People on the Move
Development/Construction
Janice Handiak has been appointed sector director, interiors, at Omicron. Handiak has held senior level roles throughout North America and is the recipient of multiple industry awards.Prior to her current appointment, Handiak was vice-president, interiors practice leader, at HOK Vancouver.
Sally Mills has joined Kasian as principal in its Vancouver office, effective September 6. Mills has more than 30 years of extensive design experience in the Vancouver market, including acting in a business development capacity and leading design teams. Her clients have included BC Hydro, British Columbia Lottery Corp., Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Microsoft and Morneau Shepell.
Hospitality/Tourism/Convention
Carla Cote and Geoff Carkner have been appointed director of sales and executive chef, respectively, at Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel. Cote has more than 20 years’ experience in hotel sales and in leading sales teams. Since 2012, she held the position of regional director of sales and marketing at Coast Hotels, based in Vancouver at the Coast Coal Harbour. Prior to Coast Hotels, Cote was director of sales and marketing at Fairmont Vancouver Airport, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Fairmont MacDonald Edmonton and Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. Carkner is originally from Vancouver, but was most recently executive chef at the Fairmont Hotel in Melbourne, Australia.
Legal
Rose Chen, Katie Peardon and Zach Romano have joined Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP as associates. Chen has joined the real estate practice group, Peardon has joined the securities and technology practice group and Romano has joined the energy and aboriginal law practice groups. All three completed their articles at the firm.
Sales/Marketing
Laurie Baggio has been appointed CEO and a director of Mobio Technologies Inc., replacing Michael Edwards, who will remain on the board of directors. Baggio was one of the original executives of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, most recently serving as its chief operating officer. Companies he has recently been involved with include Moj.io, a company bringing smart technology to cars, Beanworks Solutions, an advanced software-based accounts payable solution provider, and Foodee Media, an online delivery and takeout ordering platform.
Technology
Brian Storseth has joined the board of directors at ReliqHealth Technologies Inc. Storseth was a Member of Parliament (MP) with the Conservative Party of Canada for nine years, from 2006 to 2015. During his tenure as an MP, Storseth served on committees for aboriginal affairs, agriculture and agri-food.
Transportation
Greg Thomas has been appointed to the Abbotsford International Airport Authority’s board of directors for a two-year term. Thomas is currently the CEO of G3 Consulting Ltd., a Surrey-based environmental engineering firm, and serves as board chair for the Surrey Board of Trade (SBOT), chair of the SBOT international trade committee, member of the SBOT environment team and also sits on a variety of other academic and business committees.
Companies on the Move
New in town
Tacofino has opened a new counter-service restaurant, bar and patio in Yaletown at 1025 Mainland Street.
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.
Family and friends of the Van Marrewyks, a Ladner family whose charitable efforts since the birth of their triplet daughters have helped purchase life-saving equipment for premature babies, donated more than $65,000 to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. Funds were raised during the recent Scotiabank Charity Challenge and will go towards the purchase of an infant transport incubator for the hospital.
The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF), BC Paraplegic Foundation and Fantasy Food 2000 donated a combined total of $10,000 to the Kelowna-based Grassmick Family – two-year-old Julie and her parents, Melissa and Ryan. The funds will be used for Julia to attend a program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, a facility in Baltimore which aims to help children with spinal cord injuries recover to their fullest potential. Melissa Grassmick is the former senior conference manager at the Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna, who left a full-time position to care for Julia after a massive hematoma (blood clot) compressed Julia’s spinal cord, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.
Cowichan Therapeutic Riding Association’s (CTRA) annual Ride-a-Thon fundraising drive and celebration picnic recently raised more than $17,000 in support of the CTRA program, which provides therapeutic riding and equine-based therapeutic services for persons with disabilities.
Members of the Mechanical Contractors Association of BC donated $1,510 to the Central Okanagan Foundation.
TD Bank donated $75,000 to the Peace Arch Hospital and Community Health Foundation. The funds will be used for emergency room redevelopment at the hospital. •
