Local Business

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

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

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Report shows Kootenay tech sector is growing

The Kootenay Technology Sector Assessment 2020 is the first of its kind in the region

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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
Businesses can apply for the Circuit Breaker Relief Funding until June 4. Photo: Jim Bailey

Circuit breaker grant available for Rossland businesses

Circuit Breaker grant provides up to $10,000 for businesses affected by recent shutdown

Businesses can apply for the Circuit Breaker Relief Funding until June 4. Photo: Jim Bailey
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)
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
The Rossland Winter Carnival (pre-pandemic) is a brilliant reflection of its ski culture and why Rossland was named one of the 10 Best Ski Towns in North America. Photo: Jim Bailey

Q&A with Tourism Rossland and Top Ski Town ranking

Tourism Rossland from USA Today’s Top 10 Ski Town ranking

The Rossland Winter Carnival (pre-pandemic) is a brilliant reflection of its ski culture and why Rossland was named one of the 10 Best Ski Towns in North America. Photo: Jim Bailey
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
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
SMRT1 Technologies founder Brad Pommen (right) has entered into an agreement to supply smart vending machines technology to Vancouver-based UpMeals. Photo submitted

Nelson’s SMRT1 Technologies to provide vending tech to Vancouver company

UpMeals will launch 22 machines across Canada using SMRT1’s personalized machines

SMRT1 Technologies founder Brad Pommen (right) has entered into an agreement to supply smart vending machines technology to Vancouver-based UpMeals. Photo submitted
The man was swimming near Winlaw before he disappeared in the water. Photo: Google Maps

UPDATE: Body of Slocan River drowning victim recovered

The man was swimming near Winlaw on Wednesday.

The man was swimming near Winlaw before he disappeared in the water. Photo: Google Maps
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)
The Kootenay Gallery has moved a couple of exhibitions online as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Facebook photo

Kootenay Gallery of Art changes operations during COVID-19 crisis

Putting exhibitions online and creating new virtual gift store some ways the gallery is coping

The Kootenay Gallery has moved a couple of exhibitions online as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Facebook photo
West Kootenay real estate already starting to bounce back from COVID dip

West Kootenay real estate already starting to bounce back from COVID dip

In the last 14 days there have been 46 new real estate listings in the West Kootenay.

West Kootenay real estate already starting to bounce back from COVID dip
Chef James Varghese is hard at work preparing meals at The Nineteenth in Castlegar. The restaurant is filling take-out orders despite a staffing shortage. Photo submitted

Kootenay businesses struggling to find workers

People are opting to stay home and collect CERB rather than return to work.

Chef James Varghese is hard at work preparing meals at The Nineteenth in Castlegar. The restaurant is filling take-out orders despite a staffing shortage. Photo submitted
City of Rossland looks for new waste collection service provider

City of Rossland looks for new waste collection service provider

Interested applicants have until May 15 to submit their proposals.

City of Rossland looks for new waste collection service provider
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)