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East Kootenay, West Kootenay Our top ten thought leaders of the year

KootenayBiz chooses our annual list of inspirational thought leaders from the stories we told in 2022.

by Kerry Shellborn
Janice Alpine is a business development officer/tourism engagement with the Ktunaxa Nation.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, First Nations The Ktunaxa mean business

Janice Alpine is an expert on the diversity of Ktunaxa businesses, the skills they bring to the table, and the opportunities that exist within the community.

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Dylan Hardy, winner of the Citizen of the Year Award.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke Winners stoked at Revelstoke’s annual Business Excellence Awards

The 29th annual Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence awards were held in early November.

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Venessa Loubert and Perry Dzuris, owners of Arcane Coda in Salmo, B.C.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Retail, Small Business Local businesses promote Kootenay-inspired apparel

Find uniquely home-grown Kootenay clothing, wearables and gear from these local companies

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Aerial view of the City of Trail, showing wide river with a bridge across it, the city along the banks of the river and low mountains in the background.
West Kootenay, Technology New West Kootenay supply chain model maps economic opportunity in the region

Metal Tech Alley, an industrial and tech think tank located in Trail, recently launched the West Kootenay Supply Chain online model

by Submitted
Kathryn and Josh at the SilverKing Soya Foods Factory in Nelson
West Kootenay, Nelson Breathing new life into a popular West Kootenay company

The owners of Silverking Soya Foods in Nelson are a perfect fit for the health-conscious community.

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Female owners of Moonrise Boutique, The Roasted Chickpea and Tailout Brewing, sitting at table with awards and smiling into camera.
West Kootenay, Castlegar Castlegar Chamber of Commerce plays host at 2022 Business Excellence Awards

A total of 15 winners were recognized at the annual Business Excellence awards.

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Letty Bartel, owner of Otter Books, stands in front of bookshelves holding a large stack of books.
West Kootenay, Nakusp, Nelson, Revelstoke, Rossland, Trail Read ’em and reap: A list of West Kootenay bookstores

If you’re a devoted bookworm, you’ll love the varied selection of new and used bookstores across the Kootenay region

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Kyle Thornley wearing his blacksmithing apron and smiling at the camera
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Small Business Forging the way: How this B.C. artist is taking blacksmithing to new heights

Kyle Thornley of Metal Mind Forge produces stunning metalwork creations in Revelstoke.

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Andrea Legg holding a cup of tea and smiling
West Kootenay, Nelson, Retail, Small Business From acrobatics to aromatic tea: How Virtue Tea in Nelson was born

Imagine two members of Cirque du Soleil finding love and running off to start a business in the Kootenays.

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Person snowboarding down hill at Panorama Mountain Resort, wind-swept snowy mountains in background.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Entertainment and Hospitality, Tourism Top ski resorts in the Kootenays and Canadian Rockies to find legendary powder

Check out this list of ski destinations in the Kootenays and Canadian Rockies region

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Michelle Fairbanks, dressed in pink old-fashioned dress and floppy white hat, holding a selection of books.
West Kootenay, Rossland, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business Rossland’s Gold Rush Bookstore keeps the history pages turning

The Gold Rush Bookstore is a valued part of the downtown Rossland business landscape.

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Exterior shot of the Backroads Brewing Company, pink blossom trees in foreground.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Entertainment and Hospitality, Environment, Retail All in the loop at Backroads Brewing Company

The circular economy may be a buzzy-sounding term but at this Nelson brewpub, participating in it is an obvious benefit to the company and the community.

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(L to R) Courtney Edwards, David Dudar, Tina Knooihuizen, Dolly Edwards, Sandra Dempsey-Koch, Chelsea Potter, Chris Galea.
West Kootenay, Nakusp, Tourism One-on-one with Tina Knooihuizen, new President of the Nakusp Chamber of Commerce

Tina Knooihuizen, President of the Nakusp Chamber of Commerce, loves the range of community programs already in place and is excited about potential growth

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Fern Sabo wearing a grey shirt, professional portrait shot
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business, Technology Helping business owners navigate a digital world

Spring Creative Inc. in Nelson brings entrepreneurs together to facilitate positive change, effective branding and healthy collaboration.

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A football is on its end on a football field next to a photo of Mark McLoughlin smiling.
West Kootenay, Trail, Financial Field goals to finance: How Mark McLoughlin went from Stampeders standout to Kootenay Savings CEO

Mark McLoughlin, all-star CFL kicker, is the new President and CEO of Kootenay Savings Credit Union in Trail, B.C.

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Porcupine Wood Products sawmill, with stacks of logs in foreground of photo.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Forestry Kootenay lumber mills have roots that run deep

From large forestry companies to smaller, independent, family-run operations, lumber mills are a vital part of our regional landscape

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Image rendering of the Castlegar Confluence of Tourism and Economic Development shows gray walls with some wooden siding.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business, Tourism The Castlegar Chamber’s fancy new home is in the works

Tammy Verigin-Burk, executive director of the Castlegar Chamber, highlights opportunities for entrepreneurs within Castlegar’s new Confluence building

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A group of employees pose in front of Boundary Electric in an old photo.
West Kootenay, Christina Lake, Energy One of the Kootenay’s biggest businesses celebrates 75 years

David Evdokimoff, CEO and managing director of Boundary Electric in Grand Forks, B.C., highlights 75 years of lessons learned in business

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Owners of Happy Hills Farm standing in greenhouse with kids.
West Kootenay, Trail, Agriculture, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Small Business, Tourism Trail’s 2021 Business Excellence Awards celebrated in style

Twelve custom hand-painted awards were handed out at this year’s Business Excellence ceremony

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Thomas and Ash Hodgson standing by table.
West Kootenay, Trail, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business All their roads led to opening Kootenay West Distilling in Trail, B.C.

For Thomas and Ash Hodgson, a lifetime of chronic entrepreneurship has led them to becoming the Kootenays’ newest distillers.

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Rows of garden beds.
West Kootenay, Agriculture, Environment For the sake of the soil

Rachael Roussin talks about the importance of soil health, and how it can work hand-in-hand with conventional fertilizer in agriculture.

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Jacomien van Tonder, the director for Metal Tech Alley, was recently presented with the Global Green Business Award’s Best Eco-Friendly Battery Metal Producer. She wears a purple shirt and stands on a bridge over frozen water in Trail. B.C.
West Kootenay, Trail, Energy, Technology Global Green Business Award goes to Metal Tech Alley in Trail, B.C.

Jacomien van Tonder takes Trail, B.C., to the world stage as the only presenter from a rural community in North America at ​​World Circular Economy Forum

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A deer munching through a residential garden.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Kimberley, West Kootenay Deer-resistant plants: Avoiding destruction in your garden

Having a deer-resistant garden is possible with careful planning and some knowledge of suitable plants

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Julie doing acupuncture on one of her clients
West Kootenay, Salmo, Health & Wellness, Small Business Promoting wellness in the West Kootenay

Pivot Point Acupuncture has proven to be a welcome addition to the community of Salmo

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Electric car parked beside charging station.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Technology, Transportation Kootenays continue to charge ahead to support electric vehicle travel

Provincial statistics show that the Kootenay region had one of the largest increases in new EV sales in B.C.

by Submitted
Owner of Kootenay Made Co., Leanne Hawkins at her store with a customer.
West Kootenay, Trail, Retail, Small Business When it comes to Kootenay-crafted merchandise, Leanne Hawkins has it made

The owner of Kootenay Made Co. in Trail shines her light on local artists and artisans, promoting their products in her brick-and-mortar shop.

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Hedin Nelson-Chorney smiles while leaning against a vat.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Retail, Small Business Castlegar’s young brewer snags two prestigious awards

Hedin Nelson-Chorney, owner of Tailout Brewing, highlights how his business won Castlegar’s Young Entrepreneur Award and Green Award

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The Golden Council voted to support the transition to 100% renewable energy, thus taking meaningful action for a healthier, safer and more secure community.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Environment These Kootenay local governments have voted for 100% renewable energy by 2050

The 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign for clean energy, led by the West Kootenay EcoSociety, continues to grow, adding No. 12: Golden

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Row of metal tags.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Animal Care, Small Business Artisan handcrafted dog and cat tags (and one for a cow) from Robson, B.C.

Each mountain-inspired pet tag from Kootenay Tags is “very personal and special”

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Owners of Ernie's Auto Parts accepting award.
West Kootenay, Castlegar Castlegar’s 2021 Business Excellence Awards celebrated after two-year hiatus

The Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce celebrated their Business Excellence Awards in style

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Dan Innis (left) and Ben Brown, owners of Selkirk Pest Control.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business Selkirk Pest Control offers an eco-friendly approach for the increase in rats in the West Kootenay

Selkirk Pest Control in Castlegar is a new business with an eco-friendly approach

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Stacy Batchelor (left). Allie Bruni (centre) and Kristin Olsen (right) fill out the team of co-owners of Fable Book Parlour.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Small Business Books, music and community come together in one special business in Revelstoke, B.C.

More than a bookstore, Fable Book Parlour fosters music, cookies and community in Revelstoke, B.C.

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Jeff Zukiwsky
East Kootenay, Elkford, West Kootenay, Environment How to make your community more resilient to climate change: Tips from a community planner

Communities need to create climate adaptation plans to increase their resilience to risks such as floods, fires and droughts.

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Views of the glamping tents with scenic mountain views.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Entertainment and Hospitality, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business, Tourism This eco-retreat in Nelson embraces sustainable living with a food forest and an upcycle shop

Bear Spring Eco Retreat offers urbanites an escape from big-city living and a chance to decompress close to nature.

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Pilar sitting on a deck looking out at the lake
West Kootenay, Kaslo, Environment, Technology From digital evolution to sustainable methods, this Kootenay catalyst is here to help businesses

Pilar Portela of Kaslo is inspiring change for the better, with a focus on sustainability and regenerative economic development.

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Michelle Shypitka (L) and Deb Smithurst, owners of Sweet Gestures in Cranbrook, have their shop ready for chocolate lovers everywhere.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality Keep calm and eat chocolate from these Kootenay chocolate shops

Chocolate, chocolate everywhere! Chocolate shops abound in the Kootenays

by Julie Matchett and Virginia Rasch
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Nelson, Trail, Developments, Real Estate Nelson, Castlegar and Trail see record growth with new housing and commercial developments

From much-needed affordable housing to new commercial builds and upgrades, West Kootenay cities are seeing record growth.

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Johnathan Heckbert.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Technology Mountain Mac Solutions in Nelson wins Canadian Business Award

Nelson home-based tech business wins Canadian Business Award

by Sean Arthur Joyce
Eden Yesh
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Technology This Invermere, B.C. thought leader’s motto could be “bringing power to the people”

Based in Invermere, B.C., Eden Yesh applies his systems thinking to shift paradigms through community investment cooperatives and his solar businesses

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Heather Street sitting at a desk inside the Chamber office.
West Kootenay, Salmo One-on-one with Heather Street, manager of the Salmo & District Chamber of Commerce

The Salmo and District Chamber of Commerce welcomes new businesses and remote workers seeking a mountain paradise

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Two kids wearing bright blue t-shirts with Live-It logo.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Education Why one Kootenay tech company is opening up in the face of Omicron

As families and teachers struggle with school closures during the fifth wave, a local online education company is helping out by offering open access to program

by Submitted
Dale and Diana Olinyk standing side-by-side
West Kootenay, Salmo, Small Business Northern Teardrop RV manufacturers find their niche in Salmo, B.C.

Dale and Diana Olinyk took a honeymoon tour of the Kootenays and ended up building a legacy.

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East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Cuisine, Real Estate, Retail, Technology Our top 10 thought leaders of 2021 from KootenayBiz

KootenayBiz has chosen our top 10 thought leaders of 2021

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Barbara Ross at the bar in the Burton City Cider tasting room
West Kootenay, Nakusp, Agriculture, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Tourism Living a farmsteader’s dream come true in Burton, B.C.

The owners of Burton City Cider produce Kootenay-made cider, honey and other quality products using environmentally conscious methods

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CEO Greg Malpass leads a global team of Tractionites.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Technology The business office and its location have changed, and Traction on Demand is leading the trend

Traction on Demand combines tech talent with the sustainability of small communities such as Nelson, B.C.

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Kicking Horse Mountain Resort views.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Tourism Top ski resorts in the Kootenays and Canadian Rockies to find legendary powder

Itching to hit the slopes? Check out this list of ski destinations in the Kootenays and Canadian Rockies region

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Large group of 'Tractionists'.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Technology Native son of Nelson builds booming global business—Traction on Demand—on the back of Salesforce

One of the Best Workplaces in Canada and with phenomenal growth, Traction on Demand shows that doing good is good for business

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