Award winning 574 Cumberland Road in Courtenay
COURTENAY – When Shawn Vincent finished his junior hockey career in 1985, one of the first things he did was build a house in the Comox Valley. The price tag? $37,000.
He renovated it and later sold it for a healthy profit, and his construction journey began in 1986.
Today, Vincent owns and operates Simba Investments Ltd., an award winning company that built 574 Cumberland in Courtenay, which won the Award of Excellence in the Mixed Use category at the 2026 Vancouver Island Commercial Building Awards in Nanaimo in late April.
Following completion, Vincent sold 574 Cumberland Road to the Department of National Defense.
“The contemporary four-storey, West Coast-inspired mixed-use project in the heart of downtown Courtenay delivers 52 purpose-built residential rental homes integrated with ground-floor commercial space, supported by underground parking, controlled building access, and secure bicycle storage that enhances functionality, resident convenience, and security for residents,” says Vincent. “We are thrilled that this building earned an award, and we are extremely proud of the work put into it by our amazing Simba team.”
Simba Investments Ltd.’s 574 Cumberland Road building won the Award of Excellence in the VICBA Mixed Use category. From left: Project Manager Boston Bechard, Director of Operations Nicole Darling, President Shawn Vincent, Business Examiner News Group owner John MacDonald and Sima Project Manager Olyskii Poiarkov
Vincent’s business journey thus far has featured several pivots. He owned the Courtenay Nissan and Courtenay Mazda car dealerships, and the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s Westshore Wolves, based in Langford. He currently serves as Chairman of the VIJHL, overseeing the Board of Directors for the 11-team independent league that is associated with the BC Hockey League.
That completes the circle that started as a star player – now a coach – in the Comox Valley Minor Hockey Association and featured three years in the Western Hockey League with the Kelowna Wings. He remains an avid participant in oldtimers’ hockey.
“Hockey has always been a huge part of my life,” he recalls. “I’ve had lots of great experiences and I still enjoy playing, coaching, and being a part of the VIJHL’s growth. The things we learn in sports, like teamwork, hard work, dealing with pressure and the media have all helped me enjoy success in my business career. I’ve also had some really great mentors along the way.”
Vincent mentions a conversation he had with Jimmy Pattison at an event years ago. He decided to introduce himself to the B.C. billionaire and the resulting conversation, where he shared how much Pattison had inspired him, meant a lot to him.
“Everybody knows how successful Jimmy has been, but meeting him in person, I was really impressed with how warm and engaging he was,” he notes. “Visiting with him was one of the highlights of my business career.”
Simba Investments has many facets to its operations, including building custom residential homes, commercial and multi-family buildings. They also venture into road access and planning, which assists other builders prepare sites for construction. As anyone in the building industry realizes, it’s the behind-the-scenes work with communities and municipalities that can be difficult and at times tedious. There is much to be done behind the scenes before a project can get off the ground.
“I spoke to the Vancouver Island Commercial Building Awards audience, reminding and encouraging the construction community about the importance of pulling together and supporting one another,” he says. “I truly believe that is so key now – everyone working towards the same goal, to make Vancouver Island even better – and it’s really vital to look at other companies who may have similar struggles and draw alongside and help if possible, or if needed.”
That goes along with Simba’s company mission statement: “Building relationships from the ground up”.
Simba is also community conscious, making significant contributions to the Comox Valley Child Development Association and its Reopening plan, and they have also supported the Comox Rotary Club and the Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness Society’s efforts to create sustainable, affordable housing for those in the community who are most in need.
Shawn’s wife, Tina, is a realtor with Royal LePage Comox Valley, and they’ve raised their family in the Valley. Both their children are university graduates and son Jordan Vincent was drafted by the professional National Lacrosse League’s Calgary franchise and is currently playing for the Western Lacrosse Association’s Nanaimo Timbermen.
“Our family has been blessed to be able to call the Comox Valley home,” Vincent states. “Whenever we get an opportunity to help make it even better, we do what we can, knowing it’s going to give others a chance to realize their dreams, too.”
