Mill Bay businessman Andrew Purdey is adding to his growing stable of B.C. marinas by buying the Port Sidney Marina.
“We think that tying the boating community together from the Gulf Islands to the west coast is a natural fit and it creates further opportunity to increase ecotourism and access to the beautiful southern Island,” Purdey said Wednesday.
Purdey founded Prince George-based Ruskin Construction in 1989, building a private company specializing in major infrastructure in B.C., Alberta, Northwest Territories and the Yukon.
Ruskin’s Mill Bay Marine Group also includes Mill Bay Marina, Port Browning Marina on North Pender Island, Pacific Gateway Marina at Port Renfrew and MK Bay Marina on the Douglas Channel near Kitimat, which is on traditional Haisla First Nation territory.
The sale of Port Sidney, with 320 slips, closed Monday. It was previously owned by Kim Pullen, owner of Church and State Winery on the Peninsula.
Port Sidney had been on and off the market for seven years, said Ken Cloak, associate vice-president at Colliers International Victoria. At one time, it was listed for $18.9 million.
Its most recent price was $15.995 million. “We got close to that number,” said Cloak.
Port Sidney is full and has a waiting list. It has 13,500 feet of concrete docks and can accommodate vessels up to 138 feet.
A 5,300-square-foot floating two-storey building is also part of the marina. It houses marina operations, commercial space and amenities such as showers and laundry for guests. As well, a large float can be used for special events and Canada Customs purposes.
Purdey is buying and developing marinas with improvements in mind, much of it taking place this year.
“We are looking at a few others to round it out, but our vision is that you travel the Gulf Islands, the west coast and the north coast and stay connected with our group,” he said.
At Port Renfrew’s Pacific Gateway, the moorage is increasing to 60 from 50, with protection from extended breakwaters. Other amenities include a fish processing plant, dryland storage and a heli-pad. The marina improvements are taking place as Victoria-based developers build vacation cottages with the goal of seeing Port Renfrew expand its tourism presence.
Plans call for the Port Browning Marina to double in size, Purdey said. The goal is to rebuild the marina with more than 100 slips and renovate the pub and café.
And at MK Bay, moorage is increasing to 160 from 130 slips, protected by a floating breakwater. Other improvements include an upgraded campground and new fish processing plant.
Bard and Banker building latest buy
Purdey also purchased the three-storey 1885 building housing the Bard and Banker Pub at 1022 Government St. The pub and upper floor office tenants are remaining.
The Italianate-style building was designed by architect W.H. Williams. Canadian poet and novelist Robert Service worked for the Bank of British Columbia, the original owner, and lived upstairs.
Buying the building was a wise and conservative investment, Purdey said. “From a business perspective, it is just a fabulous location and everything that I buy at this stage of my life is not for sale, so it is something that I plan on holding on for a long time. I’m an engineer by trade and I just love the architecture.””
