Virginia Rasch writer profile

Photo of Virginia Rasch

Virginia is a writer and editor with KPI Media. She is an avid outdoor recreationist in all seasons and has lived in the Kootenays for over 15 years. With degrees in the natural sciences, she has worked as a tour guide, an environmentalist, a writer, and an editor of books and scientific publications. Virginia now brings her passion for everything green to KootenayBiz.

Most recent articles by Virginia Rasch

Expansive view of Mountain Soul Vineyard showing vines and distant mountains.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Agriculture, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business, Tourism Pay a visit to these wineries and vineyards in the Kootenay region of B.C.

The Kootenays are an emerging wine region in B.C. Here’s a list of the 8 Kootenay wineries—and 2 meaderies

White tiny home sitting on gravel road.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Developments, Real Estate Tiny houses in the Kootenays: Rent, buy or build

Interested in tiny homes? Explore our list of tiny house resources in the Kootenays

Joseph Raymond standing in front of Larix Hotel sign.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Entertainment and Hospitality, Tourism The Larix Hotel: The evolution continues for this prime location in Kimberley, B.C.

The renovated and renamed Larix Hotel pays homage to the golden larch trees in Kimberley’s autumn tableau.

Mortensen with shovel in hand, standing in forest.
Education, Environment, First Nations , Mining Gold miner Mitch Mortensen is the perfect advocate for placer mining in B.C.

Placer mining in B.C. has no better advocate than gold miner Mitch Mortensen of Snowshoe Mountain Resources Corp.

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

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”

Amber Granter with two horses, mountains in background.
East Kootenay, Golden, Real Estate Diverse skills helped park ranger Amber Granter switch to real estate in Golden, B.C.

Realtor Amber Granter in Golden, B.C., left behind the park ranger life and found her life skills were transferable to her new career in real estate

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Individuals and businesses alike need to actively work to be more green, and businesses can benefit from promoting their sustainability practices.
Environment Is your Kootenay business green? Do your potential customers know about your sustainability practice

Are you a green business? KootenayBiz is looking for sustainable business stories.

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

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

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

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

Group of First Nations people at Ktunaxa flag raising ceremony.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, First Nations , Featured Stories The Ktunaxa Nation and the City of Cranbrook: A partnership with Indigenous people and a community

The Ktunaxa Nation and the City of Cranbrook are partnering to create a new cultural and interpretive centre as Cranbrook’s new-and-improved visitor centre

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Fruitvale City Council
West Kootenay, Environment 10 West Kootenay 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. 10: Fruitvale

Sarah Dinsdale, Marketing & Revilization Coordinator for the Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce.
East Kootenay, Grand Forks, West Kootenay, Christina Lake, Small Business One-on-one with Sarah Dinsdale of the Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce

The Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce is increasing its staff to accomplish more projects

Kyle Hamilton wearing VR mask.
East Kootenay, Fernie, Small Business, Technology Serial entrepreneur Kyle Hamilton of Fernie now tackles industry safety training

Sucre Interactive Technologies in Fernie, B.C., uses virtual-reality technology for immersive safety training in mining and other high-risk industries

Cam Shute holding ski bindings.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business, Technology Nelson’s Dark Horse Innovations is owned by a product development consultant in the outdoor industry

Dark Horse Innovations in Nelson, B.C., is a new B2B business in the outdoor product development industry

Karen Kornelsen, organizer of the Kootenay Pitch Competition, said there is growing interest in these tech sector events and hopes to make them an annual event.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business, Technology Pitch competitions for our tech sector have arrived in the Kootenays, thanks to KAST

The Kootenays’ first-ever pitch competition for the tech sector was organized by KAST and attracted 25 entrepreneurs vying for valuable prizes

Heritage house painted yellow and green, housing the Slocan Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Silvery Slocan Museum.
West Kootenay, Slocan, Small Business, Tourism One-on-one with Emma Beaton, manager of the Slocan Valley Chamber of Commerce

Emma Beaton, manager of the Slocan Valley Chamber of Commerce, has seen an uptick in people and businesses moving there since the pandemic

Brian Fehr points out the joints on a 2x4 at his Peak Industries plant off Theatre Road in Cranbrook and says this product is selling well.
East Kootenay, Canal Flats, Cranbrook One-on-one with the Kootenays’ bullish business baron—Brian Fehr

Business baron Brian Fehr is bullish on his four Kootenay businesses with more exciting plans forthcoming

Close up shot of Kathryn Henry holding a bouquet of flowers.
East Kootenay, Kimberley, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business Seed-to-vase movement is flowering in Kimberley, B.C., with Ritual Gardens

The seed-to-vase movement is blossoming in Kimberley, B.C., in Ritual Gardens with locally-grown, sustainable cut flowers

Evan Berry, energy conservationist for the City of Cranbrook, takes a ride in the City’s first electric vehicle.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, Technology, Transportation The City of Cranbrook gives the green light to its first electric vehicle

The City of Cranbrook begins its fleet transition to EVs with the purchase of its first electric vehicle

Beth Campbell, owner of Viva Cacao, holding up a bar of her chocolate.
West Kootenay, Slocan, Cuisine, Small Business Chocolatier scales up Viva Cacao from little Slocan to across B.C. and beyond

Chocolate alchemist Beth Campbell of Viva Cacao in Slocan, B.C., has advice on scaling up a small business

Deborah Achleitner (L) and Sarah Albertson (R), co-owners of the Nelson Stitch Lab, standing in store.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Education, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Small Business These artists are woven into the fabric of Nelson, thanks to the Nelson Stitch Lab

Nelson, B.C., is overflowing with sewists, thanks to the enthusiastic owners/teachers of the Nelson Stitch Lab

Chandler Lang standing beside truck.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Small Business, Transportation Entrepreneur Chandler Lang in Revelstoke has big plans for his small-town delivery service

Entrepreneur Chandler Lang has national aspirations for his Revelstoke Delivery platform

Raylen Tress on tractor.
East Kootenay, Golden, Agriculture, Animal Care Raylen Tress won Young Entrepreneur of the Year from the Kicking Horse Country Chamber

Raylen Tress of Whiskey Hill Farms in Golden won Young Entrepreneur of the Year from the Kicking Horse Country Chamber of Commerce

Katie Yuris holding Business Excellence Award
West Kootenay, Trail, Real Estate Katie Yuris of All Pro Realty in Trail, B.C., has a hockey player’s approach to work and life

Katie Yuris of All Pro Realty in Trail, B.C., won Business Person of the Year from the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce

Photo of person sitting on rock
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Cuisine, Developments, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Small Business, Technology Top 10 stories of 2020 from KootenayBiz

Despite a challenging year, KootenayBiz told many inspiring and informative stories—here are our Top 10 from 2020