EDUCATION
Thomas Tannert, who teaches in the master of engineering in integrated wood design program at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), is the new Canada Research Chair in Hybrid Wood Structures Engineering. The Canada Research Chairs program is a federal initiative to attract and retain exceptional scholars in fields including engineering and the natural sciences, health sciences, humanities and social sciences. Tannert will conduct his research in the Wood Innovation Research Laboratory, currently under construction in downtown Prince George. Tannert also holds the BC Leadership Chair in Tall Wood and Hybrid Structures Engineering. He is one of six current UNBC faculty members who hold Canada Research Chairs.
HOSPITALITY/TOURISM/CONVENTION
Deb Elless, senior reservations agent, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, has been recognized as Tourism Employee of the Year at the 2017 Canadian Tourism Awards presented by the Travel Industry Association of Canada. Elless has been at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for 22 years. The award was designed to recognize success, leadership and innovation in Canada’s tourism industry and to recognize those people who consistently provide superior tourism experiences across the country. In addition to her position in the reservations department, Elless is committee chair for Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s annual United Way campaign, vice-president for the local union that represents hotel employees and mentor to the reservations team. She has connected with hundreds of thousands of guests over her tenure.
RESOURCES
David Smalley has resigned as a director of Scorpio Gold Corp.
Jim Royall has been appointed vice-president, exploration, at Pan Global Resources Inc., a company engaged in base and precious metal exploration in Spain. Royall has worked in the mining industry for more than 20 years on early-stage and advanced exploration projects for a diverse range of commodities in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
Mineral exploration specialist Abdul Razique has been appointed chief geologist for Metallis Resources Inc.; he will oversee and lead the company’s expanded programs at its 100%-owned Kirkham property, about 65 kilometres north of Stewart, B.C., within the Golden Triangle. Razique has more than 20 years of experience in mineral exploration and mining in Canada and abroad. He was a key member of the exploration team that discovered one of the world’s largest porphyry copper-gold deposits at Reko Diq in western Pakistan.
Lucas Birdsall has been appointed to Cameo Resources Corp.’s board of directors. He is presently engaged as a corporate communications and investor relations consultant in Vancouver, is a director of Express Capital Corp. and is a senior officer and director of Viena Capital Corp. Lorne Warner has left Cameo Resources to focus on other opportunities.
Kendra Johnston and Harry Chan have been appointed president and chief financial officer, respectively, at Independence Gold Corp. Randy Turner will be assuming the role of executive chairman. The company has also welcomed Darcy Marud and Johnston to its board of directors. Johnston has been with the company for 10 years and has held various positions, including most recently the role of interim president. Chan is a chartered professional accountant with more than 20 years’ experience in corporate transactions, public markets and in-depth accounting and auditing, working in several different industries ranging from mineral exploration, development, public practice, sports and entertainment, wholesale distribution and telecommunications. Chan is replacing Susan Neale, former CFO, who has left the company to pursue other endeavours. The company also announces the re-election of Randy Turner, John McDonald, Michael McPhie, Terry Salman and Louis Montpellier to the company’s board of directors.
SALES/MARKETING
Darren Nicholls has been appointed director of sales at Uniserve Communications Corp. and will be based at the company’s Vancouver office. Nicholls has more than 20 years of experience in sales for North American technology companies. Prior to this appointment, he served as senior account executive at Radiant Communications for the past three years.
Hats Off
Boeing donated US$12,000 to the Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. These funds will help the organization match at-risk girls with a supportive mentor through its one-to-one Study Buddy mentoring program.
Scotiabank donated $3,500 to Vancouver Female Hockey. The funds represent sponsorship from four Scotiabank branches: Cambie and 25th, Broadway and Oak, Robson and Bute, and Yaletown.
David Fairey, Irene Lanzinger and Lori Mayhew were recognized for their community service and advocating for social change at the 24th annual Labour Appreciation Night, hosted by United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Vancouver and District Labour Council and the New Westminster and District Labour Council. Fairey, a labour economist and author of numerous articles, papers and reports, received the Vancouver and District Labour Council Syd Thompson Community Service Award. Fairey’s roles include labour relations research and advocacy consultant, senior advocate with Health Sciences Association of BC, research associate of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives B.C. office and co-chair of the BC Employment Standards Coalition. Lanzinger, the first woman elected president of the BC Federation of Labour, a position she has held since 2014, received the Joe Morris Labour Community Service Award. In addition to her international missions in less developed nations, Lanzinger has worked with many local community organizations, including First Call, the Poverty Reduction Coalition and Living Wage for Families Campaign, and as a member of the United Way Campaign Cabinet Labour Committee. Mayhew received the New Westminster and District Labour Council’s Labour Community Service Award. Mayhew began her labour career in 1990 and has held two key labour positions: secretary-treasurer of MoveUp since 1999 and president of the New Westminster and District Labour Council since 2009. •
