Harry Corro

JOURNALIST

Business, Economy & Labour

Victoria News •

Robbins Parking loses Victoria airport contract to U.S. company after 41 years - Victoria News

Passengers flying in and out of Victoria International Airport (YYJ) will see no immediate changes, but behind the scenes, a significant shift is underway.
After 41 years of providing parking services, Vancouver Island-based Robbins Parking is ending its contract with the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) on May 31, after an American company, Laz Parking, was awarded the new contract.
The change comes after Robbins Parking failed to secure a new contract following a public Request for Proposal (R...
Surrey Now-Leader •

B.C.'s first: North Saanich on-call firefighters unionize with IAFF - Surrey Now-Leader

Paid on-call firefighters in North Saanich have just made history in British Columbia.
They've become the first on-call group to unionize with International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), marking a significant shift in the district’s fire service landscape.
This paves the way for a more structured and supported environment for these essential first responders.
The development follows months of discussions and applications, culminating in an order issued by the Labour Relations Board on May...
Peninsula News Review •

Sidney-Anacortes ferry will be out of service for at least 5 more years - Peninsula News Review

The Anacortes-Sidney ferry service, a vital international link between Washington state and Vancouver Island, remains suspended five years after its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
And despite a 2023 service restoration plan from the Washington state Department of Transportation that essentially ended the ferry run until 2030, many still wonder about that plan's status.
According to an April 7 update, international service to and from Sidney will remain suspended until further notice due t...
Victoria News •

‘Massive step’ for North Saanich farms: $750K donation kickstarts local food hub - Victoria News

Thanks to a sizable donation, farmers in North Saanich may soon have access to a much-needed farm hub processing facility.
The generous gift, announced at a council meeting on April 28 by local resident Greg Warner, aims to bolster the district’s agricultural initiatives and support local farmers, aligning with the vision outlined in the district's draft Official Community Plan (OCP).
Warner holds a donor-advised fund at Charitable Impact Foundation Canada and proposed to use the full value of $...
Tofino/Ucluelet Westerly News •

Remote workers get down to business with Sidney's first remote working hub - Tofino/Ucluelet Westerly News

From her desk on Sidney's Beacon Avenue, Elizabeth Giles logs into work each day at a coworking space – connecting with colleagues nearly 8,000 miles away in Sydney, Australia.
"My coworkers don't usually come online until 1 p.m. our time, so my hours are kind of all over the place," says the content marketing specialist, joking that lunch meetings are off the table due to the lengthy flight.
For Giles, working for a company whose office hours are at least 18 hours ahead of hers can be a little...
Comox Valley Record •

Visitors to Sidney to start paying new hotel tax this summer - Comox Valley Record

Starting in August, hotel visitors in Sidney will be subject to a three per cent tax.
That's after the province approved a Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) or hotel tax on sales of short-term accommodation.
The decision, green-lighting the Sidney Business Improvement Area's (BIA) application, guarantees a dedicated and consistent funding stream for tourism marketing, destination development and enhanced visitor services.  
 
Set to be implemented on Aug. 1, the MRDT will levy a three p...
Kelowna Capital News •

Some striking B.C. postal workers keep government cheques, Santa letters flowing - Kelowna Capital News

It's been six days since thousands of Canada Post workers went on strike over wages, working conditions and other issues.
They may have stopped delivering mail but even on the picket lines, they know they have a job to do.
On Wednesday (Nov. 20), Nancy Eaton, a longtime Canada Post employee, stopped by the picket line outside the Sidney depot on Vancouver Island to pick up some cheques. She will be delivering these voluntarily, in between standing alongside her fellow strikers.
"It's a one-day t...
Oak Bay News •

DHL workers locked out in North Saanich amidst heated labour dispute - Oak Bay News

A labour dispute has escalated into a lockout at DHL Express facilities nationwide, including a warehouse near Victoria International Airport, leaving several Unifor union members, including longtime owner-operators, picketing outside the premises.
They join 2,100 other workers in the union, hoping issues related to pay, working conditions, automation and surveillance could be resolved swiftly.
The dispute, which centres around disagreements over fair compensation and proposed contract concessio...