Reg Mooney, heralded as a business leader who spent a lifetime in service to his community, has been given the lifetime achievement award by the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.
Mooney, who currently runs management consulting firm Penta Resources, spent 15 years with Coca Cola in Western Canada before a 15-year stint with Victoria’s Goodwill Bottling after he came to the Island in 1974. He also held positions as president of Trans Coastal Industries, director of CB Research Limited, president of Super Natural Water, and general manager of Accutemp Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.
Mooney has also volunteered his time with various endeavours, including the Winnipeg Tourist and Convention Association, Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, Salvation Army, United Way and in support of both the Greater Victoria and Saanich Peninsula chambers.
The chamber’s awards, recognizing business excellence, were handed out at its annual Crystal Awards gala last week.
The awards went to Bistro Suisse for outstanding customer service, Seastar Chemicals for business of the year (more than 16 employees) and Coastal Heat Pumps for business of the year (one to 15 employees).
Other winners were Growing Young Farmers in the not-for-profit category, Bayshore Home Health for contribution to the community, Fresh View Events for entrepreneurial spirit, Seaside Cabinetry for new business, Peninsula Co-op as employer of the year, EMCS Industries for new product or service and Sidney Gateway Project as newsmaker of the year.
New Belfry board
The Belfry Theatre Society has elected a new board of directors. Returning are Helen Lansdowne as chair, Monty Bryant as vice-chair, Georgia Gibbs as secretary and Robert Thomson as treasurer. Also returning as directors are Gloria Back, Andrew Karwowski, Joan Peggs, Andy Stephenson, Bob Tyrrell and Roshan Vickery. New to the board are Richard Brownsey, Sheila Elworthy, Kini McDonald and Ross Woodland.
B.C. appoints tech-fund manager
The provincial government has named Kensington Capital Partners as the fund manager for the new $100-million B.C. Tech Fund. The fund has been established to provide more early-stage capital for new B.C. tech firms.
“This agreement represents the best deal for B.C. taxpayers. By investing in B.C. companies, the B.C. Tech Fund will drive job creation and help create the jobs of tomorrow,” said Amrik Virk, Minister of Technology.
Kensington has 20 years of management experience and strong connections within the B.C. tech sector. It will establish a Vancouver office led by Gerri Sinclair.
The investments made by the fund will target digital media, information communications technology, life sciences, health care and clean technology.
While Kensington has full responsibility for making investment decisions, the government will measure the success of the fund by the number of jobs it helps to create, the number of B.C. businesses it invests in and the amount of funds leveraged.
