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 plans to scale up production 15 times thanks to US deal

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

Alpina Restaurant at Villa Eyrie Resort on the Malahat was among seven eateries on the Island that made the opentable.com Top 100 best patios list. (OpenTable photo)

Seven Vancouver Island eateries crack national outdoor dining top 100 list

Diner-voted restaurants on Island range from Mill Bay to Oak Bay, Saanich to downtown Victoria

Carbon Engineering’s pilot project at Squamish B.C. began in 2018, extracting carbon dioxide from air to convert to liquid fuel. Huron Clean Energy is building a similar facility with the Upper Nicola Band at Merritt B.C. (Carbon Engineering photo)

B.C. government puts $2M toward carbon capture fuel plant at Merritt

Upper Nicola Band partners in hydrogen fuel conversion plant

Pruning fruit trees is one of the jobs where temporary foreign workers may be used. B.C. moves to a minimum working age of 16 as of Oct. 15, with exeptions for “light work” on farms such as hand harvesting. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

B.C.’s minimum working age going from 12 to 16 on Friday

Some recreation, farm, administrative, retail jobs allowed at 14

Pruning fruit trees is one of the jobs where temporary foreign workers may be used. B.C. moves to a minimum working age of 16 as of Oct. 15, with exeptions for “light work” on farms such as hand harvesting. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, left, and Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA) chair Shelley Chrest cut the ribbon at the grand opening for Dock+, the food hub at the former Port Fish plant by Tyee Landing, on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. (MIKE YOUDS/ Special to the AV News)

The Dock+ food hub fuels appetites and innovation in Port Alberni

The new food hub formally opened with a showcase of vendors

  • Oct 5, 2021
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, left, and Port Alberni Port Authority (PAPA) chair Shelley Chrest cut the ribbon at the grand opening for Dock+, the food hub at the former Port Fish plant by Tyee Landing, on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. (MIKE YOUDS/ Special to the AV News)
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

A robot helps out at Driftwood Restaurant, where it transports takeout orders from the kitchen to the front doors. (Photo submitted)
Less than a month after returning for the first time in a year and a half, the Victoria Clipper has suspended ferry sailings between Seattle and Victoria until next spring. (Courtesy Victoria Clipper)

Victoria Clipper suspends sailings until spring 2022 due to pandemic impacts

Passenger ferry service restarted making trips between Seattle and Victoria on Sept. 17

Less than a month after returning for the first time in a year and a half, the Victoria Clipper has suspended ferry sailings between Seattle and Victoria until next spring. (Courtesy Victoria Clipper)
Independent economists’ analysis of B.C.’s natural gas royalty program shows how decades of incentive programs have led to decreased royalties. (B.C. energy ministry)

B.C.’s biggest natural gas leak is revenue loss from Crown sales

Outdated incentives are ‘fossil fuel subsidies,’ minister admits

Independent economists’ analysis of B.C.’s natural gas royalty program shows how decades of incentive programs have led to decreased royalties. (B.C. energy ministry)
Dog Mountain Brewing owners Andy Richards and Robin Miles, from left, and Twin City Brewing owner Aaron Colyn show off their awards (gold and bronze, respectively) from the Canadian Brewing Awards in Quebec City in September. (PHOTO COURTESY DOG MOUNTAIN BREWING)

Port Alberni brewers win big at national brewing competition

Brewers also noticed at annual Growlies, voted on by public

Dog Mountain Brewing owners Andy Richards and Robin Miles, from left, and Twin City Brewing owner Aaron Colyn show off their awards (gold and bronze, respectively) from the Canadian Brewing Awards in Quebec City in September. (PHOTO COURTESY DOG MOUNTAIN BREWING)
Venture capital firm “The51” founders Judy Fairburn, left, co-CEO and fund managing partner, and Shelley Kuipers co-CEO, general partner and growth officer, are shown in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Venture fund aims to unleash the power of female capital in the agri-tech space

Focus in on agriculture and food was made because of an ‘unprecedented economic opportunity’ in the space

Venture capital firm “The51” founders Judy Fairburn, left, co-CEO and fund managing partner, and Shelley Kuipers co-CEO, general partner and growth officer, are shown in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, speaks at a restaurant in Delta, B.C., on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. leads in job creation numbers, but more work ahead, says recovery minister

Kahlon says the provincial jobless rate has fallen below six per cent

Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation, speaks at a restaurant in Delta, B.C., on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Gas flare near Dawson Creek B.C., the province’s main region for gas and oil production. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C., Blueberry River make deal to keep most industry going

20 oil and gas, forestry, land permits suspended

Gas flare near Dawson Creek B.C., the province’s main region for gas and oil production. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
A worker smooths concrete at a construction site in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Canada adds 157,000 jobs in September, returning to pre-pandemic levels

The country’s unemployment rate fell to 6.9 per cent

A worker smooths concrete at a construction site in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Michael Kovrig, centre, embraces his wife Vina Nadjibulla, left, and sister Ariana Botha after arriving at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Two Canadians who were imprisoned in China for nearly three years are home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canada shrugs at China’s application to join Pacific Rim trade agreement

Canada says China will only be permitted entry into the CPTPP if it meets the “high standard” required

Michael Kovrig, centre, embraces his wife Vina Nadjibulla, left, and sister Ariana Botha after arriving at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Two Canadians who were imprisoned in China for nearly three years are home. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Facebook says the Federal Trade Commission failed to prove that it has a monopoly in the “personal social networking space”. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Facebook asks court to dismiss FTC antitrust complaint

Facebook is asking a federal court to dismiss a revised complaint against…

Facebook says the Federal Trade Commission failed to prove that it has a monopoly in the “personal social networking space”. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Representatives from Tseshaht First Nation accept the $10,000 donation at the Catalyst Port Alberni mill. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Paper Excellence makes $10,000 donation for residential school memorial in Port Alberni

Tseshaht First Nation is raising funds to honour residential school survivors and victims

Representatives from Tseshaht First Nation accept the $10,000 donation at the Catalyst Port Alberni mill. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson makes an announcement in Calgary on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. An Alberta First Nation says it continues to doubt the need for a federal environmental review of a proposed thermal coal mine expansion in the province.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

No need for federal involvement in Alberta coal mine review, First Nations say

First Nations considered Canada will not consider economic aspect of decision

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson makes an announcement in Calgary on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. An Alberta First Nation says it continues to doubt the need for a federal environmental review of a proposed thermal coal mine expansion in the province.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Phyllis Shaw from Aunties Chumus Indian Tacos cleans salmon (springs) she purchased in order to give away the eggs, or roe, for upsqwii. Shaw and her family operated a popular concession at the Alberni District Fall Fair Sept. 10–12, 2021, that featured a five-pound Indian Taco-eating contest. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Tacos with an Indigenous twist drew crowds to Alberni District Fall Fair

Phyllis Shaw and family hope to open a pop-up takeout spot, dream of food truck

Phyllis Shaw from Aunties Chumus Indian Tacos cleans salmon (springs) she purchased in order to give away the eggs, or roe, for upsqwii. Shaw and her family operated a popular concession at the Alberni District Fall Fair Sept. 10–12, 2021, that featured a five-pound Indian Taco-eating contest. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
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)
A graph depicting job vacancy rate from 2015 through to the second quarter of 2021 for Canada (red), British Columbia (dark green) and Vancouver Island (light green). Data was not collected for Q2 and Q3 of 2020 due to the pandemic, hence the gap on the graph. Source: Statistics Canada 14-10-0325-01.

High job vacancy continues to be felt across Vancouver Island

Record high job vacancies in Q2 2021 caused by pandemic’s ‘perfect storm’

A graph depicting job vacancy rate from 2015 through to the second quarter of 2021 for Canada (red), British Columbia (dark green) and Vancouver Island (light green). Data was not collected for Q2 and Q3 of 2020 due to the pandemic, hence the gap on the graph. Source: Statistics Canada 14-10-0325-01.