Local Business

SMRT1 Technologies CEO Brad Pommen celebrates March 16 after his company won $225,000 in funding from Accelerate Okanagan’s 2023 OKGN Angel Summit investment competition. Photo: Submitted

Big investment for Nelson’s SMRT1 Technologies after winning Okanagan competition

The interactive vending machine company earned $225,000 at the OKGN Angel Summit

(L-R) Tailout’s head brewer Mary Lusty, Humble Bean owners Mike McLellan and Kimberly Mamos, and Hedin Nelson-Chorney, a founder and the general manager of Tailout Brewing have joined forces to create an espresso stout. Photo: Submitted

Castlegar’s Humble Bean Coffee and Tailout Brewery create one popular stout

Two Castlegar businesses have partnered together to create an espresso stout

Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile  pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell
Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile  pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell
The 2022 Ktunaxa Business Showcase, held at the Prestige Inn on Thursday, Oct. 27, created an opportunity for Ktunaxa entrepreneurs and artisans to connect and network with regional industries, enhance their brand awareness in the community, and highlight products and services. (Barry Coulter photo)

Ktunaxa business showcase features entrepreneurs, businesses, artisans

Over 31 Ktunaxa businesses, including artisans, were involved in the showcase, and more than a dozen industries came by for the networking opportunities

The 2022 Ktunaxa Business Showcase, held at the Prestige Inn on Thursday, Oct. 27, created an opportunity for Ktunaxa entrepreneurs and artisans to connect and network with regional industries, enhance their brand awareness in the community, and highlight products and services. (Barry Coulter photo)
Leeza Zurwick at her new brewery in Castlegar. Photo: Submitted
Leeza Zurwick at her new brewery in Castlegar. Photo: Submitted
International best-selling author Roz Nay has opened her own writing school in Nelson. Photo: Tyler Harper
International best-selling author Roz Nay has opened her own writing school in Nelson. Photo: Tyler Harper
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)
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
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)
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

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