People on the move
Education
Ali Solehdin (Absolute Software) has been re-elected president of the Simon Fraser University Alumni Association. Robert Weston (New Westminster School District) is vice-president and Angie Hall (HSBC) is treasurer. Recently elected to the board are Sarah Dench (SFU International), Sam Thiara (GradusOne) and Glenn Young (IMI Technologies Inc.).
Finance
Smythe Ratcliffe LLP has appointed five new senior managers and three managers at its downtown Vancouver office. New senior manager promotions include:
•Ben Capps, providing accounting and advisory services for private companies, local governments and not-for-profit organizations;
•Daniel Lai, working with private companies in the real estate and construction, hospitality and manufacturing industries;
•Maggie Puhacz, a general tax adviser with a focus on personal and corporate tax planning for owner-managed businesses in a variety of industries;
•Michelle So, providing accounting, assurance and business advisory services primarily to public clients in a broad range of industries, including asset management, life sciences, natural resources and technology; and
•Anita Wong, providing assurance, accounting and tax services to private companies in a diverse range of industries, as well as publicly traded companies reporting under international financial reporting standards.
New manager promotions are:
•Tina Lam, who joined the firm in 2013 and provides accounting, assurance and advisory services for not-for-profit organizations and private companies in a broad range of industries;
•Donna Lee, who joined the firm in 2012 and provides accounting, assurance and taxation services to a variety of private companies in various industries including real estate, retail and investment; and
•Emily Wan, who also joined the firm in 2012 and is experienced in audit, advisory and tax services for public companies listed in Canada and the U.S.
Human Resources
Dave Banns has been appointed vice-president, B.C. division, at The Headhunters. Banns has been a partner and senior recruitment consultant at the firm since 2010.
Legal
Stephen Ferance, intellectual property (IP) lawyer and patent agent, has joined Gowlings as a partner in the firm’s Vancouver office. Ferance’s practice is focused on patent prosecution and portfolio management in the high-tech innovation sector. Prior to joining Gowlings, he was a partner at a boutique IP firm.
Non-Profit
The BC Food Processors Association (BCFPA) has appointed five new directors to its board: Rattan Bagga, CEO, New World Foods Inc. and Everland Foods; Jo Heron, principal, Sisu Solutions; Anne Chong Hill, president, Global Gourmet Foods Inc.; Kirk Homenick, president, Naturally Homegrown Foods/Hardbite Chips; and Christina Lui, general manager, Fine Choice Foods. Additionally, the BCFPA board appointed a new executive committee: Rick Gagner, principal, 2plus2 Solutions, is now president and chair; Dave Eto, CEO, BC Dairy Association, is past chair; Jim Pratt, partner, Prosnack Natural Foods, is first vice-president; Rita Cheng, president, Superior Tofu, is second vice-president; Jozef Hubburmin, CEO, Fresh Direct Produce, is treasurer; and David Guthrie, partner, KPMG, is secretary.
Robert (Bob) Chamberlin, chief councillor, Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation, has been appointed director-at-large at the First Nations Social Development Society board. Chamberlin has also served as chairman of the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Tribal Council for five years and is now in his second term as vice-president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.
Dave McConachie and Molly Loudon have been appointed interim executive director and manager of business development, respectively, at Variety – the Children’s Charity. McConachie has supported the non-profit in numerous capacities since 1996, including serving as president on the board of directors from 2012-14 and as head of the finance committee for the Show of Hearts Telethon. Loudon has an extensive background in sales, business development and project management in a diverse range of industries including international business training, online radio and the culinary arts. Loudon has been actively involved with Variety as a volunteer since 2009.
Public
Damien Reynolds has been appointed chief capital markets officer at THC BioMed International Ltd. Don Shaxon has been appointed to the company’s newly formed advisory board.
Sales/Marketing
Elisha McCallum and Matt Stickney have been appointed vice-president and associate vice-president, respectively, at Fleishman-Hillard Canada. Jennifer Torney and Anna Lilly have both been promoted to the position of senior vice-president and partner, while Jackie Asante and Grace Hon have been promoted to the positions of senior vice-president and consultant, respectively. McCallum works with clients across a variety of sectors including natural resources and energy, transportation, technology, tourism and stewardship. Stickney provides government relations, public affairs, labour relations and strategic communications counsel to clients in a wide range of industries, including natural resources, energy, health-care, technology and transportation.
Companies on the move
New in town
Royal Dinette, a restaurant specializing in farm-to-table cuisine, has opened at 905 Dunsmuir Street, below the Blackbird Public House. Chef and owner David Gunawan partnered with the Donnelly Group for the new 70-seat restaurant. Jack Chen, previously chef de cuisine at L’Abattoir and Farmer’s Apprentice, is head chef. Front-of-house staff is managed by Jonathan Therrien, formerly of L’Abattoir, Café Medina and Chambar, and Chen-Wei Lee, who previously managed Chambar, Blacktail, Wildebeest and Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie. Wendy McGuinness, formerly of Chambar and Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar, is bar manager. See royaldinette.ca for more information.
Hats Off
Business in Vancouver welcomes submissions from local small businesses and large corporations alike that demonstrate examples of corporate philanthropy and community involvement in the Vancouver area. High-resolution images are also welcome.
McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Ltd. and its franchisees donated $303,712.78 to Ronald McDonald House BC. Funds were raised through the 2015 McHappy Day campaign.
Wolrige Foundation donated $10,000 to Health and Home Care Society of BC (CareBC), in support of the Meals on Wheels programs in Vancouver and Richmond.
Guests of 7-Eleven Canada donated $20,000 to Canadian Association of Guide & Assistance Dog Schools (CAGADS). The funds were collected through coin boxes in 7-Eleven stores across Canada during the month of April. Funds will go to CAGADS member organizations to support breeding, raising, maintaining healthy puppies and dogs, training/classroom sessions and transportation.
RBC Foundation donated $20,000 to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. The funds will be used to help purchase a new FibroScan for Vancouver Community Health Services. FibroScan is a rapid, painless and non-invasive technology used to assess liver stiffness.
Diamond Foundation donated $15,000 to PALS Autism Society that will support PALS’ enhanced summer program. PALS students will participate in artistic therapies and recreational activities in the community while also continuing intensive applied behavioural analysis therapies that have been an integral part of their year-round education at PALS Autism School.
The Shewan Foundation donated $30,000 to YWCA Fraser Gardens, YWCA Metro Vancouver’s safe and affordable housing community for single-mother-led families in Langley. The donation will fund a community development worker to provide important support for single mothers and their children.
The Bar Method West Vancouver donated $7,266 to Family Services of the North Shore, an accredited not-for-profit community-based agency that offers counselling, support and education services. Funds were raised through the recent Bar-A-Thon fundraiser.
United Way of the Lower Mainland donated $30,000 to Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver in support of the charity’s mentoring programs for vulnerable children across the Lower Mainland.
Delta Vancouver Suites and Poplar Grove Winery teamed up to hold the annual fundraiser Community Table – Tastes of B.C. The event raised $5,500 in support of Mission Possible. The funds will be used to help people from the Downtown Eastside get job training and find sustainable employment. •
