Local Business

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

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

Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)

Survey finds Canada’s hospitality industry has low expectations for year ahead

Almost 87 per cent of businesses in accommodation and food services report lower revenues in 2020

Jamie and Tanisha Out and Toni Starkell are the team behind Forage General, a floral, coffee and gift shop located in downtown Salmon Arm at the corner of Alexander Street and the Trans-Canada Highway. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

VIDEO: Salmon Arm trio open small business with big city feel

Forage General offers flowers, coffee and a variety of unique gifts

Jamie and Tanisha Out and Toni Starkell are the team behind Forage General, a floral, coffee and gift shop located in downtown Salmon Arm at the corner of Alexander Street and the Trans-Canada Highway. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
A new houseboat company has opened on the former Waterway property south of Sicamous. (Sicamous Houseboats/Facebook)

New houseboat company up and running on Shuswap Lake

Sicamous Houseboats has moved in to the former Waterway Houseboats property.

A new houseboat company has opened on the former Waterway property south of Sicamous. (Sicamous Houseboats/Facebook)
Chute Lake Lodge opens June 1, offering glamping, yurt, and ebike rentals. (Supplied)

#visitpenticton Chute Lake Lodge opens June 1, offering glamping, yurt, and ebike rentals

Escape into the wilderness and #lovelocalpenticton when Chute Lake Lodge reopens for the season

Chute Lake Lodge opens June 1, offering glamping, yurt, and ebike rentals. (Supplied)
Kat Gellerman brings years of experience in the food business to her new store, Chef Sense Supplies, in downtown Courtenay. Photo by Mike Chouinard

Edible straws one B.C. entrepreneur’s latest weapon in war against plastic

Kat Gellerman has spent more than 20 years working in the food business

Kat Gellerman brings years of experience in the food business to her new store, Chef Sense Supplies, in downtown Courtenay. Photo by Mike Chouinard
Tanja Tulak, left, of Tiny’s Bones and Scones is now selling fresh, homemade, healthy dog treats out of Cam Albert’s, right, Wet Spot Grooming and Pet Care shop on 27th Street in Vernon. (Caitlin Clow - Vernon Morning Star)

Enderby baker brings specialty dog treats to Vernon

Local entrepreneur opens dog bakery in Vernon pet grooming business

Tanja Tulak, left, of Tiny’s Bones and Scones is now selling fresh, homemade, healthy dog treats out of Cam Albert’s, right, Wet Spot Grooming and Pet Care shop on 27th Street in Vernon. (Caitlin Clow - Vernon Morning Star)
Okanagan squirrels away for winter with harvest events

Okanagan squirrels away for winter with harvest events

Rancho Vignola November sales in Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton

Okanagan squirrels away for winter with harvest events
Breast cancer research builds support in Okanagan thanks to Home Hardware

Breast cancer research builds support in Okanagan thanks to Home Hardware

Stores matching donations until Oct. 31

Breast cancer research builds support in Okanagan thanks to Home Hardware
Black Press BC South Division President Dave Hamilton worked a night shift on the alphaliner at the Vernon press this week. (Caitlin Clow - Vernon Morning Star)

Press day means all hands on deck in Vernon

President, director of sales work the press

Black Press BC South Division President Dave Hamilton worked a night shift on the alphaliner at the Vernon press this week. (Caitlin Clow - Vernon Morning Star)
Phantom Creek Estates is nearly finished its construction, with the completion of phase II anticipated this fall. Then in Spring 2020, Oliver’s newest winery will be hosting a grand opening celebration. (Jordyn Thomson - Western News)

Video: Touring the newest luxurious winery in the South Okanagan

Phantom Creek Estates Winery has finally opened its doors after nearly five years of construction

Phantom Creek Estates is nearly finished its construction, with the completion of phase II anticipated this fall. Then in Spring 2020, Oliver’s newest winery will be hosting a grand opening celebration. (Jordyn Thomson - Western News)
Your weather forecast for Tuesday, August 6th, 2019. (Pixabay)

Okanagan-Shuswap weather: Heat, heat and more heat

Your weather forecast for Tuesday, August 6th, 2019.

Your weather forecast for Tuesday, August 6th, 2019. (Pixabay)
Scott Viala trains with a steel mace at Global Fitness Centre on July 17, 2019. (Michael Rodriguez - Kelowna Capital News)

Kelowna trainer skips weights, swings mace

Viala the Viking uses ancient techniques in his personal-training business

Scott Viala trains with a steel mace at Global Fitness Centre on July 17, 2019. (Michael Rodriguez - Kelowna Capital News)
Henry Raymond Debowski in treatment, (Henry Raymond Debowski’s Go Fund Me page)

‘Go fund me’ page set up for eight-year-old Kelowna boy with cancer

Henry Raymond Debowski has been diagnosed with leukemia

Henry Raymond Debowski in treatment, (Henry Raymond Debowski’s Go Fund Me page)
When did you last sit and read a newspaper? (Wiki Commons)

Don’t stop the presses: Report finds Canadian newspaper readership at all-time high

88% of Canadians read newspapers every week, highest since first Newspapers 24/7 Report in 2012

When did you last sit and read a newspaper? (Wiki Commons)
Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen is moving in to Main Street and Warren Avenue East in Penticton. (Kristi Patton — Western News Staff)

Opening date announced for Penticton Popeyes restaurant

New restaurant will be located at Main Street and Warren Avenue

Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen is moving in to Main Street and Warren Avenue East in Penticton. (Kristi Patton — Western News Staff)
Armstrong cake maker tops out provincially

Armstrong cake maker tops out provincially

Froster Tier Cakes earns Wedding Award, other Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Kamloops businesses also awarded

Armstrong cake maker tops out provincially
Gordon Forbes of the organic Forbes Family Farm at the Penticton Farmers’ Market Brennan Phillips / Penticton Western

South Okanagan organic farmer wins Farmers’ Market Vendor of the Year

The BC Association of Farmers’ Markets celebrated the best of B.C. with the sixth annual awards

Gordon Forbes of the organic Forbes Family Farm at the Penticton Farmers’ Market Brennan Phillips / Penticton Western
Nico Dirksen, Mark Ziebarth, Nathan Ziebart, Blair Baldwin and Cooper Simson took home the bronze for Okanagan College. (Photo contributed).

OC Business students earn bronze at collegiate case competition

The competition was held at Vanier College in Montreal

  • Feb 15, 2019
Nico Dirksen, Mark Ziebarth, Nathan Ziebart, Blair Baldwin and Cooper Simson took home the bronze for Okanagan College. (Photo contributed).