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In the past few years, you’ve likely added some smart home technology to your home, whether for security or comfort. App-controlled lights, doorbells and speakers are common smart tech in many homes. But have you considered automating your window coverings?

Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island carries smart shades, lights, and thermostats from Lutron all of which integrate easily with your choice of smart home devices that that include Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Nest, Sonos, and more.

With Lutron, you can monitor and control your smart window treatments, lights, and home temperature from any mobile device by using the Lutron app. Use the app to create lighting schedules that change with the seasons.

Lutron allows your home or business shades and blinds to be programmed to automatically open and close for peace of mind and energy savings. Using the Lutron app, you can automatically tilt your wood blinds to preset angles throughout the day to diffuse sunlight and maximize the light in your space. Programmable features allow you to use heating or cooling only when you need it for maximum energy efficiency.

And best of all, they install quickly and easily, with no new wiring required.

Start your home automation with just a single window or room - Lutron automated shading systems are designed for modular expandability. 

And Bugget Blinds will measure, install and do it all for you. It’s smart and easy. Ask about Lutron smart home automation today! 

Contact your local store today to learn more: 

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

It’s officially cozy season on Vancouver Island, and as you settle into sweater weather, make sure your home is also ready for the changing seasons. Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island can help you ensure you’re set up to get you through the winter months comfortably.

Budget Blinds can help you create a warm and inviting living room, home office or bedroom with the right window coverings. You can regulate light and temperature with the right selection of window coverings. In addition to being beautiful, these additions to your home can also be practical. The right window coverings can keep the drafts out and keep you warm while you work, snuggle down overnight or spend time with family and guests. Home automation can automatically adjust the mood and lighting throughout your whole home!

Is it time for a refresh to keep the inside of your home bright and cheery, and keep the winter rain and cold at bay? Budget Blinds expert designers are ready to help, with a complimentary in-person consultation. They can suggest the latest brands, products and styles to suit your needs and budget. Call your locally owned and operated Budget Blinds today to get started on creating your cozy space for this winter.

Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay
Call: 250.338.8564

Are you looking to take the style up a notch in your home? Consider draperies from Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island’s Inspired Drapes Collection, which features fabrics from Europe, India and the United States.

Elevate the style of any room in your house! Whether you’re looking for a light and airy coastal vibe or something to offer added insulation and elegance to your home, Budget Blinds Inspired Drapes can offer customized solutions for your home.

Opt for ready-made draperies to easily change up the look of your home, or go for something custom with a huge variety of colours, textures and fabrics for any size window covering.

And for the full package Budget Blinds also offers a large selection of hardware to hang your new curtains, motorized options, liners for room-darkening options and even premium bedding options to pull the entire look together!

Request a free in-home or virtual consultation from your local Budget Blinds design experts to get started.

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

Our Vancouver Island weather varies dramatically from season to season, and depending on the direction your rooms face, that variability can be even more impactful. Your home’s direction impacts how and when the sun hits each room and this can mean big changes in heat and light, depending on the season and direction each room faces.

South-facing windows

If your home faces South, it may have higher energy bills in the summer. Direct sunlight from the south causes heat to build up, forcing the AC to work harder. However, it may also be warmer in the winter for the same reason. 

Southern exposure makes a room cozy in the winter. The addition of shades to the window allows the option to raise the shades and enjoy the sun's warmth during those chilly winter months. However, it can also make summer too hot or bright without the right window treatments. That’s why it’s essential to work with a professional window treatment designer to determine which product will work best for a southern-facing window.

North-facing windows

Windows that face north receive natural light all day but don’t receive direct sunlight. Interior shutters are a great way to take advantage of the indirect sunlight from north-facing windows. Their louvers can let in as much or as little light as you like while the cordless design looks clean and uncluttered in kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices. 

Alternatively, sheer curtains add gentle textures and patterns to your interior decor without restricting sunlight. In daylight, pulling sheer drapes across the window allows the indirect sunlight to shine through and highlight the design. Adjust the blinds or shade behind the drapes to add privacy or control the light. 

East-facing windows

An east-facing window will catch the early sun, which can appear bright and glaring in the morning, and diffused and delicate later in the day. Dark colors will seem gloomy, but light colors and sheer materials bring out the softness of the sunlight.

Morning sunlight is welcome in a kitchen or living room, but it can be an annoyance in a bedroom. The best way to deal with morning light is to customize your window treatments to get exactly the amount of light you want.

West-facing windows

On summer afternoons, west-facing windows can cause heat to build up. To keep the room comfortable, make sure to keep them covered. Like with south-facing windows, you don't want to lose all the natural light you get from west-facing windows, but you also need to deal with glare and heat. Blinds are a great choice because you can change their angle as the sun moves, diffusing light without blocking it out.

Energy efficiency

Most energy-efficient window treatments use layers of fabric to improve insulation and control light in the room, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Whether you like shades, drapes, blinds, or shutters, there are many energy-efficient window treatment choices.

To prevent UV rays from damaging your furniture and decor, consider solar shades or try UV-resistant window film if you prefer a clear view but don’t want to risk damage to your decor.

Motorization

Motorized window treatments will help you avoid continually moving the position of your blinds. With various sensors and timers available, they can be programmed to change on their own based on the sun’s position to give you the perfect lighting without lifting a finger.

Regardless of your home's direction, Budget Blinds can help you find window treatments that make sense for your home. 

Request a free in-home or virtual consultation from your local Budget Blinds design experts to get started.

Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564

Often we think of custom design or custom options as luxury items for out homes, and many of us associate that luxury with a high cost.

But Budget Blinds can provide custom options for your home window coverings in a variety of price points. Working with Budget Blinds to select your custom designed come with many benefits over store bought options.

Custom window treatments from Budget Blinds wlll always be high quality, properly measured to fit and will offer a wider variety of design choices than any big box retailer can stock!

You can choose to utilize a complimentary in-home design consultation to amke sure you’re getting the look you want and professional guidance on the best type of window covering for your home and family needs.

Additionally you can call on Budget Blinds for professional install, to ensure that those perfectly measured window coverings are installed just right! Save your Sunday afternoon for family time, rather than extra chores!

Call your local Vancouver Island Budget Blinds today and get started on updating your window coverings from their wide range of custom designs.

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

The New Year is a great time to create a new look for your home! Freshen up your space with new window coverings this season and take advantage of the great prices and selection from Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island.

Not sure where to start? Arrange a complimentary in-home consultation with one of Budget Blinds’ designers. You’ll learn about the newest styles and features, as well as get some guidance on colour choices and design. Work with the designer colours of the year to stay on trend, or choose something classic like wooden shades. Find the right products to suit your family’s lifestyle and budget, all in the comfort of your own home.

New window coverings will update the look of your home as well as enhance privacy, energy efficiency, and safety. Improving your home’s energy efficiency with updated window coverings will provide savings for years to come.

On Vancouver Island, Budget Blinds serves the Comox Valley, Campbell River, Nanaimo, the Cowichan Valley and beyond.

Schedule a complimentary in-home consultation with your local Budget Blinds today to learn more.

Cowichan Valley

Nanaimo-Oceanside

North Island - Courtenay

Is it time to update your blinds? If it’s not just about aesthetics, consider these other signs it might be time for new window coverings: 

1. Warped, Bent or Broken Slats
Faux wood blinds will bend when exposed to high heat for long periods, while wooden blinds warp when exposed to moisture. Aluminum blinds also dent when you apply heavy pressure. The damage is not only unpleasant to look at, it can cause difficulty during operation. 

Solar/roller shades might be a great replacement choice for those windows that get a lot of sun. Choose from a range of opacities to filter light, heat, and harmful UV rays. 

And while aluminum blinds can be a cost efficient choice in offices or commercial settings, honeycomb or cellular cordless shades or roller shades are an excellent upgrade for your home. They're child-friendly, available in light-filtering to room-darkening, and are flexible, very durable, and easy to clean.

2. The Window Treatments Are Difficult to Open

Do you struggle to open your blinds and shades or draw your curtains? If so, it means that your opening mechanisms are damaged or are simply worn out and need to be replaced. For corded blinds, the damage may also be tangling or broken cords. For non-motorized curtains and drapes, opening and closing may be restricted due to jammed curtain tracks. The carriers in the track could be off or the cord control is simply worn out and frayed, making the curtains even harder to operate.

Frayed cords are also difficult to operate. A new set of blinds helps you eliminate operation issues and the frustration of not being able to raise or lower your blinds. You may also experience problems with old, motorized blinds, or shades. Automation has improved greatly, with new motorization options from rechargeable to smart home apps. Replace outdated technology and enjoy opening and closing your window treatments with the push of a button on your smartphone.

3. Discolored Slats and Fabrics

Over years of use and exposure to weather elements, the slats on your blinds and wood shutters lose their color and begin to yellow. UV rays from the sun discolor the material, making your blinds and shutters appear faded and outdated.

New window treatments are pleasing to the eye, especially if you're looking to upgrade your home for sale. Homebuyers are more willing to give your house a chance if the window treatments are as new as the freshly painted walls in the rest of the house.

Where Should You Start?

Do you need new window treatments but don't know where to start? Budget Blinds of Vancuver Island has the solution for you. Schedule a free consultation with us to receive expert guidance on window treatments for a fresh look or sale upgrade.

Contact your closest Budget Blinds location today:

Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564

Running a specialized local business through a pandemic can be a challenge, but Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island owner Tara Anderson built on her community connections to thrive over the past few years. And of course, while people stayed home and focussed on making their homes more comfortable and functional, Budget Blinds stayed busy helping them.

Tara and her co-owner David Anderson have lived and worked on Vancouver Island since 2016. Their community-based, grass-roots marketing style helped them build long lasting business relationships. They work with home builders in a number of communities, who have also kept them busy as construction has boomed across the Island.

While Budget Blinds can of course provide a standard set of blinds, they offer customers so much more. From home automation to custom draperies, they can provide solutions for any home at any price point. And for those people who don’t know where to start, their free in home consultations are a great way to get the ball rolling with the help of their experts.

Contact your local Budget Blinds store today to get started on your window covering updates today:

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

One of the many great reasons to support local businesses is they also support your community! This month, a percentage of all sales at Budget Blinds will be donated to a number of Vancouver Island charities (and there’s a bonus in it for you too - see below).

In 2021, your locally owned and operated Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island stores are supporting:

• Campbell River Habitat for Humanity
• YANA
• Nanaimo Ladysmith School Foundation
• Ladysmith Resource Center
• Catnap Society
• Vancouver Island Crisis Society

Budget Blinds is donating 5% of all sales this month to these charities.

And in December they’re also giving back to you with 30% off all orders this month! Regardless of your budget or style, Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island has the window covering solutions for your home. Whether it's a single room or a full house, basic blinds or home automation, your local store is ready to help. With free in-home or virtual consultations with their designers, you’ll be sure to find the perfect match for your windows.

Contact your local store today:

Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564

Designing any new element of your home can be overwhelming - and frustrating if you don’t have a designer’s eye, or a handyman at home!

If you’re looking to update your window treatments or technology, talk to the experts at Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island. With in-house design consultants and professional installation your home updates can be beautiful, stress free and completed on budget.

Paula Pilcher is one of Budget Blinds’ style consultants. Her complimentary services can be in-home or virtual. Paula has several years of experience in the arts, and in design. She has worked for many years in the window coverings industry, and brings a passion for assisting her clients in finding the perfect products.

And always remember - no project is too big or too small for Budget Blinds’ consultants, and the consultations are always free. Whether you’re updating a whole house or a single room, Paula and the other consultants are ready to help.

Budget Blinds offers products for every budget - from high-end designer window coverings to budget friendly options for every room in your home.

Contact your local - and locally owned - Budget Blind today!

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island is proud to offer complimentary design consultations to help you sort through all of your window covering options.

Budget Blinds’ design professionals will help you find the exact right fit for your windows! In Campbell River, customers can meet with Chloe Traviss.

Chloe is a style consultant at Budget Blinds with many years of interior design experience. She started her design career with a sub-specialty in kitchens and home staging. Chloe has experience working on both new construction as well as renovations of all sizes. 

Chloe lives in Campbell River with her husband, daughter, and their new puppy. In her free time you can find Chloe at the ocean or exploring the beautiful outdoors Vancouver Island has to offer. 

Chloe is looking forward to building relationships with our new and past clients while bringing beautiful window coverings to the many homes of Campbell River. For all of your window covering needs, set up a free in-home consultation with Chloe and explore all of your options -  from draperies, to shades, shutters, window film, home automation and more. Chloe will professionally measure your windows and leave you with a free quote, all from the comfort of your own home. 

Additional Covid Safety measures are in place, and virtual consultations are also available.

Contact Chloe and the Campbell River team via the North Island location:
North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564

As the kids get ready to head back to school, getting them back on a regular sleep schedule can be a challenge. But, Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island is here to help! 

Black out shades or curtains can help get kids to bed on time, in a properly darkened room. Especially through the late summer, while we still have longer days and it can be difficult to settle into a regular sleep routine, something as easy as changing out the window coverings can make all the difference.

Your local Budget Blinds store can provide a live or virtual in-home design consultation, and can offer professional measuring and installation services, which means one less thing for you to prep for back to school.

As seasons change, it’s a great time to review your window coverings needs. For light control, for security and for temperature regulation, your window coverings are more than just pretty to look at. Having the right window coverings in each space can make your home more comfortable year round.

Contact your local Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island store today, to get set up for success to start the school year!

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island is locally owned and operated, and offers the same great service from several locations across the Island. One of the great services Budget Blinds offers, that you’ll never find at a big box store, is their complimentary design consultations. 

Budget Blinds customers enjoy the opportunity to meet with Rebeccah Stefina of their design team. As a designer and sales manager for the Ladysmith location, Stefina works with clients in all of the communities Budget Blinds serves on Vancouver Island.

She has more than six years of experience in design and working with builders, contractors and interior designers on their projects of all sizes.

Her education in design, portfolio of clients and eye for detail will have you feeling confident in your project from start to finish.

"I love what I do,” Stefina says. “I like to turn my clients wants, needs and dreams into their reality. From single family projects to multi-home construction, I'm your local contact for the best residential and commercial window coverings in Canada."

If you’re ready to update your window decor for summer, or need to consider home automation, call your local Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island. Their complimentary consultations can be done in your home, following Covid safety protocols, or set up a virtual visit.

Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564

Contact Rebeccah directly at rstefina@budgetblinds.com or 250-924-2150

Budget Blinds is ushering in spring on Vancouver Island with their biggest sale of the year. This March enjoy 50% off your order (some exclusion apply).

Now is the time to update your home with new window coverings. The sale includes blinds, shutters, curtains and more, so no matter your needs or style, Budget Blinds has savings for you.

And as always, Budget Blinds design experts are available for free in-home or virtual consultations to make sure you’re getting the right products for your home. They’ll make suggestions that match your budget and your space. And with professional measuring, you know your new window coverings will fit right the first time. Choose Budget Blinds professional installation and you can simply sit back and enjoy your new look.

Budget Blinds offers exclusive brands at a variety of price points, so no matter how luxurious or budget-conscious your project is, they have the products that will work for you.

Budget Blinds is locally owned and operated on Vancouver Island. Call them today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

Spending so much time in our homes over the past year has encouraged a lot of investment into our living spaces, according to Chloe Traviss, style consultant with Budget Blinds in Campbell River.

“Everybody is spending so much time in their homes right now,” she recently told the Campbell River Mirror. “So it’s becoming more and more important for them to make those spaces beautiful. With people travelling less and being home more, I’ve really noticed they seem to be upgrading their spaces at an even higher rate than they were before.” 

And one of the easiest ways to upgrade your space is with new window coverings. 

“Window coverings are also one of the only options you have when improving your interior space that also improves your home’s curb appeal,” Traviss says. “So it’s also a great investment in your home and people are really taking advantage of that.” 

But “investment” doesn’t need to be a daunting word - even small improvements make a huge difference to the feel of your room, Traviss says. 

“A lot of people just want to do a little something in their home,” she says, “and we really have products for all budgets.” 

Not only that, but she’ll bring them to you so you don’t even have to go to the store to check them out. While Budget Blinds’ physical store is on Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay, Traviss is a mobile window covering resource for the North Island. 

“I have everything in my vehicle to do free in-home consultations, measure all their windows, and discuss blinds options with samples that I can show them inside their home, which is huge, because everyone’s paint and views and light is different, so blinds can look completely different in one home versus another, or in our showroom.” 

Traviss says that’s another thing she’s seeing these days: Supporting local and getting a personalized level of service has seemingly never been more important to people. While Budget Blinds has alwasy provided high levels of service, they’re also now focussed on keeping their staff and customers safe with Covid-19 protocols in place.

Your local and locally-owned Budget Blinds can help with a new look for your home! Call them today at their North Island - Courtenay store at 250.338.8564.

Or down-island contact your closest location:

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

What did you settle on for your New Year’s resolutions for 2021? Is it finally time to update your home to usher in a new year? If it’s time to ditch the outdated curtain, tattered blinds, or inoperable shades, it’s time to call Budget Blinds!

Often we procrastinate on making changes because we don’t know where to start. Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island’s in-house team of designers is ready to tackle any challenge, and help you find the right style, colour and price point, no matter what your window coverings needs are.

Whether you’re ready for a new designer look and elegant curtains for a formal living room, or child safe blinds or shades for a nursery window, Budget Blinds’ designers have options for you. Their designers can come to you for a complimentary in-house consultation, or if you prefer, connect on-line for a virtual consultation.

With professional design and installation services, your local and locally-owned Budget Blinds can help you usher in the new year with a new look for your home! Call them today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

The team at Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island would like to wish their clients and the communities they serve a safe and healthy holiday season.

In a year like no other, Budget Blinds has continued to provide Vancouver Island residents with the great service they are known for, with a number of safety modifications in place, for both their staff and customers.

Budget Blinds is well known for their in-person complimentary consultations with their in-house designers. These are still available in-person, or if you prefer, arrange a virtual consultation.

And as always, Budget Blinds’ selection covers all price points and styles. From partnerships with famous brands like Hunter Douglas to their own in-house brands, you’ll find a style that meets your budget and your window coverings needs. From curtain to shutters, and from automation to unique window shapes, they’ve got you covered!

Contact Budget Blinds today:

Call Budget Blinds today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island is open and ready to help with your window covering and home automation needs.

Budget Blinds has implemented a variety of Covid-19 safety measures designed to keep your family and their staff safe, including options for virtual consultations, wearing masks and gloves as required, stringent new cleaning and sanitizing routines, practicing social distancing during all appointments and paperless consultations to avoid passing paperwork back and forth.

While some of the day-to-day business activities have changed because of Covid-19 protocols, Budget Blinds is still offering the same friendly professional service and great prices they always have. You can still order from Budget Blinds and also choose to have their in-home consultations and professional installation done with your and the employees safety in mind.

Budget Blinds is locally owned and operated on Vancouver Island. Your support of local small businesses during this hard time makes a difference to their employees throughout Vancouver Island.

Contact Budget Blinds today.

Call Budget Blinds today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

It’s officially cozy season, and when that crosses paths with work-from-home, your home office may be in need of an update. Now that you’ve finally got that corner office with a view (of your own backyard) is it set up to get you through the winter months comfortably?

Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island can help you create a functional work space. The right window coverings can keep the drafts out and keep you warm while you work. Home automation can mean fewer interruptions to your workflow and can automatically adjust the mood and lighting throughout your whole home.

Even if you aren’t working from home, maybe it’s time for a refresh to keep the inside of your home bright and cheery, and keep the winter rain and cold at bay.

Budget Blinds expert designers are ready to help, with a complimentary in-person or virtual consult. They can suggest the latest brands, products and styles to suit your needs and budget. Call your locally owned and operated Budget Blinds today to get started on creating your cozy space for this winter.

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

As we settle into fall on the West Coast, it's time to think about creating cozy indoor spaces for months ahead. New window coverings might be just the refresh your home needs. And did you know, the right window coverings can even help reduce your heating costs through the winter.

Talk to a Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island expert today to discover the latest trends in window fashions, home automation and more. Their designers can come to you, with Covid safety protocols in place, or meet remotely to view your home and assess your window covering needs. With their expert advice, making the right choice for your home is easy. 

And with Budget Blinds’ professional installation, your new curtains or blinds will be installed right! No need to stress about it - their experts are on the job.

Contact your closest Budget Blinds on vancouver Island today to get started on creating your cozy space this season:

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

Budget Blinds locations in the Comox Valley, Nanaimo-Oceanside and the Cowichan Valley are all owned by the same local family and are all garnering great reviews from their customers. Some of their happy clients have shared the following Google reviews:

“Fantastic company! Great quality blinds and staff!  Would definitely deal with them again.”

“The sales staff was knowledgeable, and installation of 4 sets of blinds was completed in under 30 minutes. Plan to call them again.”

“We have dealt with Stu and the team at Budget Blinds several times, both for our business, and our home. The level of service we have received from Stu's team is unparalleled in the industry. The products that Budget Blinds offers are top quality and the pricing is extremely competitive. Thanks for all the great work!”

“Michelle Norris of Budget Blinds is an amazing woman! Michelle and her team have efficiently added window film and replaced the window coverings within two of my homes. She did expertly help me to select the best window coverings for various scenarios. Michelle Norris with Budget Blinds was prompt, highly skilled, a great communicator and very professional. Great Value too!”

“We needed to replace our bedroom curtain for one that gave a complete black out as we both love sleeping in the dark. A quick search on Google and we contacted Michelle, she offered to come and give us a free consultation. Michelle knows her blinds, being a bit of a techy nerd we went with blinds that connect to Google home (pressing button is so 2016). Our whole experience with the team was excellent. I would highly recommend both Michelle and the Google blackout blinds. Very pleased and so glad we went with Budget Blinds.”

Regardless of your needs for home or commercial window coverings, Budget Blinds can deliver on time and on budget. Contact your closest location today:

Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564

Summer is heating up on Vancouver Island and if you’re staying close to home you may have found your indoor spaces getting a little too warm and bright.

Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island is open, with Covid-19 safety protocols in place, and ready to help you find cool comfort with the help of new window coverings.

Whether your new home office needs new shades, or the nursery is too bright at nap time, Budget Blinds has the solution for your unique needs that will match your decor and your budget.

With 3 locations on Vancouver Island Budget Blinds is close wherever you are. Their interior designers can come to you or work with you remotely to select window coverings for any room in your home. They’ll provide professional installation and the entire process is quick and easy!

Enjoy cooler indoor temperatures, protect your furniture and artwork from UV rays and add a stylish touch to your home with the help of Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island.

Call Budget Blinds today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay

250.338.8564

The Vancouver Island Real Estate Baord has relaeased their market highlights for May 2020. VIREB covers the region of Vancouver Island outside of Victoria and some Gulf Islands. For more details visit vireb.com.

If you’ve been spending extra time at home over the past few months, you’ve probably noticed a few areas that could use updating, or might be wondering about ways to make your home more energy efficient. Maybe your work from home space is getting a little too warm on these sunny spring days. 

Budget Blinds is open and ready to help with all of these concerns. Their designers can suggest fresh new updates for your window coverings, provide shades that help regulate the temperature in your house year-round, and even automate them for you, so you can stay focused on other tasks.

Budget Blinds has implemented a variety of measures to keep you and their staff safe, including options for virtual consultations, wearing masks and gloves as required, additional cleaning and sanitizing routines, practicing social distancing during all appointments and paperless consultations to avoid passing paperwork back and forth.

While some of the day-to-day business activities have changed because of Covid-19 protocols, Budget Blinds is still offering the same friendly professional service and great prices they always have. You can still order from Budget Blinds and also choose to have their in-home consultations and professional installation done with your and the employees safety in mind.

Budget Blinds is locally owned and operated on Vancouver Island. Your support of local small businesses makes a difference to their employees throughout Vancouver Island.

Call Budget Blinds today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:
Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564

After being closed for three weeks to do their part to stop the spread of Covid-19, Budget Blinds is once again open to serve customers on Vancouver Island, having implemented a variety of measures to keep you and their staff safe.

These measures include:

• Options for virtual consulations
• Limiting the number of homes their staff goes into daily
• Asking health and safety screening questions before all installations and consultations
• Wearing masks and gloves as required
• Additional cleaning and sanitizing routines
• Practicing social distancing during all appointments
• Paperless consultations so avoid passing paperwork back and forth

Spring is often a time for people to renew and refresh their homes. New window coverings from Budget Blinds might be the perfect finishing touch to your updates, or a one-step solution to create a new look in your home. Now you can safely order from Budget Blinds and also choose to have their in-home consultations and professional installation done with your and the employees' safety in mind.

Budget Blinds is locally owned and operated on Vancouver Island. Your support of local small businesses during this hard time makes a difference to their employees throughout Vancouver Island.

Contact Budget Blinds today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:

Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564

North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564

Have you been finding time for spring cleaning, and finding some things around the house in need of an update? This is a great time of year to refresh your home and Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island is ready to help with more than just blinds.

Budget Blinds has styles for every budget and the largest selection of window coverings in North America, including a new partnership with Hunter Douglas. You’ll find window coverings for every room of your home, in any style, colour or price point you need!

Backed by the best warranty in the industry, Budget Blinds has the solution for your window covering needs.

Their many Vancouver Island locations also offer a wide variety of home automation options from Lutron sure to spark the interest of the techie in your home. Not a techie? Not to worry, their staff can guide you through the options to give your home a modern update and make day to day life at home even easier. 

Contact one of the Budget Blinds locations in the Comox Valley, Nanaimo or the Cowichan Valley to see how they can help. Click here to view their product selection online. 

Call Budget Blinds today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:

Cowichan Valley

Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside

Call 250.751.8564

North Island

250.338.8564

Two of the biggest names in window coverings have come together to provide customers on Vancouver Island with an expanded selection of window coverings. Budget Blinds and Hunter Douglas have teamed up to provide clients with greater access to Hunter Douglas’s world famous offerings. 

Now Budget Blinds’ free in-home consultations include the opportunity to choose from Hunter Douglas’s hundreds of window-covering products including sheers, shades, blinds and shutters plus PowerView® motorization and other advanced operating systems. 

“Like any other small business who finally gains a supplier they have been wanting for a while, we are beyond excited,” says David Anderson, the franchisee for three Vancouver Island Budget Blinds locations. 

“Offering our Vancouver Island clients this vast selection is something we are very proud of and are looking forward to seeing the final design outcomes of our first few Hunter Douglas projects.”

Call any one of the Budget Blinds locations in the Comox Valley, Nanaimo or the Cowichan Valley and set up your free in-home consultation today. Budget Blinds' designers will work with your budget and lifestyle needs to create the perfect look for your home. With professional measuring and installation options, your new window coverings will be a highlight in your home for years to come.

The New Year is a great time to create a new look for your home! Freshen up your space with new window coverings this season and take advantage of the great prices and selection from Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island.

Not sure where to start? Arrange a complimentary in-home consultation with one of Budget Blinds’ designers. You’ll learn about the newest styles and features, as well as get some guidance on colour choices and design. Find the right products to suit your family’s lifestyle and budget, all in the comfort of your own home.

New window coverings will update the look of your home as well as enhance privacy, energy efficiency, and safety. Improving your home’s energy efficiency with updated window coverings will provide savings for years to come.

Call Budget Blinds today at 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online. 

Budget Blinds serves the Comox Valley, Campbell River, Nanaimo, the Cowichan Valley and beyond. 

On the North Island stop by their Courtenay showroom at #8 2663 Kilpatrick Ave.

From South to North, Budget Blinds has you - and your windows - covered on Vancouver Island.

Wherever you are located on Vancouver Island, the professional service and great prices that Budget Blinds provides are easy to find.

From the Cowichan Valley in the south, to Nanaimo-Oceanside, and north to the Comox Valley and Campbell River, Budget Blinds locations are owned and operated by David and Tara Anderson. The couple live and work on Vancouver Island, and are excited to serve their customers along with a professional staff of design consultants and installers.

If you’re ready to start the new year with a new look, get in touch with your local Budget Blinds location today, and book a free in-home consultation. You’ll work with a designer to find the best look for your lifestyle and budget.

Call them today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:

Cowichan Valley
Showroom: #19 High Street Ladysmith, BC
Call: 250.924.0249

Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564

North Island
Showroom: #8 2663 Kilpatrick Ave, Courtenay, BC
250.338.8564

As temperatures drop, have you considered how your window treatments affect the energy efficiency of your home? The right window coverings can save you money on your heating bills this winter, and Budget Blinds of the North Island has all of the options your home needs.

Research shows that as much as 50 per cent of a home's heating energy can be lost through its windows. So rather than cranking up your heat (and your bills), let Budget Blinds help with a versatile selection of blinds, shades, shutters, and window film that are both practical and energy efficient, while also stylish.

Many experts agree that an average house with 15 windows, properly equipped with energy efficient window coverings, can achieve an annual energy savings of approximately $150.

With Budget Blinds of the North Island now offering a $350 rebate for every $1,000 spent on custom window coverings, now is the time to ensure your home both looks great and is cozy over the chilly winter months.

Contact them today to set up an in-home consultation with a design expert: Contact Budget Blinds of the North Island or visit their showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay. From that showroom consultants serve the Comox Valley, Campbell River and the North Island.
Call 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online.

While most of us know about smart speakers and thermostats for updating our home technology, we often forget that window coverings can also be automated to enhance the comfort and security of your home.

Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island is a leader in automation for window coverings as well as other home technology.

The Smart Home Collection by Budget Blinds includes brands like Somfy®, SONOS, and other top tech brands to offer homeowners a suite of state-of-the-art, intuitive solutions for today’s modern home. You can control your window coverings, lighting, climate, home security and entertainment systems, with the push of a button from your smart device, handheld remote control, or keypad. 

And of course Budget Blinds can work with your existing window coverings to retrofit them with new technology. Motorized retrofit solutions offer significant savings compared to an all-new motorized system, and allow you to program window coverings on timers to open and close at specific times during the day to help save on energy costs. You can even select from several control options- from wireless wall switches to hand-held remotes!

Motorized window treatments allow you to control and schedule the positioning of your window coverings for enhanced, on-demand privacy, and since they are cordless, they provide a safer environment for children and pets. Motorized window treatments also include unique sensors that allow you to increase energy efficiency by automatically adjusting your window coverings with rising temperatures. 

Find the technology you want at your locally-owned Vancouver Island Budget Blinds store. Budget Blinds of the North Island is located in Courtenay and serves Campbell River, The Comox Valley and surrounding communities.

Contact them today at 250.338.8564, visit their showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue, Courtenay, or request a free in-home consultation online.

Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island offers in-home consultations with designers who can help you find the perfect window coverings for your home. This month we feature a spotlight on designer Rebeccah Kurucz.

Rebeccah is an “old soul” with a very cheerful and enthusiastic disposition.

She grew up working in her family’s business in Port Alberni, before pursuing her passion attending school for interior design. She worked for several years at a design firm before making the transition to Budget Blinds. 

“Window coverings play such an important role in the overall look and feel of your home,” says Rebeccah. “I wanted to work more closely with my customers and assist them to put those finishing touches into their homes. Helping my clients to make their homes look beautiful is truly rewarding, and I love being a part of the whole process.”

Rebeccah says her favorite window covering look currently is roller shades with drapery. 

“The simplistic, hard lines of a quality roller shade coupled with soft, flowing, cascades of drapery can transform a space. Of course, every home is different so it’s fun to play with colour and texture to make it unique.”

The biggest trend she is seeing is a return to soft window coverings.

“Many of my clients are moving back to soft treatments. They have been pairing traditional blinds with a Roman Shade in the kitchen as well as adding decorative panels to soften their windows. Soft fashions are back!”

Outside of work, Rebeccah loves to spend her time outdoors.

“Basically, if it is outdoors I’m into it! I really love camping and hiking! I love being around the water. I love the ocean, the rivers and the lakes that are all so close. The Island allows you to enjoy nature all year round.

“I also am a huge sports fan and am very passionate about interior design!”

Book an appointment today to meet with Rebeccah and review the latest trends and design options for your home and lifestyle.

How does it work? A design consultant will come to you and bring samples that you can view in the comfort of your home. They will help you choose your window coverings, and professionally measure. Once ordered, your window coverings will be installed by one of Budget Blinds’ experienced on-staff installers.

Budget Blinds of Nanaimo and Oceanside is locally owned and operated. The staff is a close-knit group of people, who live locally, have a passion for Vancouver Island living and look forward to making your experience the best it can be.

Budget Blinds of the North Island has an outstanding reputation for providing quality products at great prices, along with excellent customer service.

Online reviews from customers rave about their friendly and knowledgeable staff, prompt service and their surprisingly low prices. Take a look at some of these five-star Google reviews:

“We have dealt with the team at Budget Blinds several times, both for our business, and our home. The level of service we have received from the team is unparalleled in the industry. The products that Budget Blinds offers are top quality and the pricing is extremely competitive.” 

“5 star rating. Excellent service from order to install. Very friendly and helpful. Very quick on our second order once we moved on - greatly appreciate it!”

“5 stars - Sales, explanations, suggestions, installation were all excellent.”

“Budget Blinds came out on top. Very knowledgeable. Very professional and friendly, understanding as well, totally recommended.”

If it’s time to update your window coverings, give the team at Budget Blinds of the North Island a call. A free in-home consultation with their designers will ensure that you get the right product for your needs. 

Contact Budget Blinds of the North Island or visit their showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay. From that showroom consultants serve the Comox Valley, Campbell River and the North Island.
Call 250.338.8564
Or request a free in-home consultation online.

Up to 50% of a home's heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows. So rather than cranking up your heat or air conditioning to avoid uncomfortable temperatures this summer, let Budget Blinds help with an array of versatile blinds, shades, shutters, and window film that are practical and energy efficient, and also on-trend.

This June Budget Blinds of the North Island is offering $150 off Cellular and Solar shades, and 20% off Window Film to help beat the heat.

These energy efficient window coverings will keep you feeling cool and your home looking great this summer, and can also keep the heat in during the cold winter months.

As well, window film deflects up to 99% of damaging UV rays, protecting your furniture, floors and artwork against harmful UV damage, while helping to keep temperatures cool.

Contact Budget Blinds of the North Island at the Courtenay showroom (8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue) or online to book a complimentary in-home consultation.

Enjoy expert advice and choose from the latest styles and custom options such as motorization to make the most of your window treatments.

Spring is a great time to freshen up your home’s window coverings, and this month, buy more and save more with Budget Blinds of Central and Northern Vancouver Island. Enjoy 30-40% off selected styles this May - the more you buy, the more you'll save.

Budget Blinds designers can provide a free in-home consultation to guide you through the latest choices and ensure you receive window treatments that suit your decor, lifestyle and your family’s needs.

The right window coverings will not only change the look of your home, but can help with heating and cooling, enhance privacy, as well as protect furniture, flooring and artwork from damage.

Contact Budget Blinds of the North Island to arrange an in-home consultation or visit their showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay. From that showroom, consultants serve the Comox Valley, Campbell River and the North Island.

Call 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online.

Budget Blinds of the North Island is offering 50% off Norman-brand shutters for the month of April. Enjoy a free in-home design consultation and find the perfect shutters for your home.

Whether you prefer wood or faux wood shutters, composite or vinyl shutters, you’ll find Norman shutters to complement any type of window or interior design style.

Window shutters can be customized in many different ways and add a premium, inviting ambiance to a room, while elevating your existing décor. Choose from a variety of designer-inspired materials and finishes. In addition to their lasting beauty, shutters provide exceptional light adjustment with their movable louvers.

Contact Budget Blinds of the North Island to arrange an in-home consultation or visit their showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay. From that showroom consultants serve the Comox Valley, Campbell River and the North Island.

Call 250.338.8564

Or request a free in-home consultation online.

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.

Budget Blinds of North and Central Vancouver Island is having their biggest sale of the year this month, with 50% off Enlightened Style and Signature Series window coverings.

Exclusive to Budget Blinds, the Enlightened Style Line offers a stunning variety of window treatments, including aluminum blinds, cellular shades, woven shades, and more. With the latest technology, child safety and privacy options, discover what Enlightened Style blinds can offer your home.

The Signature Series from Budget Blinds offers the latest on-trend options, with new products released every year. Choose from solar and roller shades in a variety of fabrics and colours, or choose sliding panels for large windows or patio doors.

If the choices seem overwhelming, book a complimentary consultation with a Budget Blinds designer, who will guide you through selecting the best products to suit your home and lifestyle.

Contact them today at 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online. Hurry - these saving are only available until the end of February.

Budget Blinds of the Central Island serves the Comox Valley, Campbell River, Nanaimo, the  Cowichan Valley and beyond from their Courtenay showroom.

December is the time for giving and Budget Blinds is giving back to you, and to others on your behalf.

This month receive a 25% instant rebate on all orders, and Budget Blinds will pay the GST. Additionally, Budget Blinds will donate 5% of your product total to the Vancouver Island charity of your choice: YANA (You Are Not Alone); the BCSPCA; or VIMHS (Vancouver Island Mental Health Society)

Give your home a facelift this holiday season, save yourself some money and give back to others, with just one call to Budget Blinds on the Central Island.

Their professional designers will come to you for a free in-home consultation, work within your budget to find the best look for your home decor and family lifestyle, and have it all professionally installed.

Call Budget Blinds today at 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online.

Budget Blinds of the Central Island serves the Comox Valley, Campbell River, Nanaimo, the Cowichan Valley and beyond from their Courtenay showroom.

This month book an appointment with Budget Blinds of Comox Valley, Campbell River and the North Island by Nov. 21 and get some help for the holidays in the form of a Visa gift card of up to $500 with your purchase.

Enjoy a fresh new look for the holidays with updated window coverings and earn $50 back for every $1,000 you spend.

Budget Blinds offers free in-home consultations to help you get the best products for your home. Enjoy design help, accurate measuring and professional installation to create your fresh new look in time for the holidays. Whether it’s new blinds, sheers, shutters or curtains you’re looking for, Budget Blinds of the Comox Valley offers the best selection and service, at the best price.

Serving North Island communities including the Comox Valley, Campbell River, and beyond, contact them today to learn more.

Visit the showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay, call 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online.

Bring home automation to the next level with motorized window shades from Budget Blinds of the North Island.

Enjoy 50% off Signature Series virtual cord blinds through the month of October and make your home safer for children by eliminating loose and dangling cords, while enjoying enhanced privacy and convenience.

New upcoming regulations will restrict the use of certain cord styles with window coverings and Budget Blinds is dedicated to offering alternatives to make your home safe for you and your family.

Budget Blinds is also offering a free Nexia Home Bundle for orders of two or more virtual cord shades. This allows you to control your shades remotely from your phone. You can program your window coverings to open and close to adjust for privacy, sun protection, as well as heating and cooling your home.

Budget Blinds of the North Island offer complimentary in-home consultations to help you find the right product for your home’s needs and style

Visit the showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay, call 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online.

As the season’s change your window covering needs can change as well. Will you want to allow more light in during the shorter, darker winter days? Would you like to cozy up your space with draperies, while adding an extra layer of insulation to your windows?

The right window coverings can not only look great but can save you money on your energy bill, by letting in more light or helping keep your home warmer or cooler depending on the season.

If you’re ready for a change, contact the experts at Budget Blinds of the North Island.

They offer complimentary in-home consultations to help determine the right products for your home’s specific needs.

Budget Blinds’ Style Consultants are available in Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River and the surrounding areas. Request a free in-home consultation today.

Or for more information, visit the showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay or call 250.338.8564.

Budget Blinds’ Inspired Drapes collection offers a wide selection of drapes, soft window treatments, and custom pillows and bedding with luxurious designer touches, all at very attractive prices.

And with their current scratch and save promotion, you’ll save an additional 25-40% off the already fabulous prices, as well as earn bonus upgrades on your order.

Whether you want draperies to provide light filtration and insulation, or to create aesthetic touches to your favourite spaces, Budget Blinds has you covered. Choose from ready-made drapery panels for an easy decorating upgrade or work with a Style Consultant to design custom drapery.

Layer your draperies over existing blinds or shades to create a new look unique to you, or use them as stand-alone window treatments

Budget Blinds of the North Island offer complimentary in-home consultations to help you create the right look for your space and style.

Visit the showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay, call 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online.

Now is the time to save at Budget Blinds of the North Island. They’re having a scratch-and-save sale this July that can earn you 25-40% off your order.

With summer heating up, consider new window covering to keep your home cool - you’ll save on your purchase and on heating and cooling costs in your home with the right blinds, shades or curtains.

Here are just a few option to consider:

• Honeycomb shades are designed with honeycomb-shaped cells, which are designed enhance your home’s energy efficiency by keeping air from escaping or entering your home.

• Hardwood shutters have an insulating design to make indoor spaces cooler in summer and warmer in winter, keeping your room at an ideal temperature.

• Window film deflects 99% of damaging UV rays, lessening heat gain and protecting your furniture against harmful UV damage.

Contact the design team at Budget Blinds of the North Island and arrange for a free in-home consultation and find the best solution for your home. And all July order will have a chance to scratch-and-save from 25-40%.

Visit the showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay, call 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online.

Father’s Day in the Comox Valley offers a myriad of choices to treat dad.

The Annual Kite Fly takes place at Goose Spit from 12-2:30, with plenty of prizes up for grabs. Enjoy a day at the beach and a fun family activity.

Other exciting events the Father’s Day Concert on the Green at Marina Park in Comox, The Comox by the Sea Celebration at Filberg Park, and the Simms Summer Concert Series kicks off at Simms Millennium Park in Courtenay. Or play a round of golf at a challenging championship course or a family friendly par-3, take in a hike or bike ride on one of many world famous trails, or enjoy  a meal or a pint at a local resturant or brewery.

And if this is home, top off the day with a father’s day cookout in your own backyard. Imagine wrapping up a busy day grilling dinner on your mountain or ocean view patio at The Ridge in the Courtenay.

However you celebrate, be sure to remember dad on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 17.

Budget Blinds of the North Island is having a sale on Lutron shades this June. Enjoy these energy-saving shade solutions in your home and save the tax this month. You’ll also receive a free lighting control bundle with every purchase and a free Lutron Light Bridge Pro with purchases over $1,000.

Lutron shades allow natural light to warm your home in the winter, while blocking out the heat in the summer months. They can also be used to protect furniture, artwork, flooring and more from the sun’s damaging rays.

With Lutron’s automation systems, you can set your blinds to adjust automatically throughout the day, providing better security and light regulation throughout your home.

Looking for a different product? Budget Blinds will pay the tax on every order in June, so now is the time to save on the right window coverings for your home.

Contact Budget Blinds of the North Island to arrange an in-home consultation or visit their showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay. From that showroom consultants serve the Comox Valley, Campbell River and the North Island.
Call them at 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online.

Budget Blinds in the Comox Valley is offering 50% off Norman-brand shutters this month. With a free-in home design consultation you’ll find the perfect shutters for your home.

Whether you prefer wood or faux wood shutters, composite or vinyl shutters, you’ll find that Budget Blinds’ Norman shutters complement any type of window or interior design style.

Window shutters can be customized in many different ways. In addition to being available in a wide variety of natural wood colours, these window treatments can also be custom colour-matched to wood furnishings in your home.

You can choose interior shutters to fold up accordion-style to one side of the window or to slide out of the way and stack on the side of the window. Or choose a traditional design on hinges that swing inward.

With so many choices available for window coverings, the typical homeowner can be overwhelmed trying to choose what will work best for their home.

When choosing blinds, shades or curtains, it’s important to consider the final look of the product, as well as your home’s privacy, light and heating/cooling needs.

To ensure great results, Budget Blinds of Northern Vancouver Island offers complimentary in-home consultations with their designers, who will guide you through the multitude of choices. The designers at Budget Blinds of Central and Northern Vancouver Island can ensure that your window treatments reflect the latest styles. Window coverings come in an endless variety of options, so help from a professional can ensure that your choices suite your home, lifestyle and decor.

Their designers will also ensure accurate measuring and review options such as automation.

Budget Blinds’ Style Consultants are available in Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River and the surrounding areas. Request a free in-home consultation today.

Home decorating trends can be a challenge to keep up with. The designers at Budget Blinds of Central and Northern Vancouver Island can ensure that your window treatments reflect the latest styles. Window coverings come in an endless variety of options, so help from a professional can ensure that your choices suite your home, lifestyle and decor.

Budget Blinds has adapted to changing styles by offering classic designs, current trends and up-and-coming products. Some trends their designers are seeing for 2018 include drapery side panels that accent other window treatments, and dual shades.

Window panels easily bring a splash of life to a quiet room. Available in a vast selection of colors, patterns, and prints, window panels express your individual style and make a personal statement in any room. Create elegant living spaces, or choose fun and colourful fabrics for a child’s room. Panels are available in durable and long-lasting fabrics that are prepared to handle the stress and mess of any active household, helping reduce the need for cleaning or replacement from heavy wear-and-tear over time.

Dual sheer shades offer the privacy benefits of a window shade with the softening view of a sheer. When the vanes are open, the two layers of soft knitted fabric sheers maintain a level of privacy at all times, while allowing diffused natural light to enter the room. Sheer shades can be paired with other window coverings for a layered, dramatic look, but also look great as stand-alone window treatments.

To learn more about what trends will best suit your home and lifestyle, contact Budget Blinds of The Comox Valley, Campbell River and the North Island  at 250.338.8564 today. Request a free in-home consultation online today.

Budget Blinds of Central and Northern Vancouver Island is offering Buy-One-Get-One Free on their Enlightened-Style Roller/Solar and Cellular Shades for this month only. Both styles of window covering are among the most popular that Budget Blinds offers, thanks to their energy efficiency and variety of fabrics.

Solar and Cellular Shades are among the most versatile window coverings available. Both are excellent and blocking sunlight to cool homes in the summer, and insulating windows to keep heat in in the winter.

Solar Shades gently filter and diffuse light to create just the right ambience, block UV rays, and reduce room temperatures. They come in a wide range of styles and openness levels.

Cellular Shades come in three popular cell sizes, offering varying degrees of insulation from the heat, cold and sound, enhancing your home’s energy efficiency. Light control options including sheer, light filtering, room darkening, and blackout fabrics provide you with various levels of privacy.

Cellular shades are also an excellent option for those unusually shaped windows. Or add motorization to open and close those hard to reach blinds.

Contact Budget Blinds of Central and Northern Vancouver Island today at 250.338.8564 to learn more about solar or cellular window shades. Budget Blinds’ Style Consultants are available in Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River and the surrounding areas and can design, measure, order and install your cellular shades for you so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the view! Request a free in-home consultation today.

On Nov. 11, Canadians mark Remembrance Day, and locally a variety of memorial events are scheduled in the Comox Valley. All three municipalities (Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland) host parades, followed by a moment of silence at their cenotaphs. The Legion Halls in all thee communities also host open houses, and all are welcome.

CFB Comox is a busy air force base, and a large community of retired Canadian military members have made the area home, making Remembrance Day an important holiday for the local community. Military retirees have joined the ranks of a growing seniors’ population in the Comox Valley, and are often drawn to the area by the area’s natural beauty, favourable climate and friendly active communities.

Realtor Art Meyers has been working to serve the Comox Valley real estate needs of CFB Comox families and retired military members for more than four decades. This Remembrance Day, Art Meyers honours the sacrifices of our veterans, and gives thanks for the freedoms Canadians now enjoy.

New home construction is booming in the Comox Valley. If you are looking to purchase a lot to build your dream home, or looking for a ready-to-move-into new home, contact Realtor Art Meyers to learn about lot availability, new developments, and planned construction in the Comox Valley.

Art Meyers has the experience to guide your purchase in the right neighbourhood for you. Whether you are a young family looking for a new home in Cumberland or an empty nester looking to build in a golf community, working with Art Meyers means you can be confident in your purchase.

For more information, contact Art Meyers of Royal LePage in the Comox Valley at 250.207.1879

Comox Valley Realtor Art Meyers has clients actively seeking to buy a rancher/bungalow/patio home style residence. If you are looking to sell, Art Meyers may have a buyer for your Comox Valley home.

With a busy real estate market and limited inventory, an experienced realtor is your best bet to find the home you want in Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland or the surrounding areas.

Realtor Art Meyers brings more than 40 years of experience as a trusted Comox Valley Realtor to all of his clients.

If you are looking to sell your rancher or bungalow-style home in the Comox Valley, contact Art Meyers at Royal LePage in the Comox Valley today:

Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

The Comox Valley has seen a recent boom in real estate sales, with no slow down in sight, as new building lots and existing homes are selling quickly. In such a busy market, both buyers and sellers can benefit from the guidance of an experienced Realtor. Listing your home with an experienced realtor who knows the community can earn you more money on your home sale.

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Call Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley. Art has 45 years of experience in the real estate business in the Comox Valley. He is one of the most successful and experienced Realtors serving Comox, Courtenay, the Comox Valley and Cumberland. As strong community supporter, Art Meyers has been active in Rotary, The Comox Valley Community Foundation and The Community Justice Centre.

Call Art today for your free Comparative Market Analysis.

Contact Art Meyers, Experienced Realtor in Courtenay and the Comox Valley

Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

The Ridge at RiversEdge, a new home development in west Courtenay, is now planning Phase IV. Southwind Development Corporation expects to begin construction of Phase IV - 20 single family homes on oversized lots in a 5.24 acre pre-planned residential development in the Spring of 2017.

New walking trails will be built within the subdivision to connect with existing trails and the Ruth Masters Park, along the river. Some site preparation has been completed and lot servicing will commence in early 2017.

Comox Valley Realtor Art Meyers has been marketing this project from its inception. For more details on this and other new homes in the Comox Valley, contact Art Meyers today.

Buying or Selling Your Home? Call Realtor Art Meyers!

Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley has spent 40 years in the real estate business,  and is one of the most successful and experienced Realtors serving Comox, Courtenay, the Comox Valley and Cumberland. 

Contact Art Meyers
Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

The Comox Valley has seen a boom in real estate sales this year, with no slow down in sight, as new building lots and existing homes are selling quickly. In such a busy market, both buyers and sellers can benefit from the guidance of an experienced Realtor. Professsional Realtors can help you find the right home at the right price, and market your home to ensure you receive top dollar.

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Call Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley 

With more than 40 years of experience in the real estate business, he is one of the most successful and experienced Realtors serving Comox, Courtenay, the Comox Valley and Cumberland. 

Call Art today for your free Comparative Market Analysis.

Contact Art Meyers, Experienced Realtor in Courtenay and the Comox Valley

Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

The Ridge at RiversEdge, a new home development in west Courtenay, is moving ahead with Phase IV. Comox Valley Realtor Art Meyers has been marketing this project from the beginning.

Southwind Development Corporation is planning to begin construction of Phase IV - 20 single family homes on oversized lots in a 5.24 acre pre-planned residential development next Spring.

New walking trails will be built within the subdivision to connect with existing trails and the Ruth Masters Park, along the river. Some site preparation has been completed and lot servicing will commence in early 2017. 

Buying or Selling Your Home? Call Realtor Art Meyers!

Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley has spent 40 years in the real estate business,  and is one of the most successful and experienced Realtors serving Comox, Courtenay, the Comox Valley and Cumberland. 

Art Meyers bring his more than 40 years of real estate experience to this project.

Contact Art Meyers
Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley is working with his customers to get the best prices in a competitive and quickly changing real estate market. He is able to get top dollar for his clients, as he keeps his eye on the rapidly changing market. Having spent 40 years in the real estate business, he is one of the most successful and experienced Realtors serving Comox, Courtenay, the Comox Valley and Cumberland. 

Art's extensive real estate background includes many years of listing and selling all types of new  homes, ranchers and bungalows in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. Always a top producer, he will work closely with you to buy your new Vancouver Island home including ranchers, bungalows, single family homes, condominiums, townhomes, duplexes, & acreages; and more. He can also assist you in obtaining top market value for your existing home.

Art is currently marketing The Ridge at RiversEdge, the only new home development in Courtenay that is located alongside along the Puntledge River, adjacent to Puntledge Park. These new homes consist of single-family homes and ranchers and bungalows, and include a double garage, landscaping, underground sprinklers, fencing and hedging and more.

Call Art today for your free Comparative Market Analysis.

Contact Art Meyers
Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

The Comox Valley has seen a boom in real estate sales this year, with no slow down in sight even as summer draws to a close. A busy market requires both buyers and sellers to use the the guidance of an experienced Realtor to get the home buying and selling experience they deserve. Multiple offers on listings are occurring more often - even in smaller communities such as the Comox Valley, and Realtors are also seeing offers over list price as buyers compete for the limited inventory.

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Call Realtor Art Meyers, Realtor 

With fewer homes on the market, but demand still high, Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley is working with his sellers to get tomorrow’s prices for today’s listings. He is able to get top dollar for his clients, as he keeps his eye on the rapidly changing market. With more than 40 years of experience in the real estate business, he is one of the most successful and experienced Realtors serving Comox, Courtenay, the Comox Valley and Cumberland. 

Call Art today for your free Comparative Market Analysis.

Contact Art Meyers, Experienced Realtor in Courtenay and the Comox Valley

Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

Art Meyers, Experienced Realtor in Courtenay and the Comox Valley

Comox Valley real estate sales have been outpacing typical sales month over month. In such a hot market, both buyers and sellers will benefit from professional advice from an experienced Realtor.

Multiple offers on listings are occurring more often and Realtors are also seeing offers over list price as buyers compete for the available inventory which is 35% less than one year ago.

Thinking of Selling Your Home? - Art Meyers, Realtor Get Sellers Tomorrow’s Price!

With home inventory shrinking rapidly, Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley is working with his customers to get tomorrow’s prices for today’s listings. He is able to get top dollar for his clients, as he keeps his eye on the rapidly changing market. Having spent 40 years in the real estate business, he is one of the most successful and experienced Realtors serving Comox, Courtenay, the Comox Valley and Cumberland. 

Call Art today for your free Comparative Market Analysis.

Contact Art Meyers
Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

The Ridge at RiversEdge in Courtenay is moving ahead with Phase IV of this successful west Courtenay new home development. Comox Valley Realtor Art Meyers has been marketing this project through each phase.

Southwind Development Corporation has now received subdivision approval to build 20 single family homes on this 5.24 acre pre-planned residential development, and Art Meyers bring his more than 40 years of real estate experience to the project.

These oversized single family lots will be built on starting in Spring of 2017. New walking trails will be built within the subdivision to connect with existing trails and the Ruth Masters Park, along the river. Some site preparation has been completed and lot servicing will commence in early 2017. 

Buying or Selling Your Home? Call Realtor Art Meyers!

Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley has spent 40 years in the real estate business,  and is one of the most successful and experienced Realtors serving Comox, Courtenay, the Comox Valley and Cumberland. 

Call Art today for your free Comparative Market Analysis.

Contact Art Meyers
Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

Art Meyers, Experienced Realtor in Courtenay and the Comox Valley

Gregg Hart,  manager of the Royal LePage in the Comox Valley office has recently stated “May of 2016 is the biggest month we have ever had in our office.  Sales were up 50% in April and May of 2016 compared to  April and May of 2015.  Single family homes are the biggest selling category and we expect to see this level of activity continue over the summer and into the fall.”

Multiple offers on listings are occurring more often and Realtors are also seeing offers over list price as buyers compete for the available inventory which is 35% less than one year ago.

Thinking of Selling Your Home? - Art Meyers, Realtor Get Sellers Tomorrow’s Price!

With home inventory shrinking rapidly, Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley is working with his customers to get tomorrow’s prices for today’s listings. He is able to get top dollar for his clients, as he keeps his eye on the rapidly changing market. Having spent 40 years in the real estate business, he is one of the most successful and experienced Realtors serving Comox, Courtenay, the Comox Valley and Cumberland. 

Call Art today for your free Comparative Market Analysis.

Contact Art Meyers
Email: artmeyers@shaw.ca
Phone: (250) 207-1879
Royal LePage in the Comox Valley
#121 – 750 Comox Road, Courtenay, BC  V9N 3P6

Linzie Heffernan is a Comox Valley-based interior designer. Linzie has recently purchased long time local interior designer Judith Moore’s Courtenay business. The new location for Linzie Heffernan Interior Design is 505 Duncan Avenue, Courtenay - upstairs on the second floor, above the Hub Cafe.

Linzie works with several custom home builders and residential clients, with a specialization in single-family luxury and high-end homes. She also works on townhouse and multi-family projects. 

Linzie Heffernan Interior Design can help with:

Color consultations
Architectural drawings
Project management
Full-scale design for new homes
Remodeling or redesign
Space planning and Furniture design
Commercial Design

Linzie is available to meet clients who require interior design services. Call for a consultation for renovation and new builds in Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, the Comox Valley, Gulf Islands, Tofino and on Vanouver Island.

Contact them today!

Linzie Heffernan

Email: lhdinteriorsbc@gmail.com

Mobile: 604.345.6620

Website:www.lhdinteriors.com/

The real estate market in the Comox Valley is breaking new ground, as old sales records are falling, due to a seller’s market.

In May 2016, the benchmark price of a single-family home in the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) area was $364,500, up 9.36 per cent from one year ago. Benchmark pricing tracks the value of a typical home in the reported area. The benchmark price of townhouses and apartments also increased in nearly every market. The average MLS® price of a single-family home in May was $411,458, a 13 per cent increase from May 2015.

In the Comox Valley, the benchmark price of a single-family home was $360,400, up 11.32 per cent from 2015.

Marty Douglas, manager of the Remax Ocean Pacific Realty offices in Courtenay and Comox has noted that in the 12 months ending May 31st, 2016, according to VIREB statistics, there were 1861 sales of all property types, a 22% increase over 2015. Year to date sales for 2016, are showing a record high of sold houses averaging 103 sales per month, a total of 515 units

since January 1, 2016. The 2016 residential sales pattern in the Comox Valley indicates 40% of all single family dwelling sales occur between $350,000 and $500,000. The list/sell ratio in May was 103%. The 12 month list/sell ratio is 81% and currently, listings sell for 98% of list price in 58 days.

Gregg Hart,  manager of the Royal LePage in the Comox Valley office stated, “May of 2016 is the biggest month we have ever had in our office.  Sales were up 50% in April and May of 2016 compared to  April and May of 2015.  Single family homes are the biggest selling category followed by patio homes apartment-style condominiums and townhouses.  We expect to see this level of activity continue over the summer and into the fall.”

Multiple offers on listings are occurring more often and Realtors are also seeing offers over list price as buyers compete for the available inventory which is 35% less than one year ago.

In the Comox Valley builders have purchased lots from developers to build new homes, decreasing the inventory of lots at a rapid pace which is driving up lot prices and new home prices. Currently new subdivision applications have been submitted to the municipalities in the Comox Valley to develop new lots.

Hopefully we will see new inventory coming onto the market starting in the fall of 2016. This current proposed subdivisions will barely meet consumer demand as a sellers market is likely to continue for the next year or two due to lack of inventory.

Written by Clarice Coty
Editor, Building Links

Elemental Energy Advisors (EEA) in the Comox Valley works with local cities, municipalities, builders, developers, and owner-builders to help implement energy-conservation strategies and systems in new residential properties. Owner Cristi Sacht and her team offer a wide variety of energy-efficiency consulting services complemented by extensive training and experience.

EnerGuide Labelling Service

EEA offers the EnerGuide Labelling Service, an affordable and recognized rating system administered by the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada. Planning for energy efficiency during the design phase of a home is key to investigating options and making educated decisions. If you proceed with Energuide labelling, EAA offers an on-site visit once the home is built, including a building-envelope test to check for air leakage and ventilation.

Building for Energy Efficiency

Other options for energy-efficient construction programs through EEA include:

• Built Green BC;
• ENERGY STAR for New Homes;
• BC Hydro's Power Smart New Home Program; and
• Fortis BC's New Home Program.

The process of initiating these programs is simple, and the EEA team can begin the evaluation with nothing more than a copy of your building plans.

Additional Services

EEA is expanding their knowledge and services with the addition of a Building Envelope Evaluation and Efficiency Consultation package for existing homeowners. This services costs $150 and includes:

• a building-envelope evaluation with their blower door unit
• identifying areas of leakage and offering potential solutions; and
• presenting options to help save money on your utility bills.
• Have your options calculated in annual dollar savings and annual energy savings. 

Whether you're building a new home or renovating an older residential property, the EAA team can help you conserve energy and save money. Send your building plans or questions to info@elementalenergyadvisors.ca or call250.830.8000. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter as well.

Thomas Dishlevoy Architecture Ltd (TDA), located in Comox on Vancouver Island, offers architecture services for commercial, municipal, residential and other types of construction projects. Established in 1995, and Vancouver Island since 1998, Thomas Dishlevoy Architecture Ltd has proven experience in:

• Residential, commercial and institutional
• Renovations, additions and new projects
• Heritage restoration
• Building envelope repairs and upgrades
• Green Buildings, LEED and Living Buildings
• Development Master Planning
• Feasibility Studies
• Programming and Cost Estimating

For Sound Security in your home or business, call the experts. Sound Security in the Comox Valley offers security systems and much more for homes and businesses on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.

Sound Security’s expert installation team provide surveillance cameras, sound system equipment and wiring, home theatre installations, and multi-room music systems. They can install media panels and offer new home installation packages. 

As the only provider of screen alarms on Vancouver Island, Sound Security can offer a security alarm option to keep intruders out but let fresh air in. They will install, service and monitor security systems to protect your home, family or business. 

Contact Sound Security in the Comox Valley today to see what they can offer your home or business:

• Comox Valley: 250.339.7200
• Campbell River: 250.923.0705
• Cell Phone: 250.702.6106
• Website: www.soundsecurity.ca

Comox Valley Realtor Art Meyers is your guide to The Ridge at RiversEdge, the only new home development in Courtenay located alongside along the Puntledge River and Puntledge Park.

These new homes consist of single-family homes in a rancher / bungalow style, and include a double garage, landscaping, underground sprinklers, fencing and hedging and more. These one-level new homes range in size from 1,560 to 1,745 square feet and are available starting at $359,900. This community is now well established, with construction nearing completion in Phases 1-3. Here, you can tour a complete neighbourhood, rather than a construction zone while selecting your new homes site and home plans.

Art Meyers is an experienced and energetic licensed Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley who brings more than 40 years of experience as a Comox Valley Realtor to every transaction.

To arrange a private viewing of these new homes at The Ridge at RiversEdge, please contact Art Meyers directly at 250.207.1879

More information:

Art Meyers, Realtor with Royal Le Page
The Ridge at RiversEdge
 

The Comox Valley

According to an article in the Globe and Mail, the Comox Valley is one of three top choices to retire to in British Columbia due to its temperate climate, affordability and the Comox airport (YQQ) which offers direct flights to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and other destinations.

Its economy is strong, and the Valley, which includes Courtenay, Comox and several small towns, is known for a number of festivals, water sports and skiing at Mount Washington. There’s a new $300 million hospital under construction, large retail shopping centres, North Island College and many other amenities.

The Ridge is a new master-planned residential community, offering lots for sale in Courtenay. Approximately 30 lots in Phase I have been sold and many new residents have already moved into their new homes.  Lots at the Ridge start at $169,900 and new homes start  from approximately $430,000. Many of the new custom built homes offer ocean and mountain views. These custom homes can be built in a variety of styles, including bungalow or two-storey designs. Also, legal secondary suites can be built into your new home and in addition, a separate residential building (carriage house) can be built on the same lot - perfect for family, guests, or as a mortgage helper.

The preferred builders at The Ridge -  Brando Construction Ltd. and Lawmar Contracting - have already helped many happy homeowners build their dream homes here. Show homes are available and open house times are 12pm-2pm Saturdays and Sundays, or contact them for a private tour.

Since The Ridge isn’t on Google Maps yet, click on our map or follow these instructions to find them: 

1. Take the Courtenay Exit from Highway 19, right turn on Comox Logging Road for 1.5km until you get to Buckstone Road and turn right and turn right again on either Stoneridge Avenue or on Harbourview Boulevard.
2. If you are heading South on the old Island Highway turn right at Fraser Road, and turn left on the Comox Logging Road, and then drive for 0.5 km and turn right on Buckstone Road and then turn right again on either Stoneridge Avenue or on Harbourview Boulevard.
3. If you are heading North on the old Island Highway turn left at Fraser Road, and turn left on the Comox Logging Road, and then drive for 0.5 km and turn right on Buckstone Road and then turn right again on either Stoneridge Avenue or on Harbourview Boulevard.

Find out more! Call the developer directly:

Bruce Clapham,  Mobile: 250.650.8588

Email:theridge.bruce@mail.com

Follow The Ridge on Facebook

Not only can window coverings affect the amount of light and privacy in your business space, the right ones can help save on energy costs, improve employee productivity and create a better atmosphere for your customers.

A big part of comfort is temperature, and temperature can greatly impact how people respond:

• Are there restaurants you won’t patronize because they’re so cold it’s uncomfortable to eat there?
• Or stores that are so stuffy and hot that you just run in for a specific item and get out as quickly as possible?
• Do your employees nod off after lunch when the temperatures get too warm?
• Does your conference room become an extreme environment as the meeting progresses: sauna or sub-zero freezer?
• Is glare driving customers away or making your employees miserable?

Depending on the type of business, commercial buildings can be home to employees, or employees and the general public (your customers). If your business is serving the public, ensure that the space is comfortable, functional and safe, so people will stay longer. For employees, the environment must also be safe, functional and comfortable. 

Natural light has powerful effects on health, impacting mood, alertness and sleep habits, so many modern buildings have walls of windows to let in beneficial natural light. But an expanse of windows can also generate excessive heat during summer and cold during the winter, driving up energy costs as you try to maintain a comfortable year-round temperature.

Window treatments that improve energy efficiency include:

• Solar Shades and Screens – block up to 99% of sun’s heat and glare
• Roller Shades – infinite choices of color, fabric and texture to match any décor, easy to use, room-darkening capabilities
• Cellular shades – light-filtering to blackout, provide privacy and reduce heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer
• Graphic Shades – energy-efficient messaging for brand enhancement
• Window film and tinting – UV protection, privacy options in decorative and security films
• Blinds – sun blocking when closed; all of Budget Blinds' commercial blinds offer flame retardant qualities and are certified green
• Shutters – real or faux wood in myriad colors, cordless operation beautifies your space
• Drapes – add style, privacy and sound control as well as insulation; can be light filtering or sun blocking

Used alone or paired together, each of these solutions can improve the energy efficiency of your business by giving you more control. Adding motorization to blinds, shades, shutters and drapes increases ease of control with wall-mounted or handheld remotes as well as timers and sensors that automatically respond to temperature and time settings.

Contact Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island to learn more about how their products can help to improve your commercial space.

• Comox Valley -250.287.8564
• Campbell River - 250.287.8564
• Nanaimo - 250.751.8564
• Parksville & Qualicum - 250.738.8564
• Website​: www.budgetblinds.com

Business in Vancouver Magazine has named the Comox Valley one of the top five retirement towns in BC.

"Kw’umuxws, what the local First Nations called Comox, means plentiful, and few retirees would disagree," the magazine says.

Highlighting the benefits of affordable real estate, regular air service and a brand-new hospital set to open in 2017, BIV is also keen on the outdoor amenities of the area: "The small scale of the community and many amenities, including the Crown Isle golf course and spectacular fishing and boating opportunities, make Comox an attractive retirement destination. The annual B.C. Shellfish and Seafood Festival celebrates local fisheries, and, when paired with local wines, local seafood offers a multi-faceted gastronomical experience.

"Seniors with a taste for powder have easy access to Mount Washington, Vancouver Island’s best-known ski hill, while local parks offer several seaside and inland hiking trails for all ability (and mobility) levels."

The Ridge in Courtenay is a new real estate development which embraces all of the highlights of living in the Comox Valley, with ocean and mountain views, walking trails and other community amenities, all just minutes from downtown Courtenay, The Ridge offers affordable opportunities to build your dream home. 

For more information on The Ridge, contact:

Location: Courtenay, in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island
Show Home: Eagleview Crescent, Courtenay, BC
Phone: Bruce Clapham 250.650.8588
Website: theridgebc.com

Art Meyers is currently marketing The Ridge at RiversEdge, the only new home development in Courtenay that is located alongside along the Puntledge River, adjacent to Puntledge Park. These new homes consist of single-family homes and ranchers and bungalows, and include a double garage, landscaping, underground sprinklers, fencing and hedging and more. These one-level new homes range in size from 1,560 to 1,745 square feet and are available starting at $359,900.

Art is an experienced and energetic licensed Realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley who brings more than 40 years of experience as a Comox Valley Realtor to every transaction.

His extensive real estate background includes many years of listing and selling all types of homes in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. Always a top producer, he will work closely with you to buy your new Vancouver Island home including bungalows, move-up homes, condominiums, acreages and more. He can also assist you in obtaining top market value for your existing home. Whether you are looking for an oceanfront home, farm acreage or a patio home in the heart of the city, once call to Art does it all.

To arrange a private viewing of these new homes at The Ridge at RiversEdge, please contact Art Meyers directly at 250.207.1879

When the cold winter winds blow, it's important to remember that window coverings can help both heat and cool your home. Windows are an important part of the energy efficiency of your home, and stylish window treatments from Budget Blinds can be a great way to regulate temperatures in your home. Blinds, shades, shutters and drapes provide effective insulation to keep you from losing as much as 50% of your heating and cooling energy through your windows.

A popular option is honeycomb shades, with a honeycomb-shaped pocket designed to keep air from escaping or entering your home. That means the rooms of your home will feel warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Window film is also a great way to deflect 99% of damaging UV rays that fade and damage flooring and furniture, while keeping the heat out of your home. Another great option is adding motorization to your blinds. This lets you set your blinds on a timer, meaning even if you aren't home all day, your blinds will open and close at the best time to keep the heat in or out.

Not sure what blinds, shades, shutters, or drapes might work best for your home? Schedule a free consultation with a Budget Blinds style consultant. Their consultants can help you choose window treatments that work with your home, create comfortable environment for family and guests, and create long-term energy savings.

Contact Us

Service Area: Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum
Phone: 250-338-8564 in Courtenay and 250-287-8564 in Campbell River
Website: www.budgetblinds.com
Contact Us

The month of October is Budget Blinds motorization sales event! When you purchase a $1000 dollars or more in Signature Series blinds, shades or shutters from Budget Binds, including one motorization product, you will receive a $100 VISA gift card. Purchase $2,500 or more and you will receive a $250 VISA gift card.

This sales event from Budget Blinds is a great way to bring the luxury and convenience of motorized window coverings into your home. It is possible to motorize a wide range of Budget Blinds window coverings including roman shades, cellular shades, woven wood shades and more. Best of all, with motorization you will extend the life of your window coverings by reducing wear and tear and create a safer home environment for children and pets.

Choose between a variety of control options such as timers, sensors, wireless wall switchers and hand-held remotes to easily control your lighting preferences in any room in your home. You can even improve your homes insulation and manage heat gain and heat loss in the summer and winter months.

For more information:

Contact Us

Service Area: Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum
Phone: 250-338-8564 in Courtenay and 250-287-8564 in Campbell River
Website: www.budgetblinds.com
Contact Us

In 2014, the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) treated more than 700 wildlife patients in a converted garage on three acres of land in the Comox Valley. The garage is part of the original facility established in 1995 when the organization was created and is currently home to everything from treatment space to the washing machine.

MARS has outgrown its original facility, and is seeking to build a new hospital building where staff and volunteers can work on the patients in a clean, quiet and efficient environment. A generous bequest from the estate of local resident Michele Woodrow to MARS has given the organization 11 acres to build a new, modern wildlife center. MARS is in the process of trying to raise the money for the infrastructure and a hospital.

Building Links is proud to support MARS. Please join with us to help to build a facility that will give MARS the tools to send more patients home. Together we can do this!
To learn more about MARS, please visit their website www.wingtips.org or their Facebook or Twitter pages.​

Two new homes with stunning views of the Beaufort Mountain ranges are now under construction, and are listed for sale with Comox Valley REALTOR® (Personal Real Estate Corporation) Tina Vincent. These single-family homes for sale are located in Comox near all the amenities.

Residents of this new residential development (MLS Listing #388828) on the corner of Torrence and Noel Streets in Comox are within walking distance of local schools, and the Comox town centre, the marina, park and library are a short five-minute drive away. The nearby Lazo Marsh offers miles of forested walking trails and wildlife, while Point Holmes Beach with boat launch and picnic area is great place to explore and enjoy the Georgia Strait (MLS Listing #388824).

Built by Protech Construction Ltd., these new homes offer a choice of three or five bedrooms, gas fireplace, heat pump, and Hardi Plank exterior finishing. The five-bedroom home at 1426 Noel Avenue boats 2,350 sq. ft. of living space and three bathrooms. The three-bedroom home at 1420 Noel Avenue also includes 3 bathrooms and 2,245 sq. ft. of living space.  

For more information, or to schedule a viewing:

Contact Tina Vincent, REALTOR®

Location: #121-750 Comox Road, Courtenay
Phone: 250.334.3124 Cell: 250.792.2776
Website: tinavinvent.com
Contact Tina

Windows are an important part of the energy efficiency of your home, and stylish window treatments from Budget Blinds can be a great way to improve the heating or cooling of your home. Blinds, shades, shutters and drapes provide effective insulation to keep you from losing as much as 50% of your heating and cooling energy through your windows.

Budget Blinds has many great window treatment options to choose from. Consider honeycomb shades, with a honeycomb-shaped pocket designed to keep air from escaping or entering your home. That means the rooms of your home will feel warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Window film is also a great way to deflect 99% of damaging UV rays that fade and damage flooring and furniture, while keeping the heat out of your home. Optional motorization on blinds lets you set your blinds on a timer, meaning even if you aren't home all day, your blinds will open and close at the best time to keep the heat in or out.

Not sure what blinds, shades, shutters, or drapes might work best for your home? Schedule a free consultation with our local style consultant. Our consultant can help you choose window treatments that work with your home, create comfortable environment for family and guests, and create long-term energy savings.

Contact Us

Service Area: Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum
Phone: 250-338-8564 in Courtenay and 250-287-8564 in Campbell River
Website: www.budgetblinds.com
Contact Us

Thomas Dishlevoy Architecture Ltd in the Comox Valley offers architecture services for all types and sizes of projects. Established in 1995, and serving the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island since 1998, Thomas Dishlevoy Architecture Ltd has proven experience in:

• Residential, commercial and institutional
• Renovations, additions and new projects
• Heritage restoration
• Building envelope repairs and upgrades
• Green Buildings, LEED and Living Buildings
• Development Master Planning
• Feasibility Studies
• Programming and Cost Estimating

Children are curious, and that curiosity can turn the most basic household items into a potential hazard. Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island takes household and child safety seriously, and offers many child-friendly window treatments to reduce the risk of household accidents.

Budget Blinds carries a variety of cordless blinds and cordless shades that reduce the risk of dangling cords, while making sure your windows look great. Consider retractable lift for easy operation, or motorization to program your shades to open and close at your preferred time of day. Shutters, and cord cleats and wand control are additional kid-friendly options.

Budget Blinds wants to make your home or business as safe as possible.Your local style consultant can provide you with up-to-date information on safety standards, and the innovative safety solutions provided by Budget Blinds. In-home consultations are free. Call them today at 250.338.8564 to schedule an appointment.

Contact Us

Service Area: Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum
Phone: 250-338-8564 in Courtenay and 250-287-8564 in Campbell River
Website: www.budgetblinds.com
Contact Us

Stylish curtains and drapes can make all the difference during the fall and winter months when you're cozied up inside in your home. Budget Blinds can help you find the right window fashions and bring rich and opulent fabrics to any room.

Between now and December 20, 2014 Budget Blinds is offering Buy 1 Get 1 Free on drapery panels in the Comfort Collection by Inspired Drapes. The Comfort Collection offers high-quality, washable European fabrics at an affordable price and comes with customizable options like valances, tie-down cleats, motorization, and hundreds of different decorative hardware pieces to choose from.

Budget Blinds of has a full assortment of classic and contemporary drapery and curtain styles to bring out the best in your existing home décor. Our local style consultant would be happy to schedule a free in-home consultation to help you get started. Remember: the Comfort Collection by Inspired Drapes is made to measure just for your home.

Budget Blinds service the Vancouver Island including the Comox Valley communities of Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland, as well as Campbell River, Qualicum, Parksville and Nanaimo. Call them today at 250.338.8564 to schedule your free consultation.

Comox Valley REALTOR® (Personal Real Estate Corporation) Tina Vincent is selling a one-of-a-kind heritage-style duplex  located a leisurely 5 minute walk to downtown Courtenay, BC on Vancouver Island.

The brand new three bedroom, two bath units offer main floor living with 16 foot vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors. There is rear private parking, 8x12 storage shed, and a generous appliance package allowance. Building features include Hardi Plank exterior finish, thermal windows,  and a 10 year home warranty.

This home is ideal for anyone wanting a small yard with little maintenance. There is a bus stop out front, providing easy access to public transportation.The property is listed at $289,900 and situated at 1030 Cumberland Road in Courtenay on Vancouver Island.

Visit the Royal LePage Office in Courtenay, located at : #121-750 Comox Road Courtenay, BC V9N 3P6 

Call Tina directly at Mobile: 250.792.2776 or reach her at the Royal LePage office 250.334.3124
 

Fall is the season for curtains and drapery, when rich and cozy fabrics can add warmth and opulence to any room. Budget Blinds Comfort Collection by Inspired Drapes meets all of your curtain and drapery needs, and until December 20th, 2014 you'll receive Buy 1 - Get 1 Free on all drapery panels.

The Comfort Collection by Inspired Drapes from Budget Blinds isn't your average drapes and curtains. Made-to-measure specifically for your home, these curtains and drapes come with customizable options like valances, tie-down cleats, motorization, and hundreds of different decorative hardware pieces to choose from. And they are made with high-quality, washable Europeans fabrics at a price you can enjoy.

Not sure how to add curtains and drapes to your existing home décor? Contact Budget Blinds to schedule a free in-home consultation and watch your local style consultant work their magic.

Budget Blinds service the Vancouver Island including the Comox Valley communities of Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland, as well as Campbell River, Qualicum, Parksville and Nanaimo. Call them today at 250.338.8564 to schedule an appointment.

There are ten lots for sale in the new Torrence Mountain View subdivision, located in Comox in the Comox Valley. Three new homes have been completed, and one of the new homes has sold and is now occupied. The new homes are approximately 1,800 sq. ft. in size, with the two homes remaining are priced at $359,900 and $369,900. A total of ten new single family homes will be built on this site, with lots varying in size from 454 to 741 square metres.  The average lot will be about 550 square meters, and most of these lots for sale feature mountain views. In addition, the lots are zoned to accommodate secondary suites and are for sale. For more information on purchasing the lots, contact Rob Girard at 250.339.9793. For more information on purchasing the homes, contact Michael Emerson at 250.334.3124.

Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island carries an extensive array of residential and commercial window coverings, including blinds, shutters, shades, curtains, drapes, and window film. They serve the Comox Valley, as well as Campbell River, Qualicum, Parksville, and Nanaimo. Budget Blinds provides high-quality blinds and stylish window coverings for new homes and home renovations, as well as for commercial, retail, and professional offices at competitive prices.

Commercial Window Coverings

Budget Blinds offers Vancouver Island business owners and property managers a complete turnkey solution for their window-covering needs. They have experience providing commercial window coverings to a variety of industries, including health care, hospitality, restaurant, education, government, and many more. Commercial window treatments are available in a wide range of motorized, flame-retardant, child-friendly, cordless, and even energy-conserving options. They offer very competitive pricing on popular and unique window coverings for commercial and professional buildings.

Trained Experts

The trained experts at Budget Blinds will manage your commercial window-covering project through every phase of implementation: design, measuring, ordering, delivery, and installation. Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island has the strength of Budget Blinds and Home Franchise Concepts behind them, so they can give their customers the best products and service at the best price. These affiliations ensure that you'll have access to the widest selection of window coverings, at favourable prices, all backed by one of the strongest warranty programs in the industry.

Interior Design

The talented interior designers at Budget Blinds will help you choose the best window coverings for your business in the perfect texture and colour. Budget Blinds also has an enti​re line of eco-friendly window coverings made with sustainable materials and can custom fit any window covering regardless of the window's shape.

Contact Information

At Budget Blinds, their goal is simple: to provide their customers with the best window coverings and products, combined with professional installation services to enrich your home and office environments. Call them today at 250.338.8564 to schedule your free consultation. You can also visit their website, read their blog, or order 10 free swatches. Sign up to get 25% off selected Signature Series window coverings!!

With locations in Courtenay and Comox, WesternOne​ is your one-stop shop on Vancouver Island for tool and equipment rentals and sales. WesternOne's Comox location is also North Vancouver Island's only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer, and Vancouver Island's exclusive dealer for Polaris snowmobiles. Factory-trained and factory-certified Silver/Gold technicians are on hand for any servicing or repair need, and financing is available. For more information, call 250.339.4518 (local) or 1.877.339.4518 (toll-free). You can also use their Request a Quote online form.

In addition to equipment rentals and sales, WesternOne now offers IVES Operator Certification Training. While a license is not required to operate forklifts and other lifts, employers must ensure that employees have been trained to current standards and have the documentation on hand to prove it. WesternOne will teach you everything you need to know about safely operating counterbalance forklifts, rough-terrain forklifts, scissor lifts, and aerial lifts. 

IVES Operator Certification Training includes theory, practical training, and evaluation. When an employee successfully completes the training, he or she receives a certificate and wallet card. The employer, in turn, receives copies of all documentation, including theory and practical test records. IVES certification courses meet or exceed all applicable safety requirements, industry standards, and government regulations. Training is available in a classroom setting or on-site.

To learn more, call Greg Phelps, IVES Certified Trainer, at 250.667.0665 or WesternOne in Courtenay at 250.331.0748. Safety is their goal — make it your goal, too!

New Eligibility Requirements for BC's Power Smart New Home Program, So Don't Miss Out on Available Incentives

Did you know that there are new eligibility requirements for BC's Power Smart New Home Program? Effective October 1, 2013, you must provide EnerGuide labelling within six months of your occupancy permit to be eligible for Power Smart incentives. Builders must achieve an Energy Guide rating of 80 and above to qualify for incentives of up to $200 per home for row houses, townhouses, and duplexes, and up to $2,000 per home for new single-family dwellings.

There is also an ENERGY STAR Package incentive in the amount of $150 per dwelling for installing the following four products:

• refrigerator;
• clothes washer;
• six CFL or LED bulbs (considered to be one product); and
• bathroom ventilation fan.

All four of these products need to be installed to qualify for the rebate. Dishwashers are no longer included in the offer.

The certified energy advisors at Elemental Energy Advisors can guide owner-builders and Vancouver Island new-home builders through building a more energy-efficient home. Their goal is to help reduce your utility expenses while conserving energy that benefits our environment. Set your real estate development apart by making it Power Smart! Contact Christi Sacht from Elemental Energy Advisors at 250.830.8000.

Choosing the Right Tool for the Right Job Saves Time and Money

Playing it safe on the job site includes choosing the right tool or equipment for the task at hand. Making the wrong choice can cause serious injury and property damage; a search for "fails" on the Internet yields a plethora of videos showcasing people using tools and equipment that are clearly unsuitable for the job. Some online favourites feature a large forklift being used to lift a smaller one, that in turn is used to lift and place another piece of equipment. Yet another depicts a car being held in the air by two forklifts, one on either side, with a worker standing underneath!

While these videos may elicit a chuckle, it's sobering to see people putting their safety at risk. In some cases, cost and availability are the mitigating factors behind the wrong equipment choice. But when you consider the possibility of suffering injury or disability is using the wrong tool worth the risk? Taking time to obtain the right tools and equipment, and training people to use them properly, will save time, money, and — most importantly — lives. If you don't have the resources needed for the job, borrow from a friend, hire a professional, or rent. When you become an Internet sensation, make sure it's for the right reasons!

Equipment Rentals and Sales From Western One

WesternOne is focused on customer satisfaction and the top-quality operating condition of its equipment. All equipment is kept in peak operating condition by WesternOne's certified, factory-trained union mechanics and technicians. You can rent or buy with confidence, knowing that the equipment will be delivered to your site, ready and able to work. WesternOne is an authorized factory dealer, sales representative, and broker for a variety of industry-recognized manufacturers and brands. Buy the equipment you need and feel secure in the knowledge that you're receiving the best competitive pricing in Western Canada. Factory warranties are also available on select equipment.

Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles Dealer

As North Vancouver Island's only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer. WesternOne is also the exclusive dealer for Polaris snowmobiles on Vancouver Island. Factory-trained and factory-certified Silver/Gold technicians are on hand for any servicing or repair need, and financing is available. For more information, call 250.339.4518 (local) or;1.877.339.4518 (toll-free).

IVES Certification Training

WesternOne also offers IVES Operator Certification Training that includes theory, practical training, and evaluation. The training is a win-win for both employer and employee. When an employee successfully completes the training, he or she receives a certificate and wallet card. The employer, in turn, receives copies of all documentation, including theory and practical test records. To find out more, call Greg Phelps, IVES Certified Trainer, at 250.667.0665 or WesternOne in Courtenay at 250.331.0748.

Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island carries an extensive array of residential and commercial window coverings, including blinds, shutters, shades, curtains, drapes, and window film. They service the Comox Valley communities of Comox, Courtenay, and Cumberland on Vancouver Island, as well as Campbell River, Qualicum, Parksville, and Nanaimo. Budget Blinds provides high-quality blinds and stylish window coverings for new homes and home renovations, as well as for commercial, retail, and professional offices at competitive prices.

Commercial Window Coverings

Budget Blinds offers Vancouver Island business owners and property managers a complete turnkey solution for their window-covering needs. They have experience providing commercial window coverings to a variety of industries, including health care, hospitality, restaurant, education, government, and many more. Commercial window treatments are available in a wide range of motorized, flame-retardant, child-friendly, cordless, and even energy-conserving options. They offer very competitive pricing on popular and unique window coverings for commercial and professional buildings.

Trained Experts

The trained experts at Budget Blinds will manage your commercial window-covering project through every phase of implementation: design, measuring, ordering, delivery, and installation. Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island has the strength of Budget Blinds and Home Franchise Concepts behind them, so they can give their customers the best products and service at the best price. These affiliations ensure that you'll have access to the widest selection of window coverings, at favourable prices, all backed by one of the strongest warranty programs in the industry.

Interior Design

The talented interior designers at Budget Blinds will help you choose the best window coverings for your business in the perfect texture and colour. Budget Blinds also has an enti​re line of eco-friendly window coverings made with sustainable materials and can custom fit any window covering regardless of the window's shape.

Contact Information

At Budget Blinds, their goal is simple: to provide their customers with the best window coverings and products, combined with professional installation services to enrich your home and office environments. Call them today at 250.338.8564 to schedule your free consultation. You can also visit their website read their blog, or order 10 free swatches. Sign up to get 25% off selected Signature Series window coverings!!

If you want the best bang for your buck when renovating your home, invest your home-improvement dollars wisely. Most real estate appraisers and consultants agree that remodelling a kitchen or bathroom offers the best return on investment. Cosmetic upgrades such as new paint and flooring are budget-conscious alternatives that will also improve the value of your home.

Regardless of the renovations you undertake, however, you can't count on a dollar-for-dollar return on every home improvement. Jackson & Associates, Vancouver Island’s most trusted source of real estate appraisal services, has a number of tips for homeowners entering the renovation arena:

Complete any necessary repairs: A hot tub won’t compensate for a leaky roof!

Research the market: Find out what homebuyers want and choose improvements that are in demand.

Don't outdo your neighbours: Keep your improvements consistent with the quality of your neighborhood and home. In other words, don't put a $50,000 kitchen into a $100,000 house.

Consider DIY, but do it right: Unfinished or poorly completed renovations can actually decrease your home's value. If you're not qualified to do the work yourself, hire a reputable contractor.

Go green: Look at energy-efficient improvements. They may not save money now, but they will pay off long-term when energy costs increase.

The key to all home improvement projects is careful planning, realistic budgeting, and sound advice. Make the most of your renovation budget by making smart decisions and good choices. If you need help with that process, talk to one of the experts at Jackson & Associates. In their 33-plus years of operation, Jackson & Associates' AIC-certified appraisers have completed more than 30,000 residential appraisals and more than 5,000 commercial appraisals out of their Courtenay office. Contact them today for specific valuation advice on renovations in your market area.

Mid Isle Drywall services Courtenay, Cumberland, Campbell River, the Comox Valley, and North Vancouver Island. Their experienced crew can do any type of complete drywall project, including new residential homes and commercial jobs, as well as repair or renovation for both residential and commercial projects.

Mid Isle Drywall uses precision drywall techniques and offers a variety of ceiling finishes. They can also install T-bar ceilings and steel stud walls for new homes and well commercial or retail businesses.

Gary Barr and Jason Barr have been offering professional drywall services for the past 30 years, and Mid Isle Drywall is recognized in the industry as being one of the very best drywall companies on Vancouver Island.

No job is too large or small, Mid Isle Drywall does it all. They are happy to provide free estimates for any type of job. Call Jason Barr at 250.338.7102 today.

Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent, PREC, is "Your Comox Valley Connection." Realtor Tina Vincent blends traditional real estate services with modern, innovative marketing to help Vancouver Island home buyers and sellers achieve their goals.

Tina Vincent, a realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley uses her experience in interior design and new-home construction to provide home-staging services for her clients and bring unique ideas to marketing clients' homes. She works to find the right residences for her clients, ensuring that families find not just houses, but homes. Tina is also a Brookfield specialist ready to help with your military posting or relocation.

Tina is friendly and knowledgeable and works to find the right homes for her clients. Whether you're looking for a single-family home with room for the family; a patio home or bungalow; a home with a secondary suite; rural property with room for the horses and animals; or an executive home in Crown Isle, Tina's expertise will help you find the perfect home. She works with home buyers and sellers in Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Parksville, Qualicum Beach. and Campbell River.

Elemental Energy Advisors (EEA) in the Comox Valley continues to work with local cities, municipalities, builders, developers, and owner-builders to help implement energy-conservation strategies and systems in new residential properties. Owner Cristi Sacht and her team offer a wide variety of energy-efficiency consulting services complemented by extensive training and experience.

EnerGuide Labelling Service

EEA offers the EnerGuide Labelling Service, an affordable and recognized rating system administered by the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada. Planning for energy efficiency during the design phase of a home is key to investigating options and making educated decisions.

"An EnerGuide rating provides a standard measure of your home's energy performance, showing you and future buyers exactly how energy-efficient your home is," states Sacht. "The rating is calculated based on standard operation assumptions that allow you to compare the energy performance of one house to another. A rating of 0 represents a home with major air leakage, no insulation, and extremely high energy consumption, while a rating of 100 represents an air-tight, well-insulated, sufficiently ventilated house that needs no annual energy purchases."

If you proceed with Energuide labelling, EAA offers an on-site visit once the home is built, including a building-envelope test to check for air leakage and ventilation.

"Doing so ensures a healthy living environment," says Sacht. "Once the file is complete, we start the incentive application for you by filling in the majority of the data, and then you complete it."

Building for Energy Efficiency

Other options for energy-efficient construction programs through EEA include:

• Built Green BC;
• ENERGY STAR for New Homes;
• BC Hydro's Power Smart New Home Program; and
• Fortis BC's New Home Program.

The process of initiating these programs is simple, and the EEA team can begin the evaluation with nothing more than a copy of your building plans.

"We'll prepare a computer model, offer a no-obligation projected EnerGuide rating, and help you determine whether building with an EnerGuide 80 standard in mind is financially feasible after factoring in applicable builder incentives," says Sacht. "We make it simple and painless!"

2013 Energy Incentives

Incentives available for the rest of 2013 through BC Hydro and Fortis BC are still set at $2000 per single-family dwelling that achieves an EnerGuide 80 minimum rating. There are additional incentives for:

• appliance packages - $150;
• natural-gas-fired boiler - $1000;
• EnerChoice Approved natural-gas fireplace- $300;
• ENERGY STAR high-efficient natural-gas water heaters - $200 to $1000; and
• row houses, townhomes, and duplexes - $200 for achieving an EnerGuide 80 rating.

For builders completing several projects per year, the savings can really add up.

Additional Services

EEA is expanding their knowledge and services with the addition of a Building Envelope Evaluation and Efficiency Consultation package for existing homeowners. This services costs $150 and includes:

• a building-envelope evaluation with their blower door unit
• identifying areas of leakage and offering potential solutions; and
• presenting options to help save money on your utility bills.
• Have your options calculated in annual dollar savings and annual energy savings. 

"We'll calculate annual dollar and energy savings for you," states Sacht. "Knowledge is power, and that applies to your home as well."

So, build your home the smart way with EEA's team of Certified Energy Advisors. Whether you're building a new home or renovating an older residential property, the EAA team can help you conserve energy and save money. Send your building plans or questions to info@elementalenergyadvisors.ca or call 250.830.8000. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter as well.

After months of planning, fundraising, volunteer recruiting, and hard work, the Women Build component of Habitat for Humanity’s build project in Courtenay handed over the keys for its second Piercy Avenue duplex to the new owners.

The ceremony, held on October 26, 2013, was an emotional one, the realization of a dream that saw first light a mere 18 months earlier when Habitat Vancouver Island North presented the idea of a Women Build project to Cristi Sacht, owner of Elemental Energy Advisors, an energy-efficiency consulting company based in Courtenay. Sacht, who subsequently took on the role of Women Build coordinator, loved the idea of women helping women better their lives.

"People were absolutely ecstatic about becoming a part of this,” says Sacht. “The fact that it was the first Women Build in the entire province and we did it in our little town of Courtenay is absolutely fabulous.

When the initial goal of building one Habitat for Humanity home in Courtenay evolved into a three-duplex endeavour, Sacht realized she’d need an army of women to tackle the project. Nine teams, comprising six to 40 women each, have contributed thousands of volunteer hours since the project’s inception. Over $60,000 was raised, and monetary contributions have been complemented by in-kind donations of service and supplies.

The three-duplex project at 1580 Piercy Avenue is designed to give six local working families a hand up to own their own home. Families who receive a home must demonstrate need, have children, and spend 500 hours giving 'sweat equity' to build their home. In return, they own a home with no down payment and a no-interest mortgage through Habitat for Humanity.

Sporting their signature black overalls, pink hard hats, and pink shirts, Women Build teams worked on the duplexes from foundation to finishing. However, there was no shortage of supportive men on-site to help build or guide them through the inevitable rough patches. Some companies even donated entire crews of men to unite in the effort.

"It isn't about excluding men — it's about involving and empowering women," points out Sacht, who adds that generations of women have taken part in the build. “My girlfriend, her daughter, and her mom have built houses and been a part of major renovation projects. That's just the kind of girls they are.”

Four of the six families have taken possession of their new homes. Volunteers, both individual and corporate, are still needed to help complete the remaining two units. Landscaping and fencing the property will resume next spring, as will driveway paving. To volunteer, please call Habitat Vancouver Island North at 250.334.3777 or visit www.habitatnorthisland.com.

Are you confused by BC's regulations for forklift training and certification? You're not alone.

In simple terms, WorkSafe BC regulations state that employers must provide forklift training for employees. The actual guidelines are more complicated, however, so we've summarized them for you here. (If you prefer to read the regulatory information in its entirety, refer to OHS Section 16, Mobile Equipment and CSA Standard B335-94, Industrial Lift Truck Operator Training or click here.)

Section 16.4: Competency of Operators

1. A person must not operate mobile equipment unless the person:
(a) has received adequate instruction in the safe use of the equipment.

Section 16.7: Standards

(j) Lift Truck Operator training: CSA Standard B335-94, Industrial Lift Truck Operator Training

CSA Standard 7.1.1: Frequency of Courses

Refresher courses shall be held:
(a) at intervals not exceeding two years; or
(b) in case of accident or incidents attributable to operator error.

In a nutshell, a license is not required. However, you must ensure that your employees have been trained to current standards and have the documentation on hand to prove it.

To make your life easier, WesternOne now offers IVES Operator Certification Training that includes theory, practical training, and evaluation. The training is a win-win for both employer and employee. When an employee successfully completes the training, he or she receives a certificate and wallet card. The employer, in turn, receives copies of all documentation, including theory and practical test records. To find out more, call Greg Phelps, IVES Certified Trainer, at 250.667.0665 or WesternOne in Courtenay at 250.331.0748.

WesternOne​, your one-stop shop on Vancouver Island for tool and equipment rentals and sales, is North Vancouver Island's only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer. WesternOne is also Vancouver Island's exclusive dealer for Polaris snowmobiles. Factory-trained and factory-certified Silver/Gold technicians are on hand for any servicing or repair need, and financing is available. For more information, call 250.339.4518 (local) or 1.877.339.4518 (toll-free). You can also use their Request a Quote online form.

When you're looking for a new Vancouver Island home, turn to Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent, PREC,"Your Comox Valley Connection."

Tina currently has a beautiful four-bedroom, 2,200 square-foot home for sale at 2099 Evans Place on a quiet cul-de-sac bordering Comox and Courtenay on Vancouver island. Tasteful upgrades throughout give this home a "like new" feel and look, but you'll pay no GST as you would on a new home. Check out these highlights:

• oversized bedrooms;
• engineered hardwood and Italian tile;
• nine-foot ceilings;
• large great room with gas fireplace and vaulted ceilings;
• stylish ensuite;
• large kitchen with maple Shaker-style cabinets and island;
• heat pump;
• fully fenced with underground sprinklers;
• sunny mountain views from your yard or deck; and
• close to all schools, shopping, and walking trails.

Priced at $459,900, this amazing home won't last long. For an online tour of 2099 Evans Place, click here. For more information on this listing, call Tina Vincent, PREC, Comox Valley Realtor, at 250.792.2776. You can view Tina's other Vancouver Island listings on her website.

Vancouver Island residents know that the green landscape in which we live means that our west coast climate is sometimes a little damp. The moisture and humidity that render our landscape so lush can also cause problems with products affected by high moisture levels.

Humidity can wreak havoc when building a house, installing hardwood floors, prepping drywall, or building cabinets. A dry job site can save money and avoid humidity-related problems such as checking or shrinkage. It can even prevent or eliminate mold. So, before the insulation goes in and the drywall goes up, doesn't it make sense to start with a moisture-free work site?

Dehumidifiers Are a Great Solution

WesternOne in Courtenay carries the perfect solution for a wet work environment: the Quest PowerDry 4000 Pro. This large-capacity, stainless-steel dehumidifier offers a perfect combination of high-performance and portability. Capable of removing an astounding 176 pints of water a day, the Quest PowerDry 4000's multiple ducting options allow for ducting both intake and processed air, giving you amazing flexibility on any job site. Multiple ducting also makes it easy to combine the unit with a HEPA air scrubber, air conditioner, or desiccant dehumidifier.

Great Rental Options and Rates

The Quest PowerDry 4000 Pro is available for daily, weekly, or monthly rental from WesternOne's Courtenay location on Moray Avenue. To find out more, call Greg Phelps at 250.667.0665 or WesternOne in Courtenay at 250.331.0748.

Rentals, Sales, and Service

WesternOne, your one-stop shop on Vancouver Island for tool and equipment rentals and sales, is North Vancouver Island's only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer. WesternOne is also Vancouver Island's exclusive dealer for Polaris snowmobiles. Factory-trained and factory-certified Silver/Gold technicians are on hand for any servicing or repair need, and financing is available. For more information, call 250.339.4518 (local) or 1.877.339.4518 (toll-free). You can also use their Request a Quote online form.

WesternOne​, your one-stop shop on Vancouver Island for tool and equipment rentals and sales, is North Vancouver Island's only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer. WesternOne is also Vancouver Island's exclusive dealer for Polaris snowmobiles. Factory-trained and factory-certified Silver/Gold technicians are on hand for any servicing or repair need, and financing is available. For more information, call 250.339.4518 (local) or 1.877.339.4518 (toll-free). You can also use their Request a Quote online form.

In addition to equipment rentals and sales, WesternOne now offers IVES Operator Certification Training. WesternOne will teach you everything you need to know about safely operating counterbalance forklifts, rough-terrain forklifts, scissor lifts, and aerial lifts. IVES certification courses meet or exceed all applicable safety requirements, industry standards, and government regulations. Training is available in a classroom setting or on-site. To find out more, call Greg Phelps, IVES Certified Trainer, at 250.667.0665 or WesternOne in Courtenay at 250.331.0748. Safety is their goal — make it your goal, too!

Set your real estate development apart by making it Power Smart!

Elemental Energy Advisors on Vancouver Island is reporting that BC's Power Smart New Home Program has new eligibility requirements. Effective October 1, 2013, you must provide EnerGuide labelling within six months of your occupancy permit to be eligible for Power Smart incentives. Developers must achieve an Energy Guide rating of 80 and above to qualify for incentives of up to $200 per home for row houses, townhouses, and duplexes, and up to $2,000 per home for single-family dwellings.

There is also an ENERGY STAR Package incentive in the amount of $150 per dwelling for installing the following four products:

• refrigerator;
• clothes washer;
• six CFL or LED bulbs (considered to be one product); and
• bathroom ventilation fan.

All four of these products need to be installed to qualify for the rebate. Dishwashers are no longer included in the offer.

The certified energy advisors at Elemental Energy Advisors can guide owner-builders and Vancouver Island new-home builders through building a more energy-efficient home. Their goal is to help reduce your utility expenses while conserving energy that benefits our environment. Contact Christi Sacht from Elemental Energy Advisors at 250.830.8000. For more information on the Power Smart New Home Program, visit BC Hydro's website.

Double A Safety Services supports the Vancouver Island construction industry by helping businesses maintain and energize the integrity of their safety programs.

Based in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, Double A Safety Services brings experience in workplace safety from large and small construction projects to help companies of all sizes with safety training, evaluation, development, safety documentation and due diligence procedures.

Double A Safety Services will work with you to ensure that your company’s complete documentation requirements are met for BC Construction Safety Alliance (COR) and Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) compliance.

In addition, Double A Safety Services offers safe work practice development to industry best practices, incident investigation, workplace safety inspection services, HSE safety manual development, and claims management to support your company in getting work done efficiently and safely.

Providing a safe workplace saves time, money, and, most importantly, workers’ lives. Double A Safety Services will work with your business to develop a health and safety program that meets best industry standards. Call them today for a free consultation at 250.914.4699.

Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent, PREC, is dedicated to finding you a home, vacation property, or investment property on Vancouver Island. As your Comox Valley Connection, Tina uses her real-estate expertise and knowledge of home construction to assist Vancouver Island buyers and sellers in the Comox Valley, Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and Campbell River.

Moving into your new Vancouver Island home is a breeze with Delaney Relocation Services. They've been helping Vancouver Island residents pack, move, and relocate for over 10 years.

Located in the Comox Valley, Delaney Relocation Services provides a range of packing, moving, and relocation services in the Comox Valley (Comox, Courtenay, and Cumberland), Campbell River, Powell River, Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach. From kitchen cupboards to home electronics, Delaney Relocation Services will help you move and settle into your new home.

Specialty Services

Although Delaney Relocation Services can help people of all ages, they specialize in helping seniors pack, move, and relocate. Moving is a complicated process at any age, but can be particularly difficult for older adults. Delaney Relocation Services will simplify your move in a variety of ways, including space planning for your new home, disposing of unwanted or unnecessary items, cancelling or transferring utilities, and coordinating your move. They also offer a complete range of home-support services once you’re settled in your new home.

Member Affiliations

The company is a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers and of Professional Organizers in Canada. Working on Vancouver Island from Campbell River to Nanaimo, providing top-quality care throughout a move is always their top priority. Delaney Relocation Services can coordinate your move with other moving service providers, including Vancouver Island Auction House, All Secure Storage, Seniors Services Under One Roof, Clarkes Household Moving, and Integrated Technologies.

Contact Information

For more information or to book a free one-hour consultation and written estimate, call 250.339.1188 (local), 1.866.210.2064 (toll-free), or visit their website. Compare rates to traditional movers and see how much you can save. Discover how easy packing and moving can be with Delaney Relocation Services!

Special Offer for Casa Loma Residents

Book your suite at Casa Loma, pay your deposit, and the full cost of your move could be covered!

Double A Safety Services supports the Vancouver Island construction industry by helping businesses maintain and energize the integrity of their safety programs.

Based in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, Double A Safety Services brings experience in workplace safety from large and small construction projects to help companies of all sizes with safety training, evaluation, development, safety documentation and due diligence procedures.

Double A Safety Services will work with you to ensure that your company’s complete documentation requirements are met for BC Construction Safety Alliance (COR) and Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) compliance.

In addition, Double A Safety Services offers safe work practice development to industry best practices, incident investigation, workplace safety inspection services, HSE safety manual development, and claims management to support your company in getting work done efficiently and safely.

Providing a safe workplace saves time, money, and, most importantly, workers’ lives. Double A Safety Services will work with your business to develop a health and safety program that meets best industry standards. Call them today for a free consultation at 250.914.4699.

WesternOne, a one-stop shop in the Comox Valley for tool and equipment rentals and sales, is also North Vancouver Island’s only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer.

Serving Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, the North Island, and the Sunshine Coast, WesternOne is the only place on Vancouver Island where you can buy Canada’s best-selling ATV.

WesternOne's Comox location has Polaris factory-trained and certified technicians on hand for any ATV parts and servicing needs. As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for their Comox Valley equipment rentals.

WesternOne also rents, sells, and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island, from both their Comox location and their new Courtenay location on Moray Avenue. And, if you’re in the market for a new ATV, come for a test drive!

Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent, PREC, is dedicated to finding you a home, vacation property, or investment property on Vancouver Island. As your Comox Valley Connection, Tina uses her real-estate expertise and knowledge of home construction to assist Vancouver Island buyers and sellers in the Comox Valley, Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and Campbell River.

Enjoy lower monthly energy bills by thinking about energy efficiency before and during the construction process of building your new home. Although it may seem an initial added expense, you'll reap the benefits of lower utility bills almost immediately. Even if you increase your mortgage to increase your home's energy efficiency, your monthly bills can still be lower than with less-expensive construction options.

Vancouver Island's Certified Energy Advisors at Elemental Energy Advisors can guide owner-builders and Vancouver Island new-home builders through building a more energy-efficient home. In addition, they can help you achieve an EnerGuide rating for your home that earns rebates of $2,000 or more.

Elemental Energy Advisors can work with builders to review house plans before construction to suggest ways to build a more energy-efficient home, as well as review heating and hot-water options. They provide a projected EnerGuide rating for a home and complete a building-envelope test once the home is complete.

A typical new home will qualify for the minimum rating of EnerGuide 80, which is required for the incentives, Get an EnerGuide rating for your new Vancouver Island home, save money on energy costs, and put money back in your pocket with help from the Certified Energy Advisors at Elemental Energy Advisors, Cristi & Kate. Building an energy-efficient home saves you money now and adds value to your home the day you decide to sell.

Special Invitation!

Christi Sacht has had several requests for another Air Leakage Demonstration and Energy Efficiency Workshop. If you're interested, please email her at cristi@elementalenergyadvisors.ca. Education is power, and educating ourselves on energy efficiency is good for all of us, particularly the environment! 

United Carpet in the Comox Valley is now United Floors, but everything else remains the same: same competitive pricing and same great service!

United Floors offers a wide selection of flooring to suit any need, including carpet, vinyl, laminate, hardwood, cork, ceramic, and area rugs. The Campbell River location also offers blinds and custom draperies.

The experienced sales associates at United Floors will help you choose the perfect flooring or window coverings for your home. United Floors also offers comprehensive information on installation, stain removal, and maintenance, in store or online. ​Be sure to check out their Fall Flyer Sales Event, on from September 26 to October 6, 2013, as well as their 25 Bonus Air Miles offer!

To find out more about United Floors and their array of services, call 250.338.5511 (Courtenay) or 250.287.7456 (Campbell River) for a free in-home measure. You can also:

• stop by the Courtenay location at 362B - 10th Street or the Campbell River store at 1364 - 16th Avenue;
• email their Courtenay or Campbell River store;
• visit the United Floors website for an online quote;
• follow United Floors on Facebook for updates and special events.

​

If you're a Vancouver Island homeowner or business needing residential or commercial plumbing, heating, or gas installation, turn to Archer Mechanical in the Comox Valley.

With just one phone call, Archer Mechanical provides plumbing, heating, gas, and complete mechanical installation packages for residential and commercial construction projects in Parksville, Qualicum, the Comox Valley, and Campbell River.

Archer Mechanical also provides fire protection and sheet-metal services.

Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent, PREC, offers Comox Valley homebuyers and sellers a knockout combination of traditional real estate services and modern marketing techniques. As your Comox Valley Connection, Tina Vincent is dedicated to finding you a home, vacation property, or investment property on Vancouver Island. She uses her real estate expertise and knowledge of home construction to assist Vancouver Island buyers and sellers in the Comox Valley, Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and Campbell River. 

WesternOne, a one-stop shop on Vancouver Island for tool and equipment rentals and sales, is also North Vancouver Island’s only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer. They serve the Comox Valley, Campbell River, Port Alberni, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Nanaimo, the North Island, and the Sunshine Coast.

WesternOne is the only location on Vancouver Island where you can buy or rent Canada's best-selling ATV. Their Comox location has Polaris factory trained and certified technicians on hand for any ATV parts and servicing needs. As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for equipment rentals.

WesternOne also rents, sells, and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island, from both their Comox location and their new Courtenay location on Moray Avenue. If you need to rent anything for your home or business project, WesternOne has thousands of items from which to choose. For more information or to request a quote, call 250.339.4518 or 1.877.339.4518. And, if you’re in the market for an ATV, drop by for a test drive!

Proudly Canadian, Cloverdale Paint Courtenay offers a vast selection of paint and coatings for homeowners, tradespeople, and industry. A leader in eco-friendly paints, green products, and low-volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, Cloverdale Paint in Courtenay has one of the Comox Valley’s largest selections of water-based and low-VOC paints and coatings. 

One of the special coatings carried by Cloverdale Paint Courtenay is a decorative, zero-VOC, 100% solids, otherwise known as polyaspartic floor epoxy. This specialty coating is available for a metallic, vinyl chip, or quartz type of floor used in homes, medical offices, and commercial buildings. Cloverdale Paint Courtenay can also recommend a qualified professional trained to work with this specialty product.

Cloverdale Paint Courtenay offers a full selection of wall coverings and sundry items, as well as lacquers and stains (both solvent and waterborne). Their in-store staff are trained colour consultants who would love to help you with your painting and decorating needs. Visit them at #1, 2998 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay, or contact Linda Ronald, trade sales representative for North Vancouver Island, at 250.830.8430.

Are you buying or selling a home in the Comox Valley? Realtor Scott Fraser (PREC) with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley is ready to help.

Scott was born on Vancouver Island and has lived in the Comox Valley since 1992. His real estate and business experience give him the necessary expertise to help you buy or sell a home, townhouse, patio home, condominium, income property, or recreational property in Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, and the Comox Valley.

With more sunshine than many other communities on Vancouver Island, the Comox Valley enjoys mild winters and warm, dry summers. Your key to enjoying this wonderful area is finding the right location for your next home, one that fits your budget and lifestyle. Whether you enjoy the city amenities of Courtenay, boating in Comox, mountain biking in Cumberland, skiing at Mount Washington, or golfing at Crown Isle and surrounding golf courses, Scott Fraser has the right skills and experience needed to find the perfect real estate for you.

Some of Scott's current listings include Railside Lane, a patio home and townhouse development located in a quiet spot in Courtenay, just a short walk from downtown.

For more information on Railside Lane, call Scott Fraser at Royal LePage in the Comox Valley at 250.334.3124. You can also view Scott’s Comox Valley listings on his website.

During the last five months, Campbell River residents have lowered their monthly energy bills thanks to free home energy evaluations. Starting this month, low-income residents of Campbell River will find it easier to participate in the program.

Applicants to the city’s Leisure Involvement for Everyone (LIFE) program will also have an opportunity to apply for the Energy Conservation Assistance Program (ECAP), which provides qualified lower-income BC Hydro residential account holders with free home energy evaluations and energy-saving products. A Certified Energy Advisor from Elemental Energy Advisors on Vancouver Island can help you with these energy evaluations and recommend energy-saving products for your home.

One of the mandates of a Certified Energy Advisor is to identify problem environmental conditions that could be potential health risks. These include combustion-spillage susceptibility, inadequate ventilation, mold on interior surfaces, or the presence of pollutant sources. Certified Energy Advisors from Elemental Energy Advisors on Vancouver Island can give you the information and help needed to prevent or mediate these health risks. By evaluating your home as a system, Elemental Energy Advisors takes into account how changing one component can improve conditions throughout the house. These comprehensive evaluations ensure that the recommendations made by Elemental Energy Advisors are based on what’s best for your home; they can also save you money!

Contact Elemental Energy Advisors at 250.830.8000 to book a free energy evaluation for your home. They’re saving money, energy, and the environment one home at a time!

When decorating a home, window coverings provide privacy and enhance the decor of any room. The right window shades, shutters, blinds and draperies can be decorative and practical. Whether you’re moving into a new home, renovating your current one, or merely updating the window coverings in one or two rooms, be sure to visit the experts at Blinds Bubbles Boutique in the Comox Valley.

Formerly known as Blinds Billiards and Baubles, Blinds Bubbles Boutique is still the exclusive Hunter Douglas dealer in the Comox Valley. In addition to their wide selection of window coverings, Blinds Bubbles Boutique offers ultrasonic blind cleaning and repair services. From their Comox showroom, Blinds Bubbles Boutique features the complete Hunter Douglas product line, including Silhouette, Pirouette, Vignette, and the full Alustra collection.

Hunter Douglas's 20/20 Gold Guarantee ensures that clients are completely satisfied with their product choices. Owners Tracey and John McGinnis chose to sell Hunter Douglas because of the company's unmatched quality, competitive prices, and innovative products. The majority of the window shades, shutters, blinds and draperies offered at Blinds Bubbles Boutique are made in Canada.

Clients are invited to stop by their Comox Gallery showroom to see the vast selection of window coverings carried by Blinds Bubbles Boutique. They offer free in-house consultations to help you choose the perfect window coverings for your home or office. Blinds Bubbles Boutique services the areas of Comox, Courtenay, and Cumberland in the Comox Valley, as well as the Campbell River region. Visit Blinds Bubbles Boutique at 221C Church Street in Comox or call 250.941.7824.

Call the experts at Tilley Electrical Contracting Inc. for any of your residential, commercial, or light-industrial electrical contracting jobs.

Serving the Comox Valley and surrounding areas on Vancouver Island for more than 10 years, these electricians specialize in controls, communications, and residential and commercial wiring. They also offer 24-hour emergency electrician services in the Comox Valley.

Choosing Tilley Electrical Contracting for your electrical needs means punctual, quality service; knowledgeable electrical technicians; and reasonable rates. Tilley Electrical Contracting offers renovation services, and services new construction work for residential, commercial, and light-industrial customers.

If you need quality electrical contracting, you need to call the experts at Tilley Electrical Contracting Inc. Call them at 250.331.1844 for 24-hour emergency service or to schedule an appointment.

Jackson & Associates is Vancouver Island’s most trusted source of real estate appraisal services. In their 33+ years of operation, Jackson & Associates' AIC-certified appraisers have completed more than 30,000 residential appraisals and more than 5,000 commercial appraisals out of their Courtenay offices. 

Serving Vancouver Island from Duncan to Port Hardy, the Sunshine Coast and all points in between, Jackson & Associates provides more than just numbers, they provide value. Jackson & Associates can also help with real estate business planning processes through site selection, acquisition due diligence, and development project.

They provide reliable advice to businesses and individuals on a wide range of issues involving real estate holdings. Whether appraising a single-family home, an apartment tower or a multi-unit development project, the expert real estate team at Jackson & Associates provides accurate and dependable valuations tailored to individual needs. Jackson & Associates recognizes that clients put trust in them and their service. 

In return, they deliver more than just numbers – they deliver real value to help clients solve real problems. Contact Jackson & Associates at 250.338.7323.

WesternOne is your one-stop shop for tool and equipment rentals in the Comox Valley, as well as North Vancouver Island’s only authorized dealer of Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles. Serving Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, the North Island, and the Sunshine Coast, WesternOne is the only Vancouver Island venue that sells and rents Polaris ATVs, Canada’s best-selling all-terrain vehicles.

WesternOne’s Comox location has Polaris factory-trained and certified technicians on hand for any ATV parts and servicing needs. As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for their Comox Valley equipment rentals.

WesternOne also rents, sells, and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island, from both their Comox location and their new Courtenay location on Moray Avenue. To request a quote, call 250.339.4518 or 1.877.339.4518. And, if you’re in the market for a new ATV, drop by for a test drive!

Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island carries a variety of window coverings including blinds, shutters, shades, curtains, drapes and window film. They service the Vancouver Island areas of the Comox Valley, which includes Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland as well as Campbell River, Qualicum, Parksville and Nanaimo.

Budget Blinds provides high quality and stylish window coverings and blinds for new homes and home renovations as well as for commercial, retail and professional offices. Their goal is simple: to provide their customers with the best window coverings and products combined with professional installation services to enrich your home and office environment.

To help choose the most suitable window product in the perfect texture and colour, Budget Blinds has two interior designers on staff who will come to your location to help you choose the right window coverings, blinds or shutters for your home or office.

Budget Blinds also supplies business owners and property managers a complete turnkey solution for their window covering needs. Commercial window treatments are available in motorized, flame retardant, kid friendly, cordless and even energy conserving. They offer very competitive pricing on popular and unique window coverings for commercial and professional buildings.

Budget Blinds also has an entire line of green window coverings that are eco-friendly and made from sustainable materials.  Budget Blinds can customize fit any window covering regardless of the shape of the window.  Call them today to schedule your free consultation. 

With a new name - Blinds Bubbles Boutique - is still offering the same quality window coverings and service worth remembering in the Comox Valley. Formerly known as Blinds Billiards and Baubles, Blinds Bubbles Boutique is still the exclusive Hunter Douglas Gallery in the Comox Valley, and they are now also offering ultrasonic blind cleaning, and repair services.

From their Comox showroom, Blinds Bubbles Boutique showcases the complete Hunter Douglas product line including Silhouette, Pirouette, Vignette, and the full Alustra collection. Hunter Douglas's 20/20 Gold Guarantee insures that the client is completely satisfied with their product choices. Owners Tracey and John McGinnis say that they chose to sell Hunter Douglas because of the company's unmatched quality, competitive prices, and innovative products. The majority of the window shades, shutters, blinds and draperies offered are Canadian-made.

Clients are welcome to stop by the Comox Gallery showroom to see what is available and in-home consultations are done to ensure accurate measuring, and select appropriate styles and colours. Trained, professional installers typically have the completed product installed in the client's home with in one month.

Stop in and visit Blinds Bubbles Boutique on Church Street in Comox today.

For Sound Security call the experts. Sound Security in the Comox Valley offers security systems and much more for homes and businesses. They are a trusted, reliable name in the security business in the Comox Valley, and will work with you to secure anything from a small home to a large business.

Sound Security’s expert installation team provide surveillance cameras, sound system equipment and wiring, home theatre installations, and multi-room music systems. The can install media panels and offer new home installation packages. As the only provider of screen alarms on Vancouver Island, Sound Security can offer a security alarm option to keep intruders out but let fresh air in.

They will install, service and monitor security systems to protect your home, family or business. 

Presley & Partners Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors in the Comox Valley, work with developers, professionals, farmers, fishermen, loggers, retailers and manufacturers, on a daily basis to serve their accounting, tax, audit and business management needs. 

Their experienced advisors and accountants help guide Vancouver Island businesses through the business tides caused by world-wide changes or local booms and busts. With world events affecting businesses on Vancouver Island, events that happen elsewhere on the globe eventually trickle down to our local businesses. Find professional advice and expert answer from the team at Presley and Partner

Call Presley & Partners  at 250.338.1394 to see how they can join your team to help your business be a “Front Runner.”

Blinds Billiards and Baubles is now Blinds Bubbles Boutique. Still the exclusive Hunter Douglas Gallery in the Comox Valley, they are now also offering ultrasonic blind cleaning, and repair services.

From their Comox showroom, Blinds Bubbles Boutique showcases the complete Hunter Douglas product line including Silhouette, Pirouette, Vignette, and the full Alustra collection. Hunter Douglas's 20/20 Gold Guarantee insures that the client is completely satisfied with their product choices. Owners Tracey and John McGinnis chose to sell Hunter Douglas because of their unmatched quality, competitive prices, and innovative products. The majority of the window shades, shutters, blinds and draperies offered are Canadian-made.

Clients are welcome to stop by the Comox Gallery showroom to see what is available. In-home consultations are done to ensure accurate measuring, and select appropriate styles and colours. Trained, professional installers, including owner John McGinnis, will typically have the completed product installed in the clients home with in one month.

Stop in and visit Blinds Bubbles Boutique to find quality and service worth remembering.

Colonial Countertops in Courtenay specializes in the manufacturing and installation of decorative surfaces and countertops on Vancouver Island. In their Comox Valley showroom, you can browse hundreds of different styles of laminates, natural quartz, and solid surfaces. They offer kitchen and bath countertops, tub surrounds, shower walls, desktops, reception areas, window sills and much more. 

Colonial Countertops is able to provide homeowners and builders with the latest styles, trends, and colours. They are proud to offer: top-quality, unsurpassed service; on time delivery; and professional installation.

Colonial Countertops is a family-owned business and has been serving Vancouver Island since 1970. For more information, visit their website.

Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent, PREC, is "Your Comox Valley Connection." Realtor Tina Vincent blends traditional real estate services with modern, innovative marketing to help home buyers and sellers achieve their goals.

Tina Vincent, a realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, uses her experience in interior design and new-home construction to provide home-staging services for her clients and bring unique ideas to marketing clients' homes. She works to find the right residences for her clients, ensuring that families find not just houses, but homes. Tina is also a Brookfield specialist ready to help with your military posting or relocation.

Tina is friendly and knowledgeable and works to find the right homes for her clients. Whether you're looking for a single-family home with room for the kids; a patio home or bungalow for your retirement; a home with a secondary suite; rural property with room for the horses and animals; or an executive home in Crown Isle, Tina's expertise will help you find the perfect home. She works with home buyers and sellers in Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland,  Parksville, Qualicum Beach. and Campbell River.

Realtor Scott Fraser (PREC) with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley is ready to help you buy or sell your Comox Valley home.

The beautiful Comox Valley has many activities that truly make it Canada's year round playground. Your key to enjoying this wonderful area is finding the right location for your next home that fits your budget, lifestyle and tastes. Whether you enjoy mountain biking in Cumberland or boating in Comox, Scott Fraser has all the skills and experience to put you in the right home.

Scott was born on Vancouver Island and has been a resident of the Comox Valley since 1992. With his real estate and business experience, Scott can help you with your real estate needs, be it buying or selling a primary residence, or buying income or recreational property.

Some of Scott's current listings include: an executive fairway home at Crown Isle, and new patio homes at Railside Lane and Woodcote Mews in Courtenay.

Give Scott Fraser at Royal LePage in the Comox Valley a call at 250.334.3124 when considering your next real estate move and discover the difference that attention to detail and personal service makes for his clients. 

Call the experts at Tilley Electrical Contracting Inc. for any of your electrical contracting jobs. Choosing Tilley Electrical Contracting for your electrical needs means punctual, quality service, knowledgeable electrical technicians and reasonable rates. Their commitment is to provide quality service and dependability to their customers at competitive prices.

Serving the Comox Valley & Vancouver Island for over 10 years, these electricians specialize in controls, communications and residential and commercial wiring. They also offer 24 hour emergency electrician service in the Comox Valley.

Tilley Electrical specialties includes residential and commercial wiring, light industrial, renovations, and new construction.

Call Tilley Electrical at 250.331.1844 for 24 hour emergency service or to schedule an appointment. Free estimates are always available.

United Carpet of the Comox Valley and Campbell River both offer a wide selection of flooring to suit any need. United Carpet’s flooring products include: Carpet, Vinyl, Laminate, Hardwood, Cork, Ceramic, and Area Rugs. United Carpet in Campbell River also offers Window Fashions: blinds and custom draperies.

Summer is on its way and its time to get those landscaping projects finished so you can enjoy your new yard! Imagine professionally installed water features, gardens with year-round interest, all professionally created for you by Banner Landscaping

Banner Landscaping in the Comox Valley specializes in complete landscaping installations for commercial developments and for new homes in Comox, Courtenay and the Comox Valley. Banner Landscaping has bobcats, excavators and all of the equipment needed to complete any landscaping project.

Banner Landscaping can install paving stones and retaining walls, or a complete landscaping project with irrigation and water features. Banner Landscaping's Comox Valley crew is courteous and knowledgeable and will ensure that you have an outdoor space to be proud of. Give them a call at 250.792.1835.

Archer Mechanical offers the full mechanical contracting package of residential and commercial plumbing, heating, and gas installation for residential and commercial construction projects in Parksville, Qualicum, the Comox Valley, and Campbell River on Vancouver Island, BC.

With just one phone call, Archer Mechanical provides plumbing, heating, gas, heating services, and complete mechanical installation packages to homeowners and businesses. Archer Mechanical also provides fire protection and sheet metal services. 

Established in May 2009, Archer Mechanical “takes pride in everything they do.” Archer Mechanical offers competitive rates and discounts on multiple contracts. Doing their part to build green, Archer Mechanical installs high efficiency equipment like condensing tankless water heaters at cost. Contact them today at 250.331.3115.

Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent PREC specializes in relocations to the Comox Valley. Realtor Tina Vincent is "Your Comox Valley Connection" for military postings, RCMP transfers, corporate and employee moves and more.
She is a Brookfield Relocation agent on Vancouver Island, serving the Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland, areas, as well the Oceanside communities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach, and the City of Campbell River.

Realtor Tina Vincent combines traditional real estate services for home buyers and sellers with modern, innovative marketing. A realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, Tina works to find the right residences for her clients, ensuring that families find not just houses, but homes. 

She uses her experience in new home construction and home staging to help sellers ready their homes for sale. List your home with Tina to gain the maximum online advantage. She markets properties through a variety of platforms including: the Multiple Listing Service (MLS): online, including through 1stView.ca; and in print. Her vast knowledge of the local Vancouver Island real estate market helps buyers and sellers get the best value in their Comox Valley real estate transactions.

Tina combines traditional real estate services for home buyers and sellers with modern, innovative marketing. A realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, Tina works to find the right homes or investment properties for her clients. Call Tina today at 250.792.2776.

WesternOne Rentals and Sales in Comoxis the region's only authorized Polaris ATV Dealer. Serving Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, the North Island and the Sunshine Coast. WesternOne is the only place on Vancouver Island to buy Canada’s number one selling ATV.

During their XP sales event, they are currently offering rebates of up to $1700 on select models and financing as low as 3.99%. 

As Northern Vancouver Island's Polaris dealer, WesternOne also has factory trained technicians available for ATV parts, servicing and repairs on your Polaris and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles in the Comox Valley. As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for their Comox Valley equipment rentals. 

WesternOne Rentals and Sales - with locations in Comox and now in Courtenay - also rents, sells and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island.

Presley & Partners Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors in the Comox Valley, help guide Vancouver Island businesses through the business tides caused by world-wide changes or local booms and busts. With world events affecting businesses on Vancouver Island, events that happen elsewhere on the globe eventually trickle down to our local businesses. 

Their Comox Valley Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors work with developers, professionals, farmers, fishermen, loggers, retailers and manufacturers, on a daily basis to serve their accounting, tax, audit and business management needs. 

Call Presley & Partners  at 250.338.1394 to see how they can join your team to help your business be a “Front Runner.”

This spring, you can enjoy a newly painted home and provide a boost to Habitat for Humanity. Painting contractor Straight Line Painting and Decorating in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island offers residential, commercial, interior and exterior painting. Book an exterior painting project by May 15, and Straightline Painting will donate $100 in paint and materials to a local Habitat for Humanity project.

Straight Line Painting owner Marco Spadafora brings more than 20 years experience to the company, which has been operating in the Comox Valley for more than 10 years. Straight Line Painting is a certified, licensed, bonded and insured painting contractor, offering free estimates to home owners, contractors and commercial clients. The company uses only premium paints, and happily provides local references. Seniors discounts are available.

Straight Line Painting and Decorating offers additional services including power washing, window cleaning and colour consulting.

Marco and his crew offer friendly service that goes the extra mile to ensure clients are satisfied with the finished project. Straight Line Painting is available for jobs from Campbell River to Nanaimo, including, Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Parksville and Qualicum Beach. Contact them today at 250.334.7390 or follow them on Facebook.

WesternOne Rentals and Sales in Comox is the region's only authorized Polaris ATV Dealer. During their XP sales event, they are currently offering rebates of up to $1700 on select models and financing as low as 3.99%. Serving Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, the North Island and the Sunshine Coast. WesternOne is the only place on Vancouver Island to buy Canada’s number one selling ATV.

As Northern Vancouver Island's Polaris dealer, WesternOne also has factory trained technicians available for ATV parts, servicing and repairs on your Polaris and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles in the Comox Valley.

As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for their Comox Valley equipment rentals. 

WesternOne Rentals and Sales - with locations in Comox and now in Courtenay - also rents, sells and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island.

Are you tight on space but still need a comfortable, elegant guest bedroom in your home? Murphy Beds, also known as wall beds, are an economical way to instantly transform a second room into a chic office or an extra bedroom. Courtenay-based Inspired Spaces By Harbour Kitchens & More Inc. is the only authorized Murphy Bed dealer for Mid and North Vancouver Island. Inspired Spaces specializes in kitchens, millwork and Murphy beds on Vancouver Island.

When designing the space for your new Murphy Bed, you can choose from Inspired Spaces' standard models or work with one of  their designers to create a custom wall bed with built-ins like cabinets, molding, and finishes to suit your decor. Inspired Spaces & More has the experience and expertise to take your Murphy Bed to the next level, creating a practical and attractive space saver. 

Inspired Spaces by Harbour Kitchens & More is an established Comox Valley millwright company with many years of experience in manufacturing of entertainment units, fireplace mantels, commercial offices and customized furniture pieces. Contact Inspired Spaces today at 250.898.9670 and start creating your own inspiring space.

For Sound Security call the experts.

Sound Security in the Comox Valley offers home and business security systems and much more. Sound Security’s expert installation team provide surveillance cameras, sound system equipment and wiring, home theatre installations, and multi-room music systems. They can install media panels and offer new home installation packages. 

As the only provider of screen alarms on Vancouver Island, Sound Security can offer a security alarm option that will keep intruders out but let fresh air in. They will install, service and monitor security systems to protect your home, family or business. 

Blinds Billiards and Baubles in Comox offers the exclusive Hunter Douglas Gallery in the Comox Valley. From their showroom, Blinds Billiards and Baubles showcases the complete Hunter Douglas product line including: Silhouette; Pirouette; Vignette; and the full Alustra collection. Hunter Douglas offers unmatched quality, competitive prices, and innovative products and their 20/20 Gold Guarantee insures that you'll be completely satisfied with your product choices.

Clients are welcome to stop by the Comox Gallery showroom to see what is available. Not sure what you need? Owner Tracey McGinnis is ready with ideas for any window and any decor, at a variety of price points. Even if you stop in to the Comox store to view the blinds, in-home consultations are done to ensure accurate measuring, and finalize your selection of styles and colours. Trained, professional installers, including owner John McGinnis, will typically have the completed product installed in the clients home within one month.

The majority of the window shades, shutters, blinds and draperies offered by Blinds Billiards and Baubles are Canadian-made. 

Make your window beautiful - stop in and visit Blinds Billiards and Baubles to find quality and service worth remembering.

Imagine entering into your new kitchen with a feeling of pride and excitement; whether entertaining company or comfortable living with your family. Your kitchen from Inspired Spaces will surely be a centrepiece that you can share in fashion and function. The testimonials from happy customers show just how fabulous a Kitchen from Harbour Kitchens at Inspired Spaces can truly be.

"We just finished having our new kitchen cabinets designed, supplied and installed by Inspired Spaces in Courtenay. We are completely happy with their work and attention to detail. At no time did the designers rush us to make a decision but were always ready with helpful suggestions and available when we had questions," says one happy Comox Valley couple. "The cabinets are made of Hickory and are flawless, all doors and drawers operate smoothly. The installer did a perfect job. He never rushed and everything had to be perfect before he was satisfied with his own work. The support staff are always cheerful. Originally we were going to obtain our cupboards from one of the big lumber companies simply because of cost; we thought custom design would be just too expensive, however, it turned out their prices were very competitive. We would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone."

Another couple is thrilled with the look, and the compliments they receive.

"The plan of our home, the great room concept, allow the kitchen to be a focal point and shows the furniture-style cabinetry off to full advantage. The finishing and detail elicits words of praise and compliments from family and friends. From conception to completion, the staff guided us through the process in a helpful, courteous manner. Within the first week of moving into our new home, Inspired Spaces sent over an employee to attend to any minor adjustments. The follow-up attention was second to none. Thank you for a smooth, enjoyable working relationship and a job well done."

If you would like your kitchen construction or renovation process to be as enjoyable and the results as fabulous, contact Inspired Spaces by Harbour Kitchens & More Inc. today.

Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent's featured listing is a spectacular, one-of-a-kind Comox Valley property. This estate is set on 5.3 acres, features two-homes, offers mountain views and is centrally located to all amenities including airport, golf, schools, shopping, beaches and nature.

The property offers two beautiful residences. The first home is a fully-renovated 3,000 square foot character building with 5 bedrooms, 2 floor-to-ceiling fireplaces, radiant heat and so much more. This home has all the warmth for family members, or is perfect as a high-end rental.

The main residence is an executive home consisting of 6,800 square feet of floor area. The main floor is open and spacious, including office, guest room and expansive ensuite and walk-in closet. The kitchen is one that any chef would love. The second level has bedrooms galore, as well as roomy exercise room and a bonus room for all the fun. For the big boy toys, the homes offers a 2,000 square foot, four-car garage with 11' ceilings. This second home awaits all your personal touches for completion. Create a custom home, without the hassles of construction.

This Comox Valley estate for sale is listed at $2,295,000. For more information contact Tina Vincent PREC at Royal Le Page in the Comox Valley.

With a recent expansion north, Dale’s Plumbing and Mechnical now specializes in residential and commercial plumbing in Campbell River. The long-time Comox Valley based plumbing company offers emergency plumbing services in Campbell River and the Comox Valley. Dale's expert team of plumbers works hard to establish a quick response time for service calls throughout the North-Central Vancouver Island region.

Dale’s Plumbing and Mechanical has been operating on North Vancouver Island for more than 30 years and their quality workmanship has earned Dale’s a reputation as a premiere Vancouver Island plumbing contractor.
Dale’s Plumbing specializes in new construction plumbing and plumbing renovations. They are also the one's to call for all your plumbing service needs. Experts in their field, they boast a 96% on-time completion record.

Dale’s Plumbing will manage all stages of a plumbing project with honesty and integrity while offering great value.

Call the experts at Tilley Electrical Contracting Inc. for any of your electrical contracting jobs. Serving the Comox Valley & Vancouver Island for over 10 years, these electricians specialize in controls, communications and residential and commercial wiring. They also offer 24 hour emergency electrician service in the Comox Valley.

Tilley Electrical specialties includes residential and commercial wiring, light industrial, renovations, and new construction.

Choosing Tilley Electrical Contracting for your electrical needs means punctual, quality service, knowledgeable electrical technicians and reasonable rates. Their commitment is to provide quality service and dependability to their customers at competitive prices. Call Tilley Electrical at 250.331.1844 for 24 hour emergency service or to schedule an appointment. Free estimates are always available.

WesternOne Rentals and Sales, a one-stop shop on Vancouver Island for equipment rentals and sales, is also North Vancouver Island’s only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer, in the Comox Valley. Serving Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, the North Island and the Sunshine Coast. WesternOne is the only place on Vancouver Island to buy Canada’s number one selling ATV.

Their Comox location has Polaris factory-trained and certified technicians for any ATV parts and servicing needs. As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for their Comox Valley equipment rentals. 

WesternOne Rentals and Sales has now opened their new Courtenay location, for rentals, sales and servicing of scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island. Both locations are open to serve trades and the general public.

Courtenay Realtor Scott Fraser, a real estate agent with Royal Le Page in the Comox Valley has just listed a three-bedroom home in Comox.  

Built in 2009, this Comox home for sale home features main level living complete with a master bedroom on the main floor.  The kitchen overlooks the living room, and downstairs also features a separate dining room/family room and den. Upstairs offers two additional nicely sized bedrooms, a large storage area and a 4 piece bathroom.

A private backyard comes complete with a large deck, and the home is within walking distance to major shopping and close to all schools. This Comox home's design is perfect for a retired couple looking to have some extra room upstairs for a family.

This home at 533 Spitfire Drive is listed at  $445,000.

To view this or other homes for sale in the Comox Valley, contact Realtor Scott Fraser, PREC, at Royal LePage in the Comox Valley.

Dale’s Plumbing has now branched into Campbell River. With more than 30 years of experience in the Comox Valley, Dale’s Plumbing and Mechanical has expanded its services north on Vancouver Island.

Dale and his crew have established a reputation for reliable, efficient plumbing service in the Comox Valley and are already building the same great reputation for plumbing service in Campbell River as well. They do everything from renovations to new construction, including gas fitting, heating, repairs and maintenance.

The team at Dale's Plumbing and Mechanical are exceptional at working under pressure and the company has an on-schedule completion guarantee. They maintain professionalism while providing you with quality care and fair prices.

For more information, you can visit the Dale's Plumbing website, click here to request more information, or give them a call in Campbell River 250.203.1909 or Courtenay 250.703.3798 or 250.650.1950.

The newest patio homes in Courtenay are  now ready for new home owners. Railside Lane is located at 1620 Piercy Avenue in Courtenay on Vancouver Island.

These Courtenay townhomes and duplexes feature three different floor plans, which include two or three bedrooms and range in size from about 1,300-1,690 sq. ft. All homes feature main floor living with beautifully finished tile and hardwood floors and spacious kitchens and living areas. The master bedrooms feature his and hers closets with custom wooden organizers. The ensuite offers heated tile floors, and dual shower heads including a rain head shower fixture.  The homes feature custom lighting fixtures throughout. Tour the Railside Lane patio homes and town homes in Courtenay during an open house, held Saturdays and Sundays from 1 - 3pm.

Railside Lane offers the convenience of strata with the living space of a single family home. The Railside Lane development features with four new townhouses and two duplexes for a total of 10 new patio homes. These Courtenay patio homes have attached garages and additional driveway parking, and guest parking spots. These new family townhomes range from $249,900 - $269,900. 

For more information contact Comox Valley Realtor Scott Fraser, PREC, of Royal LePage in the Comox Valley or tour the Railside Lane patio homes during an open house, held Saturdays and Sundays from 1-3. 

A number of new development project are in the works in the Comox Valley, with the help of Outlook Land Design Inc.

This Comox Valley civil engineering and landscape architecture consulting firm has been serving Vancouver Island since 1999.  Firm principal, Tim O’Brien, P.Eng.  MBCSLA, is both a professional civil engineer and registered landscape architect with more than 25 years of design and construction experience.

Currently Outlook Land Design is working on masterplan options for the Village of Cumberland and preparing to tender a one kilometre trail in the Goose Spit Area for the Comox Valley Regional District. The company recently completed designs and tendered the reconstruction of the Smelt Bay Campsite. As well, designs for various commercial development projects in the Comox Valley are underway.

Outlook Land Design Inc. integrates civil engineering and landscape architecture to provide better environments for all. Outlook Land Design Inc. provides civil engineering (municipal engineering) services including: specifying, designing and constructing streets, parking lots, sidewalks, water supply networks, sewers, street lighting, public parks and bicycle paths. 

Outlook Land Design Inc.'s landscape architecture solutions include the design of outdoor and public spaces. Past clients include provincial and municipal parks, schools and college campuses, resorts, multi-family housing projects, and institutions. The scope of their work includes: urban design; site planning; town or urban planning; environmental restoration; parks and recreation planning; visual resource management; and green infrastructure planning.

In addition to their Civil Engineering Services, Outlook Land Design works for private sector developers, open space projects, LEED projects and local government services. 

WesternOne Rentals and Sales in Comox - and now in Courtenay - brings you tips for caring for you STIHL outdoor power equipment this winter. Ah yes, winter! Whether or not snowflakes have touched down, the colder weather has arrived and the winter season has greeted us with its presence, and it will be a few months before spring welcomes us again.

Your STIHL outdoor power equipment requires some TLC before being put away for the next few months. A few tips for seasonal storage over the winter months:

Thanks to their sophisticated technology and sturdy construction, STIHL chainsaws require very little care and maintenance. During the season, this is likely to be confined to checking the chain regularly and keeping the cutting links sharp for a better cut and to protect the engine.

Here are a few tips for storing your equipment during the winter months. This will ensure that your equipment, when required again, will be ready for action right away.

1.To get the equipment ready for winter, clean it first. The air filter, the cylinder fins, the spark plug and the dismantled cutting tool should be checked and cleaned (also see Owner's Manual). Metal
parts should be just slightly lubricated with oil.

2.The fuel tank should be emptied. Run the carburetor until dry (Warning: Do not operate the throttle, run equipment in idle until the engine stops).

For winter storage, a dry and, if possible, dust-free and frost-free place would be ideal. You can save space if you hang the equipment. And remember: the fuel mix deteriorates; to avoid malfunction, it
should not be kept over a long period of time.

Information provided by WesternOne and  STIHL

Design-Build is a term that is being used for two very diverse areas of construction:  the residential market and the industrial/commercial market.

In the residential market, the term “Design-Build” often communicates a firms specialization in handling a custom project from design, to pre-construction, through to completed construction. There are many talented residential design build teams throughout western Canada including some of my favourites: MyHouse Design-Build in Vancouver, Landeca in Victoria, and of course (my firm!) Capstone Dwellings Design-Build in the Comox Valley and on North Vancouver Island. 

Recently I have had the chance to expand my experience in the industrial/commercial world of Design-Build after building a business largely focused on residential. While much of the principals are the same (team-work, flexibility, innovation) there are some very key differences in the two.

The custom residential Design-Build market is by its honest nature very driven by human emotion. After all, someone who is building their own home for their family will have a lot of hopes and dreams invested into the process. There are factors that come into consideration that give weight to the emotional and lifestyle rewards for the project. 

On the flip side, the Industrial/Commercial world of Design-Build is business driven. There is little need for carefully treading through the array of stakeholder’s emotions because they are rarely brought to workplace. Industrial/Commercial Design-Build clients likely have one common goal in mind: to make money. And now that I have a few years of Design-Build experience under my belt, I am becoming more and more passionate about the world of Design-Build for Industrial/Commercial construction projects. While the model isn’t ideal for every owner or development need, it does bring to the table some very exciting solutions that address this main “money making” factor.

For example, Design-Build is considered by both the Design-Build Institute of America and the Canadian DesignBuild Institute as the best method of construction execution for reducing claims and costs related to changes and delays. This is partly because in the Industrial/Commercial Design-Build arena, the direct owner/builder relationship structured to work well with minimal back-and-forth. Comparatively, this is directly opposite to how most Residential Design-Build firms work directly with their clients. 

For the most part, Design-Build is just beginning to gain a recognized name for itself here on Vancouver Island - and even on the Canadian West Coast. There is still much to do to make sure the Design-Build principals, benefits and suitability are communicated clearly and that all Design-Build professionals, consultants and constructors are on the same page. If you are an owner considering a Design-Build project in Western Canada it is advisable to source a consultant who can work on your behalf as your Design-Build Owner’s Agent. This person can walk you through developing a statement of requirements, producing a Design-Build RFP, lead in the construction procurement process and help bring clarity to the owner’s role though construction.

Whether residential or industrial/commercial, Design-Build can bring modern-day solutions to the table for development and construction. The key to the success of a Design-Build project may be insuring all stakeholders are aware of how to make it the best possible delivery model for the project.

Bethany Pearce is active proponent of both Residential and Industrial/Commercial Design-Build as a designer, consultant, project manager and general contractor. 
Bethany serves Residential Design-Build clients in her home community of the Comox Valley and North Vancouver Island, and serves Industrial/Commercial clients across Vancouver Island. 
Capstone Dwellings Design-Build & Capstone Creative Industries Ltd.
Office – 250-331-9004
Cell – 250-898-7573
Bethany@CapstoneDwellings.com

WesternOne Rentals & Sales in Comox has a limited-time offer on their ATV servicing - receive a free air filter or oil filter with a service and fluid check. 

Ensure the safety and reliability of your ATVs this winter by having them serviced by the Polaris factory-trained and certified technicians at WesternOne Rental & Sales. At WesternOne, they provide clients with high-quality parts and service for Polaris ATVs.

WesternOne Rentals & Sales has something for everyone from their fully stocked parts department, with all of the latest Polaris accessories to their trained service department we are always here to help. They pride themselves on their commitment to you.

Stop by WesternOne Rentals & Sales at 662 Anderton Rd. in Comox for huge holiday rebates and low financing on their large selection of 2012 & 2013 Off-Road Vehicles. 

WesternOne Rentals & Sales is a one-stop shop on Vancouver Island for equipment rentals and sales, is also North Vancouver Island’s only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer, in the Comox Valley. Serving Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, the North Island and the Sunshine Coast. WesternOne is the only place on Vancouver Island to buy Canada’s number one selling ATV.

As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for their Comox Valley equipment rentals. WesternOne Rentals and Sales also rents, sells and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island.

Dale’s Plumbing and Mechanical is now serving the Campbell River community. After providing exceptional plumbing service to the Comox Valley region for more than 30 years, Dale’s Plumbing and Mechanical has expanded its services a little further north on Vancouver Island.

Dale and his friendly, experienced crew have a reputation for reliable, efficient plumbing service in the Comox Valley and are excited to build that same great reputation for plumbing service in Campbell River.

They do everything from renovations to new construction, including gas fitting, heating, repairs and maintenance. Dale Plumbing and Mechanical offers a crew that is exceptional at working under pressure and the company has an on-schedule completion guarantee. They maintain professionalism while providing you with quality care and fair prices.

For more information, you can visit the Dale's Plumbing website, or give them a call in Campbell River 250.203.1909 or Courtenay 250.703.3798 or 250.650.1950.

Dee McDonald at Another Perspective Home Staging and Decor incorporates her passion and knowledge for décor, home renovation and over a decade of merchandising and marketing experience into a staging company which uses this expertise to aid in selling your Vancouver Island home more quickly and usually for more equity. Make your home stand out from others on the market.

Home staging is the process of preparing, enhancing and maximizing your home’s market appeal. Furnishings are used to feature all the positives in your home while drawing the eye away from the less appealing areas. A staged home is move in ready and will therefore, appeal to a larger range of potential purchasers. Staging or showcasing will make your rooms appear larger and brighter. The goal is to have the potential buyer envisioning their furniture in your space.

Let Dee and Another Perspective Home Staging and Decor handle the hassles of transforming your property into a welcoming and attractive listing.

A home staging consultation is the first step. You can give Dee a tour of your home and she will provide a professional assessment on what is necessary to prepare your property for sale. Depending on the size of the home, the consultation takes between 2 – 3 hours. You will receive her written recommendations as she look at your home with “buyer’s eyes.” Dee will discuss paint colour, lighting, repairs or maintenance required, cosmetic updates, furniture configuration as well as artwork placement.

The goal is to give you all the necessary information you need to prepare your home for sale. You can then choose to complete the recommendations yourself or use Dee's team of professionals to do as much of the suggestions as your budget allows.

Consultation prices are base on property size and location. Fees start at $125.

Dee can also work with builders and home owners to stage vacant properties. An empty property can be very challenging to perspective purchasers as approximately 90% of buyers can not envision how their furnishings will fit. Vacant properties often feel smaller than they truly are. Don’t let a simple thing like no furniture affect a potential sale. Another Perspective can eliminate these obstacles by offering a staging service that includes furniture, lighting, artwork and accessories for rent. These furnishings will warm up your space and help to enhance your property. No imagination required by a potential buyer, it is all set out for them to see.

Another Perspective can also step in to help the new Vancouver Island home-owner. Have you just moved into a new home and your furnishings don’t seem to fit as well as they did previously? Are you just tired of your current furniture layout and in need of another perspective on furniture arrangement? Hire Another Perspective to assist you in making the changes that will have you either loving your home all over again or being well satisfied with how your furnishings work in your new home.

Another Perspective Homes Staging and Decor also offers: colour consultations, occupied staging, organizing, retail display, general contractor services on smaller renovations. Another Perspective also carries a large inventory of beautiful home décor accessories and furniture that aid in creating a life style while your property is on the market.

Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent's featured listing this month is a spectacular one-of-a-kind Comox Valley property. This two-home estate is set on 5.3 acres offers mountain views and is centrally located to all amenities including airport, golf, schools, shopping, beaches and nature.

The property offers two beautiful residences. The first is a fully renovated 3,000 square foot character home with 5 bedrooms, 2 floor to ceiling fireplaces, radiant heat and so much more. This home has all the warmth for family members, or is perfect for a high end rental.

The main residence is an executive home consisting of 6,800 square feet of floor area. The main floor is open and spacious, including office, guest room and expansive ensuite and walk-in closet. The kitchen is one that any chef would love. The second level has bedrooms galore, as well as roomy exercise room and a bonus room for all the fun. For the guy toys, a 2000 square foot four car garage with 11' ceilings. The 2^nd homes home awaits all your personal touches to completion.

This Comox Valley estate for sale is listed at $2,295,000. For more information contact Tina Vincent PREC at Royal Le Page in the Comox Valley.

Mid Isle Drywall services the areas of the Comox Valley, Courtenay, Cumberland, Campbell River and North Vancouver Island. Their experienced crew can do any type of complete drywall project, including new residential homes and commercial jobs, as well as repair or renovation for both residential and commercial projects.

They use precision drywall techniques and they offer a variety of ceiling finishes. They can also install T-bar ceiling and steel stud walls for both new homes and commercial and retail businesses.

Gary Barr and Jason Barr have been offering professional drywall services for the past 30 years, and Mid Isle Drywall is recognized in the industry as being one of the very best drywall companies on Vancouver Island.

No job is too large or small, Mid Isle Drywall does it all. They are happy to provide free estimates for any type of job. Call Jason Barr at 250.338.7102 today.

Inspired Spaces By Harbour Kitchens & More Inc. specializes in kitchens, millwork and Murphy (wall) beds on Vancouver Island.

Based in Courtenay, Inspire Spaces by Harbour Kitchens & More takes your construction process seriously, whether you are building a quality home or remodeling your current one, needing better storage space or to beef-up a bedroom.
"We inspire to create products for those who appreciate quality made by skilled craftsmen and experienced design staff" is the company's motto. Imagine entering into your new kitchen with a feeling of pride and excitement; whether for entertaining company or comfortable living with your family. Your kitchen by Inspired Spaces & More will be a center-piece in your home.

Inspired Spaces & More is an established Comox Valley millwright company with many years of experience in manufacturing of entertainment units, fireplace mantels, commercial offices and customized furniture pieces.

Inspired Spaces is the only authorized Murphy Bed dealer for Mid and North Vancouver Island. Murphy Beds, also known as wall beds, are an economical way to instantly transform a second room into a chic office or an elegant guest bedroom. Choose from a standard model or work with an Inspired Spaces designer to customize your dream wall bed with cabinets, molding and finishes.

Contact Inspired Spaces today at 250.898.9670 and start creating your own inspiring space.

Comox Valley realtor Tina Vincent's featured listing is a great new 3 bedroom family home in Comox, priced at only $389,900.

Located at 350 Forester Avenue, this main level entry home has been tastefully finished, boasting exceptional quality and workmanship throughout and having something for everyone. An open concept main floor offers a good-sized kitchen with maple shaker cabinets, an island and eating bar. The kitchen opens to a generous great room, and a dining room. Upstairs features three generous bedrooms, with a 4-piece ensuite and walk -in closet off the master, plus an additional family area for the kids to hang out.

Set in a fantastic Comox neighborhood and close to CFB Comox and schools, immediate possession of this new home is available.

Contact Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent, PREC, with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley to request a viewing of this new home.  

Bethany Pearce of Capstone Dwellings Design-Build is building a portfolio of satisfied commercial clients for building design, interior design, feasibility studies, construction procurement consulting and project management in the Comox Valley.

Having committed early in her career to a specialized model of Design-Build, Bethany has brought the unique process to the table for commercial construction projects.

In the past, Bethany has lead her team in completing design and renovations to Sunrise Veterinary Clinic in Comox and recently took full responsibility for the design and construction of Ki Fitness and Health in Courtenay’s Tin Town.

Her most recent project includes offering professional design and consulting services to a private commercial client in the Comox Valley. In this project, Bethany is working directly with the property owner to develop a design concept, co-ordinate with architects, consult on feasibility, and lead in construction procurement for design-build delivery.

“I enjoy working with other professional business people. There is certainly a good match with my dedication to design-build, the personalized service I offer, and the unique needs to business people in the Comox Valley. While I love creating beautiful homes, my work in the commercial area of design-build in the Comox Valley has been very rewarding.”

Bethany encourages any commercial property owners or those needing lease- hold improvements to call her office and discuss their needs. Bethany’s consulting practice can assist with anything from construction planning and permitting, to assistance navigating zoning and bylaws.

“Completing a comprehensive feasibility study should always be the top priority of anyone looking to invest in commercial property. It’s money well saved!”

Bethany Pearce of Capstone Dwellings Design-Build is available to discuss projects across Vancouver Island.

Outlook Land Design Inc. is currently working on a number of significant Comox Valley and Vancouver Island projects, including taking on the role of Landscape Architect for the proposed new construction project at 2525 Mission Road in Courtenay. Outlook Land Design is also working as the Landscape Architect for North Island College, as part of the North Island Hospitals project, as well being the civil engineer and landscape architect at Smelt Bay on Cortes Island.

Outlook Land Design Inc. is a Comox Valley civil engineering and landscape architecture consulting firm, which has been serving Vancouver Island since 1999. Firm principal, Tim O’Brien, P.Eng. MBCSLA, is both a professional civil engineer and registered landscape architect with more than 25 years of design and construction experience.

Hopwood Drywall Systems brings a dynamic crew of experienced drywallers to the Comox Valley. Quality work, clean job sites and work done on or ahead of schedule distinguishes Hopwood Drywall Systems from the competition. 

Available for commercial and residential drywall projects from boarding to finishing, Hopwood Drywall Systems offers professional and enthusiastic service.
With more than 10 years of experience serving Vancouver Island customers, Hopwood Drywall Systems is now serving the Comox Valley including Courtenay, Cumberland, Comox and outlying areas.

Indigo Painting and Decorating in Courtenay specializes in unique and high quality paint finishes. Professionals painters who take pride in their work, Indigo Painting's Comox Valley crew is experienced in painting quality homes to the specifications of discerning architects, designers, contractors, and home owners. Complete client satisfaction is, and always will be their goal. When painting new construction, Indigo Painting sprays trim in place, to create a finish like that of fine furniture. Alternatively, they can glaze trim to make trim look rustic or antiqued or create stained or lacquered doors. These Comox Valley painters are also able to provide decorative, zero-VOC, epoxy flooring such as metallic, vinyl chip, and quartz for residential and commercial application. When painting exteriors, Courtenay's Indigo Painting knows the value of extensive preparation. With years of experience in stucco coatings such as elastomeric paints, they apply all products to manufacturers specifications. Indigo Painting professionals are prompt, reliable, and have references upon request. Contact them at 250.898.9656.

Delaney Relocation Services, the Comox Valley specialist in stress-free packing and moving, has teamed up with the Casa Loma Seniors Facility in Courtenay. Casa Loma is pleased to offer "stress-free" moving to new clients moving into the facility for the months of October and November. 
With the help moving and packing specialist, Anne Delaney of Delaney Relocation Services, new Casa Loma residents can be moved in and set up by supper time. This service is provided free for all new Casa Loma residents for the months of October and November, 2012.
Delaney Relocation Services makes packing, moving and settling into any new home easy. They have been in the business of helping people pack, move and relocate for the past 10 years. Located in the Comox Valley - and serving Campbell River, Powell River, Nanaimo and Parksville/Qualicum.
The company is a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers and of Professional Organizers in Canada, and providing top quality care throughout a move is always their top priority.
Call 250.339.1188 today for a free one-hour consultation and written estimate. Compare Delaney's rates to traditional movers and see how much you can save. Discover how easy packing and moving can be! Office Hours are Monday-Friday from 10 am – 2pm.

Dale’s Plumbing has now branched into Campbell River. After servicing the Comox Valley region for over 30 years, Dale’s Plumbing and Mechanical has expanded its services a little further north on Vancouver Island.
Dale and his crew have a reputation for reliable, efficient plumbing service in the Comox Valley and are really excited to start building up a great reputation for plumbing service in Campbell River as well.
They do everything from renovations to new construction, including gas fitting, heating, repairs and maintenance. Dale and his crew are exceptional at working under pressure and the company has an on-schedule completion guarantee. They maintain professionalism while providing you with quality care and fair prices.
For more information, you can visit the Dale's Plumbing website, click here to request more information, or give them a call in Campbell River 250.203.1909 or Courtenay 250.703.3798 or 250.650.1950.

“We’re noticing that our ideal clients are very tech-savvy and spend time connecting to things that matter to them via internet. We’ve reached clients through blogging, Facebook and of course 1stView.ca,” says Bethany Pearce of Capstone Dwellings. 
Currently Capstone Dwellings has divided their online activity into two components: localized content for connecting with clients, and globalized content for connecting to other industry professionals. “Because our firm is establishing itself with the main location being a small Vancouver Island town, we need to reach out on a larger scale to grow professionally” shares Bethany. “Recently we’ve been connecting to other Designers, Builders and Design-Build professionals in Nanaimo, Victoria and Vancouver for networking, knowledge sharing, and resource sharing.”

Capstone Dwellings Design-Build can be found online at these portals:

I recently had a chance to call Dale’s Plumbing and Mechnical to complete a number of plumbing project in my home.
Dale's Plumbing and Mechanical specializes in residential and commercial plumbing in Campbell River and in the Comox Valley.
I was able to book an appointment for the very next day, and the professional, courteous crew of two plumbers were able to complete four projects in my house in only a few hours. The entire Dale's team works hard to establish a quick response time for service calls throughout the region.
Emergency plumbing services in Campbell River and the Comox Valley are also just a quick call away. I was very impressed with the service I received. 
Dale’s Plumbing and Mechanical has been operating on North Vancouver Island for more than 30 years. This plumbing and gas fitting contractors’ quality workmanship has earned Dale’s a reputation as a premiere Vancouver Island plumbing contractor.
Dale’s Plumbing specializes in new construction plumbing and plumbing renovations. They are also the one's to call for all your plumbing service needs. Experts in their field, they boast a 96% on-time completion record. 
Dale’s Plumbing will manage all stages of a plumbing project with honesty and integrity while offering great value. Thanks Dales' Plumbing! To contact Dale’s Plumbing, call 250.650.1950. or visit their website. 

Mia Heitland

WesternOne Rentals and Sales in Comox is offering fall savings from Stihl. Nine models of gas powered Stihl chainsaws are now reduced in price, ranging from the 30.1 cc 3.9 kg MS170 model up to the 59 cc 5.9 kg MS360.
Eligible models of these Stihl chainsaws come with a free Wood-Pro kit which includes a Woodsman carrying case, a Stihl Timbersports hat, and replacement chain loop and instructional DVD. Reduced prices are in effect from now until Nov. 30, 2012.
WesternOne is committed to providing great customer service for their Comox Valley equipment rentals and sales. WesternOne Rentals and Sales also rents, sells and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island. Visit them at 662 Anderton Road in Comox.

McConochie's Furniture and Appliances has been serving the Comox Valley since 1964. McConochie's store in downtown Courtenay carries the brand-name furniture and appliances that customers trust: Frigidaire, Electrolux, La-Z-Boy, Palliser, El Ran, Dynasty, Stylus, Simmons, Trica. They can also order other makes (such as LG fridges) and unique items. Stop by their showroom at 434 5th Street in Courtenay, and browse for comfortable and fashionable brand name furniture and decorating ideas.
Check out the selection of refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, and laundry pairs on display, as well as the choices in chest and upright freezers. McCononchie's knowledgeable sales representatives are there to answer any questions.McConochie's offers fast free delivery in the Comox Valley and Campbell River areas, and can also arrange delivery to outlying areas.

New townhome developments in the Vancouver Island community of Courtenay are proving to be very popular with homebuyers. One new development coming to the market this summer is being built by McQueen Construction in the Comox Valley. This new townhome development on Piercy Avenue in downtown Courtenay, will feature ten new homes and is now under construction. The homes will be built in two buildings with four linked townhouses; two additional townhouses will also be added. These Courtenay townhomes will be completed this summer.
Floor plans for the Piercy Avenue townhome will include two and three bedrooms, and homes will range in size from 1,300 to 1,600 sq. ft. Many of these new homes offer the option of having the master bedroom on the main floor.
All of these new homes will feature hardwood flooring, solid wood cabinets, and come complete with appliance packages. The homes will have attached garages and additional driveway parking, and the development will also have guest parking spots.
Located only a few blocks from downtown Courtenay, Piercy Avenue Townhomes are set in a sunny, central location in this growing Vancouver Island city.
Prices are expected to start at $249,900.

Nutmeg Homes, is an award-winning custom home builder on Vancouver Island, which uses insulated concrete form (ICF) construction to create beautiful new homes that are created to last.
Based in the Comox Valley, Nutmeg Homes uses innovative concrete construction methods in building homes for their clients, to create green, energy efficient new homes which are built to last for generations.
The Nutmeg Homes website features a number of the new custom homes the company has built in and around the Comox Valley since 2000, and features details about the ICF construction process. 
Nutmeg Homes is also currently exploring options for building LEED certified homes and has begun developing green (or living) roofs. 

Accelerated Bookkeeping offers all-in-one office systems for contractors and other companies in the Comox Valley. Hiring a professional construction office manager with sound knowledge and experience on a part time basis, rather than a full time staff member, can save your company thousands. Lynn Waddleton has been a corporate organizer for more than 12 years and offers a range of office management and bookkeeping services.
Lynn also offers services as a Virtual Assistant, for your businesses administrative needs. These services include everything you would expect from an in-house administrative assistant, and most times a whole lot more. Using a Virtual Assistant eliminates costly business expenses such as payroll taxes, insurance, office space, and equipment.
A Virtual Assistant, can help you with everything from administrative assistance to marketing, website design, bookkeeping, transcription and more.
Contact Lynn at Accelerated Bookkeeping learn more about how your business can benefit.

A new townhome development on Piercy Avenuein downtown Courtenay, is being built by McQueen Construction in the Comox Valley. This new Vancouver Island real estate project will feature ten new homes and is now under construction. Building permits have been issued in the amount of $1.4 million for two four-plexes. The homes will be built in two buildings with four linked townhouses; two additional townhouses will also be added. These Courtenay townhomes will be completed this summer.
Floor plans will include two or three bedrooms and will range in size from 1,300 to 1,600 sq. ft. Many of the homes offer the popular option of having the master bedroom on the main floor.
All of these new homes will feature hardwood flooring, solid wood cabinets, and come complete with appliance packages. The homes will have attached garages and additional driveway parking, and the development will also have guest parking spots.
Located only a few blocks from downtown Courtenay, Piercy Avenue Townhomes are set in a sunny, central location in this growing Vancouver Island city.
Prices are expected to start at $249,900.

Dynamic Drywall Systems brings a dynamic crew of experienced drywallers to the Comox Valley.
Available for commercial and residential drywall projects from boarding to finishing, Dynamic Drywall Systems offers professional and enthusiastic service.
Quality work, clean job sites and work done on or ahead of schedule distinguishes Dynamic Drywall Systems from the competition. With more than 10 years of experience serving Vancouver Island customers, Dynamic Drywall is now serving the Comox Valley including Courtenay, Cumberland, Comox and outlying areas. Contact them at 250.702.7722.

WesternOne Rentals and Sales is opening a new store in Courtenay. Renovations at the new 6,700 sq. ft. store on Moray Avenue in Courtenay are nearly complete the new equipment sales and rentals store in set to open mid-July. 
WesternOne's new commercial retail centre will service contractors Monday to Friday from 7am - 5pm with dirt, aerial and general rents. The 1.5 acre lot is the ideal space to accommodate WesternOne's new vertical mast and telehandler training centre.
The new store will serve the Comox Valley’s south-east side, and area where a number of proposals for new residential and commercial lots means a great deal of expected growth. The Comox location will continue to serve Comox and East Courtenay.
Located one block off the main connector and surrounded by wholesalers, WesternOne Courtenay will be conveniently located for area contractors.

Dale’s Plumbing and Mechanical in the Comox Valley specializes in residential and commercial plumbing. Well known for their fast, efficient service, Dale’s Plumbing mechanical has been operating in the Comox Valley for over 30 years. This plumbing and gas fitting contractor's quality workmanship has earned Dale’s Plumbing a reputation as a premiere Comox Valley contractor.
Dale’s Plumbing specializes in new construction plumbing and plumbing renovations. They also have a strong history of service work, maintenance and repairs.
Experts in their field, they boast a 96% on-time completion record for their plumbing projects. Dale’s Plumbing will manage all stages of a plumbing project with honesty and integrity while offering great value. Contact Dale's at 250.650.1950.

United Carpet of the Comox Valley and Campbell River both offer a wide selection of flooring to suit any need. A stop into their impressive Courtenay showroom gives your the chance to see and feel all of your flooring options. United Carpet’s flooring products include: Carpet, Vinyl, Laminate, Hardwood, Cork, Ceramic, and Area Rugs. United Carpet in Campbell River also offers Window Fashions: blinds and custom draperies.
United Carpet’s experienced sales associates help guide clients to make their best flooring or window covering selection. Visit the United Carpet website for an online quote or call for a free in-home measure.
United Carpet also offers comprehensive information on installation, stain removal, and maintenance, in store or online. United Carpet in the Comox Valley and Campbell River offer service and selection that are second to none.
Visit them in Courtenay at 362B – 10th Street and in Campbell River at 1364 – 16th Ave. 

Colonial Countertops in Courtenay specializes in the manufacturing and installation of decorative surfaces and countertops. Kitchen and bath countertops, tub surrounds, shower walls, desktops, reception areas, window sills and much more. Colonial Countertops is able to provide homeowners and builders with the latest styles, trends, and colours.
In their Comox Valley showroom, clients browse hundreds of different styles of laminates, natural quartz, and solid surfaces. They are proud to offer: top-quality, unsurpassed service; on time delivery; and professional installation.
Colonial Countertops is a family-owned business and has been serving Vancouver Island since 1970. For more information, visit their website at www.colonialcountertops.com.

Klitsa Signs is Vancouver Island’s premier sign shop. Located in Courtenay, Klitsa Signs offers a full range of high quality sign services, including real estate signs, construction development signs, construction safety signs, real estate yard signs and vehicle graphics. 
Klitsa Signs also offers large-scale digital printing for photo signs, sandblasted cedar signs, awnings and more. The sign shop can also create your company logo. Klitsa Signs takes pride in producing quality work and offering excellent customer service. 
Contact them today at 250.338.4935 in Courtenay.

Nutmeg Homes is a Vancouver Island-based builder of Insulated Concrete Forms homes. Nutmeg Homes of Courtenay are custom home builders who strive to continually improve their product, with energy efficient and eco-friendly products. An ICF home by Nutmeg Homes uses up to 40% less energy than the average new home in B.C.
Insulated Concrete Forms or ICFs are hollow foam blocks or panels, which are stacked to form the walls of the home. The forms are filled with steel-reinforced concrete to create a solid structure. The resulting walls offer solid construction that provides a draft-free, quiet, healthy and comfortable living environment. Nutmeg Homes is also exploring the options for building Living Roofs for residential homes in B.C., after the successful completion of a green roof on a Comox Valley commercial building.
For more information on Nutmeg Homes and their ICF construction process, visit their website. 

Design-Build is a unique delivery model for construction. In the Comox Valley, Capstone Dwellings is one of very few home builders who adopts this specialized method with dedication to professional design-build standards.
Firstly, all projects are comprised of two phases. In the design phase clients are taken through the home design process based on their individual needs. Custom design can be completed in as little as three months. Alternatively, clients of Capstone Dwellings can choose to purchase homes plans by an approved outside home plans company and have changes made to meet needs.
With Capstone Dwellings Design-Build, projects also include cost planning. The term “cost planning” refers to a professional service where the project is carefully budgeted. In professional “cost planning” there are no rough estimates. Whenever possible, quotes are used to derive an end price that is as close to the full project scope as possible. When needed, the home design staff at Capstone Dwellings can modify the plans and change details to bring the budget to the desired outcome.
The build phase of the project is initiated once the plans are ready for engineering (if needed) and permitting. Capstone Dwellings handles the permit process on behalf of their clients. Currently the permitting wait for the Town of Comox, City of Courtenay and Comox Valley Regional District is approximately three and a half weeks.
During the project modern technology is used to provide full financial disclosure on project costs. All trade discounts and special materials rates are passed onto the Clients so that everyone knows how the project funds are being used. Changes to design, scope and products can be made during the project and with the open financial details, clients can make those decisions with a better sense of overall impact on their budget.
To further give the business a competitive edge, Capstone Dwellings design fees are currently set at a competitive $50/hour and general contracting fees meet standards for the local general contracting industry. Design, Management, Admin and Building staff at Capstone Dwellings are all experienced and qualified.
Capstone Dwellings Design-Build focuses on contemporary or modern west-coast design and believes in smarter housing in use of space and materials. They are located in Courtenay's vibrant Tin Town (south entrance) at 2448 Cousins Ave.

With spring weather finally upon us, it is time to plan exterior cleaning and painting. Rent a power washer with attachments for driveways, patios and siding, and then finish with painting the fence, deck, or the trim of your house. Home Hardware Building Centre's Central Rentals is ready to help you get the job done. 
Courtenay's Home Hardware Building Centre's Central Rentals offers equipment rentals in the Comox Valley. Central Rentals offers all the tools and equipment to get any Comox Valley project done right and renting means you'll always the right tool for the job.
For larger project, Central Rentals' Comox Valley equipment rentals division can supply: mini excavators; bobcats; scaffolding, construction security fencing; jack hammers; compactors; floor sanders; laser levels, and more.
Central Rentals in the Comox Valley offers rates from half-day up to long term on equipment rentals.
Offering unmatched service and selection, Central Rentals is ready to help homeowners and contractors find the equipment they need.

Spring is well on its way and its time to get started on those landscaping projects. Banner Landscaping in the Comox Valley specializes in complete landscaping installations for commercial developments and for new homes in Comox, Courtenay and the Comox Valley. Banner Landscaping has bobcats, excavators and all of the equipment needed to complete any landscaping project.
Banner Landscaping can install paving stones and retaining walls, or a complete landscaping project with irrigation and water features.
Banner Landscaping's Comox Valley crew is courteous and knowledgeable and will ensure that you have an outdoor space to be proud of. Give them a call at 250.792.1835.

For Sound Security call the experts. Sound Security in the Comox Valley offers security systems and much more for homes and businesses.

Sound Security’s expert installation team provide surveillance cameras, sound system equipment and wiring, home theatre installations, and multi-room music systems.
The can install media panels and offer new home installation packages. 

As the only provider of screen alarms on Vancouver Island, Sound Security can offer a security alarm option to keep intruders out but let fresh air in. They will install, service and monitor security systems to protect your home, family or business. 

Since 1982 Comox Valley Glass & Mirror has been helping builders and homeowners in the Comox Valley with all of their glass needs.
Specializing in custom shower glass enclosures and doors, and steam showers, as well as specialty mirrors and other custom work, Comox Valley Glass & Mirror has created luxury pieces for many Vancouver Island homes.
They can create accessible showers, heavy glass railings and other custom work. 
Comox Valley Glass is a full service glass shop, which also offers new and replacement windows, sealed units, storefronts and commercial displays, mirrors, shelves and table-tops, and glass of all types.
In addition, they sell retractable Mirage screen doors. Stop by their showroom at 2060 Guthrie Road in Comox, or call them at 250.339.7966.

McConochie's Furniture and Appliances has been serving the Comox Valley since 1964. McConochie's store in downtown Courtenay carries the brand-name furniture and appliances that customers trust: Frigidaire, Electrolux, La-Z-Boy, Palliser, El Ran, Dynasty, Stylus, Simmons, Trica. They can also order other makes (such as LG fridges) and unique items. Browse the showroom for comfortable and fashionable brand name furniture and decorating ideas.
Check out the selection of refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, and laundry pairs on display, as well as the choices in chest and upright freezers. McCononchie's knowledgeable sales representatives are there to answer any questions.
McConochie's offers fast free delivery in the Comox Valley and Campbell River areas, and can also arrange delivery to outlying areas.

Ronni Lister, a realtor with Remax Ocean Pacific in Courtenay, guarantees an efficient and stress-free home buying and selling experience. Looking to purchase a home or an investment in the Comox Valley? From mobile homes to million dollar estates, Ronni Lister will work to guide clients who are buying and selling real estate in the Comox Valley. Ronni Lister promises to always be honest, forthright and personable. Hiring Ronni Lister as their Real Estate representative gives clients the benefit of a realtor born and raised in the community she works in, and the quality assurance that come with the Re/Max Ocean Pacific name. Contact her at 1.877.216.5171 or email ronnilister@ shaw.ca.

Western One Rentals and Sales, a one-stop shop on Vancouver Island for equipment rentals and sales, is now also North Vancouver Island’s only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer, in the Comox Valley. Polaris is currently offering up to $2,000 in rebates on select Polaris ATV's.
Serving Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, the North Island and the Sunshine Coast. WesternOne is the only place on Vancouver Island to buy Canada’s number one selling ATV.
They have Polaris factory-trained and certified technicians for any ATV parts and servicing needs. As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for their Comox Valley equipment rentals.
WesternOne Rentals and Sales also rents, sells and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island.

TrendWest Millwork Ltd. “Sets the trend in excellence” by providing custom cabinetry for kitchens, bathrooms and offices; custom countertops; media centers; fireplace surrounds, stair railings and custom walk-in closets. TrendWest Millwork serves Campbell River and north, and the Comox Valley, specializing in custom cabinetry and more for new construction, renovations and commercial work. TrendWest Millwork builds and finishes their products in their own shop.  If you already have a vision for your millwork design, they can create it, and if you don’t, TrendWest Millwork will design it with their software.
At TrendWest Millwork they believe any space should be functional and practical, and they will work with clients to create what best suits the space and the client's needs.
Contact them by email at trendwest@ shawbiz.ca.

Seahorse Edging, Pathways and Curbs in Campbell River on Vancouver Island provides professional decorative curbing products to enhance your property. The concrete landscape curbing is made on-site from extruded concrete. Seahorse Edging, Pathways and Curbs offers a variety of concrete colors, contour styles and surface designs for your decorative landscape curbing project. Seahorse can create functional and attractive concrete walkways and pathways that deliver a sophisticated look, create low maintenance areas and increase property values for a reasonable cost.
Seahorse provides free estimates and consultation. Most concrete curbing and walkway project installations can be completed in one day for both residential and commercial properties. Contact Trish to book an appointment.

Rent a garden aerator or thatcher from Central Rentals in Courtenay this spring and wake up your lawn, comb out the dead grass from winter and open up the turf to help drainage. Both will help encourage your lawn to new growth.
Courtenay's Home Hardware Building Centre's Central Rentals offers equipment rentals in the Comox Valley. Central Rentals offers all the tools and equipment to get any Comox Valley project done right and renting means you'll always the right tool for the job.
Central Rentals' Comox Valley equipment rentals division can supply: mini excavators; bobcats; scaffolding, construction security fencing; jack hammers; compactors; floor sanders; laser levels, and more.
Central Rentals in the Comox Valley offers rates from half-day up to long term on equipment rentals.
Offering unmatched service and selection, Central Rentals is ready to help homeowners and contractors find the equipment they need. Visit them at 610 Anderton Avenue in Courtenay or call 250.334.1882.

Cloverdale Paint Courtenay is an industry leader in eco-friendly paints, green products and low-voc coatings.

Cloverdale Paint in Courtenay is a part of a B.C. grown, family-owned paint manufacturing company that proudly offers quality paint, stain, epxoy and other coatings and excellent customer service.

One of the coatings Cloverdale Paint specializes in is a decorative, zero-voc, 100% solids or polyaspartic floor epoxy. This is available for a metallic, vinyl chip or quartz type of floor used in homes, medical offices and commercial buildings. They can also recommend a trained professional applicator for this product.

Another Comox Valley specialty is lacquers and stains, both solvent and waterborne. Cloverdale Paint’s in-store staff are trained colour consultants, able to help homeowners with their decorating needs.
Contact Linda Ronald, trade sales rep for North Vancouver Island at 250.830.8430 with any technical inquiries.

Oceanside Doorman Garage Doors is serving Vancouver Island from Parksville and Qualicum Beach north to the Comox Valley. With 25 years of experience, Oceanside Doorman Garage Doors brings a reputation of service excellence to Vancouver Island. From Nanoose to Courtenay, Doorman Garage Doors offers garage door sales, service and maintenance for residential and commercial garage and overhead doors.
Doorman Garage Doors offers a variety of overhead garage door styles from Steel Craft, Northwest Door and Clopay, including wood and steel, insulated and not insulated. Oceanside Doorman can also install maintain and service commercial garage doors.
Doorman Garage Doors works with builders and contractors on new homes, as well as homeowners in need of new garage doors.

These are interesting economic times, with world events affecting businesses on Vancouver Island. Events that happen elsewhere on the globe eventually trickle down to our local businesses. Presley & Partners Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors in the Comox Valley, help guide Vancouver Island businesses through the business tides caused by world-wide changes or local booms and busts. Their Comox Valley Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors work with developers, professionals, farmers, fishermen, loggers, retailers and manufacturers, on a daily basis to serve their accounting, tax, audit and business management needs. Call Presley & Partners to see how they can join your team to help your business be a “Front Runner.”

Bedrock Masonry has been providing natural and cultured stone installation to new homes and renovations in the Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, since 1992. With specialized training in Arriscraft stone installation, owner Jim Jensen trained as a stone mason at Georgian College. Bedrock Masonry can install exterior stone facing and stone fireplace surrounds using natural stone or cultured stone. Bedrock Masonry can complete custom stone work, traditional stone work, and projects for high-end custom homes. They provide free quotes, offer reliable service and references are available. They provide a high standard of masonry work and are passionate about their craft. Contact them at 250.941.5050. For more images of their work, find Bedrock Masonry on Facebook.

Rent a Garden Aerator or Thatcher from Central Rentals for 4 hours @ $25.00 until March 25. Wake up your lawn, comb out the dead grass from winter and open up the turf to help drainage. Both will help encourage your lawn to new growth.
Courtenay's Home Hardware Building Centre's Central Rentals offers equipment rentals in the Comox Valley. Central Rentals offers all the tools and equipment to get any Comox Valley project done right and renting means you'll always the right tool for the job.
Central Rentals' Comox Valley equipment rentals division can supply: mini excavators; bobcats; scaffolding, construction security fencing; jack hammers; compactors; floor sanders; laser levels, and more.
Central Rentals in the Comox Valley offers rates from half-day up to long term on equipment rentals.
Offering unmatched service and selection, Central Rentals is ready to help homeowners and contractors find the equipment they need. Visit the at 610 Anderton Avenue in Courtenay or call 250.334.1882.

Archer Mechanical offers the full mechanical contracting package of residential and commercial plumbing, heating, and gas installation for residential and commercial construction projects in Parksville, Qualicum, the Comox Valley, and Campbell River on Vancouver Island, BC.

With just one phone call, Archer Mechanical provides plumbing, heating, gas, heating services, and complete mechanical installation packages to homeowners and businesses. Archer Mechanical also provides fire protection and sheet metal services.

Established in May 2009, Archer Mechanical “takes pride in everything they do.” Archer Mechanical offers competitive rates and discounts on multiple contracts. Doing their part to build green, Archer Mechanical installs high efficiency equipment like condensing tankless water heaters at cost. Contact Matt Archer at 250.331.3115.

Nutmeg Homes, is an award-winning custom home builder on Vancouver Island, which uses insulted concrete form (ICF) construction to create beautiful new homes. Based in the Comox Valley, Nutmeg Homes uses innovative concrete construction methods in building homes for their clients, to create green, energy efficient new homes.
The Nutmeg Homes website features a number of the new custom homes the company has built in and around the Comox Valley since 2000, and features details about the ICF construction process. 
Nutmeg Homes is also currently exploring options for building LEED certified homes and has begun developing green (or living) roofs.  

Thomas Dishleovey of Thomas Dishlevoy Architecture Ltd in the Comox Valley is offering up his thoughts on development and construction in the region on both his blog and Facebook. Thomas Dishlevoy Architecture Ltd offers architecture services for all types and sizes of projects. Established in 1995, and serving the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island since 1998, Thomas Dishlevoy Architecture Ltd has proven experience in:

• Residential, commercial and institutional
• Renovations, additions and new projects
• Heritage restoration
• Building envelope repairs and upgrades
• Green Buildings, LEED and Living Buildings
• Development Master Planning
• Feasibility Studies
• Programming and Cost Estimating

Slegg Lumber is Vancouver Island’s most complete building supply company. The Cumberland location of Slegg Lumber, conveniently located near the Inland Island Highway, offers services for contractors and do-it-yourself homeowners. The Comox Slegg Lumber Store offers the same great services in the heart of Comox. Slegg Lumber can deliver the construction products you need, anywhere on Vancouver Island and the surrounding Islands, and to remote locations by barge. For roofing projects, Slegg Lumber offers rooftop shingle delivery. Or pick up lumber yourself in their drive through lumber yard. Slegg Lumber also features kitchen and bath showroom and design services, a paint centre with computerized colour matching, hardwoods, custom moldings and more.

On a recent business trip to Whistler, BC, Comox Valley-based home building duo Bethany and Joe Pearce of Capstone Dwellings Design-Build noticed emerging trends in west-coast modern home design for new construction: nods to post-modern design; smaller/smarter use of space; creative use of durable materials; and attention to livability.
In the Comox Valley, Capstone Dwellings remains the only custom home building company designing and constructing contemporary homes with classic features and modern flair while focusing on responsible budgeting and smart use of space.
“At times we feel a little out of place in our community when it comes to our ability to build with our minds on the current times,” Bethany said. “However, when we visit other parts of the west coast we see we’re right on track with what the market desires. Plus, it's always good to be building smarter smaller homes with attention to the way people live, rather than how they sprawl!”
The Comox Valley has welcomed this company as they are currently experiencing a solid start to 2012 in their second year of focusing on the Design-Build method of project delivery in home construction.
“We're really eager to connect to potential customers that feel the same way we do about the home building process,” says Bethany. “We've had a lot of strong connections with our clients in the past because we come to the project with the understanding that we can make responsible decisions as a team when designing and building. Design-Build focuses on having clients as team members – we like that and we think it works well.”
As for their eye for the contemporary and modern, Capstone Dwellings Design-Build is confident that as the Comox Valley grows, so will it's overall need for creative expression through home design and building. While they're happy to build in any style their clients desire, they know there is a special fit for those clients who simply want to do something with a “wow” factor.
If you are looking for a custom home builder that is passionate about contemporary, smart design, the team at Capstone Dwellings Design-Build would love to hear from you. They offer casual, no-fuss, free consultations. Additionally, they would love to speak with developers who have a desire to meet current trends in the home building industry as a way to achieve more successful projects.
For more information contact Capstone Dwellings Design-Build online at www.CapstoneDwellings.com, by phone at 250-331-9004 or by email at Bethany@CapstoneDwellings.com.

Dale’s Plumbing and Mechnical in the Comox Valley specializes in residential and commercial plumbing. Dale’s Plumbing and Mechanical has been doing business in the Comox Valley for more than 30 years and boasts an on-time completion rate of 96% over that time. This plumbing and gas fitting contractors’ quality workmanship has earned Dale’s a reputation as a premiere Comox Valley plumbing contractor. Dale’s Plumbing specializes in new construction plumbing and plumbing renovations. Experts in their field, Dale’s Plumbing will manage all stages of a plumbing project with honesty and integrity while offering great value. 

Down to Earth Stone Slinging Ltd. on Vancouver Island uses a stone slinger truck to place sand, gravel, pit run and landscaping material accurately and precisely on project sites, elimintaing the need for hours of manual labour. Down To Earth Stone Slinging’s system is ideal for placing drain rock for perimeter drains, back filling crawl spaces and garages, and placing blue chip on driveways. Landscaping projects can be completed easily with their trucks and conveyer belts. The trucks can haul 10 to 12 yards of material at a time and can place material from 0 feet to 70 feet with a conveyor belt system, which has a 270 degree working radius. Down to Earth Stone Slinging Ltd started in 2006 in Campbell River and serves residential and commercial customers, including residential and commercial contractors, new home builders and home owners on the northern Vancouver Island, the Comox Valley and beyond. Contact them at 250.287.3500.

Comox Valley realtor Tina Vincent of Royal LePage in the Comox Valley has a listing for a home for sale in Comox with a legal, two bedroom suite.
Located at 834 Highwood Drive in the desirable Foxxwood subdivision, the home offers fantastic views, with a three-bedroom home on the top floor, and an almost new, wheelchair friendly suite on the bottom floor.
Upstairs living offers oak floors, a large kitchen with ceramic tile and sliding glass doors that lead to a deck for summer barbeques and taking in the breathtaking views. Plenty of room to park your RV or boat too.
This is a rare opportunity to own a home in Comox with legal suite, to help with your mortgage payments or keep family close.
For more information on this and other homes for sale for sale in the Comox Valley, visit Realtor Tina Vincent's website. 

The Comox Valley features a showpiece example of an environmentally friendly green roof on top of the newly-opened Vancouver Island Visitor Centre in Cumberland.
The innovative roof was installed by Comox new home builder Paul Witt of Nutmeg Homes.
Witt is an enthusiast for green roofs - or 'living roofs' as he prefers to call them - and on some stronger buildings he explains they can even extend to entire rooftop gardens, complete with trees.
"Everybody these days is 'greenwashing', claiming this or that is better for the environment, but living roofs really are significant in more ways than one," Witt told the Comox Valley Echo.
They cost more to create than a traditional shingle roof, but they can help conserve a lot of energy, add to the soundproofing qualities of a building, and can dramatically extend the life of a roof.
Existing roofs - even sloping ones - can sometimes be converted to living roofs without a huge structural overhaul, but most planted roofs are installed when a building is first constructed.
The total saturated weight of the roof is around 14 pounds a square foot, which in roofing terms is very light, Witt said. In fact, he added, almost any roof structure can take that sort of weight.
Witt is now on the lookout for anyone considering building a new home in the Valley who might be interested in installing a living roof of their own.
As a contractor for custom designed housing, he's obviously keen to be involved in the whole construction.
He's built 17 houses in he Valley so far, 11 of then using insulated concrete form construction for greater heat retention and soundproofing.
Such construction techniques also add huge strength to buildings, allowing even more ambitious roof gardens or patios on level or nearly-flat areas.

Excerpted from the Comox Valley Echo

Polaris's XP Sales event is offering rebates of up to $2,000 and up to six months with no payments on Polaris ATV's. Western One Rentals and Sales is North Vancouver Island’s only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer. Located in Comox and serving Courtenay, Campbell River, Port Alberni, the North Island and the Sunshine Coast, WesternOne is the only place on Vancouver Island to buy Canada’s number one selling ATV. They have Polaris factory-trained and certified technicians for any ATV parts and servicing needs. As Vancouver Island’s only Ranger/RZR dealer, WesternOne is committed to providing the same great customer service for their ATV sales and service as they do for their Comox Valley equipment rentals. WesternOne Rentals and Sales also rents, sells and services scissor lifts and aerial lifts; generators; air tools; concrete equipment; and forklifts on Vancouver Island.  

The Battery Shop is Vancouver Island’s one stop shop for batteries and battery services. The Battery Shop in Courtenay sells batteries of all styles – from camera batteries to RV and golf cart batteries. The Battery Shop also repairs and rebuilds specialty batteries for construction tools, home appliances, specialized trades equipment, security systems and more. The Battery Shop has the equipment and expertise to create custom batteries. They also offer a battery recycling service for the Comox Valley.

Colonial Countertops in Courtenay specializes in the manufacturing and installation of decorative surfaces and countertops. Kitchen and bath countertops, tub surrounds, shower walls, desktops, reception areas, window sills and much more. Colonial Countertops is able to provide homeowners and builders with the latest styles, trends, and colours. In their Comox Valley showroom, clients browse hundreds of different styles of laminates, natural quartz, and solid surfaces. They are proud to offer: top-quality, unsurpassed service; on time delivery; and professional installation. Colonial Countertops is a family-owned business and has been serving Vancouver Island since 1970. For more information, visit their website at www.colonialcountertops.com.

Nutmeg Homes is a Comox Valley based builder of Insulated Concrete Forms homes. The company has been building new homes  on Vancouver Island since 1999. Nutmeg Homes custom home builders strive to continually improve their product, with energy efficient and eco-friendly products. An ICF home by Nutmeg Homes uses up to 40% less energy than the average new home in B.C.
Insulated Concrete Forms or ICFs are hollow foam blocks or panels, which are stacked to form the walls of the home. The forms are filled with steel-reinforced concrete to create a solid structure. The resulting walls offer solid construction that provides a draft-free, quiet, healthy and comfortable living environment. Nutmeg Homes is also exploring the options for building Living Roofs for residential homes in B.C., after the successful completion of a green roof on a Comox Valley commercial building.
For more information on Nutmeg Homes and their ICF construction process, visit their website. 

Capstone Dwellings Design-Build can bring your unique personality to renovations and custom homes in the Comox Valley.
Designer Bethany Pearce focuses on a design process that begins with the core desires of her clients. Often, home owners who are wanting to renovate or build a custom home have a hard time defining what they want. At the same time, they often have very strong options on what they like and don’t like. Through the design process, Bethany takes a close look at the needs, wants and rules for each project and creatively brings the pieces together for design proposals that have an authentic end result.
As shown here, this modern home is in need of some updates. The client found that they were undecided between their love for modern design, and their desire to live in a creative and free space full of movement and detail.
Designer Bethany Pearce had her client gather images of thoughts to represent how she was feeling about the direction of the project. From that resource of visuals, Bethany began piecing together core elements that would not only work together, but also bring about a solid and meaningful theme.
The end result was a design direction Bethany labeled “Modern Whimsy”. The core moods that emerged were Romance, Fun, Whimsy, and Enchantment. Elements of distressed or reclaimed wood emerged, as well as textures like velvet and high-gloss paint. Even the colour palette that came from this process looks like something out of Snow White’s forest – full of enchantment, magic and playful childhood imagination.
Contact Bethany Pearce of Capstone Dwellings Design-Build at 250-331-9004 to discuss your upcoming project in Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River and other communities around the Comox Valley.  

What’s so wild about blinds?
Window coverings specialist Wild About Blinds is a local company that prides itself on quality service, products and installation with accuracy. They provide on-site consultations for residential and commercial needs.
Wild About Blinds supplies wood and wood composite blinds; aluminum blinds; vertical blinds; cellular shades and roller shades. They service Courtenay, Comox, Qualicum, Parksville, Cumberland and Campbell River on Vancouver Island. Owner/operator Chris Wild is all about providing clients with total satisfaction on all products, warranty, installation and service.  Go wild with blinds from WILD ABOUT BLINDS – The Ultimate in Window Fashions.
For more information, call 250.338.3877 or email WildAboutBlinds@telus.net.

United Carpet of the Comox Valley and Campbell River both offer a wide selection of flooring to suit any need. United Carpet’s flooring products include: Carpet, Vinyl, Laminate, Hardwood, Cork, Ceramic, and Area Rugs. United Carpet in Campbell River also offers Window Fashions: blinds and custom draperies.
United Carpet’s experienced sales associates help guide clients to make their best flooring or window covering selection. Visit the United Carpet website for an online quote or call for a free in-home measure.
United Carpet also offers comprehensive information on installation, stain removal, and maintenance, in store or online. United Carpet in the Comox Valley and Campbell River offer service and selection that are second to none.
Visit them in Courtenay at 362B – 10th Street and in Campbell River at 1364 – 16th Ave. 

Banner Landscaping in the Comox Valley specializes in complete landscaping installations for commercial developments and for new homes in Comox, Courtenay and the Comox Valley. Banner Landscaping has bobcats, excavators and all of the equipment needed to complete any landscaping project. Banner Landscaping can install paving stones and retaining walls, or a complete landscaping project with irrigation and water features. Banner Landscaping's Comox Valley crew is courteous and knowledgeable and will ensure that you have an outdoor space to be proud of. Contact them at 250.792.1835

re:SOLVE Space Planning is a professional interior design and space planning firm in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, specializing in commercial and residential spaces. So much more than a decorating service, reSOLVE interior design can guide clients through the entire scope of the construction process – from designing the flow of a building, to the final layout and selection of furniture and finishes. reSOLVE interior design owner Lindsay McCotter of Courtenay brings a Degree in Interior Architecture and a fresh perspective to her business. reSOLVE interior design’s mission is to use their knowledge and education to save their clients time and money, while creating beautiful and functional interior designs. To contact Lindsay, call 250.338.0328 or email lindsay@resolveinteriors.ca  

The Kutyn Group is comprised of Kutyn Property Services, Kutyn Homes and Kutyn First.
For over a decade, The Kutyn Group has built a solid base on the appraisal business. Kutyn Property Services has acted for all levels of government, the chartered banks, and some of the largest landowners on Vancouver Island.
Kutyn Property Services experienced appraisers can complete assignments on recreational, residential, development and investment properties on Vancouver Island and the surrounding Islands. In addition to the mortgage and insurance business, Kutyn also assist clients with appraisals required for legal, tax and assessment appeal purposes.
Kutyn Homes is the Vancouver Island log home dealer for Big Foot Manufacturing. Kutyn Homes offers the best in all types of log homes, and pre-manufactured homes. Kutyn Homes approach and product range ensures a quality finished home, completed on budget.
Kutyn First is committed to creating economic opportunities for First Nations people through land use. As planners and land use economists, Kutyn First has the ability to make sure that these First Nations opportunities become reality.
To contact the Kutyn Group, call 250.890.3320, email chris@kutyn.com or visit the Kutyn group website.

"Working for you in one form or another,” Comox Valley Island Forms Ltd specializes in concrete form rentals for builders and contractors on Vancouver Island.
Comox Valley Island Forms also offers truck and crane services and sells concrete supplies and accessories.
Clients ranging from residential developers to self-contracting home owners throughout Vancouver Island have been turning to Comox Valley Island Forms since the 1980s for their concrete forms and more.
For more information, contact CV Island Forms at 250.338.5711.

Since 1982 Comox Valley Glass & Mirror has been helping builders and homeowners in the Comox Valley with all of their glass needs.
Specializing in custom shower glass, as well as specialty mirrors and other custom work, Comox Valley Glass & Mirror has created luxury pieces for many Vancouver Island homes.
Comox Valley Glass is a full service glass shop, which also offers windows, sealed units, storefronts and commercial displays, mirrors, shelves and table-tops, and glass of all types.
For more information or to book a consultation, call 250.339.7966 or visit their website.

Klitsa Signs is Vancouver Island’s premier sign shop. With locations in Port Alberni and Courtenay, Klitsa Signs offers a full range of high quality sign services, including real estate signs, construction development signs, yard signs and vehicle graphics. Klitsa Signs also offers large-scale digital printing for photo signs, sandblasted cedar signs, awnings and more. The sign shop can also create your company logo, and add it to a variety of clothing items. Klitsa Signs takes pride in producing quality work and offering excellent customer service. Contact them today at 250.338.4935 in Courtenay or 250.724.0902 in Port Alberni.

Nutmeg Homes, custom homes builder based in the Comox Valley, use innovative concrete construction methods in building homes for their clients, to create green, energy efficient new homes. These award-winning builders use insulted concrete form (ICF) construction to create beautiful custom homes on Vancouver Island.
The Nutmeg Homes website features a number of the new custom homes the company has built on and around the Comox Valley, and features details about the ICF construction process. 
Nutmeg Homes is also currently exploring options for building LEED certified homes and homes with green (or living) roofs.

Capstone Dwellings Design-Build is currently working with a client in Royston, B.C. on Vancouver Island to design and build a renovation for a contemporary secondary suite in the Comox Valley.
Challenges with the existing building ended up being the gateway for a successful design process leading to plans for a beautiful west-coast contemporary hide-a-way with views of the ocean.
The clients are focused on adding value and flexibility to their property. Designer Bethany Pearce of Capstone Dwellings Design-Build continues to work with the clients while considering investment value, neighboring properties, future uses and of course, style.
The project is set to undergo the permitting process at the end of the 2011 year with construction start planned for February 2012.
Considering a Secondary Suite Renovation in the Comox Valley? Call Capstone Dwellings and discuss your project with Bethany Peace. The Capstone Dwellings team can consult on design, budgeting and also walk clients though important regulations and requirements with municipal offices.
Capstone Dwellings Design-Build - “Speaking the Language of Integrated Design and Building.”
For more information contact Bethany at 250-331-9004 or Bethany@ CapstoneDwellings.com.

WesternOne Rentals & Sales in Comox on Vancouver Island is offering huge holiday saving on Polaris ATV’s and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles. Canada’s number one selling ATV is now available for sale or rental at WesternOne from the Comox Valley outlet. 
Stop in to view, test drive, buy or rent one of these exciting recreational vehicles and take advantage of the great Polaris Holiday Sales Event, which offers rebates of up to $2,000 and a chance to ride free for 6 months.
WesternOne Rentals & Sales is proud to be a Vancouver Island’s Polaris Ranger/RZR dealer. WesternOne provides Factory Trained / Certified Technicians for any servicing needs and they have financing available.
Let your WesternOne Polaris Dealer help you enjoy an outdoor ATV adventure this year. To contact the Polaris Sales, Rental and Service Departments call 250-339-4518 or 1-877-339-4518.

Archer Mechanical offers the full mechanical contracting package of residential and commercial plumbing, heating, and gas installation for residential and commercial construction projects in Parksville, Qualicum, the Comox Valley, and Campbell River on Vancouver Island, BC.

With just one phone call, Archer Mechanical provides plumbing, heating, gas, heating services, and complete mechanical installation packages to homeowners and businesses. Archer Mechanical also provides fire protection and sheet metal services. 

Established in May 2009, Archer Mechanical “takes pride in everything they do.” Archer Mechanical offers competitive rates, and discounts on multiple contracts. Doing their part to build green, Archer Mechanical installs high efficiency equipment like condensing tankless water heaters at cost. Contact them today at 250.331.3115.

Only 35 tickets remain for 1stView's Outlook 2012, the 6th annual economic forecasting forum on Nov. 24, 2011. Outlook 2012, now 85 % sold out, will take a look at expected trends in the Vancouver Island construction and real estate markets, with a focus on the North Island.
The perennial sell out event will once again be held at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay, and will feature presentations by four industry experts.
“We are excited to bring together business leaders, developers, trades people and others to network and hear industry insights from our panel of speakers,” said Clarice Coty of 1stView.ca. “We've moved the event from January to November, to give attendees the opportunity to use the information presented to guide their business planning for 2012.”
Keynote speaker Larry Pollock, President and CEO of Canadian Western Bank will address the “Local Perspective to Global Banking.”
Pollock was a guest speaker at this event in 2009. Described by the Globe and Mail as “gregarious, and outspoken,” the national paper says “Larry Pollock adds a dash of colour to the grey tones of the Canadian banking industry.”
Additional featured speakers include: Travis Archibald, Senior Market Analyst for Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, who will present a Vancouver Island Housing Market Update; as well as Greg Baynton, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association and Shirley de Silva, CEO of the Comox Valley Airport.
Outlook 2012 is sponsored by Presley & Partners and Jackson & Associates. Tickets are $75, and include a networking session from 4-6 p.m., including a trade show, dinner, and presentations.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.1stView.ca, email tickets@1stView.ca or call 250.338.5466.

Comox Valley-based Stability Wall Systems Ltd. specializes in building envelopes for new construction, remediation, and renovations on Vancouver Island. The Stability Wall Systems staff are experts in the installation of Hardi-plank, vinyl siding and wood siding. The company also does custom flashings, detailed trim work, window and door installation, soffit, and all rain screen details. Based in the Comox Valley, they do business from Nanaimo to Campbell River. Stability Wall Systems offers very competitive rates and takes pride in their workmanship. Call 250.218.9145 for a free estimate.

Nutmeg Homes has been building Insulated Concrete Forms homes in the Comox Valley, on Vancouver Island since 1999. These custom home builders strive to continually improve their product.
Energy efficient and eco-friendly, an ICF home by Nutmeg Homes uses up to 40% less energy than the average new home in B.C.
Insulated Concrete Forms or ICFs are hollow foam blocks or panels, which are stacked to form the walls of the home. The forms are filled with steel-reinforced concrete to create a solid structure. The resulting walls offer solid construction that provides a draft-free, quiet, healthy and comfortable living environment. NUtmeg Hoems is also exploring the optiosn for building Living Roofs for residential homes in B.C., after the successful completion of a green roof on a Comox Valley commercial building.
For more information on Nutmeg Homes and their ICF construction process, visit their website. 

Robannah Developments is offering a unique opportunity for an investment or home with a mortgage helper in Comox, Vancouver Island.
1605 Dogwood Ave in Comox offers a newly-built, 2,190 sq ft family home, with double garage, custom cabinetry, slate/tile entry, timber accents, and bonus room. Upstairs the large master suite with ensuite, features a tiled shower and walk-in closet. Two more bedrooms and a rec room complete the upstairs. 
The home comes with an attached, private 2-bedroom suite to help with those monthly payments.
This new home this is located on large treed lot that is within walking distance to schools, shopping mall, golf course, marina and the newly improved Comox community centre. There is still the opportunity to select colors and decor! See image of rendering at left, and contact Realtor Tina Vincent for more information.

The custom home building team at Capstone Dwellings in the Comox Valley has struck on a great idea for the typically wet Vancouver Island winters.
“It's becoming clear to me that nearly everyone who lives here on the (wet) West Coast is in need of one kind of renovation,” said Capstone Dwellings' Bethany Pearce. “I like to call it the West Coast Room.
"We need a space that acts as a transition between the great outdoors and our own warm and secure built space.”
Pearce imagines this space as a hybrid between a garage, a sunroom and a family room and has plans to add one to her own home one day.
Capstone Dwellings is currently finishing a renovation that includes a West Coast Room for clients in East Courtenay. The timber was Vancouver Island sourced (sustainably) and milled by a local wood-worker in Cobble Hill. Tilt and turn windows were installed with a view of the Comox Glacier.
Capstone Dwellings Design-Build specializes in integrated management of the home building process from design to construction, including careful budgeting and planning.
This process allows clients to participate in the project as a member of the team. Clients are in direct control of the budget (using live budgeting with full disclosure to the team), and all projects are designed and built to budget, with modern home plans custom made for each property and the client’s individual needs.

Building Links, Vancouver Island's weekly construction industry newsletter has been a recognized as a valued resource providing up-to-date news for the Vancouver Island construction industry for 18 years. Building Links reports on tenders, building permits, development permits and breaking news in the construction industry. The newsletter is now available to new subscribers on a 4 week trial basis, and the company offers a guarantee that you will receive valuable leads during the course of your subscription, or they will refund 100% of your subscription.
Weekly features include :

• Building Permits issued in the municipalities of Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Campbell River, the Regional Districts, Port Hardy and Port McNeill.
• New tenders, to give subscribers the advantage when looking for new business.
• Proposed new development permits, from researchers who have delivered the first news on many large projects in the past. If you want to know the “inside scoop” on development projects in our area, you can find it in Building Links.
• News about Construction on Vancouver Island, including changes in municipal and provincial bylaws pertaining to the construction industry, topics such as development cost charges and changes in municipal by-laws and a quarterly summary on the region’s construction statistics and dollar volumes, to help you manage your sales forecasts.

Harwood Beach Estates – An exclusive selection of three luxury estate homes, five waterfront home sites and two pristine acreages.
Owners at Harwood Beach Estates, in the Vancouver Island community of Comox, become part of a legacy development inspired by the nature that surrounded this ecologically friendly community.
This small community is accessed thru a private gate, down a tree lined drive onto some of BC’s most spectacular waterfront.
Watch the salmon jump right outside your door, walk the many nature trails or simply live the Comox Valley lifestyle. Set apart from the city, yet only moments to all the Comox Valley has to offer, now is the time to invest in Vancouver Island waterfront.
Harwood Estates offers large waterfront estate homes ready to move into, or the opportunity to build your dream house on one of the five remaining waterfront home sites.
This waterfront community provides access to some of the finest recreational facilities in Comox and the opportunity to explore the brilliant natural setting that gives Harwood Beach Estates its distinctive spirit.
Show homes now open by appointment. Contact Anna at 604.720.8528 or Anna@HarwoodBeachEstates.com

VoiceWorks Studios is the Comox Valley's leading professional quality recording studio specializing in Real Estate and Small Business Marketing. Marnie Martin, owner, voice talent and media specialist, has been in the Real Estate trenches as an agent for over 6 years and she understands the dynamics of a successful marketing campaign. With her signature Narrated Video Walk Through Tours, created for the Real Estate, Development and Building communities, Marnie offers a professional quality mini-commercial of your project, which can be used as a social media tool, marketed on multiple websites and also viewed on YouTube. Where standard virtual tours lack, these narrated video tours use a show and tell approach-dynamic copy, partnered with warm, descriptive audio, music and beautiful imagery to create a comprehensive marketing tool. For a fraction of the cost of one time use print media, these mini-commercials will enhance your web presence, build your brand and help you sell your product 24/7. Also available for small business and perfectly suited for the tourism, hospitality, and corporate sectors. Visit our website at www.VoiceWorksStudios.com for more information, pricing and demos of our work.  

IT’S IN THE DETAILS – Comox Valley Custom Builder injects creativity into modern home projects to get the most “bang for the buck” when working with responsible budgeting.
For Capstone Dwellings Design-Build, working with a responsible budget doesn’t mean leaving out custom detailing on new Vancouver Island Homes. For their latest custom home project, Capstone Dwellings used their creative abilities and broad scope of product knowledge to give modern touches to the project within the budget.
This hand-made custom exterior light fixture hangs in the front entry of the home. With the main colour scheme of the homes exterior being inspired by hues naturally found in our west-coast landscape, the copper details give just the right amount of whimsy and fun. 
The custom kitchen millwork and countertops were completed within budget. The new 180fx series by Formica, available though Colonial Countertops, was just the right solution for this home owner. With the look for natural stone but a price point within budget, it was love at first sight. Paired with modern kitchen cabinets and contemporary scalloped tile, this practical work surface also becomes an attractive feature.
As with most of their projects, Capstone Dwellings incorporated the use of wallpaper into this custom home. As requested by the home owner, modern details were added to enhance the home without the need to decorate after moving in.
Capstone Dwellings’ designer, Bethany Pearce, was in agreement and worked to make sure the homes minimalist design wouldn't be too cold or stark. An added feature of this wall is the hidden built-in speakers behind the wallpaper – a minimalists dream!

1stView.ca presents Outlook 2012, the 6th annual economic forecasting forum on Nov. 24, 2011. Outlook 2012 will take a look at expected trends in the Vancouver Island construction and real estate markets, with a focus on the North Island.
The perennial sell out event will once again be held at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay, and will feature presentations by four industry experts.
“We are excited to bring together business leaders, developers, trades people and others to network and hear industry insights from our panel of speakers,” said Clarice Coty of 1stView.ca. “We've moved the event from January to November, to give attendees the opportunity to use the information presented to guide their business planning for 2012.”
Keynote speaker Larry Pollock, President and CEO of Canadian Western Bank will address the “Local Perspective to Global Banking.”
Pollock was a guest speaker at this event in 2009. Described by the Globe and Mail as “gregarious, and outspoken,” the national paper says “Larry Pollock adds a dash of colour to the grey tones of the Canadian banking industry.”
Additional featured speakers include: Travis Archibald, Senior Market Analyst for Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, who will present a Vancouver Island Housing Market Update; as well as Greg Baynton, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association and Shirley de Silva, CEO of the Comox Valley Airport.
Outlook 2012 is sponsored by Presley & Partners and Jackson & Associates. Tickets are $75, and include a networking session from 4-6 p.m., including a small trade show, dinner, and presentations.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.1stView.ca, email tickets@1stView.ca or call 250.338.5466.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC (ICABC) has recognized Wendy Lewis, CA, partner at MNP LLP, with an Early Achievement Award for outstanding professional achievements.
“Wendy has worked hard to make a difference in both the profession and her community,” said Richard
Rees, FCA, CEO of the ICABC. “We are thrilled to recognize her outstanding accomplishments.”
The Early Achievement Award recognizes chartered accountants who earned their designation within the past ten years for remarkable accomplishments in their career, community service, and work within the CA profession.
Prior to her qualification as a CA, Lewis owned and operated a small business in the Comox Valley. In 1998, she began articling with Huxham & Co. in Courtenay, and earned her CA designation in 2000.
Today, in addition to being a partner and business advisor with MNP, Lewis is the regional leader and national instructor for the firm’s client service training program.
Her volunteerism in the community has included: coaching high school volleyball; a director of the 2005 BC Special Olympics Summer Games; a director of the Comox Valley United Way; and treasurer of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. As president of the Strathcona Sunrise Rotary Club in 2009-2010, Lewis, with the help of many others, spearheaded a project to develop a fully accessible playground that could accommodate children with physical disabilities.

Delaney Relocation Services makes packing, moving and settling into a new Vancouver Island home easy. They have been in the business of helping people pack, move and relocate for the past 10 years. Located in the Comox Valley - and serving Campbell River, Powell River, Nanaimo and Parksville/Qualicum - Delaney Relocation Services has a team of caring and experienced professionals to help with packing, moving and setting up your new home – from kitchen cupboards to home electronics.
The company is a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers and of Professional Organizers in Canada. Working on Vancouver Island from Campbell River to Nanaimo, providing top quality care throughout a move is always their top priority.
Call 250.334.9922 or toll free at 1.866.210.2064 today for a free one-hour consultation and written estimate. Compare Delaney's rates to traditional movers and see how much you can save. Discover how easy packing and moving can be!  

Centrally located in Courtenay on Vancouver Island, the new town homes at Diamond Park are designed for families, with host of great features.
Priced at only $181,900, these three bedroom homes feature hardwood and tile floors, custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and washer and dryer.
Exteriors are finished with rock and Hardi-Plank siding, and feature exposed concrete driveways and fenced and landscaped private yards with mountain views
Tour the homes during Open Houses held Thursdays and Fridays from 5-7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4 p.m. at 1700 Centennial Dr., Courtenay.

Capstone Dwellings is a design-build new home builder in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. The team behind Capstone Dwelings includes:
Joe Pearce, the Builder/Design-Build General Contractor. Joe is experienced in all stages of the construction process and has earned the respect of local Comox Valley tradespeople through professional general contracting practices. Joe is committed to continual professional development in the areas of Custom Home Building and Design-Build. Joe is hands-on at the construction site daily.
Bethany Pearce, the Designer/Design-Build Project Manager. Bethany is a Vancouver Island born-and-raised Design-Build professional. With several stunning projects completed, she has a growing reputation in the local area as a trusted Design-Builder and Project Manager. In addition to the roles within her firm, Bethany is also a trusted source for local design and build commentary through her blog, Comox Valley Dwellings.
The team has recently added Jodi Kozicki to assist in the office.  

WesternOne Rentals & Sales in Comox is holding a Polaris ATV factory authorized clearance that includes up to $2,500 in rebates and 6 months with no payments on select models.
WesternOne Rentals & Sales currently stocks Polaris ATV’s and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles at its Comox Valley location. Canada’s number one selling ATV is now available for sale or rent at WesternOne in Comox.
Stop by the location to test drive one of the many models available, at WesternOne Rentals & Sales, a Vancouver Island’s Polaris Ranger/RZR dealer.
With factory trained and certified technicians for any servicing needs and with financing available, WesternOne Polaris Dealers are ready to help you enjoy an outdoor ATV adventure this year.
To contact the WesternOne Polaris Sales, Rental and Service Departments call 250-339-4518 or 1-877-339-4518.

Claddagh Estates in the Comox Valley offers waterfront and ocean and mountain view lots for sale. This waterfront real estate subdivision is located in a stunning setting on on Vancouver Island.
The name Claddagh is derived from an Irish Gaelic word meaning"flat stony shore".
Set atop a 90' bluff, this 25 acre property offers spectacular views of the ocean and British Columbia's coastal mountains. Each of the available private waterfront lots is 100' wide. The oceanfront lots are approximately 3/4 acre in size and the mountain view lots range in size from 1.5 to 2 acres.
The two streets within this subdivision are Tara Road and Connemara Road. Both of these names are of Irish origin. Tara means hilltop, which represents the location of Claddagh Estates atop the Kye Bay bluffs. Connemara means"settlement by the sea".

Nutmeg Homes has been building Insulated Concrete Forms homes in the Comox Valley, on Vancouver Island since 1999. These custom home builders strive to continually improve their product.
Energy efficient and eco-friendly, an ICF home by Nutmeg Homes uses up to 40% less energy than the average new home in B.C.
Insulated Concrete Forms or ICFs are hollow foam blocks or panels, which are stacked to form the walls of the home. The forms are filled with steel-reinforced concrete to create a solid structure. The resulting walls offer solid construction that provides a draft-free, quiet, healthy and comfortable living environment.
For more information on Nutmeg Homes and their ICF construction process, visit their website.