by Darren Davidson
After missing October’s column, this month’s Buzz is a busy one.
The first item is a bit unseasonal but sure bodes well for one of the most important recreational and social venues in the city’s history.
Last month, on a beautiful final day for the Granite Point golf season, outgoing general manager Reg Clarkson gave a rousing speech to the clubhouse troops, noting that the 103-year-old course — which has had its financial struggles over the years — is locked in for generations to come.
“And that’s because of the board,” said Clarkson. “We’re debt free for the first time in years.”
There’s no word yet on details, but the club’s board will have more to share in the winter months ahead. If you recall, back before the pandemic in 2019, city council gave final zoning approval to proposed housing development plans around the course, on roughly 13 per cent of Granite Pointe’s lands.
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The West Kootenay Regional Arts Council has drummed up some telling baseline data on the Columbia Basin cultural sector, with the help of a consultant and info from the 2021 census. Speaking on Kootenay Co-op Radio’s Kootenay Morning show last week, executive director Kalle Lins reported that the Basin is home to nearly 900 professional artists, 570 of those right here in the Central Kootenay.
“Put another way,” says Lins, “one in every 59 workers in the Central Kootenay is an artist.”
Eight out of 10 artists are self employed.
Of 33,200 Central Kootenay workers, 1.7 per cent of them are pro artists — the provincial average is 1.4 per cent, the national average is one per cent. The size of the work force made up of people employed in any aspect of culture is even more significant. There are over 1,500 cultural workers in the Central Kootenay. That’s 4.6 per cent of the region’s labour force, or one in every 22 Central Kootenay workers.
On the paycheque front, the study found that the median personal income of all artists in the Columbia Basin is $25,600, 47 per cent less than the median of all local workers ($48,000). Here in the Central Kootenay, the median personal income of artists is $27,200, or 38 per cent less than all local workers ($44,000). The full report is available at wkartscouncil.com/artstats/.
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It’s the end of an era at Boomtown Sports.
Used sport and fix-it-all’er Dale Arsenault opened the first Boomtown in Rossland in 1996, expanded into Nelson in ’98, then Castlegar in 2000.
The 66-year-old, who’s overcome a couple serious health issues over the last few years, says the region’s demographics have changed.
“People aren’t spending the money they used to on used sports items and attire,” he says. “They’re trying things on, picking our brains, but then buying online through Amazon and Facebook Marketplace.
“Its a good community service,” Arsenault adds. “A lot of people say they’re going to miss us.”
With plans to wrap Boomtown up on Boxing Day, Arsenault hopes to keep offering used skis out of his warehouse on the highway to the hill next year.
“I just love fixing things. I hate to seeing things going to waste.”
Arsenault’s got more tales than the SPCA. At the age of 23 he was the first hang glider to launch off the top of Whistler Peak. A hotel manager by trade, he ran Kelowna’s Coast Royal Anne restaurant and bar after a $1.5-million renovation, then owned The Royal for five years. In 2006, he started his own fat-ski line — the Kootenay Powderstick — and, despite a legal tussle with ski manufacturing giant K2 over naming rights of his K3 model, still has sets for sale.
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Congrats to the folks behind the Twelve Days of Giving Christmas Toy and Food Drive. A few hundred people chipped in and chowed down at the Adventure Hotel last Sunday morning as Nelson’s First Responders and a variety of local kind souls kicked in to help the community’s less fortunate for the holiday season. Safeway’s Lua Gerun, the Adventure Hotel, Verecan Capital Management Inc and of course the Salvation Army put the breakfast event together.
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Over 250 local business owners, government bosses, community leaders, and folks of all sorts attended the Nelson Chamber of Commerce Gala on Nov. 4, up at Selkirk College’s Mary Hall.
Chamber president Karen Bennett kicked things off noting that the chamber has been serving the community for 130 years. The Kootenay Co-Op Store’s cafe was bumping last Thursday evening for the Chamber’s Business after Business event. There’s no better way to network with local business peeps than these monthly events. If you want a heads up, just drop the chamber a line to get on the email list. Or better yet, become a member. They’ve got an excellent benefits package.
After making a great five-year run and maintaining a novel twist to Baker Street’s retail and exhibit space offerings, Jen Beare and Pete Leschuk have closed storefront operations at the Kootenay Crate Company.
The couple, who relocated here from Calgary in 2016, bought the business and its manufacturing operation a few years after arriving. The shop offered a local and handcrafted niche experience, thanks to the pair’s support of over 40 artisans, whose work was exhibited alongside crates and crafts. The brand has been a big success, so while the Baker Street shop is closing, KCC’s crate and wood products will be available online.
As long-time entrepreneurs and settled-in locals, the couple have observed the turns of Nelson’s economic tide for a lengthy run in the retail trenches.
“Since our retail store deals primarily with discretionary goods, like artwork, we’ve definitely noticed a downturn,” says Beare. “Not surprising as groceries, shelter and gas are priorities now.”
Leschuk says the move online will help manage operational cost of materials and labour, and enable the business to focus solely on quicker customer service, so that Kootenay Crate Co. remains accessible to households and businesses alike.
“It’s a privilege to live in Nelson, “ Beare says, “and we want to express our gratitude to everyone for supporting our efforts — and being crate fans.”
That’s it for this month everyone, have a great holiday seasons and remember to shop local, local, local.
