Top Instagram Brands in the Kootenays

KootenayBiz’s list of Kootenay brands ranked by number of Instagram followers

When it comes to the top Instagram brands in the Kootenays, the tourism sector takes the biggest slice of the pie at 40 per cent. — Graphic courtesy KootenayBiz

Have you wondered which social media platform is the best one for your business? According to MarketingCharts.com, the social media platform where your customers are the most likely to follow you is Instagram (based on U.S. respondents, but it would be similar in Canada).

— Source: MarketingCharts.com

If your business is already on Instagram, then you know what all the fuss is about. If not, and you are considering getting a social media account, then knowing which platform your customers are most likely to follow along is an important place to start. It’s also important for small businesses to know what kind of content attracts followers and encourages engagement.

To help brands get inspiration for their Instagram account, KootenayBiz has compiled a list of the top brands in the Kootenays with the most followers. While we recognize that quantity doesn’t always equal quality, it can be beneficial to follow other top social media brands and learn from what they are doing right.

Here is our list (compiled in January 2023) of the Kootenays' top Instagram brands: 

1. Joel Robison
Instagram bio: Artist and Mental Health advocate. @headsupguys ambassador. Creating whimsical stories through art.
Followers: 150,000
Instagram address: @joelrobison

2. Shambhala Music Festival 

Instagram bio: Embark on your next Shambhala journey.
Followers: 126,000
Instagram address: @shambhala_mf

3. Myla | PARENTING

Instagram bio: Non-judgemental parenting support, more joy and connection.
Followers: 123,800
Instagram address: @joyful.parents

4. Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Instagram bio: Most vertical ski resort in North America.
Followers: 115,000
Instagram address: @revelstokemtnresort

5. Sarah Pike Pottery, Fernie
Instagram bio: Pots | Stamps | Mountains, slab built and textured pottery, ceramic texture explorations.
Followers: 108,000
Instagram address: @sarahpikepottery

6. WaywardCitizen
Instagram bio: Printmaker, Nelson, B.C., Canada.
Followers: 80,000
Instagram address: @waywardcitizen

7. JJ’s Fashions, Trail
Instagram bio: Family owned since 1973. Free shipping on orders over $150!
Followers: 77,800
Instagram address: @jjfashions

8. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Instagram bio: Champagne Powder Capital of Canada, Host of the Freeride World Tour 23.
Followers: 76,500
Instagram address: @kickinghorsemtn

9. Fernie Alpine Resort
Instagram bio: Known for its 37’ of snowfall every season, epic skiing & snowboarding and its legendary Summer Mountain Bike Park.
Followers: 61,600
Instagram address: @ferniealpineresort

10. RED Mountain Resort
Instagram bio: Get a taste of #TheGoodLifeatRED, fiercely independent, top 10 largest in North America, #1 most acres per skier, 2x voted Canada's #1 ski town.
Followers: 48,100
Instagram address: @redresort

11. Tourism Revelstoke
Instagram bio: Tag #TheRealStoke and #Revelstoke. Official account of Tourism Revelstoke located in British Columbia, Canada.
Followers: 42,200
Instagram address: @revelstoke

12. Olive Me Handmade
Instagram bio: For kids of the wild. Original style since 2013. January release coming soon!
Followers: 37,300
Instagram address: @olivemehandmade

13. Whitewater Ski Resort
Instagram bio: Pure, Simple, and Real. . .
Followers: 33,600
Instagram address: @whitewaterskiresort

14. Kootenay Rockies Tourism
Instagram bio: Official tourism organization for the Kootenay Rockies. Share your experiences with us.
Followers: 25,400
Instagram address: @kootrocks

15. Panorama Resort
Instagram bio: A four-season resort tucked deep into the Purcell Mountains of B.C. We want to see these mountains through your eyes.
Followers: 24,700
Instagram address: @panoramaresort

16. Island Lake Lodge
Instagram bio: A backcountry lodge near Fernie, B.C. Enjoy catskiing in the winter, hiking, biking and fly-fishing in the summer. Featuring great dining and a relaxing spa.
Followers: 23,700
Instagram address: @islandlakelodge

17. Kicking Horse Coffee
Instagram bio: This coffee kicks ass. Why? It’s delicious. It’s 100% organic and fair trade. It’s roasted right in the Rocky Mountains. Wake up with us.
Followers: 22,800
Instagram address: @kickinghorsecoffee

18. Tourism Fernie
Instagram bio: Tourist Information Center. A Destination Unlike Any Other. In the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
Followers: 21,600
Instagram address: @tourismfernie

19. The Rocky Mountain Rettys
Instagram bio: Bhawna | Tyler | Aspen | Bärli. Finding adventure in every chapter of life, get lost but take the dogs. East Kootenays, B.C., Canada
Followers: 20,200
Instagram address: @mtn.retty

20. Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism
Instagram bio: Official tourism org for Nelson and Kootenay Lake, BC. Share your experiences with #FindingAwesome! Come #ExploreKootenayLake
Followers: 20,100
Instagram address: @nelsonkootenaylake

21. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
Instagram bio: Canada’s Favourite Family Destination! Hot Springs, lodging, golf, RV, ski, spa and more!
Followers: 17,500
Instagram address: @fairmonthotspringsresort

22. The Rossland Beer Company
Instagram bio: Sit back and enjoy every sip #rosslandbeerco #rossland#bccraftbeer #bcbeer We will most likely share your story on our story so send it to us.
Followers: 15,400
Instagram address: @rosslandbeerco

23. Scott Sinclair
Instagram bio: President: Sinclair Range, @novannistainlessinc, Ekip Innovations, @roofers.world, @globexextraction, Interim Finance.
Followers: 12,400
Instagram address: @mscott_sinclair

24. Tourism Rossland
Instagram bio: Welcome to #Rossland. You’re in for a seriously good time. Home of @redresort and @bigredcats. 200+km of #singletrack. #IMBA 'Epic' Seven Summits.
Followers: 11,600
Instagram address: @rosslander

25. Kimberley Alpine Resort
Instagram bio: Small town charm- real mountain experience in Kimberley BC.
Followers: 11,200
Instagram address: @kimberleyalpineresort

26. Canadian Tiny Homes
Instagram bio: Dream, design, build. Fully custom tiny homes, handcrafted in Nelson, B.C. Father-daughter team with 40 years experience. Canada + USA delivery
Followers: 9,935
Instagram address: @canadiantinyhomes

27. Kootz Collective
Instagram bio: #KootzCollective #KootzRootz, Outdoor + Kootenay-inspired
Followers: 9,923
Instagram address: @kootzcollective

28. Drift Boutique
Instagram bio: Your Kootenay Mobile Boutique,home-based, Cranbrook B.C. Shop by appointment
Followers: 9,398
Instagram address: @driftboutique.ca

29. The Roasted Chickpea
Instagram bio: Grazing tables & boards, recipes, lifestyle, creator @thevegburg, Castlegar B.C.
Followers: 8,221
Instagram address: @theroastedchickpea

30. Tourism Kimberley
Instagram bio: Tourist Information Center. Kimberley, BC. A Good Place To Be. #kimberleybc #agoodplacetobe
Followers: 8,017
Instagram address: @tourismkimberley

31. The Hearing Loss Clinic
Instagram bio:A compassionate, forward-thinking hearing clinic with nine locations across Southern AB and BC. Hear Better. Live Better.
Followers: 7,303
Instagram address: @thehearinglossclinic

32. Maiden Perras
Instagram bio: Handmade gemstone jewelry made in Fernie, B.C.
Followers: 6,322
Instagram address: @maidenperras

33. The Kootenay Life
Instagram bio: #kootenaylife
Followers: 6,145
Instagram address: @thekootenaylife

See a Kootenay business that should be included in our list? Send us a message on Instagram @kootenaybiz