Special Features - Progress 2020

CAMPBELL RIVER PROGRESS 2020

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Ca mpbell River

BUSINESS INSIDER

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DECOMPRESSION & LASER CENTER

problems that are contributing to other musculoskeletal pain. If you have an ICBC claim, you can visit Dr. Guthy without a referral to receive treatment without any out of pocket cost. The same applies to people with WorkSafe BC claims and RCMP or Veteran’s Affairs coverage (Blue Cross). Dr. Guthy has also added NonSurgical Spinal Decompression and Laser Therapy to her practice. NonSurgical Spinal Decompression has the capability of relieving pressure on the spinal nerves caused by disc herniations, bulges and degenerative disc disease. It is helpful for conditions such as sciatica, facet syndrome, and spinal stenosis. “Non-Surgical Spinal decompression therapy is used to treat acute or chronic neck or low back pain associated with neurological symptoms through a highly sensitive computer. It is completely painless and as the name suggests, non-invasive”.

D

o you suffer from a herniated disc, chronic or acute back pain, headaches, whiplash, knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome? Maybe you need some help changing your lifestyle through exercise and dieting. Perhaps you need an ergonomic assessment to help you function better at your workplace.

Dr. Janis Guthy, a Doctor of Chiropractic with more than 38 years of experience can help. And, in the process she wants to change the way you think about Chiropractors. “Chiropractors treat more than just back strain, “she says. “The conditions we see range from back strain to headaches and sprained ankles to carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, arthritis and more”. We also see a wide range of patients from children to the elderly. Identifying and correcting minor imbalances early on, she says, can often prevent serious long-term conditions, including chronic pain. “My clinic has always been proactive.

People come in for spinal check-ups and preventative spinal care just to make sure they’re healthy”.

While results may vary, Dr. Guthy notes that many Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression patients including post-surgical patients and those with acute and long-term chronic pain are soon able to resume normal activities.

Compassionate Counselling for the Individual, Youth, Couples & Professionals.

For patients with sports or repetitive strain injuries, • Depression tendonitis, bursitis, arthritis • Anxiety and similar conditions, • Mood Dr. Guthy also employs • Abuse the latest non-invasive • Trauma treatment of low intensity • Grief & Loss laser therapy. “Essentially Janis Guthy Counselling the laser initiates a cascade Masters of Counselling Psychology (MA) of physiological reactions Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) within the affected area,” Certified Canadian Clinical Counsellor (CCC) she explains. The result is 250-286-3077 restoration of cell structure www.janisguthycounselling.com and function and is highly effective and has no known side effects.” “Take your feet,” she says. “They’re the foundation of your body. If you’re In addition to being a Doctor of walking improperly, it’s eventually Chiropractic, Dr. Guthy is a Certified going to affect your ankles, knees, Functional Work Capacity Evaluator hips and back.” Custom-molded Advanced with a Residency in foot orthotics, which Dr. Guthy can Industrial Rehabilitation. She is also prescribe, can correct most gait an American Board Certified Senior

Disability Analyst and Diplomate. She is a Homeopathic Practitioner and a Distinguished Fellow of the British Institute of Homeopathy. She is also a American Board Certified Alternative Medical Practitioner. Dr. Guthy also holds a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and also a member of the British Columbia Counsellors Association (BCACC). She is also a Canadian Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC) and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). You can contact her for counselling at 250-286-3077 or visit her website at www.janisguthycounselling.com . On your initial visit with Dr. Guthy she will collect information for a thorough case history, conduct a complete Chiropractic, Orthopedic and Neurological examination and compile a comprehensive report on her findings. Dr. Guthy and her patient will collaborate on a treatment program suitable for the patient’s optimal care. If a referral is necessary, Dr. Guthy will also provide this. Dr. Guthy uses a ‘hands on” approach to Chiropractic care. She may use adjunctive therapy such as laser therapy, ultrasound, exercise therapies, braces and supports, in addition to her manual and non-manual (Activator) adjusting techniques. Dr. Guthy is always accepting new patients, and she often extends her office hours to accommodate patients who are from out of town and who have scheduling issues to accommodate patients’ schedules. “I never turn away a patient,” she says. “Its both my responsibility and my privilege to provide a natural, drug -free way to better health. Please call Dr. Guthy for your Chiropractic initial examination at 250-287-3113 or for Counselling at 250-286-3077.

250-287-3113

CAMPBELL RIVER PROGRESS 2020

Play to your strengths – good advice for

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Island Funeral Services /

anyone looking towards their future.

Elk Falls Crematorium and Reception Centre ................................ 5

It’s also good advice for a community that has turned a corner on past challenges and is looking to a bright future.

North Island Nissan ...................................................................... 6

Shelter Point Distillery Award ....................................................... 5

Campbell River’s future looks bright because it plays to its strengths. Strengths that lie in the community’s ability to adapt, to innovate and to move forward. Actually, its strengths lay behind those abilities. Strengths like spectacular location, skilled workforce, proximity to major markets, liveability, boundless recreational opportunities, topnotch educational facilities, progressive community organizations, affordable real estate and more. With those strengths behind the city, its residents and business people are ready to tackle any challenge.

Waterfront Upgrade .................................................................. 7,9

Another strength that Campbell River has it’s size. To paraphrase baby bear: not too big, not too small, just right. The city still has enough of a small town feel to it to allow for effective communication, collective motivation and just knowing who you’re doing business with. But Campbell River is also big enough to attract the services residents and businesses need to live comfortably and conduct business effectively. Modern medical facilities, top notch educational programs and a plethora of business and community services, all make living and doing business in Campbell River a pleasure.

Strathcona Toyota ...................................................................... 15

The last few years have seen Campbell River re-emerge as a force in the North Island region. After a period of re-adjustment following the closure of a major industry a decade ago, Campbell River is striding confidentally into the future and playing to its strengths. Progress 2020 is produced by the:

Mirror

Ridgerider Industries Inc. ............................................................. 8 North Island College Campus Expansion ................................... 10 Island Home Furniture ................................................................ 11 BC Hydro ................................................................................... 12 Campbell River Golf and Country Club ....................................... 13 D.A.D.S. Homes ......................................................................... 14 Anchor Inn ................................................................................. 16 Coastline Mazda ........................................................................ 16 Chamber of Commerce .............................................................. 18 Parallel 50 Realty & Property ...................................................... 19 Crow’s Nest Artist Collective ..................................................... 19 Island Ready Mix Argonaut Rd. ................................................. 20 Campbell River Housing Builds ................................................... 21 Deanna Collins & Mark Ranniger Shoreline Real Estate Team ...... 22 Heriot Bay Inn ............................................................................ 23

C AMPBELL RIVER

Working together in our community for a strong and prosperous future

Rachel Blaney http://campbellriver.ca/

Member of Parliament for North Island-Powell River Rachel.Blaney@parl.gc.ca www.RachelBlaney.ndp.ca 250-287-9388

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Once upon a time‌.CChaptertwo hapter

Yes here we are again, a follow up to Chapter

One of “Once Upon a Timeâ€?. This lovely quaint town, called Campbell River, where the community of very fine people only wanted the very best for their family and friends ‌.wanted a place where they could go and gather should a loss occur of a loved one.

, with ample parking within steps of the Elk Falls Crematorium and Tribute Centre. “How lucky are we to have had three wishes granted,� cried the people. If you wish to tour the facility said a very wise person, then just call and ask...

Poof!‌. and Elk Falls Poof!‌ ‌

Crematorium and Reception Centre was created‌Oh, what a beautiful place said the people, the building is so bright and homey‌.and has a fireplace to warm us on those rainy cooler days and‌

Poof! Yes, couches, wingback chairs beautifully

appointed and designed to accommodate a lovely modern “Tributeâ€? Centre to memorialize one’s life, together with visitation facilities should one desire‌ “But we want easy parking cried the community of fine people‌â€?

Not only do we have the perfect facility for Gatherings, Visitations, Viewings, Celebrations of one’s Life, but our Tranquility Garden Niche Wall Park is right there, together with the Serenity Walkway’s Scattering Garden. The wise person said, should you need such services, why not call 250-287-3366, or just see for yourself with our Video Tour at islandfuneralservices.com

Our Picture Book

The End‌

 �

–  � ��� ­€�€ ‚ƒ„… †‡ …  � ˆ ‰ „

Š‹�­ŠŒŽ­  ‘‘

SINCE 2000, CAMPBELL RIVER’S BEST VALUE FOR FUNERAL AND

CAMPBELL RIVER PROGRESS 2020

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Island Funeral Services Elk Falls Crematorium and Reception Centre Kent and Rosemarie Roduck, Licensed Funeral Directors and owners of Elk Falls Crematorium and Island Funeral Services, in Campbell River as well as Comox Valley Funeral Home, Cremation and Reception Centre, in Courtenay asked the question: “What if a state of the art, all-inclusive facility was created at Elk Falls Cemetery to provide Campbell River and area families with their own crematorium, that could also provide a warm, home-like environment for services, celebrations of life and family gatherings? As well, what if the beautifully landscaped exterior featured. “The Tranquility Garden Niche Wall” for urns to be placed above ground in a secure niche or for cremated remains to be placed in the “Serenity Walkway Scattering Garden”? Perhaps the most outstanding feature of Elk Falls Crematorium would be that the building can also accommodate funeral services with

casket burial, right on the cemetery property, with an on-site reception to follow. Since everything would be done at the cemetery, it eliminates the necessity to travel to the funeral home, then to the cemetery, then to the reception. “The concept of providing every possible combination of cremation or funeral service and any combination of final disposition of cremated remains with full service reception facilities was completed in October 2003 and response from the community was exceptional,” Kent states. “Not only is Elk Falls Campbell River’s only crematorium, but the total flexibility of this type of location on a municipal cemetery is totally unique. Campbell River has an advantage that no other community has, north of Victoria.” “Since cremation is chosen by approximately 90% of Campbell River and area families, we pride

ourselves on being cremation specialists who can provide every possible option,” comments Rosemarie. The Roducks feel that making prearrangement is something all families should consider. “Making these decisions is something we’ll all have to do at some point,” says Kent. “Doing it at a time when your thinking is clear and you can ask the questions you need to and get the straight answers you require, is a great benefit for both you and your family”. He stresses as well all prearrangement funds are totally protected; transferable if necessary, but most important, it locks in the cost of your arrangements at today’s prices, regardless of when they’ll be

needed. “We call it the ‘Inflation Proof Plan’, says Rosemarie. Elk Falls Crematorium and Island Funeral Services is locally owned and operated by Kent and Rosemarie and is Canadian owned and totally independent. Kent stressed that he, Rosemarie and their licensed staff are available at any time to answer your questions or provide any information you require, always at no obligation. “Simply call us.” ELK FALLS CREMATORIUM AND ISLAND FUNERAL SERVICES at 250-287-3366. Their arrangement and prearrangement office is conveniently located at 103-909 Island Highway, Georgia Quay, downtown Campbell River.

Shelter Point Award Vancouver Island is renowned as being the best in Canada for many things: fishing, tourism and surfing just to name a few. And now you can add whisky to that list. According to the experts, the best rye whisky in the country is made on Vancouver Island. The 10th annual Canadian Whisky Awards were held in Victoria Jan. 16 and Shelter Point Distillery won the award for Best All-Rye Whisky in Canada. The distillery, located just south of Campbell River, beat rival distilleries from across Canada to take the crown for its single cask rye. Shelter Point won gold medals for its single cask rye and for its recently released Smoke Point single grain whisky, finished in ex-Laphroaig barrels from Islay in Scotland. And that wasn’t the only hardware

the distillery took home from the event. Shelter Point also took silver medals home for its Shelter Point Artisanal Cask Strength, Shelter Point Artisanal Single Malt, Shelter Point Double Barrel, Shelter Point Montfort DL 141, Shelter Point Single Cask Old Vines Foch Reserve, and Shelter Point Wine and Beyond Exclusive Single Malt. Shelter Point was also awarded bronze medals for its Shelter Point Strath 8 Year Old, Shelter Point Strath Islay Cask, and Shelter Point Exclusive Co-op Rye. This year’s haul from the Canadian Whisky Awards will have to fight for room in the trophy case, however, as it’s already pretty full for a facility that hasn’t yet been producing its spirits for a decade. Last year, for example, at these same awards, the distillery took home the award of excellence for

innovation, along with a gold medal, went to Shelter Point’s Montfort District Lot 141, along with silver medals for the Strath Edition of its Classic Single Malt and its Double

Barreled Single Malt and bronze medals for its Avant-Garde Barley, Cask Strength and Classic Single Malt whiskies.

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North Island Nissan It’s shaping up to be an exciting year at North Island Nissan. New vehicles are arriving everyday and soon, the 2020 Sentra will be rolling into Campbell River. Nissan continues to believe in the power of the sedan and this year, the redesigned Sentra will be turning heads with a sporty profile. One of Nissan’s entry-level sedans, the 2020 Sentra features over 400 litres of cargo space, a sleek, roomy interior and is stocked with Nissan’s state-ofthe-art technology. The Sentra is a great all-around car for just about anybody, says Mike Ball, North Island Nissan general manager. “It’s for just about anybody. We could see a young person driving it as their first car or it could be a new sedan for a retired couple,” he says. “It’ll really fit everyone’s lifestyle.” Nissan continues its investment into the sedan category with the all-new 2021 Nissan Versa. The costeffective car is loaded with features and is expected to land in Campbell River later this summer. While there’s a fleet of newly redesigned cars, Nissan certainly isn’t neglecting its other categories. A refreshed 2020 Titan is on the way. With a 400 horse-power engine and 9-speed transmission, it’s not lacking power. And backed by Canada’s best truck warranty – five years or 160,000 kilometres comprehensive coverage – you can’t go wrong with a Titan. A new crossover is also in transit. While the design of the 2021 Rogue is being kept under wraps, Ball says we can expect to see it arriving in dealerships by the end of the year. In the meantime, there are already great deals on the current model. Speaking of not-seen new designs, Nissan has a new-look Pathfinder coming down the pipes as well as a new Frontier. While not much is known about the Pathfinder, the Frontier, which is still about a year away, will certainly be rugged. It’ll have a new

engine, new transmission and a new redesign. “People say it’s overdue,” says Ball. But the Pathfinder has been a long-standing member of Nissan’s crossover line-up and it’s been a reliable model for North Island Nissan. While shiny new vehicles are exciting to look at, it’s Nissan’s technology that really makes them stand out. New models are already being loaded with Nissan Intelligent Mobility, which features a suite of driving innovations. They help make your driving experience safer. These are things like Propilot Assist, which when combined with Intelligent Cruise Control and Steer Assist, keep you on pace with traffic and in your own lane. It’s semi-autonomous driving, says Ball. “Essentially, it assists you in driving the car,” he says. “It’s awesome for highways. It’s designed to keep you in the middle of your lane.” This is smarter than other assisteddriving technology, which may just warn you you’re leaving your lane, rather than helping you stay in it. The features are already available in the 2020 Rogue and Qashqai. There’s also intelligent emergency braking and intelligent forward collision warning. The latter monitors up to two cars ahead and will let the driver know if one suddenly slows, so your reaction time can be faster. While they’re all great safety features, they’re best experienced in person. “You can try to explain it all day long, but it really means nothing until you feel it,” says Ball. Nissan offers no obligation test drives so you can get a feel for the technology yourself. Plus, by visiting North Island Nissan, you’ll meet some of the team’s awesome staff. Jastin Dhaliwal, who worked at the store some 20 years ago, is back after

gaining management experience at a sister dealership. He’s joing by Hayley Wood and Brian Quan on the sales management team. They’re backed in the parts and service department by manager Ryan Hamilton. When you come back to North Island Nissan for your service appointments to keep your vehicle moving smoothly, you’ll be welcomed by a refreshed service department. There’s new couches and a lot of natural light making for a comfortable wait.

“It’s a lot more comfortable for the customers,” says Ball. “We’re hearing great feedback.” While there are many new things happening at North Island Nissan, customer service remains at the team’s core. “Our main goal is keeping people happy,” says Ball. Visit North Island Nissan at 2700 North Island Highway to meet the team and discover your new or newto-you Nissan.

CAMPBELL RIVER PROGRESS 2020

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Waterfront Upgrade Almost Complete Mike Davies, Campbell River Mirror Reporter

are policies and permits required to ensure they are properly assessed and managed once found, especially to ensure that any items of special interest are cared for.

It’s been a few years in the making, but the current phase of work on Highway 19A is just about complete and things can go back to normal down on Campbell River’s waterfront. Work on the waterfront renewal project was disrupted and postponed after a site of possible archaeological significance was found last September, shutting down work so that proper teams of researchers could be brought in to analyze the midden that was discovered near Rotary Beach. A midden is archeological evidence of past First Nations occupation in the area. Middens can include items such as shells, bone, botanical material and artifacts. Construction work sometimes encounters middens during ground excavations in this region, and there

But the work got back underway earlier this month, and City Manager Deborah Sargent says it’s still on schedule to be completed this year. While it’s not the only infrastructure project on the go right now – last year the city completed “about $35 million” in capital projects altogether and will exceed that this year – it’s certainly the biggest they’ve got going on right now. “When we did the city’s water supply project in concert with BC Hydro, the final cost on that project was $29.8 million and change. It was a multi-year project and the single biggest infrastructure project the city had ever managed. No sooner had we finished that water supply project and opened the water supply building,

we turned our attention to the waterfront project in 2018. This will be the last year of construction on that, and when we complete the water and sewer upgrades that go with it,

along with the Big Rock Boat Launch upgrades that were completed a couple of years ago now, that project, when you add it all together is Continued on page 9

WINTER WARRIOR EVENT ON NOW

QASHQAI®

KICKS®

FINANCE A 2019 QASHQAI FROM

0

%

SL AWD model shown

APR

FOR UP TO

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ALL-IN SELLING PRICE $25,475

$259

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%

AT

MONTHLY WITH $0 DOWN

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FOR UP TO 60 MONTHS O.A.C.

S model shown

ALL-IN SELLING PRICE $20,240

VISIT

https://www.choosenissan.ca/ OR YOUR LOCAL NISSAN DEALER • OFFERS END MARCH 2ND

Offers available from February 1 – March 2, 2020. Representative finance offer based on a new 2019 Qashqai S FWD. Selling price is $25,475 financed at 0% APR equals 60 monthly payments of $425 monthly for a 60 month term. $0 down payment required. Cost of borrowing is $0 for a total obligation of $25,475. ^Representative monthly lease offer based on a new 2019 Kicks S at 2.9% lease APR for 60 months equals monthly payments of $259 with $0 down payment, and $0 security deposit. Lease based on a maximum of 20,000 km/year with excess charged at $0.10/km. Total lease obligation is $15,553. *Up to $1,000 payment waiver available on the lease/finance of a new and previously unregistered 2019 Qashqai/KICKS model, on approved credit, from an authorized Nissan dealer in Canada between February 1, 2020 – March 2, 2020. Up to the first 3 monthly lease/finance payments (exclusive of taxes) will be waived UP TO $1000. After waived leased/finance payments, customer will be required to make all remaining scheduled lease/finance payments over the remaining term of the contract. If the total of 3 monthly lease/finance payments exceeds $1000, then customer will be responsible for paying any difference. If the total of the 3 monthly lease/finance payments is less than $1000, then customer will not be credited with the difference. The value of a customer’s lease/ finance payments will be impacted by the length of the term and the down payment, if any, as selected by the consumer. Models shown $33,398/$20,240 selling price for a new 2019 Qashqai SL AWD/2019 KICKS S. All Pricing includes Freight and PDE charges ($1,950/$1,815), air-conditioning levy ($100), applicable fees, tire charge, manufacturer’s rebate and dealer participation where applicable. License, registration, insurance and applicable taxes are extra. Offers are available on approved credit through Nissan Canada Finance for a limited time, may change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offers except stackable trading dollars. Vehicles and accessories are for illustration purposes only. Offers are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Taxes extra. See your participating Nissan dealer or visit choosenissan.ca for complete details. Certain conditions apply. ©2020 Nissan Canada Inc.

Mike Ball

Brian Quan

General Manager Finance Manager

Follow us on social media to stay updated

Jastin Dhaliwal New Car Sales Manager

Hayley Wood Colin Woodside Colton Smith Used Car Sales Manager

@NorthIslandNissan

Sales Consultant

Larissa Finch Breanna Podlasly Shanda Hamilton

Sales Consultant Sales Consultant

Sales Consultant

Office Manager

https://www.northislandnissan.ca/

@NorthIslandNissan

@NIslandNissan

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Ridgerider Ridgerider is an intentionally unique business. “We never wanted to be like everyone else,” says owner Gerry Sadler. Gerry and his wife Anne-Louise began their “Ridgerider” journey when they opened the original shop in Port Hardy in 1973. At the time they specialized in workwear and boots for the fishing, mining and logging industries. Years later, after the move to Campbell River, they evolved into a western store (with so much more). Ridgerider proudly stocks the Island’s best selection of western boots (men’s, ladies’ and kids’) as well as the best selection of belts and buckles, moccasins and mukluks. On top of that they also carry a huge selection of western wear including over 1,000 shirts ranging in sizes from XS to 5XL. They have something to fit every shape and size. A large portion of their business involves boots. A shipment arrives each and every week without fail. Much of this shipment includes “special orders”, a fact they’re very proud of. Customers can choose any boot from the Boulet catalogue (BOULETBOOTS.COM) and if they don’t stock a particular style they will fit them in a similar boot and order their choice in their perfect size. Boulet Boots offers over 140 styles in men’s boots and 126 in ladies’ most of which are only 10 days away if a special order is necessary. Gerry and Anne-Louise are thrilled to be able to say they “beat” the internet in price - that’s right it’s actually less expensive to shop in their store than it is to order the

same boot online! Plus you’ll get the right size for your foot the first time because the folks at Ridgerider are professional boot fitters. Over the years they’ve learned that if you buy the proper size you’ll get a more comfortable fit because your arch will sit in the correct place giving you total arch support. A common occurrence in their shop is customers coming in thinking they know their shoe size. They’re often shocked to find that their foot is much smaller than they thought. The reason for this? Too often people buy a bigger shoe to accommodate the width of their foot. At Ridgerider they get a professional fit and more often than not they walk out with shoes up to two sizes smaller than they came in wearing simply because they found the proper width. They consider the fit of the boot to be the most important factor when helping a customer choose a style. Aside from boots, belts, buckles, hats, moccasins, mukluks and western wear, they carry a variety of products you may not expect in a western clothing store. You’ll find a large selection of jigsaw puzzles, wallets, purses, mugs, cards and other souvenirs and novelties. All of their merchandise is top-of-the-line and, whenever possible, Canadian made. They’ve worked hard to make sure they have a little something for

everyone. Ridgerider has been in the same location for 34 years at 920 Island Highway and its served them well. “We’ve watched Campbell River grow and change over the years and we’re happy to be able to say we’ve weathered those years well,” says Anne-Louise. “It helps that people know where to find us”. Throughout the years they’ve seen many of the same faces return again and again. They draw shoppers from Port Hardy to Victoria because of their great selection and customer service. Some folks return annually from as far as Germany and Australia bringing lists of requests they pick up for friends and family. It’s not unusual for tourists to come in and ask if they can take

pictures of the store to show friends back home. Nor is it out of the ordinary for a new shopper to arrive from overseas saying WOW! “My friends were here last year and I just had to come see it for myself.” Most recently, a customer from the Netherlands brought in a brochure (of Ridgerider) they found in their hometown of Amsterdam. Their favourite part of the job? When someone says “you made my day” or “I thought my feet were a size 11! I’m in a 9 now.” “We just want to make people happy,” adds Anne-Louise, excusing herself to go help a customer. “That’s always been the goal.” “We appreciate our customers and will continue to strive to do our very best for them,” says Gerry.

CAMPBELL RIVER PROGRESS 2020 Cont. from page 7 $27.5 million. That is the size and complexity of the city projects that we’re managing now. Something that we thought was the biggest project ever was completed and we turned around and started almost exactly the same size – in terms of dollar value – project for our community.” Sargent says it’s not just about the sewer and water lines that needed to be replaced, but also community comfort and addressing some transportation issues. “With all the interest in multimodal transportation that’s out there these days – pedestrian, bikes and everything else – having another kilometre of our beautiful waterfront along 19A that we’ve done to the standards we’ve grown to know and love is a huge benefit to the community.” But the city is, overall, very focused on replacing its aging infrastructure right now, with the vast majority of its capital spending

each year being spent on replacing important, though not necessarily visible, pieces of the puzzle that makes up a city. “We’re really focusing on asset management, because, ideally, the best time to replace an aging piece of infrastructure is the moment before it fails,” Sargent says. “But, as you know, things fail often before we get them replaced, so we’re working on a system and we’ve got a good idea in terms of when a lot of our roads, sewer and water infrastructure needs to be fixed, but not to the level where we’d like to be yet.” So while residents and visitors might be frustrated with delays along the highway back in place right now as the crews get back to work, they can take solace in the fact that the work is almost complete and it’ll be smooth sailing for many years to come once it wraps up this fall, if all goes to plan, and the infrastructure going in that is causing those delays was integral to the functioning of our fair town.

Other capital projects on the go for this year, Sargent says, include the replacement of the downtown public washroom facility, replacing the turf at Willow Point Park, beginning the consultation work on what’s to be done with the Sportsplex – whether it’s to be a repair, an expansion or a replacement – as well as partnerships in other major community projects like the Robron Fieldhouse, which is

set to break ground any time now. “That’s a significant community project that’s had a lot of work done on it over the last number of years,” Sargent says. “It’s not a city construction project, technically, but it’s on city land and we’re happy to be a partner in it, because we feel it’s going to be a really important community amenity for the city.”

Ridgerider will soon be celebrating it’s th of business in Campbell River! Thanks to the support of loyal friends and customers it’s been an incredible time for us! Without you it wouldn’t have been possible.

25 Anniversary

Over the years we have participated in many events. You may remember some or recognize the participants. We’ve been a part of grad fashion shows for Carihi, Timberline and Highland. Spring celebrations, in Cumberland, weddings in Campbell River, Courtenay and Victoria and Fashion Inferno for many years.

Here’s a look back at some of those occasions.

We hope you enjoy a blast from Ridgerider’s past and look forward to more in the future. 920 ISLAND HIGHWAY CAMPBELL RIVER • 250.286.3554

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Campbell River’s post-secondary education scene got a big makeover with the expansion of the local campus of North Island College which was officially opened in January. The official opening of the $18-million project was celebrated Jan. 31 with Claire Trevena, MLA for the North Island, on behalf of Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training; John Bowman, president, NIC; and NIC students, faculty and staff. The expansion was made possible thanks to $5.8 million from the Government of Canada’s PostSecondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, $8.6 million from the Government of British Columbia and $3.6 million from NIC and its donors. “This campus expansion project means that students on the North Island won’t have to leave home to gain the skills they will need to participate in the economy of the future,” Claire Trevena, MLA for the North Island, said. “I am pleased that the next generation of tradespeople, business leaders and health-care professionals will be able to complete their training in Campbell River.” Campbell River’s North Island College (NIC) students will have better access to state-of-the-art facilities and programs to help them become career-ready following the opening of the expanded Campbell River campus. “Modern learning spaces are a critical part in supporting skills development to prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Navdeep Bains, federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “The expansion of the Campbell River campus will help students on Vancouver Island advance the next generation of leading-edge research and innovation in Canada.” The project expanded and consolidated learning space at NIC’s Campbell River campus. All students on the campus will benefit from an

expanded and updated cafeteria space, a library and learning commons, bookstore and an enhanced learning environment. “We’re thankful for the partnership between the Government of Canada, the province of B.C. and NIC on this project,” Bowman said. “The expanded facilities at our Campbell River campus ensure we can continue to provide students an exceptional learning experience, expanded programming and will make NIC an educational destination of choice on Vancouver Island.” More than 175 students will learn in the new industrial trades facilities and culinary students will benefit from the new kitchen facilities. The expansion also includes Campbell River’s first health simulation lab, for use by practical nursing and health-care assistant students. The campus expansion will also allow for the delivery of a new computer information systems program, expanded business administration and the intake of over 80 international students. Investments through the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) are being used to modernize facilities at Canadian universities and colleges, as well as improve the energy efficiency of these facilities and reduce their impact on the environment. “Campbell River has always been the centre for trades and technology for the North Island,” Mayor Andy Adams said, “and that’s why it is so critically important to have the faculty, the facilities and now the top notch equipment to work with and the environment to work in for trades and technology.”

CAMPBELL RIVER PROGRESS 2020

11

Island Home Furniture This time last year – in this very publication, in fact – Sukhi Manhas of Island Home Furniture said he was stepping back from the company he started back in 1977 and handing it over to his kids. But if you walk into the store perched on the edge of Campbellton these days, it’s likely you’ll still see his smiling face if you look to the right and see his desk. That is, of course, if he’s not wandering the floor of the giant showroom, helping someone shop for the perfect addition to their home. “I didn’t lie,” he says with a laugh. “I took almost three months off last year, and all of January this year. I’m taking it easy.” It’s almost like he’s addicted to the store. As much as he’d like to spend more time golfing and traveling, he just keeps coming back. “I’m shifting away slowly,” he says. “But I do love it here. I love the people, I guess. This community is amazing and enjoy meeting the people.” He also enjoys watching the business world change around him and adapting to it, he says. “Everything always changes, and it keeps me on my toes,” he says. “We have more competition these days, for example, especially online and especially in appliances. So many people just order everything online and if they don’t like it, they send it back.” But for Manhas and his team, it’s about making sure what the customer wants is what the customer gets, before they even get it to their home. Furniture, after all, is all about feel. And you can’t figure out if you’re comfortable sitting in a chair by looking at a picture on the computer. “They might know what colour they like, but they won’t know if they actually like the furniture itself until they feel it,” Manhas says. “You still have to come to the store and feel it

and sit on it. Everyone’s idea of what’s comfortable is different, so you can’t even rely on reviews online to tell you that. You have to actually try it yourself,” he says. One of the things Manhas and the team are most proud of is their selection of Canadian-made furniture and appliances. He thinks the growing “buy local” attitude not only means supporting locally-ownedand-operated businesses, but also ones that offer goods made right here in Canada. “Certainly amongst the over-35 people, I would say, there’s a growing desire to support local,” Manhas says. “And the majority of them would like to get Canadian-made and stuff that’s a better quality.” But even for those who want to “buy local” or “buy Canadian,” he says, it all comes down to price most of the time. That’s why he’s chosen not to exclusively offer high-end, Canadian-made products. But it is the majority of what’s on the floor of the showroom.

“If the Canadian version of a similar item is $999 and the off-shore one is $599, and we don’t have that off-shore one, as well, then we lose that business to somebody who buys a lot of container-loads of off-shore furniture. We’re proud that 80 per cent of our stuff is Canadian made, but we do have to have some product that I would call ‘lower-end,’ because we need to have that selection for people.” But while the selection and quality of the product they offer might be what people are paying for, it’s not necessarily what they come back for, Manhas says. “We’re all about service,” he says. “I had a customer yesterday that wanted to buy a couch, but they didn’t need it for two months. Well, two months is a long time, so I said to them, ‘Do you really want to buy the couch? We can order it and hold it here, but two months is a long time, and prices change every day. You might get a better deal in two months.’ “We try to help. We might lose

some business because of that, I don’t know. But I think it makes people want to come back, because they can see we just want to help them get what they need at the best price they can get it for.” And Whether it’s supporting the Canadian Cancer Society, the Campbell River Hospice Society, the Rotary Club, Men’s night at Storey Creek, Ladies Night up at the Campbell River Golf and Country Club, or local sports teams that need sponsoring, Manhas and his team are there to help those people, too. “We love this community so much,” he says. “It’s been very good to us, so however we can be good to it, too, we’re going to do.” Maybe that’s why they’ve won the Reader’s Choice Award for Best Furniture Store every year they’ve been in business in Campbell River. “I really have to give that credit to my staff for that,” he says. “They’re the best crew. Very professional, very ethical, and very service-oriented, and that’s what brings people back.”

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Bc Hydro Still Has Lots Of Work To Do In The Campbell River Area With the completion of the $1 billion John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project, people might be thinking that BC Hydro is packing up its shovels and hard hats and vacating the area. Well, people would be wrong. The provincial utility is far from finished in the Campbell River area. The John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project, successfully constructed on budget from 20142019, has already dealt with the seismically poor penstocks coming from the dam and the downstream generating station by replacing them with a new underground tunnel and powerhouse. With the concrete still curing on the generating station and penstocks replacement, BC Hydro has begun planning and preparing for BC Utilities Commission approval of three seismic dam upgrades on the Campbell River system that is estimated to cost more than $750 million. On the drawing board is the John Hart Dam seismic upgrade; the Ladore Spillway seismic upgrade and the Strathcona Dam water discharge upgrade. The first of these project to go ahead is the John Hart Dam seismic upgrade which will begin the planning and regulatory approval process in early 2021. Following that will be the Strathcona and Ladore projects. If BC hydro receives all regulatory approvals, the John Hart project may begin in 2023 and other two projects may begin in 2024. Construction for the John Hart project may take five years. The Strathcona project may take four and Ladore may take three. “These projects are all about downstream public safety,” according to BC Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson. “The expectation is that when the projects are complete, facilities like the John Hart Dam would be able to withstand a major earthquake and maintain the water within the reservoir. The facilities

would also be able to release water, as they do today, in a controlled manner downstream.”

foundation for the upstream berms, such as soil removal and replacement and soil densification.

As with the John Hart Generating Station replacement project, these seismic upgrades will have a positive impact on the local economy. A unique feature of the John Hart Generating Station replacement project was the way BC Hydro engaged with local job seekers, subcontractors, suppliers and service companies by using a major projects web portal site in partnerships with the Campbell River and District Chamber of Commerce. BC Hydro will be partnering with the Campbell River and District Chamber of Commerce once again to completely refresh the existing majorprojects. ca website with new information, the three dam safety projects and the procurement process. Watson said people should check out the new site near the end of March.

Adding a seepage cutoff wall (impermeable wall) within the earthfill sections to act as the seepage barrier.

Here is a rundown on the three upcoming projects: John Hart Dam Seismic Upgrade Project The John Hart Dam holds back water within the John Hart Reservoir. Constructed in the 1940s the dam is 34 metres high and just over 800 metres long, and is made of compacted earthfill with a concrete spillway dam. There have been various upgrades to components of the dam over the years. The new project will upgrade the earthfill and concrete dam to improve seismic performance, including: Placing upstream and downstream berms, with improvement of the

Anchoring of the concrete dam structures. Upgrading the concrete roadway. Construct permanent flood and flow imbalance risk mitigation upgrades including: Adding an overflow spillway below the road deck. Replacing the three spillway gates and related works, such as the hoist system, so they can safely and more reliably pass water in a controlled manner downstream postearthquake. Install new equipment and upgrades to the existing protection and control equipment to meet current reliability standards, including improved post-earthquake operation. Ladore Spillway Seismic Upgrade Project Replace the three spillway gates and related works, such as the hoist system, so they can retain and pass water in a controlled manner downstream post-earthquake. Install new equipment and upgrades to the existing protection and control equipment to meet current reliability standards, including improved post-earthquake operation.

Strathcona Dam Water Discharge Upgrade Project The Strathcona Dam holds back water within the Upper Campbell Reservoir/Buttle Lake. It’s located about 32 km west of the City of Campbell River. Constructed in the 1950s as part of the Campbell River hydroelectric system, the Strathcona Dam is 53 metres high and 511 metres long, and is made of compacted earthfill with a concrete spillway structure. In 2010, BC Hydro seismically upgraded the water intake tower, which allows water to enter and pass through the dam to the generating station. The new project will construct a new low level outlet structure to provide the capability for a deep reservoir drawdown, which is currently not possible. This work includes construction of a deep channel and placing two gates in a concrete structure located within the bedrock on the right or east side of the dam. Post-earthquake, having a lower reservoir level will reduce the risks to the dam, and the controlled water releases from the dam also manages the risks to the downstream dams. Replace the existing three spillway gates and related works such as the hoist system with a new concrete overflow spillway, improving the reliability of the spillway system. With the two new gates to be placed within the new channel, in addition to the Strathcona Generating Station discharges, they will provide for downstream water management for fish, power generation and flood risk management.

CAMPBELL RIVER PROGRESS 2020

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CRGCC Looks To Become ‘Golf Course Resort Community’ Mike Davies, Campbell River Mirror Reporter There have been big happenings at the property that used to be known as Sequoia Springs Golf Course over the past couple of years, and those things are about to get even bigger, should a recent application to Campbell River City Council get the go-ahead. Sequoia Springs Golf Course was purchased by the Mailman family back in the Spring of 2017 and the new owners immediately got to work re-imagining what the property could be. One of the first things they did was change the name. It’s now the Campbell River Golf and Country Club (CRGCC). After that, they constructed and opened the newest entertainment venue in Campbell River, the Velocity Lounge and Driving Range. Despite being located at the head of the facility’s practice range, there’s a reason the word “lounge” comes first in the name. “I tell people it’s part bowling alley, part driving range and part bar all rolled into one,” said marketing coordinator Scott Ballhorn upon the facility’s opening in late 2018. “It’s a fantastic blend of entertainment options for everyone – not just golfers.” They then moved on to the demolition of the old clubhouse to make way for their redesigned series of buildings that would make up the golf facility, including a new clubhouse of their very own. Now, they’re looking to turn the property into a full-on resort community. The company has applied to the City of Campbell River to rezone the two properties – 700 and 620 Petersen Road – in the city’s Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaw document, to enable the development of a “Golf Course Resort Community,” paving the way for its intended construction of an 80-room hotel, a 96-room hotel, a

400-seat conference centre, a spa, as well as numerous restaurants, pubs and a retail component fronting Petersen between Shetland Road and Kathleen Road. The properties are currently designated “Green and Protected Lands” and “Estate” in the OCP and “Rural Recreation” and “Residential Multiple Two” in the zoning bylaws. The developer would like to see the OCP designation changed to a new designation: “Golf Community and Resort” and the zoning changed to Comprehensive Development Three (CD-3) zone. Both of these designations do not currently exist, but proposed definitions, restrictions, setbacks and technical considerations have been prepared by city staff and have passed first and second reading by city council. The application has been supported by city staff, as the current OCP designation of “Green and Protected Lands,” doesn’t fit with what is already happening on the property, anyway, according to

the report presented to council in December. The vision for the “Green and Protected Lands” designation is “preserving lands for agricultural use, preserve undeveloped crown lands and privately owned forest lands, contain urban growth within the Urban Containment Boundary and maintain green areas and environmental values,” according to the report. The report also highlights the need for more hotel rooms in the city, again citing the “significant rise in hotel occupancy rates over the past few years, particularly in the summer months.” The proposal can, however, seem to be in conflict with the city’s downtown revitalization policies, which “specifically discourage the location of retail … uses in areas peripheral to the downtown as a means to encourage the location of downtown as the primary service area,” according to the report.

“While this level of private sector investment could be seen to detract opportunities from the city’s downtown core, these policies must be balanced with the fact that there is a significant shortage in higher-end hotel units in the city (particularly in the summer months). The proposal responds to a growing demand for tourism accommodation in the city of Campbell River and is aligned with economic development objectives in the OCP that encourage diversification of the local economy (s. 10.2) and is therefore supported,” the report reads. The application will now go to public hearing, which will need to be held before it can be approved or denied by council so the public can chime in with its thoughts, but no date has been set for that hearing as of yet. Watch the pages of the Campbell River Mirror for updates on the proposal – and the facility – as it progresses.

14

Campbell River Toyota At Campbell River Toyota, service always comes first. So when Campbell River Toyota moved into its new building last year, service was front and centre. The new location at 2785 North Island Highway, features more space than ever dedicated to the service department to better serve customers. There is a brand-new state-of-theart heated drive-through for service appointments. Now when customers show up for their appointment, they drive into the heated service bay and are met by a service advisor who does a walk-around of the vehicle and helps get them checked-in. Those service advisors are new additions to the service side of the business. They help with the service-check-in process as well as customer service. The changes have increased the ability of the service department to help with vehicles.

dealership have helped augment the customer’s experience, the drivethrough area has definitely made the service appointment check-in process much more customer-friendly, says General Manager Jim Graham. “I like it because you’re protected from the wind and the rain,” he says. “You can get your tires checked without having to get out into the weather.” Campbell River Toyota has also incorporated a tire centre into its new space. Campbell River Tire Centre carries tires for vehicles of all makes and models – not just Toyota. With access to all the top brands, if

the Tire Centre doesn’t have the tire you’re after, they’ll search it out at a competitive price.

that were recently hired to better serve customers.

The waiting area also got more space. It’s about 10 times larger than it was in the old location with comfortable seating. Enjoy free Wifi, tv and coffee while you wait. And changes to the service department are still being phased in. Three new hoists have arrived and are awaiting installation. They’ll be wellused by the service team, including three more automotive technicians

There’s more services with more bays, which allows for more flexibility when scheduling an appointment. You can even set up your appointment online hassle-free. Campbell River Toyota is still planning for its grand opening. Follow them on social media (Facebook: @CampbellRiverToyota) and keep watching the Campbell River Mirror for the event announcement.

While all the changes at the

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D.A.D.S. Homes Family means a lot to Dave Donaldson. It’s evident when he talks. It’s evident when he works. And it’s evident in the name of his business: D.A.D.S Homes. It stands for Dave, Austin, Dakota and Savannah. Donaldson is a proud father and business owner. “It’s a family thing. They’re taking over” he says. “I built it for them.” Donaldson began the business some thirty years ago. He thought about doing something else, but building homes is in his blood. Both his father and grandfather were involved in the industry. Donaldson was born into it, if you will. The company handles everything from concrete to finishing. D.A.D.S Homes has taken on many projects over the years. One of the highlights includes lifting a fourstorey condo four inches. “That was huge,” says Donaldson. “Probably one of the biggest jobs I’ve

done.” D.A.D.S Homes has two big projects in the works right now, which are scheduled to be finished within the next two years. There’s a 17-unit development at the corner of 7th Avenue and Smith Road. The bottoms are wide-open and they have high ceilings. An 11-unit development is also in the works at the corner of Homewood and Otter Roads. They’re all, as Donaldson calls them, man caves. Everything is being built from scratch. “Everything is original. Everything is mine,” says Donaldson. “Everything is from the dirt up.” With 30 years already invested in the company, Donaldson says he’s getting closer to retirement. But, he says, they still have to build his retirement home. It may be D.A.D.S Homes’ final project before

Donaldson’s kids take over the reigns of the company. His kids are getting ready to inherit the family business that was built for them. Dakota will be handling the day-to-day operations, while Austin will do more of the

excavating part of the business. If you’re interested in getting more information about either of D.A.D.S Homes’ new developments, there’s a placard at the corner of 7th Avenue and Smith Road with details, or give Donaldson a call at 250-830-7144.

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Coastline Mazda

The new CX-30 is breaking through the roof of Mazda’s stable of offerings – and turning heads while it’s at it. “It’s built on the platform of the Mazda 3, so it gives you that compact-car feel on the inside, but it puts you higher up, giving you more ground clearance,” says brand ambassador Joel Woo at Coastline Mazda, adding that while also has the famous Mazda traction control system to send appropriate torque to all the wheels to keep you from slipping, “new for 2020 is the ability to lock in your all-wheel-drive, which essentially gives you a 4x4 whenever you want it.” Most impressive for Woo, however, is how Mazda has managed to pack so much luxury into such a

compact form, while still keeping the price down somehow. “The fit-and-finish on these things is just spectacular,” Woo says. “It’s spacious and gives you more cargo space than our CX-3, but it still gives you that sleek, sporty, luxurious feeling while giving you the capability to go anywhere you want to go with it.” If you could find this level of luxury, combine it with the getup-and-go pep of Mazda’s sporty offerings, as well as all the additional comforts and features packed into the small frame it sits on, you might be expecting to be needing to pay upwards of $60,000 or $70,000 to take it home. “That’s the thing,” Woo says. “With the CX-30, even if you wanted the full-load package with everything you can put into it – full leather, all the power options, power lift gate, full BOSE stereo with the sub and everything else – you’re only looking

Anchor Inn

Nothing can beat dining in the restaurant whose mission it is to source out local and ocean-wise food to create a memorable dining experience, all while taking in an ever-changing ocean vista. The Anchor Inn has also expanded its services to make it an all-inclusive destination. Through the hotel, you can book value-packed fishing and whale watching packages that are allinclusive and custom-designed to suit your needs.

one takes Mazda to another level.”

But hearing – or reading – all the wonderful things about the CX-30 just doesn’t do it justice. You really have to get inside it to understand.

You can check out the CX-30 – or any of the other offerings Mazda has available, along with all the used inventory on the Coastline Mazda lot – at coastlinemazda.com or pop by anytime from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, have a chat with someone and take something for a spin.

“It’s about getting in and driving the thing,” Woo says. “The handling is immaculate, it’s got more than enough power to pull hills, and you just feel like you’re wrapped in luxury while you’re in it. I really think this

2020 CX-30 GS-L

With one of the most spectacular views in town, the Anchor Inn has always been one of Campbell River’s favourite gathering places. And if you haven’t been to the Anchor Inn in a while, it’s time to come back and check it out. With updated rooms, lobby, restaurant, fitness centre and pool, the inn has put a new shine on the best place to eat and drink while overlooking the spectacular view of Discovery Passage.

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18

Campbell River & District Chamber Of Commerce The times they are a-changin’ at the Campbell River and District Chamber of Commerce. As a reflection of that, the chamber has coined a new slogan: “New E.D., New Board, New Era.” The “New E.D.” is new executive director Mary Ruth Snyder who comes in as the chamber changes its approach to focus on creating partnerships. Long-serving CEO Colleen Evans retired last June after a decade in the job and at the end of August, the chamber ushered in a new era with the hiring of Snyder as the new executive director. Snyder didn’t waste time getting to work. In her first four weeks she moderated an All Candidates Debate for the North Island federal candidates; hosted an AGM which saw an election of 15 new board members and two returning, as well as the solidification of a new partnership with North Island College School of Business. The partnership is designed to provide an opportunity to the post-degree diploma Global Business Management students, who need 180 hours of internship with a business in order to complete their diploma. It is a

fantastic way for business to gain new insight from these talented global students, and a way for the students to share their knowledge, education and training while learning new approaches in the ‘real’ world.

Hospitality and Trade programs,” says Snyder, “it provides a platform of growth and collaboration that benefits everyone involved, not to mention the whole of the Strathcona District.”

The new executive director knows firsthand the value of on-the-job training. Snyder’s intriguing background combines three distinct industries. She worked in her family’s business until her mid-20’s, and in her late teens, she added nights in the field of hospitality into her 30’s, which was followed by a move to Vancouver Island. Snyder is a graduate of the Applied Communications Program at Camosun College.

The new board of the Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce is diverse both professionally and generationally, and everyone involved understands what an amazing opportunity this is to build on the vibrancy of Campbell River.

As a student at Camosun College, she pursued an internship with CFAX 1070 Radio in Victoria along with a major project with Suddenly Dance Theatre that involved every aspect of the program’s offerings — both proved invaluable. “Those experiences helped to shape the integration of my education into the real world of work. We plan on expanding our NIC partnership beyond the School of Business to the Media, Culinary,

The North Island College (NIC) School of Business partnership is one of the most key opportunities. And the partnership with Vancouver Island Children’s Health Network is key in demonstrating the chamber’s expanded focus on community building. It’s reflected in changes to the CRDCC’s business awards. The Awards Gala will be on Saturday, April 4. And in keeping with the theme “New E.D., New Board, New Era,” the CRDCC is introducing more than one twist this year. The name itself has been simplified to “Awards Gala,” and it will be held at the Campbell River Community Centre – a full

black tie affair, with cocktails beginning at 5 p.m., followed by dinner, the awards, a live auction and entertainment. The proceeds of the evening will be shared with the Vancouver Island Children’s Health Network. They officially launched a $7 million fundraising campaign to build a home away from home in Campbell River on a site overlooking the new Campbell River hospital. The 10-bedroom home, named ‘Qwalayu House, will welcome families and expectant mothers, largely from the west and northern regions of Vancouver Island, who need a place to stay while accessing the adjacent North Island Hospital and nearby health care services. In addition, the CRDCC has expanded its partnership with North Island College to provide opportunities for real world work for their students whenever possible, and the Awards Gala event is the perfect example. Their culinary and hospitality students will be involved in the planning and delivery of the CRDCC Awards Gala dinner. It’s fantastic way for the students to gain on-the-job experience.

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Parallel 50 Realty And Property Management It’s been onwards and upwards for Parallel 50 Realty and Property Management over the past year. The property management company was acquired by Dale Mailman and his wife Lee Holloway in 2018 when it was known as O.J Realty and Property Management. Dale and Lee have put their brand on the company with a new name – Parallel 50 Realty and Property Management Inc. – and have moved it forward as a professional full service Real Estate and Property Management company serving Campbell River, Comox Valley and North Vancouver Island. In the past year and a half, the focus has been on rebranding and revitalizing the operation and streamlining the management of the company and getting firm processes in place. The latest step in the company’s growth is the acquisition of the

property management arm of Royal Lepage Advance Realty (who retain their real estate operations). The two companies found the move achieved a desired set of goals for both of them. From Parallel 50’s point of view, it allowed them to expand its operations and advance its ablity to attend to clients’ needs. “It’s one more footstep in our growth,” Dale says. The addition illustrates that after a year and a half, Parallel 50 has accomplished a lot but will continue to move forward and pursue opportunities. “We’re making sure that we’re constantly bettering ourselves and looking for more ways to service our customers and make sure we have the top level of customer service,” Dale says. Growth gives Parallel 50 the ability to staff the business appropriately and

look after their customers properly. The company services all aspects of Real Estate and Property Management, including Real Estate Sales, buyer representation, consulting, accounting and administration services as outlined by the Real Estate, Strata, and Property Management Acts of B.C. And, of course, they are also a full service real estate firm with realtors on staff. On the property management side, they offer tenant placement

services, sceen all tenant applications and match up the best tenants for every property. The properties are inspected regularly and maintained thoroughly. Parallel 50’s clients have properties ranging from apartment buildings, seniors housing, adult-only housing, single family units as well as individual condos. Parallel 50 is proud of the fact that they are from Campbell River and are a local firm operating locally, servicing local needs.

Creativity Unites Under Crow’s Nest Artist Collective Willow Point Art Business Continues To Flourish In New Home Nadia Rieger is well on her way to fulfilling her dream. And that involves a lot of art. It also involves space. And the artistic entrepreneur now has more of that than ever before. Three years ago, Rieger moved to Campbell River from Ottawa, where she worked as an art product specialist. She was jobless just a few days before Christmas, but had an idea for the community. There were so many artists and creative people around, but they didn’t really have a place to go. She couldn’t really find anywhere that had workshops to the extent of what she had been teaching or taking classes in, she says. “And there weren’t a lot of places I found in town where I could just go and get a lot of local art,” she says. Rieger pitched her idea to a landlord and pleaded with him for

a space. He let her use it for free to start. A kind of proof of concept. She discovered very quickly that if you build, they will indeed come. “It just made sense that this community would be the best place for my idea,” she says, “and it was very warmly welcomed.” Forty people showed up to the first pop-up class she hosted in the empty storefront that would become Crow’s Nest Gallery and Art Studio in Willow Point’s Sunrise Square. Turns out there’s lots of Bob Ross fans in Campbell River and they all wanted to take part in an oil paint night in his style. Rieger’s business grew from there. She was able to create a space for artists to offer classes and for community members to experience art in a judgement-free, friendly space. Three years later, Crow’s Nest

is flourishing. In January, Rieger officially moved the business – now Crow’s Nest Artist Collective – into its new home at 2550 Island Highway South. She also joined forces with two other local businesses: Bella Designs and Coastal Wave Design Co. Everyone shares a piece of the giant new space. Bella Designs’ Noella Duncan is busy offering pottery workshops out of a corner of Crow’s Nest’s main floor. She’s also incorporated a Paint Your Own Ceramics bar. Stephanie Johnston of Coastal Wave Designs, which operates on the main level of the location, can customize products for both artists and the creatively-challenged. With the extra real estate, Rieger was able to transform Crow’s Nest into a stronger version of itself. The storefront with its local artisan

offerings is still a large part of the business, and there are more opportunities to take art workshops of all stripes in the studio. From fibre to glass and paint to charcoal, there’s classes for everyone. The new location has also started carrying art supplies. Crow’s Nest Artist Collective is still getting settled into its new space and more services and opportunities to get creative are being added all the time. Check them out at 2550A Island Highway South in Willow Point.

20

Island Ready Mix

MIRROR C AMPBELL RIVER

It’s been a whirlwind of a first year for the new ownership up at Island Ready Mix, but co-owner Carly Pisterzi says it’s also been “a whole lot of fun.”

LOCAL

That could be because that was her mindset going in when she and business partner Ben Lanyon bought the company. “We wanted to take something that’s cold, hard and grey – literally and figuratively – and make it warm and fuzzy,” Pisterzi says. “We wanted to make it approachable for people.” And that’s what they’re doing. “We make sure that people know we’re always here – or just a phone call away if you don’t want to drive all the way up,” she says with a laugh, “to give advice, collaborate on projects or answer any questions you might have. We wanted to make concrete into part of the service industry rather than just a construction material.” And people are taking note,

&

HERO

AWARDS

apparently, as Pisterzi says they’ve had “an amazing year,” and things are looking to only get better.

SUPPLEMENT COMING MAY 2020

GENEROUS 2020 SPONSORS

“We’ve been absolutely blown away by the support we’ve seen, not only from the great team we’ve got in place up here, but also from the community itself, and we look forward to continuing to provide it with the best in all things concrete.” Because, after all, you can’t have progress without a solid foundation underneath you, and progress is what Island Ready Mix is all about.

EVENT SPONSORS: COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

Campbell River and District Association for Community Living Campbell River Arts Council Campbell River Chamber

Campbell River Community Foundation Campbell River Fire Rescue Campbell River Head Injury Society Campbell River Hospital Foundation

Campbell River Search and Rescue City of Campbell River Greenways Land Trust Museum at Campbell River

North Island College RCMP School District No. 72 Volunteer Campbell River

250-287-8847 Carly Pisterzi & Ben Lanyon - Local Owners

Delivering service and quality since 1952 CONCRETE, SHOTCRETE, AGGREGATES & MORE! www.islandreadymix.ca

CAMPBELL RIVER PROGRESS 2020

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Growth Starts At Home Campbell River’s Housing Builds Continue To Increase Pace Mike Davies, Campbell River Mirror Reporter It was another banner year in 2019 for housing growth in Campbell River. As people continue to discover Campbell River as an amazing place to live, the community needs places for them to move into when they get here, after all. According to City Manager Deborah Sargent, there were 113 new single-family homes constructed in our community last year, as well as five new single-family homes with suites – making another 10 “housing units” – as well as three new duplexes and 13 multi-family dwellings totalling 258 more units. That’s a total of 387 total dwelling units created in 365 days. Three major new subdivisions: Jubilee Heights, Parkway Properties and Discovery Ridge accounted for much of that construction, Sargent says, and those three subdivisions alone led to “about $7.5 million in new infrastructure put into the ground in 2019 by the private sector to create these new subdivisions, including approximately two kilometres of new roads.”

Is that a lot? It’s hard to tell when you’re dealing in numbers that large. “Well, in 2018, we only did just under $2-million, so that’s a 281 per cent increase,” Sargent says. “We are just hopping when it comes to new development. All of those lengths of roadways, sidewalks, water mains, sewer mains, they all increased by over 200 per cent between 2018 and 2019 – the only exception being sidewalks, because we don’t always have sidewalks on both sides of the road in all areas of these subdivisions.” There were a total of 927 building permits issued in 2019 altogether when you include permits for new buildings and renovations, “and that represented $114.3 million in construction done in our community in 2019, compared to $78.2 million in 2018,” Sargent adds. “That’s a significant increase. When I say we’re hopping, I mean it.” If that wasn’t enough work for city staff to process over the course of the year, there’s also, of course, all the work that needs to be done behind the scenes at City Hall to make sure development runs smoothly. “Between all the development applications – which include all of the

subdivisions, Official Community Plan amendments, rezonings, development permits, variance permits, cannabis, liquor, temporary use permits, we had 73 development applications.” But what Sargent is most happy about is the diversity in the housing market she sees the city making. “I think we’ve made some significant strides in terms of non-market housing,” she says. “As you grow as a city, you mature and become urbanized, and with that maturity comes complexity. You expect to see more diversity in your housing stock. We have about 500 non-market units across the city and we have an agreement with BC Housing to create another 40-50 supportive housing units, so although we are still 64 per cent single-family detached, we are, I think, seeing a lot more diversity in addition to that,” she says, pointing to facilities like Linda’s Place on 9th Avenue, which will provide 27 more non-market units for clients of the Campbell River Head Injury Support Society and Habitat For Humanity, which continues to add to its stock of housing that helps young families get into the market. “We’re not just growing in numbers,

we’re also growing in terms of complexity and diversity, which I think is important,” Sargent says. The city’s goal of creating urban hubs – or nodes – of development and increasing density around those areas is also working, Sargent says. “You see it around Merecroft Village, for sure, and also in Willow Point around the corner of Hilchey and Highway 19A with the new WestUrban Developments building just getting completed and then another block and a half down from that there’s another building that’s just coming up out of the ground,” Sargent says. “So there’s lots of densification, not just in our downtown – where the skyline has definitely changed over the years with all the good new development – but also in our village centres, which is pretty exciting.” And 2020 looks to be another year of extensive development, as well, with the two major hotel projects getting underway, as well as another whack of housing. We’ll keep watching closely as developments continue to develop, and let the community know what they can expect to see popping up throughout the year.

Grieg Seafood BC achieves first ASC certification at two farms

A

s part of its recently launched Excellence Program, Grieg Seafood BC has made its first steps towards achieving Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification at all its farms. Two of Grieg’s five salmon farms operating in Nootka Sound have been granted ASC certification in the past two weeks, the highest standard of independent certification in the world for responsibly farmed seafood. To achieve ASC certification, farms are audited against over 500 indicators or markers, including environmental and social criteria. Three other farms in the area have recently undergone successful audits and are expected to also be granted ASC certification. Six of Grieg’s farms on the Sunshine Coast and in Okisollo Channel near Quadra Island are now under

assessment. “This is an important first step for Grieg BC as we strive to have 100 percent of our farms ASC certified by 2021,” says Rocky Boschman, Managing Director for Grieg Seafood BC. “Our salmon farmers and certification team have worked hard to achieve the gold standard in aquaculture certification at these farms. I am very proud of them for representing Grieg’s dedication to excellence in social and environmental sustainability, health and safety, and transparency of our operations.” The farms that received ASC certification are Williamson and Muchalat North. The others, Gore Island, Atrevida and Concepcion, are expected to also receive the certification soon. For more visit griegseafoodcanada.com www.griegseafoodcanada.com

Muchalat North is the second of Grieg BC’s farms to be ASC Certified, with the goal of company-wide full certification by 2021.

22

Mark and Deanna of the Shoreline Real Estate Team are thrilled to welcome Neil Cameron to the team!

Shoreline Real Estate Team The secret is out. More and more people are discovering that Campbell River is a great place to live. From the beautiful summers, to the accessibility of the wilderness, you’re never far from the ocean. And the team at Shoreline Real Estate is helping people realize their Vancouver Island dream.

years in business, the Shoreline team is growing. Neil Cameron, born and raised in Campbell River, joined Collins and Ranniger earlier this month.

Founding partner Deanna Collins says it’s not just retirees moving in either; there’s a lot of young families looking to make Campbell River home. “We have just as much to offer as some of the other Vancouver Island cities,” she says. “We have all the amenities, but we’re not a crazy big city.”

For a lot of people new to Campbell River, it’s a move for the lifestyle. Within a 20 minute drive, you can find white sand beaches, lovely lakes, world-class fishing and so much adventure. You could go skiing, fishing and hiking all in the same day. It doesn’t hurt that housing prices are affordable.

Collins and business partner Mark Ranniger joined forces to create Shoreline Real Estate Team with Royal LePage Advance Realty. With a combined 45 years experience in the industry, they can help with whatever real estate needs you have.

To connect with the Shoreline Real Estate team about your Campbell River adventure, check them out on Facebook at CRShore, or find them on Instagram at Shoreline Real Estate Team. You can also reach them by phone on their direct line: 250-830-4262.

And after a successful first three

“I’m very excited to join the Shoreline team,” says Cameron. “I think the three of us together definitely adds to the value we give to our clients.”

CAMPBELL RIVER PROGRESS 2020

Heriot Bay Inn

23

The Heriot Bay Inn is a reflection of Quadra Island’s energy and vitality.

network of hiking and biking trails for all levels.

“When people come from all over the world they say there is this kind of exciting but calming energy on Quadra,” says Lois Taylor, general manager of the Heriot Bay Inn. “There’s a lot of vitality here, you can feel the community.”

Nearby attractions include the Quadra Island Golf Club while on summer Saturdays, the farmers’ market is a great destination for fresh food, flowers, arts and crafts. The Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre is a museum rich in the history of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples.

The Heriot Bay Inn has placed itself at the heart of that sense of community and fosters that vitality. It does so by welcoming both island residents and the touring public tourists. The inn is a year-round centre for island entertainment, serving as a gathering place for friends over food and beverage. But it also contributes to island prosperity by attracting visitors. And it has been doing so since 1895 with its origins as a steamboat terminal. The current building has been standing since 1912. The Inn itself offers cozy European-style rooms with bed and

bath, along with an oceanview suite accommodating up to eight guests. The grounds also feature three wellappointed cabins, and an oceanside campground.

“It’s five-and-a-half acres of lovely, rustic character resort,” says Lois. “There’s something for everyone, from all generations and all walks of life.”

The HBI Pub serves up pub fare and an excellent selection of beers, while Herons Restaurant offers wonderful west coast specialties. The Inn is also well-known for hosting splendid weddings, reunions and other events ranging from large and exuberant to small and cozy.

With 1,800 feet of moorage in a full-service marina, it’s the gateway to the outer islands, spectacular Desolation Sound and a safe harbour for seafaring travellers. The natural splendour of Quadra Island can be accessed by an amazing

The Inn is known as one of the liveliest spots on Quadra Island for music and entertainment. Other regular events include a free Wednesday pub class taught by community members, a series dubbed the University of Quadra, or U of Q, which brings people together to share their knowledge. It’s an example of how the Heriot Bay Inn has continued to grow as a vibrant grassroots community hub and a beloved port of call. You can find out more at heriotbayinn.com or by calling 250-285-3322.

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serving breakfast, lunch & dinner

a beautiful place to spend time

we’re open year ‘round!

live entertainment · HBI Pub · Herons · inn · cabins · campground · marina · gift store

rent the entire

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reunions, workshops, and weddings Includes 10 rooms in the Inn, three cabins & the two bedroom suite

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take a ferry to where fun is in our nature

Monday - Thursday $900 for all accommodation or $400 for 10 rooms

week nights are a great deal!

Overlooking scenic Heriot Bay, the Inn is available for Whole Hotel rentals November 2020 thru April 2021 (subject to availability; long weekends, March & April

three nights in the Inn: only $49/night+tax

require a two night booking. Whole Hotel rental available in summer months too... inquire for rates)

choose... or

three nights + hot breakfast for two each morning: $59/night+tax Available Sunday - Thursday until April 30, 2020 subject to availability; rate based on a Standard Room Please mention “friendly getaway” to receive this exceptional rate.

ocean breezes, stately maples, country gardens, a warm stone fireplace, hand-carved bar and scenic views: a perfect island venue for a wedding. If you’re getting married, contact us for a complimentary consultation with our event planner... experience us and see if we are right for your big day.

reserve a room, book a group package, or rent the whole hotel... call 250.285.3322 or toll-free 1.888.605.4545 visit www.HeriotBayInn.com & check out our monthly calendar of events!