News Impacting Southern Vancouver Island Business
VICTORIA
Mark Mawhinney
Mark Mawhinney, CPA, CMA, ICD.D, portfolio manager and investment advisor at Odlum Brown Limited, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.
Susan Brice was elected as Vice Chair by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority Board, and approved the nominations of two new members: Bruce Hale, CEO of FAS Seafood Producers Ltd / Finest at Sea Ocean Products, and Ann Squires Ferguson, CEO of Western Design+Build.
Zahra Keshavarzian has joined the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce as its new Member Representative.
Bruce Beames has joined the Major Projects team at Stantec.
Vanessa Butler and Vanessa White have been appointed to the Board of Directors at Thrive Social Services.
Roper Greyell is pleased to welcome acclaimed Vancouver employment lawyer Jaime Hoopes as a Partner. Jaime is a member of the BC Canadian Bar Association‘s Employment Law, Human Rights Law, and Labour Law sections in addition to working at Roper Greyell. The Hoop-Law Society Executive and Kids Up Front Vancouver Board of Directors were among his former positions and is listed in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers’ “Ones to Watch in Canada”.
Mike Hartshorne
Mike Hartshorne has been named Realtor of the Year for British Columbia from Royal LePage Canada.
Flight Cannabis is proud to announce their newest location now open in the vibrant Vic West neighbourhood of Victoria at the Westside Mall. As the latest addition to Flight Cannabis’ network of Vancouver Island stores—including Langford, Ladysmith, and Nanaimo—this location continues the brand’s mission to provide exceptional cannabis experiences across the region.
The four Vancouver Island marinas owned by Oak Bay Marine Group—Oak Bay, North Saanich, Ladysmith, and Pedder Bay—as well as OBMG Boathouses and the Marina Dockside Eatery were purchased by Graham Clarke, owner of the Graham Clarke Group.
Petroglyph Development Group Ltd. (PDG) has completed the previously announced acquisitions of Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria from Great Canadian Entertainment (Great Canadian Entertainment), marking historic transactions for both companies.
The Clean Energy Association of BC (CEBC) has announced that Stephen Rayner (n̓aasquʔisʔatḥ), previously the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, will take on the role of Interim Chair after Colleen Giroux-Schmidt‘s resignation from the position.
The Victoria Regional Transit Commission (VRTC) and BC Transit are inviting new members to join their Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee. Visit the ATAC website for further details and the application form.
A Canadian chapter of the oceantech-focused Blue Action Accelerator has been established under the name Blue Action Canada by the Victoria-based Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST), in collaboration with Founders Factory and Blue Action.
Seascapes Lounge is opening soon on B.C. Ferries’ Spirit-class vessels, taking the place of the Pacific Buffet. The restaurant will have a $6 entry fee and will operate on routes between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen, just in time for the summer season.
MarineLabs, a tenant at the Ocean Innovation Hub and a member of COAST, has successfully secured a $4.5M Forecast AI project, bolstered by a $1.8M investment from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster!
Victoria’s Mama Nadia’s Kitchen, an Egyptian eatery at 380 Cook Street, marks two years of success and growth.
The Royal and McPherson Theatres Society Board of the Capital Regional District is seeking local candidates for leadership positions. The application deadline is February 14th.
The 2025 catalogue from Source Office Furniture is now available, and it is brimming with high-quality office furniture at unbeatable prices for your business.
The BC Achievement Foundation invites British Columbians to celebrate and honour individuals and organizations whose contributions inspire all to reach higher and do more. Nominations are open for the following programs: Community Award, BC Reconciliation Award, Indigenous Business Award, Polygon First Nations Art Award and Sam Carter Applied Art + Design Award.
Macaloney’s Island Distillery has been awarded Canadian Whisky of the Year for their Peat Project Moscatel Barrique single malt.
GlasCurtain Inc. will be showcasing an engaging presentation on the impact of policy on public infrastructure at the Construction Specifications Canada | Devis de Construction Canada Vancouver Island Chapter luncheon on January 23 at Fireside Grill, 4509 West Saanich Road. The presentation will include insights from the $250M Red Deer Justice Centre, a benchmark in high-performance civic design.
Kuku’s Take Out, Delivery and Catering is celebrating its 16th year with an anniversary special.
Deco De Mode Beauty Clinic has moved to their new location at 1410 Broad Street (north block of Broad).
South Island Farmers Institute is hosting its annual Farmer to Farmer week from January 20-24.
Kindergym‘s registration at Colwood Church, 2250 Sooke Road, is now open.
The Victoria Conservatory of Music is moving forward with plans to erect a $150,000 fence at its Pandora Avenue and Quadra Street location.
The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce will hold its AGM at Worklink Employment Society, located at 2096 Church Rd, on January 23.
The District of Sooke is offering free bike racks to local businesses to promote sustainable transportation and encourage biking in the community.
The Real Estate Development Micro-Credential, new program for real estate professionals has been launched by the Royal Roads University in partnership with the Urban Development Institute – Capital Region.
Regehr Contracting Ltd. has been given the Little River Pedestrian Crossing Project contract by the District of Sooke.
Peninsula Lager, a hyper-local beer that embodies the entire agricultural cycle of the Saanich Peninsula, will be launched on Thursday, February 6th, at Field 5 Farm‘s malting facility. Small Gods Brewing Co. and Field 5 Farm are inviting industry professionals and the media to attend this event.
The Sidney Business Improvement Area (Sidney BIA) has launched the Work in Sidney Perk Pass, a program aimed at appreciating both new and existing employees for their valuable contributions to the community.
The Mary Winspear Centre will host the Sidney Employment Expo on March 12, 2025.
The Repair Cafe Westcoast, an event by ReImagine West Shore, is scheduled for February 23 at 935 Goldstream Ave, Langford.
The Sidney Business Improvement Area (Sidney BIA) has introduced the Work in Sidney Perk Pass, a special program designed to thank new and existing employees who work in Sidney for their contributions to our vibrant community. The Work in Sidney Perk Pass invites employees to explore, indulge, and enjoy exclusive perks offered by the amazing businesses that make Sidney shine. Each Perk Pass is valued at $200, includes eight unique offers from local businesses, and is completely free for eligible participants—providing a fantastic opportunity to experience and support the community.
