Top Kootenay Employers
KootenayBiz presents its annual list of Top Kootenay Employers, based on employment numbers in 2021.
Data from the Kootenays’ largest employers show that employment numbers in 2021 were up and down, depending on the sector and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected that sector.
Our employers have faced many challenges in the last two years. The Kootenay employment ecosystem has been complicated by factors such as implementing and enforcing pandemic protocols, remote work, filling employee vacancies, and government assistance for employers and the unemployed (CERB payments). And all these have changed, ebbed and shifted over time.
As our team put together this annual list of the Top 100 Kootenay Employers, we realized that many of these businesses and organizations employ the essential workers that keep our lives ticking along. For example, many of the largest employers in our region deal with food, health, finances and education.
If these past two years of the pandemic have taught us anything, they have taught us to appreciate essential workers. We know that each of us might have a different definition of essential workers and services. For example, there was a time in B.C. when liquor stores were deemed essential but gyms were not!
Many of us have always given a friendly “thank you” whenever we’re leaving an establishment. But because of this pandemic, we appreciate our Kootenay employers and their employees even more. Now, our “thanks” is much more heart-felt.
How we got the data
Our data in this list are based on the number of staff employed at each business in 2021. We worked hard to touch base with our largest employers via emails, social media posts, a website article and phone calls.
If you’re curious about job opportunities with these East and West Kootenay employers, visit their career information pages.
New to the list this year are Growth Financial Corporation and Kootenay Employment Services. If you think you meet the criteria to be on this list, please fill out our form.
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 Teck Coal Ltd.
3. BC Government & Service Employees Union
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 2,200
Job opportunities at BCGEU
4. FortisBC
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 2,200
Job opportunities at FortisBC
5. Teck - Trail
Location: Trail
Employees: 1,522
Job opportunities at Teck
6. Golden Life Management
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 1,508
Job opportunities at Golden Life Management
7. School District No. 5 (Southeast Kootenay)
Location: Cranbrook, Elk Valley & South Country
Employees: 980
Job opportunities at School District No. 5
8. Canfor
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 971
Job opportunities at Canfor
9. Selkirk College
Location: Castlegar/Grand Forks/Kaslo/Nakusp/Nelson/Trail
Employees: 690
Job opportunities at Selkirk College
10. Fernie Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Fernie
Employees: 625
Job opportunities at Fernie Alpine Resort
11. School District No. 6 (Rocky Mountain)
Location: Golden/Invermere/Kimberley
Employees: 515
Job opportunities at School District No. 6
12. School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake)
Location: Nelson
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at School District No. 8
13. Canadian Mountain Holidays LP
Location: East & Central B.C.
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Canadian Mountain Holidays LP
14. Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
15. Mercer Celgar
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 441
Job opportunities at Mercer Celgar
16. Kimberley Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Kimberley
Employees: 400
Job opportunities at Kimberley Alpine Resort
17. School District No. 20 (Kootenay-Columbia)
Location: Castlegar/Fruitvalel/Robson/Rossland/Trail/Warfield
Employees: 350
Job opportunities at School District No. 20
18. Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
Location: Golden
Employees: 330
Job opportunities at Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
19. Interfor Corporation
Location: Castlegar & Grand Forks
Employees: 309
Job opportunities at Interfor Corporation
20. Tamarack Centre
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 301
Job opportunities at Tamarack Centre
21. CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd.
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd.
22. Skookumchuck Pulp Inc., A Paper Excellence Company
Location: Skookumchuck
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Skookumchuck Pulp Inc.
23. Whitewater Ski Resort
Location: Nelson
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Whitewater Ski Resort
24. College of the Rockies
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 291
Job opportunities at College of the Rockies
25. St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 260
Job opportunities at St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino
26. Real Canadian Superstore
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 250 - 300
Job opportunities at Real Canadian Superstore
27. Regional District of Central Kootenay
Location: Creston/Kootenay Lake/Nelson
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at the Regional District of Central Kootenay
28. School District No. 51 (Boundary)
Location: Beaverdell/Big White Ski Resort/Christina Lake/Grand Forks/Greenwood/Midway/Rock Creek
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at School District No. 51
29. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Golden
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
30. Red Mountain Resort
Location: Rossland
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at Red Mountain Resort
31. Kalesnikoff
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at Kalesnikoff
32. BC Hydro
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 235
Job opportunities at BC Hydro
33. True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd.
Location: Radium Hot Springs
Employees: 230-250
Job opportunities at True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd.
34. Kootenay Savings Credit Union
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 218
Job opportunities at Kootenay Savings Credit Union
35. City of Cranbrook
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 216
Job opportunities at City of Cranbrook
36. Panorama Mountain Village
Location: Panorama
Employees: 200
Job opportunities at Panorama Mountain Village
37. School District No. 10 (Arrow Lakes)
Location: Nakusp, New Denver, Burton, and Edgewood
Employees: 200
Job opportunities at School District 10 (Arrow Lakes)
38. Walmart - Cranbrook
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 185
Job opportunities at Walmart - Cranbrook
39. Downie Timber Ltd.
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 180
Job opportunities at Downie Timber Ltd.
40. Rockwool Inc.
Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 180
Job opportunities at Rockwool Inc.
41. Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
Location: Grand Forks & Trail
Employees: 168
Job opportunities with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
42. Walmart - Nelson
Location: Nelson
Employees: 166
Job opportunities at Walmart - Nelson
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. Save-On-Foods
Location: Nelson
Employees: 154
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
47. City of Nelson
Location: Nelson
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at City of Nelson
48. VVI Construction
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at VVI Construction
49. Ferraro Foods/Annable Foods Ltd.
Location: Rossland & Trail
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at Ferraro Foods
50. Prestige Hotels & Resorts
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 144
Job opportunities at Prestige Hotels & Resorts
51. Labatt Brewery
Location: Creston
Employees: 143
Job opportunities at Labatt Brewery
52. Canada Safeway
Location: Nelson
Employees: 120
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
53. Walmart - Trail
Location: Trail
Employees: 120
Job opportunities at Walmart - Trail
54. Canada Safeway
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 118
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
55. Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 117
Job opportunities at Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks
56. Kicking Horse Coffee
Location: Invermere
Employees: 116
Job opportunities at Kicking Horse Coffee
57. Porcupine Wood Products Ltd.
Location: Salmo
Employees: 110
Job opportunities at Porcupine Wood Products Ltd.
58. Wood Canada Limited
Location: Trail
Employees: 110
Job opportunities at Wood Canada Limited
59. Canada Safeway
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 105
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
60. Selkirk Paving
Location: Crescent Valley
Employees: 105
Job opportunities at Selkirk Paving
61. City of Revelstoke
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at City of Revelstoke
62. Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting
63. Save-On-Foods
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 98
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
64. Island Lake Lodge
Location: Fernie
Employees: 91
Job opportunities at Island Lake Lodge
65. City of Trail
Location: Trail
Employees: 90
Job opportunities at City of Trail
66. Glen Transport (A Division of DCT Chambers Trucking Ltd.)
Location: Skookumchuck
Employees: 86
Job opportunities at Glen Transport
67. Western Financial Group
Location: East & West Kootenay (Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, Golden, Kimberley, Cranbrook (Baker Street & Tamarack Mall), Creston, Salmo, Fruitvale, Kaslo)
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at Western Financial Group
68. J.H. Huscroft Ltd.
Location: Creston
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at J.H. Huscroft Ltd.
69. HUB International Insurance
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at HUB International Insurance
70. Columbia Basin Trust
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at Columbia Basin Trust
71. Jack Carter Northstar GM
Location: Cranbrook & Creston
Employees: 81
Job opportunities at Jack Carter Northstar GM
72. Marbor Holdings (Hume Hotel & Spa)
Location: Nelson
Employees: 80
Job opportunities at Marbor Holdings
73. Fab-Rite Services Ltd.
Location: Cranbrook/Sparwood
Employees: 80
Job opportunities at Fab-Rite Services Ltd.
74. Yellowhead Road & Bridge (Kootenay) Ltd.
Location: West Kootenay
Employees: 80
Job opportunities at Yellowhead Road & Bridge
75. Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 78
Job opportunities at Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty
76. Maglio Building Centre/Maglio Building Centre (Trail) Ltd.
Location: Nelson & Trail
Employees: 77
Job opportunities at Maglio Building Centre
77. Save-On-Foods
Location: Creston
Employees: 76
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
78. Transcendent Mining and Mobilization Inc.
Location: Elkford
Employees: 73
Job opportunities at Transcendent Mining and Mobilization Inc.
79. Boundary Electric (1985) Ltd.
Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 71
Job opportunities at Boundary Electric (1985) Ltd.
80. Save-On-Foods
Location: Fernie
Employees: 65-70
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
81. La Baguette Catering
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 65
Job opportunities at La Baguette Catering
82. Canada Safeway
Location: Trail
Employees: 65
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
83. Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention Centre
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 65
Job opportunities at Heritage Inn Hotel and Convention Centre
84. East Kootenay Community Credit Union
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 62
Job opportunities at the East Kootenay Community Credit Union
85. New Dawn Group
Location: East Kootenay
Employees: 61
Job opportunities at New Dawn Group
86. Kootenay Employment Services
Location: Creston, Cranbrook, Invermere, Fernie
Employees: 60
Job opportunities at Kootenay Employment Services
87. The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing Company
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing Company
88. Growth Financial Corporation
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at Growth Financial Corporation
89. City of Castlegar
Location: Castlegar
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at the City of Castlegar
90. Selkirk Security Services Ltd.
Location: East & West Kootenay
Employees: 53
Job opportunities at Selkirk Security Services Ltd.
91. Golden IGA
Location: Golden
Employees: 53
Job opportunities at Golden IGA
92. Regional District of East Kootenay
Location: Offices in Cranbrook & Columbia Valley
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at the Regional District of East Kootenay
93. Atco Wood Products Ltd.
Location: Fruitvale
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Atco Wood Products Ltd.
94. Grand Forks Credit Union
Location: Grand Forks
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Grand Forks Credit Union
95. Save-On Foods - Golden
Location: Golden
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Save-On Foods
96. Revelstoke Credit Union
Location: Revelstoke
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at the Revelstoke Credit Union
97. Fernie Lodging Co.
Location: Fernie
Employees: 48
Job opportunities at Fernie Lodging Co.
98. Canadian Tire
Location: Trail
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Canadian Tire
99. Trainor Mechanical Contractors Ltd.
Location: Nelson
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Trainor Mechanical Contractors Ltd.
100. Wildstone Golf Course
Location: Cranbrook
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Wildstone Golf Course
Think your business should be on our list? Email Kootenaybiz and let us know how many employees your business has.
