Douglas Weekly 2024

Douglas Weekly – August 12

August 12, 2024

Big Wheel Burger has become the first restaurant in North America to earn Biosphere Certification. — Big Wheel Burger is the first restaurant in North America to earn Biosphere Certification. Photo: Big Wheel Burger/Facebook

IN THE KNOW:

Local eateries lauded for commitment to sustainability

Big Wheel Burger has become the first restaurant in North America to earn Biosphere Certification. The internationally recognized certification program empowers businesses and organizations to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

The restaurant has always maintained a strong commitment to sustainability. It is Canada’s first carbon neutral fast food restaurant, and has been since its opening in 2011. Big Wheel Burger achieved the Offsetters Carbon Neutral Company 2023 status by supporting The Great Bear Forest Carbon Project.

The Pendray Inn and Teahouse recently received gold-level certification after scoring 93 per cent on the The Pledge On Food Waste – a program globally recognized for helping restaurants reduce their food waste. The restaurant is the first in Canada to be certified gold.

They are among the many Victoria companies featured on the Biosphere Sustainable list of companies who strive to minimize their environmental footprint.

Province says key investments help maintain steady employment numbers

A new course at North Island College designed to grow the blue economy, and incentives promoting mass timber and industrial growth are lauded by the BC Government as success stories as it releases its July Labour Force Survey Results.

In a media release the province says despite job declines across Canada, B.C. has seen 63,900 jobs gained during the past year, including the second-largest increase in private-sector employment, while its unemployment rate, at 5.5%, is the second-lowest unemployment rate among provinces (and below the national average of 6.4%).

Survey data shows jobs in construction have increased 29,100 over the past year, including 6,000 new jobs in July, which also saw increases in health care and social assistance and agriculture.

The province announced support to advance the development of cutting-edge bioprinted tissue therapeutics, entering into a nearly $200-million partnership with Aspect Biosystems and the Government of Canada.

Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, said “B.C. boasts of the fastest-growing life-sciences sector in Canada. Helping B.C.-based life sciences and biomanufacturing companies … anchor and grow in our province is enhancing health-care outcomes for British Columbians and creating hundreds of new high-paying, highly skilled jobs.”

She also pointed to North Island College’s seaweed industry pilot project, “an innovative program that aims to diversify the economy of northern Vancouver Island by delivering training opportunities for an emerging industry. Training in seaweed cultivation, processing and marketing will equip people with the skills needed for jobs in the seaweed industry, supporting economic opportunities in this rural coastal area.”

The province is investing in mass-timber manufacturing jobs, providing incentives through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF). Through this support, Mercer Mass Timber (MMT), a subsidiary of Mercer International, will invest in its Okanagan Falls facilities, which MMT acquired one year ago.

It will purchase new advanced manufacturing equipment and make factory upgrades that will improve production efficiencies and scale up manufacturing of a wider variety of mass-timber products.

Alacrity Canada accepting applications for CDAP grant

Businesses looking to leverage digital technology to grow their business can apply for the next cohort of the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP). Grants offered through CDAP support development of new e-commerce websites, add functionality to existing sites, digital marketing strategies, subsidize costs related to hardware and software and more.

Businesses can also take advantage of training and workshops and access a network of advisors to provide personalized support.