It may have seemed like a long process but the outstanding renovation recently completed by the Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn in Duncan has turned some heads.
The project was named best in the renovation category at the 12th Annual Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Awards April 4 at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay.
It was a huge undertaking but the beautiful entrance and lobby as well as the addition of several completely renovated guest rooms has put the Best Western Cowichan Valley Inn in a position to serve tourists and business travellers well in the coming years.
Another Cowichan Valley development, Parhar Business Park of Duncan, received a merit award in the industrial category. Brentwood College Athletic Facility of Mill Bay also won a merit award in the institutional category as did Meade Creek Recycling Facility of Lake Cowichan in the civil category.
Legasea, a mixed use condominium project in Departure Bay in Nanaimo, was named the Judges’ Choice best overall entry.
There were 40 finalist projects in the competition, which celebrates the best in commercial, community and industrial buildings north of the Malahat on Vancouver Island, which were completed between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2018.
“I was so honoured and humbled to accept these awards,” says Legasea developer Tony Harris, as the project also won the Mixed Use category.
“It was my pleasure to work with so many on this project. Collaboration, thoughtfulness, patience and persistence drove the success of this project.”
A team of independent judges chose the winners in the 10 categories of these awards: Renovation, Multi Family Townhome, Multi Family Apartment, Multi Family Non Market, Institutional, Civil, Community, Mixed Use, Industrial and Retail.
Gold sponsors of the event were Re/MAX Commercial, MNP LLP and Coastal Community Credit Union. Category sponsors were NAI Commercial, Yellow Sheet Review, Herold Engineering, Colliers International, Invest Comox Valley, CIBC, BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) and Berk’s Intertruck. Black Press was the media sponsor.
2019 Award of Excellence Winners:
Multi Family Townhome — Glacier View Townhomes of Comox and Magnolia Apartments of Nanaimo.
Multi Family Apartment — The Lookout of Campbell River.
Multi Family Non Market — Nuutsumuut Lelum of Nanaimo.
Institutional — Vancouver Island University Centre for Health and Science of Nanaimo.
Civil — Campbell River Water Supply Centre of Campbell River.
Community — Centennial Park Covered Multi-Purpose Court Building of Nanaimo.
Industrial — Herring Gull Warehouse of Parksville.
Retail — Quality Foods Harewood of Nanaimo.
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A new Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce member, Cowichan River Lodge, will be hosting the second Chamber Mixer of the year in April.
“We’ll be out at their beautiful riverside property in Lake Cowichan for beverages, light bites and a tour of the newly refurbished Lodge as well as the picturesque grounds,” says the Chamber’s executive director Sonja Nagel.
You can have a go at their Fishing at the Lodge charity game. Buy a ticket and cast your line in the pond for a chance to catch an overnight stay at the Lodge (breakfast included) and a gift certificate for a dining experience at The Summit Restaurant and more.
Even if you don’t snag the big fish, every angler is a winner with 20 per cent off a stay at Cowichan River Lodge.
“The best part is that all ticket proceeds from the Fishing at the Lodge game will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cowichan Valley,” adds Nagel.
The mixer takes place on Wednesday, April 17 from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. and is free for Chamber members.
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Speaking of new Chamber members, the list at the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce just keeps growing.
Recent businesses and organizations to join the business organization include: Bayside Bookkeeping of Cowichan Bay; Cowichan Women Against Violence Society in Duncan; Crazy 8’s Party & Post Office in Duncan; Paul Gala of Pemberton Holmes Ltd. & Dominion Lending; Station Street Tattoo in Duncan; Summit Acupuncture in Duncan; Vancouver Island Labour Services of Lake Cowichan and Warmland Restorative Justice Sociey in Duncan.
For more information on these and other businesses in the Cowichan Valley, check out duncancc.bc.ca