Local Business

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

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

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

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)
Vernon-based Tolko Industries Ltd. has again partnered with the Orange Shirt Society for an annual art contest. (Tolko photo)

Vernon company draws up Orange Shirt Day contest

Tolko Industries renews partnership for art contest with Orange Shirt Society

Vernon-based Tolko Industries Ltd. has again partnered with the Orange Shirt Society for an annual art contest. (Tolko photo)
Lake Country’s Block One Restaurant at 50th Parallel Winery has been named as one of the top 100 locations in Canada for outdoor dining in the first list compiled by opentable.com. (OpenTable photo)

Okanagan restaurants featured in outdoor dining top 100 list

Two from Vernon, West Kelowna and Penticton and one from Lake Country named in top 100 outdoor dining venues by opentable.com

Lake Country’s Block One Restaurant at 50th Parallel Winery has been named as one of the top 100 locations in Canada for outdoor dining in the first list compiled by opentable.com. (OpenTable photo)
Poor David’s owner Karrie Peace and Salmon Arm store manager Monica Rhodes look forward to the new downtown Salmon Arm business’ soft opening on Friday, June 25. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

VIDEO: New Salmon Arm gift shop a tribute to loving husband

Karrie Peace opens her third Poor David’s on June 25

Poor David’s owner Karrie Peace and Salmon Arm store manager Monica Rhodes look forward to the new downtown Salmon Arm business’ soft opening on Friday, June 25. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Nineteen05 Kitchen & Raw Bar opened its doors at Salmon Arm’s Prestige Harbourfront Resort on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Contributed)

Salmon Arm’s Prestige Harbourfront Resort welcomes new restaurant

After months of renovations, Nineteen05 Kitchen & Raw Bar opens with international-inspired menu

Nineteen05 Kitchen & Raw Bar opened its doors at Salmon Arm’s Prestige Harbourfront Resort on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Contributed)
Sicamous’ Krysta Lachowski’s van boldly displays the name of her new business, Advantage Truck and Trailer Repair Ltd. (Contributed)

New Sicamous truck and trailer repair shop benefits from location on Highway 1

Advantage Truck and Trailer Repair opened on May 1 and offers 24/7 roadside service

Sicamous’ Krysta Lachowski’s van boldly displays the name of her new business, Advantage Truck and Trailer Repair Ltd. (Contributed)
Customers at the newly opened Shaughnessy’s Cove at Summerland’s waterfront cheers to the province bringing back indoor dining. (Facebook)

South Okanagan restaurants celebrate back to indoor dining, scramble to re-hire

Tuesday’s announcement that indoor dining could resume was needed good news, say owners

Customers at the newly opened Shaughnessy’s Cove at Summerland’s waterfront cheers to the province bringing back indoor dining. (Facebook)
Armstrong Regional Co-op is now taking applications from charities and non-profit groups for proceeds from the 2021 Fuel Good Day event at co-op gas bars in Armstrong, Vernon and Salmon Arm. Fuel Good Day will be Tuesday, Sept. 21. (Black Press - file photo)

Co-op fuels North Okanagan-Shuswap charities, non-profits with cash

Applications being taken for proceeds from 2021 Fuel Good Day event to be held Tuesday, Sept. 21

Armstrong Regional Co-op is now taking applications from charities and non-profit groups for proceeds from the 2021 Fuel Good Day event at co-op gas bars in Armstrong, Vernon and Salmon Arm. Fuel Good Day will be Tuesday, Sept. 21. (Black Press - file photo)
Black Crow Cannabis is just one of Vernon's many pot shops now open in town. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Kelowna has highest cannabis fees in Okanagan

Vernon’s 14 stores pay second highest business licence fees

Black Crow Cannabis is just one of Vernon's many pot shops now open in town. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tourism spending in Canada dropped by almost 50 per cent in 2020

Tourism-related jobs dropped by almost 29 per cent

The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Valid Manufacturing received a government grant to assist their work on a system to divert dairy cow waste and turn it into usable fertilizer. (Jim Elliot-Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm firm helps make the most of manure

Valid Manufacturing Ltd. has developed a system to separate nutrients from dairy cow waste.

Valid Manufacturing received a government grant to assist their work on a system to divert dairy cow waste and turn it into usable fertilizer. (Jim Elliot-Salmon Arm Observer)