Tsawwassen Springs recently announced the appointment of Steve Halliday as general manager.
Halliday has 40 years of experience in the management of luxury hotel operations. Before joining Tsawwassen Springs, the founder and president of Halliday Hospitality Group worked as asset manager for Victoria's Fairmont Empress Hotel, he opened the 156-room Rosewood Hotel Georgia in 2012 and spent 26 years in senior positions within the Pan Pacific Hotels Group, including more than 10 years at the Pan Pacific Vancouver.
"Steve will be a tremendous asset for us," said Ron Toigo, manager director of Shato Holdings. "His years of experience and wealth of knowledge in the hospitality industry is well suited to lead efforts for Tsawwassen Springs operations."
"I'm very thrilled to join the Tsawwassen Springs team," Halliday said. "I appreciate this master planned community and what it means to Tsawwassen. Our team, once hired, joins the existing real estate group and will be dedicated to creating outstanding service, memorable events and global cuisine for up to 500 persons and an upscale casual fine dining restaurant for 180 persons."
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Local financial expert David Yan, vice-president of wealth management at Envision Financial, is cautioning customers in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley against aggressive borrowing in the wake of the Bank of Canada's recent key interest rate cut.
Yan said B.C. residents should regard the 25-basis point drop with caution, particularly when it comes to personal mortgages and lines of credit.
"With interest rates at historic rock-bottom lows, money is accessible and inexpensive to borrow, but that doesn't mean the average Canadian should indiscriminately take on more debt," he said.
"Eventually, interest rates will go back up. It's not a question of 'if ' but 'when.' A high debt load that might be serviceable now could lead to future pain."
Beyond credit card debt, Yan said that floating lines of credit can be particularly problematic if borrowers aren't disciplined.
He emphasizes the need for prudent financial planning.
"If there ever was a time to establish a long-term financial plan, this is it."
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Local producers and consumers came together Saturday, July 18 at the Tsawwassen Thrifty Foods to share fresh food and fresh ideas.
The market-style event featured more than 25 local producers sharing their products with Thrifty customers.
"For Thrifty Foods, local is about supporting our community," said Mykal Cushing, Thrifty Foods retail specialist. "For example, our fresh sockeye salmon is caught in B.C. then processed in B.C. The salmon is caught by our fishermen,
briefs and it stays in our province to be processed by our people. We value high quality products, but we also value the relationships we share with our suppliers."
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White Spot launched its Celebrate BC summer menu earlier this month and this year's offering features ingredients from two local operations - Felix Farms and Windset Farms.
"Fresh B.C. ingredients have been a hallmark of our offerings at White Spot since our first restaurant opened in 1928," said White Spot president Warren Erhart. "We take great pride in our long-standing relationships with local growers - some that date back to a handshake deal with our founder, Nat Bailey and potato farmer Felix
Guichon from Felix Farms, and continue to this day. We are incredibly excited to toast the summer alongside our guests with the return of the Celebrate BC summer menu."
The local bounty includes: 5.8 million pounds of Kennebec potatoes, 815,000 pounds of vine-ripened tomatoes, 629,000 pounds of cabbage, 70,000 pounds of blueberries and 525,000 pounds of fresh chicken breasts.
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White Spot is hosting its annual Pirate Pak Day fundraiser on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Adults throughout the province can feel like a kid again for one day only with the return of the adult Pirate Pak for the restaurant's eighth annual charity initiative.
For each Pirate Pak sold on Aug. 12, White Spot will donate $2 to Zajac Ranch for Children, a charity that provides a once-in-a-lifetime summer camp experience for kids and young adults with life-threatening illnesses and chronic disabilities.
