43
B C B U S I N E S S . C A
A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 5
be here and invest in that future."
When asked what industries he's par-
ticularly excited about, Stansfield singles
out the life sciences sector. "That's where
there's the greatest potential for us right
now, around the care economy," he says.
"Nanaimo has a tertiary hospital—we
need to expand it, which has been on the
books for some time. Not only for the social
justice component to get the people north
of the Malahat all the care they deserve,
but also for the socioeconomic opportuni-
ties that flow from investment into a care
facility. The tower itself, but also the local
procurement and hiring and the ancillary
industries that will spring up alongside hos-
pital expansion and how it drives innova-
tion into life sciences."
HOPPING ALONG
For Amy Ferris, jumping into the hospi-
tality industry and creating a community
around an old train station has been both
a dream come true and a work in progress.
Many now look to her to answer important
questions and to help shape the city.
"We're learning to tell our story but
also using it as a tool to encourage more
people to learn about what we're doing,"
she says. "I'm connected with the young
business community that's here. There are
lots of new spots opening up downtown
and they're all run by younger people who
saw somebody else do it and said, 'I can do
that too.'"
People have been coming to Leonard
Krog for help in Nanaimo for decades
and he's seen the city change and shift
many times before. Is it just meaningless
platitudes when he insists that it's in bet-
ter shape than it has ever been before?
When he talks about its bright future?
It's hard to know. At the very least, Krog
is very aware how the platitudes sound
coming from him.
"From my perspective, we have every-
thing going for us, which is a lovely thing
for any mayor to be able to say," says Krog
with a chuckle. "My standard joke is that
every mayor says they're mayor of the
best and finest, most wonderful city in the
world, et cetera. But the others are full of
BS—I know I'm telling the truth."
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Why are condo developers
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5
WOMEN
OF THE
YEAR
How Ethós Lab's
Anthonia Ogundele and
our 20 other winners
and runners-up are
making a difference
in the province
p.23
B.C. is getting hammered by a judge shortage p.9
must-visit
LOCAL
GETAWAYS
p.41
p01.COVER.May2024.indd 1 p01.COVER.May2024.indd 1 2024-03-22 3:07 PM 2024-03-22 3:07 PM
There's always something to celebrate!
and we love celebrating!
There's always something to celebrate!
and we love celebrating!
There's always something to celebrate!
and we love celebrating!
There's always something to celebrate!
and we love celebrating!
Truffles_third.indd 1 12/13/22 9:47 AM
