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By Kim Miller • office@powellriverchamber.com
owell River’s business community heaved a sigh of relief on June 25, when Catalyst Paper Corporation’s creditors approved its restructuring plan under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act. More than 99 per cent of secured and unsecured creditors voted to approve their plan. “With the cooperation of employees, vendors, customers, pensioners and investors, Catalyst has been able to make progress through a very complicated situation at an unprecedented swift pace,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin J. Clarke. He noted that during the recent uncertainty, Catalyst has been able to keep all its customers. Catalyst also got some help from the provincial government, which will change some rules regarding the salaried pension plan to provide for a special portability election option and solvency funding relief, which the company estimates will save some $7 million annually. There are also some changes at the local mill management. Stew Gibson will be heading to the Island while Brian Johnston will return as the GM of the Powell River Division. First Credit Union is planning to merge with the Cumberland and District Credit Union by buying up the island operation’s $24 million in assets and bringing its eight employees into the fold. If approved by the members, the combined organization would have four credit union branches, six insurance branches, $223 million in assets, over 10,000 members, and over 150 employees, operating under the First Credit Union name. “Both credit unions will emerge stronger,” said Gerry Wray, Board Chair of First Credit Union. Once through the due diligence stage, the transfer of assets from CDCU to FCU must receive regulatory and membership approval. Paula and Marius O’Keefe-Blitz moved here two and a half years ago from Vancouver to live in a friendly, small community with the goal of starting a small home-based business. Blitz Beach House Creations is now producing handcrafted wood products from locally harvested and milled red cedar, alder and maple. They have created two product lines to begin with: grilling planks and small wood crates. The grilling planks appeal to the barbecue enthusiast wishing to serve food that offers optimum flavor and pleasing presentation, and can also be used as small appetizer platters. Heat branded with the company logo and Powell River, BC, they also make good gifts. The crates are made from first growth Douglas Fir, are portable and stackable, and work for both the retail and the home brew wine and beer market. You can find Blitz creations at Quality Foods, The Chopping Block, Marine Traders, Rona, Lund General Store, The Boardwalk Restaurant, and Squatter’s Creek Wines. Contact Paula and Marius at www.blitzbeachhousecreations.com or 604 414-9488. Sarah Hooff CSNC (Certified Sports and Holistic Nutrition Consultant) has opened her office at 4680 Willingdon Ave, 604 485-4807. Call Sarah for a one-on-one consultation or join her the last Saturday evening of every month for a discussion and workshop, meal included. July’s topic is Energy and Fatigue, August’s topic is Children’s Nutrition and September ‘s topic will be Sports Nutrition. She also offers a free first consult for mothers with new babies. You can email Sarah at livenutrition@ live.ca or find her on Facebook.
Powell River’s 95.7 Sun FM will soon have a sister station in Sechelt, with Vista Radio entering into an agreement to purchase The Coast 91.7. The two radio stations will cover local news and promote local events. Together, they’re also launching www.HQsunshinecoast.com, which will be fuelled by both radio station newsrooms, serving as the Sunshine Coast’s only daily publication. Vista currently operates 12 HQ websites and with the recent acquisition of Haliburton Broadcasting, will soon hold a total of 62 radio licenses across BC, Alberta, the NWT and Ontario. Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) Anthony McMorran has returned home to Powell River to work with Dawne Briggs, RMT and Erin Perrault, RMT at the new location of Westview Massage Therapy 5 – 4603 Marine Avenue, beside the Treefrog Bistro. He is available Mondays through Thursdays and taking new clients. He can help with soft-tissue and stress related disorders, biomechanical and movement problems and with relieving pain using myofascial release, craniosacral and selfregulation therapy. For appointments call 604 485-7085. He is now nationally certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork in the USA so will be available for snowbirds heading south next winter! Anthony was in Arizona for one year where he married physical therapist Katherine Dow, and started a new business in downtown Phoenix called Balance Within, providing yoga, physical therapy and massage therapy. Lawyer Katya Buck recently moved to Villani & Company. Originally from Powell River, she moved to Vancouver in 1991 for school, earned degrees in psychology and social work, she was admitted to the bar in Texas (where her family had relocated) in 2007. She moved back to Powell River and was called to the BC Bar in May 2011. Contact Katya at Villani & Company at 604 485-6188 or email katya@villaniandco.com. A.C.E. Courier Services has expanded their services in Powell River. Derek Lobel, a seven-year resident of Powell River, is now working for the company in sales. A.C.E. has same-day service in Powell River, overnight service to Campbell River, Comox Valley, Nanaimo, Port McNeill and Port Hardy, and twoday service to the Lower Mainland and Victoria. They courier anything from large skids to small parcels and envelopes. Call A.C.E. at 604 483-4845. Do you have any changes within your business you want Powell River to know about? New managers/owners or are you moving locations? Starting a new business? Call Kim at 604 485-4051 to be included in the next issue of Powell River Living.
Dog Gone Grooming Hi my name is Rascal! I’m a Bichon Frise. I enjoy long walks and playing. My Mistress loves to spoil me, that’s why she takes me to see Lou-Anne at Dog Gone Grooming. I love it when I get pampered with a massage, haircut and a pawdicure. Dog-Gone Groom of the Month...
6758 Cranberry St t 604 483-2293
Powell River Living • july 2012 •
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