Retired real estate agent and noted philanthropist Eric Charman will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award this year by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce.
The award, to be presented at the chamber’s annual business awards in May, recognizes decades of service to the community as a businessman and an active volunteer.
“For over 60 years, Eric has made an enormous contribution to our local business community and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local non-profit organizations and charities,” said Al Hasham, chair of the chamber. “Through his philanthropic efforts, he has secured a lasting legacy for many arts and culture organizations [that] have benefited from his contributions and support.”
Awards will be presented in 13 categories recognizing a wide array of businesses as well as individuals. Hasham, who has been an active member of the chamber for more than 30 years, the past eight on its board of directors, will also be recognized as the chamber Member of the Year for 2018. Finalists will be announced for all other categories next month. The annual awards gala will be held May 10 at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
NorthStar begins sight-seeing tours
Starting in February, NorthStar Air Tours will be offering as many as 10 flights a week between Victoria and Friday Harbor and Eastsound, Washington. Billed by the company as the “shortest international scheduled flights in the world,” the flights, which take about 12 minutes, range in cost between $49 US one-way to $79 US.
NorthStar set up shop last spring at the Shell Aerocentre at Victoria International Airport, where it intends to run both charter and scheduled service.
The company uses a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, which allows for nine passengers. Its wings are fixed high on the aircraft, making for excellent sightseeing.
On the move
Phil Venoit, a Camosun College graduate, has been appointed to the school’s board of governors. Venoit, who has worked within the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 230 for the past 22 years, has served on various training institutional boards such as the Industry Training Authority’s Maritime Sector Advisory Group, the Western Joint Electrical Training Society and Camosun’s Electrical Program Advisory Committee ... After 30 years on CHEK TV, Gordie Tupper will retire Jan. 31. Tupper, a native Victorian, was working as a radio DJ for CKDA in Victoria when he was first asked to do voice-over work for CHEK in the late 1980s. He helped create and host CHEK Around. He also hosted Go! Magazine, Island 30, countless parades and CHEK Charity Drive Thrus, and contributed to CHEK news doing weather and reporting.
