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

The new Clean Cart technology makes sure carts are well-sanitized for customer use. (Michael Briones photo)

Quality Foods opens new flagship store in Parksville

Mayor: ‘City is obviously growing out this way so it’s going to be a big help to all the residents’

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

Chemainus Festival of Murals Society president Tom Andrews displays the Chemainus Dollars $10 bill with the same scene on it as The Native Heritage mural. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Chemainus Dollars revert to being strictly souvenirs on April 5

Unique currency spendable in Chemainus becoming a collectible only

Chemainus Festival of Murals Society president Tom Andrews displays the Chemainus Dollars $10 bill with the same scene on it as The Native Heritage mural. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A seaweed farm installation in Klahoose First Nations Territory by Cortes Island. (Cascadia Seaweed photo)

Seaweed farming opens world of opportunity for coastal B.C.

“It’s projects like this that can show what true reconciliation is about.”

A seaweed farm installation in Klahoose First Nations Territory by Cortes Island. (Cascadia Seaweed photo)
Cruise ship arrives at Victoria Harbour, a prime source of international tourism that has been suspended in the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria small businesses hoping to survive extended cruise ship ban

Greater Victoria Harbour Authority supports extension, but says losses will follow

Cruise ship arrives at Victoria Harbour, a prime source of international tourism that has been suspended in the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)
Jonathan Nolan, Michael Nolan, Hope Johnson and Willow the cutest dog hanging, out at the Kwa'lilas Hotel while they wait to be able to return home to Rivers Inlet. (Zoe Ducklow photo)

Wuikinuxv First Nation evacuation to Port Hardy extended to seven days

Rains have not slacked off, keeping landslides a present threat

Jonathan Nolan, Michael Nolan, Hope Johnson and Willow the cutest dog hanging, out at the Kwa'lilas Hotel while they wait to be able to return home to Rivers Inlet. (Zoe Ducklow photo)
Kendra MacDonald is CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. She is the keynote presenter at the State of the Island Economic Summit, taking place virtually Oct. 27–29, 2020. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Ocean potential takes the spotlight at the 2020 ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s annual summit goes digital for 2020

Kendra MacDonald is CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. She is the keynote presenter at the State of the Island Economic Summit, taking place virtually Oct. 27–29, 2020. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Russell Farm Market is open again at long last. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Market finally reopens more than seven months after extreme flood

COVID situation lengthened an already long renovation process

Russell Farm Market is open again at long last. (Photo by Don Bodger)
The garlic crop looks good, as Russell Farm Market’s France Bournazel points out. It’s just getting it to market that’s a bit more challenging. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Crops ready, but Russell Farm Market still a month away from reopening

Garden Centre doing a blazing business with everyone taking up gardening

The garlic crop looks good, as Russell Farm Market’s France Bournazel points out. It’s just getting it to market that’s a bit more challenging. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Ucluelet’s Hello Nature Adventure Tours owner Kevin Bradshaw tests the plexiglass shield at the kayak launch. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Marine activities open with COVID-19 measures

“I’m just happy to get back on the water.”

Ucluelet’s Hello Nature Adventure Tours owner Kevin Bradshaw tests the plexiglass shield at the kayak launch. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Rhonda Graham poses beside a vacant salon chair on May 30. Graham has decided not to re-open the bricks and mortar Cedar & Rose studio, but said she will be available for ensuite bookings. (Nora O’Malley photo)

End of an Era: Tofino hair studio closes shop

“We were getting excited to start ramping up and then all of sudden we had to close our doors.”

Rhonda Graham poses beside a vacant salon chair on May 30. Graham has decided not to re-open the bricks and mortar Cedar & Rose studio, but said she will be available for ensuite bookings. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Tofino Distillery in collaboration with Clarity Apothecary are mass producing volumes of hand sanitizer for front line workers in the ACRD. (Clarity Apothecary photo)

Tofino and Ucluelet distilleries step up with hand sanitizer

Mass supply delivered to emergency operation centres in Tofino, Ucluelet, Bamfield and Port Alberni.

Tofino Distillery in collaboration with Clarity Apothecary are mass producing volumes of hand sanitizer for front line workers in the ACRD. (Clarity Apothecary photo)
Quality Foods and Shoppers Drug Mart will be dedicating a portion of their opening hours for seniors and vulnerable members of society to shop, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)

Stores dedicate early hours to seniors, health-compromised shoppers

Quality Foods offers two-hour access, Shoppers Drug Mart offers one hour

Quality Foods and Shoppers Drug Mart will be dedicating a portion of their opening hours for seniors and vulnerable members of society to shop, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. (Black Press Media file photo)
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
Grace Lore, a political science professor at the University of Victoria, is one of the panelists on the discussion regarding gender equity. (File Contributed)

Vancouver Island Economic Summit panel to address gender equity

One vital purpose of these proposed amendments is to bring attention to the wage gap between genders

  • Oct 3, 2019
Grace Lore, a political science professor at the University of Victoria, is one of the panelists on the discussion regarding gender equity. (File Contributed)
Grace Lore, a political science professor at the University of Victoria, is one of the panelists on the discussion regarding gender equity at the upcoming Vancouver Island Economic Summit. (File Contributed)

Vancouver Island Economic Summit panel to address gender equity

Last month the Canadian government proposed amendments to regulations under the federal…

  • Sep 25, 2019
Grace Lore, a political science professor at the University of Victoria, is one of the panelists on the discussion regarding gender equity at the upcoming Vancouver Island Economic Summit. (File Contributed)
Sotheby’s Realtor Christine Ryan was an enthusiastic supporter of Cowichan Valley dancers Brittany Millard and Mara Morris who competed in an international dance competition in Portugal earlier this summer. (Warren Goulding/Citizen)

Business notes: Realtor steps up to sponsor young dancers

Christine Ryan, a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty, knows what it takes…

Sotheby’s Realtor Christine Ryan was an enthusiastic supporter of Cowichan Valley dancers Brittany Millard and Mara Morris who competed in an international dance competition in Portugal earlier this summer. (Warren Goulding/Citizen)
Paul Rossmo (right), general manager of Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit welcomes Scott Circuit who has been appointed operations manager. (Submitted photo)

Business notes: New operations manager will help Motorsport Circuit through expansion

With Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit poised to embark on an ambitious expansion…

Paul Rossmo (right), general manager of Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit welcomes Scott Circuit who has been appointed operations manager. (Submitted photo)
(From left) Flight Centre Independent consultants Maddie Miller, Heather Lavender, Wendy Wright and Cheryl Proctor (top) are sharing their love of travel with a growing client base. (Warren Goulding/Citizen)

Travel industry changing with the times

The times they are indeed a-changin’ and four Cowichan Valley women have…

(From left) Flight Centre Independent consultants Maddie Miller, Heather Lavender, Wendy Wright and Cheryl Proctor (top) are sharing their love of travel with a growing client base. (Warren Goulding/Citizen)