Local Business

A merger between Nanaimo-based Taste of B.C. Aquafarms and Blue Star Foods of Miami, Fla., will scale up land-based fish farm steelhead production on the mid Island. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo fish farm planning to scale up to 15 times its current production

Taste of B.C. Aquafarms was acquired by Miami, Fla.’s Blue Star Foods Corp. earlier this year

A robot helps out at Driftwood Restaurant, where it transports takeout orders from the kitchen to the front doors. (Photo submitted)

Robot a valued staff member at Nanaimo restaurant

‘Bella’ delivers food from the kitchen to the front doors at Driftwood Restaurant

Jeff and Rina Puska are planning a grand opening for their boutique and “cuddle farm” later in October. It features two sheep named Boots and O, among other animals. (Photo by Tyler Hay)

Yellow Point family brings original children’s book to life at ‘cuddle farm’

‘We wanted a place where people could just put their phones down and have this magical experience’

Paradise Mini Golf and Fun Park in Parksville. (News Bulletin file photo)

Parksville family leaving the mini golf business

New owners of Paradise Mini Golf will continue to operate business as mini golf course and RV park

  • Oct 4, 2021
Paradise Mini Golf and Fun Park in Parksville. (News Bulletin file photo)
Detail of a newspaper advertisement for the Nanaimo Business Awards.

Nanaimo Business Awards to be presented as part of TV broadcast

Sunday, Oct. 3 event to be broadcast and live-streamed on app and YouTube channel

Detail of a newspaper advertisement for the Nanaimo Business Awards.
Lynne Kellogg, assistant manager, and Fraser Archibald, one of Old City Panache’s 50 booths people, discuss the store’s displays as the market opens for the day’s business. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Curiosities and collectibles can be found at unique Nanaimo shop

Old City Panache has 50 vendors providing 50 opportunities to shop local

Lynne Kellogg, assistant manager, and Fraser Archibald, one of Old City Panache’s 50 booths people, discuss the store’s displays as the market opens for the day’s business. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Kelli Etheridge, co-owner of Vancouver Island Reusables, displays some of the take-out containers available to customers from restaurants participating in a reusable take-out container pilot program launched in Nanaimo this month. (Chris Bush/ News Bulletin)

Nanaimo reusable container business tries to limit take-out trash

Reusables Vancouver Island supplies restaurants with returnable stainless steel take-out containers

Kelli Etheridge, co-owner of Vancouver Island Reusables, displays some of the take-out containers available to customers from restaurants participating in a reusable take-out container pilot program launched in Nanaimo this month. (Chris Bush/ News Bulletin)
Jasmine Dorion, manager, and Robert Welbourne, a longtime employee at COCO Café, offer coffee, doughnuts, meals and more for patrons of the restaurant in Cedar. COCO Café was voted Best Community-Minded Business as well as Best Catering Company in this year’s Best of the City survey. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Best of the City: Café helps build sense of community

COCO Café voted Best Community-Minded Business in its 10th year of operation in Cedar

Jasmine Dorion, manager, and Robert Welbourne, a longtime employee at COCO Café, offer coffee, doughnuts, meals and more for patrons of the restaurant in Cedar. COCO Café was voted Best Community-Minded Business as well as Best Catering Company in this year’s Best of the City survey. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Tilray has announced it will shut down its Nanaimo offices and cultivation operation by spring 2022. (News Bulletin file photo)

Tilray announces it will be closing its Nanaimo operations

Closure to be completed in phases over the next few months

Tilray has announced it will shut down its Nanaimo offices and cultivation operation by spring 2022. (News Bulletin file photo)
Don Pigott, owner of Yellow Point Propagation, stands in front of a 1957 seed cleaner which sorts various species of seeds by size. The sorter is still in use at the Quennell Road business. (Duck Paterson photo)

Yellow Point company picks seeds for planting forests around the world

Yellow Point Propagation in the midst of seed-collecting season

  • Sep 3, 2021
Don Pigott, owner of Yellow Point Propagation, stands in front of a 1957 seed cleaner which sorts various species of seeds by size. The sorter is still in use at the Quennell Road business. (Duck Paterson photo)
An artist’s rendering of a nine-storey Courtyard by Marriott hotel at 100 Gordon St. (PEG Companies image)

Management company announced for Nanaimo’s conference centre hotel

Hotel Equities will manage Courtyard by Marriott, slated to open in the second quarter of 2022

An artist’s rendering of a nine-storey Courtyard by Marriott hotel at 100 Gordon St. (PEG Companies image)
Tseshaht Lead Beach Keeper Hank Gus says he’s looking forward to sharing the Broken Group Islands origin story with visitors. Gus has been a Beach Keeper for nine years. (Tseshaht First Nation photo)

Tseshaht First Nation re-opens Broken Group Islands with refreshed Beach Keepers Program

To help sustain the program, tour operators are encouraged to implement a $10 per day per guest fee

Tseshaht Lead Beach Keeper Hank Gus says he’s looking forward to sharing the Broken Group Islands origin story with visitors. Gus has been a Beach Keeper for nine years. (Tseshaht First Nation photo)
Ladysmith construction equipment rental company Xtend Rentals has purchased the former Chakalaka Restaurant and Market property. (Cole Schisler photo)

Construction rentals company purchases Chakalaka property near Nanaimo Airport

Xtend Rentals planning to open at Trans-Canada Highway location later this summer

Ladysmith construction equipment rental company Xtend Rentals has purchased the former Chakalaka Restaurant and Market property. (Cole Schisler photo)
The Nanaimo Business Awards are accepting nominations now. (Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce image)

Nanaimo Business Awards accepting nominations of worthy winners

This year’s awards aren’t until the fall, but the nomination period ends June 28

The Nanaimo Business Awards are accepting nominations now. (Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce image)
Tilray announces new line of products offering more inexpensive choices for medical cannabis users. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo-based Tilray launches new medical cannabis product line

Symbios brand products offered at ‘better price point’ for medical cannabis products

Tilray announces new line of products offering more inexpensive choices for medical cannabis users. (News Bulletin file photo)
Trees cannabis retail store, which operated without a licence prior to the legalization of recreational cannabis, is now re-opening with a licence, though it hasn’t competed its building permit process. (File photo)

Trees cannabis retail store gets permit exception to be able to re-open in Nanaimo

Trees previously operated without licence, has now obtained one

Trees cannabis retail store, which operated without a licence prior to the legalization of recreational cannabis, is now re-opening with a licence, though it hasn’t competed its building permit process. (File photo)
Jade Gunn, Country Grocer Bowen Road store scanner, holds a national bronze award from the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. Sharing the moment are Naomi MacPherson, bakery manager, left; Tory Dillabough, store manager; Dustin McKee, assistant store manager and Amanda Trotlisch, front end manager. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo grocery store wins national and regional industry awards

Country Grocer’s Bowen Road location recognized by Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers

Jade Gunn, Country Grocer Bowen Road store scanner, holds a national bronze award from the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers. Sharing the moment are Naomi MacPherson, bakery manager, left; Tory Dillabough, store manager; Dustin McKee, assistant store manager and Amanda Trotlisch, front end manager. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Nanaimo-based Tilray has been named to Time Magazine’s inaugural list of the 100 most influential companies. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo’s Tilray makes Time Magazine’s list of 100 most influential companies

List highlights businesses making ‘extraordinary impact’ around the world

Nanaimo-based Tilray has been named to Time Magazine’s inaugural list of the 100 most influential companies. (News Bulletin file photo)
The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tourism spending in Canada dropped by almost 50 per cent in 2020

Tourism-related jobs dropped by almost 29 per cent

The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)
Parksville Mayor Ed Mayne, right, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new Quality Foods store March 24, 2021 with QF president Noel Hayward, left, and store manager Darcy Ginter. (Michael Briones photo)

Quality Foods opens new flagship store in Parksville

Mayor: ‘City is obviously growing out this way so it’s going to be a big help to all the residents’

Parksville Mayor Ed Mayne, right, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new Quality Foods store March 24, 2021 with QF president Noel Hayward, left, and store manager Darcy Ginter. (Michael Briones photo)