Local Business

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

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.

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)
Gwaii Adventure Campers co-owner Kyle May announced on March 21, 2020 that his campervan rental company had started accepting by-donation delivery requests from residents in self-isolation due to COVID-19 who are in need of groceries or other essential items. (Gwaii Adventure Campers/Facebook photo)

Haida Gwaii campervan company switches gears in response to COVID-19

Gwaii Adventure Campers offering by-donation delivery service to residents

Gwaii Adventure Campers co-owner Kyle May announced on March 21, 2020 that his campervan rental company had started accepting by-donation delivery requests from residents in self-isolation due to COVID-19 who are in need of groceries or other essential items. (Gwaii Adventure Campers/Facebook photo)
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
Stikine MLA and Rural Development Minister Doug Donaldson (right) meets with Gidimt’en checkpoint spokesperson Molly Wickham (left) and Unist’ot’en and Gidimt’en supporter Mel Bazil in January. Wickham endorsed Green Party candidate Mike Sawyer for the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding in a video that was posted to Sawyer’s campaign website and Facebook page on Wednesday. (Twitter photo)

Molly Wickham endorses Skeena-Bulkley Valley Green candidate Mike Sawyer

In July, Wickham filed a lawsuit against CGL over the destruction of the Gidimt’en checkpoint camp

Stikine MLA and Rural Development Minister Doug Donaldson (right) meets with Gidimt’en checkpoint spokesperson Molly Wickham (left) and Unist’ot’en and Gidimt’en supporter Mel Bazil in January. Wickham endorsed Green Party candidate Mike Sawyer for the Skeena-Bulkley Valley riding in a video that was posted to Sawyer’s campaign website and Facebook page on Wednesday. (Twitter photo)
Evie Lavers holds a workshop at the Prince Rupert Library on Sept. 16. (Alex Kurial / Haida Gwaii Observer)

Music marketing workshop for islanders

Skidegate will host classes for musicians and artists on Thursday

Evie Lavers holds a workshop at the Prince Rupert Library on Sept. 16. (Alex Kurial / Haida Gwaii Observer)
Coast Funds is an Indigenous-led conservation finance that invests to strengthen the well-being of First Nations and the ecological integrity of the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii regions of B.C. (Natalie Bowes photo)

Coast Funds announces three First Nations women to board of directors

All three members were appointed at the organization’s annual general meeting

Coast Funds is an Indigenous-led conservation finance that invests to strengthen the well-being of First Nations and the ecological integrity of the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii regions of B.C. (Natalie Bowes photo)