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FINANCE
Inder Nijjar has recently joined MNP as a manager with the firm’s property tax services group. Nijjar’s experience includes an understanding of assessments from a valuation and legislative point of view.
HEALTH/MEDICAL
Nicole Breitinger has been appointed corporate secretary at Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. Breitinger has more than 20 years of experience in providing corporate services to companies across a range of industries; she has also owned and operated a business with operations based in both Canada and the U.S.
Abattis continues to work with Faculty Brewing Co. and Northern Vine Labs to develop a hemp-infused, cannabinoid-rich, THC-free craft beer. Abattis has engaged Canada One Communications Inc. to manage the company’s investor relations activities; Canada One will receive a fee of $10,000 per month. Abattis has also engaged Stockbridge Inc., an arm’s-length service provider, to provide market awareness for the company and write and distribute a series of independent research articles on the company, for a period of one month, for a fee of $25,000.
LEGAL
Chris Colonval and Stephen Hedley have rejoined Gowling WLG. Colonval is an associate in the firm’s financial institutions and services group; he advises on all aspects of debt financing and lending across a variety of industries. Hedley is an associate in the firm’s banking and finance and real estate groups; his practice is primarily focused on banking, real estate and project finance.
MANUFACTURING
Charlie’s Chocolate Factory is the 2018 inductee into the Burnaby Business Hall of Fame, an award presented jointly by the City of Burnaby and the Burnaby Board of Trade, presented on October 2 at at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown Hotel. Charlie’s Chocolate Factory was started in 1971 by Charlie Sigvardsen. Since its founding, the company has expanded its Burnaby location, opened a satellite office in Port Coquitlam and welcomed the third generation of family into the business.
NON-PROFIT
Susan Climie has been appointed executive director of the Looking Glass Foundation (LGF), a non-profit offering support to people affected by eating disorders. Climie has more than 15 years of non-profit and leadership experience gained from her roles as the national director of training for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and as interim executive director and director of development for Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. Climie has also served as director of development for Family Services of Greater Vancouver and worked as a governance consultant dedicated to enhancing organizations’ governance, operations, fundraising and strategic partnerships.
Debbie Slattery was appointed board chair of LGF in June. Slattery has been involved with LGF since 2007 in various capacities including board director, treasurer, bookkeeper and gala co-chair. Slattery is also the parent of an eating disorder sufferer, which has fuelled her passion for her work at LGF and her commitment to supporting parents in similar situations.
REAL ESTATE
The Government of British Columbia has appointed Elain Duvall as the new chair of the Real Estate Council of British Columbia, with a mandate to protect the public interest in the province’s real estate sector. Duvall’s professional experience includes 10 years as executive director of the Columbia Housing Advisory Association, several years working at the Housing Centre at the City of Vancouver and six years as a development manager for Progressive Homes Ltd., which specialized in developing and building non-profit housing.
RESOURCES
Donald Taylor and Purni Parikh have been appointed CEO and president, respectively, at Titan Mining Corp. Taylor succeeds Richard Warke, who will continue as executive chairman. Taylor has 30 years of mineral exploration experience and has worked extensively for large- and small-cap companies, including Arizona Mining, BHP Minerals, Bear Creek Mining, American Copper and Nickel, Doe Run Resources and Westmont Mining Co. Parikh has more than 25 years of public company experience in the mining sector including corporate affairs and finance, legal and regulatory administration and governance. Parikh is president of the Augusta Group of Companies and was previously senior vice-president, corporate affairs, and corporate secretary of Arizona Mining, and vice-president and corporate secretary of Newcastle Gold, Augusta Resource and Ventana Gold prior to their acquisition.
Titan adds to its exploration and operations teams with the appointments of Kevin Torpy as vice-president, operations, and Jack Mueller as exploration manager. Torpy is a mining engineer with over 20 years of experience developing underground mines, primarily in remote northern locations; he replaces Keith Boyle. Torpy was most recently general manager at Pretium Resources’ Brucejack mine. Mueller joins former Arizona Mining colleague Scott Burkett (vice-president, exploration) at Titan; Mueller and Burkett were both attributed with much of the exploration success at the Hermosa project.
SALES/MARKETING
Trevor Westerlund has been appointed senior business development director at Powershifter Media Corp. Before joining the digital agency, Westerlund had been working as a mentor and entrepreneur with startups. He also consulted with municipalities in B.C. and across Canada, as well as with infrastructure-focused businesses and government agencies, about smart cities. Westerlund also sits on the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s small-business advisory council. Previous roles include vice-president of business development at Atimi and Hatch Interactive, where Westerlund worked with various major-league sports teams, entertainment brands and their sponsors on fan-focused apps.
TECHNOLOGY
Paul El-Asmar has been appointed vice-president, service delivery, at AFL. El-Asmar has nearly 25 years of experience in the telecom industry and has been with AFL since 2007. AFL engineers, provisions, builds and provides products and services for customers’ broadband networks.
Neurio, a residential energy management company, has appointed a new board of directors. Joining the board are Norm Francis, Judi Hess, Greg Malpass and David Sutcliffe, in addition to Keith Marett, Neurio’s interim CEO. Sutcliffe has been named chairman of the board.
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.
Chilliwack Foundation donated a grant to Justice Institute of British Columbia’s (JIBC) Chilliwack campus that funded new training simulation equipment for future paramedics, including advanced intravenous (IV) arms, portable radios and a specialist moulage kit with materials to create realistic-looking injuries for training.
The Legion Foundation of the Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command donated a grant for students at JIBC’s New Westminster campus that funded advanced IV arms for use in training simulations where students learn procedures, including venipuncture, peripheral IV line insertion and removal, infusion therapy and IV injection methods. These lifelike IV arms include many advanced features that will significantly enhance the hands-on training for students.
Crossroads Hospice Society has been named Hard Rock Casino Vancouver’s Proud Charity of Choice for 2018-19. To mark kicking off a year of events and fundraising initiatives for Crossroads, the casino donated $2,500 to the hospice society.
Mr. Xie and Ms. Wu donated $50,000 to the Burnaby Hospital Foundation. The donation, facilitated by the foundation’s Chinese Ambassador Society, is directed toward mental health education.
Fernie Brewing Co. donated $5,265 to the Elk River Alliance. The brewing company started a Cheers to Charity fund in December 2013, whereby all profits from each sample flight sold in its tasting room go directly to a group within the community. This year, $27,643 has been raised. In total, more than $101,000 has been raised.
Telus Vancouver Community Board donated a grant of $7,500 to Zajac Ranch for Children. The funds will be directed to the ranch’s Downtown Eastside schools program. Through this program, more than 70 at-risk youth will be able to participate in resumé-building activities, be empowered and experience greater personal development and self-confidence.
ZLC Financial donated more than $85,000 to Coast Mental Health Foundation to support those living with mental illness in our communities. All proceeds were generated from the ZLC annual golf tournament, which has distributed over $1.3 million of charitable donations since its inception. •
