Local Business

The Roxy Cafe has extended its patio into its parking spaces in order to keep dining options open during the latest pandemic health restrictions. (Downtown Vernon Association photo)

Consultation curbs downtown Vernon road closure

Closing ‘Main Street’ may not happen this summer

 

Spallumcheen councillors (from left) Todd York, Gerry Popoff, Christine LeMaire, John Bakker, Joe Van Tienhoven and Andrew Casson join Mayor Christine Fraser (fourth from left) in helping to proclaim the township open for business with new signage off Highway 97A. (Township of Spallumcheen photo)

Being open for business paying dividends for Okanagan township

Spallumcheen wins provincial award, new business and building starts increase

 

Downtown Vernon’s The Fig has a few bistro tables outside and will remain open for pickup during B.C.’s ban on indoor dining. (The Fig photo)

Restaurants stay ‘Okanagan strong’ through new COVID restrictions

Grab your toque and support a local patio near you

 

Donna Koch empowers women to stop holding back, and particularly stop being hard on themselves, as pictured at a 2020 Vernon Women in Business meeting. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

North Okanagan coach empowering women to shed self-sabotage

After 31 years in the corporate world, she put her fears aside and is leading her best life

Donna Koch empowers women to stop holding back, and particularly stop being hard on themselves, as pictured at a 2020 Vernon Women in Business meeting. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
Armstrong restaurants like the Station Diner on Pleasant Valley Boulevard have received the support of the city and Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce to use city sidewalks and parking spaces for patio service until April 19 in wake of the provincial health order update Monday, March 29. (Facebook photo)

Armstrong OKs sidewalk patios in wake of new orders

City throws support behind restaurants to allow expansion through to April 19

Armstrong restaurants like the Station Diner on Pleasant Valley Boulevard have received the support of the city and Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce to use city sidewalks and parking spaces for patio service until April 19 in wake of the provincial health order update Monday, March 29. (Facebook photo)
Summit Tiny Homes, located in Vernon, has been named as a finalist for a provincial small business award. (Summit Tiny Homes)

Vernon company a People’s Choice favourite

Summit Tiny Homes among five finalists in People’s Choice category in Small Business BC awards

Summit Tiny Homes, located in Vernon, has been named as a finalist for a provincial small business award. (Summit Tiny Homes)
Blind Bay’s Shuswap Lake Estates Golf and Country Club is under new ownership. (Facebook photo)

New owners for Shuswap golf course

Karyn Bruschinsky and Ian Morrison have taken over Shuswap Lake Estates from the Barker family

Blind Bay’s Shuswap Lake Estates Golf and Country Club is under new ownership. (Facebook photo)
Cameron Ezzy has his ducks trained as pest control officers. Through his business, Slugs N’ Bugs for Lunch, he will come to your home and rid your garden of slugs. Photo by Terry Farrell

VIDEO: B.C. entrepreneur opens pest control business with ducks as employees

Slugs n’ Bugs For Lunch will take care of your garden pests naturally

Cameron Ezzy has his ducks trained as pest control officers. Through his business, Slugs N’ Bugs for Lunch, he will come to your home and rid your garden of slugs. Photo by Terry Farrell
Vernon’s Okanagan Spring Brewery in partnership with Sleeman Breweries Ltd. has announced an $11.2-million expansion to the facility. (Google Maps)

Okanagan Springs Brewery drafts $11.2M expansion plan

Plan, announced in partnership with Sleeman, to satisfy growing demand for cans

Vernon’s Okanagan Spring Brewery in partnership with Sleeman Breweries Ltd. has announced an $11.2-million expansion to the facility. (Google Maps)
Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games 2022 committee has released its branding for the event which will run Feb. 24-27. (Photo submitted)

Vernon BC Games committee releases branding

Branding, logo released; director of marketing named

Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games 2022 committee has released its branding for the event which will run Feb. 24-27. (Photo submitted)
Dahlia and Derek Millington have been hard at work turning the old Post Office building in Okanagan Falls into their new Little Falls Foods grocery. They're aiming to have it open in early May. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Okanagan Falls is getting a grocery store once again

Little Falls Foods will open in the former post office building

Dahlia and Derek Millington have been hard at work turning the old Post Office building in Okanagan Falls into their new Little Falls Foods grocery. They're aiming to have it open in early May. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
A local aerial photographer's drone was stolen from his car Feb. 24. (Kyle Froud photo)

New North Okanagan business deflated by thieves

Aerial photographer’s drone stolen from car overnight

A local aerial photographer's drone was stolen from his car Feb. 24. (Kyle Froud photo)
Medical masks and social distancing are new additions to this year’s farmer’s market in Vernon amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Vernon lobbies to bring artisans back to farmers’ markets

Local market losing money, members and customers due to provincial health regulations

Medical masks and social distancing are new additions to this year’s farmer’s market in Vernon amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Twelve new curbside pickup parking spots are now in effect along 30th Avenue in downtown Vernon. (Downtown Vernon Association photo)

Popular Vernon curbside pickup stalls extended

Popular 10-minute stalls to help businesses during COVID

Twelve new curbside pickup parking spots are now in effect along 30th Avenue in downtown Vernon. (Downtown Vernon Association photo)
Dan Proulx was named 2019 executive member of the year for JCI’s B.C. and Yukon region May 30, 2020. (Vernon Greater Chamber of Commerce)

Chamber Week brings special events online in Vernon

Webinar for non-profits and town hall for businesses planned Feb. 17 & 19

Dan Proulx was named 2019 executive member of the year for JCI’s B.C. and Yukon region May 30, 2020. (Vernon Greater Chamber of Commerce)
More than one-third of businesses in Revelstoke have lost revenues beyond 50 per cent due to COVID-19. (Liam Harrap/Revelstoke Review)

‘It’s pretty bad’: One-third of Revelstoke businesses report losses beyond 50% from COVID-19

A look at the data from recent survey of 134 businesses by the Revelstoke Review

More than one-third of businesses in Revelstoke have lost revenues beyond 50 per cent due to COVID-19. (Liam Harrap/Revelstoke Review)
The Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce has created a hilarious Christmas season video to wish all happiness and peace throughout the season. (Rhythm Productions screen shot)

WATCH: Okanagan chamber offers best wishes in music video

Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce marks the 12 days of Christmas with a special cocktail

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce has created a hilarious Christmas season video to wish all happiness and peace throughout the season. (Rhythm Productions screen shot)
The new owner of the Riviera Plaza and Conference Centre – known for years as the Village Green Hotel – is looking for experience personnel to lease the hotel’s pub and/or restaurant. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

North Okanagan hotel looking to lease pub, restaurant

Riviera Plaza and Conference Centre, aka the Village Green Hotel, looking for experience in lessee

The new owner of the Riviera Plaza and Conference Centre – known for years as the Village Green Hotel – is looking for experience personnel to lease the hotel’s pub and/or restaurant. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
The Okanagan Screen Arts Society has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help save Vernon’s historic Towne Cinema, which opened at its current 30th Avenue location as a dance hall in 1929 and was converted to a movie theatre in 1938. (GoFundMe photo)

Historic Okanagan cinema focus of GoFundMe campaign

Society launches campaign to help save Vernon’s Towne Cinema which opened on 30th Avenue in 1938

The Okanagan Screen Arts Society has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help save Vernon’s historic Towne Cinema, which opened at its current 30th Avenue location as a dance hall in 1929 and was converted to a movie theatre in 1938. (GoFundMe photo)
Board games, food and coffee remain hits at Marilyn Courtenay’s The Boarding House Café in downtown Vernon as she has successfully maintained her business through the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo submitted)

New Okanagan entrepreneurs navigate through COVID times

FILL, Vernon’s refill store, and The Boarding House Café, come up with ways to stay operational

Board games, food and coffee remain hits at Marilyn Courtenay’s The Boarding House Café in downtown Vernon as she has successfully maintained her business through the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo submitted)