasks and lead Project Teams.

Erin Glazier has joined Royal Lepage Commercial as a Senior Associate – Commercial Sales & Leasing.

Blo Blow Dry Bar, owned and operated by Angela Hall, opened its newest location at 624 Fort St. in Victoria, British Columbia, on February 18.

P.volve, a New York-based fitness franchise, recently announced a deal with Lucille and Tom Cuell to launch their first Canadian site in Victoria, in summer 2022.

The Cool Aid Housing Society is seeking $25,000 to assist in covering the expense of dental care for vulnerable communities throughout the year.

Eurosa Farms, a rose farm in Brentwood Bay, has steadily grown over the pandemic due to increased demand for locally sourced products.

The first pet radiation oncology center on Roderick Street, VCA Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital, is set to open in the summer of this year.

Brent Fletcher‘s Command Post Militaria and Antiques will close its doors after 32 years in business.

Jamie Levchuk has been appointed temporary CEO of Rugby Canada.

Keating Computers‘ physical store is now open at 100-6761 Kirkpatrick Crescent Saanichton.

Owen Klassen, a Reynolds Secondary student, recently opened Owen’s Mobile Auto Detailing in Saanich.

The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce recently announced the winners of its 2021 Business Excellence Awards: Dining and Hospitality sponsored by Rustic Roots Hair Studio: Cathy’s Corner Café; Home-Based Business sponsored by EnerTech Solutions: Meanwhile in Sooke; Manufacturing and Industry sponsored by Sooke 2 for 1 Pizza: Sheringham Distillery; Not-for-Profit and Volunteer sponsored by District of Sooke: Sooke Food Bank; Pandemic Pivot Award sponsored by Stick in the Mud: Sooke Food Bank; Professional Services sponsored by Reliance Signature Services: West Coast Family Medical Clinic; Retail and Services sponsored by Chamber of Commerce, Group Insurance Plan: Collar & Comb Grooming; Trades and Skilled Labour sponsored by Menard Plumbing & Heating: West Shack Auto Service; New Business of the Year sponsored by A Sea of Bloom: D.A. Forbes Pharmacy Sooke; People’s Choice sponsored by Village Food Markets: Sooke Food Bank and Business of the Year sponsored by CHEK+: Cathy’s Corner Cafe.

The District of Sooke is actively working to speed up the residential and commercial development permit approval process.

Cascadia Seaweed, North America’s largest supplier of ocean-cultivated seaweed, has received a license from the Tsawout First Nation for a 20-kilometer production line.

Capital Regional District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Robert Lapham will be retiring this fall.

The Canadian government announced a $4,646,577 investment in 22 Canadian non-profit groups to promote zero-emission vehicles. The Capital Regional District will receive $224,000 to create a Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mobile demonstration unit to promote EV and e-bike ownership in the capital region of Southern Vancouver Island.

Patrick Jones, program director for the Camosun College Automotive Service Technician program, has been named the inaugural recipient of the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship’s (CCDA) Award for Excellence in Apprenticeship Education.

Sylvia Ceacero has been appointed the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness’ new executive director.

The Yates Center, located at 836 Yates Street in Victoria’s downtown, has been sold for $10.1 million.

The Royal British Columbia Museum announced the appointment of Alicia Dubois as its new CEO.

Great Little Box Company Ltd/Ideon Packaging (GLBC) is thrilled to announce that it has been named one of British Columbia’s Top Employers for 17 consecutive years.

Connect Hearing, Canada’s largest provider of hearing services has purchased New Brunswick-based Avenir Hearing.

The Downtown Victoria Business Association‘s recently launched website was redesigned by DesignCoast Creatives.

The Coastal Incident Management System (CIMS) Project, worth almost $10.5 million, is one of five new initiatives announced by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.

Amica Somerset House at 540 Dallas Road is undergoing renovations.

The City of Victoria has approved a six-story rental-only building at View and Vancouver streets developed by J. Gordon Enterprises.

21streetclub, established by Nelson Walusimbi, a triathlete at the University of Victoria, is now a thriving fashion brand.

The Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) has been named a Top 100 Employer in British Columbia for 2022.

Phillips Brewing‘s application to convert their patio into a permanent feature of their tasting room was approved by the City of Victoria.

The District of Saanich has appointed Brent Reems as acting chief administrative officer for the next 14 months.

Brad Edgett, executive director of the Memorial Park Society, is assisting other North Saanich business leaders in raising cash for the replacement of the track at Parkland Secondary School.

Mile Zero Brewing is aiming to construct a nano brewery near the site of a former Metchosin school.