Oak Bay Beach Hotel named Business of the Year
The Oak Bay Beach Hotel has been named Business of the Year at the 2023 Canadian Tourism Awards.
The 100-room boutique hotel on Beach Drive — the only hotel in Oak Bay — won the prestigious award at the Tourism Industry Association of Canada annual awards in Ottawa, edging out two other finalists, CanaDream RV and the Tunnels of Moose Jaw.
The hotel also picked up another honour, as Bella Yan, sales manager at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel, was given the Future Leaders Award.
“This recognition is a tribute to the dedication, passion and unwavering commitment of what I can only describe as a kick-butt team of tourism professionals,” said Madone Pelan, general manager of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.
“The stories of grit and determination shared over these past few years have not only enriched us, but have also inspired a collective commitment to higher standards.”
The latest honour adds to Oak Bay Beach Hotel’s growing list of accolades, including being ranked the seventh-best hotel in Western Canada in Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards for 2023.
The hotel won the 2022 4VI Employer of the Year Award, and was the top-ranked hotel in the 2022 Times Colonist Reader’s Choice Awards.
Butchart Gardens restaurant honoured
The Dining Room at Butchart Gardens is the only Island restaurant and one of only 20 in British Columbia to earn a spot on Open Table’s Top 100 Restaurants in Canada list.
Open Table is an online restaurant reservation service connecting diners with more than 50,000 dining establishments worldwide.
Open Table said this year’s Top 100 list includes restaurants that stand out based on a variety of criteria including cuisine, ambiance, décor and service.
The Dining Room is described as “charming and great for special occasions and scenic views … enjoy the stunning floral display gardens, plus the restaurant’s historic surroundings and contemporary, fresh local foods.”
Butchart Gardens, a national historic site, kicks off the Christmas season with its annual light up on Dec. 1.
New condo building for Langford
Ovis Group will break ground on a 10-storey, 80-unit rental condominium building in Langford on Tuesday.
Ovis One at 2826 Jacklin Rd. will offer what are billed as modern rental condos.
Langford’s population surged 31.8% to 46,584 in five years, making it the fastest-growing municipality in the province.
The developer says the project is in line with national initiatives aimed to address housing-supply shortages and affordability. Ten per cent of the homes in the development are designated as non-market, affordable homes.
Fifteen per cent of the homes are also designated accessible or with adaptable/universal design.
Sea Smart programs get help
Sea Smart, which provides in-person educational programs for youth and online resources for educators to protect the oceans, is continuing its collaboration with Prince of Whales and North Island Kayak.
This year, to support Sea Smart’s youth environmental education programs, Prince of Whales and North Island Kayak are pledging to match donations made on Giving Tuesday, providing a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $20,000.
“Prince of Whales and North Island Kayak have been invaluable allies in our journey to empower youth to protect our ocean,” said Elaine Leung, Sea Smart’s founder.
For more information on Sea Smart and the Giving Tuesday campaign, visit: princeofwhales.com/the-season-of-giving/
