Local Business

Leeza Zurwick at her new brewery in Castlegar. Photo: Submitted

Not your typical brewery: Castlegar facility producing probiotic beverages

Happy Gut’s water kefir enterprise is growing

International best-selling author Roz Nay has opened her own writing school in Nelson. Photo: Tyler Harper

Tricks of the trade: Best-selling Nelson author Roz Nay opens writing school

Nay has published three international thriller hits

The still-under construction building in Nelson at 45 Government Rd. was supposed to be home to Nelson Cannabis Collective. Now it will be leased out to tenants after the building is completed. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson cannabis company scraps plans for processing facility

Nelson Cannabis Collective says it will pivot to leasing out its still-under construction building

Anita’s Organic Mill co-owner Taylor Gemmel outside the Chilliwack location. (Michelle Gemmel submitted file photo)

Nature’s Path acquires majority interest in Chilliwack organic food business

Largest organic cereal and snack maker buys into Anita’s Organic Mill

Anita’s Organic Mill co-owner Taylor Gemmel outside the Chilliwack location. (Michelle Gemmel submitted file photo)
Baldface Lodge founder and CEO Jeff Pensiero. Photo: Darren Davidson

Baldface Lodge expands operations into Valhallas

Baldface purchased the Valhalla Powdercat ski operation before the pandemic

Baldface Lodge founder and CEO Jeff Pensiero. Photo: Darren Davidson
Grand Forks City Hall. Photo: Kathleen Saylors

Grand Forks city council passes regulations for street vendors

Regulations will not apply to vendors on Market Avenue, Farmers’ Market

Grand Forks City Hall. Photo: Kathleen Saylors
Students from the three schools may be bussed to Stanley Humphries next year. Photo by John Boivin

UPDATE: Two positive COVID-19 cases reported at Castlegar’s high school, more at Brent Kennedy

Exposure at Stanley Humphries Secondary School occurred April 19 - 20, 22

Students from the three schools may be bussed to Stanley Humphries next year. Photo by John Boivin
The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tourism spending in Canada dropped by almost 50 per cent in 2020

Tourism-related jobs dropped by almost 29 per cent

The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)

Survey finds Canada’s hospitality industry has low expectations for year ahead

Almost 87 per cent of businesses in accommodation and food services report lower revenues in 2020

Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)
Jogas Espresso Café was one of three Grand Forks establishments targeted in Sunday’s vandalism spree, Jan. 17. Photo: Laurie Tritschler

Vandalism spree targets Grand Forks businesses

City RCMP said they arrested a male suspect Sunday, Jan. 17

Jogas Espresso Café was one of three Grand Forks establishments targeted in Sunday’s vandalism spree, Jan. 17. Photo: Laurie Tritschler
Sam Baio, owner of Nelson’s Valhalla Pure Outfitters, says he’s keeping his store closed on Boxing Day due to COVID-19 crowd concerns. Photo: Tyler Harper

Wary of the pandemic, Nelson businesses opt to stay closed on Boxing Day

They say the profit isn’t worth the potential of infection

Sam Baio, owner of Nelson’s Valhalla Pure Outfitters, says he’s keeping his store closed on Boxing Day due to COVID-19 crowd concerns. Photo: Tyler Harper
L-R: Kootenay Co-op general manager Ari Derfel, grocery manager Erin Morrison, and security guard Akshay Sharma. The Kootenay Co-op has hired a security company to protect staff from abusive customers who don’t wish to wear masks. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Mask acceptance varies between different business outlets in Nelson

A small percentage of shoppers have tried flouting the rule, and Kootenay Co-op has hired a security guard.

L-R: Kootenay Co-op general manager Ari Derfel, grocery manager Erin Morrison, and security guard Akshay Sharma. The Kootenay Co-op has hired a security company to protect staff from abusive customers who don’t wish to wear masks. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Paul Starwarz of JAMM Properties told Grand Forks’ Committee of the Whole Monday, Nov.9, that they hope to build a Tim Horton’s on Central Ave. Pictured are Vernon Tim Hortons staff saluting to frontline workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (YouTube screenshot)

Franchise owners look to build Tim Horton’s in Grand Forks

The permit application was heard at Monday, Nov. 8’s Committee of the Whole meeting at chambers

Paul Starwarz of JAMM Properties told Grand Forks’ Committee of the Whole Monday, Nov.9, that they hope to build a Tim Horton’s on Central Ave. Pictured are Vernon Tim Hortons staff saluting to frontline workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (YouTube screenshot)
Grand Forks/Fire Rescue delivered a fee for services stemming from a series of recent fires at 9175 Granby Rd., including this trailer fire Wednesday, Nov. 4. Photo courtesy of Grand Forks Fire/Rescue

City of Grand Forks, fire department deliver fee to Granby Road property for suspicious fires

More suspicious fires at the property following City’s cease and desist letter, said Fire Chief Seigler

Grand Forks/Fire Rescue delivered a fee for services stemming from a series of recent fires at 9175 Granby Rd., including this trailer fire Wednesday, Nov. 4. Photo courtesy of Grand Forks Fire/Rescue
Grand Forks’ Roly Russell is the BC NDP candidate for the Boundary-Similkameen in October’s provincial election. Photo: Laurie Tritschler

Former MLA Moe Sihota endorses NDP’s Russell in Boundary-Similkameen

Sihota was a provincial cabinet minister in the 1990s

Grand Forks’ Roly Russell is the BC NDP candidate for the Boundary-Similkameen in October’s provincial election. Photo: Laurie Tritschler
Petra Veintimilla is the BC Liberals’ candidate in the Boundary-Similkameen. Photo submitted.

Liberals’ Petra Veintimilla tours Midway, Greenwood, Big White

The candidate said she’d learned a lot from residents and industry leaders

Petra Veintimilla is the BC Liberals’ candidate in the Boundary-Similkameen. Photo submitted.
Rebuilding fees highlight decision at Aug. 17 council

Rebuilding fees highlight decision at Aug. 17 council

A watering exception, new signage, and a street piano project were other decisions made

Rebuilding fees highlight decision at Aug. 17 council
Applications for the first of three pitch competition events at the Nelson Innovation Centre must be submitted by Sept. 24. Photo: Nelson Innovation Centre

Nelson Innovation Centre to host pitch competition

Deadline to apply for the first of three events is Sept. 24

Applications for the first of three pitch competition events at the Nelson Innovation Centre must be submitted by Sept. 24. Photo: Nelson Innovation Centre
Grand Forks invite start-up businesses to downtown with new program

Grand Forks invite start-up businesses to downtown with new program

New businesses would receive the first six months of their lease free

Grand Forks invite start-up businesses to downtown with new program
Beginning June 29, Market Avenue in Grand Forks will be closed to vehicle traffic for three months to allow for local businesses to expand their sidewalk displays and patios. (Jensen Edwards/Grand Forks Gazette)

Market Avenue to close to traffic for summer to make way for pedestrians and patios

The closure is meant to allow businesses to expand their patios to promote physical distancing

Beginning June 29, Market Avenue in Grand Forks will be closed to vehicle traffic for three months to allow for local businesses to expand their sidewalk displays and patios. (Jensen Edwards/Grand Forks Gazette)