Deanna Whiteley opened her first CrossFit gym in 2009 in Victoria. That popular downtown workout haven at 708 Pembroke St. now boasts more than 200 members.
When Whiteley heard Dave Warbeck was looking to sell his CrossFit gym in Langford, she jumped at the chance to take on a second location.
The Colwood resident was introduced to CrossFit by Warbeck, whom she worked and trained with in 2005. Warbeck is happy to see everything come full circle with his former student taking the reins.
Whiteley is also excited to have a gym closer to home. Running two gyms has been a challenge, she says, but her mother and business partner, Sandy Raven, has helped ease the stress.
The former CrossFit Vancouver Island gym at 1057 Langford Pkwy. has been renamed CrossFit Zone West Shore and has about 50 members.
– Charla Huber
Young professionals grab under-40 honours
Some of Greater Victoria’s brightest young professionals were honoured recently in Courtenay at the first Vancouver Island Top 20 under 40 awards.
One hundred people were nominated for the business and community achievement awards. Winners from the Capital Region were Chris Gillen, founder of Dial-a-Geek computer repair; Micayla Hayes, owner-operator of the London Chef kitchen shop in Victoria; sportscaster Mira Laurence of CTV-2; Michelle McKinnon, branch manager for BMO Bank of Montreal’s main branch downtown; Sooke physician Anton Rabien; Levi Sampson, co-owner of CHEK-TV; Christy Smith, founder of marketing firm Spice Creative; Epicure Selections owner Amelia Warren and barber Troy Wilson of Status Barbershop.
Your enterprising idea can pay off big time
The Business Development Bank of Canada has $125,000 up for grabs in its annual Young Entrepreneur Award competition. People aged 18 to 35 have until April 2 to pitch "turning point" projects that they hope will take their small- or medium-sized business to the next level. As well as the grand prize of $100,000 cash, a secondary prize of $25,000 in custom Internet strategy is being offered. Applicants must prepare a two-minute video describing the turning point their business has reached and a proposed solution. For more details, visit bdcyoungentrepreneuraward.ca.
Beltone ownership stays in the family
Ron and Bobbi Germain opened their first Beltone Hearing Care Centre in Victoria in 1974. The company has grown to 12 locations on the Island, including four in the Capital Region – downtown, Hillside, West Shore and Sidney. The Germain's son, Jeff, and his wife Sharon, who live in Comox and bought three of the locations from Ron and Bobbi in 2008, recently assumed ownership of all 12 locations. They plan to increase the company's online presence and streamline their processes in store to help service customers better, Jeff said.
Nominations open for 2013 VIATeC awards
With categories ranging from Technology Company of the Year and Innovative Excellence to Startup of the Year and Employer of the Year the annual Victoria Advanced Technology Council (VIATeC) Technology Awards recognize a wide variety of tech sector firms around the region and Vancouver Island. The awards gala, set for June 20 at the Victoria Conference Centre, is a celebration of the "imagination economy," said VIATeC executive director Dan Gunn. Nomination deadline is April 9. For a full list of categories and more information, visit tinyurl.com/2013techawards.
Names in the news around Greater Victoria
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia in Bastion Square has two new staffers. Geneviève Casault is the new director of development and operations, while Cassie Holcomb takes over as membership and grants co-ordinator … Robert Jawl, a director with Jawl Properties, takes over as president of the Urban Development Institute next month, assuming the position from Mike Miller of Abstract Developments.
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