Top Kootenay Employers
Kootenay Business presents its annual list of Top 120 Kootenay employers based on employment numbers
In terms of regional economy, the Kootenays have continued to stand out in a positive way. The combination of our robust goods and services sectors, and our thriving resource-based businesses, sets us apart from the rest of the province—and we’re proud of it!
As we do every year, the team at Kootenay Business magazine has put together a list of the Top 120 Kootenay Employers, based strictly on the number of staff members they employ. In a few cases, the numbers reflect peak season only, as certain companies do not operate year-round (some ski resorts, for example).
Take a look at some of these leading employers from the East and West Kootenay regions, and visit their career information pages if you’re curious about job opportunities with these reputable companies.
1. Interior Health Authority
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 5,356
Job opportunities at Interior Health Authority
2. Teck Coal Ltd.
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 4,000
Job opportunities at Tech Coal Ltd
3. BC Government & Service Employees Union (Members)
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 2,200
Job opportunities at BCGEU
4. FortisBC
Location: Throughout B.C.
Employees: 2,200
Job opportunities at FortisBC
5. Teck - Trail
Location: Trail
Employees: 1,424
Job opportunities at Tech
6. Golden Life
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 1,245
Job opportunities at Golden Life
7. Canfor
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 971
Job opportunities at Canfor
8. School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake)
Location: Nelson
Employees: 819
Job opportunities at School District No. 8
9. School District No. 20 (Kootenay-Columbia)
Location: Castlegar/Fruitvalel/Robson/Rossland/Trail/Warfield
Employees: 713
Job opportunities at School District No. 20
10. School District No. 5 (Southeast Kootenay)
Location: Cranbrook, Elk Valley & South Country
Employees: 700
Job opportunities at School District No. 5
11. Fernie Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Fernie
Employees: 625
Job opportunities at Fernie Alpine Resort
12. School District No. 6 (Rocky Mountain)
Location: Golden/Invermere/Kimberley
Employees: 612
Job opportunities at School District No. 6
13. Canadian Mountain Holidays LP.
Location: East & Central B.C.
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Canadian Mountain Holidays LP
14. Panorama Mountain Village
Location: Panorama
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Panorama Mountain Village
15. Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
16. Selkirk College
Location: Castlegar/Grand Forks/Kaslo/Nakusp/Nelson/Trail
Employees: 450
Job opportunities at Selkirk College
17. Mercer Celgar
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 413
Job opportunities at Mercer Celgar
18. Kimberley Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Kimberley
Employees: 400
Job opportunities at Kimberley Alpine Resort
19. Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
Location: Golden & Malakwa
Employees: 370
Job opportunities at Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
20. Regional District of Central Kootenay
Location: Creston/Kootenay Lake/Nelson
Employees: 350
Job opportunities at the Regional District of Central Kootenay
21. Interfor Corporation
Location: Castlegar & Grand Forks
Employees: 309
Job opportunities at Interfor Corporation
22. Tamarack Centre
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 300 - 350
Job opportunities at Tamarack Centre
23. CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd. (Formerly Jemi-Fibre)
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd.
24. Downie Timber Ltd.
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Downie Timber Ltd.
25. Skookumchuck Pulp Inc., A Paper Excellence Company
Location: Skookumchuck
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Skookumchuck Pulp Inc.
26. College of the Rockies
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 291
Job opportunities at College of the Rockies
27. BC Hydro
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 271
Job opportunities at BC Hydro
28. School District No. 51 (Boundary)
Location: Beaverdell/ Big White Ski Resort/ Christina Lake/ Grand Forks/ Greenwood/ Midway/Rock Creek
Employees: 265
Job opportunities at School District No. 51
29. St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 260
Job opportunities at St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino
30. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Golden
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
31. Red Mountain Resort
Location: Rossland
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at Red Mountain Resort
32. Marbor Holdings (Hume Hotel & Spa and Best Western Plus Baker Street Inn)
Location: Nelson
Employees: 240
Job opportunities at Marbor Holdings
33. Real Canadian Superstore
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Real Canadian Superstore
34. Whitewater Ski Resort
Location: Nelson
Employees: 225
Job opportunities at Whitewater Ski Resort
35. Roxul Inc.
Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 220
Job opportunities at Roxul Inc.
36. True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd.
Location: Radium Hot Springs
Employees: 220
Job opportunities at True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd.
37. Kootenay Savings Credit Union
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 208
Job opportunities at Kootenay Savings Credit Union
38. Vic Van Isle Group
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 183
Job opportunities at Vic Van Isle Group
39. City of Nelson
Location: Nelson
Employees: 182
Job opportunities at City of Nelson
40. City of Cranbrook
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 180
Job opportunities at City of Cranbrook
41. Ferraro Foods
Location: Rossland & Trail
Employees: 175
Job opportunities at Ferraro Foods
42. Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
Location: Grand Forks & Trail
Employees: 168
Job opportunities with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
43. Kootenay Country Store Co-op
Location: Nelson
Employees: 162
Job opportunities at Kootenay Country Store Co-op
44. Sutco Contracting Ltd.
Location: Creston/Salmo/Chilliwack/Kelowna
Employees: 160
Job opportunities at Sutco Contracting Ltd.
45. Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations
Location: Kootenay Boundary Region
Employees: 157
Job opportunities at the Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations
46. Prestige Hotels & Resorts
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 154
Job opportunities at Prestige Hotels & Resorts
47. Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd./Kootenay Innovative Wood Ltd.
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd.
48. Save-On-Foods
Location: Nelson
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
49. Columbia Brewery (Labatt)
Location: Creston
Employees: 143
Job opportunities at Columbia Brewery
50. Kicking Horse Coffee
Location: Invermere
Employees: 130
Job opportunities at Kicking Horse Coffee
51. Walmart
Location: Nelson
Employees: 125
Job opportunities at Walmart
52. Canada Safeway
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 118
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
53. Canada Safeway
Location: Nelson
Employees: 115
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
54. Porcupine Wood Products Ltd.
Location: Salmo
Employees: 115
Job opportunities at Porcupine Wood Products Ltd.
55. Canada Safeway
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 103
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
56. Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 103
Job opportunities at Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks
57. City of Revelstoke
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at City of Revelstoke
58. City of Trail
Location: Trail
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at City of Trail
59. Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting
60. Western Financial Group
Location: East & West Kootenay (Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, Golden, Kimberley, Cranbrook (Baker Street & Tamarack Mall), Creston, Salmo, Fruitvale, Kaslo)
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at Western Financial Group
61. Island Lake Lodge
Location: Fernie
Employees: 95 (seasonal)
Job opportunities at Island Lake Lodge
62. Glen Transport (A Division of DCT Chambers Trucking Ltd.)
Location: Skookumchuck
Employees: 90
Job opportunities at Glen Transport
63. Selkirk Paving
Location: Crescent Valley
Employees: 90
Job opportunities at Selkirk Paving
64. J.H. Huscroft Ltd.
Location: Creston
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at J.H. Huscroft Ltd.
65. RHC Insurance Brokers Ltd.
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at RHC Insurance Brokers Ltd.
66. Northstar GM
Location: Cranbrook & Creston
Employees: 81
Job opportunities at Northstar GM
67. La Baguette Catering
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 75-80
Job opportunities at La Baguette Catering
68. Yellowhead Road & Bridge (Kootenay) Ltd.
Location: West Kootenay
Employees: 80
Job opportunities at Yellowhead Road & Bridge
69. Galena Contractors
Location: Nakusp
Employees: 79
Job opportunities at Galena Contractors
70. Wood Canada Limited
Location: Trail
Employees: 78
Job opportunities at Wood Canada Limited
71. Maglio Building Centre/Maglio Building Centre (Trail) Ltd.
Location: Nelson & Trail
Employees: 75
Job opportunities at Maglio Building Centre
72. Selkirk Signs
Location: Cranbrook/Calgary/Edmonton
Employees: 75
Job opportunities at Selkirk Signs
73. Fab-Rite Services Ltd.
Location: Cranbrook/Sparwood
Employees: 73
Job opportunities at Fab-Rite Services Ltd.
74. School District No. 10 (Arrow Lakes)
Location: Nakusp, New Denver, Burton, and Edgewood
Employees: 72
Job opportunities at School District 10 (Arrow Lakes)
75. Transcendent Mining and Mobilization Inc.
Location: Elkford
Employees: 72
Job opportunities at Transcendent Mining and Mobilization Inc.
76. Save-On-Foods
Location: Fernie
Employees: 65-70
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
77. Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 69
Job opportunities at Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty
78. Regional District of East Kootenay
Location: Offices in Cranbrook & Columbia Valley
Employees: 64
Job opportunities at the Regional District of East Kootenay
79. Save-On-Foods
Location: Creston
Employees: 64
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
80. Atco Wood Products Ltd.
Location: Fruitvale
Employees: 63
Job opportunities at Atco Wood Products Ltd.
81. Save-On-Foods
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 62
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
82. New Dawn Group
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 61
Job opportunities at New Dawn Group
83. East Kootenay Community Credit Union
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 60
Job opportunities at the East Kootenay Community Credit Union
84. Columbia Basin Trust
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 58
Job opportunities at Columbia Basin Trust
85. Boundary Electric (1985) Ltd.
Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 50-55
Job opportunities at Boundary Electric (1985) Ltd.
86. Canada Safeway
Location: Trail
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
87. City of Castlegar
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at the City of Castlegar
88. Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention Centre
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention Centre
89. The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing Company
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing Company
90. Selkirk Security Services Ltd.
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 53
Job opportunities at Selkirk Security Services Ltd.
91. Unifab Industries Ltd.
Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 53
Job opportunities at Unifab Industries Ltd.
92. Golden IGA
Location: Golden
Employees: 50 - 60
Job opportunities at Golden IGA
93. Canadian Tire
Location: Trail
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Canadian Tire
94. DJM Contracting Ltd.
Location: Rossland
Employees: 45-50
Job opportunities at DJM Contracting Ltd.
95. Grand Forks Credit Union
Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Grand Forks Credit Union
96. Overwaitea Foods
Location: Golden
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Overwaitea Foods
97. Revelstoke Credit Union
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at the Revelstoke Credit Union
98. Trainor Mechanical Contractors Ltd.
Location: Nelson
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Trainor Mechanical Contractors Ltd.
99. Fernie Lodging Co.
Location: Fernie
Employees: 48
Job opportunities at Fernie Lodging Co.
100. Finning Canada
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 48
Job opportunities at Finning Canada
101. Kootenay Insurance Services Ltd.
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 48
Job opportunities at Kootenay Insurance Services Ltd.
102. Nelson & District Credit Union
Location: Crawford Bay/Nelson/Rossland
Employees: 47
Job opportunities at Nelson & District Credit Union
103. Box Lake Lumber Products Ltd.
Location: Nakusp
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Box Lake Lumber Products Ltd.
104. Heritage Credit Union
Location: Castlegar/Greenwood/Slocan Park
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Heritage Credit Union
105. Home Hardware Building Centre
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Home Hardware Building Centre
106. Liberty Food Store Ltd.
Location: Fruitvale
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Liberty Food Store Ltd.
107. Parastone Team of Companies
Location: Fernie
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Parastone Team of Companies
108. Southeast Disposal Ltd.
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Southeast Disposal Ltd.
109. Top Crop Garden Farm & Pet
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 39-50
Job opportunities at Top Crop Garden Farm & Pet
110. City of Grand Forks
Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 43
Job opportunities at the City of Grand Forks
111. Columbia Power
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 42
Job opportunities at Columbia Power
112. Wildstone Golf Course
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 42
Job opportunities at Wildstone Golf Course
113. Koocanusa Publications Inc.
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 40
Job opportunities at Koocanusa Publications Inc.
114. A.M. Ford (Sales) Ltd.
Location: Trail
Employees: 38
Job opportunities at A.M. Ford
115. The Kootenay Import Auto Group
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 38
Job opportunities at The Kootenay Import Auto Group
116. BDO Canada LLP
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 32-35
Job opportunities at BDO Canada LLP
117. Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge
Location: Fernie
Employees: 35
Job opportunities at the Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge
118. Canadian Timberframes Ltd.
Location: Golden
Employees: 35
Job opportunities at Canadian Timberframes Ltd.
119. Town of Golden
Location: Golden
Employees: 35
Job opportunities at the Town of Golden
120. Dunlop Truck Centres
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 34
Job opportunities at Dunlop Truck Centres
Think your business should be on our list? Email Kootenaybiz and let us know how many employees your business has.
