Top Kootenay Employers
KootenayBiz presents its annual list of Top 100 Kootenay Employers, based on employment numbers in 2022
“We need skilled employees.”
If I heard one wish from business owners and managers last year, it would be the need for more employees. Is that true of your company?
If so, you might want to check out Terry O'Reilly’s Under the Influence podcast about the most creative help-wanted ads in the world. The episode is called, “Fish Where The Fish Are: Surprising Help Wanted Ads” and is well worth a listen if you are looking to catch some superstar employees.
If, on the other hand, you are looking for employment, check out this year’s list of the top employers in the Kootenays shown below. We have included links to each employer’s career page—there is a good chance they have current openings.
What industries have the most employees?
It’s no surprise that health care tops the list as the largest employer in the Kootenays. For the first time, KootenayBiz has included a chart showing the employees by industry. The chart doesn’t reflect all workers in the Kootenays, as it only represents numbers from the top 100 employers list shown below.
How KootenayBiz got the data
Our data in this list is based on the number of staff employed at each business in 2022. We worked hard to touch base with our largest employers via emails, social media posts, a website article and phone calls. Please note that our list is somewhat of an approximation as not every business verified their current employment numbers. Rather, the list is a guide that shows the relationship between large and small businesses in the Kootenays.
Should your company be on our Top Employers List?
Please let us know if your company employs more than 45 people and qualifies to be on next year’s list of Top Kootenay Employers. Fill out our form.
1. Interior Health Authority
Location: East & West Kootenay
Industry: Health Care
Employees: 5,356
Job opportunities at Interior Health Authority
2. Teck Coal Ltd.
Location: East Kootenay
Industry: Mining
Employees: 4,000
Job opportunities at Teck Coal Ltd.
3. BC Government & Service Employees Union
Location: East & West Kootenay
Industry: Government
Employees: 2,200
Job opportunities at BCGEU
4. FortisBC
Location: East & West Kootenay
Industry: Utilities
Employees: 2,200
Job opportunities at FortisBC
5. Teck - Trail
Location: Trail
Industry: Mining
Employees: 1,522
Job opportunities at Teck
6. Golden Life Management
Location: East & West Kootenay
Industry: Health Care
Employees: 1,508
Job opportunities at Golden Life Management
7. School District No. 5 (Southeast Kootenay)
Location: Cranbrook, Elk Valley & South Country
Industry: Education
Employees: 1,147
Job opportunities at School District No. 5
8. Canfor
Location: East Kootenay
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 971
Job opportunities at Canfor
9. Selkirk College
Location: Castlegar/Grand Forks/Kaslo/Nakusp/Nelson/Trail
Industry: Education
Employees: 690
Job opportunities at Selkirk College
10. Fernie Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Fernie
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 625
Job opportunities at Fernie Alpine Resort
11. School District No. 6 (Rocky Mountain)
Location: Golden/Invermere/Kimberley
Industry: Education
Employees: 515
Job opportunities at School District No. 6
12. School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake)
Location: Nelson
Industry: Education
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at School District No. 8
13. Canadian Mountain Holidays LP
Location: East & Central B.C.
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Canadian Mountain Holidays LP
14. Revelstoke Mountain Resort
Location: Revelstoke
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 500
Job opportunities at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
15. Mercer Celgar
Location: Castlegar
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 441
Job opportunities at Mercer Celgar
16. Kimberley Alpine Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Kimberley
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 400
Job opportunities at Kimberley Alpine Resort
17. School District No. 20 (Kootenay-Columbia)
Location: Castlegar/Fruitvalel/Robson/Rossland/Trail/Warfield
Industry: Education
Employees: 350
Job opportunities at School District No. 20
18. Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
Location: Golden
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 330
Job opportunities at Louisiana-Pacific Canada Ltd.
19. Interfor Corporation
Location: Castlegar & Grand Forks
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 309
Job opportunities at Interfor Corporation
20. Tamarack Centre
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Retail
Employees: 300-350
Job opportunities at Tamarack Centre
21. CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd.
Location: East Kootenay
Industry: Construction
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd.
22. Skookumchuck Pulp Inc., A Paper Excellence Company
Location: Skookumchuck
Industry: Manufacturing
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Skookumchuck Pulp Inc.
23. Whitewater Ski Resort
Location: Nelson
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 300
Job opportunities at Whitewater Ski Resort
24. College of the Rockies
Location: East Kootenay
Industry: Education
Employees: 291
Job opportunities at College of the Rockies
25. St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 260
Job opportunities at St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino
26. Real Canadian Superstore
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 250 - 300
Job opportunities at Real Canadian Superstore
27. Regional District of Central Kootenay
Location: Creston/Kootenay Lake/Nelson
Industry: Education
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
Industry: Education
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at School District No. 51
29. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort/Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Golden
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
30. Red Mountain Resort
Location: Rossland
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 250
Job opportunities at Red Mountain Resort
31. City of Cranbrook
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Government
Employees: 236
Job opportunities at City of Cranbrook
32. BC Hydro
Location: Kootenay-wide
Industry: Utilities
Employees: 235
Job opportunities at BC Hydro
33. Kootenay Savings Credit Union
Location: East & West Kootenay
Industry: Financial
Employees: 218
Job opportunities at Kootenay Savings Credit Union
34. Panorama Mountain Village
Location: Panorama
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 200
Job opportunities at Panorama Mountain Village
35. School District No. 10 (Arrow Lakes)
Location: Nakusp, New Denver, Burton, and Edgewood
Industry: Education
Employees: 200
Job opportunities at School District 10 (Arrow Lakes)
36. Walmart - Cranbrook
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Retail
Employees: 185
Job opportunities at Walmart - Cranbrook
37. Downie Timber Ltd.
Location: Revelstoke
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 180
Job opportunities at Downie Timber Ltd.
38. Rockwool Inc.
Location: Grand Forks
Industry: Manufacturing
Employees: 180
Job opportunities at Rockwool Inc.
39. Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
Location: Grand Forks & Trail
Industry: Education
Employees: 168
Job opportunities with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
40. Walmart - Nelson
Location: Nelson
Industry: Retail
Employees: 166
Job opportunities at Walmart - Nelson
41. Sutco Contracting Ltd.
Location: Creston/Salmo/Chilliwack/Kelowna
Industry: Construction
Employees: 160
Job opportunities at Sutco Contracting Ltd.
42. Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations
Location: Kootenay Boundary Region
Industry: Government
Employees: 157
Job opportunities at the Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations
43. Prestige Hotels & Resorts
Location: East & West Kootenay
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 155
Job opportunities at Prestige Hotels & Resorts
44. Save-On-Foods
Location: Nelson
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 152
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
45. City of Nelson
Location: Nelson
Industry: Government
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at City of Nelson
46. Kootenay Country Store Co-op
Location: Nelson
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at Kootenay Country Store Co-op
47. True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd.
Location: Radium Hot Springs
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at True Key Hotels & Resorts Ltd.
48. VVI Construction
Location: Revelstoke
Industry: Construction
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at VVI Construction
49. Ferraro Foods/Annable Foods Ltd.
Location: Rossland & Trail
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 150
Job opportunities at Ferraro Foods
50. Canada Safeway - Cranbrook
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 127
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
51. Labatt Brewery
Location: Creston
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 122
Job opportunities at Labatt Brewery
52. Canada Safeway - Nelson
Location: Nelson
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 120
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
53. Walmart - Trail
Location: Trail
Industry: Retail
Employees: 120
Job opportunities at Walmart - Trail
54. Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks
Location: Revelstoke
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 117
Job opportunities at Mount Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks
55. Kicking Horse Coffee
Location: Invermere
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 116
Job opportunities at Kicking Horse Coffee
56. Porcupine Wood Products Ltd.
Location: Salmo
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 110
Job opportunities at Porcupine Wood Products Ltd.
57. Wood Canada Limited
Location: Trail
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 110
Job opportunities at Wood Canada Limited
58. Canada Safeway - Castlegar
Location: Castlegar
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 105
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
59. Selkirk Paving
Location: Crescent Valley
Industry: Construction
Employees: 105
Job opportunities at Selkirk Paving
60. Fab-Rite Services Ltd.
Location: Cranbrook & Sparwood
Industry: Manufacturing
Employees: 102
Job opportunities at Fab-Rite Services Ltd.
61. Kalesnikoff
Location: Castlegar
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at Kalesnikoff
62. City of Revelstoke
Location: Revelstoke
Industry: Government
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at City of Revelstoke
63. Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting
Location: East Kootenay
Industry: Construction
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting
64. Save-On Foods - Cranbrook
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 100
Job opportunities at Save-On Foods
65. Island Lake Lodge
Location: Fernie
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 99
Job opportunities at Island Lake Lodge
66. City of Trail
Location: Trail
Industry: Government
Employees: 90
Job opportunities at City of Trail
67. Glen Transport (A division of DCT Chambers Trucking Ltd.)
Location: Skookumchuck
Industry: Transportation
Employees: 86
Job opportunities at Glen Transport
68. Western Financial Group
Location: Creston
Industry: Financial
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at Western Financial Group
69. J.H. Huscroft Ltd.
Location: Creston
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at J.H. Huscroft Ltd.
70. HUB International Insurance
Location: East & West Kootenay
Industry: Financial
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at HUB International Insurance
71. Columbia Basin Trust
Location: East & West Kootenay
Industry: Government
Employees: 85
Job opportunities at Columbia Basin Trust
72. Jack Carter Northstar GM
Location: Cranbrook & Creston
Industry: Automotive
Employees: 81
Job opportunities at Jack Carter Northstar GM
73. Marbor Holdings (Hume Hotel & Spa)
Location: Nelson
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 80
Job opportunities at Marbor Holdings
74. Yellowhead Road & Bridge (Kootenay) Ltd.
Location: West Kootenay
Industry: Construction
Employees: 80
Job opportunities at Yellowhead Road & Bridge
75. Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty
Location: East Kootenay
Industry: Real Estate
Employees: 78
Job opportunities at Royal LePage East Kootenay Realty
76. Maglio Building Centre/Maglio Building Centre (Trail) Ltd.
Location: Nelson & Trail
Industry: Construction
Employees: 77
Job opportunities at Maglio Building Centre
77. Boundary Electric (1985) Ltd.
Location: Grand Forks
Industry: Construction
Employees: 77
Job opportunities at Boundary Electric (1985) Ltd.
78. Save-On-Foods - Creston
Location: Creston
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 76
Job opportunities at Save-On-Foods
79. Transcendent Mining and Mobilization Inc.
Location: Elkford
Industry: Mining
Employees: 73
Job opportunities at Transcendent Mining and Mobilization Inc.
80. La Baguette Catering
Location: Revelstoke
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 65
Job opportunities at La Baguette Catering
81. Canada Safeway - Trail
Location: Trail
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 65
Job opportunities at Canada Safeway
82. Save-On Foods - Golden
Location: Golden
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 62
Job opportunities at Save-On Foods
83. East Kootenay Community Credit Union
Location: East Kootenay
Industry: Financial
Employees: 62
Job opportunities at the East Kootenay Community Credit Union
84. New Dawn Group
Location: East Kootenay
Industry: Construction
Employees: 61
Job opportunities at New Dawn Group
85. Kootenay Employment Services
Location: Creston, Cranbrook, Invermere, Fernie
Industry: Government
Employees: 60
Job opportunities at Kootenay Employment Services
86. City of Castlegar
Location: Castlegar
Industry: Government
Employees: 57
Job opportunities at City of Castlegar
87. The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing Company
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at The Heid Out & Fisher Peak Brewing Company
88. Save-On Foods - Fernie
Location: Fernie
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 55-60
Job opportunities at Save-On Foods
89. Growth Financial Corporation
Location: Castlegar
Industry: Financial
Employees: 55
Job opportunities at Growth Financial Corporation
90. Selkirk Security Services Ltd.
Location: East & West Kootenay
Industry: Services
Employees: 53
Job opportunities at Selkirk Security Services Ltd.
91. Golden IGA
Location: Golden
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 53
Job opportunities at Golden IGA
92. Regional District of East Kootenay
Location: Offices in Cranbrook & Columbia Valley
Industry: Government
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at the Regional District of East Kootenay
93. Atco Wood Products Ltd.
Location: Fruitvale
Industry: Forestry
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Atco Wood Products Ltd.
94. Grand Forks Credit Union
Location: Grand Forks
Industry: Financial
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at Grand Forks Credit Union
95. Revelstoke Credit Union
Location: Revelstoke
Industry: Financial
Employees: 50
Job opportunities at the Revelstoke Credit Union
96. Fernie Lodging Co.
Location: Fernie
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 48
Job opportunities at Fernie Lodging Co.
97. Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 48
Job opportunities at Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre
98. Trainor Mechanical Contractors Ltd.
Location: Nelson
Industry: Construction
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Trainor Mechanical Contractors Ltd.
99. Wildstone Golf Course
Location: Cranbrook
Industry: Tourism
Employees: 45
Job opportunities at Wildstone Golf Course
100. Liberty Foods
Location: Fruitvale
Industry: Food & Beverage
Employees: 42
Job opportunities at Liberty Foods
Think your business should be on our list? Email Kootenaybiz and let us know how many employees your business has.
