Top Kootenay Employers

KootenayBiz presents its annual list of Top Kootenay employers, based on employment numbers in 2020.

2020. It’s been a year like no other. The economic fallout from the COVID-19 global pandemic will likely be around for several years to come. Some business sectors sadly may not recover, while others have found new opportunities in the midst of challenging circumstances.

As we do every year, the team at KootenayBiz has put together a list of the Top 100 Kootenay Employers, based on the number of staff employed at the business. Surprisingly, the total number of employees increased in 2020 by over 1,100. Out of 100 Kootenay-based companies, 17 saw increased employee numbers, while the majority maintained their employee base over the previous year. Many of those increases were in the education, service and manufacturing sectors—perhaps a reflection on the need for additional custodial staff, soaring demand for home improvement products and the necessary motivation to embrace technology and e-commerce. Only five companies saw a decline in the number of employees in 2020, a trend that we find encouraging. Overall, the total number of employees for the top 100 Kootenay companies in 2020 is 35,796.

Leading into 2021, Kootenay regional businesses and industrial sectors will need to continue to adapt and evolve to changing circumstances. But by working together and supporting our valued consumer and industrial base, we can weather the storm and come out stronger for our communities.

Take a look at some of these leading employers from the East and West Kootenay regions, and visit their career information pages if you’re curious about job opportunities with these reputable employers.

1. Interior Health Authority

Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 5,356
Job opportunities at Interior Health Authority

2. Teck Coal Ltd.

Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 4,000
Job opportunities at Tech Coal Ltd

3. BC Government & Service Employees Union (Members)

Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 2,200
Job opportunities at BCGEU

4. FortisBC

Location: Throughout B.C.
Employees: 2,200
Job opportunities at FortisBC

5. Teck - Trail

Location: Trail
Employees: 1,463
Job opportunities at Tech

6. School District No. 5 (Southeast Kootenay)

Location: Cranbrook, Elk Valley & South Country
Employees: 1362
Job opportunities at School District No. 5

7. Golden Life

Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 1,245
Job opportunities at Golden Life

8. Canfor

Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 971
Job opportunities at Canfor

9. School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake)

Location: Nelson
Employees: 819
Job opportunities at School District No. 8

10. School District No. 20 (Kootenay-Columbia)

Location: Castlegar/Fruitvalel/Robson/Rossland/Trail/Warfield
Employees: 713
Job opportunities at School District No. 20

11. Selkirk College

Location: Castlegar/Grand Forks/Kaslo/Nakusp/Nelson/Trail
Employees: 690
Job opportunities at Selkirk College

12. Fernie Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies

Location: Fernie
Employees: 625
Job opportunities at Fernie Alpine Resort

13. School District No. 6 (Rocky Mountain)

Location: Golden/Invermere/Kimberley
Employees: 612
Job opportunities at School District No. 6

14. Canadian Mountain Holidays LP

Location: East & Central B.C.
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Canadian Mountain Holidays LP

15. Panorama Mountain Village

Location: Panorama
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Panorama Mountain Village

16. Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Revelstoke Mountain Resort

17. Mercer Celgar

Location: Castlegar
Employees: 441
Job opportunities at Mercer Celgar

18. Kimberley Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies

Location: Kimberley
Employees: 400
Job opportunities at Kimberley Alpine Resort

19. Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.

Location: Golden & Malakwa
Employees: 370
Job opportunities at Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.

20. Regional District of Central Kootenay

Location: Creston/Kootenay Lake/Nelson
Employees: 350
Job opportunities at the Regional District of Central Kootenay

21. Interfor Corporation

Location: Castlegar & Grand Forks
Employees: 309
Job opportunities at Interfor Corporation

22. Tamarack Centre

Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 300 - 350
Job opportunities at Tamarack Centre

23. CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd. (Formerly Jemi-Fibre)

Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd.

24. Downie Timber Ltd.

Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Downie Timber Ltd.

25. Real Canadian Superstore

Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Real Canadian Superstore

26. Skookumchuck Pulp Inc., A Paper Excellence Company

Location: Skookumchuck
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Skookumchuck Pulp Inc.

27. Whitewater Ski Resort

Location: Nelson
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Whitewater Ski Resort

28. College of the Rockies

Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 291
Job opportunities at College of the Rockies

29. BC Hydro

Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 271
Job opportunities at BC Hydro

30. School District No. 51 (Boundary)

Location: Beaverdell/ Big White Ski Resort/ Christina Lake/ Grand Forks/ Greenwood/ Midway/Rock Creek
Employees: 265
Job opportunities at School District No. 51

31. St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino

Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 260
Job opportunities at St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino

32. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies

Location: Golden
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

33. Red Mountain Resort

Location: Rossland
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at Red Mountain Resort

34. True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd.

Location: Radium Hot Springs
Employees: 230-250 (seasonal)
Job opportunities at True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd.

35. Marbor Holdings (Hume Hotel & Spa and Best Western Plus Baker Street Inn)

Location: Nelson
Employees: 240
Job opportunities at Marbor Holdings

36. Roxul Inc.

Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 220
Job opportunities at Roxul Inc.

37. Kootenay Savings Credit Union

Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 218
Job opportunities at Kootenay Savings Credit Union

38. City of Cranbrook

Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 216
Job opportunities at City of Cranbrook

39. Fairmont Hot Springs

Location: Fairmont Hot Springs
Employees: 200+ (peak season)
Job opportunities at Fairmont Hot Springs

40. City of Nelson

Location: Nelson
Employees: 194
Job opportunities at City of Nelson

41. Vic Van Isle Group

Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 183
Job opportunities at Vic Van Isle Group

42. Ferraro Foods

Location: Rossland & Trail
Employees: 175
Job opportunities at Ferraro Foods

43. Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd./Kootenay Innovative Wood Ltd.

Location: Castlegar
Employees: 175
Job opportunities at Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd.

44. Regional District of Kootenay Boundary

Location: Grand Forks & Trail
Employees: 168
Job opportunities with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary

45. Kootenay Country Store Co-op

Location: Nelson
Employees: 162
Job opportunities at Kootenay Country Store Co-op

46. Sutco Contracting Ltd.

Location: Creston/Salmo/Chilliwack/Kelowna
Employees: 160
Job opportunities at Sutco Contracting Ltd.

47. Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations

Location: Kootenay Boundary Region
Employees: 157
Job opportunities at the Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations

48. Prestige Hotels & Resorts

Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 154
Job opportunities at Prestige Hotels & Resorts

49. Save-On-Foods

Location: Nelson
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods

50. Columbia Brewery (Labatt)

Location: Creston
Employees: 143
Job opportunities at Columbia Brewery

51. Porcupine Wood Products Ltd.

Location: Salmo
Employees: 133
Job opportunities at Porcupine Wood Products Ltd.

52. Walmart

Location: Nelson
Employees: 125
Job opportunities at Walmart

53. City of Trail

Location: Trail
Employees: 124
Job opportunities at City of Trail

54. Kicking Horse Coffee

Location: Invermere
Employees: 118
Job opportunities at Kicking Horse Coffee

55. Canada Safeway

Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 118
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway

56. Canada Safeway

Location: Nelson
Employees: 115
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway

57. Canada Safeway

Location: Castlegar
Employees: 103
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway

58. Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks

Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 103
Job opportunities at Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks

59. City of Revelstoke

Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at City of Revelstoke

60. Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting

Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting

61. Western Financial Group

Location: East & West Kootenay (Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, Golden, Kimberley, Cranbrook (Baker Street & Tamarack Mall), Creston, Salmo, Fruitvale, Kaslo)
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at Western Financial Group

62. Selkirk Paving

Location: Crescent Valley
Employees: 96
Job opportunities at Selkirk Paving

63. Island Lake Lodge

Location: Fernie
Employees: 95 (seasonal)
Job opportunities at Island Lake Lodge

64. Glen Transport (A Division of DCT Chambers Trucking Ltd.)

Location: Skookumchuck
Employees: 90
Job opportunities at Glen Transport

65. J.H. Huscroft Ltd.

Location: Creston
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at J.H. Huscroft Ltd.

66. RHC Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at RHC Insurance Brokers Ltd.

67. Galena Contractors

Location: Nakusp
Employees: 84
Job opportunities at Galena Contractors

68. Northstar GM

Location: Cranbrook & Creston
Employees: 81
Job opportunities at Northstar GM

69. Fab-Rite Services Ltd.

Location: Cranbrook/Sparwood
Employees: 80
Job opportunities at Fab-Rite Services Ltd.

70. Yellowhead Road & Bridge (Kootenay) Ltd.

Location: West Kootenay
Employees: 80
Job opportunities at Yellowhead Road & Bridge

71. Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty

Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 78
Job opportunities at Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty

72. Maglio Building Centre/Maglio Building Centre (Trail) Ltd.

Location: Nelson & Trail
Employees: 75
Job opportunities at Maglio Building Centre

73. Transcendent Mining and Mobilization Inc.

Location: Elkford
Employees: 73
Job opportunities at Transcendent Mining and Mobilization Inc.

74. School District No. 10 (Arrow Lakes)

Location: Nakusp, New Denver, Burton, and Edgewood
Employees: 72
Job opportunities at School District 10 (Arrow Lakes)

75. Save-On-Foods

Location: Fernie
Employees: 65-70
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods

76. Regional District of East Kootenay

Location: Offices in Cranbrook & Columbia Valley
Employees: 64
Job opportunities at the Regional District of East Kootenay

77. Save-On-Foods

Location: Creston
Employees: 64
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods

78. Atco Wood Products Ltd.

Location: Fruitvale
Employees: 63
Job opportunities at Atco Wood Products Ltd.

79. Save-On-Foods

Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 62
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods

80. New Dawn Group

Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 61
Job opportunities at New Dawn Group

81. La Baguette Catering

Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 60
Job opportunities at La Baguette Catering

82. East Kootenay Community Credit Union

Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 60
Job opportunities at the East Kootenay Community Credit Union

83. Columbia Basin Trust

Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 58
Job opportunities at Columbia Basin Trust

84. Boundary Electric (1985) Ltd.

Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 50-55
Job opportunities at Boundary Electric (1985) Ltd.

85. Selkirk Signs

Location: Cranbrook/Calgary/Edmonton
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at Selkirk Signs

86. Canada Safeway

Location: Trail
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway

87. Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention Centre

Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention Centre

88. The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing Company

Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing Company

89. City of Castlegar

Location: Castlegar
Employees: 53
Job opportunities at the City of Castlegar

90. Selkirk Security Services Ltd.

Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 53
Job opportunities at Selkirk Security Services Ltd.

91. Unifab Industries Ltd.

Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 53
Job opportunities at Unifab Industries Ltd.

92. Golden IGA

Location: Golden
Employees: 50 - 60
Job opportunities at Golden IGA

93. Wood Canada Limited

Location: Trail
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Wood Canada Limited

94. Canadian Tire

Location: Trail
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Canadian Tire

95. Grand Forks Credit Union

Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Grand Forks Credit Union

96. Overwaitea Foods

Location: Golden
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Overwaitea Foods

97. Revelstoke Credit Union

Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at the Revelstoke Credit Union

98. Trainor Mechanical Contractors Ltd.

Location: Nelson
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Trainor Mechanical Contractors Ltd.

99. Fernie Lodging Co.

Location: Fernie
Employees: 48
Job opportunities at Fernie Lodging Co.

100. Finning Canada

Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 48
Job opportunities at Finning Canada


Think your business should be on our list? Email Kootenaybiz and let us know how many employees your business has.