Business Examiner Victoria - July 2016

» AUTOMOTIVE

JULY 2016

–PAGE 20

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OAK BAY The Marina Restaurant: A uniquely West Coast dining experience

Family Business Association Breaks From National Organization Retaining autonomy and successful programing motivated association to become individual entity BETH HENDRY-YIM

PAGE 18

INDEX News Update 2 West Shore 4 Technology 4 Greater Victoria 6 Think Local First 9 Tourism 11 Saanich Peninsula 17 Who is Suing Whom 23 Movers and Shakers 24 Opinion 26 Law 27 Salt Spring Island 27

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IC T OR I A - I f it i s n’t broken don’t fix it. A solid piece of advice that the newly formed Family Business Association Vancouver Island (FBAVI), takes very seriously.

Originally known as the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise Vancouver Island Chapter (CAFEVI), the group offers unique and targeted support for businesses owned and operated by multiple family members.

With a sizeable membership and highly successful programing, it has been one of the most active chapters of CAFE in Canada.

However, when the national organization chose to change some of its policy and structure to better serve the needs of its

struggling chapters, the Vancouver Island branch asked its membership for their opinion.

“Our members were not comfortable with the changes national was wanting to make to its standardized experience,” said Stewart Story, president of the former CAFE VI and newly created FBAVI. “A lot of thought went into the decision by national to ensure it delivered good value to all of its members and we understood its need to consider all chapters.”

But in 2015 when the membership was asked for an informal vote on the new direction CAFE was taking, it unanimously supported an autonomous position to retain its independence, values and popular activities.

SEE FAMILY BUSINESS | PAGE 13

Members of FBAVI felt peer advisory groups and family business events were a vital part of the success of the Vancouver Island chapter. L to R: Mike Brooks of Rinald Tax Advisory and FBAVI Treasurer and right, Stewart Story of Story Construction and FBAVI

Tectoria Venture Partners Launches with Intent to Form Victoria’s First Tech Sector Angel Fund New investment management initiative seeks to solve problems of tech entrepreneurs and investors alike

V

ICTORIA— It all started with a survey to uncover the current state of Victoria’s tech ecosystem. What comes next is anybody’s guess, but Tectoria Venture Partners is betting it will be big.

In May 2016, the new investment management initiative

announced its arrival on the Victoria scene and major buzz ensued.

The reason? Tectoria Ventures had conducted a survey to gauge the readiness of Victoria’s tech industry ecosystem to sustain a formal angel investment fund— and the results looked good.

“Talks of an angel fund [for tech companies in Victoria] have been circulating for years, but no one had decided to take the reigns,” explains Tectoria Ventures associate Joelle Blaikie, “and there was uncertainty as to whether Victoria had enough deal flow to sustain an angel fund. This

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question is what led us to start by conducting our survey.”

By quantifying the last 5 years of tech activity, Tectoria Ventures discovered that Victoria’s tech ecosystem is indeed fertile ground for investors. They SEE TECTORIA VENTURE | PAGE 11

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NEWS UPDATE

JULY 2016

Hans Van de Kamp

VICTORIA

Direct Phone: (250) 704-8275 Email: hans@vicommercial.com

Feverish Pace of Sales Continues in Victoria Real Estate Market

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A total of 1,289 properties sold in the Victoria Real Estate Board region this May, an increase of 42.4 per cent compared to the 905 properties sold in the same month last year.

Inventory levels remain lower than the previous year, with 2,406 active listings for sale on the Victoria Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Service at the end of May, 40.5 per cent fewer than the 4,043 active listings at the end of May 2015.

“These are very interesting times in local real estate,” notes Mike Nugent, 2016 President of the Board. “The market we are experiencing has exceeded our expectations. There are influences in the marketplace that we do not fully understand yet, like the impact of out-oftown buyers and millenials moving into the market, and the seemingly sudden international attention our island city has started to receive. And some folks may be buying now because they are concerned that the market is going to continue to increase in value. Traditionally spring is the most active season for real estate, so it will be interesting to see if this feverish pace continues into the summer months.”

The MLS Home Price Index benchmark value for a single family home in the Victoria Core in May, 2015 was $593,200.

The benchmark value for the same home in May 2016 has increased by 19 per cent to $706,500.

“We define months of inventory as the number of months it would take to sell our entire inventory of active listings at the current rate of sales if no new listings became available. In May last year we had 4.5 months of inventory and in May 2014 we saw 6.5 months. This year, May had 1.9 months of inventory. Last year in June we saw 4.4 months of inventory, so if the pattern continues we may see less inventory than in previous years.

Current low inventory dictates that pressures moving prices up could well remain strong, particularly in the core region. It can be a challenging time to get into the market,” adds Nugent.

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Mike Geric Construction has broken ground on the third phase at Travino, the new community in Royal Oak with a build-out that’s currently a year ahead of schedule. Sales for Travino Landing’s 46 condos have just begun, but already 50 per cent of the building has been sold to home buyers who had significant input into the design of their new home.

“We’ve always accommodated customizations for our buyers, but with Travino Landing we tried something completely different,” said Edward Geric, president, Mike Geric Construction. “We started working with potential home buyers really early, letting them adjust the size of their home, move walls and completely rearrange their space if that’s what they wanted. That’s a pretty unusual opportunity for a condo buyer.”

The move was in response to a trend that Geric identified in the early days of the project as local downsizers who already lived in the area started to ask about larger floor plans and choosing custom décor.

“Our team works very closely with our home buyers, which gives us the opportunity to listen to what they really care about,” said Geric. “When we started asking potential buyers about their interest in a custom condo we were overwhelmed with interest.”

Travino Landing has broken ground much earlier than initially planned and will be ready for move in by the summer of 2017. Plans for the final phase of the project, Travino Gardens, is now underway. The first phase was completed in early 2015, a second phase, which is also under construction, is almost sold out and will be ready for residents to move in by the end of 2016.

VANCOUVER ISLAND ICET Celebrates A Decade Of Growth and Regional Diversification With a decade of investment in commu n ity projects, the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) took June 16 to celebrate the community successes that have laid the foundation for regional revitalization and economic growth, transforming the region’s economy.

The $50 million trust was created by the Government of BC in 2006. With a mandate to diversify the economies of central and northern Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, ICET is a unique model which enables local decision making based on regional priorities.

ICET held their 10th Anniversary Celebration and Day of Learning at the Deep Bay Marine Field Station. More than 150 stakeholders – funding recipients, First Nations, industry and business representatives, elected officials, and future project proponents attended. The day featured expert panels and speakers, including some of the people behind the region’s signature projects. These community visionaries shared the best practices which enabled them to move from idea to action.

Projects funded by ICET have played an important role in creating the foundations for new business and growth, bringing new jobs and economic activity to the region.

ICET investments in tourism infrastructure have also helped to connect visitors to our communities, creating some of the top tourism draws in the province. The Wild Pacific Trail, for example, is ranked by TripAdvisor as the #5 of “Things to do” in BC, out of a list of more than 2,500 attractions. Another example is the 180 km hut-to-hut Sunshine Coast trail, which has changed the perception of Powell River as a mill town to a world-class outdoor recreation destination.

The ICET program has also helped communities plan their economic future, by supporting strategic planning and guiding the development of regional partnerships. Small communities need flexible and nimble instruments to leverage investment for capital projects, innovative

NEWS UPDATE

JULY 2016

programs, and capacity buildi ng. T he streng th of ICET’s model lies within its ability to meet those needs, turning ideas into action through ‘strategic doing’.

ICET’s unique model facilitates strong connection amongst communities, allowing and encouraging regional thinking, partnerships, and strategies that are often beyond the scope of individual organizations.

One example of the ICET model, producing results that are bigger than the sum of the parts, is the global marketing strategy developed by the BC Ocean Boating Tourism Association.

The project defined the brand of BC marine tourism, and created and implemented a regional marketing strategy. The creation of a unified, collaborative marine tourism marketing venture will raise the exposure of many remote communities and drive international boater traffic their way.

So what’s in store for ICET’s next decade? Chair Phil Kent sees opportunities for the organization to build on existing assets and projects.

“The next logical step for us is to address some of the gaps in the landscape, by targeting funding to support emerging sectors in our region and to support business expansion into broader provincial, national and global markets,” said Kent.

VICTORIA Local Real Estate Agents Break Island Sales Record Local real estate agents Chris Barrington-Foote and John Byrne were honoured Friday June 3 at the 2016 Sutton Group – West Coast Realty Awards Breakfast for achieving record breaking sales on Vancouver Island in 2015.

The duo are the first agents ever on the island to receive Sutton’s special Pinnacle Award, in recognition of having achieved over $26 million in real estate sales last year.

“It is an incredible honour to receive such special recognition for having achieved the highest real estate sales of all Sutton agents on Vancouver Island, ever,” says Barrington-Foote.

“John and I always set out first to build strong relationships with our clients, based on excellent customer service and honest, reliable advice. It is our focus on providing great service that ultimately leads to our success in sales.”

After nearly 2 decades of combined experience working in the Victoria real estate market, Chris and John have only been working in partnership for a little under two years. Since joining together the duo have been the top sales team at Sutton West Coast Realty

Victoria, and are recognized as one of the top real estate partnerships in the region.

“Chris and I are always trying to work smarter,” says Byrne.

“The real estate market on the west coast is very active right now and the competition among agents is high. Regardless of the market conditions, the keys to being a successful agent will always be the same – treat your clients well, follow through on your promises, know the nuisances of your local market, establish a solid network, and work hard!”

VICTORIA BC Ferries Releases Year-End Results BC Ferries released its year-end results for fiscal 2016. Consolidated net earnings were $69.6 million for fiscal 2016, compared to consolidated net earnings of $49.1 million for fiscal 2015.

“We are pleased with this year’s net earnings as they reflect an improving economic outlook for BC in general, as well as the success of our cost containment practices over the past few years along with the recent increase in traffic. Put into context, this year’s earnings are approximately the cost of one of the three new Salish-Class vessels currently

under construction to replace 50-year old ships,” said Mike Corrigan, BC Ferries’ President and CEO. “Over the next 12 years, a $3 billion capital program is required to replace aging vessels, assets and information technology to ensure the longterm viability of our coastal ferry service. With the average age of our fleet at 33 years, we need to renew or replace a ship a year for the next decade and continue to invest in the future.”

R e v e n u e s i n c re a s e d f ro m $841.1 million in fiscal 2015 to $869.8 million in fiscal 2016, primarily due to an increase in traffic volume, driven by a lower Canadian dollar and the general improvement in BC’s economic activity. Operating expenses increased from $722.5 million in fiscal 2015 to $744.2 million in fiscal 2016. The $21.7 million increase is primarily due to increases in maintenance, labour, cost of goods sold and amortization costs, offset by lower fuel costs. Capital expenditures in the three and twelve months ended March 31, 2016 totalled $70.3 million and $181.2 million, respectively. For fiscal 2016, $114.2 million of these investments were for vessel upgrades and modifications, with the remainder for terminal marine structures; terminal and building upgrades and equipment; and information technology.

I n f i sc a l 2016, B C Fer r ie s

3 experienced a 4.9 per cent increase in vehicle traffic and a 4.5 per cent increase in passenger traffic compared to fiscal 2015. This increase in traffic sees a return to traffic levels experienced in 2009 prior to the turbulence in the Canadian and world economies.

BC $464,000 in Oil and Gas Land Sales The June 2016 natural gas and petroleum rights sale has resulted in $464,797.39 in bonus bids.

On June 15, 2016, 12 parcels were sold, covering 6,277 hectares with an average price of $74.05 per hectare.

Drilling licences provide the exclusive right to explore for petroleum and natural gas by drilling wells and are acquired by the successful bidder at the Crown sale. Primary terms are three, four or five years depending on location.

Leases provide the exclusive right to produce petroleum and natural gas. They are acquired by the successful bidder at the Crown sale, or are selected from permits and drilling licences.

Primary terms are five or 10 years, depending on location.

The next sale, scheduled for July 13, 2016, will offer 19 parcels covering 5,823 hectares.

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WEST SHORE/TECHNOLOGY

JULY 2016

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JULIE LAWLOR

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n June 2, the WestShore Chamber of Commerce held V I S IO N We s t S h o re a t Olympic View Golf Club.

Sponsored by Prosperity Business Centre, View Royal Casino, Coastal Offices and Signs of the Times, the evening provided signature “Prosperitini” cocktails, the fine dining Olympic View is famous for, and networking around the dessert bar. However, the main reason the 120 guests gathered was for none of these things, but rather to hear a panel discussion bringing together five WestShore mayors. The panellists were Mayor Carol Hamilton of the City of Colwood, Mayor

Ken Williams from the District of the Highlands, City of Langford Mayor Stewart Young, District of Metchosin Mayor John Ranns and Graham Hill, retired mayor of the Town of View Royal. Mayor David Screech of View Royal was unable to attend, and Graham Hill kindly offered to bring his perspective on View Royal in Mayor Screech’s absence.

The WestShore Chamber had gone out to the public in advance asking for questions to put to the Mayors, and in addition questions were collected on the night and there were also questions from the floor. Some familiar topics came up, such as transportation, sewa ge t re at ment a nd amalgamation, as well as some topics typically discussed less in the WestShore such as “What is your position on medical marijuana dispensaries?” and “How are the 13 municipalities working together across the region?”

The more serious issues were interspersed by lighter ones wh ich gave the audience a chance to learn more about the people who

carried the chains of office.

And my favourite question of the night was the one that concluded the panel discussion: “Tell us something you admire about the panellist sitting next to you.”

Throughout the evening’s discussion you got the sense of the respect and camaraderie that existed amongst panel members, and this f i na l d iscussion rea l ly brought it home.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the panellists, brilliantly moderated by Christine Scott.

It was a rare privilege to have five of you in a room, speaking together about the future, and I came away feeling immensely proud to be a part of the WestShore and the role it has to play in the prosperity of the region.

For more information on the WestShore Chamber of Commerce, please go to westshore.bc.ca Julie Lawlor is the Executive Director at the WestShore Chamber of Commerce. You can reach her at 250-4781130 or jlawlor@westshore. bc.ca

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ROB COOPER

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hile the rise of short run printing technology combined with the internet created a big boost in self-publishing in the 90’s, the advent of the e-reader and apps like Kindle have created an absolute explosion in the industry.

Interestingly, however, only 5 companies dominate in the industry, accounting for over 85 per cent of the books self-published every year. New local self-publishing company Tellwell is out to change that.

There are many reasons why people self-publish their books. Some folks want to record their memoirs to preserve them forever and share them with friends and family. Other fiction and non-fiction writers simply don’t want to go through the hoops of working with a traditional publisher so decide to do it themselves. As well, there are many business leaders who have discovered that while it may not make sense to launch a book commercially, there can be huge

value in building their credibility through an insightful book or e-book in their area of expertise.

Many authors find it fairly straightforward to write their book, but run into challenges when it comes to editing it, designing a cover, laying out the book, preparing it for sale, getting it printed, or preparing it to work on devices like the Kindle. Providing services in these areas are where self-publishing companies come in.

While self-publishing companies offer valuable professional services in these areas, many of them also take a significant portion of the book’s royalties, as well as adding significant mark-ups to the cost of printing the books.

This is where Tellwell seeks to differentiate themselves from the larger companies. They support authors with the services needed to launch their books, but do not add mark-up on printing costs and offer 100 per cent net royalties to the author on sales of their book.

In founder Tim Lindsay’s words, “we believe most authors want something quite simple: a small, committed team of professionals to help publish a quality book.”

Adopting that stance has already allowed Lindsay to help hundreds of authors as he and his team look to make their mark on the self-publishing scene.

Rob Cooper is a Director at VIATeC and founder of PlusROI Online Marketing, a web development & marketing firm. He can be reached at Rob@PlusROI.com.

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JULY 2016

INCREASED CAPACITY AT NANAIMO PORT AUTHORITY LOWERS COSTS FOR TRUCKING COMPANY “The more people that Warmland Logistics sees deep sea berth and container service improving efficiencies in moving freight

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utilize the service, the lower the costs and that enriches everyone’s bottom line.”

PHIL CHAMBERS

ANAIMO - Greater options, greener footprint and a better return on investment has Phil Chambers, vice president of Warmland Logistics Inc., excited about partnering with the Nanaimo Port Authority (NPA) and DP World Nanaimo.

A new barge berth, a load on/ load off container service and the expertise and connections of a world leader in international shipping logistics is offering Chambers and Vancouver Island better opportunities in importing and exporting.

“Having a container service from Vancouver to Vancouver Island means my customers get their goods faster and at a lower cost,” Chambers said.

Warmland transports a diverse variety of products that includes recycling materials, manufactured goods, and general trade items. It has 10 employees and two owner/

VICE PRESIDENT WARMLAND LOGISTICS INC.

operators and has been serving the central island for 5 years.

Chambers, who has been in the trucking and logistics industry for 20 years, said that in this highly competitive field the new services provided by NPA and DP World are helping to reduce shipping time and costs and is giving his company an edge in the marketplace.

“Profit margins are low and the price of fuel high,” he explained.

“If there are options that save the company and my customers money, those savings get passed down the line to the consumer and everyone is happy.”

He explained that part of the savings comes as a direct result of NPA’s installation of a new barge berth which adds an additional 82 metres to the existing 170-metre deep sea berth. According to David

Phil Chambers said the new facilities at NPA save his company time and money CREDIT:WARMLAND LOGISTICS INC.

Mailloux, manager, communications and public affairs at NPA, the new berth allows simultaneous loading and discharging efficiencies.

“The expanded deep sea berthing option reduces congestion and delays while increasing capacity and versatility,” he added.

The expansion also means solutions for short sea shipping links to the mainland terminals, in particular, DP World’s Vancouver Centerm container terminal, and more direct connections to global markets. For local lumberyards, garden centres, seasonal

importers, the aerospace industry, manufacturers or even breweries importing raw materials, the increased efficiency and cost saving is appealing.

“The DP World Vancouver/ Centerm route is attracting new clients to Warmland,” said Chambers. “The service is significantly cheaper, with the ability to move a higher volume of containers to Nanaimo or the lower mainland headache free.”

He added that there is even an ocean going line-Westwood Shipping-that calls in at the Nanaimo Port Authority once a month, providing direct access to the Asian market.

For Chambers, higher capacity, shorter distances travelled and reduced fuel usage also means a greener footprint. DP World barges can carry as many as 168 containers, saving a number of trips back and forth and reducing cargo emissions by as much as 62 per cent.

“Bundling shipments and transporting containers in quantity cuts down on the amount of distance and time they are on the road,” he said.

The addition of a mobile harbour crane has also increased NPA and DP World’s capacity to handle shipments better and faster. At 104 metric tonnes with a 51-meter

outreach, the crane optimizes Vancouver Island’s first load-on/loadoff container service to Vancouver.

With DP World awarded the right to operate the Port of Nanaimo’s facilities, it allows DP World Vancouver and NPA a greater ability to diversify the variety of commodities handled between cities.

“Improving efficiency is everything in this business,” Chambers emphasized. “The faster you move the customer’s product the better.

The crane is one more tool to speed up the transport of goods.”

Chambers added that for many, shipping freight via barge and the deep sea port in Nanaimo is a new way of looking at moving product on Vancouver Island and it has opened up new opportunities.

“To keep your expenses down you have to look at the movement of customer goods in a different way,” he said. “If you can offer clients a reduction in shipping costs you’re going to increase your customer base. The more people that utilize the service, the lower the costs and that enriches everyone’s bottom line.”

Discover a new and better way of transporting your goods. Contact 250-722-2290, www.dpworld.ca or 250-753-4146 ext 229 www.deapsea.npa.ca for more information.

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GREATER VICTORIA

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JULY 2016

IMMIGRATION FOR OUR WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW Some of these challenges can be tied to affordable housing – it is simply not worthwhile for some to move here, especially

GREATER VICTORIA

for entry-level and lowskilled positions

PEGGY KULMALA

I

n Greater Victoria, businesses are already citing challenges in hiring and retaining skilled workers as a barrier to growth.

This is not just an issue within our region - BC presently has the highest job vacancy rate in Canada, at 2.8 per cent. As BC continues to lead Canada in economic growth, it only makes sense that these challenges will intensify.

Some of these challenges can be tied to affordable housing – it is simply not worthwhile for some to move here, especially for entry-level and low-skilled positions. Others a re related to our increasingly knowledge-based economy, where we have emerging skillsets that are simply scarce domestically.

Consequently, businesses are seeking ways to fill labour gaps by tapping into every available source of talent, including the opportunities available through Canada’s inclusive immigration policy.

“Immigration is a great resou rce for Greater Victor i a businesses,” said Chamber CEO Catherine Holt. “Immigrants possess new thoughts and ideas on innovation and entrepreneurship and often have the connections and perspectives that allow us to act locally, think globally.”

The Canadian government is seeking a record number of newcomers this year. On March 8, 2016, the Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced that Canada will admit between 280,000 and 305,000 new permanent residents this year. This is the highest projected level in decades.

One of the fastest growing immigration classes is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), which allows skilled foreign workers who have been working in Canada on a temporary basis and foreign graduates of Canadian postsecondary institutions with work experience to apply for permanent residency without leaving the country. It is being able to stay in Canada during the application process that helps make Canada even more attractive to international students, which ultimately helps to fill stubborn vacancies as well as reduce our demographic.

“By 2041, we are projected to have more seniors than working-aged people,” added Catherine, referring to an Urban Futures report, People and Jobs in British Columbia’s Future. “Without the addition of a significant number of young immigrants, we will not only have increased

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job vacancies, but an eroding tax base and increasing health care costs.”

BC i s u n iquely posit ioned to ta ke adva ntage of th is opportunity.

“Currently, almost one-half of international students come from Asia and will form the largest segment of those who will become residents,” said David Aujla, a local immigration lawyer with over 42 years of experience. “One of the benefits of this change will be the strong international business links Canada will develop in future commerce with such a large foreign-born

• Thursday, July 14 Prodigy Group Mingle 5 pm to 7 pm. At Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel & Marina • Thursday, July 21 Business Mixer 5 pm to 7 pm at Van Isle Windows Ltd. (404 Hillside Ave.)

population.”

When looking at foreign talent, international students are an option well worth considering – they have Canadian credentials, they have already integrated to some extent into Canada, and they have shown adaptability.

Hiring them is a win-win for Canada, BC, and businesses.

Peggy Kulmala is the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s manager of policy and public affairs. 250-383-7191, policy@ victoriachamber.ca, www. victoriachamber.ca

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JULY 2016

REPLACEMENT PARTS SUPPLY COMPANY SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATES ONLINE SALES Forty three year old company adds online sales to lineup of marine services

T

roy Electric takes the next step in its evolution by successfully tackling the online world of ecommerce.

“We’re the only service company in Canada providing replacement parts online,” said Dave Clark, pa r t ow ner a nd president of Troy Online Sales.

A primary supplier and service provider to the commercial and marine, trade and institutional community of Vancouver Island since 1973, Troy Electric specializes in supply and servicing of power generation equipment, electric motors, power transmission devices and all forms of pump equipment. It works with the Department of Defense, BC Ferries, Canadian Coast Guard, Vancouver Island Health Board, and large and small contracting companies.

Created by Reg Nordby, the company has earned a strong reputation in the marine world, not just for customer service but for the expertise and extensive knowledge Reg has accrued over the years.

“He’s even been sent several times to South America because of his background and abilities,” said Clark.

He joined the team three and a half years ago after moving to Victoria from Edmonton with a 17-year background in software development in the oil and gas industry.

“Reg created quite the momentum supplying parts to his customers. With my software experience it was a natural move to partner with him and add online services.”

The process, however, wasn’t straightforward.

“Troy carries more than 35,000 parts,” Clark said. “Most of those fit specific brands and types of power tools like: Bosch, Dewa lt, H itach i , M a k ita , a n d Milwaukee.”

Getting each of the parts, from the smallest spring to the topof-the-line high performance motor, into an easily accessed and searchable database, by model number and part with pictures of each item, took time and resources.

“We had a lot of help from our outsource-partners in the Phillipines and India,” Clark said.

“It took hard work and extreme attention to detail. When we went live, we were surprised that our first sale came from Italy.

Since then we’ve shipped all over the world.”

Reg Nordby has been sent as far away as South America for his knowledge of the industry CREDIT: TROY ELECTRIC

“Reg created quite the momentum supplying parts to his customers.

With my software experience it was a natural move to partner with him and add online services.”

“Dave Clark said that Troy Electric carries more than 35,000 parts and ships free around the world.”

DAVE CLARK PARTNER/PRESIDENT, TROY ONLINE SALES

CREDIT:TROY ELECTRIC

Clark emphasized that the key to success in e-commerce is setting up the system right and backing it with integrity, value and consistency.

“You can have a vision for selling a product online, but if the database isn’t easy to use and you can’t find the product you need, you’ll lose the customer.”

The business has little competition, said Clark, with none in Canada and only a small handful of companies in the States offering anything similar.

He said that the company has viewed success for its online sales platform the same way it has for Troy Electric: analyzing every point, testing and proving

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each point of connection with the buyers, and most importantly, listening to what its customers want and need.

“We strive to learn from our customers,” said Clark. “We listen to each point they make and see those ideas as valid suggestions to improve efficiencies.”

N o r d b y, w h o s e l e v e l o f

integrity, according to Clark, is among the best in his 35 years in the industry, started the business right out of high school with a passion for boats and a talent for looking at repair challenges from all angles and finding the right solution. Today, the company employs twelve service, sales and technicians for: tool repair and parts, motor sales and service, welder repair and the marine industry.

“Ma ny of Reg’s employees have been with the company for twenty plus years,” said Clark.

“It’s a real testament to who he is and how supportive he is of his workers.”

For Clark, who was just looking for employment in his new city, landing this job, working beside Nordby, seeing an opportunity and being encouraged in the genesis and formation of a new company spin off, has been gratifying and very rewarding.

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SIDNEY FIRM A LEADER IN INFLATABLE BOAT DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Titan Boats Produces A Range Of Pleasure, Patrol & Workboats

S

IDNEY – The Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) has sparked a revolution in the world of offshore naval tactics and marine-based law enforcement.

Sidney’s Titan Boats has become a world-class leader in the design, construction and deployment of this increasingly popular and incredibly adaptive style of vessel.

Launched nearly 20 year ago by company Founder and President John Stanners, Titan Boats specializes in the building of both pleasure craft and workboats ranging in size from 17’ to 40’. The RHIBs constructed by Titan have hulls made of aluminum and are equipped with inflated collars that add buoyancy and stability, even under the most adverse sea conditions.

Operating out of a 27,000 square foot facility located at 2011 Malaview Avenue West in Sidney, Titan Boats, with its staff of just over 30, has over the years constructed custom built vessels for organizations as diverse as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Los Angeles County’s Sheriff’s Department, the Department of

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Designing and building patrol boats, like this Sheriff’s vessel, are core parts of Titan Boats’ business

It’s not all work at Titan Boats, this catamaran pleasure craft has been configured as a sport fishing vessel

“These boats go out while other people are heading back to shore.�

JOHN STANNERS PRESIDENT, TITAN BOATS

Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and is currently constructing a pair of patrol vessels for the Slovenian Police Department. “While our specialty remains building RHIBs we also do a lot of custom aluminum fabrication, thanks in no small part to our CNC (Computer Numerical Control) water jet cutting machine,� explained Jennifer Michell, the company’s Marketing Coordinator. “With our team and our equipment we can do anything from building a fuel tank to whatever the clients need. We recently completed a project where we were making the components for a large ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle), essentially the whole frame unit which was a very unique task. While we build boats we’re also a metal fabricating shop for a variety of different clients.�

The excellent sea keeping capability of a RHIB, its inherent safety and its ability to move quickly regardless of the sea state is what has made this type of vessel so popular for government agencies

The company uses the latest in computer assisted design techniques to plan its different projects and police forces. In an earlier interview Stanners said boats of this type work effectively under a wide range of conditions. “The vessels we build are the type that when things start to get rough out there, these boats go out while other people are heading back to shore. Part of the ability for our boats to be able to operate under rough sea conditions is that they are equipped with shock-mitigating seating, structures that are mounted on hydraulic or air-filled shocks that separate the seats from the rigid hull itself.�

W hile working vessels and patrol boats are the company’s

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JULY 2016

THINK LOCAL FIRST “WE’RE BETTER TOGETHER”

THINK LOCAL FIRST MATTHEW KITTLESON

A The Omax Water Jet Cutting Table is one of the state of the art tools routinely used by Titan Boats

The company builds many different projects including a portable grain hopper for Heritage Valley Farm stock and trade it is no stranger to building pleasure craft for discerning customers. “I think the 36’ catamaran we did last year was one of the more exotic boats we’ve built for a private customer,” Michell said.

“We class it as a luxury catamaran fishing vessel, it’s decked to the nines with everything you could think of. Obviously we don’t receive many private orders as we strive for quality in all things, which can be expensive. We never cut corners when it comes

to quality. Every product whether a single fuel tank or a complete patrol boat is built to exacting standards of quality. If we build a pleasure boat you know it’s going to last you forever.”

The company’s water jet cutting machine, operating with a cutting envelope of 6’ x 28’ of cutting capability, provides Titan with the precision and in-house cost control needed for it to operate competitively in a global marketplace. It also increasingly makes the company the go to place for

any fabricator needing precision metal cutting services. “We want to be viewed as a One Stop Shop, where the customer can come in to get some engineering work done, use a water jet to cut the metal, bend it, weld it and then give it to the customer,” Stanners stated.

In the course of a year Titan Boats will be involved in the construction, updating and customizing of dozens of different vessels, with as many as 400 produced since the company was first launched. “We’ve been in the community for 20 odd years now and are regularly producing world class boats for our clients,” Michell said.

“Our expanding fabricating business is another key part of the operation, with our water jet being the largest of its type on Vancouver Island. Having this service has the potential to help out other local builders and shops which in turn helps to enhance the whole sector. We’re here to help when people need it. We always pride ourselves n what we put out and that extends to all of the services we provide.”

To learn more please visit the company’s website: www.titanboats.com/

s 2016 rolls along, Think Local First is finding strength in numbers. The new slogan for TLF is “We’re Better Together”, and to tell you the truth, WE ARE! As a community, our local, independent businesses matter.

They buy more local business products and employ more local workers. Proceeds from locally owned businesses stay in the community and get re-invested 2-3 times more frequently than proceeds from non-local businesses.

With spring in the air we’re seeing the side of Vancouver Island that people around the world are talking about. Tourism is ramping up with everything from cruise ships to vacationers and they are all looking for one thing; the unique experiences, shops and services that Greater Victoria offers, from Sooke to Sidney and from the Westshore to Oak Bay. Although visitors are here and loving what Greater Victoria has to offer, it’s our local community members that sustain our uniqueness year round. As business owners, the minute we step out of our stores, we are customers. If we

make the effort to do our shopping with Think Local First businesses, we are supporting our friends and neighbours. You’re a local - when was the last time you investigated your local shops and cafes? There are so many hidden gems that get locals talking.

For Think Local First it’s all about the 10 per cent shift. Educating and encouraging our local population to shift 10 per cent of their spending directly to locally owned businesses. We’re asking everyone to purposefully put in the extra effort to reward their local business owners by seeking them out and spending their hard earned money with them. It goes a long way; further than you might imagine.

For a second year, TLF would like to thank Island Savings for their sponsorship of the Think Local First Rewards program. TLF Rewards is growing and it’s a great opportunity for locals to earn Merits for shopping at any of the over 30 participating TLF Rewards businesses. Merits are earned on every purchase and then redeemed for Rewards from participating businesses.

We appreciate member business, Peninsula Co-op for providing sponsorship for this year’s Think Local Week in November as well as next year’s AGM in April.

We are 192 businesses strong and we want to be sure that all of Greater Victoria understands we are here to support them. Visit www. thinklocalvictoria.com for a full list of member businesses and see the new interactive map that shows you where to find them.

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NEW TOURISM MARKETING BATTLEGROUND

TOURISM VICTORIA A vision of the “vibrant Victoria” that inspires Tectoria Venture Partners.

TECTORIA VENTURE

“We want to see Victoria

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

on the global map for its

accounted for over $31.5 million worth of investment from angel investors into local startups—and over $217 million in exit values for Victoria’s tech companies.

T he deta i led su rvey a lso took the temperature of Victoria-based entrepreneurs and i nvestors a l i ke, u ncoveri ng the factors that make driving a more vibrant tech economy challenging.

For example, Tectoria Ventures found out that 70 per cent of angel investors struggle to find the time to do their due diligence on prospective investment opportunities. 75 per cent of entrepreneurs, on the other hand, report that the process of raising capital in Victoria is beset by challenges like time wasted spent chasing apathetic or inappropriate connections.

This is where Tectoria Ventures steps in, to, as Blaikie puts it “provide strong leadership, support, and investment into Victoria’s tech community to help further galvanize the startup ecosystem, and to provide superior returns to its investors.”

To do this, Tectoria Ventures will need to solve the problems of both entrepreneurs and investors. Addressing those pain points that the survey uncovered—including a time crunch for both parties—is at the top of the agenda.

For entrepreneurs, Tectoria Ve n t u re s w i l l p ro v i d e much-needed early stage funding and mentorship from Victoria’s top angel investors. They

innovation and reputation in founding successful tech companies.”

JOELLE BLAIKIE ASSOCIATE, TECTORIA VENTURE PARTNERS

will also link startups to a network of funding sources and tech movers and shakers across the Pacific Northwest, including San Francisco.

For investors, Tectoria Ventures will provide that critical quality control function, helping separate the wheat from the chaff.

Their aim is to help angels better navigate the risks and secure the benefits of Victoria’s high yield tech sector.

Providing “strong leadership” in Victoria’s tech community means building on a culture that is already, Blaikie asserts, collaborative by nature. Mentorship of start-up hopefuls by tech scene veterans is a big part of the plan.

Blaikie explains: “Tectoria Ventures will seek to have key angel investors from the tech community as General Partners or Special Limited Partners. These would consist of individuals who have founded, grown, and exited a company, so they have real-world experience. With their wealth of knowledge and expertise, we will be able to provide strong mentorship and guidance to our portfolio companies to help them succeed.” tectoriaventures.com

PAUL NURSEY

H

ave you ever travelled somewhere in the world and thought the tourism industry seems out of date —with bricks-and-mortar visitor centres, racks of printed brochures and paper tourism guides? If you have had that thought, it was a very observant one.

The reality is, as with most industries, tourism marketing is undergoing a dramatic transformation.

The business is moving rapidly to a highly data-driven digital landscape. In fact, our travel and tourism industry has been that way for many decades.

Priceline.com was founded almost 20 years ago in 1997, and was one of the few companies to survive the dot-com meltdown. Today, travel

and tourism is the focus of some of the world’s most innovative companies. In fact, many leading digital brands are from the travel and lifestyle segment.

Modern tourism boards are as focused on the health and performance of their digital and social environments, inbound-marketing programs, automated-sales pipelines and lead-generation systems as they are on the quality of their visitor centres or printed visitor guides.

The reality is the industry is growing and changing so rapidly that travel companies and tourism bureaus, such as Tourism Victoria, have to keep their eyes on both ways of doing business.

Our partners and our competitors are hard at work. In fact, Destination British Columbia has a program in place to help communities think beyond the traditional visitor centre and embrace innovation and technology driven programs. At Tourism Victoria we fully support this shift.

As President and CEO, I spend as much time worrying about the vitality of building out our lead generation system as I do the growth of our social platforms. We are actively engaged with Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, TripAdvisor, YouTube, LinkedIn and, most recently, Snapchat. All are performing well.

This year, Tourism Victoria is

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making massive investments in our web properties and inbound sales program. Our aim is to have these changes fully in place by next spring. While digital platforms have existed for many years, the notion of focusing on digital pipelines, with completely integrated analytics and data, allows organizations and companies to scale marketing and sales efforts and personalize communications messages for their customers in ways that have never been seen before.

This modernization, when complete, will benefit the vitality of our 900 member businesses as they are profiled through our web platform.

These changes are happening throughout the industry — something to think about as you head out for your summer holiday and find yourself rifling through marketing materials that are trying to influence your travel decision. Whether you and your family are influenced by highly personalized digital-marketing or by leafing through a traditional visitor guide, spare a moment to appreciate the highly sophisticated business running in the background. You just might find some ideas to help you keep your own business competitive in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.

Paul Nursey is the President and CEO of Tourism Victoria.

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JULY 2016

4 SEASONS FIRE PREVENTION SERVICES EXPERTS IN FIRE SAFETY “One thing that really Company An Authorized Siemens Fire Alarm Equipment Dealership

V

ICTOR I A – Stri ki ng a match produces a small f l a me. Touch i ng t h at flame to something combustible can ignite an inferno. The same process has held true for the explosive growth of 4 Seasons Fire Prevention Services. Currently located at 460 Bay Street in Victoria, the company began in 1998 as a small ‘Mom and Pop’ shop selling fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and other fire safety equipment. Flash forward to today and the company is now the exclusive distributor of Siemens fire safety products across southern Vancouver Island and one of the premier sales and installation centers for a wide range of sprinkler and fire alarm systems.

“It began as a small shop servicing local businesses, doing things like fire alarm inspections and selling fire safety equipment to commercial and residential customers,” explained 4 Seasons’ cu rrent President a nd owner Rob Sonier.

Joining the firm in November 2000 as a CFAA registered fire alarm technician he quickly recognized the potential, both in products and client base that the company offered. In 2003 Sonier took on a management position with the company before purchasing a one third share in the business in 2005. “In 2008 I secured the Siemens fire alarm equipment distributorship for the southern Island and that’s when we started experiencing some serious growth.”

Consolidating his acquisition Sonier purchased the company outright in 2014 to become the firm’s sole owner. The move to the current Bay Street location was an integral part of an overall plan to make 4 Seasons Fire

sets us apart is our ability to work with marine clients.”

ROB SONIER PRESIDENT, 4 SEASONS FIRE PREVENTION SERVICES

Prevention more approachable for clients as the current location is more comfortable and less industrial than its former venue.

“One thing that really sets us apart is our ability to work with marine clients. We are certified to carry out marine fire and safety inspections which very few other companies can,” Sonier explained.

Holding certification from factory training, the Canadian Fire Alarm Association (CFAA) and from the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC), 4 Season’s technicians can carry out a full range of fire and safety inspections on land and sea. We are authorized to service and repair a wide assortment of items including fi re a la rms, fi re spri n k lers, fire suppression systems and much more. A partial list of the company’s current sea-going clients includes the Canadian Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Navy, visiting cruise ships and a host of private yacht and workboat owners.

A relatively new division for 4 Seasons, a nd one that has expanded its workload exponentially, is its fire sprinkler division. Now a full service Red Seal certified sprinkler company, 4 Seasons Fire Prevention can select, install and provide ongoing service of sprinkler systems for its client base.

Part of the team at 4 Seasons Fire Prevention Services crew who routinely install a wide range of fire prevention products

Some of the fleet of service vehicles at 4 Seasons Fire Prevention Services that can quickly respond to an emergency “If we’re not the biggest full service shop in Victoria we are certainly in the top three,” Sonier said. “We currently have seven service trucks on the road, 14 employees and a client base that extends all across Vancouver Island.”

The range of clients routinely served by 4 Seasons FPS is as varied as its product and service lines. Every person or corporate entity needing fire prevention a nd suppression tech nolog y a nd ser v ice, ever yone f rom homeowners, to multi-family

developments to government agencies is on the company’s expanding client list.

“Apartment buildings have fire alarm and sprinkler systems that run through the whole place, we routinely test both of those. We check fire extinguishers, we test

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OFF THE COVER

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13

FAMILY BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The company is conveniently located at 460 Bay Street in Victoria, originally opening for business in 1998 emergency lighting – the same thing happens on any boat. They also have suppression systems and fire extinguishers and all that also require inspecting and service,” he said.

“We have federal contracts and provincial ones. We do work with Search and Rescue, even groups like the Juan De Fuca Search and Rescue have their systems serviced by us. We also work very closely with the Fire Departments, not only doing inspections of their systems but also assisting with the city, helping to provide education and helping to push the new fire codes and enforce existing ones.

Educated Prevention – Engineered Protection, that’s a company motto that really describes the type of work we do.”

4 Seasons a lso has a g reat deal of experience developing fire safety plans for its clients.

This work includes everything from developing schematics that show individuals the best escape routes du ri ng emergencies to detailed information binders that would serve as an on-site resource for staff, firefighters and other first responders. “Every apartment building requires them by code,” he explained.

As the Victoria area counts m a ny cl a ssic a nd ch a racter homes and structures among its housing inventory the work of elevat i ng t he sa fety levels of these heritage properties is another routine part of

the company’s workload. Upgrading out-of-date fire alarm and suppression systems, replacing these systems with state of the art Siemens technology, and participating in modern renovation projects of timeless buildings is of particular interest to Sonier.

“We have two complete upgrades on the go right now, essentially the whole building, installing the appropriate detection system and bringing them up to an acceptable level of safety, not only for the building owners but for the residents as well,” he explained. We protect life and assets offering solutions for an scenario.

For the future 4 Seasons expects to continue to grow, based out of its Victoria location.

“Now that we’ve got the sprinkler division we’re expecting to see a real jump in our workload.

We already have a pretty large customer base so with this new service we can provide we’re expecting to get even busier,” he said.

“There is really no need for us to open branch offices, we can get anywhere in a hurry. We provide 24 hour emergency coverage so if people have an issue they just have to call. I’ve always advocated for quality products and exceptional customer service, it’s a model that has always worked for us.”

To learn more please visit the company website at: www.4seasonsfire.com

Proud Insurance Partner to 4 Season’s Fire Prevention

“Our group took a look at the services our membership valued most. Of paramount importance were the peer advisory groups and reg ular fam ily business events.”

“A CAFE chapter in Nova Scotia chose to became autonomous at the same time and it helped tremendously to dialogue back and forth about what worked best for each of our group’s members and how to implement any legal changes,” said Story. “There were a lot of commonalities, especially around how both groups focused more on sharing stories and experiences, not just business cards.”

Story explained that family businesses are unique entities, not for the goods or services they provide, but for the inner dynamics and legalities of working, and in some cases living, side by side with a family member on a regular basis.

“It creates a unique set of circumstances that can be very rewarding, but can also come with its own challenges. Having a community that understands those sha red ex periences is invaluable.”

He added, that retaining the community it has fostered and built over the years was an important consideration. Peer advisory groups, which operate like a mini board of directors are made up of between eight and 10 members, meet monthly, providing opportunities for participants to share successes and discover solutions to the challenges they are experiencing.

“Panelist events generate great dialogue,” said Story. “And were some of the services our members wanted to keep.” He added that the FBAVI members share their family business stories providing opportunities for others to learn from their successes.

The group also hosts regular workshops for practical information on topics such as employment law, exit strategies and legacy building and dealing with the challenges of conflict in the family.

“We have a dedicated group of members from as far away as the Great Bear Rainforest, and up and down the island,” said Story.

“Some even drive to our venues in Victoria monthly to attend meetings and events, and to participate in our lively and informative discussions, or if they can’t make the drive they join in via Skype or video conferencing.”

As the newly formed Family Business Association Vancouver Island, the organization will continue to represent and serve the island’s family business community. The legalities of changing the organization’s name and affiliation have been completed with legal considerations and bylaws rebuilt to suit its new independent status. In early

Lively discussion at FBAVI launch with Dorothy, Walter and Leigh Large of Country Grocer, Ross Borland, Vessel Liquor Store, and Oliver Sommer of Black Press CREDIT:FBAVI

Cindy Plumb of Pajo’s Restaurants and David Webb, Fernhill Financial CREDIT:FBAVI

“Our group took a look at the services our membership valued most.

Of paramount importance were the peer advisory groups and regular family events.”

STEWART STORY PRESIDENT FAMILY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Story said that executive director Bernadine Rudichuk was a major reason the transition from chapter to single entity went so smoothly

VANCOUVER ISLAND

CREDIT:FBAVI

June in Victoria, the rebranded entity was launched at a well-attended gala event.

Story said, that the new logo and brand is representative of the group’s aims. Designed by member, Hot House Marketing and Don Dagg, the simple design encapsulates the intertwined nature of the family business.

“There has been no ill will between CAFE and FBAVI. The new direction the national association is taking works for them, and we want to continue to provide the support services that have made us successful and work for our

members.”

He added that one of the reasons the transition from chapter to single entity has been so smooth is because of the group’s executive director, Bernadine Rudichuk.

“Her work and efforts are the real asset to our organization.

She helped throughout the collaboration with Nova Scotia and kept our group and aims cohesive and focused.”

T he Family Business Association Vancouver Island is at www.familybusinessassociationvi.ca

14

JULY 2016

NU-VIEW HOMES HAS SERVED VICTORIA MARKET SINCE 2003 “I kept being drawn Company Provides Clients Both Design & Construction Services

V

ICTORIA – When a hands on builder with home construction part of his genetic makeup meets an innovative designer with a flair for thinking outside the box the result is NuView Homes, one of the Capital Region’s premier custom home builders. “We’re a full service Design/Build company with a corporate mantra of Design. Build.

Live.” explained company President Keith Andrews.

“We’re unique in that we have an in-house designer with a degree in Environmental Design and she handles all of our design needs, which at times can be very needy. As a builder and developer I want a great product going up at the end of the day so it’s nice to have her by my side looking after all that.”

Martine Kiliwnik, Nu-View Homes’ Vice President and inhouse Designer (who has been with the firm for the past three years) was born with a love of design, claiming that when still a tot she had to rearrange the furniture in her room to make it ‘just right’ for her exacting tastes and standards. A native of Minnedosa, MB, she earned her Bachelor of Environmental Design degree from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture and has been working as a professional designer for the past decade.

“So often designers and builders can butt heads, where the designer is only concerned about “their vision” but Keith and I typically have a shared vision about how the project should look,” she explained.

“I may come up with an idea, but he facilitates the best way to create that idea, and determines the most efficient or most cost-effective way to build it. And that applies to all our projects whether they’re for our development

back toward a career in construction, so here we are today.”

KEITH ANDREWS PRESIDENT, NU-VIEW HOMES

company or a client the approach is always the same.”

Serving the Greater Victoria area Nu-View Homes’ origins go back to 2003 when Andrews struck out on his own. About a decade ago a rebranding occurred and Nu-View Homes took its place as a leader in the Victoria home construction sector.

Today the firm is an award winning developer, custom home builder and renovation specialty firm. With a skilled staff and working with a core of trusted sub trades, the company has been responsible for some of the most innovative and spectacular single family and multi-family residences in the city.

“I certainly do have a core of sub trades that I’ve worked closely with now for many years, some I even went to school with. For example my plumber went through his apprenticeship at the same time I went through mine, and we’re still friends,” Andrews said.

Just a few of the recent accolades the firm has won include taking home two Vancouver Island Building Excellence (VIBE) Awards this year, for the Best Renovation $350,000 and Over, and the Best Single Family Kitchen Renovation Under $50,000.

The VIBE Awards are held each year by the Canadian Home Builder’s Association of Vancouver Island (CHBA-VI) and is considered among the top honours a practitioner in the building industry can receive from their peers.

A third-generation builder, A nd rews ex pla i ned that i nitially his career direction was more toward a legal profession such as law enforcement. He had previously earned a diploma in

The Isabella is a distinctive two bedroom condominium designed and built by Nu-View Homes Criminal Justice and had served as an RCMP Auxiliary Constable before genetics won out and he returned to his first love and became a Red Sealed Journeyman Carpenter.

“I guess it was in my blood as my Grandfather was a builder, but I didn’t take this path originally. I was going down a road toward a career in Criminal Justice, the law or something along those lines.

But I kept being drawn back toward a career in construction, so here we are today.”

Both Prairie born (Andrews was born in Calgary) Nu-View Homes’ two principles bring that back-tobasics philosophy to every project they undertake. “We’ve really honed in our skills and focus on our strengths. We know what we want to build, we know what our strengths are, that’s why we’re selective about the projects we undertake,” Andrews explained.

“Quality in all aspects, taking the time to talk with the client and finding the right solution for them, and building something that has value and will last is all about the work we do.”

While new home construction

The Isabella project is a typical Nu-View home, designed from the outset to be elegant and functional is Nu-View Homes’ main focus the company also has an extensive experience serving the renovation market. At one point the company’s workload was fairly evenly divided between new builds and renovation projects. In more recent years it has gradually put more emphasis on building new homes, which the firm considers reflective of the present local market demand. Today

Nu-View’s assignments are divided 70/30, with new construction taking up the lion’s share of the work.

Having served the local market for more than 13 years, NuView Homes finds that much of its present business arrives, thanks to repeat and referral clients. “One of my more interesting years was what I call the Year of the Presidents. I was hired by the

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JULY 2016

Open spaces and modern designs are hallmarks of a Nu-View Homes property, each home is a quality living space

In house designer Martine Kiliwnik has amassed an impressive portfolio of beautiful residential projects

Nu-View Homes has been an integral part of the Victoria construction sector since opening in 2003

The spatial implications of a design, how it will work with its users, is a major concern for the designer

Presidents of two of the local secondary-education institutions completely by chance. Then out of the blue I was phoned by the President of the British Columbia Construction Association,” Andrews said.

“He said to me ‘Keith, I hear you do good work, so put me in queue.

I just bought a house up in Dean Park and you’re my man’ – which really floored me. I said to him you have the whole entire industry from which to choose a builder, so why did you choose me? So he said to me I like to help the up and comers in the business so I’m going to support you. Ultimately it turned out really well and we’re still good friends.”

For Kiliwnik one of the attractions of her career is the unique opportunity it provides to flex

company the way it currently is.

In its present form it’s completely manageable, we have excellent relationships with our customers and sub trades – really it’s a family business,” Andrews said.

“I would like growth, but not to get too carried away with the idea of growth. Maybe the key is to build something different like smaller commercial projects such as restaurants or storefronts. I’m not interested in adding more stress to the business. I want to continue to do the best job possible, providing quality at all stages, while exploring new territory.”

Kiliwnik’s vision for the company’s future sees the duo conti nu i ng to do the work they currently undertake, but with an even greater emphasis on quality

her creative muscles in a way that makes people’s lives better and more complete. “My focus as a designer is on the spatial implications, how the home impacts the humans who are actually living within those spaces,” she said.

“It’s everything from customizing certain details, those little aspects that can make their lives easier. Implementing those elements is among the things I really enjoy because they often have the biggest impact.”

For the future, Nu-View Homes a nticipates placi ng a n even greater emphasis on new home construction, including more multi-family projects such as duplexes and eventually adding commercial construction to its expanding menu of services.

“Frankly, I like the size of our

and customer service. “It will be more about honing. We’ve placed ourselves under the design / build umbrella and there aren’t a lot of firms out there that can offer that under the same roof. We view ourselves as a one stop shop for design and construction. Perhaps in the future there will be more energy put into the development side of the business, designing small, unique communities.”

An established company with a youthful attitude, a melding of traditional construction skills with an innovative vision for the future of home design, Nu-View Homes is positioned to play a leading role in the residential and commercial development of the Greater Victoria area.

“We’re not going to suddenly announce that we’re doing a 30

The use of tasteful colours and wood accents create a soothing and very livable atmosphere lot subdivision just to have us say, what the hell did we just do? We’ll work our way there in a logical manner, it’s all about baby steps,” she said.

“It’s all about the client, giving them absolutely the best product that we can. The model that we’ve come up with is Design. Build.

Live. – we want it to be that simple for the client. It all comes down to trust. Keith and I are on the same team and we can be on the same team for our clients. People work hard for their money so they should be able to maximize their investment in their home.”

To le a r n more ple a se v i sit the company’s website at: www.nuviewhomes.com

Congratulations Nu-View, we are proud to be a part of your team.

250-514-5559

jamiehavens@shaw.ca

Nu-View Homes, a professional and Servicing Great Victoria, Saanich, Sidney and the West Shore 778.677.2444 www.urbanelectric.ca urbanelectricltd@gmail.com

Proud to support Nu-View Homes.

Best wishes for continued success.

16

JULY 2016

Conference Board Head Sees BC Leading Canada’s Economy Chief Economist Glen Hodgson provides Western Business Outlook 2016 forum with provincial, North American and international overview

BY MARK MACDONALD

“Canada’s current lack of

BUSINESS EXAMINER VANCOUVER ISLAND

private sector investment

N

ANAIMO – British Columbia is expected to lead Canada’s economy in the near future, the Chief Economist of the Conference Board of Canada told attendees at the Western Business Outlook 2016 gathering at the Coast Bastion Hotel May 19 Glen Hodgson, Sen ior Vice-President and Chief Economist of The Conference Board of Canada shared his insight while speaking on Economic Outlook: BC, Canada, U.S. and Beyond, sharing statistics that show why BC’s economy is at the front of the pack.

Susan Mowbray, Senior Economist for MNP LLP, followed with an overview of Vancouver Island, projecting modest and sustained growth for the economy, particularly in tourism, forestry and international education.

“When the Canadian dollar rises, Canadians leave the country,” she observed, speaking of tourism. “With the increase in the U.S. dollar, that means Canadians stay home.”

is a concern, he said, as businesses are sitting on a half-trillion dollars in cash, rather than From left, John Hankins of Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation, Glen Hodgson, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of The Conference Board of Canada, Sohee Ahn, Executive Director, Trade Policy and Negotiations, British Columbia Ministry of International Trade, and Adrian Legin, President and CEO of Coastal Community Credit Union

investing in company infrastructure.”

GLEN HODGSON SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT & CHIEF ECONOMIST, THE CONFERENCE BOARD OF CANADA

The numbers confirm: Visits to Vancouver Island rose 8 per cent last year, hotel occupancy up 6-7 per cent accompanied by higher room rates, and air and ferry traffic is up 4 per cent.

International education has “grown significantly since 2010,” she says, pointing to 30 per cent growth between 2010 and 2013.

“These levels of growth are not expected to continue, as we have been targeting the Asian market, and there’s been a slowdown in

the Chinese economy,” she says.

Their impact on the economy is significant.

For exa mple, 300 students coming to Nanaimo-Ladysmith for K-12 education bring a combined $6 million into the area through tuition fees and living expenses. Post-secondary students inject nearly $25,000 per year, and with 1,500 students, the total would be $37.5 million per annum.

Mowbray notes that forestry

has been hit hard by declining g row t h i n Ch i n a. However, good news is on the horizon with the projected increase in U.S. house construction, considering its historic use of Canadian softwood lumber.

Ho d g son m a d e t h at p oi nt emphatically.

“The U.S. recovery is real – we think the U.S. is back,” says Hodgson, noting the Conference Board is expecting up to 3 per cent growth in the American economy in 2016-2017. “It’s taken a long time, but I think we can say quite clearly that America is back.”

It’s been a slow rebuild since the dark days of the recession, but Hodgson says they’re expecting 1.4 million housing units to be built in the U.S., which is good news for BC, as it is this province’s softwood lumber that is a prime building product for their construction industry.

C a n a d a’s c u r r e n t l a c k o f private sector investment is a concern, he said, as businesses a re sitti ng on a ha l f tri l l ion dol la rs i n cash, rat her t ha n investing in company infrastr uctu re. T hat cou ld mea n they’d be unprepared for possible future growth and opportunities, particularly south of the border.

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“This leaves Canada in a situation where very few Canadian companies are ready to take advantage of the U.S. market,” he says. “They can’t see the payback for cash.”

As for real consumer spending, Hodgson says that for individuals, there is “not a lot of cash to spend”, other than borrowing. However, as long as low interest rates remain, it’s sustainable.

I nter n at ion a l ly, Ho d g s on noted that in terms of projected growth, China is looking at 6.5 per cent, India 8 per cent, the Asia-Pacific region 6 per cent, and North America 2 per cent.

T he economies of Brazil and Russia are both retracting and are in recession.

I n re g a rd s to t h e p r ic e of oi l, Hodgson poi nted to the geo-political struggle involving Saudi Arabia, which is determined to regain its market share, and Middle Eastern nations like Syria, Iran and Iraq wanting back into the game.

Hodgson doesn’t expect the North American price for oil to hit $50 U.S. per barrel until 2018, although prices have been inching up lately.

“This is all because of those ‘ f ra c k i n g’ A m e r i c a n s ,” h e quipped, noting that use of that technology has enabled the U.S.

to tap more of its own petroleum resources, lessening their demand on global markets.

“Saudi Arabia lost one million barrels per day to the U.S. and Canadian market,” he said, adding that oil investment in Alberta dropped 40 per cent last year. Production is down, resulting in less supply coming out of North America.

Hodgson says BC h a s su ffered from a “half-price sale” of com modity prices for the past two years, which is now affecting Alberta and Saskatchewan. There is also evidence of the repositioning of economic growth back to Central Canada: Ontario and Quebec. He also stressed how important the Trans Pacific Partnership international trade agreement is to Canada and BC. “BC will outgrow the national economy,” he said, pointing towards the possible opening of BC’s first Liquid Natural Gas terminal in 2017.

BC is forecast to experience 2 per cent growth in 2016 and 3 per cent in 2017. If LNG proponent Petronas is successful in becoming operational, that could boost GDP by a further 1 per cent.

“Private sector investment is growing, and job growth is double the national average,” he says of BC “Wage growth is very strong, which is good for the retail sector. BC is the growth leader in Canada for 2015-17.”

17

VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRES IN A DIGITAL WORLD

SAANICH PENINSULA DENNY WARNER

T

he opinion has been expressed in this community that the provision of visitor services from Visitor Centres is redundant as people get all of their travel information on line. That view point is perplexing to our staff and board members, to the almost hundred volunteers who work in the Centres we operate and to the visitors, (67,000 of them last year) who come to our Centres in search of information. It is regrettable that the people making these pronouncements do not have the benefit of first-hand knowledge from speaking with staff or volunteers to learn what it is that visitors are asking, how our volunteers respond and, most importantly, how this exchange of information positively impacts our community.

There will be 3.5 million people, arriving via BC Ferries to Swartz

Bay this year, driving past the Pat Bay Visitor Centre. This number increases every year and a large percentage of these arrivals will be tourists, the majority of whom will have used the internet to research their travels. Irrespective of the age of the visitors, when they are on holiday, the last thing they want to be doing is looking at their mobile device and many don’t have data plans. They prefer to speak to a local person who has an understanding of the area – our visitors want the inside scoop, so to speak. They are seeking to confirm that the information they researched is accurate.

How many of you have booked accommodation online and upon arrival discovered the photos and accompanying write up did not accurately represent the place? Our visitors are at the Visitor Centre to discover activities to do in addition to what they already have planned.

The visitors recognize that only someone who knows this area intimately can tell them what is special about our community and reveal to them the jewels that perhaps don’t have a presence online. People are suffering digital overload and understand that digital media can be manipulated and what is online is constitutionally no different than any other kind of advertising.

Siri will give you some astonishingly inaccurate answers and Google Maps often steer people wrong.

Maps on a small screen are difficult to navigate and don’t provide a good idea of scale which explains why many tourists arrive at our Centre in the late morning with a plan to spend the afternoon in Tofino and make their evening ferry back to Vancouver. We give out tens of thousands of maps and brochures every year, by visitors’ request.

You would be surprised at the number of locals we assist at the Visitor Centres. They are most often requesting information about hiking or biking trails, picnic locations, swimming beaches, boat launches, and a whole raft of questions about locations they are interested to visit.

A website is useful but none of this information could be shared as enthusiastically or compellingly as by our volunteers, in person.

All this is not to say that there are not opportunities to augment existing Visitor Services including mobile services, an online presence and apps. None of those options can replace or best the service provided by the loyal, passionate volunteers who have done so for more than thirty years from the key location, the Pat Bay Visitor Centre.

Denny Warner is Executive Director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 250-656-3616 or execdir@ peninsulachamber.ca

18

JULY 2016

ICONIC RESTAURANT SERVES ONLY 100 PER CENT SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD “I made it my goal at that The Marina Restaurant: A Uniquely West Coast Dining Experience

V

ICTORIA – Combining a spectacular location, world class ser v ice, a casual atmosphere and an exceptional menu featuring the finest in local seafood, the Marina Restaurant in Oak Bay has been serving the Victoria market for more than 20 years. Now a fully Ocean Wise™ certified facility, the restaurant can add an improved level of environmental sensitivity to its already impressive list of accomplishments.

“It’s clearly a fine dining experience, but not so much that everyone needs to come in wearing a suit and tie. We don’t like to say that we’re just fine dining,” explained Jeff Keenliside, Corporate Chef for the Oak Bay Marine Group (OBMG), the restaurant’s owners. “It’s the kind of place that invites you to just be (and dress) how you are.”

“It’s defi n itely considered a special occasion restaurant within Victoria, but we offer lunch, sushi, dinner and brunch and we’re open right through the afternoon for appetizers and cocktails. So there is always a reason to pop in for the experience.”

While the restaurant has been at the location for many decades, it was extensively renovated in 1994 when it was purchased by OBMG’s founder Bob Wright.

Located at the Oak Bay Marina at 1327 Beach Drive, the dockside complex actually involves three separate dining experiences, housed in what has to be one of the mostly uniquely West Coast venues available.

“This particular building was redesigned and reintroduced as the Marina Restaurant in 1994.

The Marina Restaurant itself has spectacular views of the marina and beyond,” Keenliside stated.

“It’s essentially a round building featuring 270° views of the

time that all aspects of the restaurant be 100 per cent Ocean Wise™.”

JEFF KEENLISIDE CORPORATE CHEF, OAK BAY MARINE GROUP

ocean (out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca), the mountains and the boats right outside the window.

Spectacular is about the only way to describe it.”

The Marina Restaurant, with seating for 120 in the main restaurant (and with 20 additional seats at the bar), is only part of the story. Housed downstairs within the same structure is the Dockside Eatery which was redeveloped in 2015. The in-house sushi bar (the Sushi Bar at the Marina Restaurant) is the only Ocean Wise™ certified sushi bar in Victoria and one of only four in British Columbia. The sushi bar itself has a seating capacity of 40 patrons.

Ocean Wise™ is a marine resources conservation program developed by the Vancouver Aquarium, a program created to educate both restaurateurs and the buying public on the importance of serving only sustainable seafood products. With more than 650 partners across Canada Ocean Wise™ was created to satisfy the public’s desire for high quality seafood while providing awareness that serving only sustainable choices will ensure a healthier ocean for everyone.

Sustainable seafood are those species that are both abundant and resilient to fishing pressures, are considered well managed from a harvesting perspective a nd a re caught i n ways that limit damage to other species or habitats. The Oak Bay Marine Group’s restaurants are all 100 per cent Ocean Wise™ certified.

“Through all of our restaurants we’ve made big moves toward improved seafood sustainability. The Marina Restaurant

The design of the restaurant provided a 270° view for the patrons, a true West Coast dining experience

Located at the Oak Bay Marina, the Marina Restaurant has been serving exceptional seafood since 1994 itself initially joined the Ocean Wise™ program about 10 years ago when I first came on board as a restaurant chef. What that means is that we indicated on the menu which products were

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certified sustainable and left the decision to the customers,” Keenliside said.

“I on ly lef t the restau ra nt briefly to run my own restaurant for a while but came back

about three years ago. I made it my goal then that all aspects of the restaurant be 100 per cent Ocean Wise™.”

“It’s all part of our responsibility as chefs and restaurateurs to

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As fresh as it gets, the Marina Restaurant has always focused on serving only the freshest local product

A fully Ocean Wise™ certified restaurant all of the food served comes from sustainable sources

Minutes from the downtown yet miles away in feeling, the Marina Restaurant is perfect for a special occasion

The perfect atmosphere for a casual lunch or a romantic encounter, the Marina Restaurant is the ideal choice

be aware of our own purchasing and in turn to make our guests feel confident that we are making responsible decisions,” he said.

“When you think about it the restaurant industry is a huge purchaser of food products. Being sustainable, working seasonally and with local suppliers is a key part of our success and is something that I’m personally a big advocate of.”

Not merely environmentally aware, the trio of eating establishments found at the Oak Bay Marina are also major employers with combined staffs of nearly 70. The Dockside Eatery which employs 13 people is located directly below the main restaurant and offers both indoor seating

“Bob was already a fan of his work so when he carried out the renovation work at the restaurant in 1993 / 94 he convinced David to come on board as a consultant to start up the sushi department and David has never left. His traditional training in Japan as both a chef and sushi chef is good complement to Chef de Cuisine John Waller’s creativity with local ingredients and traditional techniques such as canning and pickling, which results in some magnificent house-made chutneys, sauces and flavours.”

A spectacular setting, a favourite for both regular local customers a nd v isiting (a nd often seagoing) tourists who

and a unique patio-style dining option. Originally more of a coffee house the operation is now fully licensed and offers a casual dining alternative with its recently expanded menu.

Under the guidance of sushi master David Nakayama, the Sushi Bar at the Marina Restaurant has also experienced significant growth. “David has been with us since the Sushi Bar’s inception in 1994, and is just one of a number of long term employees we have. We’re really lucky to have him. He was actua lly Victoria’s first true sushi Chef and was hired

by Bob Wright our founder who passed away in 2013,” Keenliside said.

make stopovers at the marina, a champion for sustainable seafood options and a dedicated employer and community-minded citizen (purchasing goods from local suppliers whenever possible) the Marina Restaurant has become an iconic part of Victoria’s cosmopolitan food services industry.

“The company has always provided the opportunity for people to learn, be promoted and to progress in their careers within the company,” he said. “It’s a complete package, the views, the facilities and the products.

There’s nothing else like it.”

To learn more please visit the company’s website at: www. obmg.com/restaurants.htm

The Marina Restaurant’s experienced Chefs daily provide the very finest in seafood selections

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JULY 2016

AUTOMOTIVE Automotive Sector One Of Canada’s Economic Bright Spots Canada Has Enjoyed A Long Love Affair With The Automobile

BY DAVID HOLMES

T

he automobi le a nd the stor y of Ca n ad a’s development are virtually inseparable. According to the Canada Science and Technology Museum the nation, no doubt due to its expansive size, was an early recognizer of the value of self propelled transportation. In fact in 1867, the year of Canada’s Confederation, the first steps toward automotive dominance in the country took place in a humble way at the Stanstead Fair in Stanstead, Quebec.

A mong the livestock, farm equipment and prized jars of jams and jellies Henry Seth Taylor, a local jeweler and clockmaker demonstrated a self-propelled steam powered contrivance, appropriately named the Steam Buggy, for its obvious similarity to a horse drawn buggy. This pioneering machine had taken Taylor seven years to design and build. Shortly after, following a system failure and an unfortunate crash, Taylor abandoned his dreams of self-propelled travel and Canada’s chance to make motoring history slipped into oblivion.

But the wheels of time turned and nearly 20 years later Karl Benz in Germany demonstrated the first practical gas powered engine, mounted in a crude motorcycle which ultimately sparked a revolution in transportation. Canada’s first truly practical automobile, an electric powered machine, first hit the streets of Toronto in 1893.

Co-designed by William Still and Frederick Featherstonehaugh, the elegant two seat machine was assembled by the Dixon Carriage Works and could hit a then jaw dropping 25 kilometers per hour.

Three years later in 1896 Sherbooke, Quebec’s George Foote Foss (a mechanic and tradesman) built the first successful and marketable gasoline powered automobile in Canada. The nation would never be the same again. T he Canadian Vehicle M a nu factu rers A sso ciat ion (CVMA) reports that currently one in seven Canadians is involved in the automotive sector in some capacity. From a new car dealership marketing the latest products, to the oil change depots helping to keep cars old and new

Building automobiles accounts for 12 per cent of Canada’s manufacturing Gross Domestic Product

The New Car Dealers Association represents more than 370 vehicle dealerships around British Columbia on the road, the overall automotive sector is responsible for more than 550,000 jobs across the country.

T he manufacturing of cars and trucks, in 11 light duty and three heavy duty manufacturing plants is responsible for 12 per cent of Canada’s manufacturing Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and for more than 20 per cent of Ontario’s total GDP. In British Columbia the sale of new cars generates more than $11 billion in economic activity each year and directly employs more than 36,000 people who work in the province’s 370 plus new car dealerships in nearly 55 communities across BC. Blair Qualey is the President and Chief Executive Officer

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Across Canada more than 550,000 people are directly employed in some part of the automotive sector

Tradesman George Foote Foss demonstrated a functional gasoline powered automobile in 1896

“The automotive sector in many ways drives the local economies, especially in the smaller centers.”

BLAIR QUALEY PRESIDENT, NEW CAR DEALERS ASSOCIATION

(CEO) of the New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA), a trade association with approximately 372 new car dealership members around the province. For him his association’s members are key economic drivers in the communities they service. “The last economic impact study that we did, which was carried out

by MNP, showed that our membership generated more than $11 billion in economic activity every year, while being significant local employers and corporate taxpayers,” he said.

“Latest figures show that new car dealerships alone contribute something like two per cent of the provincial GDP and that’s only the new car dealers. What sets our members apart from other members of the sector is that our folk are all franchised new car dealers.”

For Qualey new car dealers in BC have continued to be major economic success stories, despite any uncertainties in the general provincial economy. “The economic story of the dealers in our industry over the last number of years has been a very rosy one and a strong one.”

Coming to the industry eight years ago following a successful career in business administration, Qualey said he has seen

positive growth in the industry, buoyancy that bodes well for the future.

“We have come off a couple of record years in terms of vehicle sales across the country and particularly across this province. In April alone there were 200,000 vehicles sold in one month across this country which is an all time record,” he said.

In terms of an economic impact the automotive sector often serves as a weather gauge for the overall fiscal health of any region. “Our folks tend to be a bit of a canary in the coal mine.

People in the real estate sector often come running up to me when they see me at an event to find out how vehicle sales are, because basically if we’re seeing issues those problems quickly translate through to the rest of the economy.”

So how does the future look today? If new car sales are an accurate indicator of the confidence of the buying public then the future looks bright indeed. “Based on what we’ve seen in the first quarter of this year we’re likely to have yet another record year, beating last year’s record which beat the year before,” he said.

“Taken as a whole the automotive industry is massive, nationally and provincially, and fra n k ly one that someti mes can be underappreciated. In BC we focus on tourism, mining, forestry, technology and other things that may be a little more high profile. But in reality the automotive sector in many ways drives the local economies, especially in the smaller centers,” Qualey said.

“They are big employers, huge tax payers and are invariably good corporate citizens. I doubt if you’ll find a hockey rink or arena anywhere that doesn’t have a new car dealer’s logo in it somewhere.”

To learn more please visit the association’s website at: www. newcardealers.ca

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WHO IS SUING WHOM

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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 839816 BC LTD 823 Canada Ave, Duncan, BC PL AINTIFF Directcash ATM Processing Partnership CL AIM $ 25,200 DEFENDANT Bavarian Imports Auto Repairs Ltd 1712 Kidson Rd, Nanaimo, BC PL AINTIFF Befus, Lane CL AIM $ 7,077 DEFENDANT Boal Enterprises Ltd 112-7088 West Saanich Rd, Saanichton, BC PL AINTIFF Hoek Van Holland Landscaping Ltd CL AIM $ 7,198

DEFENDANT Call in The Plumber 2174 Stone Gate, Victoria, BC PL AINTIFF Tiurpenko, Andrey CL AIM $ 5,546 DEFENDANT Chiron Health Services Inc 201-19 Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC PL AINTIFF Kehler, Christopher Mark CL AIM $ 18,034 DEFENDANT Cornerstone Properties Ltd 201-2377 Bevan Ave, Sidney, BC PL AINTIFF Jurinich, Mario CL AIM $ 20,426 DEFENDANT Filko Marble and Granite 1130 Fair Rd, Parksville, BC PL AINTIFF Schnirer, Otto Joseph CL AIM $ 11,341

300 -736 Broughton St, Victoria, BC PL AINTIFF Eecol Electric UlC CL AIM $ 70,920

3538 Promenade Cres, Victoria, BC PL AINTIFF Couldwell, Heather Marie CL AIM $ 40,000

DEFENDANT Green Sky Labs Inc 245-1627 Fort St, Victoria, BC PL AINTIFF Lamb, Thomas CL AIM $ 18,944

DEFENDANT Maplewood Properties Ltd 210 -3260 Norwell Dr, Nanaimo, BC PL AINTIFF Opus Engineering Ltd CL AIM $ 25,171

DEFENDANT Island Water Hauling Inc PO BOX 120, Cedar, BC PL AINTIFF Coast Outdoor Advertising Ltd CL AIM $ 15,357 DEFENDANT Islands West Manufacturers Ltd 4247 Dieppe Rd, Victoria, BC PL AINTIFF Wood, Ronald Clement CL AIM $ 25,156

DEFENDANT Gaslight Heat Services Ltd 10293 Sparling Pl, Sidney, BC PL AINTIFF Chaturvedi, Mahesh CL AIM $ 12,895

DEFENDANT Jubilee Self Storage Ltd 311 Cottonwood Dr, Campbell River, BC PL AINTIFF CR Metal Fabricators Ltd CL AIM $ 6,497

DEFENDANT GP Systems Limited

DEFENDANT Kareco Holdings Inc

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DEFENDANT Oceanside Kitchen and Bath Corp 1130 Fair Rd, Parksville, BC PL AINTIFF Schnirer, Otto Joseph CL AIM $ 11,341 DEFENDANT Pacific Bulldog Construction Ltd PO Box 939, Sooke, BC PL AINTIFF Slegg Building Materials Ltd CL AIM $ 42,476 DEFENDANT Parkside Hotel & Spa Ltd 402-707 Fort St, Victoria, BC PL AINTIFF Rowland, Deirdre Anne CL AIM $ 25,216

23 DEFENDANT Re Nu It Home Improvements 260 Willemar Ave, Courtenay, BC PL AINTIFF McCooey, Rose CL AIM $ 25,256 DEFENDANT Saanich Peninsula Realty Ltd 9830 4th St, Sidney, BC PL AINTIFF Prices Alarm Systems (2009) Ltd CL AIM $ 8,574 DEFENDANT Stepping Stone Therapy Inc 3388b Tennyson Ave, Victoria, BC PL AINTIFF Craig, Natasha CL AIM $ 22,876 DEFENDANT Vancouver Island Running Company Inc 420 -880 Douglas St, Victoria, BC PL AINTIFF GWL Realty Advisors Inc CL AIM $ 13,349

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JULY 2016

Vintage Hot Tubs is celebrating their 38th Anniversary.

executive director for Habitat for Humanity MidVancouver Island.

The Province of British Columbia has purchased necessary parcels of land, and can now designate the entire length of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail as a provincial park.

The Sooke Horseshoe Club celebrated the grand opening of six courts on June 4th. The club is located at 2250 Sooke River Road.

The Ashley Homestore at 1652 Island Highway in Victoria celebrated their grand opening.

Thrifty Foods Liquor celebrated their grand opening at their Tuscany Village and University Heights locations.

The Sooke Region Museum underwent some light renovations in their storage space this past May. These renos will streamline organization of the museum’s nearly 20,000 artifacts.

Kerri Milton has been named as the new general manager for the Downtown Victoria Business Association. She will be replacing longtime general manager Ken Kelly.

Victoria’s car dealerships have announced their salespeople of the month for April. For Galaxy Motors, Alex Tiginagas; for Harris Auto, Cam McFarlane; for Porsche Centre, Matt Kennard; for Campus Honda, Joe Halasz; for Jim Pattison Toyota, Abdul Yilla; for Three Point Motors, David Bercovitz; for Campus Infiniti, Ian Lang; for Pacific Mazda, Craig Hawe; for BMW Victoria, Matthew Traynor; for Graham Kia, Katrina Kamper; for Wheaton, Ali Zeidan; for Volvo, Dustin Hofer; for Campus Nissan, Frank Pecorelli; for Audi Autohaus, Dave Vollet; for Wille Dodge, Frank Burgeretta; for Saunders, Mike Delmaire; for Volkswagen Victoria, Brent Moroz; for Jenner, Connie Wilde; and for Campus Acura, Nick Lee was recognized.

This year marks One Tooth Active Wear’s 10th year in business. They are located at 1006 Broad Street.

Dr. John Poon has joined the team at Diamond Optical Eyecare. He is working at 1964 Fourth Street in Oak Bay.

The Victoria Foundation is celebrating their 80th anniversary with the Canada150Mosaic display. Find out more about the organization at www.victoriafoundation.ca.

Scot Taylor has put his harbour-view restaurant, the Stickleback West Coast Eatery up for sale.

The current listing for the Sooke business is for $3.3 Million.

RE/MAX Alliance in Victoria celebrates their sales leaders for April: Claude Delmaire, Karen Love, Ron Neal, Manpreet Kandola, Robyn Wildman, Layne Britton, Mark Salter, Julie Swift, Alex Burns, and Karie Seiss.

This year marks the 26th Anniversary for the Victoria Model Railway Show. Find out more at www.greatesthobby.com.

Party Crashers, “the event experts,” celebrated the grand opening of their second location at 2642 Quadra Street on June 4.

The Victoria Conference Centre hosted the annual Canadian Physiotherapist Association Congress at the end of May. The event was attended by over 500 practicing physiotherapists and clinic owners.

CIBC’s Sooke branch celebrated its 60th year of serving the community.

The Rotary Club of Sooke has named members Sheila Beech, Kay McKenzie, and Steve Splawski as Paul Harris Fellows. The Paul Harris Fellowship acknowledges significant contributions toward humanitarian or social causes.

Pemberton Holmes manager, Mike Holmes, welcomes Lea Cathcart to their real estate team.

The Women’s Enterprise Centre, through the Catalyst for Growth initiative, have given grants to seven Island-based organizations.

Will-Step Coaching & Facilitation, Island Women in Technology, Westshore Soroptimist Society for Women and Families, Fortress Foundation, Ladies Learning Code Central Vancouver Island, Inkwell, and PowHERhouse Performance Strategies have received these grants to support the professional advancement of women.

The Cottage Collection at Woodland Shores held their grand opening celebration. Find out more about the development at www. woodlandshores.ca.

A new board of directors has been named for the Sidney Business Improvement Area Society.

Bob Whyte, Brad Edgett, David Graham, Chris Cowland, Justin McGregor, David Bremner, Kathy Blaine, Shai Thompson, Todd Wiehe, Natalie King, and Susan Simosko have been named to this Sidney-promoting organization.

Sooke resident Nikki Pichert’s business, Wylde Artisan Bath Salts, is off to a great start after launching on the Mother’s Day weekend.

BCAA’s Langford location on Millstream Road will be permanently closed as of June 18.

Nicon Homes is celebrating their 40th year in business. Find out more about this company at www.niconhomes.ca.

Teresa Sullivan, CAO for the District of Sooke, has announced that the district will take over operation of the public boat launch.

Hank Bekkering, general manager at Point Hope Maritime, has announced that he will be retiring this year.

Cloudcast Software was recognized with two awards from the National Association of Broadcasters. Both Best of Show Awards were

Rob Hallam has been announced as the

SEE MOVERS & SHAKERS | PAGE 25

MOVERS & SHAKERS

JULY 2016

Sooke’s Far Out Pizza closed down this month.

Operations ceased after owners Matt Lambert and Mary Coakley sold their property to BC Hydro.

Local Indian restaurant, Saaz, hopes to reopen as early as the end of June after a recent fire brought a halt to operations.

Catherine Holt is taking over for Bruce Carter as CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. Carter is stepping down after 12 years in the position.

This year marks the 75th anniversary for Mount St. Mary Hospital. The organization celebrated occasion with a Spring Fair.

As of July 15, McCall’s will be renamed McCall Gardens. Find out more about the nearcentury-old funeral service business at www. mccallgardens.com.

Shawnigan Lake School recently celebrated the institution’s 100th anniversary.

The West Shore, Oak Bay, Saanich, and Sooke Royal LePage offices recognize their top producers out of over 125 realtors. From West Shore, Jason Craveiro was recognized. Cheryl Bejcar, Paul Holland, Neil Bosdet, Sharen Warde, Pat Meadows, Gina Sundberg, Rick Hoogendoorn, Tasha Noble, and Sarah West were recognized from Oak Bay. James Liue, Justen Lalonde, Cal Faber, Susan English, Jackie Adkins, Dean Innes, Todd Mahovlich, Giovanna Balaiban, Tammy Hatter, Barry Kelly, Alli Munro, and Scott Munro were recognized from Saanich. Sooke’s Tammi Dimock, Tim Ayres, and Jason Dimock were also recognized.

Saanichton Physiotherapy & Sports Clinic is undergoing renovations. Dr. Scott Simpson is preparing to welcome two new team members to the 35-year-old business.

Axe & Barrel Barbecue Brewhouse is now open at 2323 Millstream Bay. The business is West Shore’s first craft brewery.

The Pharmasave at 7181 West Saanich Road in Brentwood Bay celebrated their 15th anniversary on May 26.

Quality Foods is celebrating their 34th anniversary. They have also opened a new location at Eagle Creek. Celebrations for the new location happened on June 11.

Magazines Canada has named Munro’s Books as retailer of the year. The downtown Victoria business has been around since 1963.

View Royal Casino, in partnership with Wilson’s Transportation Ltd., launched the West Shore Express shuttle service on May 5. Find out more at www.viewroyalcasino.com/shuttle/.

Port Sidney Marina has been purchased for close to $15.99 Million. The sale was handled by Colliers Canada.

With more than 10 years of experience, Dr. Manu Hans will be joining the team at Latoria Dental Centre. They are located at 111 611 Brookside Road.

The Pharmasave at Broadmead is celebrating a quarter of a century in business. The 25 year celebration took place from June 11th-16th at their location in the Broadmead Village Shopping Centre.

Tillicum Elementary School is celebrating their 100 year anniversary.

KMS Tools and Equipment opened a new Victoria store at 101 765 Vanalman Avenue.

Bea Van Roy was given a Prime Minister’s excellence award for her work in education.

Locally owned business, Clayton Critters, has opened up shop at 3516 Quadra Street.

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West Shore’s City Centre Park is now in its 10th year of existence!

A Step Ahead Footwear, located in Uptown Mall (across from Starbucks), held their grand opening celebration.

Oak Bay has filled two positions at the city office. Daniel Horan will replace Dave Marshall as director of engineering services, and Warren Jones will replace Loranne Hilton as director of corporate services.

As of June 20, the Brentwood Bay United Church building will be owned by a developer. The congregation is moving on, changing their name to Shady Creek Brentwood Bay.

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Rathskeller, owned by Andrea Sims, is closing its doors after 50 years in business. The 3600 sq. ft. building is currently on the market.

RE/MAX Camosun Peninsula have announced their top performers for the month of April. Craig Walters, Dan Juricic, Jack Barker, and Eric Smith were recognized as top producers. Walters was additionally recognized as the top lister for the month.

Comedian Nikki Payne had the honor of being the first act at the new local comedy club, Yuk Yuks.

They are located at 751 View Street.

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McConnan Bion O’Connor & Peterson Lawyers welcome four new members to their law firm.

Jessica L. Kliman, Sean T. Dillman, Devon M. Black, and Willie P. Gudgeon are the newest employees at the firm, located at Suite 420 880 Douglas Street.

Fiat of Victoria is celebrating the grand opening of their dealership. This division of the GAIN Dealer Group is located at 740 Roderick Street.

The $47 million expansion at BC Hydro’s George Tripp substation in Saanich is now complete.

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Sylvester Chuang of Three Point Motors (amongst others) celebrated the ribbon cutting ceremony for GAIN’s automobile resort at Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit. The project was completed by Nanaimo’s SupErb Construction.

UVic archaeologist and PhD candidate, Genevieve von Petzinger, has been recognized as a 2016 National Geographic Emerging Explorer.

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Victoria Distillers brand, Victoria Gin, has undergone a bottle and label re-design.

Located at 6181 Old West Saanich Road, John & Cathy Windsor’s de Vine Vineyard is launching a variety of gins and whiskys.

Happy Coxford is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his business, Oak Bay Barber Shoppe. They are located at 2538 Estevan Avenue.

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The Tilley Endurables store at 562 Yates Street will be taken over by Adventure Clothing (owned

by Sean Thompson).

This year’s PROFIT/Chatelaine W100 recognized Victoria’s Sarah Blackmore, founder of Bin 4 Burger Lounge and Lot 1 Pasta Bar, and Mandy Farmer, CEO of Accent Inns and Hotel Zed.

Red Gallery closed their space, located at 2249 Oak Bay Avenue, on June 15.

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Eagle Village Creek celebrated their grand opening on June 11.

The Penny Farthing Public House, found at 2228 Oak Bay Avenue, is celebrating 15 years of business.

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Peterec Gym, owned by Stan Peterec, is celebrating their 25th anniversary.

The Canadian Brewing Awards have honoured three local brewers. Hoyne Brewing took home one award, while Merridale Cider Works and Moon Under Water each won two awards.

On June 6, a PetSmart location opened its doors at Blanshard Street & Saanich Road.

The Pemberton Holmes Sidney location is now open at 107 2360 Beacon Avenue.

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The Pacific Gateway Marina at Port Renfrew celebrates their Grand Opening on June 18th and 19th with a Salmon Championship.

Seaspan ULC’s CEO, Jonathan Whitworth, was recognized as CEO of the Year by Business in Vancouver and MacKay CEO Forums.

Lochside elementary school celebrates their 50th anniversary.

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Viking Air has named Krasnoyarsk, Russia’s AeroGeo as member of their network of Twin Otter service centres.

Vancouver Island Brewery has been purchased by Ontario businessman Bob MacDonald. MacDonald is the founder of Toronto’s Wakefield Canada Inc.

Located at 1701B Island Highway, the business once known as Island Highway Automotive is now a Big O Tires location. The staff will remain the same through the change.

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given at a ceremony in Las Vegas.

Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop will soon be opening their location at Hillside Centre.

DFH Real Estate LTD has named their Office Leaders for the month of May. Scott O’Neal has been named for Victoria, Stephanie Peat for Sidney, and Carol Stevens for West Shore. Find the locations of their six Victoria area offices at www.dfh.ca.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

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This year marks the 25th anniversary for the Oak Bay High School Interact Club, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oak Bay. ™

House of Russell Hair Stylists, owned by Dean Shoemaker, has undergone a renovation and name change. Located at 237 Bevan Avenue, the business is now called the Hair District Hair Care.

Sidney By the Sea Dental Hygiene Clinic is celebrating their 15th anniversary this year.

Change is underway at the Oak Bay Fire Department. Trent Frenkel has joined the department as a probationary firefighter, and Lieut. Gordon Marshall replaced the retired Tom Pearse as assistant chief.

Geeks on the Beach

TruValue Foods Cordova Bay welcomes butcher Fraser Orr to their team. Orr has over 30 years of experience with Orr’s Family British Butchers.

WEB

Deborah Patton opened her new shop, Humble Pie, at 3828 Cadboro Bay Road. The location formerly housed a business called Bambinos.

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JULY 2016 A division of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd. Head Office 200-3060 Cedar Hill Road, Victoria V8T 3J5 Ph: 1.250.204.7678 Fax: 1.250.642.2870 Toll free: 1.866.758.2684 Website: www.businessexaminer.ca

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EVERYONE BENEFITS WITH FREE TRADE – ESPECIALLY CANADIANS What free trade agreements are all about is enhancing trade opportunities between countries, pri ma ri ly th rough the elimination of MARK MACDONALD

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hen people trade freely, every one ends up happy.

Here’s an example that demonstrates this perfectly.

Recently I attended an econom ics workshop featu ri ng jou r n a l i sts f rom across t he country. In one segment, each person was randomly given a $15 gift certificate.

T he g i f t cer t i f ic ates were from a variety of outlets: Coffee shops, restaurants, clothing and department stores. Attendees were then asked to grade their level of satisfaction with what they had received from 1-10: 1 being least satisfied and 10 being most.

Most of the two dozen participants were dissatisfied with their cards, and very few were totally pleased, so we were invited to trade with whomever we wanted in the room.

After that round, another survey was taken. This time, three quarters of the people were very

tariffs satisfied a nd a ha nd fu l sti l l unhappy.

We were then given one more chance to trade before the final vote was tabulated.

O n ly one p erson wa s s t i l l unhappy, with the caveat she didn’t like the restaurant card she had, although her family certainly would. Everyone else rated the cards they held in their hand as a 10.

One of the moderators then declared: With free trade, everybody wins. Those participating couldn’t deny what they just witnessed firsthand themselves.

Obviously, that’s a test-tube sized sample, but as a country, Canada has certainly seen the benefits of free trade. Our economy has grown substantially since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented in 1993.

There will always be naysayers against free trade agreements, m a i n ly f rom protect ion i sts that believe if we put walls up

around our country, then we’ll be a prosperous, self-sustaining economy. Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps the most vivid example of protectionism on a national scale is North Korea – and this was pointed out numerous times during the seminar. Poverty and scarcity across the board, in all sectors, are the norm under h e av y-h a nd e d tot a l it a r i a n governments.

What free trade agreements are all about is enhancing trade opportunities between countries, primarily through the elimination of tariffs. To the layman, tariffs are really protectionist taxes designed to give home country businesses a competitive advantage, which also benefits government coffers.

Canada’s participation in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) was negotiated by the previous federal government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, one of 43 free trade agreements signed by the Conservatives. TPP negotiations have been underway for years, and Canada agreed to terms before last fall’s election.

The 12 countries involved in the TPP are: Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the United States and Vietnam.

The agreement needs to be officially ratified by the federal Liberal government, and it is expected that they will. To not do

so would invite certain economic peril, if only for the reason that those countries participating in the agreement would be advantaged, while those outside would be severely crippled by prohibitive tariffs which will affect the pricing of goods and services.

During a recent presentation at the BC Shellfish & Seafood Festival in the Comox Valley, Trevor Paul, Manager of International Trade and Economic Relations for the province of BC, spelled out exactly how Canada will benefit from participation in the TPP. Paul was speaking of the aquaculture industry in particular, but this is a microcosm of economic benefits that would undoubtedly be enjoyed in other Canadian export sectors.

For example, Japan has the world’s third largest economy, and is the second largest seafood importer in the world. Last year, they imported $87 million worth.

With the TPP, 66 per cent of Japanese tariffs on Canadian se a fo o d w i l l b e el i m i n ate d immediately.

That includes Atlantic salmon at 3.5 per cent, crab at 4 per cent, geoduck at 10 per cent, Pacific salmon 3.5 per cent and hake 6 per cent.

Vietnam’s aquaculture imports have grown by an astonishing 2,000 per cent since 2011 to $77 million. Under TPP, 83 per cent of tariffs will be eliminated

for seafood.

Ben Stewart, BC’s Special Representative in Asia (he was the MLA who stood down to allow Premier Christy Clark to run in a by-election in Westside-Kelowna, which she subsequently won), drove the point home regarding free trade agreements.

Since implementation of Canada’s free trade agreement with South Korea, signed in 2014, Canadian seafood exports to South Korea have jumped an astonishing 74 per cent.

Can we expect those types of increases across the board under the TPP? Not likely. However, when these tariffs/protectionist taxes are eliminated, it suddenly puts Canadian companies on an even level price-playing field with other nations. That, combined with the quality of our seafood and environmental practices, arguably gives our companies an edge in a competitive market.

Free trade goes both ways, and Canadian companies will have to be their best to compete in these other markets. The opportu n ities for a less-popu lous country like Canada in larger markets far exceeds trade going the other way, as Canadian consumer opportunities are less in terms of numbers and therefore as a market.

Nevertheless, with free trade, everyone ends up happy. Canadians should be happier than most.

VANCOUVER ISLAND MUNICIPALITIES TAKE LITTLE ACTION MAKING THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM FAIR FOR SMALL BUSINESS

CFIB RICHARD TRUSCOTT

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n the lead up to the deadline for property tax payments, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released its tenth annual Property Tax Gap Report that reveals some Vancouver Island businesses pay

up to five times as much municipal property tax as a resident on the same assessed property value.

The report analyzes the disparity between what residential and business property owners pay in taxes (based on the same assessed property value) for each municipality and scrutinizes their inclination to place a much larger tax burden on businesses. The ratio between business and residential rates is known as the property “tax gap” and is an indicator of tax fairness (not tax levels).

This year’s report shows the tax gap grows as municipalities grow. The tax gap for the twenty largest municipalities in BC stood at 3.04 in 2015, compared to the provincial average of 2.60. And the worst tax gaps

were some of the most populous cities – Coquitlam (4.24), Vancouver (4.15) and Burnaby (3.98).

“CFIB has long warned municipalities, as they grow, to resist the urge to over-burden small businesses. This report makes it crystal clear that there is still a large discrepancy between how small and large cities treat the local business community,” notes Richard Truscott, vice-president for BC and Alberta.

On Vancouver Island, the average property tax gap in 2015 was 2.71, the second largest regional gap in the province and above the provincial average of 2.60. A tax gap of 2.71 means a commercial property owner pays over two and a half times the taxes of a residential property owner on the same assessed property value.

“Vancouver Island municipalities collectively made no progress in making their property tax systems more small business friendly between 2014 and 2015,” notes Richard Truscott, vice-president for BC and Alberta. “The region’s 2015 tax gap remains the same as 2014, a troubling finding when the region also maintains the second h i g h e s t ave ra ge g ap i n t h e province.”

Of the 37 municipalities in region, the least small business friendly municipality (i.e. the worst tax gap) in 2015 belonged to North Saanich at 4.83, followed by Lantzville at 4.00 and then Colwood at 3.95 (see table below). Conversely, Port Alberni had the most equitable gap at 1.63, then Port McNeill at 1.68

and Port Alice at 1.84. The two largest cities in the region, Victoria and Saanich, both have high tax gaps which increased in 2015.

Victoria’s gap of 3.12 is up 3.4 per cent in 2015 from 2014, while Saanich is at 3.40 and up 1.6 per cent.

“Mayors and councils need to ensure they are actively working on ensuring the property tax system is fairer for business. That takes real political will, which appears to be missing in the region at present,” Richard Truscott concluded.

CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses with 109,000 members across every sector and region, including 10,000 in BC.

SUBCRIPTIONS | $45 PER YEAR (12 ISSUES), $80 FOR 2 YEARS (24 ISSUES), SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: WWW.BUSINESSEXAMINER.NET. DISTRIBUTION: FOURTH WEEK OF EACH MONTH VIA CANADA POST AD MAIL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Produced and published in British Columbia. All contents copyright Business Examiner Victoria, 2016. Canadian Publications Mail Acct.: 40069240

LAW/SALT SPRING

JULY 2016

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INFRINGEMENT INSURANCE There are two types of

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infringement insurance,

Is it for you?

defensive policies to

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mericans are reputed to be more litigious than the people of other nations, including Canada.

A number of our firm’s clients have been involved in legal actions in the United States.

These legal actions generally occurred when our client had com mercia l success, or was on the verge of hav i ng success, in the United States. In some of the lawsuits, our client was the defendant, that is, our client was being sued for patent infringement.

For example, a client with a natural gas control product was ta k i ng substa ntia l busi ness away from a major company in the field. T he major compa ny sued the cl ient asserting infringement of a group of patents, including a claim for “convoyed” sales. “Convoyed” sales are sales of non-patented products (wire, tubing, etc.) s old a lon g w it h i n f r i n g i n g products, the thinking being that such convoyed sales would not have occurred except for the infringement.

protect you when you are sued and abatement policies to protect you when your intellectual property rights are Michael Cooper and Doug Thompson of ThompsonCooper LLP In other lawsuits, our client was the plaintiff, that is, our cl ient wa s s u i n g for patent infringement. For example, a client in the field of non-destructive testing had patented tech nolog y for check i ng for gas leaks that used a non-toxic vapou r that ca rried a dye.

When the client starting taking substantial business away f rom t he i ndu st r y leader i n gas leak detection technology, the industry leader copied the technology to avoid a further erosion of its ma rket sha re.

This forced our client to bring legal proceedings in the United

States to en force its patent rights. Our client spent well over a million dollars in legal fees before finally achieving success in the litigation.

However, in order to avoid a repetition of such an expense, the non-destructive testi ng client subsequently purchased a policy of infringement insurance. T here are two types of infringement insurance, defensive policies to protect you when you are sued and abatement policies to protect you when your intellectual property rights are infringed. The cost of the policies depends upon

infringed

industry sector, gross revenues and other factors. There is generally a minimum 10% co-pay requirement. T he important take away is that infringement insurance exists. It is provided by specialized insurance companies and not by general commercial insurance companies.

Since acquiring infringement insurance, the non-destructive testing client has become inv o l v e d i n f i v e U. S . p a t e n t

lawsuits. They estimate that having the infringement insurance has saved them at least 2 million dollars.

There is a further benefit in having infringement insurance.

For example, not too long ago, we sent a “cease and desist” letter to an alleged infringer, and received a very aggressive and belligerent response. We notified the infringement insurance company. After receiving a letter from the infringement insurance company, the attitude of the alleged infringer changed completely.

Presumably because the presence of infringement insurance demonstrated to the alleged infringer that our client had the financial backing to litigate the dispute, the alleged infringer got in touch with our office and the matter quickly settled.

I f you r compa ny is hav i ng c o m m e rc i a l s u c c e s s i n t h e United States that is at least in part based on your intellectual property rights, or you are operating in a field in which other players have intellectual property rights, you may wish to review your circumstances to determine whether infringement insurance would be beneficial for you.

A REGIONAL TREASURE! THE SOUTHERN GULF ISLANDS INITIATIVE

SALT SPRING ISLAND JEREMY MILSOM

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isit a place that is close to home – but seem s l i ke a world away! The Southern Gulf Islands are recognized as a great destination to visit particularly after being featured in the New York Times as one of the “52 Places to go in 2016”. To help our five Isla nd mecca bu ild on th is global exposure, the Chambers of Commerce from Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Salt Spring, and the Saturna Island Tourism Association, with the support of Destination BC’s Co-op Marketing Partnerships Program have created the “Ex perience the Southern Gu lf Islands” initiative.

Fe at u r i n g s p e c t a c u l a r l a ndscapes, unique natural attractions, water based activities, and interesting creative communities, each

of the islands offers a unique recipe for providing an experience with lasting memories. The Southern Gulf Islands has an isolated character while being closely connected to the population centres of the lower mainland and Southern Vancouver Island.

Galiano Island’s festivals and arts scene includes the Kunamokst Mural, along with hiking delights, nationally acclaimed restaurants and the family friendly Montegue Marine Park. Mayne Island offers laid-back charms, the renowned Japanese Garden, craft markets, eco tours and kayak adventures, varied dining options and beautiful views from the Georgina Point L ig ht hou se. Pender Isl a nd offers two islands to explore, with beaches and seaside vistas, several accessible marinas, numerous hiking trails with one featuring 21 pin disc golf. Salt Spring Island is well known for its famous arts and wellness communities, its hive of “alternative lifestyles”, the famous Saturday Market and culinary options from vineyards, a craft brewery and many, passionate agricultural producers, often with roadside stands. Saturna Island offers an abundance of nature trails i nclud i ng East Poi nt Pa rk wel l known for its marine and aerial wildlife watching and the famous annual Saturna Lamb BBQ – now in its 67th year!

A ll of these memorable island treasures are surrounded by the waters of the Salish Sea and the recently created Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. One can kayak and canoe in some of the most protected waterways on the coast.

With the “Experience the Southern Gulf Islands” already headed towa rd a new a nd ef fect ive “brand”, the Gulf Islands Chambers of Commerce with Destination BC’s collective marketing initiative, is attracting a visitor audience ready for a unique experience to discover the Islands’ many and diverse treasures. We need to remember that they will also want to experience other popular BC attractions throughout our region.

They will travel and stay near you too!

Expect a significant economic impact for all of us; be willing to participate in the opportunity!

GOT AN IDEA? GOT AN IDEA? Let us help you protect it.

Let us help you protect it.

Thompson Cooper is Victoria’s leading source for legal advice Thompson Cooper is Victoria’s focused intellectual property. leading on source for legal advice focused on intellectual property.

Jeremy Milsom is the Communications Director of the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce.

DTHOMPSON@TCLLP.CA | 250 389 0387 | WWW.TCLLP.CA DTHOMPSON@TCLLP.CA | 250 389 0387 | WWW.TCLLP.CA

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