Local Business

The Kispiox First Nation has reached an agreement with the province of B.C. to pursue commercial cannabis opportunities. (file photo)

B.C.’s Kispiox First Nation strikes deal for commercial cannabis operation

Northwest-based First Nation have entered a new agreement with the province

From left: Tahltans Harlan Inkster; Rick McLean; Hon. Jeanie McLean (Dendys), Yukon minister of education and minister responsible for the women and gender equity directorate; Erin Paul; Chad Thomas; and Jerry Asp accept the Indigenous Business of the Year for Northern B.C. Award on behalf of TNDC at the 5th Annual Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference in Whitehorse, presented by the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce. (Contributed photo)

Tahltan business arm named business of the year

The Tahltan Nation Development Corporation honoured by Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference

Workcamp at Seabridge Gold’s KSM project in northwest B.C. (Seabridge Gold photo)

Seabridge to spend $150 million to bring northwest B.C. gold mine project to “substantially started”

Spending made possible by investment by Sprott and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Fund

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)
Red Chris mine’s Australia-themed dump truck tray pays homage to the partnership of the three nations involved on the site. (Newcrest Mining photo)

Prefeasibility study extends northwest B.C. gold mine life by 30 years

Red Chris mine suitable for block caving technique with estimated 8.1 million ounces of gold

Red Chris mine’s Australia-themed dump truck tray pays homage to the partnership of the three nations involved on the site. (Newcrest Mining photo)
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)
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

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)
Tom and Michelle Argue purchased the fish processing plant in Queen Charlotte from Intercity Packers and Albion Fisheries, and reopened the business on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020 with the name T&M Seafood Ltd. (Tom Argue/Submitted photo)

Haida Gwaii couple purchases Queen Charlotte fish plant

Tom and Michelle Argue reopened the plant at the end of the causeway Aug. 14 as T&M Seafood Ltd.

Tom and Michelle Argue purchased the fish processing plant in Queen Charlotte from Intercity Packers and Albion Fisheries, and reopened the business on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020 with the name T&M Seafood Ltd. (Tom Argue/Submitted photo)
An aerial view of the Naikoon Estates subdivision on Haida Gwaii, developed by the NIHO Land and Cattle Company Ltd. On Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, NIHO founder Rudy Nielsen confirmed the sale of two, 160-acre properties within Naikoon Provincial Park to BC Parks. (Niho Land & Cattle Co. Ltd./Facebook photo)

B.C. mogul sells private Naikoon properties to parks system in $1 million deal

NIHO founder Rudy Nielsen sells 320 acres to BC Parks; Ministry statement expected in ‘coming months’

An aerial view of the Naikoon Estates subdivision on Haida Gwaii, developed by the NIHO Land and Cattle Company Ltd. On Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, NIHO founder Rudy Nielsen confirmed the sale of two, 160-acre properties within Naikoon Provincial Park to BC Parks. (Niho Land & Cattle Co. Ltd./Facebook photo)
The restaurant at the Sandspit Inn (pictured) was open for one final time on Sunday, June 28, 2020. (Sandspit Community Society photo)

‘Good times that will be no more’: Sandspit Inn shutters its doors

Transport Canada review will ‘determine the best management approach’

The restaurant at the Sandspit Inn (pictured) was open for one final time on Sunday, June 28, 2020. (Sandspit Community Society photo)
Skeena Resources, Tahltan prez excited by purchase of Eskay Creek

Skeena Resources, Tahltan prez excited by purchase of Eskay Creek

Skeena gets full control of mine, Barrick gets 12 per cent of Skeena and a one per cent royalty

Skeena Resources, Tahltan prez excited by purchase of Eskay Creek
FILE - Haida Gwaii Community Futures offices are pictured in this file photo. Registration is open for the first-annual “NextIslandpreneur” student business competition, set to run from Friday, July 17, 2020 to Aug. 21. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Registration open for first-annual ‘NextIslandpreneur’ student business competition

Competition offers mentors, iPads, seed money, cash prizes to young entrepreneurs on Haida Gwaii

FILE - Haida Gwaii Community Futures offices are pictured in this file photo. Registration is open for the first-annual “NextIslandpreneur” student business competition, set to run from Friday, July 17, 2020 to Aug. 21. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)
The Haida Gwaii Community Futures office is pictured in Queen Charlotte. On Thursday, June 18, 2020, Northern Development Initiative Trust announced approved funding for a new business liaison position. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Northern Development approves funding for Haida Gwaii business liaison

Business liaison will provide additional resources to enterprises during the COVID-19 pandemic

The Haida Gwaii Community Futures office is pictured in Queen Charlotte. On Thursday, June 18, 2020, Northern Development Initiative Trust announced approved funding for a new business liaison position. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)
The Albion Fisheries processing plant that amalgamated with Intercity Packers in April 2019 is pictured at the end of the Queen Charlotte Causeway. Former operations supervisor Tom Argue said a GoFundMe campaign started in June 2020 is raising money to buy the business, which is at risk of permanent closure due to COVID-19. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Haida Gwaii couple raising funds to avoid Queen Charlotte fish plant closure

GoFundMe started to save Albion Fisheries, which amalgamated with Intercity Packers in April 2019

The Albion Fisheries processing plant that amalgamated with Intercity Packers in April 2019 is pictured at the end of the Queen Charlotte Causeway. Former operations supervisor Tom Argue said a GoFundMe campaign started in June 2020 is raising money to buy the business, which is at risk of permanent closure due to COVID-19. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)
Edi Szasz, chef-owner of Blacktail in Queen Charlotte, is pictured on Thursday, June 4, 2020 outside of his restaurant, where he and a few helpers were busy working on building a covered patio.

UPDATE: Slightly delayed Blacktail Haida Gwaii reopening set for Canada Day

Chef-owner Edi Szasz hoped to reopen on June 25, the one-year anniversary of the restaurant

Edi Szasz, chef-owner of Blacktail in Queen Charlotte, is pictured on Thursday, June 4, 2020 outside of his restaurant, where he and a few helpers were busy working on building a covered patio.
Chef Giulio Piccioli is pictured outside his Queen Charlotte restaurant, Gather, on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Gather was one of three 2020 Business Facade Improvement Program applications approved by the Village of Queen Charlotte council at the regular meeting on June 1. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Village of Queen Charlotte approves business facade improvement grants

Applications from Gather, dental clinic, A Level Up approved, leaving about $14,000 up for grabs

Chef Giulio Piccioli is pictured outside his Queen Charlotte restaurant, Gather, on Wednesday, June 3, 2020. Gather was one of three 2020 Business Facade Improvement Program applications approved by the Village of Queen Charlotte council at the regular meeting on June 1. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)
Some restaurants on Haida Gwaii started hosting a limited number of dine-in guests as early as Tuesday, May 19, 2020, when the province entered the second phase of its COVID-19 restart plan. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Some restaurants on Haida Gwaii hosting dine-in guests again

Queen B’s, Oceanview offering limited seating; barbershop in Queen Charlotte also reopened this week

Some restaurants on Haida Gwaii started hosting a limited number of dine-in guests as early as Tuesday, May 19, 2020, when the province entered the second phase of its COVID-19 restart plan. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)
Andrea Piccioli, nephew of Gather Food owner Giulio Piccioli, drew special, isolation-inspired illustrations on the paper bags the restaurant used for a “Be My Quarantine” take-home dinner series that ran from March 20, 2020 to April 10, 2020. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

VIDEO: Gather Food ‘Be My Quarantine’ dinner series puts artistic twist on takeout bags

Owner Giulio Piccioli’s nephew Andrea illustrated around 100 bags for the four-week series

Andrea Piccioli, nephew of Gather Food owner Giulio Piccioli, drew special, isolation-inspired illustrations on the paper bags the restaurant used for a “Be My Quarantine” take-home dinner series that ran from March 20, 2020 to April 10, 2020. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)
The Sea Raven restaurant in Queen Charlotte is one of several restaurants on Haida Gwaii that have closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Haida Gwaii restaurant owner joins #OneTable campaign, calls for government support

Chef-owner of Blacktail says loans not enough for restaurants impacted by COVID-19

The Sea Raven restaurant in Queen Charlotte is one of several restaurants on Haida Gwaii that have closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)
Queen Charlotte Farmers Market vendor Deborah Rowe used gloves and Lysol wipes, and asked that only one customer visit her booth at a time at the market on Saturday, April 4, 2020. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Haida Gwaii farmers hope to have market online by mid-April

Physical markets will continue to operate as an essential service

Queen Charlotte Farmers Market vendor Deborah Rowe used gloves and Lysol wipes, and asked that only one customer visit her booth at a time at the market on Saturday, April 4, 2020. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)