Domtar (formerly Paper Excellence) and Tla’amin Nation have reached an historic agreement for the Nation to reacquire a substantial portion of the lands at the tiskwat paper mill site in Powell River, British Columbia. The two parties signed the agreement at a ceremony on Tla’amin Territory. 

tiskwat was a large and important village site that holds both historical and contemporary significance for the Tla’amin people.

The agreement is the result of years of work and commitment by both parties who overcame initial apprehensions to develop trust and work together in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation. That work began with the renaming of the mill site in 2021 to tiskwat and continued in a mutually respectful way to reach today’s agreement.

The agreement honours both the historic significance and future potential of the lands. The reacquired lands primarily front the river and ocean and are among the least industrialized areas at tiskwat.  Tla’amin Nation will manage portions of the land for cultural and environmental values while developing the more industrialized lands to spur regional economic growth. 

While a large portion of the former mill site will be acquired by the Tla’amin Nation, a segment of land will be sold by Domtar to one or more third parties that will engage in industrial redevelopment. This will ensure that these lands will also continue to create economic benefits for the broader community well into the future.

Hegus John Hackett, Tla’amin Nation:

“We want to thank our ancestors who never gave up on tiskwat. Your strength has guided our hands in this work. We also recognize Domtar’s commitment to staying the course with us when negotiations got tough.  Reconnecting with this place—once the original commercial hub of our territory, a center of trade and prosperity for thousands of years—is deeply emotional. We look forward to once again exercising our responsibilities to these lands.”

Richard Tremblay, President of Pulp and Tissue, Domtar:
“Our journey with the Tla’amin Nation is an important one in the history of our company. The path we have walked together shows that when you take the time to build trusted relationships and get things right, the extraordinary becomes possible. We are proud of this agreement as a tangible demonstration of our commitment to a reconciliation-centered approach to engaging with Indigenous communities.”

Dillon Johnson, Executive Councillor, Tla’amin Nation:

“tiskwat is a very special place that has sustained Tla’amin people since time immemorial and we always knew it would come back to us. Today’s agreement marks a new chapter not only for Tla’amin but for the entire regional economy. We look to make the most of this opportunity for present and future generations to come.”

Lana Wilhelm, Director of Indigenous Relations, Domtar:

“I raise my hands in deep respect for the Tla’amin Executive Council and their staff for their incredible work in negotiating this generational acquisition. Equally, I’m very proud to be working with colleagues and leadership at Domtar who had the integrity to do the right thing with this site. It has not been a journey without challenges, but what an inspiring one it is when everyone paddles in the same direction.”

Honourable Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Province of British Columbia:

“Congratulations to the leadership of Tla’amin Nation and Domtar on this agreement, reached through complex and collaborative discussions, on the path forward for the tiskʷat site. As a partner in the Tla’amin Treaty and the yiχmɛtštəm tiskʷat (which translates to ‘we are going to take care of tiskʷat’) MOU, the Province recognizes tiskʷat as an important Tla’amin settlement site and is committed to further collaborative planning related to site acquisition, stewardship, and economic development. This agreement is a positive example of reconciliation in action and ensures all parties can continue exploring a shared vision for the site, one which benefits the whole community.”

Honourable Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Province of British Columbia:

“Today is about celebrating an important milestone and opportunity for the tiskʷat site, the Tla’amin Nation, Domtar, and the entire community. The agreement represents a positive step forward for reconciliation. One which reaffirms and recognizes tiskʷat as the Tla’amin’s ancestral home. Today’s announcement is not just a welcome home for Tla’amin Nation. It’s also an exciting new beginning for tiskʷat, the Tla’amin and the entire community.”

Media coverage featured in:

·       The Globe & Mail

·       Business In Vancouver

·       APTN News

Our client, GWL Realty Advisors (GWLRA), has proposed a mixed-use development at 1220 Station Street in Vancouver. The project features secured market rental, below-market rental, and furnished rental housing, alongside office space and retail amenities. Designed to address the diverse needs of the emerging health district in False Creek Flats, the development integrates residential housing, office spaces, and retail facilities.

The site is one block from the new St. Paul’s Hospital and is adjacent to the Main Street-Science World SkyTrain Station, which is the main public transit node for the city’s new healthcare district. To facilitate this proposal, GWLRA has submitted a rezoning application to the City of Vancouver.

The proposed development includes two towers of up to 28 storeys above a commercial podium that can accommodate a grocery store, as well as office space for medical or lab uses. The project will include approximately 400 rental homes, ranging from studios to four-bedroom units. The 1220 Station Street site is bound by Terminal Avenue to the south and Pacific Central Station to the north.

To fulfil this vision and deliver on the City and the Province’s goals for increased density around SkyTrain stations, GWLRA has requested rezoning of the property from its current office-use designation to mixed-use.

Emily Carr University (ECU) was developing its new six-year strategic plan and needed help to transform the ideas and input compiled by its strategic planning advisory group into an engaging plan that would resonate with the entire university community.

Elettra worked with ECU to articulate the plan’s priorities and objectives in clear, actionable language and present them in an easy-to-read way. Central to this was our development of the strategic plan’s theme – Create. Change. A better world through art + design. – and our work in crafting the organization's new vision, mission and values. Together, this theme and the new vision, mission and values will guide ECU as it implements its strategic plan over the next six years.

We recently helped our client, Wesgroup Properties, launch W16, a new condo project in Cambie Village designed by world-renowned architects Olson Kundig. W16 is a seven-storey, 53-home condo development that brings Olson Kundig’s iconic single-family home designs to an urban setting.

World renowned for its innovative architecture, Olson Kundig was founded on the idea that inspiring surroundings can have a positive effect on people’s lives and that buildings can be a bridge between nature, culture, histories and people. While originally known for its single-family homes, the Seattle-based firm has gone on to design civic buildings, museums, places of worship and even lead the renovation of the Seattle Space Needle.

W16 is the most recent in a line of notable projects that Olson Kundig has completed in Canada, including the award-winning Mission Hill Family Estate and Martin’s Lane wineries.

For this project, we collaborated with the Wesgroup team on media relations. W16 was featured in The Province’s West Coast Homes + Design section, RENX, Journal of Commerce, e-architect, REMI Network, Construction Business, and more.

We had the pleasure of working with our client, Rize Properties, on launching their latest purpose-built rental project. The Hyland, built in partnership with Minto Apartments, brings 108-rental homes to Kensington-Cedar Cottage.

With a variety of suites, ranging from studio apartments to three-bedroom and two-story townhomes, The Hyland is ideal for everyone—from professionals and downsizers to growing families and roommates.

For the project, we worked with the Rize team on all internal and external communication project needs for launch, including the creation of project collateral, ranging from out-of-home to digital advertising.

Learn more about The Hyland here.

We supported our client, the Hospital Employees' Union (HEU), with media relations and social media content for their recently published report, which highlights how B.C. led the way in protecting seniors in long-term care homes during the pandemic.

The report found that single-site orders, wage standardization, and tuition-free training for care aides helped B.C. respond quickly and effectively, saving lives.

Media coverage included interviews on CTV and CBC’s On The Coast.

Read HEU’s report here.

We recently helped the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (Downtown Van) with the launch of their 'Better Safe / Than Sorry' campaign. This initiative highlights what’s at stake if political parties fail to prioritize community safety in their platforms, and urges Vancouverites to ask candidates how they plan to make downtown Vancouver safer.

Media coverage featured in:

·      Global News

·      CTV News

·      CityNews

Read the media release here.

KOKO Productions, Vancouver’s leading full-service audio production and recording facility, announced today that Thea Baturin has become the studio’s sole owner. With this move, KOKO has become the first fully woman-owned major audio production facility in Canada.

Under Baturin's leadership, KOKO is playing a leading role in the movement back to in-person recording and mixing, providing a space where creativity can flourish. “We believe in the strength of in-person production and the future of the larger studio model,” Baturin said.

To facilitate this work, KOKO has a 6,000 square foot, custom-designed facility with six studios and is equipped for Dolby Atmos/5.1, used to create immersive surround sound. Its largest studio can seat 10 clients and has a 620 square foot live room, accommodating up to 12 actors.

Media coverage ran in Post Magazine.

We had the opportunity to create a compelling brand name and visual identity for Hypha Consulting, founded by Shannon Janzen RFP. Before Shannon started her consulting business, she worked in forestry and rose to become Western Forest Products’ Chief Forester. Shannon's leadership and extensive background in operations, supply chain, communications, government relations, finance, and asset management provided a rich foundation for Hypha’s brand.

Inspiration was drawn from the natural world, selecting the name "Hypha" – a part of fungi that helps trees communicate and share nutrients. This metaphor reflects Hypha Consulting's role in nurturing clients' growth, much like how hyphae support trees by operating behind the scenes to provide essential nutrients and protection.

We created a versatile logo with different orientation options, along with typography, business cards, proposal, letterhead, and presentation templates. The visual identity symbolizes growth and the supportive nature of Hypha Consulting.

We were happy to support our long-time client The Kettle Society as they broke ground on a new transition home for women. The ceremony, which featured speeches from representatives from The Kettle as well as B.C.’s Attorney General, Niki Sharma, and was covered by CBC, Global, CTV, CityNews and Fairchild.

Sylvia’s Place is a 10-unit transition home for women who are navigating the challenging journey away from violence and are simultaneously managing mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Funded by BC Housing and supported by the provincial government’s $19-billion investment in housing, Sylvia’s Place is set to open its doors in early 2025.

Part of a second stage program, Sylvia’s Place is designed to act as a bridge for women transitioning from licensed care towards an independent lifestyle, while still receiving support services.

We supported our client Wesgroup as they partnered with Renewal Development to rescue, relocate and repurpose 10 single family homes from the former Coronation Park neighbourhood in Port Moody, which is currently being redeveloped, to the shíshálh Nation on the Sunshine Coast. This partnership saved these well-cared-for homes from being torn down and provided cost-efficient new housing to a community where it was needed.

Elettra worked with Wesgroup, Renewal Development and the shíshálh Nation to do media relations around this initiative and organized a press event to celebrate the relocation of the first few homes. Media showed significant interest in the story – with  coverage running on Global TV, CTV, CBC, CityNews, the Vancouver Sun and more.

Elettra recently had the opportunity to produce Vancouver Airport Authority’s (YVR) annual employee event at Science World. This year’s theme was Ignite Your Wonder, which encouraged guests to have some fun with Science World’s exhibits and connect with colleagues.

As part of YVR’s commitment to providing welcoming, inclusive, and accessible experiences for people of all abilities, this year’s event featured a sensory-friendly lounge. With over 700 guests, everyone has different sensory needs. This initiative was guided by YVR’s community partner, Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN).

Placed inside Eureka Dark, the sensory-friendly lounge was not just a quiet room, but a retreat for guests who might find the sensory aspects of a large party overwhelming. The lounge was a carefully curated space with dimmed ambient lighting, low-volume music, soft seating, and two Haven cloud installations by Tangible Interaction, which allowed guests to enter and take a few moments to themselves.

The space was also equipped with various sensory tools to provide comfort and stimulation as needed. For those particularly sensitive to noise, noise-cancelling headphones were available, allowing individuals to fully control their auditory environment. NeeDoh fidget toys offered tactile stimulation to help soothe and relax.

The benefits of including a sensory-friendly lounge at YVR's employee party extended beyond individual comfort, contributing to a broader cultural shift towards inclusivity and awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace. The sensory-friendly lounge underscores the importance of acknowledging and accommodating the diverse needs of all employees, fostering a more inclusive, understanding, and cohesive workplace culture.

Here are some photos from the event:

Today, at the start of the Family Day long weekend, Sts’ailes held a Traditional Ceremony to recognize, celebrate and honour its jurisdiction over child and family services for its Xwelmexw te Sts’ailes (Sts’ailes people). 

“Today, after more than a century of historic disruption, Sts’ailes is asserting its unbroken and inherent right to care for our children and families according to our own laws and cultural practices,” says Sah-ahkw Ralph Leon Jr., Chief, Sts’ailes. “Our children are our most precious resource and, by assuming responsibility for their care, we are ensuring that they grow up with the love, support and connection to their culture that they deserve.”

The event had been intended as a ceremonial signing of a Coordination Agreement with the governments of Canada and British Columbia, the culmination of more than three years of negotiation. However, one month before the agreement was scheduled to be signed, Canada reneged on its commitment to meet agreed-upon deadlines for executing the agreement and provided no timeline for when it would be ready to finalize it.

Coverage featured in:

• The Globe and Mail

• The Canadian Press

• Vancouver Sun

• Agassiz-Harrison Observer