Local Business

Daniel Eichstadter and Genevieve Huneault of Port Alberni are creating new furniture from old with their new business, Redo Robin. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)

BIZ BEAT: New business in Port Alberni born from home renovation project

Distillery opening on Johnston Road

Victoria developer Chris Le Fevre purchased an empty parking lot in Port Alberni’s uptown and plans to create Woodwards Village, a housing development that will be an homage to a popular department store that once used the lot for parking. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Victoria developer sees housing potential in Port Alberni’s south side

Chris Le Fevre plans to convert former Woodward’s parking lot into homes

Jennifer Quist was the first to purchase a tickets at the Rotary Club of Port Alberni 50/50 Salmon Derby Raffle drive-thru ticket booth on Saturday, June 19, 2021. The booth will be set up in front of Scotiabank every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Labour Day. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)

BIZ BEAT: Rotary Club of Port Alberni opens drive-thru raffle tickets

New businesses opening, old businesses moving in Port Alberni

Craft Brewing and Malting program student Ellie Hadley plans to use her newfound skills and knowledge to set up a distillery in Port Alberni. (PHOTO COURTESY LEE SIMMONS)

Something’s brewing with North Island College’s newest program

Port Alberni grad Ellie Hadley hopes to turn new skills into thriving business

Craft Brewing and Malting program student Ellie Hadley plans to use her newfound skills and knowledge to set up a distillery in Port Alberni. (PHOTO COURTESY LEE SIMMONS)
Robin Miles and Andy Richards, left, with dog Gary Richards, join David Wiwchar and Megan Gibson, far right, in presenting Ellen Frood, front, with a cheque. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni radio station, craft brewery pair up for good cause

PEAK FM, Dog Mountain Brewery create special fundraising brew

Robin Miles and Andy Richards, left, with dog Gary Richards, join David Wiwchar and Megan Gibson, far right, in presenting Ellen Frood, front, with a cheque. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
New Bare Bones restaurant owner Lance Dodding, his wife Matraca and son Ryker pose with previous owners Steve and AC Evans. Dodding is renovating the restaurant and expanding the outdoor patio at the historic church building on Johnston Road in Port Alberni. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

BUSINESS BEAT: New family takes over Bare Bones restaurant

Popular Port Alberni eatery undergoing renos, including a new outdoor patio

  • May 26, 2021
New Bare Bones restaurant owner Lance Dodding, his wife Matraca and son Ryker pose with previous owners Steve and AC Evans. Dodding is renovating the restaurant and expanding the outdoor patio at the historic church building on Johnston Road in Port Alberni. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Naomi Pope’s ‘Magical Macktush’ won Mosaic Forest Management’s 2020 photo contest. Whose entry will win this year? (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Capture B.C.’s beauty this summer and win camping passes with Mosaic

Last year’s photo contest drew 450 entries as people headed outdoors

  • May 21, 2021
Naomi Pope’s ‘Magical Macktush’ won Mosaic Forest Management’s 2020 photo contest. Whose entry will win this year? (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
NIC’s new president Lisa Domae assumed the role of president on April 12. Domae has worked at NIC since 2000, most recently as the executive vice president, academic and chief operating officer. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

New North Island College president launches draft strategic plan

Lisa Domae assumed the role of president on April 12, 2021

NIC’s new president Lisa Domae assumed the role of president on April 12. Domae has worked at NIC since 2000, most recently as the executive vice president, academic and chief operating officer. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
The North Island College campus in Port Alberni is located on Roger Street. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

North Island College to offer digital and in-person classes this fall

In-person classes will be able to resume in September

The North Island College campus in Port Alberni is located on Roger Street. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Ed and Naomi Nicholson have managed to expand Chims Guest House despite the novel coronavirus pandemic. Now they are up for a VIREB commercial building award for their expansion. (CHAISSON CREATIVE PHOTO)

Chims Guest House up for VIREB award

Business is the only one in Port Alberni on Island-based list of finalists

Ed and Naomi Nicholson have managed to expand Chims Guest House despite the novel coronavirus pandemic. Now they are up for a VIREB commercial building award for their expansion. (CHAISSON CREATIVE PHOTO)
Ryan Toso, pictured, and Cassidy McCaughan have opened Mobius Books on Argyle Street in Port Alberni. The city hasn’t had a dedicated bookstore in a couple of years. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)

BIZ BEAT: New bookstore opens in Uptown Port Alberni

See what else is new in the Port Alberni business community

Ryan Toso, pictured, and Cassidy McCaughan have opened Mobius Books on Argyle Street in Port Alberni. The city hasn’t had a dedicated bookstore in a couple of years. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)
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)
The new Clean Cart technology makes sure carts are well-sanitized for customer use. (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’

The new Clean Cart technology makes sure carts are well-sanitized for customer use. (Michael Briones photo)
A worker checks to ensure his work is square at the Maitland Street Village low energy housing complex. (March 15, 2021) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni’s new low energy housing development progresses

List of interested renters grows before managers are even hired

A worker checks to ensure his work is square at the Maitland Street Village low energy housing complex. (March 15, 2021) (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)

Survey finds Canada’s hospitality industry has low expectations for year ahead

Almost 87 per cent of businesses in accommodation and food services report lower revenues in 2020

Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)
The new BMO branch that opened on Johnston Road on March 15, 2021 features a drive-thru ATM and other high-tech digital features inside. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

New BMO location opens in Port Alberni

The new bank features a drive-thru ATM

The new BMO branch that opened on Johnston Road on March 15, 2021 features a drive-thru ATM and other high-tech digital features inside. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Alicia Puusepp and Chris Pouget are the new owners of Riverbend Cafe & Store on River Road. They have been busy renovating the store over the winter. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

BIZ BEAT: Port Alberni’s Riverbend Cafe makes a comeback

New businesses open in the Alberni Valley, while others mark milestones

Alicia Puusepp and Chris Pouget are the new owners of Riverbend Cafe & Store on River Road. They have been busy renovating the store over the winter. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
The North Island College campus in Port Alberni is located on Roger Street. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

North Island College prepares for return of in-person classes

Some programs will continue in an online format

The North Island College campus in Port Alberni is located on Roger Street. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
The sun shines on Pachena Beach on Vancouver Island’s west coast. The Huu-ay-aht First Nations have plans to expand the Pachena Campground in 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY HEATHER THOMSON)

Huu-ay-aht First Nations receive $510K to expand Pachena Bay Campground

Grant is part of the province’s Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program

The sun shines on Pachena Beach on Vancouver Island’s west coast. The Huu-ay-aht First Nations have plans to expand the Pachena Campground in 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY HEATHER THOMSON)
The former BC ferry MV Tenaka will be leaving Port Alberni’s harbour at the end of March after someone in Alaska bought it from Lady Rose Marine Services. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Lady Rose Marine Services sells former BC ferry

Port Alberni business had hopes of servicing car ferry to west coast before COVID-19 hit

The former BC ferry MV Tenaka will be leaving Port Alberni’s harbour at the end of March after someone in Alaska bought it from Lady Rose Marine Services. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)