Local Business

Oak Bay Marine Group owns and operates Oak Bay Marina (pictured), North Saanich Marina, Ladysmith Marina and Pedder Bay RV Resort and Marina in Metchosin as well as several restaurants. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay Marine Group marks 60 years with national corporate culture award

Group’s Oregon Ripley’s named franchise of the year

Oak Bay Marine Group owns and operates Oak Bay Marina (pictured), North Saanich Marina, Ladysmith Marina and Pedder Bay RV Resort and Marina in Metchosin as well as several restaurants. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Bunny’s Kitchen puts the emphasis on fresh ingredients. (Pexels photo)

Ex-roller derby player cooking up healthy meals in Esquimalt

Bunny’s Kitchen is a dream come true

  • Jan 4, 2023
Bunny’s Kitchen puts the emphasis on fresh ingredients. (Pexels photo)
Students of Hastings Martial Arts follow the instruction of Cory Hastings during a winter spirit training session in the waters off Sidney’s Glass Beach. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney’s Glass Beach becomes outdoor dojo for brave students

Close to 30 karate students performed 100 punches while standing waist deep in water

Students of Hastings Martial Arts follow the instruction of Cory Hastings during a winter spirit training session in the waters off Sidney’s Glass Beach. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Eagle Wing Tours highlights this year on the Salish Sea with four Top 5 galleries from its team of photographers. (Sierra Hamilton photo courtesy Eagle Wing Tours)

Victoria whale watching teams shares series of 5 favourite shots on the Salish Sea

Photographers describe in their own words, why each image shows a special moment

Eagle Wing Tours highlights this year on the Salish Sea with four Top 5 galleries from its team of photographers. (Sierra Hamilton photo courtesy Eagle Wing Tours)
The Wildwood trailer saunas seat six to eight folks and appear most weekends at Willows Beach in Oak Bay. (Courtesy Wildwood Saunas)

Builder brings saunas to Oak Bay beach popular with cold-water swimmers

Travelling trailers popular with Willows Beach visitors

The Wildwood trailer saunas seat six to eight folks and appear most weekends at Willows Beach in Oak Bay. (Courtesy Wildwood Saunas)
Steaks on a grill in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Meat-eaters still dominate with flexitarians on the rise, says survey of Canadians

Flexibility of allowing meat in the diet grows in popularity

Steaks on a grill in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
Robinson’s Outdoor Store co-owners Erin Boggs and Matt King show off some of the store’s fly fishing gear. The store expects a busy Boxing Day this year as it will be the first time they have been able to go all-out on the sales event since the pandemic started. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Boxing Day expected to be lined up out the door at Victoria outdoor store

Robinson’s Outdoor Store sees the event as way to thank community for pandemic support

Robinson’s Outdoor Store co-owners Erin Boggs and Matt King show off some of the store’s fly fishing gear. The store expects a busy Boxing Day this year as it will be the first time they have been able to go all-out on the sales event since the pandemic started. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Quatsino First Nation photo

Quatsino First Nation enters into agreement with Northisle Copper and Gold Inc.

The agreement covers all North Island Mining Corp. mineral claims within Quatsino Territory

Quatsino First Nation photo
Mowi Seafood, which has operations in Campbell River, has been selected as the top sustainable food producer for the forth year in a row by international investment consortium Coller FAIRR. Photo courtesy Mowi Canada

Seafood companies with local presence finish 1, 2 in international sustainability index

Mowi, Grieg tops among global food producers; seven salmon farming companies in top 10

  • Dec 20, 2022
Mowi Seafood, which has operations in Campbell River, has been selected as the top sustainable food producer for the forth year in a row by international investment consortium Coller FAIRR. Photo courtesy Mowi Canada
A Canada Beer Cup bronze is a good reason for the Riot Brewing gang to celebrate. From left: Ralf Rosenke, Aly Tomlin and Jesse Grass. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Canada Beer Cup bronze as good as gold for Riot Brewing

No others in its category rank ahead of Working Class Hero ale

A Canada Beer Cup bronze is a good reason for the Riot Brewing gang to celebrate. From left: Ralf Rosenke, Aly Tomlin and Jesse Grass. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Residents and supporters of Tofino’s Crab Apple Campground gathered at the Village Green in April, 2021, to draw attention to their concerns over losing their homes. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Tofino denies residential campground’s request for tourism use

Crab Apple Campground hopes to expand

Residents and supporters of Tofino’s Crab Apple Campground gathered at the Village Green in April, 2021, to draw attention to their concerns over losing their homes. (Andrew Bailey photo)
The RBC Mobile Bank, which includes seating for customer service as well as an ATM at the back of the truck, has been set up in Port Alberni after a fire forced temporary closure of the RBC Royal Bank on Third Avenue. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

RBC in Port Alberni brings in mobile bank as branch recovers from fire

Main branch on Third Avenue is expected to re-open on Monday, Dec. 19

The RBC Mobile Bank, which includes seating for customer service as well as an ATM at the back of the truck, has been set up in Port Alberni after a fire forced temporary closure of the RBC Royal Bank on Third Avenue. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Sienna Rose Isberg with Supernaturals Modelling showcases an Ay Lelum Transformation design couture garment at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week on Dec. 1. (Photo by Alana Paterson)

Nanaimo design house returns to runway at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week

Ay Lelum – The Good House of Design’s collection tells Snuneymuxw transformation story

Sienna Rose Isberg with Supernaturals Modelling showcases an Ay Lelum Transformation design couture garment at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week on Dec. 1. (Photo by Alana Paterson)
An old Sandy's Auto Parts sign still hangs above a building in the yard. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Tales from some of Langford’s oldest businesses

Langford’s changed a lot in 30 years, but these three businesses have been there through it all

An old Sandy's Auto Parts sign still hangs above a building in the yard. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Co-owners Mitch Hawes and Brenden Fatt created online grocery retailer BCause in order to make local products more accessible to consumers, and make the grocery industry more accessible to small and medium-sized B.C. producers. (Courtesy of Mitch Hawes)

Langford-based online grocer making shopping local easy

BCause launched with the goal of making local food more accessible, and easier for producers to sell

Co-owners Mitch Hawes and Brenden Fatt created online grocery retailer BCause in order to make local products more accessible to consumers, and make the grocery industry more accessible to small and medium-sized B.C. producers. (Courtesy of Mitch Hawes)
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.’

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
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

Denman Islander designs mobile personal shelter prototypes

‘I think of it as supporting urban nomadism.’

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
The MV Frances Barkley ties up at Lady Rose Marine Services in this undated file photo. SUSAN QUINN PHOTO

Lady Rose Marine drops fees or charity to sail to Bamfield in December

Company asks for donations to Salvation Army, hospice instead; Budget Rental issues challenge too

The MV Frances Barkley ties up at Lady Rose Marine Services in this undated file photo. SUSAN QUINN PHOTO
Tourism Tofino is hoping to boost its visitor centre’s educational offerings as well as retail revenue. (Westerly file photo)

Tofino DMO hopes to help tourists get along with locals

Tourism Tofino focused on increasing offseason traffic and cultural education

Tourism Tofino is hoping to boost its visitor centre’s educational offerings as well as retail revenue. (Westerly file photo)
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

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)