Local Business

People purchase ice cream from one of Meedo Falou’s Rainbow Ice Cream trucks, in Tsawwassen, B.C., on Monday, August 1, 2022. Much of Canada has been sweltering, but that’s cold comfort for ice cream truck vendors like Falou, who says inflation and high fuel costs are melting away his profits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VIDEO: B.C. ice cream truck operator says inflation is chilling business, despite summer swelter

Rainbow Ice Cream owner says cost of sweet treat has gone up 60 per cent

 

Corey Bradder, left, and Aaron Colyn show off Twin City Brewing’s national awards, while Robin Miles and Andy Richards hold up their hardware from the recent Canadian Brewing Awards. (Courtesy of Twin City Brewing)

From lagers to IPAs, Island beers take top honours at Canadian Brewing Awards

9 Island breweries bring home prizes from 2022 Canadian Brewing Awards

 

Nanaimo author Josh Gillingham has created the Vancouver Island Coffee Tour website that includes a map with directions to a growing list of more than 50 independent coffee roasters across the Island and Gulf Islands that tourists and residents can follow to find the region’s best brews. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo author’s online ‘coffee tour’ an added perk for visiting Vancouver Island

Residents and visitors can follow guide to more than 50 Island-region coffee roasters

 

Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ravi Kahlon
 was chided by Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce president Ken Dennis in a Friday, March 18 letter, for making what Dennis termed a ‘misleading’ statement about provincial government benefits for business during the pandemic. (file)

B.C. minister chided for ‘misleading’ statement about pandemic benefits for business

‘Our members have not been filling their pockets with free public money’

Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation Ravi Kahlon
 was chided by Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce president Ken Dennis in a Friday, March 18 letter, for making what Dennis termed a ‘misleading’ statement about provincial government benefits for business during the pandemic. (file)
The Malahat Skywalk will host numerous events over the Christmas season. (John McKinley/Black Press)

Vancouver Island’s Malahat Skywalk wins prestigious tourism innovation award

$15-million project, a partnership between the Malahat Nation and A.Spire by Nature

The Malahat Skywalk will host numerous events over the Christmas season. (John McKinley/Black Press)
The owner of Daisy and Vine Vintage Design is concerned about the lack of commercial rentals in Ladysmith after being evicted from the Temperance Hotel for renovations. (Photo by Tyler Hay)

Heritage restoration project leaves local business with nowhere to go

Lack of commercial rental properties leaves Daisy and Vine Vintage Design with limited options

The owner of Daisy and Vine Vintage Design is concerned about the lack of commercial rentals in Ladysmith after being evicted from the Temperance Hotel for renovations. (Photo by Tyler Hay)
The Patch owner Christopher Shurety (right) and colleague Morgan (left) display some of their favourites of this year’s “ugly” Christmas sweater collection. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

B.C. shop sources bounty of answers to the ugly holiday sweater dilemma

Despite pandemic challenges, Victoria’s The Patch on Yates continues its annual tradition

The Patch owner Christopher Shurety (right) and colleague Morgan (left) display some of their favourites of this year’s “ugly” Christmas sweater collection. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Rossland Prop Master Paul Wagner is hoping to bring some movie business back to the West Kootenay. Photo: Submitted Trail jeweller Paul Durkin (pictured) was enlisted to design and create rings for the hit Netlix movie Love Hard by props master Paul Wagner. Photo: Jim Bailey

Kootenay props master’s work featured in Netflix Christmas rom-com Love Hard

Props Master Paul Wagner wants to see more movie business come through the Kootenay

Rossland Prop Master Paul Wagner is hoping to bring some movie business back to the West Kootenay. Photo: Submitted Trail jeweller Paul Durkin (pictured) was enlisted to design and create rings for the hit Netlix movie Love Hard by props master Paul Wagner. Photo: Jim Bailey
Crofton mill be shutting down for two weeks in November. (File photo by Don Bodger)

2-week shutdown coming to Crofton mill in November

Both the paper and pulp operations at the mill will be curtailed from Nov. 9 until about Nov. 24

Crofton mill be shutting down for two weeks in November. (File photo by Don Bodger)
Retailers say they’re ready for the ban on single-use plastic checkout bags in Nanaimo when it takes effect July 1. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo’s single-use checkout bag ban ready to go into place Canada Day

Business operators say there’s been plenty of time to plan and prepare for bylaw that kicks in July 1

Retailers say they’re ready for the ban on single-use plastic checkout bags in Nanaimo when it takes effect July 1. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
The Atli Chip Limited Partnership team achieved an important milestone when they loaded their first barge of slash chips which will be delivered to a Paper Excellence mill. (Submitted photo)

First barge of logging waste chips successfully loaded in new First Nations partnership

Atli Resources LP is the forestry arm of the ‘Namgis First Nation

The Atli Chip Limited Partnership team achieved an important milestone when they loaded their first barge of slash chips which will be delivered to a Paper Excellence mill. (Submitted photo)
Cameron Ezzy has his ducks trained as pest control officers. Through his business, Slugs N’ Bugs for Lunch, he will come to your home and rid your garden of slugs. Photo by Terry Farrell

VIDEO: Vancouver Island entrepreneur opens pest control business with ducks as employees

Slugs n’ Bugs For Lunch will take care of your garden pests naturally

Cameron Ezzy has his ducks trained as pest control officers. Through his business, Slugs N’ Bugs for Lunch, he will come to your home and rid your garden of slugs. Photo by Terry Farrell
Hughes Clothing owner Rebecca Burrows. (Courtesy of Rebecca Burrows)

Island woman wants accountability after Instagram hacked, naked photos demanded

Hughes Clothing owner creating non-profit to lobby internet giant for better response

Hughes Clothing owner Rebecca Burrows. (Courtesy of Rebecca Burrows)
Smaller egg farmers find themselves in a David and Goliath situation when it comes to major producers and chain-grocery store shelf space. (Citizen file)

Vancouver Island egg producer cries foul over ‘Island’ label

Egg farmer frustrated with regulations allowing mainland-laid eggs to be labelled ‘Island’

Smaller egg farmers find themselves in a David and Goliath situation when it comes to major producers and chain-grocery store shelf space. (Citizen file)
Staycation Box featuring an Indian experience. (Contributed photo)

B.C. company aims to bring international vacation experience to front door

‘Staycation Boxes’ launched two months ago, includes food bank donation

Staycation Box featuring an Indian experience. (Contributed photo)
Property on the Trans Canada Highway beside the Country Maples Campground has been sold and will become a modular home park. (Photo submitted)

Development, business transactions significant for Chemainus

Two highway properties and Owl’s Nest Bakery and Bistro sold

Property on the Trans Canada Highway beside the Country Maples Campground has been sold and will become a modular home park. (Photo submitted)
Jimbo competed in Season One of Canada’s Drag Race and has support from a new brew at Riot Brewing in Chemainus. (Photo by Helene Cyr)

Riot unveils a colourful brew in honour of a drag queen

Variety the spice of life and with beverages for Island entertainer

Jimbo competed in Season One of Canada’s Drag Race and has support from a new brew at Riot Brewing in Chemainus. (Photo by Helene Cyr)
Laura Cornale of Laura’s Coffee Corner currently has six employees, down from 16, because most would prefer to stay home and collect CERB, she said. (File photo)

Turning down work: CERB causing issues for some B.C. restaurants

‘It’s the most frustrating thing I’ve encountered, ever, in my life.’

Laura Cornale of Laura’s Coffee Corner currently has six employees, down from 16, because most would prefer to stay home and collect CERB, she said. (File photo)
While other distillers are bottling individual sizes of sanitizer, focusing on larger-size products lets Vancouver Island’s Shelter Point serve organizations like the RCMP, Department of National Defence, Fraser Health Authority, and school districts.

Vancouver Island distillery crafts sanitizer to meet Canadian need

Local know-how, economies of scale come together in Shelter Point sanitizer

  • Jun 8, 2020
While other distillers are bottling individual sizes of sanitizer, focusing on larger-size products lets Vancouver Island’s Shelter Point serve organizations like the RCMP, Department of National Defence, Fraser Health Authority, and school districts.
Many businesses have temporarily shuttered due to COVID-19, but as owners get the green light to reopen some aren’t sure they’ll be able to afford it. (Black Press Media files)

Low profits, few customers in post-pandemic recovery says B.C. business survey

About 43 per cent of businesses say they think they will need government incentives to continue operating

Many businesses have temporarily shuttered due to COVID-19, but as owners get the green light to reopen some aren’t sure they’ll be able to afford it. (Black Press Media files)