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Arrowsmith Media – 2021 Nanaimo Business Award Winner Highlight

#5 on our weekly countdown to the launch of our 2022 Nanaimo Business Awards is Arrowsmith Media – winner of the Creative Services award!

Arrowsmith Media offers a full range of photo and video products, including aerial photography, for commercials, real estate, documentaries, and capturing community events. Established in 2015, this Nanaimo based business is certified for advanced drone operations by Transport Canada!

The team at Arrowsmith Media takes pride in partnering with non-profit organizations in Nanaimo to produce discounted and free videos for the community.  They strive to limit their carbon footprint by using public transportation and purchasing quality used gear whenever possible. You may also see them taking pictures at the Nanaimo Chamber Monthly Networking Luncheons!

Check out their website and socials to get a feel of their work!

Once again, congratulations on your win Arrowsmith Media!

Stay tuned for more information on our 2022 Nanaimo Business Awards!

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE

VISIT THEIR FACEBOOK

VISIT THEIR INSTAGRAM

CHECK OUT THEIR YOUTUBE

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Harbour Air Seaplanes – 2021 Nanaimo Business Award Winner Highlight

We are at #4 on our weekly countdown to the launch of our 2022 Nanaimo Business Awards, and this week we highlight Harbour Air Seaplanes! 

Harbour Air is one of the world’s largest all-seaplane Airlines, flying over 500,000 passengers a year (prior to March 2020).  Throughout the company’s growth and memorable milestones, what hasn’t changed is their commitment to safety, team spirit, innovation, and service.  They are also North America’s largest all-seaplane fleet, and have won a multitude of awards, including a Nanaimo Business Award, several years in a row!

The winner of our Corporate Social Responsibility Award for 2021, this scheduled floatplane service, tour, and charter Airline is very proud to be an industry leader in sustainability and air travel.  In addition to being the world’s only carbon neutral Airline, they have started the conversion of the 2nd fully electric-powered aircraft!

Some may not know that Harbour Air is also a wildly popular option for getting freight shipped quickly, conveniently, and inexpensively throughout the coast and specifically to more remote areas where the traditional mail carriers have a difficult time accessing.  Whether it’s medication to a remote village, time sensitive legal documents, or a sick pet, Harbour Air transports millions of pounds of freight every year.

The team at Harbour Air love being a part of the Nanaimo community and are very grateful for the continued support that they receive, especially during the past couple of years!

Stay tuned for new routes and an expanding fleet in 2022! Once again, congratulations on your win Harbour Air! 

More information will be available soon for our 2022 Nanaimo Business Awards!

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE

VISIT THEIR FACEBOOK

VISIT THEIR INSTAGRAM

VISIT THEIR TWITTER

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BUSINESS BOOSTS RECONCILIATION

Reconciliation Day dedicated to “honour survivors, their families, and communities, and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of Indigenous relations takes place” was the first of what the Chamber hopes will open a new era of inclusive economic opportunity. Reconciliation has a distinct connection to the future of Nanaimo’s business community.

Among demographic metrics measuring growth in entrepreneurialism, Canada’s young Indigenous population stands out. In fact, the term “Indige-preneur” has been coined because these startups are so prolific and display such a high rate of success. Our mid-Island community is no stranger to that and, in fact, all of Vancouver Island can boast a significant amount of Indigenous Economic Development. This, in turn, supports work forces from sectors as varied as forestry, resource development, processing, advanced manufacturing, fisheries, transportation, to hospitality and tourism, the arts, health care and on and on.

In Nanaimo, Petroglyph Development Group is the corporate arm of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. The Chamber is flattered by the opportunity to sit at the table of the new Nanaimo Prosperity Corporation with PDG, and on the new Board of Tourism Nanaimo with Snuneymuxw reps helping guide Nanaimo’s economic future in hospitality. Nanaimo’s new Marriot Hotel, and the recently announced Downtown to Downtown foot passenger ferry both realized their start with an equity investment by Snuneymuxw First Nations.

First Nations art expressed through carving, painting, dance, cultural celebrations, or public displays like the Noel Brown Welcome Pole raised at Maffeo Sutton Park last week are part of the local Indigenous economy. Recent stories about Ay Lelum — the Good House of Design showing its unique Coast Salish designs at world-famous New York Fashion week are a point of pride for the whole community!

The Nanaimo Chamber and Snuneymuxw have agreed on a draft MOU focused on supporting, facilitating and advocating for local Indigenous economic development. We’re also committed to work to meet the goals of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, especially Article #92 and by supporting UNDRIP, which the Nanaimo Chamber committed in writing to last year. This year, your Chamber is dedicated to bringing the joint agreement to a signing ceremony. You’ll all be invited to witness.

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Chamber Announces All-Candidates Forum

In light of the snap election call, the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce announced its one-night All Candidates Forum on September 15. The Chamber has been organizing such presentations over the years, and they’ve become a mainstay on the periodic election scene locally.

 

“These are special times, so we’ve planned a hybrid event – a mix of a limited live audience and live-streaming coming from the Shaw Auditorium at Vancouver Island Conference Centre,” according to Kim Smythe of the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. “We’ll invite questions in advance, and from the audience on-site, just as we usually do. We’re hoping all parties will accept our invitation and present their candidates for consideration in this forum. It’s really timed so that voters can use the event to help them make up their minds in the last week after a month of election promises.”

 

Information and details on registration for the live event, and access to the virtual event, will be posted on the Chamber’s website, social media channels and in local media.

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Corner Concert Series in Nanaimo

With opportunities to open up small public gatherings again, Downtown Nanaimo is adding a ‘Corner Concert’ series to entertain lunch crowds and passersby this summer.

Solos and duos will take over downtown corners near patios adding a new ‘live music’ vibe to downtown, celebrating a return to a more normal social setting with the pandemic increasingly fading from everyday life and a new hospitality season upon us. “It’s been a very challenging couple of years for downtown businesses – retailers, restauranteurs, tourism operators have all struggled to survive.” said Kim Smythe, on behalf of the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association.

According to Smythe, a number of initiatives are underway to attract and welcome Nanaimo residents and visitors back downtown after the announcement of restriction relaxations. In addition to advertising in publications with Island-wide and BC Ferries distribution, Downtown Nanaimo is running a local social media photo promotion all summer, with $2,000 in prizing shared among eligible participant winners. www.downtownnanaimo.ca

Corner Concerts will connect people to the gathering-spots that are coming alive downtown again. Diana Krall Plaza, Museum Way, and National Land Building steps are going to be the most popular corners to serve as Corner Concert venues. Entertainment takes place 11:30 am – 1:30 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays throughout the summer with a variety of performers.

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SUMMER’S HERE AND THE TIME IS RIGHT…

Summer is here, and Nanaimo couldn’t be a more vibrant and exciting place to celebrate the season! Although our usual seasonal celebrations – Silly Boat Regatta, Bathtub Days and Night Market — may still be postponed, at least we can now gather in groups safely. Family reunions, block parties and small entertainment events can now commence. In fact, Downtown merchants are planning a weekly lunch-hour series of ‘Corner Concerts’, Fridays through Sundays this summer as part of the celebrations.

 

Nanaimo has so much to offer in the warmer months, from parks to beaches to on-the-water activities, the adventure is endless or, even, slightly eccentric. Climb among the trees, zip-line through them, or take a bungy jump into the rain forest at Wild Play. Paddle board, canoe or kayak around Saysutshun Island, then stop off at the Dinghy Dock – Canada’s only floating pub. Summit Mount Benson via its trails and paths and see the city from a unique viewpoint. Or take a helicopter there!

 

Summertime offers more benign opportunities to enjoy your choice of riverbank, lakefront, or ocean beach and picnics at the park accompanied by your favourite local take out or a shady trail walk. If you’d like to go hiking or biking and would like some guidance, check “101 Things To Do” for contacts there – do the same if you’d like a scenic Island food and bevvie tour.

 

Nightlife in Nanaimo is making its comeback as well, with pubs and clubs opening up for regular service as well as extended patios as part of B.C. ‘s Restart plan. With the ability to stay later at your favourite, local watering hole or restaurant, the night-time environment returns us to those fun, inviting places enjoying each other’s company. Slowly returning to full-capacities and entertainment proves that business is surely bringing us back to the ‘almost normal’ that we’ve missed so much!

 

Use “101 Things To Do” to direct your visiting friends and family members to their next adventures in Nanaimo and keep local business thriving!

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2019 Nanaimo Busines Awards – Best Inclusive Employer

COCO Café is a Social Enterprise with a mission to provide employment, training, and socialization opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.  Their business model is unique to them.  Most similar community programs are just that, “community programs” where people with developmental disabilities are given the opportunity to participate in a workplace setting, not necessarily being paid and often being part of more of a social and recreational program.  At the Coco Café all their employees are paid industry-standard wages or higher and offered a full benefits package.  All their employees are part of the team and contribute to the success of the business.  This is especially important for those employees with developmental disabilities to feel the rewards of contributing to their workplace success and being part of their community.

Recognition of the accomplishments of COCO Café is wonderful for their committed team “who work hard to maintain the focus of effort on a daily basis to provide a supportive work environment.”  Equally as important, winning this award raises the profile of the organization, its mission, and the possibilities of running a successful and truly inclusive workplace.

In 2017 the COCO Café introduced new efforts in their commercial retail food department incorporating new products such as healthy family meals, stuffed Yorkshire puddings, and chicken enchiladas to their already popular hand-folded potpies and soups.  These meals are sold in their retail food freezer on sight and through local grocery stores.  They are excited to be expanding their opportunities by opening a new commercial kitchen space dedicated to meeting the demand of their growing catering and commercial retail operations.  This new kitchen will create a space to allow them to meet the demand for their product and provide more supported employment opportunities.

Check out their website at www.cococafe.ca, like them on Facebook at Coco Café & Cedar Opportunities Co-operative, or follow them on Instagram at @cococafecedar

Click here to download PDF!

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2019 Nanaimo Business Awards – Best in Arts & Entertainment

The purpose of The Port Theatre Society is to stimulate and enhance artistic, cultural, and economic activity of central Vancouver Island.  At the Port Theatre they host 110,000 people each year to enjoy a variety of cultural performances and events.  Through their partnerships and their programming, the Port Theatre has established itself as a community gathering place, a place of tolerance, and creativity.  With over 200 volunteers, they have one of the largest volunteer rosters in Nanaimo.  Together, their staff and volunteers help to ensure they are the community’s home for artistic and cultural performers, and audiences throughout central Vancouver Island.

The Port Theatre is honoured and thrilled to be the recipient of the 2019 Arts & Entertainment Nanaimo Business Award. “The timing couldn’t be better as we just celebrated our 20th year!”

The positive impact of winning this award is raising awareness that the Port Theatre is a non-profit organization built by the determination and hard work of this dedicated community. Since opening their doors in 1998, innumerable volunteers, staff, their boards of directors, individuals, corporations, non-profits, local, provincial and federal governments and their deepest partner, the City of Nanaimo, have supported the arts and culture at the Port Theatre.

They have grown to host almost 250 events a year, this is truly a place for everyone! Being recognized by the Nanaimo Chamber also acknowledges they’re running a successful business, providing well-paid local jobs and contributing substantially to the growing success of the downtown core. The Port Theatre also provides an extensive diversity of events and programs, allowing citizens to have meaningful arts experiences without leaving their hometown as well as attracting many out of town visitors for some of their unique programs.

Check out their website at www.porttheatre.com, like them on Facebook at The Port Theatre, or follow them on Twitter at @porttheatre!

Click here to download the PDF!

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