News Impacting Southern Vancouver Island Business
Carmen Rempel
Habitat for Humanity Victoria is celebrating the leadership of Chief Executive Officer, Carmen Rempel, who joined the organization this summer and is already making an impression in the region. Previously, Rempel served as Executive Director of Kelowna’s Gospel Mission, where she led transformational work in housing and outreach for people experiencing homelessness. Known for her advocacy work in crime prevention and integrating health with housing, she now brings her passion and skills to Vancouver Island – this time with her eye on addressing the affordable housing crisis through home ownership opportunities.
Richard Grounds has been appointed to a three-year term as chair of the Skilled Trades BC Appeal Board (STBCAB).
Müge Büyükçelen and Brian Yoon have been appointed Co-Artistic Directors of the Classical Strings Department at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
Tom Lee Music opened a new location in Millstream Village (unit #B111).
The Crazy Cookie House is open again after their summer break at 4105 Metchosin Road next to Witty’s Lagoon parking lot.
Kristopher Wojtecki has been appointed as the President of Starlight Infrastructure Solutions, a new strategic business division that is dedicated to the acquisition and management of essential-use assets that facilitate the delivery of essential services across public, social, and economic systems.
Justice Amy Peck
Justice Amy Peck has been appointed as a new associate justice to the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
A $94,000 Community Gaming Grant will be going to the Maritime Museum of British Columbia Society. This grant assists arts and culture groups in providing and expanding programs that enhance community vibrancy.
The rezoning application for the Roundhouse at Bayview property in Vic West, which consists of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway roundhouse property and runs along Esquimalt Road, Catherine Street, and Kimta Road, was approved by the city council.
Ceedar, a Victoria-based startup, has received $200,000 USD in pre-seed funding from Metalab Ventures and other angel investors.
The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) in Saanich, located at 231 Regina Ave., has expanded its temporary shelter capacity by 25 units, bringing the total number of overnight shelter spaces to 50.
Pacific Opera Victoria is excited to announce the second season of The Luminary Series at the McPherson Playhouse after last year’s success. Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野 and pianist David Eliakis will perform their groundbreaking one-person show, The Queen in Me, in Victoria on September 24 at 7:30pm, following a sold-out world debut with the Canadian Opera Company. Zombie Blizzard, a powerful collaboration between soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, author Margaret Atwood, and composer Aaron Davis, will be performed at 7:30pm on January 18, 2026.
Culture Days is set to make a comeback this fall, running from September 19 to October 12, 2025. The event will feature a variety of free and pay-what-you-can music events, arts workshops, open studios, exhibitions, and more throughout Vancouver Island. Accessible and inclusive arts and culture activities are available for everyone, inviting participants to discover local creatives, get a behind-the-scenes look, ignite their own creativity through hands-on experiences, and build lasting connections.
The Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) and the Canadian Heritage Arts Society (CHAS) are delighted to announce their coming season of plays, musicals, and other performances for 2025-26. Tickets are currently available for events at the CCPA Performance Hall, and they will be available for purchase on September 22 for the Year-End Musical, Disney’s Newsies, at the McPherson Playhouse.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce welcomes its newest members, La-Z-Boy Incorporated, Edwards Technical Writing, Abdo Services, and Vamos M&A Advisors.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, in partnership by by Western Interior Design Group Ltd. and Alitis Investment Counsel, will be hosting the October Emerge Connector on Oct. 16th at Western Design + Build, 577 Pembroke Street.
The John Horgan Campus, a new center for post-secondary education in the West Shore at Peatt Road and Goldstream Avenue, is now open.
University of Victoria‘s Vancouver Island Technology Park (VITP) in Saanich was leased, renovated, and equipped with $15 million in provincial investment. An additional $9.1 million was reserved for its starting and operational costs.
WSANEC LAUWELNEW Elementary School has received nearly 50 desktop computers, as well as 60 new mice and keyboards, from Saanich in preparation of the upcoming academic year.
Saanich residents are invited to participate in a town hall meeting on September 9 at Saanich’s municipal hall, located at 720 Vernon Ave., where the council will open the floor to discussion.
Residents can apply for up to $12,000 in interest-free financing to replace their oil, natural gas, or propane heating systems with electric heat pumps through Saanich’s sixth intake of its Heat Pump Financing Program, which closes on September 22.
On Saturday, November 15, the Saanich Peninsula Hospital and Healthcare Foundation invites you to the Spirit Gala, presented by Peninsula Co-op. This year’s theme is Crimson Cabaret, an evening of celebration, elegance, and entertainment.
The Station Food Truck and Music Festival is returning for its fourth year at The Langford Station from September 19 and 20.
Emporia Westshore has implemented a new business schedule, increasing its hours of operation to seven days per week.
Macaloney Brewers & Distillers Ltd. has announced the release of The Peat Project: Islay Peat.
A series of food security seminars is being hosted by the District of Sooke, the Sooke Library, and the Compost Education Centre for residents. The Local Government Climate Action Program will finance these events, which will start on September 11.
The Sooke Country Market for 2026 is set to welcome additional vendors at its new site, Woodside Farm, situated at 7149 West Coast Rd.
A five-story apartment complex, townhouses, and a community care facility are being planned for the redevelopment of a substantial unoccupied parcel located along the 6500-block of Throup Road, just east of Church Road, as part of the Frances Gardens Co-op housing society.
The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF), the French-language public school authority for B.C., has chosen the Royal Bay neighbourhood of Colwood as the site for the construction of a new French-language school.
Harbour Haven Self Storage has officially opened its doors, offering a premier facility for boaters at Van Isle Marina, developed by Cube Project Management Ltd.
Scoop and Waffle, located at 106-2423 Beacon Avenue in Sidney, is seeking a dynamic full-time server to join its team.
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