Daily Informative Updates on
New Residential Real Estate & Construction News
for Vancouver Island Communities

Budget Blinds of North and Central Vancouver Island was recently recognized as the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.

This local Vancouver Island business was honoured for their commitment to the community.

Based in Courtenay, the franchise serves North and Central Vancouver Island communities with a great selection of blinds, window coverings, draperies and more. Offering the latest trends and technologies, Budget Blinds also provides customers with free in-home consultations with their design professionals.

Customers can relax, knowing their window coverings will be professionally designed, measured and even installed. Customer satisfaction is paramount for this award-winning company.

Contact them today to learn more about their March special, featuring 50% off select draperies.

Call Budget Blinds at 250.338.8564 or visit their Courtenay showroom at 8-2663 Kilpatrick Ave.

The Gales in Ladysmith and their builder, GNB Builders Inc, recently won a Vancouver Island Building Excellence Award in the Single Family Production Home category. The annual event showcases the best in residential construction, design and renovation on Vancouver Island and are recognized as Vancouver Island’s premier residential housing awards program.

The Single Family Production Home award considers the following specifications when selecting a winner:
1. Exterior: architectural character, curb appeal and integration of the home into its setting  
2. Interior: creative and innovative use of space, architectural and finishing detail
3. Functionality of floor plan
4. Environmental/energy efficiency inclusions

Homes at The Gales in Ladysmith are known for highlighting the best of the Vancouver Island living. The dramatic styling, luxury finishes and wide open spaces reflect the spectacular ocean and mountain views that surround this 68-home community, while the development's Built Green® platinum designation shows a commitment to environmentally sensitive construction techniques.

Construction has recently started on Unit 8, which will be three storeys tall, with a drive-in basement for storing all of those "big boys toys" - classic cars, quads and more. For more information about this new home, their current show home, or the development, contact: 

Keith Mazurenko
Toll-Free: 1.866.315.0545
Mobile: 250.245.0545
Email: kmazurenko@shaw.ca
Web: http://www.thegales.ca

The Canadian Home Builders Association on Vancouver Island recently presented its Lifetime Achievement Award went to Ron Egli, of Ron Egli Construction and Design Ltd. for his many contributions to the industry ranging from housing affordability to building code solutions. The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an outstanding member of the CHBA on Vancouver Island in recognition of their professionalism, dedication and service to the Association and the residential construction industry.
This award is presented to the member who has demonstrated an outstanding level of commitment to the goals and principles of the Canadian Home Builders' Association. The winner will receive a "CARE Awards Lifetime Achievement" trophy and certificate.
Ron Bickford of Rob-Ron Developments won the 2012 Bill Wansbrough Memorial Award, which honours the contribution made by Bill Wansbrough to the residential construction industry.  It is donated in his memory to recognize significant individual achievements that do not necessarily fit into any of the categories of the CARE Awards. Bickford was honoured for important contributions to Builders’ Council and communications work on behalf of the association and industry.   

European Flooring Group in Victoria went into the 2012 Gold CARE Award Ceremonies with three nominations for their outstanding work including Best Sales Centre or Showroom, Best Customer Service, and Best Website. The company won the Gold CARE Award for Best Showroom, and Silver awards for Best Customer Service and Best Website.
Victoria Specialty Hardware and Plumbing were honoured for their customer service with the Customer Service GOLD Care Award. The team are knowledgeable, dedicated and passionate about flawless design and its execution. Building and maintaining long-standing relationships and exceeding customer expectations have always been the cornerstone of their business.
Best Website went to Jenny Martin Design.
The Canadian Home Builders' Association honours the best in Vancouver Island building projects with the CARE awards, which were presented recently in Victoria.

After winning several gold CARE Awards from the Canadian Home Builders' Association in previous years, M Knight Construction was once again the winner of several 2012 CARE Awards, for the Hillcrest Home in Oak Bay, Victoria. This home also won a silver award in the project of the year category.
The custom home, which was honoured with 6 silver CARE awards, also won 3 gold awards for Best Media Room, Best Residential Interior over 6,000 sq. ft. and Best Custom Millwork over 5,500 sq. ft.
The gold CARE award for Best Custom Millwork under 2,500 sq ft went to GNB Builders of Ladysmith for their work on the Commander Residence.

A number of Vancouver Island new home builders were honoured for their works this month at the presentation of the 2012 Gold CARE Awards in Victoria.

Rockwood Heights, near Departure Bay in Nanaimo was honoured as best Multi-Family Project at the 2012 CARE Awards. Presented by the Canadian Home Builders Association in Victoria on Sept 14, the awards honoured the best of Vancouver Island home construction.
Rockwood Heights features townhomes and single family strata homes offering amazing attention to details- custom front doors and stair railings, Italian porcelain tile and hardwood flooring. But the innovation in these new Nanaimo townhomes is more than skin deep. They also enjoy an advanced geo-technical design and seismic code compliance, an elevator in each unit for added accessibility, and environmental initiatives that protect the area.
Townhomes at Rockwood Heights start at $477,200. Developers Hazelwood Holdings Ltd. has many years of experience building residential communities, roads and bridges. Floral Woods and Pinewood Lane are two of their multi-family projects in Nanaimo.

I am so proud of our communications and social media team, Mia Heitland, Communications Director, and Evan Coty, Communications Assistant.

Together their eye for detail and their ability to meet timelines based around client needs, have helped us at 1stView achieve online success on behalf of our clients. Their combined efforts also helped us be named as finalists at the 2011 MISTIC Innovation Awards for Information Technology, and for two 2012 West Coast Social Media Awards.

Together this team of Mia Heitland and Evan Coty is committed to getting the writing, postings and social media implemented so that our clients are achieving great exposure online. Great Job!

- Clarice

The new Vancouver Island real estate marketing done by this website - 1stView.ca - has earned us the honour of being named finalists for the West Coast Social Media Awards in the "most innovative social media technology or product" category. In addition our sister site, ClariceCoty.com is a finalist for Best Business Blog.  The awards will be presented tonight in Victoria, in conjunction with the third annual Social Media Camp. ClariceCoty.com, the Vancouver Island real estate and construction blog, was the top vote-getter in its category in the initial round of public voting which determined the finalists. A panel of industry experts will determine the winners from among the finalists in each category.

Congratulations to Fairwinds, which was recently named a finalist for the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce Sterling Awards, in the Community Spirit category.  The Fairwinds Development was nominated based on work they do with local community organizations and charities.  
Earlier this spring, Fairwinds undertook a collaborative video project with two students from the Digital Media Studies Department at Vancouver Island University to highlight some of the community groups and charities that they support.  Learn more about these groups by watching the video here.
The Fairwinds real estate development features a variety of homes and lots for sale, many with ocean and golf course views. The lots at Bonnington Ridge offer both. Set in a quiet cul-de-sac, Conveniently located near the Fairwinds Centre, the residential lots for sale at Bonnington Ridge range from .31 - .88 of an acre and start at $209,000. An additional lot at Bonnington Heights is now available for $159,000.

1stView.ca has been nominated for a West Coast Social Media Award as Most Innovative Social Media Product or Technology.
As well, our sister site, the ClariceCoty.com blog has been nominated as Best Business Blog. 
The winners will be selected by a judging panel from among the top vote getters in the initial round. Please help us become finalists by voting. You can vote once a day, every day until voting closes at noon on May 14. 
Awards will be presented during the 2012 Social Media Camp in Victoria. 
Please vote for ClariceCoty.com as Best Business Blog and 1stView.ca as Most Innovative Social Media Product or Technology.

The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) is seeking nominations to celebrate the best in commercial, multi-family, and institutional building on Vancouver Island. March 16 is the closing date to have nominations submitted. A PDF version of the nomination form can be downloaded here.
The organizers are looking for submissions in the following categories: Mixed Use for Commerial and Residential; Community Projects; Retail; Industrial; Multi-Family Projects; Hospitality; and Commercial Renovation or Restoration. The awards will be held on April 12 at the Beach Club Resort in Parksville.
For more information, contact Sue Lessard at VIREB at 250-390-5781 or email at slessard@ vireb.com

1stView.ca has been named a finalist in the 2011 Mid-Island Science Technology and Innovation Council Information Technology Award.
The "Oscar-style," sixth-annual MISTIC awards ceremony will be held Nov. 2 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo.
A total of 33 Vancouver Island businesses will be up for awards, which are divided into 12 categories. 1stView is one of five Comox Valley based-businesses nominated.
"There is a huge wealth of technology, ideas and creativity in this region and these finalists demonstrate a diverse mix of businesses pursuing innovation everyday," said Paris Gaudet, executive director of MISTIC.
Courtenay's Natural Pastures Cheese Company is nominated for top spot in the Agri Foods category.
Another Courtenay business, Island Labs, is up against Nanaimo's Inuktun Services Ltd. in the Island Coastal Economic Trust Excellence in Technology Award.
And three firms are in contention for the Innovative Start-up of the Year Award, including Swinkey Golf Inc., a Courtenay-based, golf training tool company.
Finally, Comox's Woodland Flooring is competing against two other firms for the Value Added Product Award.
Past MISTIC awards from the Comox Valley include My Tech Guys, Pentlatch Seafoods and Island TimberFrame Ltd.

The Courtenay hotel Holiday Inn Express & Suites Comox Valley was recently honoured with the 2010/2011 OSAT Award from the Intercontinental Hotel Group. This award represents Overall Guest Satisfaction and is voted on by guests of the Comox Valley hotel who have stayed at this new Holiday Inn Express and Suites. After their stay, all IHG hotel guests are emailed a survey that asks them to rate their overall experience. As a result, the Comox Valley Holiday Inn Express took 1st place by maintaining an average score of 94.81% for the previous 12 months - the highest score of any of the 21 other IHG properties in British Columbia and 2nd place of 36 hotels in Western Canada. After opening its doors in March 2009, this Courtenay hotel has become a favourite with business travellers and families looking for accommodations in the Comox Valley. The Vancouver Island hotel features luxurious guest rooms including Family Suites, Jacuzzi Suites, Accessible Rooms and Pet Friendly Rooms. All guests are provided on a complimentary hot breakfast and can enjoy amenities such as a 24 hour Business Centre, 24 hour Fitness Centre, 24 hour Guest Laundry, free Wi-Fi and free parking. For more information or to make a reservation, visit their website.

1stView has been recognized as the Real Estate Company of the Year at the 11^th Annual Business Examiner Awards.

“Celebrating Business Excellence on Vancouver Island” the BE Awards were presented Jan. 27 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in Nanaimo. Awards were presented in 17 categories.

“I was honoured,” said Clarice Coty, owner of 1stView, of winning the award. Not a traditional real estate company, 1stView helps people find new Vancouver Island real estate including homes, vacation units and investment properties. 1stView is the premier online directory for home buyers and investors looking for new Vancouver Island real estate.

“There are some amazing stories to be told,” said Mark MacDonald, Business Examiner and Business Vancouver Island publisher, “and we are grateful to have the opportunity to highlight as sterling examples of what can be, and is being done in our region.”

In 2010, 1stView grew to see more than 20,000 visits per months, expanded its staff with the addition of a new marketing director, and a sales person for the launch of its new Vancouver Island Real Estate and Construction Directory. 1stView will soon launch a redesigned website, making it even easier to find new residential real estate and homes on Vancouver Island.