Craig Toews has been appointed vice-president, external, at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). Toews has 29 years of experience at UFV, an accredited university enrolling approximately 15,000 students per year and with campuses and centres in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Hope and Chandigarh, India. Toews will be responsible for fostering the UFV brand and heading key areas including government, community and corporate relations.
Finance
Geordie Henderson has joined Bench as senior vice-president of engineering and product operations. Prior to joining Bench, Henderson was vice- president of engineering at Hootsuite.
Karimah Es Sabar, CEO and partner, Quark Venture Inc., a venture capital firm that invests in biotechnology and health sciences companies, has been appointed to chair one of the six economic strategy tables being launched by the federal government. Es Sabar’s career spans multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, startups, innovation incubators, commercialization accelerators and venture investment. She has raised significant funds, brought products to market and also developed and executed innovation and translation strategies in the life science sector and in biotech investment. She has also received multiple awards and recognition for her pioneering work and serves on numerous health and innovation boards.
Government
The membership of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) has selected its table officers for the 2017-18 executive board: Wendy Booth, director, Regional District of East Kootenay, was named president after serving the past year as first vice-president; Arjun Singh, councillor, City of Kamloops, was named first vice-president; Maja Tait, mayor, District of Sooke, was named second vice-president; and Sharon Gaetz, mayor, City of Chilliwack, has been elected third vice-president after serving as a UBCM director at large for the past year. Outgoing president Murry Krause, councillor, City of Prince George, will remain on the executive board for the next year as past president.
Hospitality/Tourism/Convention
Lisanne Ballantyne has been appointed president and CEO of Tourism Kelowna, effective October 30. Prior to this appointment, Ballantyne was general manager of Edmonton’s Shaw Conference Centre, a facility that hosts more than 650 events, welcomes half a million guests and generates $45 million in economic activity each year. Her professional experience includes senior marketing, sales and communications roles with Edmonton Economic Development Corp., the Government of Alberta and Westerner Park Red Deer in addition to working with arts and culture, non-profit, technology and media organizations.
Human Resources
Sam Lawson and Wynne To have joined Summit Search Group as senior search consultant and recruitment associate, respectively. Lawson will be working with organizations throughout B.C. to assist in strategizing methods to attract top talent, while To will assist the Summit team by contacting and screening qualified candidates.
Legal
Garrett Lee and Michael Li have joined Lawson Lundell LLP’s Vancouver office as associates in the business law group.
Lysandra Bumstead, Samson Chan and Fred Troen have joined Singleton Urquhart as associates. Chan is an associate in the commercial property group to assist on the BC Home Owner Mortgage and Equity Partnership and previously worked at a regional firm in Richmond. Bumstead and Troen were recently called to the bar. Bumstead practises civil litigation with a focus on commercial disputes, while Troen also practises civil litigation with a focus on entertainment law and wills and estates.
Rebecca Levi has been appointed CEO of Pacific Business & Law Institute. She was previously director of programming with the organization
Media
Kyle Krawchuk and Victoria Giddings have been appointed public relations (PR) consultant and PR associate, respectively, at Elettra Communications. Krawchuk has done marketing and PR in-house for firms in Canada, Europe and Asia. Giddings is a recent graduate of the marketing communications diploma program at British Columbia Institute of Technology and completed her practicum at Elettra.
Sales/Marketing
Ludovica Mazzucato has been appointed CEO at Sidebuy Solutions Inc., a Vancouver-based marketing company. Mazzucato has a decade of experience in brand and marketing leadership gained through managing and founding companies in six countries, in both established and up-and-coming markets.
Companies on the Move
Name change
Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc. has changed its name to Core Gold Inc. and its common shares are trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the new trading symbol CGLD. More information can be found at coregoldinc.com.
New in town
WestEast Y, Langley’s first business accelerator and co-working space, recently opened at 4051 – 200 Street. See westeasty.com for details.
Hats Off
Nicole (Nikki) Clouthier, one of more than 1,200 volunteers at Vancouver Aquarium, was recently honoured at a special ceremony to recognize the more than 13,000 hours she has volunteered to the aquarium over the past 50 years. Since September 1967, her roles have included leading tours, working in the Wet Lab – a hands-on aquatic classroom – feeding and helping to raise orphaned harbour seal pups, delivering interpretive programs, training marine mammals, improving the aquarium’s information booth, training and mentoring new volunteers and, as staff, co-ordinating French-language education programs (she is fluent in both of Canada’s official languages). Clouthier currently volunteers at the Our World Is Research and AquaNews feature exhibits, explaining the role of the aquarium’s research projects and what visitors can do to ensure a better future for our oceans.
Pacific Blue Cross Foundation donated $10,000 to the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation. The funds will help the mental health treatment team at the Connolly, Cottonwood and Cypress lodges provide a safe, inviting and welcoming space for residents to learn cooking skills, increase their independence and spend time socializing.
The Vancouver Subaru Club donated $2,410 to Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon as part of its annual summer meet. The event’s host, Docksteader Subaru, gave a matching donation to reach the total.
100WomenVan donated $9,200 to Night Hoops Basketball Society, which connects at-risk youth with their community through late-night basketball programming in a supervised and supportive environment. The programs, services and resources offered to youth involved in the program help build confidence, team dynamics and leadership skills.
Lohn Foundation donated $3,000 to Down Syndrome Research Foundation. The funds are being directed towards the foundation’s educational programs. •
