local business

The Schacht family, including, from left, Stephen, Jessica and Jeremy, are the brains and muscle behind the Cowichan Valley’s award-winning Ampersand Distillery. (File photo)

Cowichan’s Ampersand Distillery takes Spirit of the Year in national competition

Nocino! a limited-edition bittersweet green walnut liqueur saluted

The Schacht family, including, from left, Stephen, Jessica and Jeremy, are the brains and muscle behind the Cowichan Valley’s award-winning Ampersand Distillery. (File photo)
Nanaimo city council has voted to give the city’s liquor-primary establishments a break on business licence fees for 2021. (Stock photo)

Nanaimo’s pubs and bars hit by COVID-19 will get a break on business licence fees

Annual business licence fee for liquor-primary establishments drops from $1,100 to $165 for 2021

Nanaimo city council has voted to give the city’s liquor-primary establishments a break on business licence fees for 2021. (Stock photo)
Hughes Clothing owner Rebecca Burrows. (Courtesy of Rebecca Burrows)

Island woman wants accountability after Instagram hacked, naked photos demanded

Hughes Clothing owner creating non-profit to lobby internet giant for better response

Hughes Clothing owner Rebecca Burrows. (Courtesy of Rebecca Burrows)
Victoria police say break and enters in Victoria and Esquimalt have been on the rise. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria businesses see second highest number of break-ins on record in 2020

Sophisticated break and enters wreaking havoc on businesses

Victoria police say break and enters in Victoria and Esquimalt have been on the rise. (Black Press Media file photo)
Island Health has reported a possible COVID-19 exposure at Bard and Banker on Jan. 23 between 6 and 10 p.m. (Google Streetview)

Island Health reports possible COVID-19 exposure at Victoria pub

Possible exposure at Bard and Banker Jan. 23 between 6 and 10 p.m.

Island Health has reported a possible COVID-19 exposure at Bard and Banker on Jan. 23 between 6 and 10 p.m. (Google Streetview)
Langford and Vancouver Island Economic Alliance are partnering to provide local businesses with one-year Island Good memberships. (Courtesy of Vancouver Island Economic Alliance)

Langford offering local businesses free Island Good membership

Island Good label helps consumers identify local products

Langford and Vancouver Island Economic Alliance are partnering to provide local businesses with one-year Island Good memberships. (Courtesy of Vancouver Island Economic Alliance)
Costa Canna is one of three cannabis retail stores co-owned by Cowichan Tribes. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Cowichan Tribes’ Costa Canna cannabis store opens in Colwood

Cowichan Tribes has one-year deal to grow, sell cannabis

Costa Canna is one of three cannabis retail stores co-owned by Cowichan Tribes. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Victoria’s Canoe Brewpub will soon be the eighth Craft Beer Market location in Canada. (Google Maps)

Craft Beer Market buys Victoria’s Canoe Brewpub

Craft Beer Market operates nine locations across Canada

Victoria’s Canoe Brewpub will soon be the eighth Craft Beer Market location in Canada. (Google Maps)
Smaller egg farmers find themselves in a David and Goliath situation when it comes to major producers and chain-grocery store shelf space. (Citizen file)

Vancouver Island egg producer cries foul over ‘Island’ label

Egg farmer frustrated with regulations allowing mainland-laid eggs to be labelled ‘Island’

Smaller egg farmers find themselves in a David and Goliath situation when it comes to major producers and chain-grocery store shelf space. (Citizen file)
Laurie Arbuthnot, owner of Wild Coast Perfumery in Cowichan Bay, poses with some of her products. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Opening Wild Coast Perfumery a dream come true for Cowichan Bay owner

Only business of its kind on the Island outside Victoria makes natural, plant-based perfumes

Laurie Arbuthnot, owner of Wild Coast Perfumery in Cowichan Bay, poses with some of her products. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Victoria police are investigating a series of break and enters where thieves are using specialized tools and sophisticated methods. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Victoria police are investigating a series of break and enters where thieves are using specialized tools and sophisticated methods. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
LGBTQ2S lounge, Friends of Dorothy, opened in Victoria on Dec. 18. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

LGBTQ2S lounge Friends of Dorothy opens in Victoria

Cocktail lounge aims to create comfortable space for LGBTQ2S people and allies

LGBTQ2S lounge, Friends of Dorothy, opened in Victoria on Dec. 18. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
See Today's Home for all your real estate needs. (Graphic)

Black Press offers new digital service to realtors

Today’s Home launches in Cowichan Valley in February

See Today's Home for all your real estate needs. (Graphic)
Annie Handley and Dave Devindisch hard at work in the kitchen at 40 Knots Winery, where they make Easy Treats. Photo supplied.

Comox Valley musicians debut healthy chocolate brand

Easy Street creates sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan chocolates

Annie Handley and Dave Devindisch hard at work in the kitchen at 40 Knots Winery, where they make Easy Treats. Photo supplied.
Long-time Christmas tree seller Pete, who is selling trees as a fundraiser at the 7-11 on the corner of Tzouhalem and Lakes Road, said he doesn't expect to have any trees left by the end of the weekend. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Long-time Christmas tree seller Pete, who is selling trees as a fundraiser at the 7-11 on the corner of Tzouhalem and Lakes Road, said he doesn't expect to have any trees left by the end of the weekend. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
An all-in-one web based virtual queuing, people counting, and contact tracing solution is now available to Cowichan businesses at a subsidized cost. (Submitted)

Web-based solutions for businesses to meet social distancing protocols now available

Community Futures Cowichan providing access to the WAIT Queue Management System

An all-in-one web based virtual queuing, people counting, and contact tracing solution is now available to Cowichan businesses at a subsidized cost. (Submitted)
Linda Biggs and Jayesh Vekariya founded Victoria-based Joni period care in March 2020 with the mission of empowering menstruators. (Courtesy of Linda Biggs)

New Victoria period care company looks to empower menstruators

Joni donates one period care product for every one purchased

Linda Biggs and Jayesh Vekariya founded Victoria-based Joni period care in March 2020 with the mission of empowering menstruators. (Courtesy of Linda Biggs)
A competition between father-daughter winemakers, Mark and Robin Holford, at Rocky Creek Winery during the summer saw Mark win by just a few votes. (Katherine Holford Photography)

Contest at Cowichan winery draws lots of interest

Thousands vote in father-daughter competition at Rock Creek Winery

A competition between father-daughter winemakers, Mark and Robin Holford, at Rocky Creek Winery during the summer saw Mark win by just a few votes. (Katherine Holford Photography)
Cole Byers and Jasmine Grant are taking a leap of faith and opening The Rack Westcoast Bistro in Langford, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Langford residents making “all-in move” opening restaurant amid COVID-19 pandemic

Although The Rack Westcoast Bistro isn’t officially open yet, it’s serving anyone who wanders in

Cole Byers and Jasmine Grant are taking a leap of faith and opening The Rack Westcoast Bistro in Langford, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
Jimbo competed in Season One of Canada’s Drag Race and has support from a new brew at Riot Brewing in Chemainus. (Photo by Helene Cyr)

Riot unveils a colourful brew in honour of an Island drag queen

Variety the spice of life and with beverages for entertainer

Jimbo competed in Season One of Canada’s Drag Race and has support from a new brew at Riot Brewing in Chemainus. (Photo by Helene Cyr)