Upload
black-press
View
217
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Section Z of the May 27, 2014 edition of the Nanaimo News Bulletin
Citation preview
Nanaimo’s
waterfrontchanging
Plans in the works to build Hilton hotel
page 3
NANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMOAn annual update on economic progress
2014
NANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMOVision
Arts & culturecontributionSector injects $150 million into local economy
page 8
Composite image shows approximate location of proposed Hilton hotel, based on architect’s renderings.
comPosIte Image
2 Nanaimo News Bulletin Tuesday, May 27, 2014 2014 VISION NANAIMO www.nanaimobulletin.com
By Tamara Cunningham
International tourists could soon be lured to a $100-million luxury hotel in downtown Nanaimo.
Insight Holdings is looking to build a 30-storey Hilton Hotel over-looking Maffeo Sutton Park and the Nanaimo harbour on what’s been called one of the last great sites for waterfront hotel development.
The project, which is currently going through rezoning for setback and height, would have 303 rooms, restaurants, conference space and indoor public access to the city’s Harbourfront walkway from its site on 10 and 28 Front Street. Rooms will be available to purchase in a strata arrangement and then operated by a hotel management company, but no condominium or residential living is proposed for the site, according to John Steil, senior planner with Stantec, an architectural and consulting firm involved in the project.
He calls it a move to provide high-quality accommodation to a certain sector of the travelling public, most of which is antici-pated to come from Asia. The goal of the hotel will be to create its own market demand among inter-national tourists.
“This isn’t going to be competing
directly with a lot of the existing hotel and motel space,” he said. “A lot of those will still have their cur-rent market, for example say sport teams coming to town … so this is seen as an addition.”
The Hilton, the second luxury hotel proposed for downtown Nanaimo, follows on the heels of SSS Manhao, which intends to build a $50-million conference cen-tre hotel on Gordon Street. Denise Tacon, general manager of the Van-couver Island Conference Centre, calls the Hilton addition “a great catapult in the right direction.” It
could not only drive traffic based on recognition of its name brand alone, but also give delegates more options to stay close to the confer-ence centre.
Mayor John Ruttan has long advocated for increasing Nanai-mo’s stock of quality hotel rooms and voted for the city’s new 10-year tax exemption bylaw, which gives new hotels and motels a break on investments of more than $2 million. He says two upscale hotels will be important in helping the conference centre move closer to reaching its poten-
tial to attract delegates, which previously had a pick of fewer than 400 “first class” rooms close to the conference venue.
“What we want to do is reduce as much as possible the subsidy we are paying every year to sup-port the conference centre and I think the best way … to achieve that is to have … more upscale hotel rooms available to incent people to come to conferences in Nanaimo,” he said.
The Hilton project is going through rezoning and could take up to four years to build.
Hilton hotel adds luxury to NanaimoInsight Holdings aims to build 30-storey tower on waterfront
An artist’s rendering suggests how a 30-storey hotel might look perched on Nanaimo’s waterfront.
Image contrIbuted
For more information visit www.dnbia.ca
Cross Stitch ~ Embroidery ~ Needlepoint Lace Making ~ Classes and Assistance
Books ~ Charts ~ Fibres ~ Fabrics ~ Notions
#4, 70 Church StreetNanaimo 250-591-6873
www.thestitchersmuse.com4-6304 Dover Rd 250-585-5056
NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA
299 Wallace St 250-754-0111
$10 OFFLUNCH
$10 OFFDINE-IN$25 Minimum purchase $25 Minimum purchase Not valid with other offers Not valid with other offers
A perfect day for a delicious pizza!
Fine Indian Cuisine
A Feast fromthe East!
LUNCH BUFFETSPECIAL FROM 11:30 to 2:30
OPEN 7 DAYSFOR LUNCH, DINNER & TAKE OUT
• •
250.591.8980 • 489 Wallace Stwww.tandoorijunctionrestaurantnanaimo.com
NOW OPEN!
432 FITZWILLIAM STPub 250.753.3771 • Liquor Store
250.753.7118
NANA
IMO
NEWS
BULLE
TIN
TH
E BEST OF THE CITYTH
E BEST OF THE CITY
#
2013
1
BEST WINGS!
NANA
IMO
NEWS
BULLE
TIN
2013
BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST WINGS!WINGS!
Pub Hours: Mon - Sat 10:30am - 12:30am - Sunday 11am - 12am
Liquor Store Hours: 9am - 11pm 7 Days A Week
Great food, drink &
good times!Bobi
Emu Australia
Fidelity Denim
InWear
Left On Houston
Mavi Gold
Splendid
Velvet
Yoga Jeans
310 Fitzwilliam Street,Downtown Nanaimo
250.753.0737www.sartorialboutique.com
www.nanaimobulletin.com 2014 VISION NANAIMO Tueday, May 27, 2014 Nanaimo News Bulletin 3
By Tamara Cunningham
International tourists could soon be lured to a $100-million luxury hotel in downtown Nanaimo.
Insight Holdings is looking to build a 30-storey Hilton Hotel over-looking Maffeo Sutton Park and the Nanaimo harbour on what’s been called one of the last great sites for waterfront hotel development.
The project, which is currently going through rezoning for setback and height, would have 303 rooms, restaurants, conference space and indoor public access to the city’s Harbourfront walkway from its site on 10 and 28 Front Street. Rooms will be available to purchase in a strata arrangement and then operated by a hotel management company, but no condominium or residential living is proposed for the site, according to John Steil, senior planner with Stantec, an architectural and consulting firm involved in the project.
He calls it a move to provide high-quality accommodation to a certain sector of the travelling public, most of which is antici-pated to come from Asia. The goal of the hotel will be to create its own market demand among inter-national tourists.
“This isn’t going to be competing
directly with a lot of the existing hotel and motel space,” he said. “A lot of those will still have their cur-rent market, for example say sport teams coming to town … so this is seen as an addition.”
The Hilton, the second luxury hotel proposed for downtown Nanaimo, follows on the heels of SSS Manhao, which intends to build a $50-million conference cen-tre hotel on Gordon Street. Denise Tacon, general manager of the Van-couver Island Conference Centre, calls the Hilton addition “a great catapult in the right direction.” It
could not only drive traffic based on recognition of its name brand alone, but also give delegates more options to stay close to the confer-ence centre.
Mayor John Ruttan has long advocated for increasing Nanai-mo’s stock of quality hotel rooms and voted for the city’s new 10-year tax exemption bylaw, which gives new hotels and motels a break on investments of more than $2 million. He says two upscale hotels will be important in helping the conference centre move closer to reaching its poten-
tial to attract delegates, which previously had a pick of fewer than 400 “first class” rooms close to the conference venue.
“What we want to do is reduce as much as possible the subsidy we are paying every year to sup-port the conference centre and I think the best way … to achieve that is to have … more upscale hotel rooms available to incent people to come to conferences in Nanaimo,” he said.
The Hilton project is going through rezoning and could take up to four years to build.
Hilton hotel adds luxury to NanaimoInsight Holdings aims to build 30-storey tower on waterfront
An artist’s rendering suggests how a 30-storey hotel might look perched on Nanaimo’s waterfront.
Image contrIbuted
Leonard Krog M.L.A.
4-77 Victoria Cres. Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5B9
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 10 am to 12 pm - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Telephone: 250-714-0630 [email protected] www.leonardkrog-mla.ca
Don’t disappear in the www crowd
We’ll help you stand out250-753-3707
4 Nanaimo News Bulletin Tuesday, May 27, 2014 2014 VISION NANAIMO www.nanaimobulletin.com
By Tamara Cunningham
B.C. Robotics owner Chris Cas-well looks around 2221 McGarri-gle Rd. and sees the makings of a tech dream.
The building in the heart of a central Nanaimo industrial park is home to the city’s first Mak-erspace – a community lab of shared tools and skill sets that allows hobbyists and entrepre-neurs to tinker, repair and inno-vate without the cost of buying equipment.
“There are a lot of people here who dreamed of this being in Nanaimo,” said Caswell. “[The maker movement is] taking off in all sorts of places where you’d expect, like the Silicon Valley and New York ... but it will work here as well. It’s really good to see.”
Makerspace is part of new momentum in the Harbour City
that’s offering entrepreneurs opportunities to get out of the isolation of their homes and into creative co-working hives, where they get the perks of an office without long-term commitments or high overhead costs.
Nanaimo Economic Develop-ment Corporation and Innovation Island are partnering on Square One, a 24-hour co-working hub and technology incubator for start-up businesses while the Nanaimo Design Nerds are set to open The Intersection for creative professionals this fall.
It’s an exciting time for the Har-bour City, according to Rebecca Kirk, the founder of Makerspace Nanaimo, who says the opening of the new spaces is helping to build and support a creative culture.
“I don’t know why this synergy is all coming together right now ... it’s serendipitous. It’s kind of magic,” she said, adding the city is the perfect size to support the co-working movement. “I don’t think it’s going to go away any-time soon. I think it’s going to grow.”
Nanaimo is set to see three
co-working spaces with different offerings from the Makerspace workshop where people can use shared tools for woodworking, welding and electronic work for $40 a month to Square One, where entrepreneurs pay to work and tap into programs and services to help grow their business.
In the downtown core, there will be the less-structured co-working space, The Intersection, which is set to offer creative professionals temporary hot desks, diner-like booths to meet in and activities like yoga at lunch and barbecues in the courtyard.
“It will be playful and engaging and interesting ... it’s not a com-petitive or typical corporate envi-ronment,” said Jackie Duys-Kelly, with the Nanaimo Design Nerds.
All the co-working spaces are anticipated to open before the end of the year.
It will be playful and engaging and interesting ... it’s not a competitive or typical corporate environment.
“Working togetherA trio of new spaces aims to connect professionals in the creative and technology industries
Paris Gaudet, Innova-tion Island executive director, checks out what will be her new office in Square One, a co-working space for startup technology companies being cre-ated on Victoria Cres-cent by the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation.
cHrIs busH/tHe news bulletIn
www.nanaimobulletin.com 2014 VISION NANAIMO Tueday, May 27, 2014 Nanaimo News Bulletin 5
By Tamara Cunningham
Nanaimo entrepreneurs have a new champion.
Startup Nanaimo, a grassroots not-for-profit, launched last March with a mission to sup-port and grow a community of entrepreneurs in the Harbour City.
The organization, which is coming in on a wave of efforts to attract new business, got its start earlier this year when Startup Canada announced Nanaimo as one of five cities allowed to join its national net-work.
It means the city can promote its entrepreneurs on a national
level and tap into resources to help create a system of support for the city’s entrepreneurs and start-up businesses.
According to directors, more home-based businesses are looking to connect outside the home, baby boomers are build-ing succession plans and local agencies are coming up with new initiatives like co-working spaces to attract and retain cre-ative professionals.
The city seems to be in a transition period, with lots of buzz and activities – the timing is right for this kind of momen-tum, according to director Kelsey Wolff, who says it could be a group goal to turn this city into the entrepreneurial capital of Canada.
“All these different activities and projects people are work-ing on ... we’ve been able to showcase all the potential here and the talent and I think with everyone combined we can
really move the town forward,” Wolff said.
Startup Nanaimo, run by vol-unteers, is focused on efforts that bring entrepreneurs together, promote business
activities and help organiza-tions, like the Nanaimo Eco-nomic Development Corpora-tion and the Young Profession-als of Nanaimo, collaborate.
“The greatest strength [of Startup Nanaimo] is connec-tivity, which is like a word that everyone says all the time as being lacking in Nanaimo and probably lots of communities,” said Monica Shore, another director of the not-for-profit. “I think our goal is to bring all the information into one place and to be like the cheerleading force behind what’s going on.”
Startup Nanaimo has already launched several initiatives, from a new website that pro-motes local events, to an ‘unconference’ that brought people together to talk about business.
In the fall it plans to part-ner with Innovation Island on start-up weekends, which are tech-focused conference events.
Organization supports new businessStartup Nanaimo part of national network to grow entrepreneurs We’ve been able
to showcase all the potential here and the talent and I think with everyone combined we can really move the town forward.
“Page 25
Fighting for playoff lives
Top cop Supt. Mark Fisher takes over leadership of city’s police force.
award winners Nanaimo honours contributions to arts and culture.
Learning play Parks and rec program aims to increase activity.
Page 3
Page 11 Page 30
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 www.nanaimobulletin.com VOL. 25, NO. 98
Years
Celebrating
1988 2013
By KarL yuTHE NEwS BULLETiN
While a recent vote by B.C. teachers saw a majority favouring a strike, job action will be tied to the negotiating table, according to teachers’ union executives.
About 89 per cent – 26,053 teachers out of 29,301 who voted – said yes to strike action. The result gives teachers a 90-day window to activate a strike, but no timeline has been set for when, or if, it will begin.
Shannon Iverson, first vice-president with Nanaimo District Teachers Association, said the strike vote was a strategy to apply pres-sure on the government at the bargaining table and negotiations would be the determining factor. If necessary, the strike plan would see three phases: refusal of communication with administrators (unless an emergency situation involved students), rotating strikes across the province and finally a full strike, if mandated by another strike vote.
“We’re hoping that we don’t have to even go to the first phase,” said Iverson.
Phase 1, if it were to be implemented, would not occur until spring break concluded across the province, she said.
In a teleconference, Education Minister Peter Fassbender said he respected that the strike vote was one of the tools of collective bargain-ing and that the government’s position is to continue the negotiations. He said the prov-ince tabled a preliminary offer but has yet to see a comprehensive offer from the teachers’ union.
See ‘SCHOOL’ /4
Strike action will depend on bargainingIteachers vote 89 per cent
in favour of backing contract demands with job action.
CHRIS BUSH/THe NewS BUlleTIN
Daniel Bossart frames up the view from the back deck of his home after a section of his next door neighbour’s house collapsed thursday. No one was injured. the city has prohibited occupancy of the house.
No one injured after house partially collapsesBy Chris BushTHE NEwS BULLETiN
Firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene of a home that had par-tially collapsed in Nanaimo’s Brechin Hill neighbourhood Thursday.
The incident happened shortly after 3 p.m. when nearly half of a home at 1950 Estevan Rd. caved in.
Daniel Bossart, who has lived next door since 2004, said he watched his neighbour’s house deteriorate for a number of years, and the section that collapsed had been visibly sag-ging for about the last 18 months.
“It started with the deck,” Bossart said. “It started to sag and then some holes formed in the roof and you could see the water getting in
there and then the walls started to buckle.”
Bossard said he called the fire department when the section of the house finally sagged in on itself Thursday.
Capt. Bill Eggers, of Nanaimo Fire Rescue, said firefighters did an ini-tial investigation and found no one inside, but were unable to determine immediately if anyone might have been trapped in the collapsed por-tion of the house.
Tips from neighbours suggested no one was home.
“We’re fairly confident at this point no one was in there,” Eggers said.
B.C. Hydro was called in to cut power to the building and Nanaimo city bylaw inspectors were brought
in to investigate whether the house should be condemned.
Randy Churchill, city bylaws ser-vices manager, said the city has now posted a notice prohibiting occupa-tion of the house on the property.
“We’re in contact with the owner,” Churchill said. “What happens then is they have to come to the city. There’s going to be a requirement for a structural engineering report to establish what the issues are and we will work with the owner to make a determination on how to move for-ward.”
An engineering report will help determine whether the portion of the house that remains standing can be salvaged.
P. 250.585.1648www.marsh-son.com
3392 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo | Mon - Sat 10 - 5pm
PRIVATE PURCHASES . ESTATE JEWELLERY . APPRAISALS . REPAIRS
Repair Wear&Goldsmith on location
www.marshandson.com
JEWELLERS
Goldsmith on Location 3392 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo | Tues - Sat 10am - 5pm
P. 250.585.1648
Repair & Wear
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 www.nanaimobulletin.com VOL. 25, NO. 98
Years1988 2013
Strike action
Page B1
Violinist on
solo path
Lucy loose Community on the lookout for pet emu that escaped pen.
Batter up Spring training begins for VIBI Mariners baseball team.
Driveway Latest in automotive news found at Vancouver auto show. Page 3
Page 18 Page B8
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 www.nanaimobulletin.com
VOL. 25, NO. 101
Years
Celebrating
1988 2013
CHRIS BUSH/THe NewS BUlleTIN
Something fishy
Verna Cameron, senior fish culturist, left, Arianna Aroche and Dayna Charpentier, both 10, put their backs into a trout stocking
operation at Westwood Lake. The Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. stocked the lake with 1,800 catchable size rainbow trout
Tuesday, which made for a cool spring break adventure for about 30 cadets from the J.P. Bell Navy League Cadet Corps who were
invited by the society to lend a hand.
Provincial grant earmarked for Cedar school conversion
Foot ferry inks
land deal with
City of Nanaimo
By Tamara Cunningham
THe NewS bULLeTiN
Nanaimo city council rejected a financial
partnership with a new passenger ferry ser-
vice in favour of a straightforward land lease,
according to Mayor John Ruttan.
The City of Nanaimo announced this week it
agreed in principle to ink a 20-year land lease
agreement with Island Ferries. The agreement
would allow the company to dock its two cata-
marans at the city-owned Gadd Marine site on
the south industrial waterfront for $60,000 a
year, while the municipality would be required
to service the property to the tune of $125,000.
It’s not the original proposal Island Ferries
once pitched to launch its $63-million venture,
but both parties say they are pleased with the
result.David Marshall, director of marine opera-
tions for Island Ferries, said his company won
the long-term commitment and lease it wanted
and doesn’t have to share profits with the
municipality as it originally offered to do.
As part of the partnership proposal Island
Ferries sought last year, the company wanted
a 20-year lease, site servicing and a revenue-
sharing arrangement that would eventually see
Nanaimo pull in $700,000 annually from pas-
senger and parking fees. In the first five years
of the company’s start up, the city would get
slightly less than one-third of the revenue to
allow Island Ferries to incubate.
Ruttan said Nanaimo city council considered
profit-sharing, but it became cumbersome with
some suggestions the city could underwrite
a portion of the expenses. Council members
were also concerned about liability.
See ‘PASSENGER-ONLY’ /4
ICouNCiLLorS CoNCerNeD
with liability risk assumed from
potential revenue sharing.
By KarL yu
THe NewS bULLeTiN
The Nanaimo school district will
focus a majority of $2.6-million pro-
vincial grant on projects related to its
10-year facilities plan.
The school district business com-
mittee is recommending board
approval of the 2014-15 annual facili-
ties grant plan, which sees about
$1.6 million going to related projects.
The district earmarked $1 million for
the conversion of Cedar Secondary
School to an elementary.
Another $1 million is being pro-
jected for that project from the 2015-
16 grant.Pete Sabo, school district director
of planning and operations, said the
Ministry of Education confirmed the
amount on Friday.
With some design and estimation
work already done, the cost of school
conversion is currently estimated at
$2 million.
The Ministry of Education classi-
fies the conversion as a major capital
project, as it is more than $1.5 mil-
lion, he said.
“Major capital projects are signifi-
cant design challenges,” Sabo said.
“We’re not just renovating a bath-
room, we’re altering a school from a
secondary to an elementary and typi-
cally, you bring forward budget esti-
mates at a certain time in the design
process, pre-tender or whatever.
See ‘CEDAR’ /3
Quality & Service at Budget Prices
No need to go to ICBC,
come directly to us!
3900 ISLAND HWY. N. | 250.758.3374 | www.budgetglass.com
A yawn is just a silent scream
for co� eeWisecrack Of The Week
WE REPAIR
WINDSHIELD ROCK
CHIPS
250.390.18716852 Mart Rd.
LANTZVILLE
C&STRANSMISSION
SPECIALTIES LTD.
“EXPERT SERVICE
SERVED RIGHT”
Local news. Local shopping. Your local paper.
Quality & Service at Budget Prices
3900 ISLAND HWY. N. | 250.758.3374 | www.budgetglass.com
A yawn is just a silent screamWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The WeekWisecrack Of The Week
WINDSHIELD ROCK
WINDSHIELD ROCK
WINDSHIELD ROCK
WINDSHIELD ROCK
CHIPSCHIPSCHIPSCHIPSCHIPSCHIPS
BUSINESS
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
The IT CrowdInput Logic leading the edge of technology wave in Harbour City
In Nanaimo
Genuine Hub CityEasy access via land, water or air aids in Nanaimo's growth
and expansion air aids in Nanaimo's growth
and expansion
Mid-Island Trade GatewayNanaimo proves to be an economic
import/export trade machine
BUSINESSBUSINESS3900 ISLAND HWY. N. | 250.758.3374 | www.budgetglass.com
3900 ISLAND HWY. N. | 250.758.3374 | www.budgetglass.com
of the
CityBest
2013RESTAURANTS SHOPPING RECREATION ENTERTAINMENT KIDS’ STUFF SERVICE AND MORE
VANCOUVER ISLAND SYMPHONY: Harbour City hosts its own professional symphony
ON THE NANAIMO BAR TRAIL:What’s the best way to eat the city’s official dessert?
NEWCASTLE ISLAND:Jewel in Nanaimo’s harbour has rich and varied history
AERIAL TOURS:A new way to tour the layout of the land
SURVEY SAYS: Results from our annual readers’ poll WINNER PROFILES: What it takes to be picked Best of the City1
BETTER COMMUNITY THROUGH BETTER BUSINESS
GATEWAY2014 ISSUE
Nanaimo:Looking back,
moving forward
1889 • 2014����1889 �1889 1889 �1889 •�• 2014� 2014 2014� 2014• 2014•�• 2014•
Read the Nanaimo News Bulletin every Tuesday and Thursday
Breaking news and special supplements... www.nanaimobulletin.com
To advertise in the next Gateway to Commerce in Nanaimo Magazine, call your advertising representative at 250-753-3707
6 Nanaimo News Bulletin Tuesday, May 27, 2014 2014 VISION NANAIMO www.nanaimobulletin.com
By greg saKaKi
A lot of the time, visitors aren’t coming to Nanaimo just to check out Vancouver Island’s scenery. They’re coming here because they want to see their team win.
Sport represents a major share of the tourism sector in the Har-bour City. Every year there are hockey tournaments, basketball playoffs, curling bonspiels and the like, bringing in busloads of
youths, plus proud parents and grandparents. Nanaimo is suffi-ciently large enough to host major events, too, such as the B.C. Sum-mer Games coming up this July. The multi-sport event will be held over four days, bringing in 4,000 athletes and sparking some $2.5 million in spending just that week.
“It’s a huge opportunity for Nanaimo to showcase what it has and a huge opportunity to pro-mote tourism,” said Bruce Hunter,
vice-president of the 2014 Sum-mer Games. “We’ve already heard from a number of sporting groups that a lot of the athletes’ families are going to be combining the Games in with a holiday.”
Hunter is also the athletic direc-tor at Vancouver Island Univer-sity, which hosts provincial or national championships in at least one sport almost every year.
“We have tons of people that come here for championships and they’re struck by the beauty of the Island and they become repeat visitors…” he said. “So there’s a lot of economic benefits to bringing people into your com-munity. You show them a great time and they want to come back
and the benefits snowball from there.”
Economic spinoffs from sporting events can be difficult to measure. Kyle Anderson was tasked with studying the subject last spring, after the Nanaimo Clippers hosted the Western Canada Cup junior A hockey tournament.
Anderson, the tourney’s director of fan experience, put together a Sport Tourism Economic Assess-ment Model report and found that spectators spent approximately 50 per cent of their tourism dol-lars on lodging and meals and 25 per cent on travel.
He said it’s important, especially with major events, to engage fans in complementary activities.
Sport tourism continues to expand with hockey, soccer tournaments, plus B.C. Summer Games in July
In thewin
column
www.nanaimobulletin.com 2014 VISION NANAIMO Tueday, May 27, 2014 Nanaimo News Bulletin 7
Canadian MadeCustom Sofas
flying fish...cooking, living & giving
180 Commercial StreetDowntown Nanaimo
flyingfishnanaimo.com
16 piece set on sale now!
4065 Motz RoadTerrace BC
flyingfishterrace.com
“The sport tourism model is a lot more than just looking at a tournament. It’s looking at abso-lutely everything that’s involved, the whole fan experience, from the moment they arrive in a community to the moment they leave,” Anderson said.
Any large-scale sporting events will generate some tourism spend-ing, but that doesn’t always mean they will be wholly successful. It can take a lot of work, so there
should be care and thought beforehand.
“Even hosting a minor soccer tournament with 20 teams you can probably create a lot of eco-nomic impact and a lot of eco-nomic spinoffs just from running a good tournament just with the amount of families that come out,” Anderson said. “There’s a lot of things you can host and it’s just a matter of focusing on what iden-tity you want in your community.”
news bulletIn fIle
B.C. Minister of Social Development Don McRae lights the torch to mark the countdown to the B.C. Summer Games in Nanaimo in July. The four-day event is expected to inject $2.5 million into the city’s economy during that week alone.
It’s a huge opportunity for Nanaimo to showcase what it has and a huge opportunity to promote tourism.“
8 Nanaimo News Bulletin Tuesday, May 27, 2014 2014 VISION NANAIMO www.nanaimobulletin.com
investnanaimo.com
Thinking of starting a new business, or expanding an existing business into new markets or facilities? We can help!
Nanaimo Economic Development assists with business
intelligence, retention, expansion and investment attraction
information to help make your business a success.
Featuring Fully Independent Living, Assisted Living and Nursing Care.
nanaimoseniorsvillage.com
Call Tracy today to schedule a personal visit 250.760.2325 6089 Uplands Drive
Call Tracy today to Call Tracy today to Call Tracy today to Call Tracy today to Call Tracy today to Call Tracy today to schedule a personal visit schedule a personal visit schedule a personal visit schedule a personal visit schedule a personal visit schedule a personal visit 250.760.2325
nanaimoseniorsvillage.com
Call Kat today to schedule a personal visit 250.760.2325 6089 Uplands Drive
Home is where your friends are.Home is where your friends are.Home is where your friends are.Home is where your friends are.Home is where your friends are.Home is where your friends are.
250.760.2325250.760.2325250.760.2325250.760.2325
Call Kat today to schedule a personal visit Call Kat today to schedule a personal visit
Featuring Fully Independent Living, Assisted Living and Nursing Care.
Ask us how to
Move For Free!
Worry Free!
Limited Time Offer.
By niCholas PesCod
The economic output of the arts and culture sector in Nanaimo rivals that of Victoria, according to Nanaimo’s authority on eco-nomic development.
Last November the Nanaimo Economic Development Corpora-tion released a cultural impact study, which looked at the overall health and economic impact of the arts and culture industry. The study, which cost $19,000, was done by Roslyn Kunin and Asso-ciates and suggested that the arts and culture sector in Nanaimo supports more than 1,300 jobs and generates $154.5 million in eco-nomic activity.
Sasha Angus, chief executive officer for economic development, said the study painted a clear picture of the economic impact of arts and culture in the Harbour City and the benefits that nearly rival that of Victoria.
“It was interesting to see the prevalence of the arts and culture
Darren Waldal, left, George Ewing and Roger Tarry hang a painting depict-ing the history of Chinese culture in Nanaimo at the top of the China Steps in downtown Nanaimo. The painting, by Nadine Wiepning, is part of renovation work being carried out at the steps and in Lois Lane by the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improve-ment Association.
cHrIs busH tHe news bulletIn
Impact of arts in Nanaimo measured in more than dollars and cents
Culturalcommunity
www.nanaimobulletin.com 2014 VISION NANAIMO Tueday, May 27, 2014 Nanaimo News Bulletin 9
ConvenienceCulture
Cutting EdgeIn the heart of Nanaimo
101 Gordon Street, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada V9R 5J9
Check out our website!www.viconference.com
250-758-91032555 BOWEN RD., NANAIMOA division of Nanaimo Toyota Scion wwwnanaimotoyota.com
MICRO
AUTOBODYAuto Detailing
WE’LL PICK UP & DROP OFF YOUR
VEHICLE AT YOUR HOME OR PLACE
OF WORK
FASTEST TURN AROUND
BEST PRICEIN TOWN
ULTIMATE CAR
DETAIL+TAX$22995
ULTIMATE TRUCK ORVAN DETAIL+TAX
$27995
We Stand By Our Workmanship For As Long
As You Own Your Car
Let Us Make YourCar Look New AgainAND $SAVE$
PAINT WHOLE VEHICLE
+TAX$3,39500
TRUCK FOR ONLY+TAX$3,69500
INCLUDES MINOR BODYWORK
CAR FOR ONLY
(Reg. $7,390.00)
(Reg. $6,790.00)
ANY BUMPER
$56595
ADD ANY PANEL FOR
$40000
• HOOD • FENDER
• 1/4 PANEL • BUMPER • ROOF
+TAX
+TAX
Auto and Marine Detailing and Micro Autobody - Complete Customization Centre
TINT • WHEELS & RIMS • RUNNING BOARDS • SPRAY ON BED LINERS • ROOF RACKS
• 1/4 PANEL • BUMPER • ROOF
Auto and Marine Detailing and Micro Autobody - Complete Customization Centre
sector in the community, on a per capita basis,” Angus said. “I know Victoria has gone through a similar study and they had a total economic impact of about $170 million and ours was at $154 mil-lion.”
The report took into account various other creative workers such as graphic designers and news media outlets as contribu-tors to the arts and culture sector. However, according to Angus, each profession is captured in a way that accurately reflects their economic output from an arts and culture standpoint.
“It’s creative workers, too. Not each of them is captured [in the study] to the same degree. So when you look at things like the Port Theatre and the Nanaimo Theatre Group, a lot more, typi-cally 100 per cent of the economic output would be captured,” Angus said. “But when you look at other sectors, like graphic design, there are contributions that they make to arts and culture and other cre-ative industries in town but they wouldn’t be at the same rate as those more prominent players.”
Since the report was issued last year, there have been some com-plaints from residents, who felt the study was a waste of taxpay-ers money. However, Angus argues that people need to look beyond their current definition of arts and culture and understand the indus-try intersects with other sectors
in the community. Angus also noted that not only
is the study important for the city to gauge how vibrant the arts and culture industry is, but it also provides important information to help attract new businesses and the film industry to the commu-nity.
“When you have a better under-standing of film and how it sup-ports arts and culture and how it supports creative industries in town, what it tends to show is that obviously you’re a bit of a hub for that activity and from a prac-tical standpoint, they can see the impact that film has on the com-munity,” Angus said. “They know that they can likely get the crews that they need and that the rest of the infrastructure is in place to support their project, if they were to come to our town.”
NICHOLAS PESCOD/THE NEwS BuLLETIN
Brooklyn Moir admires Ian Garrioch’s Reflections on the Cosmic Self at the Nanaimo Art Gallery’s downtown location during its grand re-opening celebration in early May.
It was interesting to see the prevalence of the arts and culture sector in the community, on a per capita basis.
“
10 Nanaimo News Bulletin Tuesday, May 27, 2014 2014 VISION NANAIMO www.nanaimobulletin.com
The Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation is proud to support your healthy community.The Foundation strives to ensure that our community has access to exceptional healthcare close to home. We have just announced a goal to raise $1.5 million for equipment for 2 New Operating Rooms at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Your business can help by donating today! Donate Securely online at: www.nanaimohospitalfoundation.com
102-1801 Bowen Rd. Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1 250-755-7690
By Chris Bush
More surgical staff can start working regular day shifts and patients will have shorter wait times for elective surgeries thanks to two new operating theatres at Nanaimo Regional General Hospi-tal.
The additions to NRGH’s surgi-cal wing were announced in April when the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation kicked off its fundraising campaign by pledging to raise half of the $3-million bill to build the rooms and install surgi-cal equipment.
As of May 1, the foundation had already hit 20 per cent of its fund-raising goal.
Island Health is financing $900,000 and the Regional District of Nanaimo is chipping in $600,000.
When complete in September, the project will bring the hospital’s surgical wing, which was built in 2005 with eight operating theatres, to 10 operating rooms.
One room is designated for emer-gency surgeries, while the other will be used as a “swing room,” which can be used while other sur-gical rooms are being prepared for new cases.
Suzanne Vinden, operating room manager, said the operating the-
atres aren’t intended to increase numbers of procedures, but will get patients into surgery more quickly and home sooner.
The hospital performs about 14,000 operations per year.
“I think the swing room will actually help us get our existing elective surgeries through in a more timely and efficient manner
because in the swing room you can start to get one surgery ready while the other room’s being fin-ished and cleaned,” Vinden said.
Lisa Beeston, operating room charge nurse, said the added facili-ties will help prevent staff burnout by allowing surgeons, nurses and patients to have surgeries per-formed during daytime hours.
“The surgeon’s been operating for 16 hours and now, you as a patient, have been waiting, but time has run out, you have to wait another day to get your surgery,” Beeston said. “This just means the proper operations will be hap-pening at the proper times by the proper trained staff who are not tired.”
Hospital continues to expandNew operating rooms slated for regional facility in Nanaimo
cHrIs busH/tHe news bulletIn
Lisa Beeston, operating room nurse in charge, left, Suzanne Vinden, operating room manager and Paul Gear, anaesthesia assistant, celebrate the campaign kickoff for two new operating rooms for Nanaimo Regional General Hospital in April.
www.nanaimobulletin.com 2014 VISION NANAIMO Tueday, May 27, 2014 Nanaimo News Bulletin 11
If you’ve never been to Flying Fish on Commercial Street in downtown Nanaimo, you’re in for quite a treat.
Drop in to this 6,400 square foot furniture, kitchen, home decor and gift store located in a 110-year-old, refurbished building that’s just ‘bursting at the seams’ with everything you’ll ever want.
From an ‘edgy’ greeting card that will make you laugh out loud to a beautiful, custom-made sofa that will become the focal point of your home and entertaining area – they have something to fit every taste and budget.
The atmosphere is welcoming, the products understated, yet elegant, but they’re not above offering the occasional ‘off-beat’ or wacky item as well.
Their warm and friendly staff take
the greatest of care to ensure that your shopping experience is both fun and rewarding.
Their goal is to make you feel welcome each and every time you visit – and they want you to visit again, and again, and again.
Take a drive or a stroll downtown and make your way to the corner of Bastion and Commercial streets in the heart
of downtown Nanaimo for some shopping, food and fun. You’ll wish you’d done it sooner.
Open seven days a week, Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sundays and most holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Late night shopping on Friday nights until 9 p.m.
For more information, please call 250-754-2104 or visit http://www.flyingfishnanaimo.com.
Chamber marks 125 years
By Karl yu
The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce has meant business in Nanaimo the past 125 years, figuratively and literally.
Established as a board of trade in 1889, the early days saw an old boys’ club-like environment, with smoky rooms and men talking about the affairs of business and commerce, according to Kim Smythe, cham-ber CEO.
“Back then in the minutes of the first meeting, the debate was whether or not Nanaimo needed more than two paid firefighters, so the issues that we’re dealing with today are significantly larger and more complex than they were 125 years ago,” Smythe said.
Smythe said a lot of the chamber’s contemporary work focuses on government advocacy and lobbying for a better community.
Continued/ 12
Flying Fish offers home decor and much more downtown
ADVERTISING fEATuRE
Today association is about more than just representing business interests
Invite the wholecommyour meetgameevenicoupl
Add yeven
NanaimoBulletin.com
& PQBNews.com
there’s more online »events
Invite the wholecommyour meetgameevenicoupl
Add yeven
NanaimoBulletin.com
& PQBNews.com
there’s more online »events
Invite the wholecommyour meetgameevenicoupl
Add yeven
NanaimoBulletin.com
& PQBNews.com
there’s more online »eventsWhen you want to see what’s
happening or have friends coming over for holidays or just the weekend... it’s all just a click away.
12 Nanaimo News Bulletin Tuesday, May 27, 2014 2014 VISION NANAIMO www.nanaimobulletin.com
The entrepreneurial spirit is not only alive and well in Nanaimo, it’s thriving. Over the past year, the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association created Secrets of Success, a series which profiled 22 local businesses that together have amassed more than 383 years in operation in downtown Nanaimo.
Each of the companies profiled was selected because they had demonstrated longevity, great business practices and growth. What quickly came to light was each owner’s passion for excellence and customer service. The association also discovered some interesting stories and surprising characteristics about our downtown entrepreneurs along the way.
The series opened with the Painted
Turtle Guest House. For Angie and Bruce Barnard, establishing their business in Nanaimo was serendipitous.
During a two-hour stop over at Swy-a-lana Lagoon during a round-the-world adventure, the couple realized, “there was something magical about Nanaimo.”
That magic translated into a nationally recognized unique hostel/hotel accommodation which has been going strong for 10 years.
Angie credits the community with being the driving force behind the success of her business – a sentiment that was expressed repeatedly by everyone interviewed.
Turley’s Florist had the longest operating business, opening its doors in 1962. Jim and his wife Marianne have been running the business for 30 years and when asked to provide an anecdote that summarized what he was all about, Jim told a story about
providing flowers for Queen Elizabeth’s room during the 1994 Commonwealth Games. The bouquet was supposed to have white flowers and they had none on hand, so Jim simply stopped along the side of the road in Saanich, picked a handful of Queen Anne’s Lace and filled out the bouquet. He credits their success with always being able to think outside the box.
In addition to running successful businesses downtown, many of Nanaimo’s business owners have other claims to fame. Eric McLean, the owner of
McLean’s Specialty Foods which has been open for 22 years in Nanaimo, could have led a very different life. As a 16-year-old, his R&B band The Boots opened for the Yardbirds and the Kinks during a tour of Scotland. Fortunately for Nanaimo, he followed a new path and became “The Big Cheese.”
Eric’s secret to success was evident during the interview. He stopped to
personally greet every single person who came through his door. When asked Eric about it he replied, “When people feel they are being attended to and appreciated they feel good. This concept of selling has been lost over the years. It really is about trust and respect.”
Everyone profiled in the series repeated this mantra of customer service and not surprisingly, “be willing to work hard, really hard.” Just ask Penny and Franz Mutschler, owners of Penny’s Palapa, a floating dockside Mexican eatery about hard work. The couple’s seasonal restaurant is open seven days a week and you will find the owners in the kitchen every day – squeezing up to three 50-pound boxes of limes to make their signature margaritas.
With nearly 400 years of combined experience under their belts, these downtown Nanaimo entrepreneurs know what it takes to be successful.
Want to read more? Please visit our website at www.dnbia.ca.
Continued from /11“Today we do a lot of work
with municipal, provincial and federal government in trying to ensure that the interests of the community are reflected in poli-cies towards the business com-munity,” said Smythe.
In addition, the chamber works with partner groups – the Nanaimo Economic Develop-ment Corporation and Innova-tion Island, for instance – and the CEO sees more of that in the chamber’s future.
“I know I’ve pushed more in that area and it allows us to cre-ate a lot more impact because now, instead of advocating on what the chamber of commerce thinks is right, we’re advocating on what a group of community partners thinks is right.
“Working in partnership with these other important local orga-nizations creates more effective change more quickly,” Smythe said.
While the chamber’s slogan is “Better community through better business,” Smythe said it’s not business at the cost of
everything else, pointing to the situation with the garbage incin-erator.
“You didn’t see us up in front of city council pounding the pulpit for the waste-to-energy facility because it was a $500-million investment, and we must forego
everything else because we need that $500 million investment,” said Smythe.
He said the chamber is more about looking at what’s best for the entire community and how member businesses can benefit from the pursuit of what’s best.
“Our mission statement says that the chamber strives to enhance the quality of life by providing opportunities for business to succeed but we’re kind of morphing away from that focus on business and more into community wellness, community health, community satisfaction,” said Smythe.
The chamber currently con-sists of about 800 members.
Karl Yu/tHe news bulletIn
Kim Smythe, Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce CEO, peruses some archived material. The chamber is celebrating its 125 anniversary this year.
Working in partnership with these other important local organizations creates more effective change more quickly.
“
Entrepreneurial spirit thriving in downtown Nanaimo
ADVERTISING fEATuRE
Secrets to Success profiled business owners about experiences in Harbour City
www.nanaimobulletin.com 2014 VISION NANAIMO Tueday, May 27, 2014 Nanaimo News Bulletin 13
The entrepreneurial spirit is not only alive and well in Nanaimo, it’s thriving. Over the past year, the Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association created Secrets of Success, a series which profiled 22 local businesses that together have amassed more than 383 years in operation in downtown Nanaimo.
Each of the companies profiled was selected because they had demonstrated longevity, great business practices and growth. What quickly came to light was each owner’s passion for excellence and customer service. The association also discovered some interesting stories and surprising characteristics about our downtown entrepreneurs along the way.
The series opened with the Painted
Turtle Guest House. For Angie and Bruce Barnard, establishing their business in Nanaimo was serendipitous.
During a two-hour stop over at Swy-a-lana Lagoon during a round-the-world adventure, the couple realized, “there was something magical about Nanaimo.”
That magic translated into a nationally recognized unique hostel/hotel accommodation which has been going strong for 10 years.
Angie credits the community with being the driving force behind the success of her business – a sentiment that was expressed repeatedly by everyone interviewed.
Turley’s Florist had the longest operating business, opening its doors in 1962. Jim and his wife Marianne have been running the business for 30 years and when asked to provide an anecdote that summarized what he was all about, Jim told a story about
providing flowers for Queen Elizabeth’s room during the 1994 Commonwealth Games. The bouquet was supposed to have white flowers and they had none on hand, so Jim simply stopped along the side of the road in Saanich, picked a handful of Queen Anne’s Lace and filled out the bouquet. He credits their success with always being able to think outside the box.
In addition to running successful businesses downtown, many of Nanaimo’s business owners have other claims to fame. Eric McLean, the owner of
McLean’s Specialty Foods which has been open for 22 years in Nanaimo, could have led a very different life. As a 16-year-old, his R&B band The Boots opened for the Yardbirds and the Kinks during a tour of Scotland. Fortunately for Nanaimo, he followed a new path and became “The Big Cheese.”
Eric’s secret to success was evident during the interview. He stopped to
personally greet every single person who came through his door. When asked Eric about it he replied, “When people feel they are being attended to and appreciated they feel good. This concept of selling has been lost over the years. It really is about trust and respect.”
Everyone profiled in the series repeated this mantra of customer service and not surprisingly, “be willing to work hard, really hard.” Just ask Penny and Franz Mutschler, owners of Penny’s Palapa, a floating dockside Mexican eatery about hard work. The couple’s seasonal restaurant is open seven days a week and you will find the owners in the kitchen every day – squeezing up to three 50-pound boxes of limes to make their signature margaritas.
With nearly 400 years of combined experience under their belts, these downtown Nanaimo entrepreneurs know what it takes to be successful.
Want to read more? Please visit our website at www.dnbia.ca.
Continued from /11“Today we do a lot of work
with municipal, provincial and federal government in trying to ensure that the interests of the community are reflected in poli-cies towards the business com-munity,” said Smythe.
In addition, the chamber works with partner groups – the Nanaimo Economic Develop-ment Corporation and Innova-tion Island, for instance – and the CEO sees more of that in the chamber’s future.
“I know I’ve pushed more in that area and it allows us to cre-ate a lot more impact because now, instead of advocating on what the chamber of commerce thinks is right, we’re advocating on what a group of community partners thinks is right.
“Working in partnership with these other important local orga-nizations creates more effective change more quickly,” Smythe said.
While the chamber’s slogan is “Better community through better business,” Smythe said it’s not business at the cost of
everything else, pointing to the situation with the garbage incin-erator.
“You didn’t see us up in front of city council pounding the pulpit for the waste-to-energy facility because it was a $500-million investment, and we must forego
everything else because we need that $500 million investment,” said Smythe.
He said the chamber is more about looking at what’s best for the entire community and how member businesses can benefit from the pursuit of what’s best.
“Our mission statement says that the chamber strives to enhance the quality of life by providing opportunities for business to succeed but we’re kind of morphing away from that focus on business and more into community wellness, community health, community satisfaction,” said Smythe.
The chamber currently con-sists of about 800 members.
Karl Yu/tHe news bulletIn
Kim Smythe, Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce CEO, peruses some archived material. The chamber is celebrating its 125 anniversary this year.
Working in partnership with these other important local organizations creates more effective change more quickly.
“
Entrepreneurial spirit thriving in downtown Nanaimo
ADVERTISING fEATuRE
Secrets to Success profiled business owners about experiences in Harbour City
By Chris Bush
Nanaimo’s first distillery is profiting from the spirit world.
Arbutus Distillery, a grain-based micro distill-ery built around a German-made, 1,000-litre still on Boxwood Road, is selling its first batches of vodka.
The distillery was built in 2013 by Michael Pizzitelli, 28, originally from Ontario, who holds degrees in biochemistry, cellular biology and brewing and distillery, plus several years expe-rience in the brewing and distilling industry.
“I did my master’s [degree] in cell biology and afterward I wasn’t quite sure if wanted to carry on with that,” Pizzitelli said. “I heard you could do a master’s in brewing distillery, so I figured I’d do that and once I did that I just started get-ting jobs.”
Pizzitelli said he built a distillery instead of a brewery because he finds the final processes of distilling spirits more enjoyable and interest-ing.
But why build a distillery in Nanaimo when you can build one anywhere? Pizzitelli liked the idea of living on Vancouver Island and had fam-ily in B.C., where legislation has shifted favour-ably for liquor production and sales.
The first of Arbutus Distillery’s products, Coven vodka, went on sale in mid-May. Empiric gin and Baba Yaga absinthe will follow as pro-duction ramps up.
Coven vodka will appear on shelves in a white, frosted bottle with simple red text and a cap hand-dipped in red sealing wax, but when the lights go down the bottle’s white coating glows bright green with images of a gathering of witches.
The label designs, created by Nanaimo design firm Hired Guns Creative, created a stir in the commercial design world with write-ups and commentary from various publications.
Pre-launch attention like that has generated plenty of local interest that should help get the distillery, Pizzitelli’s first venture into his own business, off to a strong start.
“You wouldn’t do it if you didn’t think it would work, but you’re also not doing it for another reason other than that’s what you want to do,” Pizzitelli said. “There’s certainly trends in general across North America that are in my favour. I’m not the only one who’s doing it. There’s a whole bunch of people that are start-ing up.”
To find out more, please visit the distillery website at www.arbutus-distillery.com.
cHrIs busH/tHe news bulletIn
Michael Pizzitelli has been moved by the spirit, so to speak, to build Nanaimo’s first micro distillery. The facility on Boxwood Road will produce vodka, gin and absinthe with first batches scheduled to be on local retailers’ shelves by late spring or early summer.
Michael Pizzitelli joins wave of distillers from across the country creating hard liquor
Raising localRaising localRaising localspirits
14 Nanaimo News Bulletin Tuesday, May 27, 2014 2014 VISION NANAIMO www.nanaimobulletin.com
theHonour RollBusiness longevity and sustainability are based on factors that range from management and leadership skills through to flexibility in servicing our rapidly changing marketplace. Today global sevices are not unique even in the smallest firms and creativity is essential in all companies, even the largest of corporations. Attracting and maintaining customers was once the greatest priority, now it partners with the need to attract and retain skilled and loyal employees.
Join us in celebrating Nanaimo businesses who have stood the test of time. It takes determination and hard work to succeed in business.
73 years
BONDED LOCKSMITHSFAMILY OWNED & OPERATED
SINCE 1941
Residential & Commercial
250-754-567175 Nicol Street, Nanaimo
www.gallazinlock.ca
116 years
Providing insurance for:Business • Home • Tenants •
Condominiums • Travel • Construction • Boats & PWC • Autos • Campers •
Trailers & Mobile Homes
www.lenhartinsurance.ca
T: 250-758-2484101-3150 Island Highway, Nanaimo
EST 1898
20 years
1910 NORTHFIELD RD
Ph: 250-751-1727Fx: 250-751-8172
www.mazzeielectric.com
30 years
Merit Home Furniture
Vancouver Island’s choice forhigh-quality furniture and appliances.
3230 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo, BC(250) 756-1153
www.merithomefurniture.ca
29 years
“Creative edibles & drinkables atreasonable prices in a
not-so-boring atmosphere!”
250-753-8311199 Frazer Street, Nanaimo
www.mrsriches.ca
21 years
250-390-7681
Tiah M. Workman
Notary Public
102–6551 Aulds Rd., (HSBC Bank Building)
Nanaimo, BCV9T 6K2
52 years
60 Terminal Ave250-754-6344
www.turleysflorists.com
Turley’s is the local Florist that Nanaimo and the world has trusted and depended
on for over 50 years.
35 years
Funded by:Citizenship andImmigration Canada
Citoyenneté etImmigration Canada
Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society101-319 Selby St, Nanaimo BC (250) 753-6911
Job Search • English Classes • SettlementProudly Celebrating
our
cvims.org
14 years
longwoodbrewpub.com5775 Turner Road, Nanaimo BC250.729.8225 Restaurant pub brewery
14 years
DOWNTOWNNANAIMO
BIAA10 Victoria Cres.
Nanaimo
250 754 8141www.dnbia.ca
www.nanaimobulletin.com 2014 VISION NANAIMO Tueday, May 27, 2014 Nanaimo News Bulletin 15
• Exotic Cheese & Chutneys• Truf� es, Olives & Pates• Gourmet Oils & Vinegars• British, European & South
African Imported Foodwww.mcleansfoods.com
A FOOD LOVER’S PARADISECELEBRATING 22 Years in Business!
The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
101-155 Skinner StreetNanaimo, BC V9R 5E8Phone: 250.714.0085
Start Your Job Search Here!www.gthiringsolutions.ca
255-2000 Island Hwy NorthNanaimo, BC V9S 5W3Phone: 250.729.5627
Proud to support the
NANAIMO COMMUNITY
Michelle StilwellMLA Parksville-Qualicum
Office: 2B-1209 Island Highway East Parksville, B.C. V9P 1RS250-248-2625 • Email: [email protected]
Parliamentary Secretary for Healthy Living
www.michellestilwellmla.ca
Three conferences are set to inject more than $2.4 million into Nanaimo’s economy this spring.
Inclusion B.C., formerly known as the B.C. Association for Com-munity Living, picked the Vancou-ver Island Conference Centre in downtown Nanaimo for its annual conference.
More than 500 delegates from across the province will discuss topics related to justice, diversity and inclusion for all.
Inclusion B.C.’s conference, booked for June 9-14, alone is expected to generate $1.26 mil-lion in economic benefit, accord-ing to officials at the conference centre.
In late May, members of the Government Finance Officers of B.C. will be in the Harbour City
with a conference and trade show at the Nanaimo facility.
The not-for-profit organization represents local government finance officers in B.C. The Gov-ernment Finance Officers of B.C.’s mission is to promote excellence in local governments by focusing on training and development in financial professionals.
The Nanaimo conference is esti-mated to attract 230 delegates and generate $435,000 in eco-nomic benefit.
A third conference, also in late May, will bring a youth forum and tradeshow component as the annual general meeting of the United Church of Canada is set in the Harbour City.
More than 400 delegates are expected to account for a $756,000 impact on the economy during the four-day event.
The Vancouver Island Confer-ence Centre supports groups of up to 1,300 within the 38,000 square feet of flexible, functional
convention and meeting space. The conference centre has nine
multipurpose meeting rooms with
full audio/visual capabilities. For more information, please
visit www.viconference.com.
Conference centre hosts delegates
news bulletIn fIle
The Vancouver Island Conference Centre was built in 2005 and is located in down-town Nanaimo.
Events estimated to inject $2.4 million
into local economy
DID WE MISS YOU?To ensure your ad is published in our next issue, please give us a call 250-753-3707
www.nanaimobulletin.com777 Poplar Street
Nanaimo’s
waterfrontchanging
Plans in the works
to build Hilton hotel
page 3
NANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMOAn annual update on economic progress
2014
NANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMONANAIMOVision
Arts & culturecontributionSector injects
$150 million into
local economy
page 8
Composite image shows approximate
location of proposed Hilton hotel, based
on architect’s renderings.comPosIte Image
16 Nanaimo News Bulletin Tuesday, May 27, 2014 2014 VISION NANAIMO www.nanaimobulletin.com
bchonda.com
BCHD-May-FitCivicCRV-4CPD-8x11.786
LOWEST BI-WEEKLY
PAYMENT EVER ON
A NEW HONDA 2014 FIT DXLease for
$67£ 0.99% APR €
$0 down‡
freight and PDI included. Bi-weekly on a 60 month term with 130 payments. MSRP $16,130** includes freight and PDI
Model shown: GE8G2EEX
They can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, but there are plenty of reasons the Fit, Civic and CR-V are best-sellers† in BC.
COMPACTSELLING
SUV IN BC# 1 †
SELLING
CAR IN BC# 1 †
CAR IN BCCAR IN BC1111111111111
2014 CR-V LXLease for
$135Ω
1.99% APR ¥
$0 down‡
freight and PDI included. Bi-weekly on a 60 month term with 130 payments. MSRP $27,685** includes freight and PDI
Model shown: RM3H3EES
2014 CIVIC DXLease for
$79* 0.99% APR #
$0 down‡
freight and PDI included. Bi-weekly on a 60 month term with 130 payments. MSRP $17,185** includes freight and PDI
Model shown: FB2E2EEX
SUV IN BCSUV IN BCSUV IN BC1111111111111
0 down‡
freight and PDI included.Bi-weekly on a 60 month term with 130 payments.
LOWEST BI-WEEKLY
PAYMENT EVER
ON A NEW HONDA
They can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, but there are plenty of reasons the Fit, Civicand CR-V are best-sellers† in BC.
2014 CIVIC DX
LOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLYLOWEST BI-WEEKLY
PAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVERPAYMENT EVER
ON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDAON A NEW HONDA
†The Fit, Civic and CR-V were the #1 selling retail subcompact car, car, and compact SUV respectively in BC in 2013 based on Polk 2013 Dec YTD report. ‡In order to achieve $0 down payment, dealer will cover the cost of tire/battery tax, air conditioning tax (where applicable), environmental fees and levies on the 2014 CR-V LX, Accord LX, Civic DX and Fit DX only on behalf of the customer. £Limited time bi-weekly lease offer based on a new 2014 Fit DX model GE8G2EEX. €0.99% lease APR on a 60 month term with 130 bi-weekly payments O.A.C. Bi-weekly payment, including freight and PDI, is $66.59 based on applying $1,250.00 lease dollars (which is deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes) and $1,000 consumer incentive dollars (which is deducted from the negotiated selling price after taxes). Down payment of $0.00, first bi-weekly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $8,656.70. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 120,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometers. *Limited time bi-weekly lease offer based on a new 2014 Civic DX model FB2E2EEX. #0.99% lease APR on a 60 month term with 130 bi-weekly payments O.A.C. Bi-weekly payment, including freight and PDI, is $78.54 based on applying $800.00 lease dollars (which is deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes). Down payment of $0.00, first bi-weekly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $10,210.20. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 120,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometers. ΩLimited time bi-weekly lease offer based on a new 2014 CR-V LX 2WD model RM3H3EES. ¥1.99% lease APR on a 60 month term with 130 bi-weekly payments O.A.C. Bi-weekly payment, including freight and PDI, is $134.80 based on applying $1,250.00 lease dollars (which is deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes). Down payment of $0.00, first bi-weekly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $17,524.03. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 120,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometers. **MSRP is $16,130 / $17,185 / $27,685 including freight and PDI of $1,495 / $1,495 / $1,695 based on a new 2014 Fit DX model GE8G2EEX / new 2014 Civic DX model FB2E2EEX / 2014 CR-V LX 2WD model RM3H3EES. License, insurance, registration and taxes are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. ¥/£/€/Ω/#/* Prices and/or payments shown do not include a PPSA lien registration fee of $30.31 and lien registering agent's fee of $5.25, which are both due at time of delivery and covered by the dealer on behalf of the customer on the 2014 CR-V LX, Accord LX, Civic DX and Fit DX only. ‡/#/*/Ω/€/¥/£/** Offers valid from May 1st through June 2nd, 2014 at participating Honda retailers. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.
bchonda.com
†The
Fit,
Civ
ic a
nd C
R-V
wer
e th
e #1
sel
ling
reta
il su
bcom
pact
car
, car
, and
com
pact
SUV
resp
ectiv
ely
in B
C in
201
3 ba
sed
on P
olk
2013
Dec
YTD
repo
rt. ‡
In o
rder
to a
chie
ve $
0 do
wn
paym
ent,
deal
er w
ill c
over
the
cost
of t
ire/b
atte
ry ta
x, a
ir co
nditi
onin
g ta
x (w
here
app
licab
le),
envi
ronm
enta
l fee
s an
d le
vies
on
the
2014
CR-
V LX
, Acc
ord
LX, C
ivic
DX
and
Fit
DX o
nly
on b
ehal
f of t
he c
usto
mer
. £Li
mite
d tim
e bi
-wee
kly
leas
e of
fer b
ased
on
a ne
w 2
014
Fit D
X m
odel
GE8
G2EE
X. €
0.99
% le
ase
APR
on a
60
mon
th te
rm w
ith 1
30 b
i-wee
kly
paym
ents
O.A
.C. B
i-wee
kly
paym
ent,
incl
udin
g fre
ight
and
PDI
, is
$66.
59 b
ased
on
appl
ying
$1,
250.
00 le
ase
dolla
rs (w
hich
is d
educ
ted
from
the
nego
tiate
d se
lling
pric
e be
fore
taxe
s) a
nd $
1,00
0 co
nsum
er in
cent
ive
dolla
rs (w
hich
is d
educ
ted
from
the
nego
tiate
d se
lling
pric
e af
ter t
axes
). Do
wn
paym
ent o
f $0.
00, f
rst b
i-wee
kly
paym
ent a
nd $
0 se
curit
y de
posi
t due
at l
ease
ince
ptio
n. T
otal
leas
e ob
ligat
ion
is $
8,65
6.70
. Tax
es, l
icen
se, i
nsur
ance
and
regi
stra
tion
are
extra
. 120
,000
kilo
met
re a
llow
ance
; cha
rge
of $
0.12
/km
for e
xces
s ki
lom
eter
s. *
Lim
ited
time
bi-w
eekl
y le
ase
offe
r bas
ed o
n a
new
201
4 Ci
vic
DX m
odel
FB2
E2EE
X. #
0.99
% le
ase
APR
on a
60
mon
th te
rm w
ith 1
30 b
i-wee
kly
paym
ents
O.A
.C. B
i-wee
kly
paym
ent,
incl
udin
g fre
ight
and
PDI
, is
$78.
54 b
ased
on
appl
ying
$80
0.00
leas
e do
llars
(whi
ch is
ded
ucte
d fro
m th
e ne
gotia
ted
selli
ng p
rice
befo
re ta
xes)
. Dow
n pa
ymen
t of $
0.00
, frs
t bi-w
eekl
y pa
ymen
t and
$0
sec
urity
dep
osit
due
at le
ase
ince
ptio
n. T
otal
leas
e ob
ligat
ion
is $
10,2
10.2
0. T
axes
, lic
ense
, ins
uran
ce a
nd re
gist
ratio
n ar
e ex
tra. 1
20,0
00 k
ilom
etre
allo
wan
ce; c
harg
e of
$0.
12/k
m fo
r exc
ess
kilo
met
ers.
ΩLi
mite
d tim
e bi
-wee
kly
leas
e of
fer b
ased
on
a ne
w 2
014
CR-V
LX
2WD
mod
el R
M3H
3EES
. ¥1.
99%
leas
e AP
R on
a 6
0 m
onth
term
with
130
bi-w
eekl
y pa
ymen
ts
O.A.
C. B
i-wee
kly
paym
ent,
incl
udin
g fre
ight
and
PDI
, is
$134
.80
base
d on
app
lyin
g $1
,250
.00
leas
e do
llars
(whi
ch is
ded
ucte
d fro
m th
e ne
gotia
ted
selli
ng p
rice
befo
re ta
xes)
. Dow
n pa
ymen
t of $
0.00
, frs
t bi-w
eekl
y pa
ymen
t and
$0
secu
rity
depo
sit d
ue a
t lea
se in
cept
ion.
Tot
al le
ase
oblig
atio
n is
$17
,524
.03.
Tax
es, l
icen
se, i
nsur
ance
and
regi
stra
tion
are
extra
. 120
,000
ki
lom
etre
allo
wan
ce; c
harg
e of
$0.
12/k
m fo
r exc
ess
kilo
met
ers.
**M
SRP
is $
16,1
30 /
$17,
185
/ $27
,685
incl
udin
g fre
ight
and
PDI
of $
1,49
5 / $
1,49
5 / $
1,69
5 ba
sed
on a
new
201
4 Fi
t DX
mod
el G
E8G2
EEX
/ new
201
4 Ci
vic
DX m
odel
FB2
E2EE
X / 2
014
CR-V
LX
2WD
mod
el R
M3H
3EES
. Lic
ense
, ins
uran
ce, r
egis
tratio
n an
d ta
xes
are
extra
and
may
be
requ
ired
at
the
time
of p
urch
ase.
¥/£
/€/Ω
/#/*
Pric
es a
nd/o
r pay
men
ts s
how
n do
not
incl
ude
a PP
SA li
en re
gist
ratio
n fe
e of
$30
.31
and
lien
regi
ster
ing
agen
t's fe
e of
$5.
25, w
hich
are
bot
h du
e at
tim
e of
del
iver
y an
d co
vere
d by
the
deal
er o
n be
half
of th
e cu
stom
er o
n th
e 20
14 C
R-V
LX, A
ccor
d LX
, Civ
ic D
X an
d Fi
t DX
only.
‡/#
/*/Ω
/€/¥
/£/*
* Of
fers
val
id fr
om M
ay 1
st th
roug
h Ju
ne 2
nd,
2014
at p
artic
ipat
ing
Hond
a re
taile
rs. D
eale
r may
sel
l/lea
se fo
r les
s. D
eale
r tra
de m
ay b
e ne
cess
ary
on c
erta
in v
ehic
les.
Offe
rs v
alid
onl
y fo
r Brit
ish
Colu
mbi
a re
side
nts
at B
C Ho
nda
Deal
ers
loca
tions
. Offe
rs s
ubje
ct to
cha
nge
or c
ance
llatio
n w
ithou
t not
ice.
Ter
ms
and
cond
ition
s ap
ply.
Visi
t ww
w.bc
hond
a.co
m o
r see
you
r Hon
da re
taile
r for
full
deta
ils.