Douglas brings you the latest updates for people on the move in Vancouver Island’s business community. Do you have a business announcement? Please send your news to kslavens@douglasmagazine.com
HONOURED
Bruce Williams is the United Way of Greater Victoria’s 2015 community campaign chair. As CTV Vancouver Island’s manager of community and client relations and host of Café Victoria on CFAX 1070, Williams’ dedication to the United Way began in Ontario over 20 years ago.
“As a United Way honorary life member, Bruce has a strong connection to the organization, and his personal commitment is an inspiration to all of us,” says Patricia Jelinski, United Way CEO. Related to his United Way volunteer work, Williams has received the United Way of Canada Chair’s Award of Excellence and the 2012 Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal.
TOPS IN TOURISM
Rev. Ian Powell has received the Life Member Award from Tourism Victoria. Powell, the Inn at Laurel Point’s general manager, is chair of Go2HR, director of the BC Hotel Association and a tireless advocate for tourism.
Mandy Farmer, president and CEO of Accent Inns is Tourism Victoria’s 32nd Miracle Award honoree. The award recognizes her inspired leadership in creating Hotel Zed and her support to build regional capacity for mountain bike tourism.
ON THE MOVE
Darrell Bryan, CEO of Victoria Clipper for 29 years, has announced his retirement. Bryan has been a respected advocate for the local tourism industry. He remains a 25 per cent owner of the company. Clipper founder Merideth Tall will take over as CEO, assisted by COO David Gudgel.
Dave Duncan has joined the Vancouver Island Stantec offices as the new office leader, bringing to the firm 20 years of experience working at the Ministry of Transportation throughout B.C., most recently as the Highways Department Assistant Deputy.
Jenny Gethings has joined Seaspan Marine as VP, Business Development. Gethings has over 25 years in the marine industry, most recently serving as director of global projects for Schenker Canada.
Jim Beatty has joined the Victoria office of Hill+Knowlton Strategies as an account director with the public affairs and integrated communications team. Beatty was an anchor at CHEK News and was previously CTV Victoria’s bureau chief.
Nola Dunn has been hired as marketing director for Ivanhoe Cambridge’s Island shopping centres: Victoria’s Mayfair Shopping Centre and Nanaimo’s Woodgrove.
Benton Mischuk has joined Sheffman & Company as an associate lawyer, focusing on temporary and permanent residence and citizenship applications.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Dan Dagg is the new chair of the Greater Victoria Development Agency. Dagg is president and CEO of Hot House Marketing.
Lise Gyorkos of Page One Publishing, Paul Barron of Odlum Brown and Melody Hermann, HR consultant, are new appointees to the board of the Greater Victoria Housing Society, a non-profit that assists people by providing affordable rental housing.
EDUCATION UPDATES
Sherri Bell has been appointed president of Camosun College. Bell has had a successful career as a senior leader, master teacher, university instructor and principal in the public education system, most recently as the Superintendent of Schools for the Greater Victoria School District. She is experienced in change management and has a track record of stewarding student achievement in the Greater Victoria School District. Bell has also worked to ensure that Aboriginal students are supported, and that Aboriginal values are fostered within the education system.
Désirée McGraw is the new president of Pearson College. She is the first woman to hold this post in Pearson’s 40-year history. As one of Canada’s most respected advocates for youth engagement, international cooperation and sustainable development, McGraw has earned accolades for her leadership of the Jeanne Sauvé Foundation, as well as co-founder of Al Gore’s Climate Project in Canada. Since 2002, she has lectured at McGill University on International Development. McGraw was recently named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Financial Post.
MAYOR’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE
A Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Development and Prosperity was announced recently by Victoria City Council. The task force is made up of community leaders in a range of sectors and will consult with stakeholders to develop recommendations on how the City can best use its available resources and act as a partner to fill downtown retail and commercial vacancies, support start-ups and ‘scale ups,’ foster entrepreneurship, support job creation and more. The task force, chaired by Mayor Lisa Helps, plans to deliver its first recommendations by the end of June 2015.
The Task force includes:
Margaret Lucas, Victoria City Councillor
Suzanne Bradbury, co-owner, Fort Properties
John Wilson, CEO, Wilson’s Transportation
Nicole Chaland, director, Simon Fraser University’s Community Economic Development Program
Dan Gunn, CEO, VIATeC
Scott Gurney, owner, 17 Black
Dallas Gislason, economic development officer, Greater Victoria Development Agency
Darlene Hollstein, GM, The Bay Centre
Robert Jawl, director, Jawl Properties
Tony Joe, realtor/past president, Victoria Real Estate Board
Ken Kelly, GM, Downtown Victoria Business Association
Peter Kuran, president and CEO, UVic Properties
Paul Nursey, president and CEO, Tourism Victoria
Liam Scott-Moncrieff, UVic graduate, Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry
James Coccola, provincial government employee and community volunteer
Jill Doucette, owner, Synergy Enterprises.
Find out more about the Mayor’s Task Force on Economic Development and Prosperity.
