Local Business

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

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

Police found this Toyota Camry near the bottom of a Highway 3 embankment near Norwegian Creek Road Sunday, Nov. 8. Photo: Midway RCMP

Car drives off Highway 3 east of Midway

RCMP say the car hit black ice near intersection of Norwegian Creek Road

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)
Developers told Grand Forks city council last week that they hoped to open a Tim Hortons in the city by May 2021. (Nicole Crescenzi/Black Press Staff)

Developers aim for Grand Forks Tim Hortons by May 2021

The original development permit expires this month

Developers told Grand Forks city council last week that they hoped to open a Tim Hortons in the city by May 2021. (Nicole Crescenzi/Black Press Staff)
Enderby’s Starlight Drive In Theatre hasn’t yet decided if it will open for the summer season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Starlight photo)

Drive-in theatre proposed for Grand Forks

City councillors will vote next month on whether to permit the use of the private property

Enderby’s Starlight Drive In Theatre hasn’t yet decided if it will open for the summer season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Starlight photo)
Sarah Dinsdale began her role as the marketing manager for the Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce last month, just as COVID-19 restrictions began hitting local businesses. (Photo submitted)

Boundary Chamber’s marketing manager hits ground running

Sarah Dinsdale took the job with an eye on revitalization. Now the focus is keeping business running

Sarah Dinsdale began her role as the marketing manager for the Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce last month, just as COVID-19 restrictions began hitting local businesses. (Photo submitted)
Boundary Bucks were launched by the Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce in late 2019. (Jensen Edwards/Grand Forks Gazette)

Boundary shoppers asked to save receipts for $10 bonus

The regional chamber of commerce is handing out ‘Boundary Bucks’ to people that spend more than $100

Boundary Bucks were launched by the Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce in late 2019. (Jensen Edwards/Grand Forks Gazette)
Interfor’s sawmills in Grand Forks and Castlegar are scheduled to slow production for two weeks amid pandemic-related market changes. (Jensen Edwards/Grand Forks Gazette)

Interfor cuts production and staff at Grand Forks, Castlegar mills

The curtailment is scheduled to last two weeks, amid pandemic-related market changes

Interfor’s sawmills in Grand Forks and Castlegar are scheduled to slow production for two weeks amid pandemic-related market changes. (Jensen Edwards/Grand Forks Gazette)
An Air Canada jet takes off from Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, N.S. File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Air Canada suspends service to Castlegar, Cranbrook in April

Company responding to COVID-19 pandemic

An Air Canada jet takes off from Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, N.S. File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS
Kat Gellerman brings years of experience in the food business to her new store, Chef Sense Supplies, in downtown Courtenay. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Edible straws one B.C. entrepreneur’s latest weapon in war against plastic

Kat Gellerman has spent more than 20 years working in the food business

Kat Gellerman brings years of experience in the food business to her new store, Chef Sense Supplies, in downtown Courtenay. Photo by Mike Chouinard
An aerial shot of the SpeakEasy property near Rock Creek. (SpeakEasy Growers/Submitted)

Cannabis company gets green light to plant at Rock Creek facility

SpeakEasy Cannabis Club gets indoor growing license from Health Canada

An aerial shot of the SpeakEasy property near Rock Creek. (SpeakEasy Growers/Submitted)
Celgar says equipment failure won’t affect production next week

Celgar says equipment failure won’t affect production next week

The chip dumper collapse on Oct. 6 is still under investigation

Celgar says equipment failure won’t affect production next week
Graphic designer Samantha Wey speaks with Community Futures business analyst Susan Green at the first annual BizConnect event, held last week in Rock Creek. (Jensen Edwards/Grand Forks Gazette)

Networking event connects businesses across the Boundary

The Biz Connect will be held in Grand Forks on Oct. 17

Graphic designer Samantha Wey speaks with Community Futures business analyst Susan Green at the first annual BizConnect event, held last week in Rock Creek. (Jensen Edwards/Grand Forks Gazette)
Cannabis growers, processors and retailers from the Kootenays had a 90-minute session with the province’s solicitor general Mike Farnworth (centre, back row) and MLA Michelle Mungall (centre) on Saturday. Photo: John Boivin

Kootenay cannabis growers, retailers air issues with minister

Solicitor General Mike Farnworth and local MLA Michelle Mungall host chat on industry problems

Cannabis growers, processors and retailers from the Kootenays had a 90-minute session with the province’s solicitor general Mike Farnworth (centre, back row) and MLA Michelle Mungall (centre) on Saturday. Photo: John Boivin
Interfor’s Castlegar mill has benefitted from tens of millions of dollars in investment, says a senior official. Photo: John Boivin

West Kootenay mills weathering perfect storm in industry

Most say they’re set to persevere through tough economic times

Interfor’s Castlegar mill has benefitted from tens of millions of dollars in investment, says a senior official. Photo: John Boivin