Local Business

Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell

B.C. man designs ‘turtlepods’ – mobile personal shelter prototypes to assist the unhoused

‘I think of it as supporting urban nomadism.’

This historic photo is Ken Graf, Don and Otto Sandberg beside a heavily loaded logging truck. The men are in the Bear Creek area at Sandberg Creek, circa 1952. This photo was shared on the Old Kelowna Facebook page with the credit of Don Sandberg. Do you have historic photos of West Kelowna and Peachland that you would like to share, if so email us at newstips@westknews.com

Training puts Indigenous people in the driver’s seat of North Okanagan logging trucks

B.C. funds Okanagan College program in Vernon for 8 eligible residents

Holiday display at Nico’s Nurseryland, Nov. 12. (Rebecca Willson- Salmon Arm Observer)

Winter wonderland at Salmon Arm plant nursery

Nico’s Nurseryland hosts Jingle & Mingle holiday sale, local market

Accelerate Okanagan is inviting companies to take part in its workforce insights salary and compensation study starting Tuesday, Sept, 13, 2022. (Submitted photo)

Okanagan salaries reveiwed in study

Accelerate Okanagan has launched its workforce insights salary and compensation study

Accelerate Okanagan is inviting companies to take part in its workforce insights salary and compensation study starting Tuesday, Sept, 13, 2022. (Submitted photo)
SASCU will close for a day – Sept. 21 – so all staff can come together for training and collaboration following all the hard work during the pandemic. (File photo)

Credit union in Shuswap to close for one day for staff to ‘reconnect with each other’

CEO says move becoming more common after all the hard work done during pandemic

SASCU will close for a day – Sept. 21 – so all staff can come together for training and collaboration following all the hard work during the pandemic. (File photo)
Armstrong Regional Cooperative announced it has purchased three Husky fuel stations in Vernon, Salmon Arm and Cranbrook. (armstrong.coop)

Armstrong Co-op purchases fuel stations in Okanagan, Kootenays

Three Husky outlets in Vernon, Salmon Arm and Cranbrook bought

Armstrong Regional Cooperative announced it has purchased three Husky fuel stations in Vernon, Salmon Arm and Cranbrook. (armstrong.coop)
Joyce Skinner, owner of Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe in Salmon Arm, says she is concerned about how her sales have dropped dismally Saturdays since the closure of Hudson Avenue for the Downtown Farmer’s Market. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

Plummeting sales during farmer’s market concern Salmon Arm business

Owner would like to see Hudson Avenue left open, market moved to another location

Joyce Skinner, owner of Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe in Salmon Arm, says she is concerned about how her sales have dropped dismally Saturdays since the closure of Hudson Avenue for the Downtown Farmer’s Market. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
A mural featuring a scoreboard and a great blue heron is being created on The Roster. (Lacey & Layla Art rendering)

Vernon business mural gains support

97% thinks the city should approve heron mural at The Roster

A mural featuring a scoreboard and a great blue heron is being created on The Roster. (Lacey & Layla Art rendering)
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Salmon Arm, located at the former home of Kal Tire at 1160 Trans-Canada Hwy. SW, will be home to the Kamloops ReStore inventory and operations while the Kamloops location closes temporarily. (File photo)

Habitat for Humanity moves its Kamloops ReStore operations to Salmon Arm

Kamloops inventory and operations to join the Salmon Arm ReStore until Kamloops location is found

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Salmon Arm, located at the former home of Kal Tire at 1160 Trans-Canada Hwy. SW, will be home to the Kamloops ReStore inventory and operations while the Kamloops location closes temporarily. (File photo)
Armstrong Regional Cooperative general manager Jeff Payne (left), shown in this 2017 photo, is leaving the organization on July 22 after 20 years of service. (File photo)

Armstrong cooperative general manager moving on

Jeff Payne will be leaving organization after 20 years on July 22

Armstrong Regional Cooperative general manager Jeff Payne (left), shown in this 2017 photo, is leaving the organization on July 22 after 20 years of service. (File photo)
Applications are now being taken until March 1 for capital project funds from the Co-op Community Spaces Program. (Communityspaces.ca)

Capital project funds available for North Okanagan-Shuswap projects

Co-op Community Spaces Program dedicating $1 million to help bring Western Canada communities together

Applications are now being taken until March 1 for capital project funds from the Co-op Community Spaces Program. (Communityspaces.ca)
Longtime friends Cassie Walters and Raelyn Lachapelle opened the doors to their new downtown Salmon Arm space for their business, The Nom Shuswap, on February 1, 2022. There, customers can pick up pre-ordered meals and grab-and-go meals, as well as smoothies and cold-pressed juices. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

‘Full-time Noms’: Salmon Arm friends focus on nutritious meals for people on the go

The Nom Shuswap opens doors in downtown Salmon Arm

Longtime friends Cassie Walters and Raelyn Lachapelle opened the doors to their new downtown Salmon Arm space for their business, The Nom Shuswap, on February 1, 2022. There, customers can pick up pre-ordered meals and grab-and-go meals, as well as smoothies and cold-pressed juices. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
High Status Cannabis, one of two 100 per cent owned and operated cannabis dispensaries on Splatsin land near Enderby, is shutting its doors due to what its owner calls an oversaturation of dispensaries on band land, and lack of leadership from Splatsin council. (Facebook photo)

Splatsin cannabis dispensary closing doors near Enderby

Owner of High Status unhappy with over-saturation of market on band land, lack of leadership from band council

High Status Cannabis, one of two 100 per cent owned and operated cannabis dispensaries on Splatsin land near Enderby, is shutting its doors due to what its owner calls an oversaturation of dispensaries on band land, and lack of leadership from Splatsin council. (Facebook photo)
Penny Brown, who has worked at the Salmon Arm Observer for 26 years, retired on Jan. 7, 2022. (Staff photo)

Longtime Salmon Arm Observer staff member retires after 26 years

Penny Brown joined the newspaper in March of 1996

  • Jan 7, 2022
Penny Brown, who has worked at the Salmon Arm Observer for 26 years, retired on Jan. 7, 2022. (Staff photo)
Valley First has donated between $10,000 and $25,000 to four different organizations as part of its Simple Generosity program. (Contributed)

Credit union cash helps Okanagan businesses

Valley First donates between $10,000 and $25,000 to four separate organizations to help businesses grow

Valley First has donated between $10,000 and $25,000 to four different organizations as part of its Simple Generosity program. (Contributed)
Accelerate Okanagan has received $275,000 from the federal government, funding that will support the creation of new and improved capital training activities for entrepreneurs over the next two years. The funding was announced Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Submitted photo)

New funding accelerates opportunities for Okanagan investors

Accelerate Okanagan has received $275,000 to support capital training activities for entrepreneurs

Accelerate Okanagan has received $275,000 from the federal government, funding that will support the creation of new and improved capital training activities for entrepreneurs over the next two years. The funding was announced Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Submitted photo)
The lobby at the 25th Avenue Tim Hortons has been closed for weeks due to staff shortages. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

North Okanagan-Shuswap MP praises business support amid staff shortages

If passed, Bill C-2 would provide targeted support to businesses still struggling amid the pandemic

The lobby at the 25th Avenue Tim Hortons has been closed for weeks due to staff shortages. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
Amanda Homeniuk, owner of Vernon’s Kaleco, is one of 450 women whose businesses are featured on WeBC’s new virtual pop-up shop, which is open until Jan. 3, 2022. (Submitted photo)

New virtual pop-up shop boosts Okanagan women in business

The online shop features more than 450 women-led businesses in B.C.

Amanda Homeniuk, owner of Vernon’s Kaleco, is one of 450 women whose businesses are featured on WeBC’s new virtual pop-up shop, which is open until Jan. 3, 2022. (Submitted photo)
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)
Craig Shurey stands by one of the counters at Salmon Arm’s new Grillers Meats location at 520 Hudson Avenue NE. Craig and wife Beth Shurey own the store, which opened on Oct. 4, 2021. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

‘This is where we need to be’: Grillers Meats owners happy to be in Salmon Arm

Craig and Beth Shurey describe store as an old-fashioned butcher that supports local

Craig Shurey stands by one of the counters at Salmon Arm’s new Grillers Meats location at 520 Hudson Avenue NE. Craig and wife Beth Shurey own the store, which opened on Oct. 4, 2021. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)