Local Business

Nelson’s Whitewater Freeride Team members Adam Kuch and Lucy Leishman won the North American World Junior Freeski Championships in Big Sky, Mont., earlier this month. The freeride team, which was started over a decade ago, has launched the careers of numerous local world-calibre skiers, and brought a heap of publicity to the mountain, and the region’s tourism sector too. Photo courtesy International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association

BUSINESS BUZZ: McClure blazing for Trail, tourism told to prep for next climate chapter

Darren Davidson writes about all the latest in local business

Alison Bloom’s Grade 9 class at Nelson’s Trafalgar Middle School have become entrepreneurs in training by making their own school merchandise. Photo: Tyler Harper

Trafalgar students learn the business with merch store

A unique program is teaching students how to be entrepreneurs

President Paul Wiest (left) and executive director Tom Thomson at the 2022 annual general meeting of the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce. Photo: Submitted

Nelson Chamber of Commerce elects new board

Annual general meeting was held on March 31

Sock it to 'em: Sami Majadla, CEO of local cannabis industry software provider CertiCraft, and communications pro Mike Funergy, with company mascots Legal Larry and his sock puppet dad. Last week, the business landed $150,000 in investment fund support from Accelerate Okanagan’s OKGN Angel Summit. The company is looking for certified Kootenay investors too. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: KC’s marks an anniversary, CertiCraft nets $150K, Chamber sleuths out sectors

Darren Davidson dishes on all the latest in Nelson business

Sock it to 'em: Sami Majadla, CEO of local cannabis industry software provider CertiCraft, and communications pro Mike Funergy, with company mascots Legal Larry and his sock puppet dad. Last week, the business landed $150,000 in investment fund support from Accelerate Okanagan’s OKGN Angel Summit. The company is looking for certified Kootenay investors too. Photo: Darren Davidson
Traction on Demand, which owns the Nelson Legion building, has been sold. The sale leaves the future of the building, and its local employees, unclear. File photo

Traction on Demand set to be sold, but no word on fate of Nelson office

The company is run by Nelson native Greg Malpass

Traction on Demand, which owns the Nelson Legion building, has been sold. The sale leaves the future of the building, and its local employees, unclear. File photo
Bar None — Swiss-born chocolatier Aurelien Sudan and his partner Mark Tomek are the new owners at Nelson’s Chocofellar. The pair have purchased the beloved 30-year Kootenay candy maker from Hollie Wheeler and Sam Lazenby. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Post-COVID caution, Georama grows new roots, Retallack heli-biz denied

Business news from columnist Darren Davidson

  • Feb 24, 2022
Bar None — Swiss-born chocolatier Aurelien Sudan and his partner Mark Tomek are the new owners at Nelson’s Chocofellar. The pair have purchased the beloved 30-year Kootenay candy maker from Hollie Wheeler and Sam Lazenby. Photo: Darren Davidson
As they have for the past two years, main street businesses all over the world, including here on Baker Street, will be relying the support of local shoppers though 2022. Are you shopping local? Didjaknow: for every $100 spend with a local business, $63 is re-circulated back into our local economy. Photo: Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce/Tamarack Media

BUSINESS BUZZ: Part 4 of the Buzz’s annual year in review

Darren Davidson finishes with items under U through Z in Nelson’s business news

As they have for the past two years, main street businesses all over the world, including here on Baker Street, will be relying the support of local shoppers though 2022. Are you shopping local? Didjaknow: for every $100 spend with a local business, $63 is re-circulated back into our local economy. Photo: Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce/Tamarack Media
Local mills like Kalesnikoff Lumber are being put under pressure by the province’s proposed logging moratorium. Opponents of old growth logging say almost all the province’s giant trees have been cut down. Opponents of the moratorium say up to 20 B.C. mills could be forced to shut down if it goes ahead. Photo: Tamarack Media/Nelson Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS BUZZ: Part 3 of the Buzz’s annual year in review

Darren Davidson covers off items under N through T in Nelson business

Local mills like Kalesnikoff Lumber are being put under pressure by the province’s proposed logging moratorium. Opponents of old growth logging say almost all the province’s giant trees have been cut down. Opponents of the moratorium say up to 20 B.C. mills could be forced to shut down if it goes ahead. Photo: Tamarack Media/Nelson Chamber of Commerce
Long time Kootenay Co-op Radio host and station co-founder Zoe Creighton and new operations and program director Ed Zych. The local media landscape has grown this last year, bolstered by experienced hires, volunteerism and new funding streams for community-centric journalism and local commentators, including KCR’s current affairs show, Kootenay Morning. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Part 2 of the Buzz’s annual A-to-Z year in review

Darren Davidson writes G-M in this edition

Long time Kootenay Co-op Radio host and station co-founder Zoe Creighton and new operations and program director Ed Zych. The local media landscape has grown this last year, bolstered by experienced hires, volunteerism and new funding streams for community-centric journalism and local commentators, including KCR’s current affairs show, Kootenay Morning. Photo: Darren Davidson
Developer Wayne Woodward (left) and Grayback Construction superintendent Jon Schneider are aiming to complete the 514 Victoria St. condominium project by August 2022. The five-storey building will offer commercial spaces and 46 residential units. Twenty four have already been sold. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Part 1 of the Buzz’s annual A-to-Z year in review

Darren Davidson covers off A-F in this edition

Developer Wayne Woodward (left) and Grayback Construction superintendent Jon Schneider are aiming to complete the 514 Victoria St. condominium project by August 2022. The five-storey building will offer commercial spaces and 46 residential units. Twenty four have already been sold. Photo: Darren Davidson
American shoppers get an early start on Black Friday sales. Tom Thomson says the real gift you can give Nelson this holiday season is by shopping local. Photo: Dave Logan

NEWS AND VIEWS: Small business is Big Business in Nelson and area

Tom Thomson writes about the importance of holiday shopping to our local businesses

American shoppers get an early start on Black Friday sales. Tom Thomson says the real gift you can give Nelson this holiday season is by shopping local. Photo: Dave Logan
The still-under construction building in Nelson at 45 Government Rd. was supposed to be home to Nelson Cannabis Collective. Now it will be leased out to tenants after the building is completed. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson cannabis company scraps plans for processing facility

Nelson Cannabis Collective says it will pivot to leasing out its still-under construction building

The still-under construction building in Nelson at 45 Government Rd. was supposed to be home to Nelson Cannabis Collective. Now it will be leased out to tenants after the building is completed. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Cohorts for the past 12 years, Esprit de la Femme founder Cheryl Coté and co-owner Jody Deverney are celebrating the grand opening of their additional space Saturday, Nov. 27. “After all these years we’ve created so many memories and have gone through so much,” says Coté. “We’re stuck together!” Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Kutenai Landing parcel in play, B.C. business is optimistic

Darren Davidson on all the latest in Nelson’s business news

Cohorts for the past 12 years, Esprit de la Femme founder Cheryl Coté and co-owner Jody Deverney are celebrating the grand opening of their additional space Saturday, Nov. 27. “After all these years we’ve created so many memories and have gone through so much,” says Coté. “We’re stuck together!” Photo: Darren Davidson
Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson. Photo: Tyler Harper Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson says the group has many questions about how a vaccine passport will work. Photo: Tyler Harper

News and Views: It’s time to get back to work and get back to normal

Tom Thomson on pandemic business recovery and the labour market in Nelson

  • Nov 11, 2021
Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson. Photo: Tyler Harper Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson says the group has many questions about how a vaccine passport will work. Photo: Tyler Harper
Anita’s Organic Mill co-owner Taylor Gemmel outside the Chilliwack location. (Michelle Gemmel submitted file photo)

Nature’s Path acquires majority interest in Chilliwack organic food business

Largest organic cereal and snack maker buys into Anita’s Organic Mill

Anita’s Organic Mill co-owner Taylor Gemmel outside the Chilliwack location. (Michelle Gemmel submitted file photo)
Despite being dogged by manufacturing and shipping delays, trouble finding workers and mid-pandemic financial juggling, Aron Ashman and Mandy Mullen have opened up Ashman’s Smash Burgers at 301 Victoria St. Photo: Submitted

BUSINESS BUZZ: Gettin’ a job, cannabis collective shares on sale

Business news from Nelson from Darren Davidson

Despite being dogged by manufacturing and shipping delays, trouble finding workers and mid-pandemic financial juggling, Aron Ashman and Mandy Mullen have opened up Ashman’s Smash Burgers at 301 Victoria St. Photo: Submitted
In February, Valid Manufacturing purchased the former school district office at 570 Johnstone Rd. Its zoning application for the property has been voted down by the Regional District of Central Kootenay. Photo: Tyler Harper

RDCK directors vote against tech company’s zoning proposal for former School District 8 land

Directors cited community backlash as the main reason for their opposition

In February, Valid Manufacturing purchased the former school district office at 570 Johnstone Rd. Its zoning application for the property has been voted down by the Regional District of Central Kootenay. Photo: Tyler Harper
Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson. Photo: Tyler Harper

NEWS AND VIEWS: The vaccine card and Nelson’s businesses

Tom Thomson writes about the local rollout and impact of the card

Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Tom Thomson. Photo: Tyler Harper
Baldface Lodge founder and CEO Jeff Pensiero. Photo: Darren Davidson

Baldface Lodge expands operations into Valhallas

Baldface purchased the Valhalla Powdercat ski operation before the pandemic

Baldface Lodge founder and CEO Jeff Pensiero. Photo: Darren Davidson
Backroads Brewing Company co-owner Brent Malysh is among hundreds of B.C. pub and restaurant owners hoping for the quick go-ahead to build patios again next year. Photo: Darren Davidson

BUSINESS BUZZ: Pints, patios and politics

Darren Davidson on all the latest local business happenings

Backroads Brewing Company co-owner Brent Malysh is among hundreds of B.C. pub and restaurant owners hoping for the quick go-ahead to build patios again next year. Photo: Darren Davidson