October 2021: Victoria Movers & Shakers

VICTORIA – The Victoria Chamber has added Capt. (N) J. Jeffery Hutchinson, CFB Esquimalt‘s new base commander, to their Board of Directors. Hutchinson takes over from Capt. (N) Sam Sader who has been reassigned to a new role in Ottawa. As with previous CFB Esquimalt Base Commanders, The Chamber appointed Capt. (N) Hutchinson to its Board of Directors. He also serves on The Chamber’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee.

Victoria Cool Aid Society‘s Crosstown complex from 3020 Douglas Street to 584 Burnside Rd. East is now under construction. The project which includes 154 affordable rental homes, is scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2023.

A five-storey, 153-unit rental complex on Gorge Road East in Victoria has officially begun construction. A public plaza, a children’s play area, and public art will be included in the project, which will replace six single-family houses in Burnside Gorge. Its developers are PC Urban Properties Corp. and Fiera Real Estate CORE.

The Lansdowne Middle School grounds will soon be home to a new school for Victoria’s youngest Francophones. GVSD sold 7.3 acres of the 25-acre Lansdowne grounds to the provincial Francophone school district, CSFBC (CSF). The government financed the $15 million transactions.

Royal Roads University inaugurated its newly renovated Dogwood Auditorium, with Esquimalt-Metchosin MLA Mitzi Dean hailing the structure as a major asset to the West Shore.

For Teacher Appreciation Day on October 5th, Accent Inns honoured educators with complimentary hotel stays.

The Province of British Columbia has formally renewed Destination Greater Victoria as the Official Destination Marketing Organization for the period 2022-2026.

Coastal Community Credit Union is donating $10,000 to HeroWork Victoria to support the Indigenous Perspectives Society’s remodelling project (IPS).

Salt Spring Coffee marks 25 years of Sustainable Coffee Production with the launch of a new coffee collection produced using regenerative organic agricultural practices.

Michell’s Farm, a pumpkin farm owned by Tom Michell, located at 2451 Island View Rd. off the Pat Bay Highway returns to Central Saanich.

Saanich council has approved a revised University Heights proposal. The developer Wesbild has pledged $750,000 for children and families’ charities, $100,000 for public art, and $150,000 for electric vehicle infrastructure as part of the rezoning and development permit application discussed by the council.

The City of Victoria created the Solar Rooftop Tool with the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria to educate Victoria citizens and businesses about their building’s solar panel potential.

The entrepreneurial women in Camosun College’s Mosaic Tastes have been recognized with the CWB (Canadian Western Bank) Women Makers and Creator’s award 2021 for Best Business Implementation.

The Innovator Skills Initiative from Innovate BC may help BC businesses hire digital talent up to $10,000.

The Oak Bay Beach Hotel was ranked nineteenth on Conde Nast Traveller‘s list of the world’s finest hotels

Saanich Deputy Fire Chief Frank Macdonald celebrated the last day of his 35-year career, retiring with numerous honors and achievements on September 29.

Pauquachin First Nation asks North Saanich for help reintroducing shellfish harvesting in Coles Bay. Council heard from the Nation, through Octavio Cruz, Pauquachin’s marine reporting supervisor. The Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program; Calvin Sandborn, legal director of the University of Victoria‘s Environmental Law Centre; Christa Croos and Camille O’Sullivan all work at the center.

Trevor Price and Laurie Szadkowski have been chosen as new directors of the Sooke Region Historical Society.

Reynolds Antiques and Collectibles, a family-owned and run buy-sell-trade firm specialized in estates and downsizing, has opened its doors at 2047 Otter Point Road in Sooke.

The Sooke Chamber welcomes Hanging with Hounds, owned and operated by Sharon Labossiere.

Reliance Signature Services, a reputable and well-known Paralegal Services Provider, located at #2C – 6631 Sooke Road, joins the Sooke Chamber.

The City of Langford and Nolan Riding Mountain Ride Coaching are collaborating to offer scholarships for children to learn to mountain bike.

The Goldstream Farmers Market is extending its season to accommodate Christmas. Normally held every Saturday from May through October in Veterans Memorial Park, the market announced shortly before Thanksgiving that it will extend until Nov. 27.

The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has been certified silver by the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business as part of its Progressive Aboriginal Relations program.

Five Victoria-based companies were featured on The Globe and Mail‘s 2021 Canada’s Top Growing Companies: #22: Certn (2,441 per cent 3-yr growth), #74: FreshWorks Studio (780 per cent 3-yr growth), #88: DeeBee’s Organics (699 per cent 3-yr growth), #253: STN Video (146 per cent 3-yr growth), #404: First Light Technologies (66 per cent 3-yr growth).

A 136-acre parcel of land located at 1 Trans-Canada Highway in Mill Bay, British Columbia, has been sold for $10.25 million.

City and downtown economic recovery continue in new data from May, June, and July. There has been a 55 per cent rise in new company licenses issued as a result of Victoria 3.0 Recovery, Reinvention, and Resilience activities. The City’s Business Hub is working hard to make doing business in Victoria simpler.

The City of Victoria is currently accepting applications for its community garden start-up grant for 2021. The funding covers a maximum of $5,000 for design and public engagement and a maximum of $10,000 for construction. The deadline for application is on October 22.

Victoria Conservatory of Music, Chairman of the Board Shannon von Kaldenberg, announced the resignation of CEO Jane Butler-McGregor.

The Food Stash Foundation has opened the Rescued Food Market, a pay-what-you-feel food store. Carla Pellegrini, executive director of Food Stash, said her organization recovers more than 30,000 kilograms of food each month and the market is one way it bridges the gap between food rescue and distribution.

Cowichan Eyecare, owned and operated by optometrists Trevor Miranda and Anita Voisin and has locations in Chemainus, Lake Cowichan, Duncan, and Mill Bay, is set to launch its newest branch in Langford this fall.

Victoria will be the host for the next 55+ BC Games to be held on September 2022, announced by the secretary of parliamentary for senior services and long-term care Mable Elmore, Victoria Coun. Jeremy Loveday, Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey and the president of the games Micheal O’Connor.

Camila Estrada is appointed as The Chamber’s new Events and Administration Assistant.

Victoria council has approved the proposal to build a 139-room hotel in Old Town Victoria, which was also supported by the Chamber. Chard Development is collaborating with UVic Properties on the development project for the Duck’s Building and Duck’s Carriage Factory into a Hyatt Centric-branded hotel.

The Big Spoon Soup Company has opened its new location at the Victoria Public Market.

The Root Cellar is opening its new branch at 271 Cook St. Victoria.

Jenny Marie’s Crackers has transferred to its new location at 2740 Rock Bay Avenue in Victoria.

Moon Under Water, a small brewery and tavern in Victoria, took home a gold medal for its Potts Pilsner.

The iconic building at 1075 West Georgia, MacMillan Bloedel Building, commonly known as the “waffle”, has been renamed Arthur Erickson Place in honor of its designer, Canada’s greatest living architect.

The Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council (VIATEC) has announced the election and re-election of the following Board of Directors: Jim Balcom, Redlen Technologies (Newly Elected), Darren Beckwith, Barnacle Systems (Returning), Robert Bowness, BC Pension Corporation (Re-Elected), Maria Davidson, Udutu (Newly Elected), Sarah Gulbrandsen, RingPartner (Returning), Christina Jones, RaceRocks (Returning), Corina Ludwig, FunctionFox Systems (Returning), Sachen Macdonald, Checkfront (Newly Elected), Owen Matthews, Wesley Clover (Returning), Masoud Nassaji, DoubleJump (Re-Elected), Scott Phillips, StarFish Medical (Newly Elected), Rasool Rayani, Heart Pharmacy (Newly Elected), Scott Roberts, National Research Council (Newly Elected), Brad Williams, Echosec (Returning).

Graeme Macaloney‘s Twa Dogs Brewery and Caledonian Distillery in Saanich will benefit from council’s program that allows restaurants and cafes to maintain increased outdoor serving spaces until June 2022.

WorkLink Employment Society‘s Digital Literacy program in Langford and Sooke pairs youths with residents aged 55 and up to help them improve their computer literacy. The five-week Digital Duos course is financed by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors initiative.

Sidney council has approved a $123,000 grant to North Saanich’s Enviro Float Manufacturing to launch improvements at Tulista Park.

Beacon Brewing, a small batch, non-distribution brewery, will be opening up in Sidney in the new Oceanna building.

Kinetic Construction, led by CEO Tom Plumb, is celebrating its 37th anniversary

James Murray is the new senior associate of Avison Young in Victoria, BC.

Jaimie Isaac has been named the next chief curator of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Isaac worked as the Indigenous and Contemporary Arts curator at the Winnipeg Art Gallery as a member of the Sagkeeng First Nation.

PC Urban Properties and its partner Fiera Real Estate CORE Fund (the “Fund”) have started construction on a new, purpose-built rental development in Victoria at the corner of Gorge Road.

Canoe Brewpub, housed in the iconic City Lights building on Victoria’s Inner Harbour, will serve its last pint. Canoe will close its doors on October 18th to undergo a substantial makeover and take on a new form under the CRAFT Beer Market Brand.

Camosun College is launching the “CamSTAR,” an interactive, online learning tool that teaches students how to use structured storytelling to connect their skills, behaviors, and competencies in ways that resonate with prospective employers. The tool was developed by Camosun’s Applied Learning, Co-op Education, and Career Services departments. The acronym “STAR” stands for “situation, task, action, and result,” which students utilize to structure their responses to behavioral interview questions.

Big Bus Victoria, a sightseeing bus operator best known for its largely open-air converted school buses, has been placed on the market for sale.

BC Hydro continues to make great progress in restoring damaged undersea cables servicing Vancouver Island. BC Hydro will engage with Capital Power to see if the Island Generation facility can provide temporary backup capacity and supply while repairs are performed.

Victoria’s former bus depot located on the corner of Douglas and Belleville streets within the Crystal Garden complex is being converted into a parklet.

Island Outfitters on Douglas Street is being redeveloped into a six-story mixed-use apartment and retail building by Aryze Developments.

The Better Business Bureau servicing Vancouver Island (BBB) announced the finalists for the 2021 Torch Awards. The winners of this year’s Torch Awards will be announced at the Union Club of British Columbia‘s gala dinner and awards celebration on Friday, November 5, 2021. The Victoria area finalists are: Building Contractor – MAC Renovations and Yager Construction; Community Service – Auxilium Mortgage Corporation, Luv-A-Rug Services and Pain Free Tax & Bookkeeping Service; Custom & Specialty Cleaning: Twa Dogs Brewery and ServiceRemovALL Remediation Services; Customer Service: 4 Pillars Consulting and Comfort Keepers; Heating & Air Conditioning: #1 FlameTech Heating and Red Blue Heating & Refrigeration; Home Improvement – Enerheat – Windows, Doors & Renovations, Island Dream Kitchens and Van Isle Windows; Masonry & Stoneworks – CBS Masonry, CBS Stoneworks and Vista Masonry; Movers: Home Again Seniors Transition Services and Mikus Transport; Plumbers – Royal Bay Plumbing, The Super Plumber and Wade Roberts Plumbing; Property Maintenance and Improvement – Aztec Maintenance Victoria; Roofing Contractor – Victoria Roofing & Insulation; Spark Award Recipients – Enrollment Resources, Interactive Construction, Monk Office and The Parkside Hotel & Spa.

DSA Media (David Stanger & Associates Inc), has been renamed MEDIOLOGY. Shannon Schafer (pictured), Partner and Director of Client Strategy, is a leader for their Vancouver Island operations. President Sam Richardson and four senior managing partners acquired the business following the retirement of founders David and Mary Stanger in 2019

A 50-unit supportive housing development is now under construction just west of Cook Street. The facility is one of six planned for Victoria, Saanich, and Central Saanich as part of a nearly 300-unit BC Housing effort to house homeless persons in the Capital Region.

The District of Saanich will upgrade the Cedar Hill Golf Course by implementing recommendations from a recent golf services assessment. Global Golf Associates, an international consulting organization, undertook a complete study of golf course operations in early 2021. Key recommendations include: Fees and rates: The peak fee will be increased, the yearly pass will be phased out, and a continuous or ‘flex’ pass will be introduced. Capital priorities: Drainage improvements were recognized as one of several short and long-term construction needs. Relationship with Cedar Hill Golf Club: Changing our relationship with the Cedar Hill Golf Club and aligning the practices with those of municipal golf courses. Future operating structure: A business model in which a golf management company manages both the golf course and the concessionary food and beverage service.

Gerry Esselink, a Sooke Airbnb host, was named the most hospitable host in British Columbia by Airbnb.

FUCA Cycles, located at 5871 Sooke Rd., is now open.

Chris Bjerrisgaard, who aims to operate Small Gods Brewery in a commercial space on Third Street as part of the Oceanna residential complex, is pleased with the council’s approval of their liquor license application.

Ashley McCartie is named as the Victoria Chamber of Commerce’ new events manager. She brings 15 years of expertise in the non-profit sector, including event design, participant and stakeholder stewardship, sponsorship activation, and volunteer engagement.

Greg Jackson, CPA, CMA, has been appointed as CFO of Cosigo Resources Ltd. He has roughly 20 years of financial and accounting expertise, primarily in the mining sector, including 8 years in finance at Sherritt International Corp., a global leader in nickel and cobalt mining and refining with a $479 million annual revenue.

Alexandrite Real Estate will soon open its new office at 1967 Oak Bay Avenue in Victoria.

Haunted Manor, a mini-golf business at 715 Yates St. in downtown Victoria, owned by Jeff Roberts, is opening this fall.

The Capital Regional District‘s nominal post on the Victoria Airport Authority board of directors is now open for applications.

The Centennial United Church, formerly known as the Centennial Methodist Church in 1885, is undergoing a facelift with the assistance of CBS Stoneworks and local companies.

The Township Community Arts Council is thrilled to announce the September 25th opening of Gallery Splash! which is located at Esquimalt Town Square.

The Town of View Royal has launched an online tracker that details how its earnings – which come from taxpayers at a rate of 65 per cent – are spent on public goods and projects.

Habitat for Humanity is searching for bakers to contribute to this year’s theme, The Future of Home.

The Victoria Flying Club celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Geoffrey Ewert, the Garth Homer Society‘s new CEO, is looking forward to strengthening community links in order to advance the organization’s purpose of improving the lives of persons with developmental disabilities.

The Sidney Business Improvement Area Society (Sidney BIA) has developed a guide to assist concerned downtown companies in Sidney in navigating vaccination proof requirements.

Alexandra Bouchard, owner and founder of Saanich-based Kindred Apparel Inc., is excited by her supplier’s shift in perspective and business strategy in India. Kindred was the distributor for the company formerly known as Freeset, now called Joyye.

The Sooke Lions Club’s proposal to lease a piece of John Phillips Memorial Park in order to build a community center has passed the alternative approval procedure.

Sidney council member Sarah Duncan expresses support for Small Gods Brewery, the city’s second brewery to operate on Third Street.

Langford Gateway Development has applied for a rezoning and development permit to construct 22- and 18-story skyscrapers on land it acquired on Arncote Avenue, Peatt Road, and Sunderland Road. The two-phase project will contain retail space and a daycare.

Island Prostate Centre is celebrating its 20^th year of service to Vancouver Island this year. The centre has been instrumental in helping get the word out for men to get tested and offer their support. Their funding comes from events, private donations and business donations they have launched a new program this year called the Family Tree business program. The program, which costs $180 per year ($15 per month) offers benefits for a company to promote their CSR but also to offer access to key information for their staff and families. The program details are on their website https://www.islandprostatecentre.com/familytreeprogram/