Small Business

A barn in a field in East Sooke (John McKinley file photo)

Land access an obstacle for first-generation farmers on Vancouver Island

As established farmers age, the future of farming on Vancouver Island tied to having room to grow

 

A server brings food to a table as people dine at a restaurant in Vancouver, on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. The federal government’s extension for a small business loan repayment plan was touted as a win for businesses, but has instead drawn mixed reactions from industry experts with one saying it’s left owners on “pins and needles.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘Cruel joke’: CEBA deadline extension not what B.C. small business hoped for

Feds tout 1-year extension for Canada Emergency Business Account loan repayment

 

Donations raised through the New Car Dealers Association will help provide shelter, basic needs, recovery assistance and emotional support for B.C. residents impacted by the recent wildfires. Phil McLachlan / Western News photo

New Car Dealers support for B.C. wildfire relief surpasses $236,000

More than $236,000 has now been raised through the New Car Dealers…

  • Aug 31, 2023

 

A woman walks in Chinatown in Vancouver, Friday, February 5, 2021. The provincial government has announced up to $10.5 million for small businesses to apply for grants for repairs for vandalism or prevention. The announcement was in Chinatown on Wednesday (July 26, 2023) which has been hard hit by vandalism in recent years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. announces $10.5M for small businesses impacted by vandalism

Owners can apply for up to $2K for cost of repairs or up to $1K for prevention

A woman walks in Chinatown in Vancouver, Friday, February 5, 2021. The provincial government has announced up to $10.5 million for small businesses to apply for grants for repairs for vandalism or prevention. The announcement was in Chinatown on Wednesday (July 26, 2023) which has been hard hit by vandalism in recent years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A pizza from Guido’s in Esquimalt. (Guido’s Facebook page)

‘So depressing’: Beloved Italian restaurant in Greater Victoria closes forever

But new restaurant serving Filipino delicacies ready to open soon

A pizza from Guido’s in Esquimalt. (Guido’s Facebook page)
(Far right) Jo-Ina Young with members of her ribbon skirt dancers business at the launch for the South Island Indigenous Business Directory. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Greater Victoria directory highlights Indigenous businesses

A step towards businesses making economic reconciliation

(Far right) Jo-Ina Young with members of her ribbon skirt dancers business at the launch for the South Island Indigenous Business Directory. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
A server clears a table on a patio at a restaurant, in Vancouver, on Friday, April 2, 2021. A new study by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found the average small business owner is working the equivalent of an eight-day workweek due to staffing challenges, with the issue especially prevalent in Western Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Small business owners working eight-day week equivalent due to staff shortages: CFIB

Survey finds labour shortages forcing many owners to work excessive hours to compensate

A server clears a table on a patio at a restaurant, in Vancouver, on Friday, April 2, 2021. A new study by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business found the average small business owner is working the equivalent of an eight-day workweek due to staffing challenges, with the issue especially prevalent in Western Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Langley MLA Andrew Mercier and Premier David Eby started their tour of Langley City businesses on Saturday, April 1, by trying some samples at Oxford Ice Cream. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

VIDEO: Premier takes walking tour of small businesses

Indicates more supportive measures in the works

Langley MLA Andrew Mercier and Premier David Eby started their tour of Langley City businesses on Saturday, April 1, by trying some samples at Oxford Ice Cream. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
Shayla Hann of Hannmade Designs said the Station Avenue stall has been a great opportunity for her business. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Langford’s Station Avenue vendors upbeat about the future

New cultural district vendors looking forward to Christmas season

Shayla Hann of Hannmade Designs said the Station Avenue stall has been a great opportunity for her business. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Bruce Charbonneau has been professionally framing pictures for more than four decades. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

Small Business Week: B.C. has the largest number of local entrepreneurships in Canada

The week is a chance to recognize the hard work, adaptability and determination of small businesses

Bruce Charbonneau has been professionally framing pictures for more than four decades. (Angie Mindus photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Saravanan “Sammy” Periyasamy, 45, takes a break from his work in Yumbrosia Fine Foods He and his family were set to reopen the business Monday (Aug. 15) after its closure last December following the sudden death of owner Ihsan Askar. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Yumbrosia reopening in Oak Bay after months of closure

Southern Indian family works to preserve late owner’s legacy and business model

Saravanan “Sammy” Periyasamy, 45, takes a break from his work in Yumbrosia Fine Foods He and his family were set to reopen the business Monday (Aug. 15) after its closure last December following the sudden death of owner Ihsan Askar. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Jimmy Pavlidis of Jimmy’s Barber Shop is pictured at his Fort Street business. Pavlidis is Greater Victoria’s longest serving barber and has maintained a ’50s style and inexpensive haircuts at his shop. (Photo contributed)

A trim for the ages: How local barbering has evolved over 50-plus years

5 Greater Victoria barbers share their unique approach to cutting hair

Jimmy Pavlidis of Jimmy’s Barber Shop is pictured at his Fort Street business. Pavlidis is Greater Victoria’s longest serving barber and has maintained a ’50s style and inexpensive haircuts at his shop. (Photo contributed)
Roberta Glennon stands in the men’s section of her Government Street shop, Roberta’s Hats. Glennon has run the business for 30 years since moving from Vancouver with her husband Brian in 1992. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Hats off to Victoria’s renowned hat store of 30 years

Roberta’s Hats continues to cap local industry with funky shopping experience

Roberta Glennon stands in the men’s section of her Government Street shop, Roberta’s Hats. Glennon has run the business for 30 years since moving from Vancouver with her husband Brian in 1992. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Yumbrosia Fine Foods has operated as a grocer and deli, as seen here in July 2021, and served the local community with a wide variety of imported European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern products. (Black Press Media file photo)

New ownership signals return for Yumbrosia in Oak Bay

Esquimalt local awaits business licence before reopening

Yumbrosia Fine Foods has operated as a grocer and deli, as seen here in July 2021, and served the local community with a wide variety of imported European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern products. (Black Press Media file photo)
Small business owners are feeling the pinch from inflationary pressures and taxes. (Black Press File Photo)

B.C. small business owners worried about tax bills, inflation

A survey from Ownr found 31 per cent of small business owners are worried about their tax burden

Small business owners are feeling the pinch from inflationary pressures and taxes. (Black Press File Photo)
A produce vendor awaits his next customer during the monthly market at Royal Athletic Park. Mobile food and service vendors are invited to apply for free permits to operate on two-week rotations at one of 15 spots in eight locations around Victoria this summer and early fall. (Photo courtesy North Park Neighbourhood Association)

Prime Victoria sites up for grabs for mobile vendors this summer, fall

City permits free; 15 spots available at eight locations on 2-week rotation

A produce vendor awaits his next customer during the monthly market at Royal Athletic Park. Mobile food and service vendors are invited to apply for free permits to operate on two-week rotations at one of 15 spots in eight locations around Victoria this summer and early fall. (Photo courtesy North Park Neighbourhood Association)
Nanaimo author Josh Gillingham has created the Vancouver Island Coffee Tour website that includes a map with directions to a growing list of more than 50 independent coffee roasters across the Island and Gulf Islands that tourists and residents can follow to find the region’s best brews. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo author’s online ‘coffee tour’ an added perk for visiting Vancouver Island

Residents and visitors can follow guide to more than 50 Island-region coffee roasters

Nanaimo author Josh Gillingham has created the Vancouver Island Coffee Tour website that includes a map with directions to a growing list of more than 50 independent coffee roasters across the Island and Gulf Islands that tourists and residents can follow to find the region’s best brews. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Kimberli Koh of Happy Tail Dog Service in Sidney laments council’s decision to offer a shut-down competitor a chance to apply for a temporary use permit, after committee of the whole recommended support for OCP and zoning changes that could have allowed Pooch Parlour to remain in a West Sidney industrial area. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Local dog groomer in Sidney expresses support for shut-down competitor

Kimberli Koh also frustrated by council’s decisions around Pooch Parlour

Kimberli Koh of Happy Tail Dog Service in Sidney laments council’s decision to offer a shut-down competitor a chance to apply for a temporary use permit, after committee of the whole recommended support for OCP and zoning changes that could have allowed Pooch Parlour to remain in a West Sidney industrial area. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
The Nature Bee busy bees outside their Veyaness Road location in Keating. (Courtesy of Nature Bee)

Central Saanich beeswax wrap seller nominated for two Small Business BC Awards

Katie Gamble’s Nature Bee business built on community, sustainability

The Nature Bee busy bees outside their Veyaness Road location in Keating. (Courtesy of Nature Bee)
Darioush Diba, owner of Bubby’s Restaurant, stands outside its Menzies Street location. He questions the need for the level of traffic restrictions into James Bay as are being exercised by VicPD. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Some James Bay eateries less busy, staff late since VicPD checkpoints installed

Operators have mixed views on need for Victoria police controls on neighbourhood entry

Darioush Diba, owner of Bubby’s Restaurant, stands outside its Menzies Street location. He questions the need for the level of traffic restrictions into James Bay as are being exercised by VicPD. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)