The Travelodge Silver Bridge Inn in Duncan is now a Ramada hotel.
Sales manager Sheila Leclerc said the hotel decided to become part of the Ramada hotel franchise to “elevate the level of service” to its customers.
She said the hotel, located at 140 Trans-Canada Hwy., has had significant upgrades and renovations to its rooms and added a fitness centre to meet the criteria of being a Ramada hotel.
“We received official notice from Ramada that we are a part of its chain on June 29 and changed our outdoor signs the same day,” Leclerc said.
More than burritos: Outdoor Grill offers burgers
Gringo’s Burritos in Chemainus has changed its name and added to its menu.
The take-out restaurant, which has been in operation since 1985, is now called Gringo’s Outdoor Grill after owner Kevin McIntyre recently added burgers to his menu of mainly Mexican foods.
He said the addition of the salmon, veggie, chicken and beef burgers has been well received by customers.
“Burritos have always been our bread and butter, but we’ve been hearing for some time that there’s no place in Chemainus that offers a good burger,” McIntyre said.
“We’re always busy with local customers, but we’re certainly looking forward to the many tour buses that usually come through here every day during the summer months with our new menu.”
The restaurant is located at 9748 Willow St.
App lets you find out wait times before you walk in
A new company called Medimap has launched a program that allows patients to see the current estimated wait times at walk-in medical clinics in Duncan and Cobble Hill.
The clinics include Duncan’s Beverly Medical Clinic and Cowichan Way Clinic and Cobble Hill’s Valleyview Treatment Centre.
By visiting medimap.ca and searching for “Duncan”, patients can find these clinics in order of estimated wait times.
They can also see the clinics’ up-to-date operating hours for the coming week, and whether the clinics have reached capacity for the day and stopped accepting patients.
Medimap co-founder Blake Adam said the program began last year as a pilot with five clinics in White Rock, and has since expanded to include 103 clinics across B.C.
“It’s a simple solution to the frustrations faced by patients when they need to visit a walk-in clinic, and clinics really appreciate the office efficiency and customer service it provides,” he said.
New gallery features work by local Cowichan Valley artists
Chemainus’s reputation as Vancouver Island’s Arts Town was enhanced July 1 when a new gallery opened.
Rainforest Arts, a division of Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society, offers a full-time retail venue featuring the work of more than 40 artists from the Cowichan Valley and beyond.
The society, well known for backing the performing arts, is delighted to see this new initiative according to Kathy Wachs, a longtime CVCAS member.
“Our gallery will become more than a place to help artists,” Wachs said.
“It will be a centre for people to learn about the creative process and how art promotes a healthy community through an appreciation of our culture and environment.”
Anyone interested in volunteering or showing their work can contact www.rainforeststarts.ca, by email at info@rainforeststarts.ca or on Facebook.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com