Garco Building Systems Inc., the Spokane subsidiary of NCI Building Systems Inc., of Houston, is manufacturing a custom-designed, 82,000-square-foot aircraft hangar to be erected at Vancouver International Airport, in British Columbia.

The hangar will be owned by London Air Services, a division of Richmond, British Columbia-based London Drugs Ltd., a big retailer with 68 stores in four Canadian provinces.

"The $1.8 million job includes manufacturing the main hanger shell with a structural support system that will have the largest truss that Garco Building Systems has built", says Lee Stanton, the company’s district sales manager for British Columbia and Alberta.

It was designed so the 44-foot-high structure would not require internal support columns, enabling it to house several aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 737.

The hangar also will include a two-story office wing with about 25,000 square feet of floor space.

The project is to be completed in October.

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This email from one of my readers.

I really enjoy your articles and have a tidbit of information for you.

I read your article on April 18th about the numerous junk e-mail and telephone messages that we all get and that the proposed federal legislation was very minimal. I thought you might like to know about a new web site.

A professor from Carleton University in Ottawa agrees with you that the federal legislation leaves a lot to be desired so he created a new web site. It is called “iOptOut.ca” and there is no charge to become a member. Apparently he has received assurance from the industry that they will comply with the wishes of those that sign up NOT to be sent or receive obnoxious mail and telephone messages.

When you go into the web site it provides a background on the author and why the site was developed. It clearly explains what it can do for you and is very easy to use.

I have joined and completed the forms on line. It took me just a few minutes and I have received confirmation that the various charities, newspapers, banks etc. have been sent my do not call wishes.

I just thought you might like to pass this message on to your readers.

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She is one of our best business writers and Diane Francis has a new book in your favorite bookstore, “Who Owns Canada Now: Old Money, new money and the future of Canadian business".

She profiles seventy billionaires, and eight of those wealthy folks live in B.C. most of the time.

John and Allan Thorlakson from Vernon who own Tolko Industries, a company started by their father in 1956, is now one of the world’s largest lumber manufacturers.

Jimmy Pattison went into the car business with little more than his good name and his good credit. He now heads a list of companies that had sales of $6.3 billion in 2006.

There are always those you never hear about but who are powerful and giving back to their communities. Vancouver Billionaires Laljis, the Ismalli family behind the Larco Group of companies, is one of the largest real estate empires in Canada, with hotels, apartments, shopping centres and some inherited wealth as well.

Back in 1986, Diane Francis wrote hard-hitting "Controlling Interest" revealing the startling facts that one-third of Canada's wealth was in the hands of just 32 families and five conglomerates. At the time, Bernie Ghert, president of Cadillac Fairview, prophesied, "In a number of years, there will be six groups running the country." Was he right? Media coverage would have us believe that the last two decades have only increased the concentration of power. Diane Francis disagrees, and she's here to deliver some good news: a positive transformation has taken place in Canada, with both free trade and tough competition legislation creating a new and better nation. Players who are ready to offer innovative policies and visions for the 21st century drive the country. She conducted extensive interviews with Canada's economic leaders—from individuals to families to international conglomerates—with Francis' biting analysis, "Who Owns Canada Now" will be the most talked-about business book of the year.

I am reading the book now and find it fascinating. It is such a good read.