Business

Joel Chudleigh, Strathcona Hotel and Sticky Wicket’s sales and catering manager outside the property on January 24, 2023. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

From shoeshine boy to management, Victoria man shares memories of 52 years with the Strath

Joel Chudleigh started working at the Strathcona Hotel as a shoeshine boy in 1970

 

Scott Viala portait. Lia Crowe photography

Secrets, lives and the 7 sins with Scott Viala

Steel mace trainer builds strength and skills

  • Jan 23, 2023

 

Liz Barrett had hoped to return to her electrician apprenticeship after a year of maternity leave. Now her kids are nearly two years-old, but she can’t go back to work due to the lack of childcare spaces. (Courtesy of Liz Barrett)

Child care, benefits, stigma: barriers for tradespeople fuelling Greater Victoria labour shortages

Canada will face a shortage of at least 10,000 workers in every recognized trade in the next 5 years

 

Small-scale seafood producers will get a boost toward competing in global market producers with a new seafood business accelerator program at Vancouver Island University. (Photo submitted)

‘Accelerator’ program aimed at helping Vancouver Island seafood businesses compete

Island Coastal Economic Trust supporting Vancouver Island University program

Small-scale seafood producers will get a boost toward competing in global market producers with a new seafood business accelerator program at Vancouver Island University. (Photo submitted)
Nicolas Jimenez. (Black Press Media file photo)

ICBC CEO Nicolas Jimenez to take on top role at BC Ferries

Jimenez spent close to 20 years with the insurance corporation

Nicolas Jimenez. (Black Press Media file photo)
Old Vic Fish and Chips has joined the growing list of downtown Victoria businesses to announce they are closing their doors over the past few months, but Downtown Victoria said it is likely just the natural ebb and flow of downtown businesses, rather than any cause for concern. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Downtown Victoria says it’s still strong for business, despite string of closures

Despite Old Vic Fish and Chips joining list of closures in the area, business remains good overall

Old Vic Fish and Chips has joined the growing list of downtown Victoria businesses to announce they are closing their doors over the past few months, but Downtown Victoria said it is likely just the natural ebb and flow of downtown businesses, rather than any cause for concern. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
(The Canadian Press)

Stores launch Lunar New Year sales during typically slow shopping season

Western retailers grasping onto holiday as means to make money

(The Canadian Press)
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions is considering strengthening Canada’s mortgage stress test. (The Canadian Press)

Banking regulator launches consultations on mortgage rules, proposes additions

Possible changes to existing stress test would aim to reduce overstretched borrowers

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions is considering strengthening Canada’s mortgage stress test. (The Canadian Press)
Old Vic is closing down. (Old Vic photo)

‘A disaster’: Iconic Victoria restaurant closing down after 90 years

Diners speaking out after restaurant says it’s closing down

Old Vic is closing down. (Old Vic photo)
The V2V Empress is loaded onto the BBC Mont Blanc Jan. 10. (Greater Victoria Harbour Authority/Twitter)

Former luxury ferry, the V2V Empress catamaran gets a lift out of Victoria

Passenger service was scuttled in January 2020

The V2V Empress is loaded onto the BBC Mont Blanc Jan. 10. (Greater Victoria Harbour Authority/Twitter)
(Shutterstock.com)

Trade show targets local businesses in Sooke

Sookarama returns in April after three-year hiatus

(Shutterstock.com)
Curtis Pelletier portrait - Photography by Lia Crowe

Curtis Pelletier, Performance Coach

“The similarities between sport and business are fascinating”

  • Jan 9, 2023
Curtis Pelletier portrait - Photography by Lia Crowe
A sign at the Victoria Original Joe’s location on McKenzie Avenue. (Chris Campbell photo)

Opinion: ‘This sucks’: Popular Victoria restaurant shuts down, blames ‘staffing shortages’

As diner fumes, business shuts its doors

A sign at the Victoria Original Joe’s location on McKenzie Avenue. (Chris Campbell photo)
Marci Hotsenpiller portraits by Lia Crowe

Taking the plunge

RITUAL: A hot spot with cold therapy

  • Jan 6, 2023
Marci Hotsenpiller portraits by Lia Crowe
Victoria’s Phillips Brewing and Malting Co. is shifting to an employee ownership model after 21 years under the sole ownership of founder Matt Phillips. (Courtesy Phillips Brewing and Malting Co./Facebook)

Employees set to take over this beloved Victoria brewery

The move will see all full-time employees of three years or more eligible to buy shares

Victoria’s Phillips Brewing and Malting Co. is shifting to an employee ownership model after 21 years under the sole ownership of founder Matt Phillips. (Courtesy Phillips Brewing and Malting Co./Facebook)
The Beach House Restaurant and nearby lots have been listed as for sale. Owner, Kate Phoenix, says operations will continue as normal until the end of August. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Site of historic Cordova Bay venue hits real estate market

Beach House Restaurant to remain open until end of August, owner says

The Beach House Restaurant and nearby lots have been listed as for sale. Owner, Kate Phoenix, says operations will continue as normal until the end of August. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
David Hooper - Lia Crowe photography

Simple, Practical, Classic and Sometimes Sophisticated

David Hooper, Owner, Resource Furniture BC Professional Stuntman/Gymnastics Coach

  • Jan 4, 2023
David Hooper - Lia Crowe photography
Bunny’s Kitchen puts the emphasis on fresh ingredients. (Pexels photo)

Ex-roller derby player cooking up healthy meals in Esquimalt

Bunny’s Kitchen is a dream come true

  • Jan 4, 2023
Bunny’s Kitchen puts the emphasis on fresh ingredients. (Pexels photo)
The Wildwood trailer saunas seat six to eight folks and appear most weekends at Willows Beach in Oak Bay. (Courtesy Wildwood Saunas)

Builder brings saunas to Oak Bay beach popular with cold-water swimmers

Travelling trailers popular with Willows Beach visitors

The Wildwood trailer saunas seat six to eight folks and appear most weekends at Willows Beach in Oak Bay. (Courtesy Wildwood Saunas)
Aviation analytics company Cirium says Canada’s two biggest airlines ranked low in terms of on-time performance this year. The data firm says that among the ten biggest airlines in Canada and the U.S., Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd. ranked worst and second-worst for their punctuality. An Air Canada flight taxis to a runway as a WestJet flight takes off at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on March 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadian airlines come in at low end of on-time performance: analytics firm

WestJet and Air Canada only managed on-time arrivals for around 40 to 45 per cent of their flights

Aviation analytics company Cirium says Canada’s two biggest airlines ranked low in terms of on-time performance this year. The data firm says that among the ten biggest airlines in Canada and the U.S., Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd. ranked worst and second-worst for their punctuality. An Air Canada flight taxis to a runway as a WestJet flight takes off at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on March 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck