All Milestones articles

The Bighorns metal sculpture in Radium Hot Springs.
East Kootenay, Radium Hot Springs One-on-one with Jessica Fairhart, E.D. of Tourism Radium and Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce

Tourism Radium and the Radium Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce focus on promoting Radium as a hotspot for tourists

by
The team at Blend Bistro are all smiles after winning the Small Business of the Year award.
East Kootenay, Elkford, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business Elkford Chamber’s 2021 Business Awards celebrate small-town success stories

The Elkford Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards were held virtually on October 29, 2021

by
Kenny Chan
East Kootenay, West Kootenay Is franchising right for you? Here’s advice from the Canadian Franchise Association

Franchising in the Kootenays: An interview with the Canadian Franchise Association’s Kenny Chan

by
owner of Vintage Pour Mobile Bar pouring a drink with the trees and lake in background
West Kootenay, Nelson, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business Vintage Pour Mobile Bar brings the party to you

Inspired by her travels, Megan DeVries invested time, money and considerable elbow grease to create her flourishing mobile bar in Nelson.

by
Ali Hadikin (L) and Melanie Joy standing in front of Simply Raw counter.
East Kootenay, Creston, Cuisine, Small Business Simply Raw in Creston brings healthy fast-food options to the community

Tired of the same old fast-food fare? Simply Raw offers customers a selection of healthy, good-for-you options

by
Holly Tayal standing in front of Modern Purair sign.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business Great earning potential led this entrepreneur to buy two Modern Purair franchises

Franchising in the Kootenays: Meet Hollie Tayal of Modern Purair

by
Tom Thomson leans against a desk in the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business, Tourism One-on-one with Tom Thompson, executive director of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce

Tom Thomson, executive director of the Nelson Chamber, has been proactive in advocating for business support, including a Keep Us Open for Business campaign

by
Wade Jarvis (L) and Trevor Semchuck standing in front of distillery equipment.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business Kimberley’s newest distillery, Bootleg Spirits, proves that collaboration is key

Trevor Semchuck and Wade Jarvis are the business partners behind Kimberley’s newest distillery, Bootleg Spirits

by
Co-working space with wood floors, row of tall chairs along window, plant in background.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Golden, Fernie, Invermere, West Kootenay, Nelson, Revelstoke, Small Business, Technology Kootenay co-working spaces offer community and creative collaboration

They’re a growing trend across the Kootenays—check out this list of the region’s co-working spaces.

by
Rendition of Canal Flats sign.
East Kootenay, Canal Flats, Developments, Financial, Retail, Small Business Canal Flats, B.C., wants your business to move there

Canal Flats, B.C., wants to grow its population and is offering a tax break to businesses that relocate to this small East Kootenay town

by
Andy and Sinead Britner stand behind Property Guys SOLD sign.
East Kootenay, Real Estate, Small Business An East Kootenay couple has found their perfect home as franchisees with PropertyGuys.com

Franchising in the Kootenays: Meet the Britners of PropertyGuys.com

by
Brad Pommen rides a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle over an orange bridge in Nelson, B.C.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Technology Catching up with Brad Pommen, Nelson’s motorcycle-riding tech founder behind SMRT1 Technologies

Brad Pommen, President of SMRT1 Technologies in Nelson, B.C., explains how to come up with a useful product and bring it to the marketplace

by
A dirt bike rider gets big air off a jump on the Kootenay Motocross track at sunset.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Tourism What does it take to run a world-class motocross track and ORV area in the Kootenays?

David Ketel, president of the WKRDAS near Castlegar, B.C., delves into the exhaustive and fulfilling work required to operate a family-friendly ORV destination

by
Owner of Glacier PhysioLab, Marie-Michelle Lafontaine
East Kootenay, Golden, Health & Wellness, Small Business This Golden physiotherapist put her dreams into motion

Marie-Michelle Lafontaine let nothing break her stride when she started Glacier PhysioLab in Golden, B.C. - and now she’s added bike-fitting to her services

by
interior of Barks and Recreation, with pet supplies on various racks
West Kootenay, Trail, Animal Care, Retail, Small Business Artistic animal lovers open a pet centre in Trail that does it all

The owners of Barks and Recreation pooled their talents to forge a comprehensive pet service and supply company.

by
Earthy Organics farm with many plants growing on it
West Kootenay, Agriculture, Small Business It takes a village: This West Kootenay farm is on the right track

The owners of Earthy Organics in Fruitvale, B.C., are huge proponents of community-supported agriculture.

by
Melinda Nealis and Kayla Carley standing in front of their farmers market booth.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Nelson, Rossland, Salmo, Slocan, Trail, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business Replenish, refill and recycle at this West Kootenay business

Based in Nelson, B.C., Melinda Nealis and Kayla Carley are the mother-and-daughter duo behind Replenish—The Kootenay Refill Store

by
(L to R) Corinna Robinson, Mike Robinson and Christel Hagn stand in front of the Morchella Market building.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Agriculture, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail Morchella Market & Cafe: Cranbrook’s newest addition to the local “hidden-gem” collection

Morchella Market & Cafe is bringing a farm fresh feel to grocery shopping downtown Cranbrook, accompanied by the fully renovated co-working space upstairs

by Karrigan Folvik
A lightweight backpacking tent  made by Durston Gear in Golden, B.C.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Nelson, Revelstoke, Rossland, Salmo, Small Business KORE—Canada’s first craft outdoor industry cluster is right here in the Kootenays

The Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise is helping Kootenay businesses design and build outdoor gear that rocks

by
Veronica Roberge stands in front of a partially open closet, smiling into camera.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business Mo’ Better Organized in Castlegar helps clients clear away clutter

Mo’ Better Organized assists clients by helping them organize their homes and lives

by
Jared Williams stands in front of Northstar Bicycle Co., a lime green building in Cranbrook, B.C.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business Bikes and coffee—what could be a better Kootenay combo?

Jared Williams, manager of Northstar Bicycle Co. in Cranbrook, B.C., has adapted his love of bicycles and coffee into a popular Kootenay Business

by
Kelsey Gosse (Left) and Leah Pavlick (right) wearing Kootz Collective merchandise and pouring coffee into a mug
West Kootenay, Trail, Small Business A side hustle that captures the Kootenay spirit

These sisters from Trail, B.C., decided to give back to their community through their Kootenay-inspired clothing company.

by
Formerly the location of the Union Hotel, this site will be the future home of a Dairy Queen restaurant and will bring 45 full- and part-time jobs to the city.
West Kootenay, Trail, Cuisine, Developments, Entertainment and Hospitality DQ treats—and new jobs—are coming to Trail, B.C.

A new Dairy Queen Grill and Chill restaurant will occupy the old Union Hotel property in Trail, B.C.

by Submitted
Charmain Bibby smiles, wearing glasses and a blue shirt with red flowers. Mike Bibby carves into a piece of wood on a work bench.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business From oil rig workers in Africa to designers in Nelson, B.C., the Bibbys are ultimate entrepreneurs

Mike and Charmain Bibby, owners of Bibby Fine Interiors and Bibby Fine Furniture in Nelson, B.C., help people design their perfect home and work space

by
Barrie Elliott is a successful Red Seal Chef and owner of the Fernie Catering Co.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business The Fernie Catering Co.’s food philosophy is rooted in seasonal, sustainable ingredients

Red Seal Chef Barrie Elliott and her team bring delicious, seasonally-inspired dishes to their catered events

by
The owners of Track Street Growers standing in a field
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Cuisine, Small Business Track Street Growers has taken root in Revelstoke

Sarah Harper and Stu Smith bring the Revelstoke community together through the bounty of their harvest.

by
Owner of Love and Lemons standing in a garden
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business When life gave her lemons, this entrepreneur built two successful Castlegar companies

Marie-Pier Dionne arrived in B.C. with a backpack, $100 and a dream—now she owns a bilingual daycare and aromatherapy line in Castlegar.

by
Marloes Van Lent, leaning against wooden wall. There's a sign on the wall that says
East Kootenay, Golden, Financial, Small Business Day2Day Books in Golden cultivates efficiently-run businesses with cloud-based accounting services

Based in Golden, B.C., Day2Day Books is a highly experienced bookkeeping company

by
Stacey Brensrud has long brown hair and wears a grey shirt and red scarf. She smiles in the photo. Snowy trees are in the background.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Small Business, Tourism One-on-one with Stacey Brensrud, executive director of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce

Stacey Brensrud, executive director of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce, highlights why Revelstokians have reason to be stoked for their city

by
A blue sign that says Blue Canoe Orchards next to a box of cherries on a stump in the midst of a cherry farm.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Agriculture, Cuisine, First Nations , Small Business Creston’s new Blue Canoe Orchards is doing everything imaginable to put fresh cherries in YOUR hands

Trent Mason, Aboriginal owner of Blue Canoe Orchards in Creston, B.C., aims to distribute fresh cherries throughout the Kootenays

by
Shawna Bryant has black-rimmed glasses and dyed blonde hair.
East Kootenay, Elkford, Small Business, Tourism One-on-one with Shawna Bryant, executive director of the Elkford Chamber of Commerce

Shawna Bryant, executive director of the Elkford Chamber of Commerce, highlights accomplishments of the past year and issues to address in the future

by
Owners of Stone Meadows Gardens riding bikes and carrying flowers.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Agriculture Say it with flowers . . . sustainable local ones from flower farms in the Kootenays

The consumer trend towards buying locally-grown flowers is booming in the Kootenays as proven by this list of 10 flower farms

by Julie Matchett and Virginia Rasch
coworking space in Fernie, BC
Small Business Fernie’s new coworking space is a gift to the business community

2nd Edition Coworking offers a quality workspace rental opportunity in Fernie’s historic downtown area.

by
Daniel Holden smiles, wearing black-rimmed glasses and a salt and pepper beard.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Small Business, Tourism One-on-one with Daniel Holden, general manager of the Kimberley Chamber of Commerce

Daniel Holden, general manager of the Kimberley Chamber, has implemented a variety of necessary changes to bolster Kimberley’s presence

by
Derrek Kittson stands in front of his business, Central City Shoes.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business, Tourism One-on-one with Castlegar Chamber President Derrek Kittson

Derrek Kittson, President of the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce, is excited about a new Chamber building and upgraded infrastructure on Columbia Avenue

by
Craig Wood is one of five partners in Wild North Brewing Co., and it was his idea to open a craft brewery in Creston.
East Kootenay, Creston, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality Craft beer lovers have poured into Wild North Brewing Co. since its opening in Creston

Craft beer lovers in Creston, B.C., are tipping a glass (or two) to the new business in town—Wild North Brewing Co.

by
Adrian and Lara McCormack
Cuisine, Small Business Fairmont’s famous mountain kitchen emerges stronger than ever

The owners of From Scratch in Fairmont Hot Springs are responding to COVID-19 by growing and pivoting their business.

by
Lisa Ziebarth, manager of the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce.
East Kootenay, Creston One-on-one with Lisa Ziebarth, manager of the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce

Lisa Ziebarth, manager of the Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce, loves how community-minded Creston is

by
(From L to R), Hannah Baker, Stacey Smith and Meagan Savaia are the faces behind Kettle Down, a niche clothing brand that celebrates the Kootenays.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Small Business, Tourism 12 small businesses that design and create unique Kootenay-inspired clothing

Find uniquely home-grown Kootenay clothing, wearables and gear from these 12 local businesses

by
Patrick and Loie Robertson standing beside vinegar barrels.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Cuisine, Small Business An artisan vinegar maker in Fernie, B.C., is part of the slow food and slow travel movements

Based in Fernie, B.C., Robertson Estate Wine Vinegar produces the perfect Cabernet Sauvignon vinegar that is sought after by top chefs

by
Kieran Poznikoff holding a piglet.
East Kootenay, Creston, Agriculture, Animal Care, Cuisine, Environment, Small Business Ki Mana Acres Farm found its niche in pasture-raised meat in the Kootenays

Ki Mana Acres Farm near Creston, B.C., is a model for regenerative agriculture and meeting the demand of discerning consumers

by
Jeremiah Woods standing in front of row of VW vans.
East Kootenay, Golden, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business Gettin’ groovy at this Golden, B.C. campground outfitted with vintage VW vehicles

Jeremiah Woods is the owner of a large fleet of VW vehicles and now he’s created a campground in Golden, B.C., to share his love of the iconic brand

by
Interior of Frisky Whisky Tapas Lounge, showing bar area and three art-deco style lights above bar.
East Kootenay, Creston, Agriculture, Cuisine, Financial, Retail, Small Business Kudos to Creston’s 2021 Business Excellence Award winners

11 awards were handed out at this year’s virtual Creston Business Excellence Awards gala

by
Dave MacLeod, CEO of ThoughtExchange
West Kootenay, Rossland, Education, Technology A world-class, Kootenay-based company: ThoughtExchange’s beginnings and phenomenal growth

With CEO Dave MacLeod at the helm, ThoughtExchange in Rossland, B.C., has seen 1,000 per cent year-over-year use of the tech platform

by
Dave MacLeod, CEO of ThoughtExchange
West Kootenay, Rossland, Education, Technology Dave MacLeod, CEO of ThoughtExchange, has amassed collective intelligence to write a leadership book

A new book by CEO of ThoughtExchange Dave MacLeod, Scaling Conversations: How Leaders Access the Full Potential of People, is a goldmine of insights

by
Mario DiBella has light white hair and wears a grey shirt.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Technology Kootenay entrepreneur’s specialization led to Martech’s business growth and spin-off companies

Mario Dibella, owner and president of the Martech Group of Companies in Castlegar, B.C., discusses how his company has maintained unprecedented endurance

by
Two people touching a screen on a smart vending machine.
East Kootenay, Elkford, West Kootenay, Financial, Technology Nelson-based start-up SMRT1 Technologies launches crowd-investing opportunity

SMRT1 specializes in convenient and cutting-edge intelligent vending machine technology

by Submitted
Close-up of Vanessa Terwoort.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Castlegar, Rossland, Environment, Mining, Technology Vanessa Terwoort describes her rewarding career in industry and encourages others to follow suit

Women can have fulfilling careers in industry, according to Vanessa Terwoort, Director, Environment, Mercer Celgar

by
Eric Ridington looks out his glider canopy window to see a huge snow-covered mountain in front of him.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business, Tourism Kokanee Soaring Adventures has taken flight in Nelson

Eric Ridington, owner of Kokanee Soaring Adventures in Nelson, B.C., offers glider tours over Kootenay Lake and Kokanee Glacier

by
Jeff Davie (up front in the middle with a black hat), his wife, Monica Davie (behind Jeff, wearing a blue shirt), and the team at Kaslo Building Supplies pose for a group photo.
West Kootenay, Kaslo, Retail, Small Business Commitment to customer service: Kaslo Building Supplies owner Jeff Davie leads the way

Jeff Davie, second-generation owner of Kaslo Building Supplies, describes how exceptional customer service leads to longevity

by

‹ First  < 3 4 5 6 7 >  Last ›