The 2024 version of the BC Building Code, which came into effect on March 8, 2024, now mandates the installation of visual signal devices (strobe lights) in washrooms for restaurant projects outside of Vancouver as part of the fire alarm system design. This applies to new restaurants and existing restaurants that are undergoing renovations only. 

These devices are meant to assist in the safe evacuation of occupants who are deaf or hard of hearing, or in spaces where music and other sounds may reach higher-than-normal decibel levels. This requirement is new to the building code, and failing to address it during the project’s design stage could result in expensive change orders during construction and schedule delays. For more information contact our trusted partner and expert in this field, Archos Engineering Consultants.

Contact Archos Consultants

All Temporary Extended Service Areas (TESA) Expire December 31st, 2024

This is a reminder that the LCRB’s Temporary Extended Service Areas (TESAs) will expire on Dec 31/2024.  This means that businesses with TESA-licensed patios (from the pandemic era) must apply to the LCRB for permanent licensing for their patios.

LCRB staff mentioned to us that they haven’t received as many applications as they would expect and we strongly encourage those who have not secured their permanent patio licensing to reach out to us. We don’t want you to get caught without a patio next year!

You may have a summer patio permit from the City of Vancouver, but if it is a TESA, the patio area is no longer licensed by the LCRB / Province of British Columbia.

The good news is, that we are experts in successful patio applications and are ready to help you facilitate your permanent license.

Help me with my patio licensing

Bert Hick gets out of jail!

Bert Hick, along with some other well known Vancouverites, participated in a fundraiser for Crime Stoppers recently. Bert Hick was “arrested” by Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers on September 13th with the intention to raise bail money to contribute to a great fundraising effort.

We supported Crime Stoppers in this initiative as they are a non-profit organization that works hard to keep us safe in our communities. They rely on events like these to continue their operation that provides a safe and anonymous way to report criminal activity. Information that may not be reported due to fear of retaliation or involvement. Since the program’s inception, over 8,100 arrests have been made and over ½ a billion dollars and property has been recovered. 

Thank you to all who donated Bert’s bail money to get him released from ‘jail’, we are happy to have him back in the office!

Client Spotlight

The Seaside Hotel at the Shipyards in North Vancouver just completed a full Structural Change to double the size of their beautiful restaurant space. 

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Cristalina Parc Senior Living Facility in Kelowna just received full Food Primary licensing. This is Lakeview living at its finest, located just a block from Pandosy Waterfront Park and the boardwalk to Lake Okanagan.

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Cielito Lindo has approval for their liquor license so they can serve you some yummy margaritas with their upscale Mexican fare! Visit them at 122 West Hastings in Vancouver. 

What is a ‘PPE’ and should you have one?

A Patron Participation Entertainment Endorsement offers a variety of entertainment options, including: dancing, singing, stand-up comedy, open mike and trivia nights. You can also host dinner parties, weddings, and birthdays – provided that food service is available at all times and remains the primary focus of the establishment. This endorsement is valid until Midnight (no matter the hours of permitted operation listed on the licence.)

Congratulations to our valued clients Eldorado Hotel in Kelowna and Azur Hotel in Vancouver who just received their PPE approvals!

If you would like a PPE for your establishment, get in touch with us!

We are here to help

If you need guidance with your liquor licensing, cannabis licensing, compliance issues or business operations, get in touch with us! 

Contact Rising Tide

As the Gastown pedestrian project nears its end, it is evident that the closure to road traffic was not the success that the City of Vancouver had hoped for when they launched their pilot for Summer 2024. 

Reduced street access has resulted in up to an estimated 20-50% decline in sales for some businesses. Some have reported that their sales now are worse than the days of the COVID-19 restrictions. 

The costs have far outweighed any benefits for this initiative and it is our hope that Vancouver City Council listens intently to the Gastown BIA and the business owners that have lost significant revenue due to the road closures if they are going to try another version of this in 2025.

More Information

Downtown Van Steps Up Security

Downtown Van has a new pilot program with Paladin Security. They will be deploying two full-time guards to patrol the Downtown Van district from 2PM to 10 PM, 7 days a week to work alongside the Downtown Safety Ambassadors to “address high-priority calls and enhance overall safety in the downtowncore.” Their Ambassadors will continue to focus on community safety with a hands-off approach, while these new guards will take on a more security-oriented role.

We wish to commend Downtown Van for this effort to protect the people and businesses of downtown Vancouver and improve the safety and security for all. 

More Information

A Patio License In Vancouver Will Cost You More Than Other Cities In Canada

During the pandemic, the City of Vancouver took positive steps to simplify and expand its patio program, allowing businesses to adapt more quickly. However, Vancouver small businesses still face high costs and lengthy wait times for approvals compared to other major municipalities across the country.

Vancouver small businesses are being charged up to $1,451 for a first-time sidewalk patio permit. See the recent research by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) for the patio comparison costs across Canada. 

Vancouver $1,102-$1,451 (4 weeks)

Calgary $116 (6 weeks)

Saskatoon $0 (3 weeks)

Winnipeg $0 (1 day)

Toronto $917 (8 weeks)

Ottawa $1,424 (2 weeks)

Montreal $1,065 (time varies)

“The City of Vancouver is on the right path, but more work needs to be done to ensure patio permits are affordable and issued in a timely manner,” said Emily Boston, CFIB’s BC Senior Policy Analyst. “Right now, it can take up to four weeks for a Vancouver business to get a patio permit approved, whereas Winnipeg sets the gold standard with same-day approvals.”

Rising Tide Consultants works closely with both Vancouver City Council and the LCRB to ensure that the needs of our clients is communicated clearly and we are in full support of these fees being brought into a more reasonable alignment with our other Canadian counterparts. 

Client Spotlight

Forged Axe in Victoria has just received approval for their new LP license Rising Tide Consultants is so happy that this is finally a reality after a significant amount of time and effort to bring this to fruition. We don’t know about you, but we think this experience is worth a road trip! Don’t miss their location in Whistler too!

The domestic food court at Vancouver International Airport just got a whole lot better!

Triple O’s now joins the lineup with their new Food Primary license. Waiting for your flight isn’t quite as stressful now with this yummy addition.

Ash Street Bistro Bar & Bistro now has full approval for their new patios at the Legacy Senior Living Facility on 41st Avenue in Vancouver. The patio is not just for residents and their friends and family, it is now open to the public. Reservations required – call 604.240.8550

Mayor Sim Casts Tie-Breaker Vote In Favour Of Natural Gas In New Construction

Rising Tide Consultants is in full support of Vancouver City Council’s recent decision to include the choice of renewable natural gas, natural gas, hydrogen fuels in home and business heating in new construction in the near future.

This is a win for industry and we are grateful to Council’s fair and progressive decision to allow affordable and sustainable options for restaurants to utilize renewable energy resources for their operations.

We Are Here To Help

If you need advice or guidance with your licensing challenges or business operations, get in touch with us. 

Contact Rising Tide

Rising Tide Consultants is pleased to announce that we offer design services to support our valued clients! By providing professionally drafted floor plans in AutoCad or Sketchup, you no longer need to engage an outside designer or pay your architect to do your floor plan drawings. This allows you to save time and money by streamlining the design process in presenting your drawings for your architect’s approval and facilitating a smooth submission to the city.

Rising Tide’s very own Meagan Morris completed the Residential Interiors program (DDA) at the University of Alberta and has extensive experience designing for residential and commercial projects across North America.

We are currently working on multiple projects for premiere Downtown Vancouver hotel locations. Get in touch to see how we can assist with your design needs.

We all love to cheer on our Canucks during the playoffs, but we are urging our clients to remember to create a safe and compliant environment for their patrons this season.

Responsible alcohol service is essential in keeping our city safe for these upcoming celebrations, so please be vigilant in enforcing your liquor service policies and ensure that proper ID practices are always adhered to.

Remember if you are caught serving alcohol to a minor you will be fined $7,000 on the spot! Over-service is a key factor in situations escalating to a point no one wants to see, so watch your guest’s consumption closely.

Alcohol products purchased to-go must be accompanied by a meal, and by this we mean not just a bag of chips. Want to know what constitutes a “meal” in this instance? Give us a call

Both the VPD and inspectors from the LCRB will be out in full force during the games so be sure to have the following items up to date and ready to show if they pay you a visit:

• Serving it Right certificates for all serving staff
• Your liquor & business license posted correctly
• Current floor plan
• Liquor register
• Alcohol Sense Materials
• Policy & Procedures Manuals that outline responsible liquor service

Missing some items? Have questions about getting this all organized in time? We are here to help!

Let’s all work cooperatively with our enforcement teams that are working hard to protect the citizens of Vancouver and prioritize mindful service and safety practices so that we can have a fun, successful Stanley Cup playoff season!

Vancouver City Council met Wednesday, Dec 13, 2023 on some very important issues for Industry.

We are proud to be a member of the Hospitality Task Force with key industry partners, including the BCRFA, ABLE BC, Restaurants Canada, The Craft Brewer’s Guild and the BCHA that has been advocating to the city on the following key issues. We are pleased to report some impactful wins! Vancouver is no longer “No Fun City.”

The existing licensing moratoriums for Granville Street, Chinatown and Gastown have been eliminated so those areas of Vancouver are now open for new business licenses or expansion of existing licensed establishments.

“With respect to the moratorium on Granville Street, my view is moratoriums just prop up the dinosaurs, it does not allow for creativity, innovation, and a new opportunity to breathe life in. You’re just propping up the cheap bars, with cheap drinks, and you end up with drunks. I think you need to have that creativity and innovation to allow us to compete with other cities.” ~Bert Hick, Founder and President Rising Tide Consultants

The distancing requirements of licensed establishments has also been eliminated, clearing the way for more licensed establishments of similar size.

The licensing of retail business with liquor primary licenses, such as Spas, Beauty Salons and Retail Stores has now been approved. This will allow for these types of businesses to serve alcohol to their patrons along with their regular retail business.

These are very positive outcomes and we are proud to have been an integral part of bringing these changes to the City of Vancouver. We promise to continue our mission to streamline processes, slash red tape and eliminate antiquated policies for the benefit of our tourism and hospitality industries.

Read the City News article HERE

On October 17, 2018, Canada legally became the second country to legalize the consumption and sale of recreational cannabis. Since legalization took place, many regulations and legal frameworks have established a set of licenses that deem one legally eligible to hold several positions within the cannabis industry. 

With these Easy Steps to Getting Your Cannabis License for Producers, the process of getting your business up and running will be easier.

The license and permitting depend on the exact position of the licensee is and what their job entails. These are a few of the licenses available throughout Canada in the cannabis industry. 

• A retail cannabis store license is granted for a non-medical retail location that sells recreational cannabis
• A licensed producer, or LP, is an individual certified to grow cannabis. These licenses are granted in specific increments or levels, based on the amount of cannabis the producer will manufacture
• A cannabis marketing license is given to a marketing agent who promotes cannabis products for licensed retailers to purchase and resell 

This is the general framework for the recreational cannabis industry throughout Canada. Regardless of the province, these specific licenses must be obtained by prospective individuals seeking to fulfill the specific duties outlined in the license.

However, the roadmap to these licenses differs based on the area of Canada in question. 

Three Models for Licensing in Canada

Since the date of legalization, Canada has witnessed the birth of three distinct models for licensing in the cannabis industry.

Once the country made recreational cannabis legal, provinces and territories were directly responsible for developing a system for how cannabis is sold and purchased.

This separate responsibility means that each province is different regarding steps for obtaining licensing. 

For example, cannabis license differences in BC and AB aren’t the same as the differences between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. These responsibilities include formulating a method for businesses and individuals obtaining licensing to participate in the recreational cannabis program. 

These three licensing models are as follows. 

1. The Government-Run Model is set up to have the alcohol and gaming agencies be the sole distributors and retailers of recreational cannabis
2. The Request for Proposals model is designed for a select number of retailers to be chosen as authorized cannabis sellers
3. The Free-Market Model grants an ongoing amount of retailers the ability to apply for licensing 

Now that it’s clear how the licensing models work let’s look at two of the biggest regions in Canada and how their systems work. What are some of the cannabis licensing differences in BC and AB? 

Specific Cannabis License Differences in BC and AB

Two of the biggest provinces in Canada use the same type of model in their recreational cannabis industries. Both chose to adopt the Free Market Model, which allows an unlimited amount of retailers to dip their feet into the recreational cannabis pool. 

However, despite using the same model, certain regions could still have different pathways to becoming registered producers or retailers. In the section below, we’ll highlight the cannabis license differences in BC and AB. 

In Alberta, the Alberta, Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission grants licenses. In British Columbia, the BC Liquor Distribution Branch handles its cannabis regulations. 

The biggest notable cannabis license difference in BC and AB is that the reservations have more oversight in British Columbia, while the government has more control in Alberta.

There is currently permission for micro-producers in Alberta, while British Columbia won’t allow delivery by micro-producers until 2022. 

Regardless of the subtle differences in the licensing process, the pathway in each province is essentially identical. The main concern in each region is ensuring the licensee has no prior or current ties to illegal marijuana or organized crime. 

Basic Application Process

There is no cannabis license difference in BC and AB in terms of the initial application process. These are the steps outlined in the initial phases of Getting Your Cannabis License for Producers. 

1. Applicant must become familiar with all local and federal regulations on cannabis sales and production
2. Identify their license class and subclass (this dictates amounts, etc.)
3. Create an account with CTLS
4. Inform all necessary individuals associated with the proposed license holder also to create a CTLS account and apply for security clearance
5. Create a corporate account if necessary
6. Create an application and gather all pertinent information 
7. Submit the application
   

Getting Your Cannabis License for Producers doesn’t have to be a headache with the proper paperwork and background information. Classes in each province train potential producers on growing methods and land use regulations to ensure everything is done according to protocol.