Business

SMRT1 Technologies CEO Brad Pommen celebrates March 16 after his company won $225,000 in funding from Accelerate Okanagan’s 2023 OKGN Angel Summit investment competition. Photo: Submitted

Big investment for Nelson’s SMRT1 Technologies after winning Okanagan competition

The interactive vending machine company earned $225,000 at the OKGN Angel Summit

François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry speaks at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference regarding the future of critical metals and investing in Canada in Toronto, Monday, March 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Liberals introduce legislation to create a corporate ownership registry

Goal is easier identification of owners of corporations tied to financial malfeasance

Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez prepares to appear before the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications on Bill C-11 in the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. The bill, also known as the Online Streaming Act, is one of several problematic Canadian initiatives tech leaders in the U.S. want President Joe Biden to raise with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Take hard line on Canada’s digital tax, online laws, tech associations urge Biden

Online Streaming Act, Online News Act troubling for American industry coalition

Women from the We Wai Kai First Nation danced during a blessing ceremony for the new Starbucks store to be built at the Quinsam Reserve. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Canada’s first Indigenous-owned licensed Starbucks to open on Vancouver Island

‘We just knew we needed to take a shot’ — We Wai Kai Chief Ronnie Chickite

Women from the We Wai Kai First Nation danced during a blessing ceremony for the new Starbucks store to be built at the Quinsam Reserve. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
Harjit Sajjan speaks with a reporter during an interview in Ottawa on Wednesday, November 18, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Feds spend $26M on growth and innovation of Vancouver-based companies

Funds to assist development of power drills and virtual reality, among other advancements

Harjit Sajjan speaks with a reporter during an interview in Ottawa on Wednesday, November 18, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
A Nordstrom department store is shown at Sherway Gardens in Toronto on Thursday, March 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Nordstrom Canada to begin liquidation Tuesday after receiving court’s permission

Court: Nordstrom facing difficult time, but process unfolding in a very cooperative manner

A Nordstrom department store is shown at Sherway Gardens in Toronto on Thursday, March 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Scott Thompson, founder of Mad Laboratory Distilling, works to keep grains moving from a hopper as they are fed to a mash tank while steam rises from a still being cleaned at the distillery, in Vancouver, on Thursday, March 9, 2023. Mad Lab switched to produce hand sanitizer during the pandemic but is now back to full-time production of alcoholic beverages.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

How did these companies survive the pitfalls of the pandemic pivot?

Many who turned to produce hand sanitizer, PPE in 2020 have struggled to transition back

Scott Thompson, founder of Mad Laboratory Distilling, works to keep grains moving from a hopper as they are fed to a mash tank while steam rises from a still being cleaned at the distillery, in Vancouver, on Thursday, March 9, 2023. Mad Lab switched to produce hand sanitizer during the pandemic but is now back to full-time production of alcoholic beverages.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Vernon’s Cynthia Roberts decided a return to the Okanagan was what she needed for work and happiness. And, thanks to WorkBC, she has found her dream job in Vernon. (Contributed)

Sense of adventure leads to dream job in Vernon

WorkBC helps Cynthia Roberts, 63, find satisfying job after move from Alberta

Vernon’s Cynthia Roberts decided a return to the Okanagan was what she needed for work and happiness. And, thanks to WorkBC, she has found her dream job in Vernon. (Contributed)
A Canadian Pacific Railway locomotive is shown at the main CP Rail train yard in Toronto on Monday, March 21, 2022. Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. says it will officially combine with Kansas City Southern Railway Co. on April 14 under a new name, Canadian Pacific Kansas City.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

CP Rail, Kansas City Southern Rail to combine next month after U.S. approval

$31B U.S. deal creates the only railway stretching from Canada through to the U.S. and Mexico

A Canadian Pacific Railway locomotive is shown at the main CP Rail train yard in Toronto on Monday, March 21, 2022. Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. says it will officially combine with Kansas City Southern Railway Co. on April 14 under a new name, Canadian Pacific Kansas City.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Rose Dupont, aka The Witchitarian, is the founding director of The Luminary Collective. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm practitioners unite as The Luminary Collective to offer guidance, healing

Founder Rose Dupont, aka The Witchitarian, says people are gravitating towards esoteric alternatives

Rose Dupont, aka The Witchitarian, is the founding director of The Luminary Collective. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Ruby Marcelino displays some of the products available for travelling parents to rent through her BabyQuip representative business in Salmon Arm. (Rebecca Willson/ Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm mom starts business to help fellow travellers in need of baby gear

Ruby Marcelino delivers and shops for equipment to make vacations easier

Ruby Marcelino displays some of the products available for travelling parents to rent through her BabyQuip representative business in Salmon Arm. (Rebecca Willson/ Salmon Arm Observer)
The LMEC Siding and Community Roofing crew are hard at work replacing the old roof at the North Okanagan Hospice House. (Contributed)

North Okanagan Hospice House gets helping hand

4 businesses chipping in to provide new roof

The LMEC Siding and Community Roofing crew are hard at work replacing the old roof at the North Okanagan Hospice House. (Contributed)
The second Bloom Tulip Festival in Spallumcheen, on Knob Hill Road, will run May 4-28. Advance tickets for the popular event go on sale online Friday, March 17. (Morning Star - file photo)

North Okanagan tulip festival ready to bloom

Advance tickets on sale for Bloom Tulip Festival in Spallumcheen

The second Bloom Tulip Festival in Spallumcheen, on Knob Hill Road, will run May 4-28. Advance tickets for the popular event go on sale online Friday, March 17. (Morning Star - file photo)
file photo

Businesses expect slower sales in short term as cost, labour issues persist: survey

Canadian Chamber of Commerce research shows one-third of companies expect to raise prices

file photo
Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File

T-Mobile acquires Mint, partially owned by Ryan Reynolds

Mint Mobile, partly owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, is being acquired by…

Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File
A fire, set in diapers in the Nanaimo Walmart, closed the store for five days in February and caused tens of thousands of merchandise items, including food, to be tossed in the garbage, according to a statement from Walmart Canada. (News Bulletin file photo)

Walmart reports ‘tens of thousands of items’ destroyed after Nanaimo diaper fire

Food spoiled, baby essentials ruined in ‘dangerous and shameful’ arson incident last month

A fire, set in diapers in the Nanaimo Walmart, closed the store for five days in February and caused tens of thousands of merchandise items, including food, to be tossed in the garbage, according to a statement from Walmart Canada. (News Bulletin file photo)
Used medical masks overflow a waste bin at the University of Calgary Medical Clinics in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Rise and fall of Canada’s domestic PPE market blamed on government policy

‘We’ve got an industry that is just running on fumes’

Used medical masks overflow a waste bin at the University of Calgary Medical Clinics in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The image Sarah Thompson and Chris Barker used when they spilled the bean about being the new owners of Lake Country Coffee House on Facebook on March 1, 2019. (Lake Country Coffee House/Facebook)

New chapter for Lake Country Coffee House: Owners say goodbye

Sarah and Chris took to Facebook to thank the community

  • Mar 16, 2023
The image Sarah Thompson and Chris Barker used when they spilled the bean about being the new owners of Lake Country Coffee House on Facebook on March 1, 2019. (Lake Country Coffee House/Facebook)
Aerial view of Kelowna. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

A new way to travel: Vancouver-based company opens marketplace for private flights

Airble partners with air operators for flexible air travel options

  • Mar 16, 2023
Aerial view of Kelowna. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
Black Press Media File

Honda recalling 500,000 vehicles to fix seat belt problem

Honda is recalling a half-million vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because…

Black Press Media File