local business

Pepper’s Foods management and staff celebrate their bronze Independent Grocer of the Year small surface award, placing it in the top three independent grocery stores in Canada in its category. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Independently owned Saanich grocery store makes top 3 in all of Canada

Pepper’s Foods named third best independently owned grocery retailer in small surface category, again

 

Corey Gillon has been named the new CEO of Peninsula Co-op, and is set to officially start on Nov. 14. (Corey Gillon/Linkedin)

Corey Gillon named new CEO of Peninsula Co-op

Gillon spent 18 years with Walmart, among other previous positions

 

Long-serving employees at Ladysmith A&W are recognized for their dedication to their jobs. Pictured are Lori Kelland, co-owner, left, Loretta Frenchy, Kelly Frenchy, Katherine Aleck and Jason Kelland, also co-owner. (Duck Paterson photo)

Longtime A&W workers in Ladysmith get well-deserved holiday

Restaurant owners reward employees for years of service

  • Oct 13, 2022

 

The City of Duncan is looking to draw some of the increasing number of mountain bikers who are visiting the region to downtown businesses. (File photo)

Duncan looks to brand itself as a mountain biking destination

Cowichan increasingly popular with mountain bikers, city wants them downtown

The City of Duncan is looking to draw some of the increasing number of mountain bikers who are visiting the region to downtown businesses. (File photo)
Saravanan “Sammy” Periyasamy, 45, takes a break from his work in Yumbrosia Fine Foods He and his family were set to reopen the business Monday (Aug. 15) after its closure last December following the sudden death of owner Ihsan Askar. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Yumbrosia reopening in Oak Bay after months of closure

Southern Indian family works to preserve late owner’s legacy and business model

Saravanan “Sammy” Periyasamy, 45, takes a break from his work in Yumbrosia Fine Foods He and his family were set to reopen the business Monday (Aug. 15) after its closure last December following the sudden death of owner Ihsan Askar. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
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

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
Roberta Glennon stands in the men’s section of her Government Street shop, Roberta’s Hats. Glennon has run the business for 30 years since moving from Vancouver with her husband Brian in 1992. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Hats off to Victoria’s renowned hat store of 30 years

Roberta’s Hats continues to cap local industry with funky shopping experience

Roberta Glennon stands in the men’s section of her Government Street shop, Roberta’s Hats. Glennon has run the business for 30 years since moving from Vancouver with her husband Brian in 1992. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
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

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)
Our Place Society offered vulnerable women donated cosmetics, costume jewelry, nail polish, hair accessories and cosmetic bags and the handiwork of volunteer hairdressers and estheticians for its 13th annual Beauty Day on May 20. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Beauty Day at Our Place allows women to shine

Event returns after COVID-hiatus to make female ‘oasis of beauty,’ says program manager

Our Place Society offered vulnerable women donated cosmetics, costume jewelry, nail polish, hair accessories and cosmetic bags and the handiwork of volunteer hairdressers and estheticians for its 13th annual Beauty Day on May 20. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Victoria City Council approved the expansion of the Downtown Victoria Business Association’s boundaries on May 12. (Black Press Media file photo)

Downtown Victoria Business Association expands boundary

The decision automatically makes new members DVBA funders and was made after a reverse petition

Victoria City Council approved the expansion of the Downtown Victoria Business Association’s boundaries on May 12. (Black Press Media file photo)
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

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)
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)
Mile Zero Brewing’s hope to open a nano-brewery in the old Metchosin school building moved a step closer to reality this week, with council recommending approval, with specific criteria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Metchosin council hands off nano-brewery recommendation to liquor board

District’s input on hours, capacity and other elements to inform liquor board decision

Mile Zero Brewing’s hope to open a nano-brewery in the old Metchosin school building moved a step closer to reality this week, with council recommending approval, with specific criteria. (Black Press Media file photo)
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)
Maison Birks on Government Street will close its jewelry store March 26, after operating for 74 years in downtown Victoria. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Birks departure from Victoria marks shift of downtown makeup: business association

Montreal-based jeweller to close Government Street shop on March 26 after 74 years in city

Maison Birks on Government Street will close its jewelry store March 26, after operating for 74 years in downtown Victoria. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Late morning view southward over the top of Victoria city hall, as seen from the top of the Fisgard Street parkade. (Don Descoteau/Black Press Media)

Business associations propose solutions to property tax squeezing small business

Taxation on redevelopment potential and unused airspace hurting small business: Downtown Victoria BA

Late morning view southward over the top of Victoria city hall, as seen from the top of the Fisgard Street parkade. (Don Descoteau/Black Press Media)
Cruise ship buses will stop two blocks further north on Government Street starting April 6, to circumnavigate a pedestrian-priority section. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria councillors reject in-season opening of Government Street to cruise ship buses

Alternate route to Government stop upheld, city planning other measures to guide tourists to harbour

Cruise ship buses will stop two blocks further north on Government Street starting April 6, to circumnavigate a pedestrian-priority section. (Black Press Media file photo)
Artina’s Jewellery owner Valeriya Zakreski fears moving the city’s downtown stop for cruise ship passengers two blocks north will seriously negatively impact her Government Street business. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Government Street shop owners worry they’ll miss the boat on Victoria cruise passenger business

Shuttle bus stop moving closer to Yates Street to circumnavigate pedestrian-priority area

Artina’s Jewellery owner Valeriya Zakreski fears moving the city’s downtown stop for cruise ship passengers two blocks north will seriously negatively impact her Government Street business. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
While BC Transit will be running buses on Dec. 25, other businesses and services will be closed for the holiday. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

What’s open and closed on Christmas Day in Greater Victoria

Things to do, eat and see on Dec. 25

While BC Transit will be running buses on Dec. 25, other businesses and services will be closed for the holiday. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
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)

Victoria shop sources answers to the ugly holiday sweater dilemma

Despite pandemic challenges, 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)