As 2017 begins, we present our latest list of Top 120 employers, based on numbers of regular employees in each business. There are 15 new businesses on this year’s list.
In the Kootenays, we are fortunate to have several large employers, such as Interior Health Authority at the top of the list with 5,356 employees. We do not underestimate their value to our economy; however, small businesses are also a vital economic driver in this corner of British Columbia.
Small businesses are defined as independently-owned and -operated companies that are limited in size and revenue, depending on the industry. For example, a local restaurant that employs 10 people is an example of a small business. A manufacturing facility that employs less than 500 people is also considered a small business.
We salute all our employers in the Kootenay/Columbia region, as we wish the best of luck to everyone in the year ahead.
If you think your business should be included in next year’s list, please email [email protected] with "Top 120" in the subject line.
Company Location Employees
1Interior Health AuthorityEast & West Kootenay5356
2Teck Coal Ltd.East Kootenay4000
3BC Government & Service Employees Union (Members)East & West Kootenay2200
4FortisBC Throughout B.C.2200
5Teck - TrailTrail1471
6Golden Life East & West Kootenay1014
7CanforEast Kootenay971
8School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake)Nelson 819
9School District No. 5 (Southeast Kootenay)Cranbrook, Elk Valley & South Country650
10Fernie Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian RockiesFernie600 - 650
11School District No. 6 (Rocky Mountain)Golden/Invermere/Kimberley586
12Canadian Mountain Holidays LP.East & Central B.C.500
13Panorama Mountain VillagePanorama500
14Selkirk CollegeCastlegar/Grand Forks/Kaslo/Nakusp/Nelson/ Trail500
15School District No. 20 (Kootenay-Columbia)Castlegar/ Fruitvale/Robson/Rossland/Trail433
16Zellstoff Celgar Limited PartnershipCastlegar413
17Kimberley Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian RockiesKimberley400
18Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.Golden & Malakwa332
19Interfor CorporationCastlegar & Grand Forks 309
20Tamarack CentreCranbrook300 - 350
21Downie Timber Ltd.Revelstoke300
22Regional District of Central KootenayCreston/Kootenay Lake/Nelson300
23Revelstoke Mountain ResortRevelstoke300
24Skookumchuck Pulp Inc., A Paper Excellence CompanySkookumchuck300
25College of the RockiesEast Kootenay296
26School District No. 51 (Boundary)Beaverdell/Big White Ski Resort/Christina Lake/Grand Forks/Greenwood/Midway/Rock Creek280
27BC HydroEast & West Kootenay271
28Pacific Insight Electronics Corp.Nelson/Vancouver250
29Red Mountain ResortRossland250
30Kicking Horse Mountain Resort/Resorts of the Canadian RockiesGolden240
31Real Canadian SuperstoreCranbrook225
32Whitewater Ski ResortNelson225
33Marbor Holdings (Hume Hotel & Spa and Best Western Plus Baker Street Inn)Nelson213
34Roxul Inc.Grand Forks205
35WalmartCranbrook201
36Kootenay Savings Credit UnionEast & West Kootenay200
37St. Eugene Golf Resort & CasinoCranbrook191
38City of CranbrookCranbrook180
39Vic Van Isle GroupRevelstoke180 - 200
40City of NelsonNelson166 - 186
41Ferraro FoodsRossland & Trail175
42Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource OperationsKootenay Boundary Region153
43Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd./Kootenay Innovative Wood Ltd. Castlegar150
44Prestige Hotels & ResortsEast & West Kootenay150
45True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd.Radium Hot Springs150
46Columbia Brewery (Labatt)Creston143
47Sutco Contracting Ltd.Creston/Salmo/Chilliwack/Kelowna135
48Save-On-FoodsNelson130
49WalmartTrail129
50Canada SafewayCranbrook126
51Porcupine Wood Products Ltd.Salmo125
52WalmartNelson121
53Kootenay Country Store Co-opNelson110
54Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National ParksRevelstoke103
55City of FernieFernie100
56City of RevelstokeRevelstoke100
57City of TrailTrail100
58Kicking Horse CoffeeInvermere100
59Martech Electrical Systems Ltd.Castlegar100
60Western Financial GroupEast & West Kootenay100
61Canada SafewayNelson92
62School District 10 (Arrow Lakes)Nakusp92
63Canada SafewayCastlegar91
64Glen Transport (A Division of DCT Chambers Trucking Ltd.)Skookumchuck90
65Transcendent Mining and Mobilization Inc.Elkford 89
66J.H. Huscroft Ltd.Creston85
67Regional District of Kootenay BoundaryGrand Forks & Trail85
68Island Lake LodgeFernie80
69RHC Insurance Brokers Ltd.Nelson/Castlegar/Trail/Rossland/Grand Forks/ New Denver/Cranbrook80
70Selkirk PavingCrescent Valley80
71Black Press Group Ltd.East & West Kootenay75
72Eagle Ranch ResortInvermere75
73Maglio Building Centre/Maglio Building Centre (Trail) Ltd.Nelson & Trail75
74Amec Foster Wheeler Americas LimitedTrail74
75Overwaitea FoodsFernie71
76Fab-Rite Services Ltd.Cranbrook70
77Brisco Wood Preservers Ltd./Brisco Manufacturing Ltd.Brisco68
78Galena ContractorsNakusp67
79Overwaitea FoodsCreston64 - 70
80Atco Wood Products Ltd.Fruitvale62
81Regional District of East KootenayCranbrook & Columbia Valley62
82Save-On-FoodsCranbrook62
83East Kootenay Community Credit UnionEast Kootenay60
84La Baguette CateringRevelstoke60
85Nelson & District Credit UnionCrawford Bay/Nelson/Rossland60
86New Dawn Developments Ltd.East Kootenay60
87Selkirk Signs & Services Ltd.Cranbrook/Calgary60
88Royal LePage East Kootenay RealtyEast Kootenay59
89Canadian TireCastlegar56
90Mainroad East Kootenay ContractingEast Kootenay55 - 120
91Canadian TireTrail55
92City of CastlegarCastlegar55
93Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention CentreCranbrook55
94Northstar GMCranbrook & Creston55
95Selkirk Security Services Ltd.East & West Kootenay53
96Canada SafewayTrail50 - 60
97Golden IGAGolden50 - 60
98Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain LodgeFernie50
99Columbia Basin TrustEast & West Kootenay50
100Revelstoke Credit UnionRevelstoke50
101Unifab Industries Ltd.Grand Forks50
102Wildstone Golf CourseCranbrook50
103Fernie Lodging CoFernie48
104Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Child & Family ServicesCranbrook/Creston/Windermere48
105Overwaitea FoodsGolden46
106The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing CompanyCranbrook45
107Heritage Credit UnionCastlegar/Greenwood/Slocan Park45
108Home Hardware Building CentreCranbrook45
109Investors Group Financial ServicesEast & West Kootenay44
110Grand Forks Credit UnionGrand Forks42
111Hamill Creek Timber HomesMeadow Creek42
112City of Grand ForksGrand Forks41
113Box Lake Lumber Products Ltd.Nakusp40
114Halcyon Hot Springs Resort Ltd.Halcyon Hot Springs40
115Koocanusa Publications Inc.Cranbrook40
116Liberty FoodsFruitvale40
117Trainor Mechanical Contractors Ltd.Nelson40
118A.M. Ford (Sales) Ltd.Trail38
119Alpine ToyotaCranbrook33
120Denham Ford (BC) Ltd.Cranbrook33