Business

Ann Squires Ferguson of Western Design + Build. Lia Crowe photography

Secrets and Lives with CEO Ann Squires Ferguson

Reshaping the construction and design industries

  • Oct 15, 2021

 

Daniel Caicedo, owner of Victoria Restorations, sits next to a fireplace his company provided the chimney finish for in a Sidney home. Don Denton photograph

Transforming spaces with Venetian plastering and more

Daniel Caiceda’s Victoria Restorations changes the ordinary to extraordinary

  • Oct 13, 2021

 

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

 

The Vancouver Island Economic Summit will be entirely virtual again this year. Organizers had previously hoped to have a hybrid event in Nanaimo, but have now opted not to offer any in-person events as part of the summit. (News Bulletin file photo)

Vancouver Island Economic Summit decides on an all-virtual event

Originally intended as hybrid in-person event, this month’s summit will take place online again

The Vancouver Island Economic Summit will be entirely virtual again this year. Organizers had previously hoped to have a hybrid event in Nanaimo, but have now opted not to offer any in-person events as part of the summit. (News Bulletin file photo)
Ryan Messer. Lia Crowe photography

Keeping it casual with Ryan Messer

Life and style in the Okanagan

  • Oct 6, 2021
Ryan Messer. Lia Crowe photography
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.
Representatives from Van Isle Windows celebrate a previous Torch Awards win at a gala hosted by the Better Business Bureau serving Vancouver Island. The 2021 finalists were recently announced. (Facebook/Better Business Bureau serving Vancouver Island)

Better Business Bureau Torch Awards double down with annual Vancouver Island celebration

2021 finalists come from two years of nominees; all to be recognized at November gala in Victoria

Representatives from Van Isle Windows celebrate a previous Torch Awards win at a gala hosted by the Better Business Bureau serving Vancouver Island. The 2021 finalists were recently announced. (Facebook/Better Business Bureau serving Vancouver Island)
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)
Optometrists Dr. Anita Voisin and Dr. Trevor Miranda from Cowichan Eyecare. Don Denton photograph

Seeing is believing at Cowichan Eyecare

Providing vision education for the community

  • Sep 27, 2021
Optometrists Dr. Anita Voisin and Dr. Trevor Miranda from Cowichan Eyecare. Don Denton photograph
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)
Sooke Cedar House is tucked away off Sooke Road and overlooks English gardens complete with fountains, arbours, and ponds. (Contributed - Airbnb)

Vancouver Island Airbnb host ranked top in the province

Sooke Cedar House received the most positive reviews of any Airbnb in Canada

Sooke Cedar House is tucked away off Sooke Road and overlooks English gardens complete with fountains, arbours, and ponds. (Contributed - Airbnb)
DriveWise BC Kate Harris. Photography by Lia Crowe

DriveWise BC’s Kate Harris

From ski instructor to family business CEO

  • Sep 22, 2021
DriveWise BC Kate Harris. Photography by Lia Crowe
Deni Bezeau, owner of Deni’s Dynamite Deals, set up his thrift store at the corner of Bruce Avenue and Seventh Street in Nanaimo to raise money for high school extracurricular programs and other organizations in need of cash. He now donates about $11,000 monthly. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo thrift store’s deals help out Harewood neighbourhood

Deni’s Dynamite Deals donates thousands of dollars every month

Deni Bezeau, owner of Deni’s Dynamite Deals, set up his thrift store at the corner of Bruce Avenue and Seventh Street in Nanaimo to raise money for high school extracurricular programs and other organizations in need of cash. He now donates about $11,000 monthly. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Nature and wildlife photographer Catherine Babault photographed in Moorecroft Regional park in Nanoose Bay. Don Denton photograph

Photographer Catherine Babault’s passion for the wild spaces

Nature and wildlife photography a full time business

  • Sep 17, 2021
Nature and wildlife photographer Catherine Babault photographed in Moorecroft Regional park in Nanoose Bay. Don Denton photograph
A model of a vessel that was previously planned to come into service between Nanaimo and Vancouver. (Black Press file photo)

New lease agreement renews Nanaimo-Vancouver fast ferry hopes

Port of Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw announce deal with funding partner

A model of a vessel that was previously planned to come into service between Nanaimo and Vancouver. (Black Press file photo)
The Port of Nanaimo and Snuneymuxw First Nation announced a lease agreement with Conqora Capital Partners for a long-term lease at the port’s Nanaimo Assembly Wharf. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Port Authority)

New lease agreement renews Nanaimo-Vancouver fast ferry hopes

Port of Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw announce deal with funding partner

The Port of Nanaimo and Snuneymuxw First Nation announced a lease agreement with Conqora Capital Partners for a long-term lease at the port’s Nanaimo Assembly Wharf. (Photo courtesy Nanaimo Port Authority)
The BC Vaccine Card Verifier app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. (Black Press Media files)

Business as usual for many Vancouver Island establishments as vaccine pass arrives

Fitness centres and arenas see similar numbers of patrons, restaurant industry asking for patience

The BC Vaccine Card Verifier app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. (Black Press Media files)
‘Rogan the Painting Dog’ creates artwork featured on Foley Dog Treat Company packaging as part of a charitable partnership. (Photo submitted)

Painting ‘paw’-digy motivated by B.C. doggie treats

Nanaimo’s Foley Dog Treat Company partners with artistic pooch on charitable initiative

‘Rogan the Painting Dog’ creates artwork featured on Foley Dog Treat Company packaging as part of a charitable partnership. (Photo submitted)
Rogan the Painting Dog creates artwork featured on Foley Dog Treat Company packaging as part of a charitable partnership. (Photo submitted)

Painting dog motivated by Nanaimo doggie treats

Foley Dog Treat Company partners with artistic pooch on charitable initiative

Rogan the Painting Dog creates artwork featured on Foley Dog Treat Company packaging as part of a charitable partnership. (Photo submitted)
A diner at Bartaco uses their app to order an item off the menu, at the restaurant in Arlington, Va., on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. The restaurant is using an automated app for ordering and payments. Instead of servers they use “food runners” to get the food to the tables. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Do we need humans for that job? Automation booms after COVID

Ideally, automation can redeploy workers into better and more interesting work

A diner at Bartaco uses their app to order an item off the menu, at the restaurant in Arlington, Va., on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. The restaurant is using an automated app for ordering and payments. Instead of servers they use “food runners” to get the food to the tables. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)