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.’

Pepper’s Foods management and staff celebrate their bronze Independent Grocer of the Year small surface award, placing it in the top three independent grocery stores in Canada in its category. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Independently owned Saanich grocery store makes top 3 in all of Canada

Pepper’s Foods named third best independently owned grocery retailer in small surface category, again

Bad Dog Brewing Company co-owners Rosie and John Lyle earned the Business of the Year award for 2022 from the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce and placed second in the People's Choice category. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)

In Sooke, local brewery earns the nod as ‘top dog’

Bad Dog Brewing Company takes home chamber’s best business award

Gladiator Drywall owners and partners Blue Vasseur and Andy Turnbull are the recipients of a BBB Torch Award for finishing services. (Rick Stiebel-Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke business puts finishing touch on award

A Sooke company has nailed a prestigious award for customer service excellence…

Gladiator Drywall owners and partners Blue Vasseur and Andy Turnbull are the recipients of a BBB Torch Award for finishing services. (Rick Stiebel-Sooke News Mirror)
Shayla Hann of Hannmade Designs said the Station Avenue stall has been a great opportunity for her business. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Langford’s Station Avenue vendors upbeat about the future

New cultural district vendors looking forward to Christmas season

Shayla Hann of Hannmade Designs said the Station Avenue stall has been a great opportunity for her business. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Corey Gillon has been named the new CEO of Peninsula Co-op, and is set to officially start on Nov. 14. (Corey Gillon/Linkedin)

Corey Gillon named new CEO of Peninsula Co-op

Gillon spent 18 years with Walmart, among other previous positions

Corey Gillon has been named the new CEO of Peninsula Co-op, and is set to officially start on Nov. 14. (Corey Gillon/Linkedin)
West Coast Animal Veterinary Emergency Specialty Hospital (WAVES) has announced it has partially reopened its ER after being forced to close it in September due to staffing issues. (Black Press Media file photo)

Langford vet clinic reopens ER for urgent care

WAVES closed its ER in September to preserve the mental health of staff

West Coast Animal Veterinary Emergency Specialty Hospital (WAVES) has announced it has partially reopened its ER after being forced to close it in September due to staffing issues. (Black Press Media file photo)
Locally sourced menu items – such as this Sunwing Farms tomato salad with Haltwhistle Cheese Company chevre, black olive puree, Saanichton Farms puffed wheat berries and garden herbs, is among the reasons the North Saanich eatery made the top 10 in Canada list for En Route. (Fox and Monocle/Facebook)

Doubling down on passions pays off for North Saanich chefs

Fox and Monocle Cafe named ninth best new restaurant in Canada

Locally sourced menu items – such as this Sunwing Farms tomato salad with Haltwhistle Cheese Company chevre, black olive puree, Saanichton Farms puffed wheat berries and garden herbs, is among the reasons the North Saanich eatery made the top 10 in Canada list for En Route. (Fox and Monocle/Facebook)
Adam’s Tarp and Tool co-owner Byron Blow poses in front of the new store in Langford. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Adam’s Tarp and Tool opening new store in Langford

Owners plan to expand to all major cities on the Island

Adam’s Tarp and Tool co-owner Byron Blow poses in front of the new store in Langford. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Tony and Naomi Ko outside the Metchosin Country Store in Metchosin. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Best of the West Shore convenience stores

Four stories from community pillars

Tony and Naomi Ko outside the Metchosin Country Store in Metchosin. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Victoria’s Phillips Brewing and Malting Co. took home a gold medal from the Canada Beer Cup. (Phillips Brewing and Malting Co./Facebook)

Three Greater Victoria breweries win medals at national craft brewery competition

B.C. breweries pick up top honours with 29 winning a total of 46 awards

Victoria’s Phillips Brewing and Malting Co. took home a gold medal from the Canada Beer Cup. (Phillips Brewing and Malting Co./Facebook)
Mohamed Zeid, store operator/manager at the Sooke Pharmasave, said a number of factors have created issues with staffing. (Rick Stiebe l- Sooke News Mirror)

Lack of staff hamstrings business in Sooke

Chamber of commerce says numerous businesses affected

Mohamed Zeid, store operator/manager at the Sooke Pharmasave, said a number of factors have created issues with staffing. (Rick Stiebe l- Sooke News Mirror)
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce inducted its first five honourees into its new Business Hall of Fame on Oct. 5. Clockwise from top left: Chief Robert Sam, Clare Copeland, Helen Beirnes, Ian Maxwell, and Ron Lou-Poy. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce)

Greater Victoria chamber inducts inaugural Business Hall of Fame members

The new awards will be handed out every two years

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce inducted its first five honourees into its new Business Hall of Fame on Oct. 5. Clockwise from top left: Chief Robert Sam, Clare Copeland, Helen Beirnes, Ian Maxwell, and Ron Lou-Poy. (Courtesy Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce)
Victoria is the second best small city to visit according to the 35th annual Conde Nast reader awards. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria reclaims a place on annual Conde Nast readers’ choice awards

Magnolia Hotel & Spa named No. 14 best hotel in Canada

Victoria is the second best small city to visit according to the 35th annual Conde Nast reader awards. (Black Press Media file photo)
Owners Josh Goyert (left) and Chris Jones (right) outside their new location on Goldstream Avenue. (Courtesy of Chris Jones)

Langford location of Jones BBQ long time coming

Co-owner Chris Jones grew up in Langford and had been planning a location in the city for years

Owners Josh Goyert (left) and Chris Jones (right) outside their new location on Goldstream Avenue. (Courtesy of Chris Jones)
The chamber has a strict overview of how it operates.

Chamber Chatter: How the board deals with conflict of interest

Most organizations have policies in place to protect against conflicts

  • Oct 5, 2022
The chamber has a strict overview of how it operates.
The new Amazon facility in Sidney is expected to open in early-to-mid October. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Amazon facility in Sidney expected to open this month

Contractor, as well as Amazon itself, continue to hire

The new Amazon facility in Sidney is expected to open in early-to-mid October. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Salt Legacy business partners Tisha Becker (left) and Meaghan McDonald with some of their backpacks made from sailcloth. (Courtesy of Salt Legacy)

Victoria’s Salt Legacy sews history, upcycling together with sailcloth product line

Backpacks look to tell the stories of the old sails while diverting waste

Salt Legacy business partners Tisha Becker (left) and Meaghan McDonald with some of their backpacks made from sailcloth. (Courtesy of Salt Legacy)
Summer beers brewed in Victoria benefit a variety of causes in B.C. and Alberta. (Vancouver Island Brewery/Facebook)

Victoria beer makers brew up charitable flavours

Beaches, salmon stocks and more benefit from breweries giving back

Summer beers brewed in Victoria benefit a variety of causes in B.C. and Alberta. (Vancouver Island Brewery/Facebook)
Laska Pare, founder and CEO of Flipside Plastics, with the Victoria company’s first soap dish model, made from coffee lids that were discarded at local cafes. (Courtesy of Flipside Plastics)

Global plastic waste leads to Victoria company’s upcycled soap dish

Flipside Plastics is gearing up to release its new and improved model this fall

Laska Pare, founder and CEO of Flipside Plastics, with the Victoria company’s first soap dish model, made from coffee lids that were discarded at local cafes. (Courtesy of Flipside Plastics)