During the next eight months, Tamarack Centre and the Cranbrook Food Bank Society will host special events and promotions to raise awareness about hunger in our communities and across our country. Tamarack Centre will also compete against other participating malls across Canada for funds raised and pounds of food collected. Winners will be given one of five $10,000 grants, to be donated to the winner’s partner food bank.  

“In Canada, food bank usage is on the rise and Bentall Kennedy is determined to make a difference in the communities in which we live and work,” said John Minas, vice-president of retail services east.

Food Banks Canada’s website indicates that each month, close to 900,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks, and 38 per cent of those helped are children and youth. 

“Our goal is to raise $75,000 and collect 20,000 pounds of food during our national challenge” said Minas. 

One hundred per cent of the proceeds collected during fundraising will go to the partner food banks across Canada. The shopping centre that raises the most money will earn its partner food bank an additional $10,000.
 
Other grant categories include: Most amount of money fundraised per shopping centre square foot; Most amount of non-perishable food collected (by weight); Highest amount of corporate/business/service club monetary donation received; and lastly, Most amount of shopper/supporter email addresses collected from the national online contest.

“Each shopping centre will designate a high-traffic area to bring attention to our campaign; look for our display at each participating mall,” said Tony Segaric, vice-president of  retail services west. “We will showcase our goal progress, adding excitement and a little friendly competition to our national challenge!”

For more information about Bentall Kennedy’s Fare Fight For Food campaign, visit the website. Organizers encourage everyone to enter the online contest for a chance to win groceries for a year (a $3,000 value) and support their local food bank.


Current participating shopping centres and benefiting food banks

Capilano Mall (North Vancouver, BC)                 Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society
Driftwood Mall (Courtenay, BC)                         Comox Valley Food Bank Society
Tamarack Centre (Cranbrook, BC)                   Cranbrook Food Bank Society
Park & Tilford (North Vancouver BC)                  Harvest Project
Village Green Mall (Vernon, BC)                         Vernon Food Bank
Westshore Town Centre (Langford BC)              Goldstream Food Bank
Willowbrook Shopping Centre (Langley, BC)       Langley Food Bank
Bower Place (Red Deer, AB)                             Red Deer Food Bank Society
North Hill Centre (Calgary, AB)                          Calgary Interfaith Food Bank Society
Oliver Square / Village (Edmonton, AB)              Edmonton Food Bank
Cloverdale Mall (Etobicoke, ON)                         Daily Bread Food Bank
Sheridan Centre (Mississauga, ON)                   Mississauga Food Bank
Milton Mall (Milton, ON)                                     Salvation Army Khi Community Food Bank
Westmount Shopping Centre (London, ON)        London Food Bank
Windsor Crossing (LaSalle, ON)                        Essex Area Food Bank
Hazeldean Mall (Kanata, ON)                             Kanata Food Bank
10 Dundas East (Toronto,ON)                           The Salvation Army Railside Centre

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners:

Tourism Excellence Award
Winner: Canada Cup of Curling
Sponsor: College of the Rockies

Most Improved Business Image Award
Winner: MJ’s Floral
Sponsor: Koocanusa Publications

Retail Business of the Year Award
Winner: MJ’s Floral
Sponsor: Baker Street Mall and Tamarack Centre

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
Winner: McGibbons Auto & Truck Repair
Sponsor: Community Futures East Kootenay

Marketer of the Year Award
Winner: East Kootenay Foundation for Health Award
Kootenay News Advertiser

Customer Service Excellence Award
Winner: Frank’s Steak and Schnitzel Haus Ltd.
The Business Development Bank of Canada

Company of the Year Award (1—15 employees)
Winner: Elizabeth Lake Lodge
Sponsor: Downtown Business Association

Company of the Year Award (More than 16 employees)
Winner: Hot Shots Cafe
Sponsor: St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino

Newsmaker of the Year Award
Winner: Canada Cup of Curling
Sponsor: Jim Pattison Broadcast Group and the Cranbrook Daily Townsman

Business Person of the Year Award
Winner: Joey Hoechsmann
Sponsor: The Banking Association of Cranbrook

Young Business Person Award
Winner: Chad Jenson, New Dawn Developments
Sponsor: JCI Kootenay

The City of Cranbrook had applied for a $50,000 grant back in 2010 to help foster the Asia-Pacific twinning process. This was reported in the Daily Townsman back in 2010:

"Cranbrook economic development officer Kevin Weaver met with the South Korea Consul, General Vancouver at the end of September. City administration is tentatively planning a trip to South Korea before the end of the year to formalize the twinning agreement.

The relationship will focus on natural resource development, technology and specialty manufacturing, development of investment opportunities for Korean investors/businesses, post-secondary education and tourism.

The funding agreement between the Ministry of Community and Rural Development and the City of Cranbrook has been extended to December 2010 in order for Cranbrook to develop a twinning relationship with an Asia Pacific community.

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States, became Cranbrook's sister in 1987 to promote international relations and goodwill and develop stronger ties in commerce, education, culture, industry and sciences. The intent of the Asia Pacific twinning initiative is primarily to foster new business and economic development opportunities.

The City entered into a $50,000 funding agreement with the province for the twinning relationship program in 2008 and while the term of agreement was set to expire March 31, 2010, the province supports the City's desire to establish a twinning relationship and so the funding was extended."

Full details of the trip will be presented at an upcoming Cranbrook City Council meeting.

The contractor, SNC-Lavalin Inc., has been working hard to complete excavation in the powerhouse area so construction of the powerhouse can begin.

In total, approximately 230,000 cubic metres of overburden and 141,000 metres of rock were removed (loading more than 50,000 trucks) and quarried within seven kilometres of the site. The rock will be available for reuse in future highway and other infrastructure projects in the area.

“Completion of the excavation at the powerhouse site is a significant milestone in the construction of this $900 million project,” said Audrey Repin, spokesperson for the Waneta Expansion Project. “Over one year into the project, the owners are pleased with the progress and appreciate the efforts of each and every person working to make the project a success.”

The viewing area across Highway 22A has temporarily closed due to slippery conditions but will reopen so the public can safely view the project once conditions improve. The owners thank the contractor for constructing this viewing area which has seen heavy traffic since opening last summer.

Early this year, the project will see completion of tunnel and intake excavation, assembly and installation of the travelling form for the tunnel linings, and continued concrete work in the powerhouse and service bay areas.

The project is focused on a high standard of safety, quality and environmental protection, and is committed to delivering local benefits. Currently, more than $72 million has been injected into the local economy through the purchases of goods and services—and there are over 200 employees working directly on the project. Of these, 80 per cent are local and 11 per cent are self-identified in equity groups. The $900 million project is expected to provide $200 million in wages and benefits and the equivalent of more than 400 jobs during its construction.

The Waneta Expansion Project is a partnership between Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation, and Columbia Basin Trust. For more information please visit their website.

For further information, please contact:

Audrey Repin, Waneta Expansion Project spokesperson

Phone: 250-304-6044 Cell: 250-365-9502.

Craig Ware, Western Canada's corporate affair manager at Loblaws, told the newspaper that the company is implementing a conversion process with the union, which includes an agreement to offer current employees positions at the new store.

He also said, "The No Frills (store) will be a great community grocery store for the residents of Trail...customers will continue to get popular President's Choice and no-name (brand) products and great offerings with produce, fresh meat and baked goods."

No exact opening date for the No Frills store has been given, but it would appear that it will happen later in the spring of 2012.  Other details—including a proposed official opening date—are forecoming, said Ware.