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OCTOBER 2020
HYAS INFOSEC INC. TAKES STAND AGAINST INTERNATIONAL CYBERCRIME - 16
AUX BOX INFUSES MODERN STYLING AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP WITH CLIENT-PLEASING PREFAB DESIGNS – 20
WESTERN SPEEDWAY SALE GETS STAMP OF APPROVAL – 14 Innov8 the way you work.
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Thanks for stopping by this edition of the Business Examiner Victoria! October has been a crazy month, and we’re excited to see that the economy seems to by steadily picking up steam. This month we’ve got a great look at one of Vancouver Island’s great tech success stories, HYAS Infosec. Also in this issue are our Chamber of Commerce reports from across the Greater Victora area, CITIFIED’s fantastic development column, Who Is Suing Whom, Movers and Shakers, and much more. John MacDonald, Director, Business Development
Inez Louden, FRI Associate Broker 250-812-7710 inezlouden@telus.net Pemberton Holmes – Sidney 107 – 2360 Beacon Avenue Inez was raised in a family of 6 children and was taught to work hard, do the best she could and always work honestly and ethically. “My Grandfather, who lived with us in his last years, told me to treat others as I would want to be treated – but do it first.” In honour of her Grandfather, and in keeping with the way she was raised, Inez has always tried to follow this one simple rule in life. Inez believes education and staying current on changes in the real estate industry is very important in representing, and providing. the best service to her clients. Her FRI (Fellow of the Real Estate Institute) and Associate Broker designations, plus membership in the Real Estate Institute of Canada and Better Business Bureau are part of her education achievements. “I love my job and have been very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people who have referred me to their family and friends”. If you are thinking of making a real estate move, give Inez a call at 250-812-7710 and put her 31 years of experience and knowledge to work for you.
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8 NEWS UPDATE
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WEST SHORE
SAANICH PENINSULA
GREATER VICTORIA
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CITIFIED
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16 HYAS INFOSEC TAKES STAND AGAINST INTERNATIONAL CYBERCRIME
TOURISM
20 AUX BOX INFUSES MODERN STYLING AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
26 WHO IS SUING WHOM
28 MOVERS AND SHAKERS
32 OPINION
NEWS UPDATE
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MCDOUGALL RECOGNIZED AS ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT PIONEER
REAL ESTATE UNWAVERING OVER COURSE OF PANDEMIC
VICTORIA – Harbour Air CEO and Founder, Greg McDougall, has received the 2020 Award of Honour from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP). The Award of Honour recognizes an outstanding and enduring contribution to aviation. The organization selected McDougall to receive this year’s Award of Honour for his leadership and determination in taking a dream to reality, committing to developing a fleet of electricpowered aircraft to become a world leader in carbon zero operations. The award comes nearly nine months after McDougall flew the first successful test flight of the world’s first commercial electric aircraft. The HCAP spoke of McDougall as “one of aviation’s great innovators at a time when environmental concerns are driving radical change amid the search for alternatives to fossil fuel-based propulsion.” The HCAP Trophies and Awards are among the industry’s most prestigious as the recipients are chosen by their peers, who have decades of experience in military and civil aviation worldwide. Harbour Air was also awarded the Cumberbatch Trophy in 2012 for outstanding contributions to air safety by the same organization, then known as the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators. Traditionally presented at London’s Guildhall at the end of October, this year’s award presentation event has been postponed to 2021.
VICTORIA - A total of 989 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this September, 60.6 per cent more than the 616 properties sold in September 2019 and 1 per cent more than the previous month of August 2020. Sales of condominiums were up 26.7 per cent from September 2019 with 280 units sold. Sales of single family homes were 91.9 per cent from September 2019 with 539 sold. There were 2,389 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board MLS at the end of September 2020, 15.4 per cent fewer properties than the total available at the end of September 2019 and a 7.5 per cent decrease from the 2,584 active listings for sale at the end of August 2020. T he MLS Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core in September 2019 was $849,100. The benchmark value for the same home in September 2020 increased by 3.5 per cent to $879,200, 1.1 per cent less than August’s value of $889,200. The MLS HPI benchmark value for a condominium in the Victoria Core in September 2019 was $512,500, while the benchmark value for the same condominium in September 2020 decreased by 0.4 per cent to $510,600, 0.6 per cent less than the August value of $513.900. OCTOBER 2020
Sean Bourquin is CEO of First Light Technologies
FIRST LIGHT TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDED IN CANADA’S TOP GROWING COMPANIES VICTORIA – First Light Technologies has been included in the 2020 Report on Business ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies for the second year in a row. Canada’s Top Growing Companies ranks Canadian companies on three-year revenue growth. First Light Technologies earned its spot with three-year growth of 133 per cent. First Light’s strong growth comes as the company has been at the forefront of solar lighting for the last 11 years. The company is a pioneer in self-contained commercial solar lights. Their approach offers the simplest way of providing outdoor lighting, coupled with overall cost savings of typically 50 per cent or more when compared to wired lighting and no ongoing carbon emissions. “Any business leader seeking inspiration should look no further than the 400 businesses on this year’s Report on Business ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies,” says Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO of The Globe and Mail. “Their growth helps to make Canada a better place, and we are proud to bring their stories to our readers.” First Light Technologies designs and manufactures commercial grade, self-contained solar powered lights. The company is dedicated to driving the potential of sustainable, solar lighting by constantly delivering better and simpler solutions. WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA
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WEST SHORE
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
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JULIE LAWLOR
attend by donating to Our Place, the Goldstream Food Bank or Pacific Centre Family Services Association. Many are choosing the donation option, including one member who donated $100 to the Goldstream Food Bank. (If you would like to take part in this year’s events, please go to our Events Calendar.) I am also really appreciative of the choices people are clearly making to keep others safe. I see it in businesses, where more and more people are wearing masks and are conscious of physical distance. I also see it on sidewalks and in parks, where people take turns moving to one side to create a safe space for another to pass. Such courtesy never fails to improve my day. Thank you to everyone who continues to follow the advice of our indomitable Dr. Bonnie Henry to “be kind, be calm, and stay safe.” Julie Lawlor is Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce.
I am writing this article at the end of September, where after some much-needed rain we are looking towards the welcome prospect of a week of sunshine. It is a busy, exhausting, often anxious time for many. A provincial election has been called, COVID numbers are not going down and people are worried about their businesses and their jobs. In all of this, it feels like gloom often predominates and given what we are all experiencing this is understandable. Each of us has our own way of managing the stress and the uncertainty, and I draw a lot of strength from the continued generosity of our community. This year, instead of a Gala Awards dinner for the Best of the WestShore Awards, we are holding a series of pre-recorded announcements over four nights to do justice to all 44 categories. Attendance at all of the events is free, but we included an option whereby people could OCTOBER 2020
SAANICH PENINSULA
CHECK OUT SAANICH PENINSULA’S AMAZING LOCAL GIFT OPTIONS
DENNY WARNER
As the big online sellers roll out their campaigns earlier than ever to capture Christmas shoppers, it is important to counteract their big budget assaults and launch local campaigns to educate people about the amazing gift options that exist right here on the Saanich Peninsula. Locals showed up #SaanPen strong early on in the pandemic but there is concern about the drift back to online sellers. The community is a huge loser in those transactions due to the multiplier effect from the dollars that aren’t then available to circulate locally. The merchants that support local groups through their donations are unable to contribute to those worthy causes. Ultimately, we risk stores closing entirely and people losing their jobs. But beyond those contributions to our economic and social fabric, local businesses also have an important role as ambassadors of our community. It is their customers, local and from further afield, that create the buzz that makes this place thrive.
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Staff here at the Chamber are likely more knowledgeable than most about what is available in the shops on the Saanich Peninsula but even we are only aware of a fraction of the merchandise and services on offer. Each day merchants are bringing in new stock and revising their services to better meet the needs of their clients and customers. You can feel confident about shopping locally because of the quality of what is available and because you are supporting your neighbours’ survival and contributing to the well-being of our community. We know more of you would shop locally if you were aware of all the surprising and interesting goods and services that are on offer. To assist you with making more informed shopping decisions for Christmas and beyond, we plan to use our social media channels to showcase glimpses of the unique gift options available on the Saanich Peninsula. Stay tuned and stay true to local! Denny Warner is the Executive Director at the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
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GREATER VICTORIA
PANELS OUTLINE PRIORITIES FOR NEXT PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
12 BRUCE WILLIAMS
With election day set for Oct. 24 in BC, the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has a wish list for whoever forms the next provincial government. As a non-partisan organization, we don’t endorse specific candidates or policies. Rather, our role is to help voters — specifically the business community — understand the positions of major candidates in Greater Victoria ridings. To that end, we’re hosting five Virtual Election Panels ahead of the election. These online events are open to the public and are being archived at victoriachamber.ca. Questions for candidates reflect issues specific to ridings as well as concerns affecting all businesses. And because Greater Victoria is so interconnected, even issues specific to a single municipality resonate with people in others.
For example, we recently heard from BC Ferries CEO Mark Collins as part of our virtual Business Restart Series. It was a great update on the work being done so ferries can keep communities connected and vital supply chains intact. Mark was also very optimistic about the feasibility of running a commuter ferry between Royal Bay in Colwood and downtown Victoria. Will candidates commit to championing this option if their party forms government? What about mental health and addiction supports for people experiencing homelessness? The pandemic brought this issue into sharp relief with encampments and the accompanying concerns dominating conversations in many urban neighbourhoods. The Chamber is calling on government to address the root issues behind why vulnerable people are ending up on the street. What are the candidates offering as solutions? How do we address the opioid crisis as well as the pandemic? Businesses also face a huge challenge simply getting their revenue streams back to pre-pandemic levels. How will government help? And will candidates commit to opposing measures that increase the cost of doing business? What about relief for tourism and hospitality — the sector hit hardest by the pandemic. At some point, taxpayers are also facing a financial mess that has seen record deficits adding to our debt. How will the next government start the work on digging us out from this hole? And as we repair and restart our economy, what opportunities do candidates see for our region? How will they commit to delivering the necessary retraining and incentives to build more resilience into our workforce? How can we lessen our impact on the environment and develop innovations that address climate change? The questions themselves are almost as important as the answers.
OCTOBER 2020
GREATER VICTORIA In the last few elections, The Chamber has worked with our community partners to host what we call “listening sessions” for candidates. These gave us a unified voice about what our region needed the new government to focus on. They also offered solutions proposed by people who are in the frontlines of these issues. Everything looks a little different this year, but our mission remains the same. We are finding a way to work together to build good business and great community. The Chamber 2020 Election Panels The Chamber’s 2020 Election Panels can be viewed on our Facebook Live channel from noon to 1 pm on the following dates: Oct 13 - Victoria-Beacon Hill Oct 14 - Oak Bay-Gordon Head Oct 15 - Saanich South Oct 16 - Esquimalt-Metchosin Oct 20 - Victoria-Swan Lake
Chamber AGM and Mayors Panel Nov. 3 – AGM and Mayors Panel featuring Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes, Colwood Mayor Rob Martin and View Royal Mayor David Screech Bruce Williams is CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
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Citified.ca
WESTERN SPEEDWAY SALE GETS STAMP OF APPROVAL Sponsored by CENTRAL SAANICH
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Sassy’s Family Restaurant, situated at 6719 West Saanich Road and Keating Cross Road, is at the centre of a rezoning application envisioning two buildings of three-storeys comprised of rental housing, temporary accommodation, live-work homes for local producers and artisans, commercial units catering to the tourism industry (including a restaurant space) and a plaza for artisan or farmer’s markets. A five-storey mixed-use commercial and residential building at the intersection of Mount Newton Cross Road and Wallace Drive has been proposed. The site is a stone’s throw from the area’s Thrifty Foods grocery store and various commercial amenities centred on Wallace Drive and East Saanich Road. COLWOOD & LANGFORD
Sources confirm commercial real-estate brokerage CBRE has an accepted offer for the Western Speedway lands at the north end of Langford. The 81-acre property at 2207 Millstream Road, which includes a motor speedway and parcels used for industrial operations, an RV park, a collection of rented single-family-homes and a go-cart track, entertained bids from interested LE
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3030 Jacklin Road Langford, BC Newly constructed 12 suite apartment building in the commercial hub of Langford. The building has 9 one bed/den & 3 two bed/den residential suites & 1 commercial unit. $4,797,000
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buyers throughout the summer. A 13-acre parcel on Sooke Road at Luxton Road near Langford’s Slegg Building Materials has sold to Burnaby-based developer Beedie, a firm with significant real-estate holdings in western Canada. Along the Colwood Strip a Galaxy Motors dealership centred on some six-acres at 1764 Old Island Highway has also drawn a buyer as the future of the corridor transitions towards a high-density, mixed-use thoroughfare from its mostly light industry-dominated role. A n 11-acre parcel next to big-box store Lowe’s near the Langford Parkway and Veterans Memorial Parkway intersection is reportedly changing hands soon, although details of the transaction are limited. SAANICH
Prepared meals using ingredients from some of downtown Victoria’s most popular restaurants will soon be available in dine-in, take-out and cook-at-home format as part of a new venture. Niche Grocerant, opening next spring at Royal Oak Drive’s Broadmead Village Shopping Centre, plans to bring urban fare to the suburbs with a combined restaurant-and-grocery concept from local businesswomen Ceri Barlow and Jami Wood. 1410 Broad Street Victoria, BC A mixed use investment opportunity in the heart of Downtown Victoria. This 7,601sf building is fully leased and is home to Cherry Bomb Toys, the National Toy Museum of Canada and 3 apartments. $2,400,000
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2740 Dundas Road Shawnigan Lake, BC Exceptionally well maintained mixed use building located in the heart of Shawnigan Lake surrounded by a wide variety of retailers.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE EXPERTS Ross Marshall
Personal Real Estate Corporation Senior Vice President CBRE Investment Properties Group 250 386 0004 ross.marshall@cbre.com
Chris Rust
Personal Real Estate Corporation Senior Vice President CBRE Investment Properties Group 250 386 0005 chris.rust@cbre.com
Opt in to receive our property listings! www.cbrevictoria.com CBRE Limited, Real Estate Brokerage | 1026 Fort Street, Victoria, BC | 250 386 0000
OCTOBER 2020
Citified.ca A proposal to redevelop the former Pluto’s Diner property at 1150 Cook Street into high-rise residences has unearthed a long-standing disagreement between Victoria’s Downtown Residents Association (DRA) and the City of Victoria. In a letter to mayor and cou ncil issued by the DRA on September 14th, the organization reiterated its call for the City to close what it believes are Image credit: A project rendering depicting the ground floor design of 1314-1318 zoning “loopholes” that Wharf Street, a proposal from Reliance Properties to restore the heritage facades ought to be a concern for of the Northern Junk buildings and build rental apartments above in a six-storey complex. © Reliance Properties elected officials in light of development g u ideSOOKE lines in community plans, and real-world Council has approved preliminary plans for proposa ls that emerge before pla n ners. an affordable seniors housing complex with Proponent Sakura Developments has delivered an elder and youth community programming a vision it says is in accordance with zoning, facility for Wadams Way in the town centre. and supported by planners. The mixed-use project, spearheaded by the Reliance Properties’ vision for 1314-1318 Wharf Sooke Region Communities Health Network, will Street hopes to deliver nearly 50 rental resiinclude up to 76 residences for individuals aged dences and some 9,000 square feet of commer55-plus, with ground floor activity spaces on cial space within a brick-clad building at the the northeast quadrant of a municipally-owned eastern end of the Johnson Street Bridge that parcel known as Lot A. incorporates two heritage structures known The Vancouver Island Regional Library has as the Northern Junk buildings. Council has confirmed construction of a new library branch agreed, after over a decade of design changes, in the town centre is slated to begin following to send the proposal to a public hearing. lengthy delays that pushed back a 2019 conDowntown’s Fountain Tire automotive shop struction start. The two-storey facility will be and several adjacent parcels between Herald situated along Wadams Way. and Chatham streets could soon make way for a significant redevelopment effort in Old Town. VICTORIA Nicola Wealth Real-Estate and Denciti DeBC Housing has backed a collection of homes at velopment are in the early stages of seeking a a 49-suite condominium project from Abstract development permit with variances to transDevelopments. Known as Sparrow, the building form 611-635 Chatham Street and 610-618 will rise to six-storeys on Hillside Avenue at Herald Street into a two-building, nearly 275Cook Street, and will include low down payment unit rental complex with ground floor retail provisions for a limited number of qualified space. purchasers. victoria.citified.ca WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA
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OFF THE COVER
HYAS INFOSEC INC. TAKES STAND AGAINST INTERNATIONAL CYBERCRIME NANAIMO-BORN STARTUP GROWS INTO DIGITAL SECURITY JUGGERNAUT IN JUST FIVE YEARS
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VICTORIA - One would not expect a fight against digital bad actors across the globe to originate from a home office in a small town like Nanaimo. And yet, in 2015, that’s where HYAS Infosec Inc. drew its original battle lines in the perpetual fight against cyberattacks and the criminals who commit them. There, CTO and co-founder Chris Davis, together with partner Steve Heyns launched the now Victoria-headquartered HYAS with a strong and clear vision. “I wanted to establish a cybersecurity company that could preempt attacks, something we call pre-zero-day security, before they could harm consumers or businesses, in a way that would provide significant efficiency for security analysts and significant value for enterprises,” explains Chris. “I realized the key was understanding attacker infrastructure, and the way malicious actors use assets on the Internet, and to be capable of collecting enough data to become the de facto expert in adversary infrastructure.” If anyone had the pedigree to shoulder this task, it was Chris. A twenty-year veteran of the information security industry, Chris launched a number of successful startup firms, as well as operating in senior roles with cyber security companies, amongst them as Director of Threat Intelligence at Damballa, Inc. and Endgame, both in Atlanta, Georgia, Senior Security Consultant for Global Information Security Assurance at Dell’s headquarters in Round Rock, Texas, and as technical advisor for The Citizen Lab in Toronto, an organization focused on global security, human
CHRIS DAVIS PHOTO: HYAS CTO and Co-founder Chris Davis was recognized with the FBI Director’s Award of Excellence, and named one of Microsoft’s Digital Crime Unit Global Heroes in 2011 for taking down the ‘Mariposa’ botnet that infected millions of computers worldwide.
rights and information and communication technologies. Chris was also instrumental in dismantling the Mariposa botnet, a complex malware scheme comprising one of the largest networks of hijacked computers on record. More than fifteen-million PCs in nearly every country were compromised, with infiltration OCTOBER 2020
OFF THE COVER of massive corporations and government computers worldwide, including numerous Canadian banks. For his troubles, Chris became the first Canadian and one of very few non-FBI employees to receive the FBI Director’s Award of Excellence. In short, Chris knew his stuff. Many organizations struggle to respond to attacks, playing an online version of “whacka-mole” where security teams plug security holes only after discovering an attack, essentially entering a cycle of defensive response rather than offensive deterrence. The destruction wrought by repeated attacks can create a snowball effect of lost revenue and reputation difficult to overcome. Largely organized criminal gangs and repeat offenders, these bad actors relentlessly pursue their targets for illicit profit. HYAS helps enterprises get ahead of the attackers through a superior understanding of their infrastructure so they can block attacks before they breach the walls. “HYAS plays in the cybersecurity space, where criminals are always scheming new means to steal,” elaborates Chris. “The Internet uses a set of protocols called the Domain Name System (DNS), similar to a phonebook of web addresses, to ensure information passes between intended sender and recipient. HYAS has a superior understanding of attacker DNS infrastructure. We help enterprises understand attacks, and how to preempt future ones. HYAS observes DNS network queries to websites and blocks attempts to reach “bad” websites with a questionable reputation, or that may be utilized for malware command and control or phishing.” These tactics keep a variety of sensitive information out of the hands of criminals, including banking and personal information of citizens, and the tools organizations and governments use to protect sensitive data and vital digital and physical infrastructure. One of the more nefarious schemes saw HYAS discover highly-targeted cyberattacks against France’s nuclear power stations, rail system, WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA
and additional critical infrastructure. HYAS traced the attacks to a single individual in Morocco, providing details of their investigation to French authorities via the US Embassy in Paris. With success like this, it stands to reason HYAS has grown by leaps and bounds over its relatively short existence. Since receiving its initial seed funding from global investment management firm Wesley Clover, to being awarded $6.2 million from Microsoft’s venture capital arm M12 in 2019, today HYAS employs a team of almost thirty, with a growing clientele across three continents and multiple countries. Their customers include two of the Fortune 5 enterprises and numerous Fortune 100 enterprises, from financial services firms, insurance companies, large technology firms and federal governments. Even with an expanding international profile, HYAS remains connected to its BC roots and Canada as a whole, drawing from an exceptional pool of technical talent coming from provincial universities and other Canadian institutions. And, it still maintains a small office in its birthplace of Nanaimo. With the cybersecurity market at around $120 billion USD annually and cyberattacks rising, HYAS and its partners are never short of work, and it remains dedicated to expanding its product portfolio with innovative, disruptive technologies to help enterprises block attacks before they can happen. Concluded Chris, “We will continue to capitalize on our strength in threat intelligence, and move into new spaces allowing us to better combat cyber fraud, hunt for threats, proactively respond to cyber incidents and pinpoint perpetrators.” As Chris noted to Fortune Magazine in a recent interview, “My drive is to locate the bad guy.” The business of being one of those bad guys seems an increasingly dubious path. www.hyas.com
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ADVERTISING FEATURE
EXPERT INSIGHTS LOCKHART INDUSTRIES
Did you know that the sun supplies 10,000 times more energy than the world uses? So there’s really no need to burn anything to power our energy needs. Instead, we can simply repurpose the energy that the earth provides. The 1st Law of Thermodynamics states: “Energy can be neither created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.” Although great strides have been made in the solar energy field, we still lack the ability to dispatch, on demand, the energy we harvest from the sun. That is...until now. A leader and innovator in the green energy field, Lockhart Industries Ltd has been pioneering GeoExchange solutions on Vancouver Island for over 45 years. Now they’re going fully NetZero. By marrying two of the cleanest and greenest energy sources – Solar (PV) and GeoExchange (GHP) – we can pull enough of the sun’s energy
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indirectly from the ground, a pond, lake or the ocean (geo) and combine it with direct energy from the sun itself (solar) to achieve a NetZero home. This means that you will never have to pay for energy again as you will be getting 100% of your home’s energy needs – including heating, cooling, domestic hot water (DHW) and all plug load (fridge, stove, lights etc) – from the sun. And did we mention that this system creates ZERO EMISSIONS! On average, this combination of solar and GeoExchange pays for itself in 8 years. That means that the system, which will supply 100% of your home’s heating and cooling needs, your hot water and all your home’s plug load starts paying you after the 8-year mark. Once the amount of your monthly hydro savings (since you’re not paying the energy companies anymore) surpasses the initial cost of the system, it’s now pure profit paying you month after month for the next 22 years (the lifespan of the system is 30 years). So depending on your energy usage and the size of your house, you could be pocketing from $150,000 up to $450,000 over the lifetime of the system. Not a bad return on investment!! By eliminating the 60-70% of ongoing house ownership expenses that is heating, cooling and hot water, everybody wins. You get a greener home, you contribute to a greener environment and you get to add a large amount of green to your retirement fund. Visit Lockhart Industries at lockhart.ca or give their office a call at (250) 748-1731 for more info on this new GeoSolar Exchange system. Calculations and savings are based on average energy costs, number of residents and consumption rates thus individual values may vary and differ from those estimated herein. No guarantees are given here on actual costs being the same as estimated costs.
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FEATURE STORY
20 From office space to guest room, and dozens of uses in between, the Aux Box team creates deeply stylish, comfortable spaces on budget, offsite and with little waste.
AUX BOX INFUSES MODERN STYLING AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP WITH CLIENT-PLEASING PREFAB ROOM DESIGNS
MORGAN SEEBER AND LANDON SHECK ARE MAKING WAVES IN THE PREFAB CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY PARKSVILLE - Modern, sleek and built to last, Aux Box prefab rooms are an example of form and function coming together in a visually striking design package. Founded by Landon Sheck and Morgan Seeber in 2018, Aux Box began humbly. “Morgan and I both had small construction businesses at the time, mine in Nanaimo and
Morgan’s in Gibsons,” explains Landon. “We had actually discussed a similar idea to Aux Box years prior, but shelved it. We revisited the concept under a reduced structure in scope, making the minimum viable product something we felt we could handle at the time, as Morgan was about to be a first-time parent, and I was expecting my second child.”
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Co-founders Morgan Seeber (left) and Landon Sheck launched Aux Box from a humble Quonset hut in Parksville in 2018. Two years later, their business, workspace and customer base have grown.
The team took six months to build their first prototype, the 106 Model, throwing a small launch event at their small Quonset hut shop in Parksville in 2018. Being well-received, they pressed on, a short year later selling their very first unit. Today, the duo have sold over a dozen, with more under construction in a brand new facility. Together, they create unique prefabs for a variety of uses, from home office to art studio, guest room or yoga space; almost any application their clients conceive, they can make a reality. Aux Box’s bold designs are one-hundred-percent prefabricated, ready to move into upon installation, integrating the best quality products into a thoughtfully designed system, producing next to no waste during production and nearly zero maintenance over the life of the product. “The combination of skills Morgan and I have, we can literally create an Aux Box from scratch by ourselves, from design to delivery. If need be, we could keep producing Aux Boxes without relying on anyone else,” elaborates Landon. “Obviously that’s not scalable, but it is a great WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA
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foundation for a product-centric startup. Our product may be better for a number of reasons, but really it boils down to the desire for a perfect result. This could be read as us being overly stubborn about quality, but hey, this business lives or dies based on the long-term performance of the product. No shortcuts.” Luckily, the two entrepreneurs don’t have to pursue their vision alone, with six employees on staff and the support of talented subcontractors helping scale the Aux Box brand; a brand that is client-focused and dedicated to environmentally sound production from conception to
completion. “It’s important to us that our clients feel like nothing is being hidden from them,” says Morgan. “We encourage questions. Our process is as transparent as possible, and we stick to the price we give. This is a big deal for anyone who knows the woes of a renovation or building project. The benefits of prefabrication are control of the entire project in a dry, safe facility, and therefore, control of costs and waste. This is exciting for the construction industry. We’re offering the market another viable, affordable, convenient option to build spaces.”
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Low-impact installations mean Aux Box prefabs can be placed nearly anywhere, with limited disruption of the natural landscape. OCTOBER 2020
As their business has grown, so too has their ambition. They are currently creating a larger unit to act as a small ADU (Additional Dwelling Unit), with a bathroom and kitchenette option, solving a number of quality affordable housing issues. Elaborates Landon, “It’s an environmentally friendly production and low impact installation, meaning it can be placed almost anywhere without much disruption to the existing property. We intend to begin production in the Spring of 2021, with sales this fall.” Aux Box products are designed for the BC environment, which allows for enough diversity that they can be installed almost anywhere in North America. The team is proud to be a business born from such environs. Concludes Landon, “I’ve seen a bit of the world,
Aux Box prefab rooms offer clients an expanded space that compliments rather than compromises the aesthetic of their homes.
but we have something very special here in British Columbia. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” www.auxbox.c
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S T U D I E S
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VICTORIA TOURISM THE FORMATION OF THE SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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Building on our leadership in sustainable tou r ism, Destination Greater Victoria has launched its n e w S u s t a i nabilit y Adv isory Committee. This committee is part of Destination Greater PAUL NURSEY Victoria’s formal governance structure and reports into Destination Greater Victoria’s Transportation and Destination Management Committee. As an organization we are inspired by private businesses in Greater Victoria who simultaneously achieve good business success with high environmental standards. Social, economic, and environmental sustainability are important values in the visitor economy. Destinations are attracting visitors that do not want to overburden the communities they visit. The Sustainability Advisory Committee is a great way to translate these values into action. Greater Victoria is already a leader of sustainability and environmental innovation with regards to tourism. However, we recognize the need to continually improve. The mandate of the Sustainability Advisory Committee is to provide advice and recommendations to the Board of Directors and Executive about environmental, social and cultural sustainability issues, developments and best practices for the organization, its members, the destination and the visitor economy. The committee will research best practices, disseminate sustainability information, and promote sustainability initiatives. The Sustainability Advisory Committee is the official tourism industry interface with governments of all levels. It also
provides a structure and a working group to interact collaboratively with Destination Greater Victoria management to advance mutual aims. The Sustainability Advisory Committee will comprise members of the Transportation and Destination Management Committee as well as representatives of Destination Greater Victoria, its members, government, industry organizations, community organizations, and other stakeholders who have interest and experience in developing and promoting sustainability best practices for the destination and its tourism businesses. Ultimately the aim of the Sustainability Advisory Committee is to raise collective standards, as well as work together to achieve world-leading accreditation and third-party measurement standards. The formation of the Sustainability Advisory Committee builds on Destination Greater Victoria’s pre-existing work on sustainability, including establishment of the IMPACT Sustainability Travel and Tourism Conference, achieving carbon neutrality through Offsetters’ carbon offset program, donations to the South Vancouver Island Anglers’ Coalition Sooke Net Pen Project to enhance Chinook salmon stocks and sponsorship of Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada’s International Indigenous Tourism Conference. We look forward to continuing this great work. Paul Nursey is the President and CEO of Destination Greater Victoria
OCTOBER 2020
BC Regional Council of Carpenters
The Carpenters Union is seeking carpenters, apprentices, and skilled labourers. Apply at bcrcc.ca
WHO IS SUING WHOM The contents of Who’s Suing Whom is provided by a thirdparty resource and is accurate according to public court documents. Some of these cases may have been resolved by publication date. DEFENDANT 1135270 BC Ltd BC Ltd 616 Kelly Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Affiliati Network Inc CLAIM $423,411
DEFENDANT Cedar General Store 1771 Cedar Rd, Cedar, BC PLAINTIFF Fras, Alexander Anton CLAIM $35,216
DEFENDANT 401721 BC Ltd 1770 Comox Ave, Comox, BC PLAINTIFF Fras, Alexander Anton CLAIM $35,216
DEFENDANT Domcor Health Safety & Security Incorporated 1275A Cypress St , Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF 247 Pilot Car Services CLAIM $31,787
DEFENDANT Apex Life Labs 616 Kelly Rd, Victoria, BC Affiliati Network Inc CLAIM $423,411
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DEFENDANT Dream Home Fencing Ltd 300-736 Broughton St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Allen, Maureen Clara
CLAIM $7,896 DEFENDANT Foster Heating & Cooling 549 Kelvin Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Elan Data Makers CLAIM $25,525 DEFENDANT Gas’n Go Petroleum Ltd 1771 Cedar Rd, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Fras, Alexander Anton CLAIM $35,216 DEFENDANT GB Techniques Co Ltd 7th Flr 1175 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF GL Island Development & Construction Ltd CLAIM $31,204
DEFENDANT Hollywood Cinemas Caprice Ltd 1-699 Beach Rd, Qualicum Beach, BC PLAINTIFF Rosewood Theatres Ltd CLAIM $75,000 Island Burgers Inc 2739 30th St, Vernon, BC PLAINTIFF Guness, Doorvarsh CLAIM $8,480 DEFENDANT Omni Foods 40 Cavan St, Campbell River, BC PLAINTIFF Fras, Alexander Anton CLAIM $35,216 DEFENDANT Phillips Power
OCTOBER 2020
WHO IS SUING WHOM 1335 Coventry St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Murray, Dan CLAIM $25,000
40 Cavan St, Nanaimo, BC PLAINTIFF Eagleye Residential Services Ltd CLAIM $348,204
202-1007 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Ives, David CLAIM $34,916
DEFENDANT Power Vac Services 1335 Coventry St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Murray, Dan CLAIM $25,000
DEFENDANT Pross Renovations 895 Kangaroo Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Clarke, Amber CLAIM $9,751
DEFENDANT Precision Island Exteriors Inc 7-2700 Liacono Pl, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Canada Gypsum Management And Supply Inc CLAIM $5,867
DEFENDANT Scott Steel Erectors Inc 22334 Mcintosh Ave, Maple Ridge, BC PLAINTIFF Chinook Scaffold Systems Ltd CLAIM $70,490
DEFENDANT Standingstone Developments Ltd 1127 Fort St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Lang Wilson Practice In Architecture Culture Inc CLAIM $251,737
DEFENDANT Procter Petroleum Ltd
DEFENDANT Sea Power Marine Centre Ltd
DEFENDANT Swag Daddy Promos Inc 592 185-911 Yates St, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Sadie Baker For Business CLAIM $7,050 Victoria Royal Vacations Inc 3rd Flr 612 View St, Victoria, BC
PLAINTIFF Antroehler, Kevin CLAIM $5,676 Viet Dream Holdings Ltd 9411 Seacote Rd, Richmond, BC PLAINTIFF 2204247 AB Ltd CLAIM $24,784 Westpark 120-1900 Richmond Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Ogunbanwo, Oluwapelumi Ayooluwa Deborah CLAIM $5,456 Winchester Galleries Ltd 204-655 Tyee Rd, Victoria, BC PLAINTIFF Heinsam Holdings Ltd CLAIM $97,656
Region
Project Address
Project Type
Project Details
Contractor/Consultant
Victoria
2275 Quadra St
Consulting services
Crystal Pool HVAC Systems Upgrade - Design Build
Playsted Sheet Metal
Victoria
564 Fisgard St
Consulting services
Project Management Services - Gate of Harmonious Interest
Colliers International
Esquimalt
1343 Woodway Rd
Services
Canadian Forces Housing Maintenance Services
Biamar Building Systems
Saanich
UVic
Mechanical, electrical & plumbing
E-Hut New VRF System
Cascadia West Contracting
Sooke
6671 Wadams Way
Institution new
Library - Sooke Branch
Island West Coast Developments
Capital Regional District
Various locations
Supply
Fence Install
Protex Fence Service
Duncan
2380 Hatchery Rd
Mechanical, electrical & plumbing
Mechanical Ventilation System at Cowichan Hatchery
Archie Johnstone Plumbing & Heating
Cowichan Valley RD
Mill Bay
Institution add/alter
Wharf Float Replacement
Pacific Industrial and Marine
Cowichan Valley RD
Various locations
Supply
Exterior Electronic Signage Supply and Installation
Devlin Electric Sign Co
North Cowichan
Satellite Channel
Consulting services
Wastewater Outfall Relocation
G3 Consulting
Nanaimo
25 Victoria Rd
Institution add/alter
Building Remediation
Saywell Contracting
Nanoose Bay
CFMETR Nanoose Bay
Mechanical, electrical & plumbing
Upgrade Ranch Point B Jetty - High Mast Lighting
Houle Electric
Parksville
489 Alberni Hwy
Institution add/alter
Oceanside Heart Health Clinic
Century Group
Port Alberni
Burde St
Civil work
Pump Station Upgrade
CanWest Mechanical
Cumberland
3699 Bevan Rd
Civil work
Landfill Closure - Phase 2 - Horizontal Landfill Gas Installation
Upland Contracting
WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA
27
MOVERS & SHAKERS Announcements, business changes, celebrations and other hidden gems from around Central/North Vancouver Island. Curated just for you.
Submit your company’s announcement to: media@businessexaminer.ca
where the outdoor goods store once stood before a fire destroyed it last January into a mixed-use housing development project. Pending approval, construction could begin in 2022.
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Mayor Barb Desjardins broke ground on the Esquimalt Gorge Park pavilion, a project that is part of a community improvement initiative provided by the $17-million McLoughlin Amenity Funds. The park upgrades are expected to be completed by winter 2021. The Wild Rover mobile pub owned by Victoria residents Danny Hamilton and Warren Crolly, offers people the opportunity to rent a miniature trailer-mounted pub for private events. Decorated to resemble a classic Gaelic drinking establishment, the pub is available for a variety of events. Alcohol and service staff are not included, but the Wild Rover is equipped with four taps to serve drinks. To find out more, visit www.thewildrover.ca. Victoria’s Aryze Developments has joined Island Outfitters founders and former owners Darren Wright and Ward Bond in redeveloping the site
Vancouver Island and the Greater Victoria region were named among top destinations by the Condé Nast Traveler in their 33rd Readers’ Choice Awards, with Victoria taking the eighth spot in a list of 10 best small cities in the world. Sale of Western Speedway in Langford is almost complete, with a buyer entering into a conditional contract, according to president of ESAI Corp and consultant on the sale Duncan Thompson. The 81-acre property has 42 acres of potential commercial use and 3.34 acres for residential development.
OCTOBER 2020
MOVERS AND SHAKERS Victoria council is considering designating the Times Colonist-housing Victoria Press Building a heritage building. The building at 2615 to 2629 Douglas Street was built in 1971, and would be the first mid-century modern heritage designation in many years. A proposed community garden at 1223 Clarke Road in Saanich’s Brentwood Bay neighbourhood has received support in principle from the Central Saanich council. The Council would next have to rezone the residential lot to enable its future use for such purposes. T h e Va n c o u v e r I s land Junior Hockey League’s renamed Saanich Predators have unveiled their new team logo, an orca chomping a hockey st ick, i n t hei r season debut against the Kerry Park Islanders. Formerly the Braves, the team changed names and logo in deference to First Nations. The Get Growing Victoria program launched in response to the pandemic to address food insecurity in Victoria could become an annual program. Using city greenhouses to grow food for distribution to residents, 42 partner organizations have distributed more than 80,000 food starts throughout the community since its launch in March. City council approved a motion to endorse in principle the annual continuation of the program. UVic Mathematician Betty Kennedy left a $3.6 million gift to the university in her will, $3 million of which will go toward an endowed chair in mathematical biology. $600,000 will be added to the Betty and Gilbert Kennedy entrance scholarships in engineering, law, math and music, with remaining funds received from Kennedy’s gift going toward creating endowed graduate scholarships within the Department WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA
of Mathematics and Statistics, along with suppor ti ng other awards created by Doctor Kennedy. V i c to r i a’s Pa n i Energy received a $2.8 million investment f rom Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) toward their Dr. Betty Kennedy artificial intelligence (AI) water treatment optimization technology. The funding will accelerate development and deployment of the award-winning plant optimization tech, allowing water treatment plant owners and operators to save on vital operating costs while tackling climate change. Lorna Crozier was awarded the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize for her book The House the Spirit Builds, while Mark Leiren-Young won the City of Victoria Children’s Book Prize for Orcas Everywhere; The Mystery and History of Killer Whales at the 17th annual Victoria Book Prize Gala. Royal Roads University is awarding Dr. Bonnie Henry with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce 2021 Board of Directors are Chair John Wilson, Vice-Chair Kris Wirk, Past Chair Dan Dagg, Secretary Christina Clarke, Treasurer Moira Hauk, Rose Arsenault, Ian Batey, Judith Ethier, Pedro Marquez, Richard Michaels, Tom Plumb, Captain (N) Sam Sader, Ann Squires Ferguson, Erin Boggs and Bruce Williams. Board members are elected for two-year terms. The South Island Prosperity Partnership’s 2020-21 board members for Victoria are Chair
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS Frank Bourree, Past Chair Craig Norris,Secretary/Treasurer Sean Midwood, Director Deirdre Campbell, Director Tina Ryan, Director Anna MacMillan, Director Jennifer Vornbrock, Director Kear Porttris and Director Geoff Wilmshurst.
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Locelle Digital Founder and CEO Humaira Ahmed has launched a new mentorsh ip prog ra m, Mentor Moments, d e s i g n e d to e mpower women in the workplace, focused on development and career advancement. The Victoria-based entrepreneur’s menHumaira Ahmed torship guests include Veza Global Founder and CEO Manpreet Dhillon, Vice President at RBC, Commercial Banking Hurriya Burney, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Program Lead Stephanie Redivo, to name a few. Victoria tech holding company Tiny Capital has acquired a majority stake in government software startup Button for an undisclosed amount. Button most recently partnered with the BC government’s CleanBC program, designing software to track whether industrial operations were meeting greenhouse gas emissions benchmarks. Tiny Capital has founded and acquired over 25 tech companies, and has made available zero-interest loans from businesses in hospitality industries during the global pandemic. Victoria’s First Light Technologies, Freshworks and SendtoNews have been listed among the Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s Top Growing Companies for the second consecutive year. The National Stage Company of Canada has been formed in Victoria by producer, writer, and director Anthony James. The not-for-profit OCTOBER 2020
MOVERS AND SHAKERS arts organization will include live theatre, dance, concerts, and film. Current plans are for a 2021 formal debut, featuring a central core of 20 artists of varying ages and backgrounds. A $597,000 contribution from the federal government will help Victoria’s Anthony James Islands Trust Conservancy launch a program to protect endangered species in locations containing some of the highest densities of at-risk species in Canada. The contribution agreement will see the federal government providing the $597,000 over three years, with the conservancy using the money for various conservation initiatives, as well as engagement and work with First Nations.
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Victoria is getting six new level 2 EV chargers downtown on Broad Street via funding from Natural Resource Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, in partnership with BC Hydro. The Victoria Regional Transit System has officially added 60 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles to its fleet, dropping its average fleet age from 12.5 years to 9.8. Victoria’s StarFish Medical has received federal approval to manufacture and ship their re-designed ventilators to the public health authority’s emergency stockpile immediately. Officials will begin testing the devices and assign them to needy hospitals across the country. The Canadian government has ordered up to 7,500 ventilators from StarFish. The Sidney city council voted 6 to 1 to support Happy Buddha Cannabis 2410 Beacon Avenue, WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA
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OPINION
THE NDP IS INCAPABLE OF SPURRING AN ECONOMY RECOVERY
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MARK MACDONALD Appointing Dr. Bonnie Henry to lead the province’s Coronavirus pandemic was a stroke of political genius for the NDP. Taking an expert within the medical profession to oversee something within the medical field the NDP recognizes they are clearly not expert in gave Premier John Horgan the best of both worlds: If she is successful, the NDP can take credit; if she fails, they can blame her. Most British Columbians believe Henry has done an admirable job of handling COVID-19. Whether the number of deaths and casualties from the pandemic outnumbers the ancillary damage, mental health issues, substance-abuse crises, and yes, even death, that are a direct result of isolating healthy society
remains to be seen. Eventually, the numbers will reveal all of that. It’s a pity that the NDP won’t use the same strategy within finance. It is clear to most everybody BUT the NDP that they don’t know how to grow an economy or create an environment in which free enterprise flourishes. If they did recognize their weakness, they could be inclined to search outside the borders of their own never-operated-a-successful-business-themselves circle of wagons from which they dictate dogma-filled policy. Prior to the 2013 provincial election, I met with apparent Premier-in-waiting Adrian Dix, along with MLA Doug Routley, for a two and a half hour lunch discussion. Amongst other things, I suggested the same format they’ve now used with Henry: Bring in someone from outside the party – and let them lead. Someone that knows and understands finance from experience – not theory – and let them lead an NDP finance ministry. Dix didn’t commit to the suggestion, but he did manage to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory and Christy Clark became Premier. There’s no way to know whether he would have done so anyway. By complete chance, I happened to sit across from Finance Minister Carole James earlier this year at a dinner in Hitacu, near Ucluelet. I shared the exact same idea with her as I had with Dix, but to this point, there has been no indication she or the NDP intends to seek such
OCTOBER 2020
OPINION outside expert assistance and guidance. Predictably, the NDP “reaches out” to gather information from the business community, only for those canvassed to later realize their suggestions have fallen, again, on deaf ears. Many recognize their apparent willingness to listen is nothing more than political posturing, as the NDP continues to do what it has always done, and apparently always will: Raise taxes and punish business. Alas, there is no-one as blind as those who think they see. And the NDP thinks they understand how an economy actually grows, and that’s the biggest problem. They don’t, and won’t ask for help. T he NDP believes business owners and entrepreneurs are motivated primarily by greed, not need. They use terms like “subsidize” to describe tax cuts, which is deliberately misleading, because when taxes are decreased, businesses aren’t given anything – they get to have less tax taken away. The NDP prefers terms like this as it makes it appear to their worker supporters that business owners are either on the dole, or need government assistance in order to grow. In reality, the exact opposite is true. The only way to grow/revive/resuscitate private sector business is for governments to get out of the way and let the entrepreneurial spirit thrive and reward people for their ingenuity, ideas and good old fashioned hard work. The best incentive is not a government grant – it’s a genuine opportunity to get ahead and enjoy
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the fruits of one’s labours. That is something the NDP doesn’t understand, and doesn’t appear willing to consider. Many believe the NDP stole the government due to a combination of floor-crossing Darryl Plecas and a coalition with the Greens propped up by former NDP MLA Andrew Weaver. It forced Horgan, a vindictive bully, to appear more congenial. . .a team player. Horgan with a majority? Look out. A second term NDP government without the shackles of a coalition will allow them to afflict the economy with even more ideological punishment. Don’t mistake these thoughts as a plea for a BC Liberal government. Andrew Wilkinson hasn’t proven he is Premier material, and his own push for power within the party has alienated many campaign “worker bees” who sit on the sidelines, waiting for his removal. As polls show, the NDP is expected to obtain its coveted majority in an election viewed to be unwanted and unneeded – unless you’re Horgan and his heroes, who see absolute power at its fingertips. As politicians say: A crisis is a terrible thing to waste. So within their new mandate, the NDP will be expected to turn the economy around. It’s not possible on their own, since they refuse to exit their own ideological box. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll humble themselves and search for a “Financial Bonnie Henry” to oversee the economy. One can only hope. Mark MacDonald is President of Communication Ink Media & Public Relations Ltd. and can be reached at mark@communicationInk.ca
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS after hearing more than 350 largely positive written and oral comments in favour of opening the business. Owners Cindy and Zach Pendergast and Brad Styles will eventually launch the business under an updated name, making it the first cannabis retailer in Sidney.
Planning and Development at the 2020 Climate & Energy Action Awards via the Community Energy Association in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, Union of BC Municipalities, BC Hydro, FortisBC and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.
District of North Saanich staff have provided feedback to a pre-application proposal for a campus-of-care style retirement community at two potential sites at 9064 East Saanich Road and 9028 East Saanich Road. Both properties lie partially within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
A 1,940-square-metre parcel of land adjacent to the Cedar Hill chip trail and King’s Pond has been donated to the District of Saanich from the estate of Brian Patriquin, who passed away in 2017. The property will be added to the Saanich park system. The district will install a memorial bench in the area to commemorate the gift.
The District of Sooke’s estimated capital cost for Phase 2 of the DeMamiel Creek Pedestrian Crossing has been reduced to $407,284, a onethird reduction from its earlier $610,00 price tag. The district hopes to partner with the federal government to fund the $1.53-million project.
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The District of Saanich has won for Community
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OCTOBER 2020
MOVERS AND SHAKERS into housing for new Canadians. The District of Oak Bay signed a three-year lease on properties at 1538 Monterey Avenue 1532 and Hampshire Road. The locations will house refugees and immigrants for up to nine months while they settle and integrate into Canadian society. The Island Corridor Foundation (ICF) recently surveyed Vancouver Islanders to discover how important the rail corridor is to island residents. The survey was designed to guide the ICF through the process and next steps of restoring rail life on Vancouver Island in collaboration with provincial, municipal and First Nations partners. The BC Chamber of Commerce, South Island Prosperity Project and Transportation Action Canada have recommended the provincial government prioritize preservation of rail infrastructure to provide needed commuter and intercity rail service. The Victoria council has referred the thirtyfive-unit, four-storey Oak Bay Avenue development to a public hearing. Named the Redfern by applicant Jawl Development, the building will replace GardenWorks nursery and garden store from 1908 to 1920 Oak Bay Avenue. The development will offer condos of various sizes, commercial units and a rooftop garden space for residents.
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A new col leg iate baseball team will join the Canadian C o l l e ge B a s e b a l l Conference (CCBC) next fall. Consisting of f u l l-t i me st udents from the University of Victoria and Camosun College, the Victoria G olden T ide w i l l take on teams from Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops, the
Okanagan, Chilliwack and Abbotsford, as well as Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. Local games will be played out of Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. Curtis Pelletier, former CBL player and current batting coach for the HarbourCats has been named head coach and program director. The HarbourCats Players Club Training Centre at 1821 Cook Street has now opened,
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MOVERS AND SHAKERS transforming the former Cook Street Squash Club into a year-round training space housing three batting cages, four pitching tunnels and a small fitness and workout area. The contract to build a new library in Sooke has been awarded to Nanaimo’s Island West Coast Developments. The 13,00 square foot, $7.5 million building will be Vancouver Island Regional Library’s newest location on one acre of a five-acre lot along Wadams Way. The Heron View housing project in Sooke is entering its second-to-last phase of construction. When fully built, Heron View will consist of ninety-one three-bedroom townhomes between 1,550 and 1,700 square feet covering four hectares of waterfront property on Sooke Harbour. Amenities will include a marina, pool, gym, hot tub, tennis courts and an owners’ lounge.
Royal Beach in Colwood is one of a number of filming locations for a new Warner Bros. and Netflix limited series called MAID. The production will film ten-episode in Greater Victoria between now and March 2021. Based on a bestselling memoir by Stephanie Land, the series details the life of a single mother working as a housekeeper to make ends meet as she struggles with poverty, homelessness and bureaucracy. Central Saanich will formally alert the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) regarding a soccer pitch proposal on ten acres of agricultural land, though no application has yet come forward. Councillors voted unanimously to forward a report about plans by Pacific Soccer Academy FC to build an all-weather soccer field near the Saanich Fairgrounds at 7480 Tomlinson Road. Academy board member Jenn Stevens has noted the club would not make an application until completing a site plan and addressed public concerns.
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OCTOBER 2020
MOVERS AND SHAKERS Oxford Foods has been sold to Daisy a nd Ad a m Orser, operators of The Root Cellar Village Green Grocer in Saanich. Owner-operator Ed Louie, the third generation to run the family-owned store, has decided to retire. Louie’s grandfather, J e w-N a m L o u i e , opened the location Daisy and Adam Orser as Fairfield Produce in 1951. The Orser’s have planned major renovations, expected to take around six months, before reopening it as a second location for their business. The Kindness Factory, a Victoria-based mask-making business, is moving into its new headquarters at the Collaboration Hub, located at 1038 Hillside Avenue near Quadra Village. The new 800-square-foot location will provide space for distribution staff, while sewers Karmen McNamara remain working from home. Launched out of owner and triathlete Karmen McNamara’s home five months ago, the company has grown to a team of seventeen. Saanich Tuf-Turf at 4060 Blenkinsop Road reopened October 5th. Offering soils, mulches, seed, gravels and decorative rock, their staff also provide large and small deliveries. Sidney’s Cascadia Seaweed plans to have its seaweed-based food products on shelves by WWW.BUSINESSEX AMINER.CA
2021. The First Nations-partnered company, founded in 2019, plans to be the largest provider of seaweed in North America, and has been cited by Time Magazine and others regarding their work in food security and global climate change. Cascadia is also working on other applications for seaweed, including livestock feed, medical applications and environmentally friendly packaging. Contractor QM Environmental won’t complete work on Reay Creek Dam until 2021 after encountering what the Town of Sidney municipality calls “challenging” geotechnical issues. The project, already behind schedule, will now require the contractor to re-design a proposed fishway created to facilitate passage of both juvenile and adult fish past the dam. Work on the main portion of the dam will conclude as scheduled this year.
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D I G I TA L Your Local Marketing Partner Strategy • Search • Social Web Design • Pay-Per-Click P: 250.758.2684 ext. 130 E: bedigital@businessexaminer.ca www.BEDigitalMarketing.ca
ADVISORY
HOW TO ATTRACT STAR TALENT fit for your company. Most offer a low annual contribution requirement, so you can decide whether to budget a small flat amount per employee per month, match employees’ contributions or do something in between.
LINDSEY SMITH, CFP
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Through the plan, your employees will have access to Retirement Income Planning through a Certified Financial Planner, and that’s a benefit hard to resist. Your team will also appreciate the low investment cost a group plan provides and the reduction of taxable income they get by contributing to an RRSP.
Although the pandemic is far from over, the good news is that the labour market has begun to recover. Now more than ever, small businesses on Vancouver Island need to find ways to attract and keep top talent to compete with the ‘big box’ firms.
The result is more disposable income to pay down debt or save for a child’s education. Budgeting is a high priority for Canadians as we move into the “new normal.”
Showing that you put your people first will help your company stand out to a potential candidate, especially in these challenging times.
A great first step to explore the Group RRSP options available to you is to connect with a financial expert. Don’t hesitate to call me if you would like to learn more about what Coastal Community can offer.
An attractive and flexible benefit package helps send the message that you care for your team. Offering a Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) may help move your company to the top of your candidate’s list—and give your current star performers reasons to stay long term. After all, saving for the future doesn’t just help your employees’ financial health. Removing worry and stress about finances improves mental health as well, and that’s top of mind for everyone right now. Investing in even a small plan can help you reduce the costs and personnel hours associated with staff turnover.
My team and I are able to draw on local knowledge to help create a plan that meets your employees’ needs. Lindsey Smith, CFP is a Mobile Savings Coach with Coastal Community Private Wealth Group.* For more information on Group RRSP plans, call us at 1.800.806.2332. *Coastal Community Private Wealth Group is a division of Coastal Community Financial Management Inc.
A comprehensive Group RRSP package is an easy-to administer retirement savings solution. There’s no cost to the employer to set up, it’s payroll compatible and only needs a small minimum of employees. There are many options to help you choose the right OCTOBER 2020 SEPTEMBER
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Working together, staying apart. Reconfiguring the office setup doesn’t have to be complicated. Panel dividers, glass panels and stackers can all be easily employed to separate your workers’ physical space.
• Enable collaboration with low panels & full glass panels • Create privacy with tall panels, stackers & sliding door option • Simple product design allows for quick adds & changes to keep your space functional and safe. It’s how you’ll work, today.
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