B.C.’s economy is set to grow this year, with real gross domestic product rising 2.3 per cent this year, and 2.9 per cent in 2015, the Conference Board of Canada said in its spring provincial outlook.
American and Chinese demand for lumber for housing is expected to give B.C.’s forestry sector another strong year. However, the board anticipates that growth in this sector will slow in 2015 and face a supply reduction because of mountain pine beetle damage.
After a disappointing 2013, the immediate outlook for manufacturing is bright thanks to wood products and shipbuilding, the board said.
A weak year for construction investment is expected, the report said.
Employment is anticipated to grow in the near term, pushing up household disposable income.
With fiscal restraint still part of the B.C.’s budget, relatively weak growth is expected in public administration, the board said.
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Coho shifts to summer times
The Coho ferry starts its summer schedule on Friday on its 90-minute route between downtown Victoria and Port Angeles, Washington. The ferry will leave Victoria daily at 6:10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., returning from Port Angeles at 8:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 5:20 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
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More women-, LBGT-owned firms on list
The Women’s Enterprise Centre has launched a supplier database to promote public- and private-sector supply chains to include more women-owned, minority-owned and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-owned businesses. It will cater to the needs of global sports and cultural events.
For more details, go to supplierdiversitycanada.ca
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Island Garden Trail honoured
The Vancouver Island Garden Trail, a marketing initiative of Tourism Vancouver Island, has been honoured with the Promotion of the Year award by the Canadian Garden Council. The 2014 Canadian Garden Tourism Awards also gave Event of the Year to the Butchart Gardens Fireworks and Summer Music Program. And the Ecolodge at Tofino Botanical Gardens won the Initiative of the Year award.
For information about the trail, go to vancouverislandgardentrail.com.
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Appointments
• The Vancouver Island Construction Association appointed two new members to its board of directors: Yosef Suna, of Knappett Industries, and Jason Kinch, of Read Jones Christoffersen. Both are from Nanaimo
• DSA Media Network has announced that Shannon Schafer and Lynn Hoffman are now vice-presidents with the company, which has five offices in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan, including Victoria. Schafer and Hoffman have also been appointed to the DSA management team.
