Vancouverite Graham Clarke, 81, grew up Oak Bay and says he’s always hankered to return to his roots. He has now achieved that desire by buying the Oak Bay Marine Group (OBMG), thevenerable marine and hospitality company founded by Bob Wright 62 years ago. Wright was an ardent sport fisherman who wished to introduce boaters to the beauties of the BC coast while also catching fish. He began fulfilling his wish by building the Oak Bay Marina for pleasure craft on Turkey Point. Over the years, the company added sportfishing resorts and tourism and bought floating fishing lodges and three hotels, which have since been sold. Wright died in 2013 at age 82.
Graham Clarke with Brook Castelsky. Photo courtesy: Oak Bay Marine GroupThe Graham Clarke Group’s recent purchase of OBMG’s properties includes not only Oak BayMarina, but also three other Vancouver Island marinas: Pedder Bay, North Saanich and Ladysmith. OBMG’s boathouse building company, the Marina Dockside Eatery, the Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort in the Bahamas, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not in Newport, Oregon are also part if the acquisition. The purchase price has not been disclosed. For continuity, the Oak Bay staff, including CEO Brook Castelsky, are expected to remain at their posts.
The Graham Clarke Group already owns Coal Harbour Marina and the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre. In addition, the Group operates the three vessels of its 113-year-old Harbour Cruises in Vancouver, and Western Pacific Marine, which operates ferries in B.C.’s interior and the Lasqueti Island ferry. This latest acquisition reinforces its position as a premier marine and tourism operator in British Columbia.
Plans will be developed to revitalize Oak Bay Marina, including the installation of high-tech floats, after discussions with the Municipality of Oak Bay and local First Nations.