Local Business

Longtime friends Cassie Walters and Raelyn Lachapelle opened the doors to their new downtown Salmon Arm space for their business, The Nom Shuswap, on February 1, 2022. There, customers can pick up pre-ordered meals and grab-and-go meals, as well as smoothies and cold-pressed juices. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

‘Full-time Noms’: Salmon Arm friends focus on nutritious meals for people on the go

The Nom Shuswap opens doors in downtown Salmon Arm

Valley First has donated between $10,000 and $25,000 to four different organizations as part of its Simple Generosity program. (Contributed)

Credit union cash helps Okanagan businesses

Valley First donates between $10,000 and $25,000 to four separate organizations to help businesses grow

Accelerate Okanagan has received $275,000 from the federal government, funding that will support the creation of new and improved capital training activities for entrepreneurs over the next two years. The funding was announced Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Submitted photo)

New funding accelerates opportunities for Okanagan investors

Accelerate Okanagan has received $275,000 to support capital training activities for entrepreneurs

Amanda Homeniuk, owner of Vernon’s Kaleco, is one of 450 women whose businesses are featured on WeBC’s new virtual pop-up shop, which is open until Jan. 3, 2022. (Submitted photo)

New virtual pop-up shop boosts Okanagan women in business

The online shop features more than 450 women-led businesses in B.C.

Amanda Homeniuk, owner of Vernon’s Kaleco, is one of 450 women whose businesses are featured on WeBC’s new virtual pop-up shop, which is open until Jan. 3, 2022. (Submitted photo)
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)
Vernon-based Tolko Industries Ltd. has again partnered with the Orange Shirt Society for an annual art contest. (Tolko photo)

Vernon company draws up Orange Shirt Day contest

Tolko Industries renews partnership for art contest with Orange Shirt Society

Vernon-based Tolko Industries Ltd. has again partnered with the Orange Shirt Society for an annual art contest. (Tolko photo)
Lake Country’s Block One Restaurant at 50th Parallel Winery has been named as one of the top 100 locations in Canada for outdoor dining in the first list compiled by opentable.com. (OpenTable photo)

Okanagan restaurants featured in outdoor dining top 100 list

Two from Vernon, West Kelowna and Penticton and one from Lake Country named in top 100 outdoor dining venues by opentable.com

Lake Country’s Block One Restaurant at 50th Parallel Winery has been named as one of the top 100 locations in Canada for outdoor dining in the first list compiled by opentable.com. (OpenTable photo)
Poor David’s owner Karrie Peace and Salmon Arm store manager Monica Rhodes look forward to the new downtown Salmon Arm business’ soft opening on Friday, June 25. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

VIDEO: New Salmon Arm gift shop a tribute to loving husband

Karrie Peace opens her third Poor David’s on June 25

Poor David’s owner Karrie Peace and Salmon Arm store manager Monica Rhodes look forward to the new downtown Salmon Arm business’ soft opening on Friday, June 25. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Chef Sascha Hillebrand will oversee operations at Nineteen05. (File photo)

Salmon Arm’s Prestige Harbourfront Resort welcomes new restaurant

After months of renovations, Nineteen05 Kitchen Raw Bar opens with international-inspired menu

Chef Sascha Hillebrand will oversee operations at Nineteen05. (File photo)
Customers at the newly opened Shaughnessy’s Cove at Summerland’s waterfront cheers to the province bringing back indoor dining. (Facebook)

South Okanagan restaurants celebrate back to indoor dining, scramble to re-hire

Tuesday’s announcement that indoor dining could resume was needed good news, say owners

Customers at the newly opened Shaughnessy’s Cove at Summerland’s waterfront cheers to the province bringing back indoor dining. (Facebook)
Black Crow Cannabis is just one of Vernon's many pot shops now open in town. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Kelowna has highest cannabis fees in Okanagan

Vernon’s 14 stores pay second highest business licence fees

Black Crow Cannabis is just one of Vernon's many pot shops now open in town. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
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)
Jamie and Tanisha Out and Toni Starkell are the team behind Forage General, a floral, coffee and gift shop located in downtown Salmon Arm at the corner of Alexander Street and the Trans-Canada Highway. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

VIDEO: Salmon Arm trio open small business with big city feel

Forage General offers flowers, coffee and a variety of unique gifts

Jamie and Tanisha Out and Toni Starkell are the team behind Forage General, a floral, coffee and gift shop located in downtown Salmon Arm at the corner of Alexander Street and the Trans-Canada Highway. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
A couple of the adaptive bikes and riders that were able to take the inaugural lap in the rain on Friday. (Claire Palmer photo)

Golden’s first adaptive-inclusive trail officially opens

Located close to the CBT parking lot, the trail is fun for adaptive riders and moutain bikers alike

A couple of the adaptive bikes and riders that were able to take the inaugural lap in the rain on Friday. (Claire Palmer photo)
A new houseboat company has opened on the former Waterway property south of Sicamous. (Sicamous Houseboats/Facebook)

New houseboat company up and running on Shuswap Lake

Sicamous Houseboats has moved in to the former Waterway Houseboats property.

A new houseboat company has opened on the former Waterway property south of Sicamous. (Sicamous Houseboats/Facebook)
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
Canmore West Eavestroughing works to serve Golden

Canmore West Eavestroughing works to serve Golden

Despite being based in Canmore, Canmore West is willing to come out to Golden to provide service

Canmore West Eavestroughing works to serve Golden
Store manager Andrew Sanders has developed a “people first” philosophy for Save-On-Foods Golden. Claire Palmer/Star Photo

Save-On-Foods has a people first philosophy

For Andrew Sanders, it’s all about customer service. It’s what he thinks…

Store manager Andrew Sanders has developed a “people first” philosophy for Save-On-Foods Golden. Claire Palmer/Star Photo
James Bjarnason has been working in IT and with computers for years now. Photo submitted.

Huginn Technology opens doors to Golden

After spending nearly 20 years living on the coast, splitting time between…

James Bjarnason has been working in IT and with computers for years now. Photo submitted.