News Impacting Southern Vancouver Island Business
VICTORIA
Mike Lenz
Mike Lenz of Chinook Business Advisory, has been appointed as a Board Member of IBBA Canada.
Kinetic was selected to build the Lansdowne Student Housing Project at Camosun College.
Robinson’s Outdoor Store recently celebrated their 96th anniversary.
Bruce Williams recently celebrated 5 years as CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
Rachel Tang and Christopher Simons, both Clinical Counsellors, have joined the team at Equilibrium Therapeutics Victoria, along with Graeme Leggatt, who will serve as a Kinesiologist.
Yvette Puritch has launched the new bed and breakfast business, Nestled Inn Bed & Breakfast in Victoria.
Scale Collaborative is organizing a two-day in-person Social Enterprise Bootcamp for early-stage changemakers on July 17 and 18 at the Dock.
Delta Marine Services Ltd. has been acquired by Westbridge Capital Ltd. In the structure and negotiation of this deal, MNP Corporate Finance Inc. served as Delta Marine Services Ltd.’s only financial advisor.
Christina Kolios
Community Pharmacist & Women’s Health Advocate Christina Kolios of Aaronson’s Compounding Pharmacy has been selected to serve on the newly established BC Ministry of Health Pharmacy Council.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest members, Alibi Catering, Pacific Heat Pumps, BFL CANADA and IT Connect Holdings.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s June Business Mixer is on June 26, at the Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St.
McIntosh Mortgages’ has a brand new location in Victoria.
The University of Victoria Peter B. Gustavson School of Business and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) graduated 22 students in the first class of an MBA in Advancing Reconciliation on June 12. During this celebration, Gustavson and BCAAFC are glad to announce its ongoing collaboration to provide two more MBA AR cohorts.
Gary Nagra
Gary Nagra recently joined the team at Clear Trust Mortgages.
Ice Cream Mountain in Victoria is now owned and operated by Kawartha Dairy.
Ghost Ramen will close its location next to Swans Brewpub on Store Street at the end of June.
BC Cancer is hiring full-time radiation oncologists in Surrey, Vancouver, Victoria, and Prince George.
Opera Sprouts, a collaboration between Vancouver Opera and Pacific Opera Victoria, announces its inaugural cohort who will undertake the development of three imaginative new operas designed for young audiences. A trio of composer and librettist teams were chosen to take part in the pilot project, exploring the world of creating new opera for youth in BC schools.
The Highland Valley Copper Mine Life Extension (HVC MLE) project west of Logan Lake operated by Teck Resources Ltd. has been completely approved as part of British Columbia’s export diversification and economic strengthening efforts.
Chef Bombay is now available at Whole Foods Market in Victoria, at 3587 Blanshard St.
CitySpaces Consulting is collaborating with the Gorge View Society on the second phase of Chown Place, a multi-phase redevelopment aimed at delivering essential affordable housing for seniors and families in Victoria.
Mike Manara
Pacific Group Resorts announced the appointment of Mike Manara as the new General Manager of Mount Washington Alpine Resort, effective July 1, 2025.
The Pacific Salmon Foundation has allocated a record-breaking $1.8 million to 119 grassroots salmon initiatives throughout the province.
The following individuals were elected to the 2025/26 Board of Directors by the South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP), an economic development coalition for Greater Victoria, during the organization’s Annual General Meeting on June 17:
- Terry Gunning, Chair — Partner, EY
- Jennifer Vornbrock, Vice-Chair — Executive Director, Community & Government Relations, UVic
- Suzanne Bradbury, Vice-Chair — Co-owner, Fort Properties Ltd.
- Evan Machin — Investment Associate, InBC Investment Corp.
- Katie McGowan — Corporate Executive Officer, Songhees Development Corporation
- Mark Donahue — Director, Technology Adoption, EllisDon
- Jenny Farkas — Co–founder, Make Space for Art Society
- Sonterra Ross — VP, Operations, Beacon Community Services
- Tony Payne — SVP, Technology & Innovation, BCI
- Basma Majerbi — Associate Professor, Gustavson School of Business, UVic, and Development Lead, Vancouver Island Impact Investing Hub (VI3Hub)
- Steven Rumpel — Acting Dean, School of Business, Camosun College
The District of Saanich received two awards from the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC): Silver Excellence in Planning Practice: Cities and Urban Areas for our Strategic Support for Non-Market Housing and Gold Excellence in Policy Planning – City and Urban Areas for our Biodiversity Conservation Strategy & Urban Forest Strategy.
Pacific Cat Clinic‘s practice manager and registered veterinary technologist, Leah Penner, has been honoured as the Veterinary Professional of the Year by Trupanion pet medical insurance.
The District of Saanich has officially launched Saanich BusinessCare, a new program supporting local businesses and building community-wide economic resilience.
Connect Communities and Island Health are building Connect Saanich Peninsula in Central Saanich to provide comprehensive rehabilitation therapy and care for people who have acquired brain injuries.
Urban Solar recently completed an RMS120F installation in West Saanich, for the Sydney Rotary Club.
Infrastructure BC has released the Spring 2025 BC Major Infrastructure Projects Brochure, which can be accessed online at InfrastructureBC.com.
The Saanich Strawberry Festival entertainment stage will be launched by The Soul Shakers on Sunday, July 6th.
Colwood’s Lagoon Food Market, located on Lagoon Road and Metchosin Road, is for sale for less than $50,000.
Zero Waste Sooke has recently installed a bin containing free, reusable bags at the entrance of each grocery store in the community.
Davidson Chambers located at 2474 Beacon Avenue, in Sidney, celebrates its 2 years anniversary.
Peninsula Country Market announced that the 2025 B.C. Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program has officially launched.
MP Aaron Gunn of Powell River, North Island, has been appointed to the Standing Committee for Fisheries and Oceans.
The e-bike and e-scooter share program of Evo Car Share has been officially launched in Langford. Until July 31, $1 from each ride will be donated to the Goldstream Food Bank.
Goldstream Medical Clinic, a long-term partnership between the South Island Primary Care Society and the Freemasons of Langford, will soon open in Langford.
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