Dragon’s Den tryouts on tap
Entrepreneurs, mark your calendars. Producers of the Dragon’s Den are hitting the road for a cross-Canada audition tour to find potential guests for the popular CBC Television program. The tour stops in Nanaimo Jan. 30, Saltspring Island Jan. 31 and Victoria Feb. 2. Locations will be announced at cbc.ca/dragonsden. Entrepreneurs of all ages should be prepared to pitch their business in less than five minutes. If they can convince producers they are ready for their fifteen minutes of fame, they could be invited to brave the Dragons face-to face when the upcoming season is recorded in Toronto. Candidates are asked to apply online and bring a completed application form to the audition.
Meanwhile, Saltspring Island entrepreneur Annette Magled appears on the Jan. 20 edition of Dragon’s Den looking for investment in Vida Grains, a food company she started three years ago. Vida follows Magled’s mother’s recipe, which was created as part of her healing from diverticulitis. The current season of Dragon’s Den runs Sundays at 8 p.m. CBC says the program has averaged more than 1.4 million viewers per week and is the highest-rated Canadian unscripted program on TV.
New board for rock hounds
Mike Hill has been elected president of the Victoria Lapidary & Mineral Society. The new executive of the 100-member group also includes past-president Pat Lydon, vice-president David Hosking, treasurer Greg Shea, secretary Carrie Maier and members-at-large Leni Gagnon, Vanessa Stefans, Yvan Gagnon and Brian McMillan. Kathleen Kane and Murdo Smith were named to the membership committee. Other appointments included Lorena Taylor, Molly Beddington, Giles Lebrun, Brian McMillan, Leni Gagnon, Gerri Irwin, Vanessa Stefans, Sylvan Burnside, Christine Patton, Lorena Taylor and Pam Dyer. The society’s famous Rock and Gem Show goes March 15-17 at the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre, 195 Bay St. This year’s theme is Treasures from China. The society got its start with a show in the basement of the Empress Hotel in 1957.
New directors
for chamber
Oilcheck owner Anne Broadley, marketing professional Lehanna Green and Unique Home Care owner Marsha Todd were appointed directors of the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. The 105-year-old business group with more than 300 members recently named Sonja Nagel, a former account executive at the Victoria Conference Centre, as executive director.
Hotel names sales leader
James Fry has been appointed director of sales and marketing at the Hotel Grand Pacific. He will be responsible for the Inner Harbour luxury hotel’s sales team and maximizing guestroom, event space, food and beverage and other revenue streams. He starts Jan. 28. Fry was sales manager at the Vancouver Airport Marriott for the past two years. He’s also worked at the Delta Burnaby Hotel & Conference Centre, Executive Hotels & Resorts, Adara Hotel and Hilton.
