All West Kootenay articles

Melinda Nealis and Kayla Carley standing in front of their farmers market booth.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Nelson, Rossland, Salmo, Slocan, Trail, Environment, Health & Wellness, Small Business Replenish, refill and recycle at this West Kootenay business

Based in Nelson, B.C., Melinda Nealis and Kayla Carley are the mother-and-daughter duo behind Replenish—The Kootenay Refill Store

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A lightweight backpacking tent  made by Durston Gear in Golden, B.C.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Nelson, Revelstoke, Rossland, Salmo, Small Business KORE—Canada’s first craft outdoor industry cluster is right here in the Kootenays

The Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise is helping Kootenay businesses design and build outdoor gear that rocks

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Veronica Roberge stands in front of a partially open closet, smiling into camera.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business Mo’ Better Organized in Castlegar helps clients clear away clutter

Mo’ Better Organized assists clients by helping them organize their homes and lives

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Kelsey Gosse (Left) and Leah Pavlick (right) wearing Kootz Collective merchandise and pouring coffee into a mug
West Kootenay, Trail, Small Business A side hustle that captures the Kootenay spirit

These sisters from Trail, B.C., decided to give back to their community through their Kootenay-inspired clothing company.

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Formerly the location of the Union Hotel, this site will be the future home of a Dairy Queen restaurant and will bring 45 full- and part-time jobs to the city.
West Kootenay, Trail, Cuisine, Developments, Entertainment and Hospitality DQ treats—and new jobs—are coming to Trail, B.C.

A new Dairy Queen Grill and Chill restaurant will occupy the old Union Hotel property in Trail, B.C.

by Submitted
Charmain Bibby smiles, wearing glasses and a blue shirt with red flowers. Mike Bibby carves into a piece of wood on a work bench.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business From oil rig workers in Africa to designers in Nelson, B.C., the Bibbys are ultimate entrepreneurs

Mike and Charmain Bibby, owners of Bibby Fine Interiors and Bibby Fine Furniture in Nelson, B.C., help people design their perfect home and work space

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The owners of Track Street Growers standing in a field
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Cuisine, Small Business Track Street Growers has taken root in Revelstoke

Sarah Harper and Stu Smith bring the Revelstoke community together through the bounty of their harvest.

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Owner of Love and Lemons standing in a garden
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business When life gave her lemons, this entrepreneur built two successful Castlegar companies

Marie-Pier Dionne arrived in B.C. with a backpack, $100 and a dream—now she owns a bilingual daycare and aromatherapy line in Castlegar.

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Stacey Brensrud has long brown hair and wears a grey shirt and red scarf. She smiles in the photo. Snowy trees are in the background.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Small Business, Tourism One-on-one with Stacey Brensrud, executive director of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce

Stacey Brensrud, executive director of the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce, highlights why Revelstokians have reason to be stoked for their city

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A blue sign that says Blue Canoe Orchards next to a box of cherries on a stump in the midst of a cherry farm.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Agriculture, Cuisine, First Nations , Small Business Creston’s new Blue Canoe Orchards is doing everything imaginable to put fresh cherries in YOUR hands

Trent Mason, Aboriginal owner of Blue Canoe Orchards in Creston, B.C., aims to distribute fresh cherries throughout the Kootenays

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Owners of Stone Meadows Gardens riding bikes and carrying flowers.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Agriculture Say it with flowers . . . sustainable local ones from flower farms in the Kootenays

The consumer trend towards buying locally-grown flowers is booming in the Kootenays as proven by this list of 10 flower farms

by Julie Matchett and Virginia Rasch
Derrek Kittson stands in front of his business, Central City Shoes.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Small Business, Tourism One-on-one with Castlegar Chamber President Derrek Kittson

Derrek Kittson, President of the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce, is excited about a new Chamber building and upgraded infrastructure on Columbia Avenue

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(From L to R), Hannah Baker, Stacey Smith and Meagan Savaia are the faces behind Kettle Down, a niche clothing brand that celebrates the Kootenays.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Small Business, Tourism 12 small businesses that design and create unique Kootenay-inspired clothing

Find uniquely home-grown Kootenay clothing, wearables and gear from these 12 local businesses

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Dave MacLeod, CEO of ThoughtExchange
West Kootenay, Rossland, Education, Technology A world-class, Kootenay-based company: ThoughtExchange’s beginnings and phenomenal growth

With CEO Dave MacLeod at the helm, ThoughtExchange in Rossland, B.C., has seen 1,000 per cent year-over-year use of the tech platform

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Dave MacLeod, CEO of ThoughtExchange
West Kootenay, Rossland, Education, Technology Dave MacLeod, CEO of ThoughtExchange, has amassed collective intelligence to write a leadership book

A new book by CEO of ThoughtExchange Dave MacLeod, Scaling Conversations: How Leaders Access the Full Potential of People, is a goldmine of insights

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Mario DiBella has light white hair and wears a grey shirt.
West Kootenay, Castlegar, Technology Kootenay entrepreneur’s specialization led to Martech’s business growth and spin-off companies

Mario Dibella, owner and president of the Martech Group of Companies in Castlegar, B.C., discusses how his company has maintained unprecedented endurance

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Two people touching a screen on a smart vending machine.
East Kootenay, Elkford, West Kootenay, Financial, Technology Nelson-based start-up SMRT1 Technologies launches crowd-investing opportunity

SMRT1 specializes in convenient and cutting-edge intelligent vending machine technology

by Submitted
Close-up of Vanessa Terwoort.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Castlegar, Rossland, Environment, Mining, Technology Vanessa Terwoort describes her rewarding career in industry and encourages others to follow suit

Women can have fulfilling careers in industry, according to Vanessa Terwoort, Director, Environment, Mercer Celgar

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Eric Ridington looks out his glider canopy window to see a huge snow-covered mountain in front of him.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business, Tourism Kokanee Soaring Adventures has taken flight in Nelson

Eric Ridington, owner of Kokanee Soaring Adventures in Nelson, B.C., offers glider tours over Kootenay Lake and Kokanee Glacier

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Jeff Davie (up front in the middle with a black hat), his wife, Monica Davie (behind Jeff, wearing a blue shirt), and the team at Kaslo Building Supplies pose for a group photo.
West Kootenay, Kaslo, Retail, Small Business Commitment to customer service: Kaslo Building Supplies owner Jeff Davie leads the way

Jeff Davie, second-generation owner of Kaslo Building Supplies, describes how exceptional customer service leads to longevity

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Karma Halleran in a black-and-white photo.
West Kootenay, Kaslo, Tourism Chamber president Karma Halleran anticipates another impressive year of growth in Kaslo, B.C.

Karma Halleran, president of the Kaslo Chamber of Commerce, highlights new programs being implemented, including Kaslo ArtScape and a Kaslo Anthem contest

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View of Salmo River full with beach goers.
West Kootenay, Salmo, Entertainment and Hospitality, Tourism Going camping this summer? Salmo could be your new favourite spot

Located just east of Salmo, B.C., the Salmo River Ranch Campground is opening soon

by Karrigan Folvik
Michele Dupas standing in front of shelf full of arts and paintings.
West Kootenay, Kaslo, Nelson, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business, Tourism Fanciful fine ceramics and artisan offerings at Dupas Designs in Procter

Michele Dupas is the imaginative owner of Dupas Designs and Gallery 229, located in the old Procter, B.C., schoolhouse

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Fruitvale City Council
West Kootenay, Environment 10 West Kootenay governments have voted for 100% renewable energy by 2050

The 100% Renewable Kootenays campaign for clean energy, led by the West Kootenay EcoSociety, continues to grow, adding No. 10: Fruitvale

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Sarah Dinsdale, Marketing & Revilization Coordinator for the Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce.
East Kootenay, Grand Forks, West Kootenay, Christina Lake, Small Business One-on-one with Sarah Dinsdale of the Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce

The Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce is increasing its staff to accomplish more projects

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Venessa Loubert and Perry Dzuris, owners of Arcane Coda in Salmo, B.C.
West Kootenay, Salmo, Small Business Arcane Coda in Salmo lets you wear your heart on your sleeve

This cutting-edge, Salmo-based clothing company has a backstory as rich as its fashionable creations.

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Cam Shute holding ski bindings.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business, Technology Nelson’s Dark Horse Innovations is owned by a product development consultant in the outdoor industry

Dark Horse Innovations in Nelson, B.C., is a new B2B business in the outdoor product development industry

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Karen Kornelsen, organizer of the Kootenay Pitch Competition, said there is growing interest in these tech sector events and hopes to make them an annual event.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Entertainment and Hospitality, Small Business, Technology Pitch competitions for our tech sector have arrived in the Kootenays, thanks to KAST

The Kootenays’ first-ever pitch competition for the tech sector was organized by KAST and attracted 25 entrepreneurs vying for valuable prizes

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Chris Legler, CEO and founder of Axios Growth Consultants. Standing and smiling, wearing dark grey suit.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Trail, Small Business Former Sony executive launches Business Growth Consultancy in British Columbia

Axios Growth Consultants provides growth and optimization guidance and solutions to help businesses scale for success

by Submitted
Heritage house painted yellow and green, housing the Slocan Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Silvery Slocan Museum.
West Kootenay, Slocan, Small Business, Tourism One-on-one with Emma Beaton, manager of the Slocan Valley Chamber of Commerce

Emma Beaton, manager of the Slocan Valley Chamber of Commerce, has seen an uptick in people and businesses moving there since the pandemic

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Beth Campbell, owner of Viva Cacao, holding up a bar of her chocolate.
West Kootenay, Slocan, Cuisine, Small Business Chocolatier scales up Viva Cacao from little Slocan to across B.C. and beyond

Chocolate alchemist Beth Campbell of Viva Cacao in Slocan, B.C., has advice on scaling up a small business

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Dragons' Den stage with logo.
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Small Business These 9 Kootenay business entrepreneurs dared to take on the Dragons’ Den

Some had success, some didn’t, but these 9 brave Kootenay business people all faced down the Dragons’ Den

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Deborah Achleitner (L) and Sarah Albertson (R), co-owners of the Nelson Stitch Lab, standing in store.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Education, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Small Business These artists are woven into the fabric of Nelson, thanks to the Nelson Stitch Lab

Nelson, B.C., is overflowing with sewists, thanks to the enthusiastic owners/teachers of the Nelson Stitch Lab

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Laura Price smiles wearing a pink shirt.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Retail, Small Business Scout Clothing in Nelson is persevering through the pandemic by connecting with customers online

Laura Price, owner of Scout Clothing in Nelson, B.C., is showcasing how small retail shops can offer an excellent online shopping experience

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Group shot of employees at Tratech Mechanical Ltd. in Creston
East Kootenay, Creston, West Kootenay, Education, Small Business Creston business builds a solid foundation to stand on

Unprecedented growth is forcing businesses to rework their business models

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Downtown Grand Forks
East Kootenay, Grand Forks, West Kootenay, Retail, Small Business Grand Forks, B.C., is filling up its vacant retail spaces via a unique economic development idea

Downtown revitalization in Grand Forks, B.C., was led by a unique five-week initiative

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Nelson welcome sign and downtown Nelson.
East Kootenay, Cranbrook, West Kootenay, Nelson Two Kootenay cities made the annual list of rankings compiled by BC Business

The annual BC Business “Most Resilient Cities in 2021” list includes Nelson and Cranbrook

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Jackie Rhind.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Health & Wellness, Small Business Positive or negative: Revelstoke-based company Ovry aims to end pregnancy test stigma

Ovry is a brand of affordable, high-quality pregnancy and ovulation tests available for online purchase.

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Chandler Lang standing beside truck.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Small Business, Transportation Entrepreneur Chandler Lang in Revelstoke has big plans for his small-town delivery service

Entrepreneur Chandler Lang has national aspirations for his Revelstoke Delivery platform

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Amanda Mary laughs while wearing a dress in front of an orange bridge in Nelson, B.C.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business Brand photographer Amanda Mary—the Kootenay’s new hype girl—has arrived in Nelson

Amanda Mary, owner of Amanda Mary Creative in Nelson, B.C., uses her photography to help businesses build confidence in their brand

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Mason and Sophie Denis, owners of Backwoods Sauna.
West Kootenay, Salmo, Entertainment and Hospitality, Health & Wellness, Small Business A Backwoods Sauna is a perfect experience gift for those you love in the West Kootenay

Here’s a new idea from Backwoods Sauna in Salmo, B.C.: A rental and mobile wood-fired sauna

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Melissa Welsh and Mike Irvine smile next to each other.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Education Live It is changing the way educators teach and children learn online in the midst of the pandemic

Mike Irvine and Melissa Welsh, founders of Live It in Nelson, B.C., are delivering online programs, featuring stories that bring the natural world to life

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Katie Yuris holding Business Excellence Award
West Kootenay, Trail, Real Estate Katie Yuris of All Pro Realty in Trail, B.C., has a hockey player’s approach to work and life

Katie Yuris of All Pro Realty in Trail, B.C., won Business Person of the Year from the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce

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Danielle Peet, owner of Wild Smile Events
West Kootenay, Trail, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Retail, Small Business, Tourism Celebrating a “Celebrate everything!” business at this year’s Trail Business Excellence Awards

It was an evening of online celebration and virtual toasts to the winners of the 2020 Trail Business Excellence Awards.

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Zan Comerford smiles while kicking her leg up to open the door to her business, Liteworks Marketing.
West Kootenay, Nelson, Small Business International marketing agency sets up shop in Nelson’s downtown

Zan Comerford, founder of Liteworks Marketing, has officially opened the doors to her brick and mortar boutique agency in downtown Nelson, B.C.

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Photo of person sitting on rock
East Kootenay, West Kootenay, Cuisine, Developments, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Small Business, Technology Top 10 stories of 2020 from KootenayBiz

Despite a challenging year, KootenayBiz told many inspiring and informative stories—here are our Top 10 from 2020

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(L to R) Dustin Gilchrist, Jacob Shimell and Wyatt Profili show off their custom creations at KYR Original in front of Nancy Greene Lake, near Warfield, B.C.
West Kootenay, Rossland, Retail, Small Business Kootenay roots run deep at KYR Supply in Warfield

Dustin Gilchrist, director of operations at KYR Supply in Warfield, B.C., creates Kootenay-inspired outdoor apparel that is made in Canada

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Tom Poole holding Business Excellence award.
West Kootenay, Revelstoke, Cuisine, Entertainment and Hospitality, Retail, Small Business, Transportation Timber company with heart & top photographer score big at Revelstoke’s Business Excellence Awards

The Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Business Excellence Awards, virtual-style, on November 7th

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