Local Business

The former Valley Auction site in Spallumcheen is now the home of Integrity Building Products. The official changing of hands ceremony took place Monday, Oct. 18, with Don Raffan of Valley Auction (cowboy hat, left), Mayor Christine Fraser and Jerry Myer of Integrity. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Valley Auction in Spallumcheen signs off with Integrity

In the township since 1963, Valley Auction turns property over to Alberta’s Integrity Building Products

 

Bob Rymarchuk, who died in 2020, is the namesake of the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce citizen of the year award. (Contributed)

Nominations sought for excellence in Lake Country business

Chamber of Commerce Business Awards open for submissions

 

A sign indicating face coverings are required by the establishment is pictured on the front door of a business in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, April 9, 2021. COVID-19 cases have been on a steady increase in the province of British Columbia over the past week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Anger, decreased sales reported by Vernon businesses over COVID-19 vaccination checks

Unpredictable customers leaves local staff and owners feeling anxious

 

Dan Proulx and Richard Rolke from the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce urge residents to vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice category for the 37th annual business excellence awards. (Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Facebook photo)

Nearly 400 Vernon businesses nominated for excellence awards

Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce awards now open for People’s Choice votes

Dan Proulx and Richard Rolke from the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce urge residents to vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice category for the 37th annual business excellence awards. (Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Facebook photo)
At least one downtown Vernon restaurant, The Fig, has stated that it will not discriminate against vaccination status, despite the latest provincial health order to come in effect Sept. 13. (The Fig Facebook post)

Vaccination passports get mixed response from Vernon businesses

Majority surveyed by Chamber of Commerce support proof of vaccination

At least one downtown Vernon restaurant, The Fig, has stated that it will not discriminate against vaccination status, despite the latest provincial health order to come in effect Sept. 13. (The Fig Facebook post)
Entrepreneurs Okanagan will accept donations for people affected by wildfires at four drop-off centres in the Okanagan. See the story for the items required. (file photo)

Okanagan donations sought for people impacted by wildfires

Entrepreneurs’ Okanagan setting up four drop-off centres from Armstrong to Kelowna

Entrepreneurs Okanagan will accept donations for people affected by wildfires at four drop-off centres in the Okanagan. See the story for the items required. (file photo)
John (from left), Brad and Al Thorlakson of Vernon-based Tolko Industries gather at the Lavington Planer Mill where it all began for the company 65 years ago in 1956. (tolko.com)

Vernon-based lumber giant harvests 65 years

Tolko Industries began with operation at Lavington Planer Mill, now an internationally known company

John (from left), Brad and Al Thorlakson of Vernon-based Tolko Industries gather at the Lavington Planer Mill where it all began for the company 65 years ago in 1956. (tolko.com)
Greenlion Farms in Spallumcheen has teamed up with a company in Pitt Meadows and constructed an indoor growing facility at its township location that will produce leafy greens and herbs year-round. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Spallumcheen farm turns over new leaf(y) produce

Greenlion Farms will grown leafy greens and herbs year-round at its township indoor growing facility

Greenlion Farms in Spallumcheen has teamed up with a company in Pitt Meadows and constructed an indoor growing facility at its township location that will produce leafy greens and herbs year-round. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Nominations are open until Aug. 23 for the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. (Chamber photo)

Love sought for Greater Vernon businesses

Chamber of Commerce award nominations open until Aug. 23

Nominations are open until Aug. 23 for the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. (Chamber photo)
The Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce’s persistence has paid off as the B.C. government has introduced meat licensing changes and increased access for local products. (B.C. government photo)

Armstrong Spallumcheen chamber’s persistence over meat licensing pays off

Chamber joins provincial body in applauding changes to meat licensing and increased access to local products

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce’s persistence has paid off as the B.C. government has introduced meat licensing changes and increased access for local products. (B.C. government photo)
Community Futures British Columbia will help businesses deal with the effects of the wildfires on business stability and continuity by launching a website and toll-free phone number to provide businesses with quick and easy access to information, resources, and support. (Black Press file photo)

Rural businesses get wildfire support from Community Futures British Columbia

Organization launching website and toll-free phone number to help with support and stability

Community Futures British Columbia will help businesses deal with the effects of the wildfires on business stability and continuity by launching a website and toll-free phone number to provide businesses with quick and easy access to information, resources, and support. (Black Press file photo)
Vernon’s Ken Schultz inside his labour of love, the Canadian Wildlife Museum, located on his property at the north end of Pleasant Valley Road. Schultz is a master taxidermist who has created hundreds of scenes inside the facility which is open to the public, a vision that took Schultz nearly three decades to complete. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

VIDEO: Vernon man turns lifelong dream into museum

Ken Schultz, taxidermist, opened the Canadian Wildlife Museum on Pleasant Valley Road in Vernon in June

Vernon’s Ken Schultz inside his labour of love, the Canadian Wildlife Museum, located on his property at the north end of Pleasant Valley Road. Schultz is a master taxidermist who has created hundreds of scenes inside the facility which is open to the public, a vision that took Schultz nearly three decades to complete. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
This fully restored and detailed 2001 Chevy Impala will be given away to a needy Armstrong family courtesy of the efforts of local businessmen Pat Nelson (Nelson’s Glass, from left), Bernd Klaila of One-Stop Automotive and Tim Miller from Extreme Mobile Auto Detailing. (Photo by Brooke Hovey)

Needy Armstrong resident to receive new-to-them car

Local businesses team up to restore and detail 2001 Chevy Impala to be given away in contest

This fully restored and detailed 2001 Chevy Impala will be given away to a needy Armstrong family courtesy of the efforts of local businessmen Pat Nelson (Nelson’s Glass, from left), Bernd Klaila of One-Stop Automotive and Tim Miller from Extreme Mobile Auto Detailing. (Photo by Brooke Hovey)
Reaching out to WorkBC Vernon for support in planning her future was a great move by Caitlin Heinloo. (Contributed)

WorkBC helps Vernon client succeed in school

Caitlin Heinloo’s future is very bright thanks to support from organization and community

Reaching out to WorkBC Vernon for support in planning her future was a great move by Caitlin Heinloo. (Contributed)
Lake Country Brewing Company has plans to open up in the Highway 97 plaza in town. (Contributed)

New brew pub planned for Lake Country

Food trucks, outdoor patio on tap for former Routes Grill location

Lake Country Brewing Company has plans to open up in the Highway 97 plaza in town. (Contributed)
Gary's Woodfired Pizza got some slack on the weekend for operating an open flame in Lake Country. (Contributed)

Vernon business gets Lake Country residents fired up

Wood fired pizza truck operating with exemption, while barbecues banned in parks

Gary's Woodfired Pizza got some slack on the weekend for operating an open flame in Lake Country. (Contributed)
A case of COVID-19 has temporarily closed Vernon’s Kelly O’Bryan’s restaurant. (Morning Star - file photo)

COVID case temporarily closes Vernon restaurant

Kelly O’Bryan’s makes announcement on social media, answering machine

A case of COVID-19 has temporarily closed Vernon’s Kelly O’Bryan’s restaurant. (Morning Star - file photo)
The Turtle Bay Pub will be closed until July 30 due to staff exposures to COVID-19. (Turtle Bay Pub photo)

Popular Lake Country pub closed due to COVID-19 exposure

Several staff exposed to COVID-19 at Turtle Bay Pub

The Turtle Bay Pub will be closed until July 30 due to staff exposures to COVID-19. (Turtle Bay Pub photo)
Vernon businesswoman Blanca Crane is looking for help in her salon – Blanca’s Hairstyling – as she recuperates from a kidney transplant. Crane is also looking forward to resuming trips to a Mexican orphanage with donations of cash and supplies from North Okanagan residents. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

New kidney renews Vernon woman’s plans for Mexican orphanage

Dialysis, COVID prevented Blanca Crane from raising funds in 2020 for orphanage near Puerto Vallarta

Vernon businesswoman Blanca Crane is looking for help in her salon – Blanca’s Hairstyling – as she recuperates from a kidney transplant. Crane is also looking forward to resuming trips to a Mexican orphanage with donations of cash and supplies from North Okanagan residents. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Robyn Cyr (left) and Janet Doyle are experienced consultants hired to help North Okanagan Shuswap businesses implement a re-opening strategy to help recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Contributed photos)

Advisors hired to help North Okanagan-Shuswap businesses recover post-COVID

Robyn Cyr and Janet Doyle will be available to help over the next nine months

Robyn Cyr (left) and Janet Doyle are experienced consultants hired to help North Okanagan Shuswap businesses implement a re-opening strategy to help recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Contributed photos)