THURSDAY JANUARY 1, 2015
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YEAR IN REVIEW
A SERIOUS CELTIC MUSIC RESUME
We wrap up our look back at the top stories of 2014
Fiddle player coming to Qualicum Beach has film credits from Titanic, Mohicans
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2015 should be a be good year Hospitality industry looks to grow from the ‘rebound year’ of 2014 JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
There are good reasons to be optimistic about this region’s economy in 2015, says a key business leader. Robynne Shaw has worked in management positions in the hospitality industry of Parksville Qualicum Beach since 1986. She’s currently the general manager of Sunrise Ridge Waterfront Resort. She is the chair of the Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association’s (PQBTA) board of directors and the president of the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce. “I’m optimistic about 2015, in both capacities (chamber and PQBTA),” Shaw said this week. From the chamber perspective, Shaw said the city is likely to see some tangible results from a project that aims to bring investment and jobs to the region. “The Oceanside Initiatives projWe’re hoping to see some ect is going to really take flight,” said fruit from all this work Shaw. “We are just getting it to the stage where we can make things hapROBYNNE SHAW pen with it. We’re hoping to see some fruit from all this work.” From her unique position as both a resort manager and chair of the PQBTA, Shaw said 2014 was a “rebound year” for the hospitality industry in this region. “It sounds like it was a successful year for everybody compared to the last two or three years,” said Shaw. And she said all indicators are pointing toward a strong 2015 too. Reservations at Sunrise, for example, are ahead of last year’s pace, said Shaw. “Booking velocities are really good,” she said. Shaw wasn’t able to shed any more light on what impact to the local economy could come from a medical marijuana operation opening shop in Parksville’s industrial area. The city and Wildflower Marijuana Inc. are currently in negotiations, and Shaw said the chamber hasn’t been part of those talks. She also couldn’t comment on the recurring rumour about a casino coming to the area. “People have been talking about that for a while,” said Shaw. “I think it’s just one of those things people talk about.”
TYSON TAYLOR PHOTO
PROVINCIALS IN PARKSVILLE: The 2015 Tim Hortons B.C. Junior Curling Championships have begun at the Parksville Curling Club. The event sees the best eight junior men’s and eight junior women’s teams in the province go head-to-head, climaxing in the finals on Saturday, Jan. 3 which will be televised on Sportsnet. Above, Jordan Henson delivers a rock for her Prince Georgebased team skipped by Alyssa Connell in opening-day action on Monday. Admission is free. For information about the event, visit the curling club’s website (www.parksvillecurling.com). For a wrap-up of the tournament, see Tuesday’s edition of The NEWS.
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