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Virginia Rasch writer profile

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Virginia is a writer and copy editor with Koocanusa Publications. She is an avid outdoor recreationist in all seasons and has lived in the Kootenays for 10 years. With degrees in the natural sciences, she has worked as a tour guide, an environmentalist, a writer, and a copy editor of scientific publications. Virginia now brings her passion for everything green to Kootenay Business.

Most recent articles by Virginia Rasch

Staff at the Trail WorkBC Centre.
West Kootenay, Trail The WorkBC Centre in Trail is ready to help, just not face-to-face

The WorkBC Centre in Trail opened at an opportune time—rising unemployment in the COVID-19 epoch

A mother is reading a book to her young son.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Energy, Environment Celebrate Earth Hour by reading aloud by candlelight

Revive the lost art of reading aloud during Earth Hour—Saturday, March 28th starting at 8:30 p.m.

Distant view of Wandering Fern mobile cafe.
East Kootenay, Golden, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business Caffeine meets adventure at the Wandering Fern Café

The Wandering Fern Café in Golden can help make your event memorable and fun

Owners of Fernie Distillers standing in their distillery room.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Invermere, Kimberley, West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Health & Wellness Kootenay distilleries are doing their part to help us in the COVID-19 pandemic

Four Kootenay distilleries are turning an alcoholic byproduct into a critically short commodity: Hand sanitizer for FREE!

Nikki Luxton, owner of Studio Bronze, standing in front of her store.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Developments, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Small Business Castlegar Business Roundup: New bricks-and-mortar for the city

Castlegar business roundup: Here’s the latest news

Owners of Pealow's Your Independent Grocer, Brian and Julia Pealow
East Kootenay, Creston, Agriculture, Small Business Did Creston’s foodies pick the Creston Chamber awards?

The Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce handed out 11 awards at its annual Business Awards gala

Two men are standing in front of an exterior door to a building. They are Rob Stacey (L) and Lukas Armstrong, principals of Cover Architecture.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Retail, Small Business Several Nelson businesses are auspiciously on the move

Nelson business roundup: Here’s the latest news

Interior of high-end rental property
East Kootenay, Fairmont Hot Springs, Invermere, Radium Hot Springs, Entertainment and Hospitality, Real Estate Fairmont Creek Vacation Rentals offers a win-win for renters and owners

Fairmont Creek Vacation Rentals manages unique properties in the Columbia Valley

Two scarecrows, an old man standing and an old woman sitting. Staff at Lilac Terrace created the town’s winning scarecrows, which were displayed at the mall and voted on by viewers.
East Kootenay, Sparwood A Business Scarecrow Award was handed out by the Sparwood Chamber of Commerce

The Sparwood Chamber of Commerce handed out 9 awards at its annual Business Awards gala.

Students studying an observation bee hive in class.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Environment, Financial Funding available for bee projects

The Bee BC Program has funding available to support bee health throughout the province.

Parents are standing with their three kids on their farm.
West Kootenay, Rossland, Agriculture, Environment Macro-success with microgreens on the Happy Hills Farm

The Happy Hills Farm in Rossland is growing super healthy food year-round

A large crew of men and one dog are lined up in a large vee in front of a shop. Rexxy, the dog, is the most distracting crew member. He shows true professionalism when welcoming people to the shop.
East Kootenay, Golden A pop-up café and helicopter elopements were commended at the Kicking Horse Chamber

The Kicking Horse Chamber of Commerce handed out 16 awards at its annual Community Excellence Awards ceremony.

Two people, owners of Ullr's Bar, are wearing Viking hats and holding swords.
East Kootenay, Fairmont Hot Springs, Invermere, Radium Hot Springs Vikings, yurts and ziplines were lauded at the Columbia Valley Business Excellence Awards

The Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce handed out 12 awards at its annual Business Awards gala.

An aerial photo of the city of Trail, showing the bridge over the river in the centre of the city.
East Kootenay, Canal Flats, Radium Hot Springs, Sparwood, West Kootenay, Rossland Kootenays are courting foreign entrepreneurs

The Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot aims to attract businesses to rural regions of B.C.

Ainsworth Hot Springs pool on a snowy winter night.
West Kootenay, Ainsworth Hot Springs, Castlegar, Nelson, Revelstoke Top 4 Businesses of the Year 2019 as awarded by the West Kootenay chambers of commerce

What were the Top 4 Businesses of the Year as awarded by the West Kootenay chambers of commerce in 2019?

A head shot of Tammy Darough, CEO and CFO of RHC
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Small Business Improving your insurance options at RHC

With 9 branches in the Kootenays, RHC Insurance is going wide by joining Hub International Insurance Brokers

Jillian Rutherford and Andrew Hayden, owners of Fernie Distillers, won Entrepreneurs of the Year.
East Kootenay, Fernie Fernie Chamber awards Entrepreneur of the Year to a beary-friendly business

The Fernie Chamber of Commerce handed out 13 awards at its annual Business Awards gala

The owners of Jimmy’s Pub and Grill are active supporters of Creston’s newest music venue. Pictured are owners (L to R) Cori and Chris Karountzos, and Mimika and Paul Coleman.
East Kootenay, Creston, Entertainment and Hospitality Business collaborations help make The Venue in Creston “the best little venue in B.C.”

Creston businesses team up to get people out on the town

Classic Blue paint sample
East Kootenay, West Kootenay Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2020 is a classic

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2020 reflects our desire for a stable and dependable foundation

The West Kootenay EcoSociety accepts the award for Business of the Year. Pictured are (L to R) Audry Durham, board member; Alyssa Taburiaux, Trail outreach co-ordinator; Natasha Edmunds, community organizer; and Trail councillor Paul Butler.
West Kootenay, Trail, Retail, Small Business Sustainability—and beer—were on tap at the Trail chamber Business Excellence Awards

The Trail and District Chamber of Commerce handed out 11 awards at its annual Business Excellence Awards ceremony

Group of people smiling and celebrating.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Kaslo Three more West Kootenay communities vote to go green

Three more West Kootenay communities have signed on to the EcoSociety’s 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign: Castlegar, Warfield and Kaslo

Close-up shot of Ahmed Elmaddah
East Kootenay, Elkford, Retail, Small Business Why a pharmacist immigrated to Canada and how he ended up in Elkford

An open storefront and a pharmacist’s calling leads to the award-winning Elkford Drug Store

Ian Benson of Bears Paw Contracting
East Kootenay, Elkford, Small Business Elkford chamber appreciates its own during Business Awards 2019

The Elkford Chamber of Commerce handed out five awards at its annual Business Awards gala

Owners Mari Plamondon and Alyx Graham-Taylor are standing in front of their restaurant counter, a new location for Wait's on Nelson.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Cuisine Big-hearted Wait’s diner in Nelson beats a kindness tempo

The iconic Wait’s News in Nelson, B.C., moved but hasn’t changed its generous heart

Shade Sails Canada staff is passing out bags from their second company at their Dragons’ Den appearance in October.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Environment, Retail, Small Business Vibrant and stylish bags are created by the Green Bag Company in Revelstoke, B.C.

The Green Bag Company in Revelstoke, B.C., is creating upscale, upcycled bags of all sizes and shapes

Revelstoke's bear statue creates people to the downtown.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce awards are truly unique for 2019

The Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce handed out 13 awards at its annual Business Excellence Awards ceremony.

Four staff of Alopex Couriers stand in front of one of their fleet vehicles, a black car with the company's name in white letters on the side of the car.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business, Transportation Foxy Alopex Couriers trotting into the Kootenays

Expect swift service from Alopex Couriers, named after the Arctic fox and expanding with more trucks in the Kootenays and a new warehouse in Castlegar

Brydon Roe, Anne Murphy and Graham Harper are holding a black shade with an image of a dragon on it on Dragons’ Den on October 17.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business Kootenay company sails to victory on Dragons’ Den

Shade Sails Canada is making waves and lots of shade sails in Revelstoke

Ryan and Lea Martin, owners of Marzano, stand in front of a wall with pizza paddles on the wall.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Invermere, West Kootenay, Ainsworth Hot Springs, Nelson, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business Nine businesses were singled out as winners by the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce

Who were the winners of the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce annual Business Excellence Awards in 2019?

Scenic view of Kimberley, BC.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Retail, Small Business Kimberley chamber awards excellence for 2019

The Kimberley and District Chamber of Commerce handed out 16 awards at its annual Business Excellence Awards ceremony.

CFO Krystle Seed, CEO and president Ken Kalesnikoff, and COO Chris Kalesnikoff visit Kallesoe Machinery in Denmark to see their new state-of-the-art glulam line in action.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Environment, Forestry Kudos to the Kalesnikoff Lumber Company

The fourth generation keeps Kalesnikoff Lumber Company a proud and successful enterprise with its forward-thinking approach to forestry

A group of Silverton citizens hold up signs in support of the 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign.
West Kootenay, Nelson, New Denver, Rossland, Salmo, Slocan, Energy, Environment Five West Kootenay communities are leading the way in renewable energy

Five West Kootenay communities have signed on to the EcoSociety’s 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign. Meet the early adopters of change.

Darcy Wanuk is wearing one of her creations, a jean jacket with swaths of added cloth.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Environment, Small Business Darcy Wanuk repurposes old textiles into funky, fun clothes for women

Darcy Wanuk started stitch + cloth Ecodesigns in Kimberley, B.C., to reconstruct old textiles into funky women’s clothing

As manager of Cominco Gardens, Dan Matheson spends a lot of time in the gardens. Here, he is standing next to tall purple delphiniums.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Tourism Cominco Gardens: A floral work of art

While checking out Kimberley’s visitor attractions, don’t forget the flowerful Cominco Gardens

A headshot of Christina Chalifour with a blue knitted scarf around her neck.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Retail, Small Business Knitting is the new yoga

The Knitty Gritty shop in Kimberley can get you started on a new, healthy hobby

Attila Lepsis standing in front of distillery.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Cuisine Elderberry Bros. Farms sells schnapps and more

The Elderberry Bros. Farms in Cranbrook, B.C., sells many elderberry delights, including schnapps

Paul Denchuk and Meredith Hamstead are standing together in front of a home.
East Kootenay, Invermere, Energy, Environment, Small Business thinkBright Homes: A lighter touch on the planet

thinkBright Homes, based in Invermere, B.C., is at the cutting edge of the green building industry

The two owners, Petra and Tiffany Ware, are standing in their store with body care products on shelves behind them.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business Your nose knows the difference in natural body care products

Petra Naturally in Cranbrook, B.C., expanded to offer even more natural bath and body products and loose teas

Rod and Tamara Duggan are standing behind the counter of Cobs Bread Bakery and Tamara is holding a loaf of bread.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Cuisine, Retail Cranbrook welcomes Cobs Bread with open mouths

Rod and Tamara Duggan are the franchisees of the newly opened Cobs Bread Bakery in Cranbrook, B.C.

Fred Searle is standing in the crafts store near a row of paints and stretched canvases.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Retail, Small Business Put down your phone and pick up a paintbrush

Kootenay Arts and Crafts opens on Baker Street in Cranbrook, B.C.

Shown is the interior of a tiny house, showing the kitchen in the foreground with lots of wood everywhere.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Environment, Small Business Nelson Tiny Houses are big on charm

Nelson Tiny Houses in Nelson, B.C., proves that downsizing can mean upgrading

Diana Fox is standing in front of display shelves of glass items.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Retail, Small Business A curated collection of glistening glass awaits

The Mountain Grass Glass Gallery is a new shop in Kimberley, B.C.

Erin Dalton stands in front of shelves of books.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Retail, Small Business Enjoy the freshness of Huckleberry Books in Cranbrook

Lotus Books in Cranbrook has moved and rebranded as Huckleberry Books

Shown is the front of the Pealow's Your Independent Grocer storefront.
East Kootenay, Creston, Retail Refreshing Pealow’s

Pealow’s Your Independent Grocer in Creston has added online grocery shopping

Two female students are wearing warm layers of clothes and are holding a sign that says
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Nelson, Energy, Environment A Cool Challenge

Selkirk College is participating in the BC Cool Campus Challenge to lower its environmental footprint

Mike Konkin, one of the owners of Trail Hammer and Bolt, is standing in front of the store counter with goods for sale in the back.
West Kootenay, Trail, Retail, Small Business Trail Hammer and Bolt gets the job done

Trail Hammer and Bolt is a new business in Trail, B.C.

Denise Nagai is standing in front of fabric panels of wild animals.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Retail, Small Business There’s always time for quilting

The newly opened Ragtime Quilts in Cranbrook offers workshops and classes

Aaron Davidson, founder of Cronometer Software Inc.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Technology, Top 10 Business People Aaron Davidson

Aaron Davidson is the founder of Cronometer Software Inc., based in Revelstoke, B.C.

The two owners of The Purist Pantry are shown seated: Todd and Melinda Kopet.
West Kootenay, Rossland, Cuisine, Environment, Small Business The Purist Pantry in Rossland offers healthy foods from scratch

Melinda and Todd Kopet create healthy foods from scratch out of The Purist Pantry in Rossland, B.C.

Shown are Angela and Perry Symes, who opened Black Dog Cycle and Ski in Kimberley's Platzl this summer.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Retail, Small Business Black Dog Cycle and Ski in Kimberley, B.C., will fuel your fitness goals

Black Dog Cycle and Ski is contributing to the small-business climate thriving in Kimberley’s Platzl