Local Business

The paper facility at the Crofton mill will be under another curtailment for about two weeks. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Paper Excellence announces paper mill curtailment at Crofton

Nearly 100 employees affected with temporary layoff notices

Debbie Simmonds outside the exp Realty office on Willow Street in Chemainus. (File photo by Don Bodger)

Chemainus realtor urges those needing to sell their houses to act fast

Market conditions changing rapidly with interest rate hikes

21streetclub was dreamed up by a UVic student who dreams of helping art and design students earn money from their pieces while attending school. (Photo courtesy of Nelson Walusimbi)

University of Victoria student turns class project idea into full-blown fashion business

Website aims to help art and design students find platform to share, sell their fashion pieces

Josh Handysides, chief administrative officer of the Malahat Nation, was honoured by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce for his efforts to help get the Malahat SkyWalk built and promote other south Island initiatives. (Courtesy of Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce)

Malahat Nation CAO honoured with major Chamber of Commerce award

Josh Handysides’ work integral to success of Malahat SkyWalk, other projects within nation

Josh Handysides, chief administrative officer of the Malahat Nation, was honoured by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce for his efforts to help get the Malahat SkyWalk built and promote other south Island initiatives. (Courtesy of Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce)
Software systems are susceptible to cyberattack through the recently discovered Log4Shell vulnerability. (Stock photo)

Vancouver Island cybersecurity firm ahead of global curve in arming against Log4j bug

aDolus Technology Inc. generates first vulnerability reports to thwart hackers

Software systems are susceptible to cyberattack through the recently discovered Log4Shell vulnerability. (Stock 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)
A merger between Nanaimo-based Taste of B.C. Aquafarms and Blue Star Foods of Miami, Fla., will scale up land-based fish farm steelhead production on the mid Island. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo fish farm plans to scale up production 15 times thanks to US deal

Taste of B.C. Aquafarms was acquired by Miami, Fla.’s Blue Star Foods Corp. earlier this year

A merger between Nanaimo-based Taste of B.C. Aquafarms and Blue Star Foods of Miami, Fla., will scale up land-based fish farm steelhead production on the mid Island. (Photo submitted)
George Manning (right), seen here in the pressroom of one of the publications he oversaw, was a legendary figure and mentor in the local community newspaper industry. He passed away last week at age 81. (Facebook/Gail Manning)

Gazette founder leaves a legacy on Cowichan, Vancouver Island journalism

George Manning dies at 81, was key figure in the growth of Black Press on Vancouver Island

George Manning (right), seen here in the pressroom of one of the publications he oversaw, was a legendary figure and mentor in the local community newspaper industry. He passed away last week at age 81. (Facebook/Gail Manning)
Tseshaht Lead Beach Keeper Hank Gus says he’s looking forward to sharing the Broken Group Islands origin story with visitors. Gus has been a Beach Keeper for nine years. (Tseshaht First Nation photo)

Tseshaht First Nation re-opens Broken Group Islands with refreshed Beach Keepers Program

To help sustain the program, tour operators are encouraged to implement a $10 per day per guest fee

Tseshaht Lead Beach Keeper Hank Gus says he’s looking forward to sharing the Broken Group Islands origin story with visitors. Gus has been a Beach Keeper for nine years. (Tseshaht First Nation photo)
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)
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’

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