Local Business

Nanaimo city council issued a development permit for a rebuilt Nanaimo Honda dealership at Bowen Road and Cienar Drive. (Raymond de Beeld Architect Inc.)

Nanaimo Honda dealership to be rebuilt at more than double the size

Dealership at Bowen Road and Cienar Drive was built in the 1970s

Tilray and Canadian cannabis producer Aphria have merged to create the world’s largest cannabis company, based on combined pro-forma revenue. (News Bulletin file)

Merger makes Nanaimo-based Tilray the world’s largest cannabis company

Tilray-Aphria merger boosts combined companies’ manufacturing, marketing and distribution clout

Mazzei Electric won Contractor of the Year at the Builders Code Champion Awards. Eleven per cent of Mazzei’s workforce is made up of women, well above the average for construction work in B.C., notes a press release from the awards. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo electrical contractor chosen as Builders Code Champion

Mazzei Electric’s Contractor of the Year award celebrates culture change in construction industry

A mobile app, from a small central Vancouver Island medical software company, gathers a cell phone’s GPS data that can be used for contact tracing when people are exposed to COVID-19. (Photo submitted)

Mid-Island medical software company creates COVID-19 contact tracing app

Creators of GPS-based app say it could save lives at a critical time in the pandemic

A mobile app, from a small central Vancouver Island medical software company, gathers a cell phone’s GPS data that can be used for contact tracing when people are exposed to COVID-19. (Photo submitted)
Eric Byres, industrial control engineer and CEO of Lantzville-based aDolus Technology, didn’t expect his company to win the 2020 New Ventures B.C. competition, but says he will use the $135,000 in first-place prize money to hire more development staff. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Lantzville-based cyber-security start-up wins $135K innovation competition

Industrial control systems security company, aDolus Technology, wins New Ventures B.C.’s top prize

Eric Byres, industrial control engineer and CEO of Lantzville-based aDolus Technology, didn’t expect his company to win the 2020 New Ventures B.C. competition, but says he will use the $135,000 in first-place prize money to hire more development staff. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Sophia Seward-Good and Aunalee Boyd-Good of Nanaimo’s Ay Lelum – The Good House of Design are showcasing their latest collection Yuxwule’ Sul’sul’tun – Eagle Spindle Whorl at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto. (Photo courtesy Helena Lines)

Nanaimo’s Ay Lelum makes Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto debut

Clothing design company showing new collection, Yuxwule’ Sul’sul’tun – Eagle Spindle Whorl

Sophia Seward-Good and Aunalee Boyd-Good of Nanaimo’s Ay Lelum – The Good House of Design are showcasing their latest collection Yuxwule’ Sul’sul’tun – Eagle Spindle Whorl at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto. (Photo courtesy Helena Lines)
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Chef Lisa Ahier of Tofino’s Sobo Restaurant makes her pitch in The Dragons’ Den on Nov. 12. (CBC image)

Tofino chef strikes a deal on CBC’s Dragons’ Den

Lisa Ahier brought endorsements from Sarah McLachlan and Terry David Mulligan.

Chef Lisa Ahier of Tofino’s Sobo Restaurant makes her pitch in The Dragons’ Den on Nov. 12. (CBC image)
Adam Corneil sparked the attention of all six Dragons’ Den judges after pitching his deconstruction business. (Screenshot from Dragon’s Den Oct. 29, 2020 episode)

B.C. deconstruction company ignites Dragons’ Den interest

Unbuilders deconstructs and salvages old buildings instead of sending them to landfill

Adam Corneil sparked the attention of all six Dragons’ Den judges after pitching his deconstruction business. (Screenshot from Dragon’s Den Oct. 29, 2020 episode)
Grant Keefer, owner of Yellow Point Cranberries, pulls a boom into position as he rounds up cranberries floating atop the water in a flooded field Tuesday at the farm located in Yellow Point south of Nanaimo. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Cranberries a booming business at harvest time near Nanaimo

Yellow Point Cranberries floods fields for fruit-gathering

Grant Keefer, owner of Yellow Point Cranberries, pulls a boom into position as he rounds up cranberries floating atop the water in a flooded field Tuesday at the farm located in Yellow Point south of Nanaimo. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Jonathan Nolan, Michael Nolan, Hope Johnson and Willow the cutest dog hanging, out at the Kwa'lilas Hotel while they wait to be able to return home to Rivers Inlet. (Zoe Ducklow photo)

Wuikinuxv First Nation evacuation to Port Hardy extended to seven days

Rains have not slacked off, keeping landslides a present threat

Jonathan Nolan, Michael Nolan, Hope Johnson and Willow the cutest dog hanging, out at the Kwa'lilas Hotel while they wait to be able to return home to Rivers Inlet. (Zoe Ducklow photo)
Jodie Lucas and Will Gemmell, owners of the Rusted Rake Farm. (PQB News file photo)

Nanoose Bay farm owners aim to establish Rusted Rake Brewery

Restaurant forced to close last year

Jodie Lucas and Will Gemmell, owners of the Rusted Rake Farm. (PQB News file photo)
Clockwise from top left: panelist Jacomien van Tonder, moderator Kerry Slavens and panellists Paul Shorthouse and Ross Blackwell discussed the concepts behind the circular economy during a session at the State of the Island Economic Summit on Wednesday. (Vancouver Island Economic Alliance image)

Island economic summit panellists discuss sustainability based on ‘doughnut’ model

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance summit panel examines modern production of goods

Clockwise from top left: panelist Jacomien van Tonder, moderator Kerry Slavens and panellists Paul Shorthouse and Ross Blackwell discussed the concepts behind the circular economy during a session at the State of the Island Economic Summit on Wednesday. (Vancouver Island Economic Alliance image)
Kendra MacDonald is CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. She is the keynote presenter at the State of the Island Economic Summit, taking place virtually Oct. 27–29, 2020. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Ocean potential takes the spotlight at the 2020 ‘State of the Island’ Economic Summit

Vancouver Island Economic Alliance’s annual summit goes digital for 2020

Kendra MacDonald is CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. She is the keynote presenter at the State of the Island Economic Summit, taking place virtually Oct. 27–29, 2020. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Woodgrove Centre says it will refuse service to customers who don’t comply with its health and safety rules starting Monday, Oct. 5. (News Bulletin file photo)

Woodgrove Centre making mandatory mask policy more strict

Mall will refuse service to customers who don’t comply with health and safety rules starting Oct. 5

Woodgrove Centre says it will refuse service to customers who don’t comply with its health and safety rules starting Monday, Oct. 5. (News Bulletin file photo)
Murray McNab welcomes visitors to McNab’s Corn Maze and Produce Farm. (Cole Schisler/Black Press)

McNab’s Corn Maze is open for pumpkin patch season

Yellow Point business will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Halloween

Murray McNab welcomes visitors to McNab’s Corn Maze and Produce Farm. (Cole Schisler/Black Press)
Shirley Harvey, office manager at Living Forest Oceanside Campground, which was voted Best Local Campground. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Best of the City: More than just the great outdoors

Living Forest Oceanside Campground voted Best Local Campground in Nanaimo

Shirley Harvey, office manager at Living Forest Oceanside Campground, which was voted Best Local Campground. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
Mood Cannabis Co. placed second in the Best Customer Service category in the Best of the City survey. (News Bulletin file photo)

Best of the City: Cannabis store’s customer service impresses

Mood Cannabis Co. finishes second for Best Customer Service in reader survey

Mood Cannabis Co. placed second in the Best Customer Service category in the Best of the City survey. (News Bulletin file photo)
Top Notch Burgers co-owner David Peck, right, and his team won the Best Hamburgers category in the Best of the City survey. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Best of the City: Burger joint is tops in Nanaimo

Newly opened Top Notch Burgers Grill and Lounge voted Best Hamburgers

Top Notch Burgers co-owner David Peck, right, and his team won the Best Hamburgers category in the Best of the City survey. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
Fiona, left, and Kara Shedden, owners of Burnt Honey Dessert Company. (Photo submitted)

Best of the City: How sweet it is

Burnt Honey Dessert Company serves up city’s favourite desserts

Fiona, left, and Kara Shedden, owners of Burnt Honey Dessert Company. (Photo submitted)
Modo Yoga instructors Kate Beddows, left, and Jon Dickson, staff member Lisa Moore and co-owner Kristen Butler hold the warrior position at the studio on Dufferin Crescent. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Best of the City: Breathe easy

Modo Yoga wins Best Yoga Studio category during challenging time for health and wellness businesses

Modo Yoga instructors Kate Beddows, left, and Jon Dickson, staff member Lisa Moore and co-owner Kristen Butler hold the warrior position at the studio on Dufferin Crescent. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)