Small Business

Walter Tarnowsky, right, general manager of Catalyst Paper—a Paper Excellence Mill in Port Alberni, donates $2,000 to Ed and Naomi Nicholson for their second annual Chims Fest, happening Saturday, Aug. 6 at Chims Guest House. (PHOTO COURTESY NAOMI NICHOLSON)

Chims Fest mixes Indigenous culture, food, fashion and a love story

Education is key to reconciliation, say Tseshaht First Nation hosts Ed and Naomi Nicholson

 

Inky Cauldron owner Suzy Merriam collects vintage and eclectic items in her new shop on lower Johnston Road in Port Alberni. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)

BIZ BEAT: Vintage collectibles store finds a home in Port Alberni

New food truck joins the ranks at Clutesi Haven Marina

 

Terry Deakin of INEO Employment, third from left, presents the team at Power of Three with a COVID Resilience Award for 2022 at the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce community excellence awards, Friday, June 10, 2022 at McLean Mill National HIstoric Site. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce celebrates three years of community excellence

Three years’ worth of awards handed out at gala on McLean Mill grounds

 

Jan Lavertu, owner of Westcoast Home Hardware in Port Alberni, says moving to the second anchor spot at the revamped Alberni Mall was a good move. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

PROGRESS 2022: Alberni Mall thrives on reinvention

Mall is built on memories and community

Jan Lavertu, owner of Westcoast Home Hardware in Port Alberni, says moving to the second anchor spot at the revamped Alberni Mall was a good move. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Charlene Patterson took ‘the little white church on Argyle Street’ and transformed it into an intimate live music venue in Port Alberni. (HEATHER WARREN/ Special to the AV News)

PROGRESS 2022: Voices rise on Argyle Street in Port Alberni

Historic church’s metamorphosis into a music venue

Charlene Patterson took ‘the little white church on Argyle Street’ and transformed it into an intimate live music venue in Port Alberni. (HEATHER WARREN/ Special to the AV News)
Corey Bradder, left, and Aaron Colyn show off Twin City Brewing’s national awards, while Robin Miles and Andy Richards hold up their hardware from the recent Canadian Brewing Awards. (TWIN CITY BREWING PHOTO)

BIZ BEAT: Alberni Valley brewers bring home the bling from Canadian Brewing Awards

A mom who saw a need opens new childcare centre in Port Alberni

Corey Bradder, left, and Aaron Colyn show off Twin City Brewing’s national awards, while Robin Miles and Andy Richards hold up their hardware from the recent Canadian Brewing Awards. (TWIN CITY BREWING PHOTO)
Small business owners are feeling the pinch from inflationary pressures and taxes. (Black Press File Photo)

B.C. small business owners worried about tax bills, inflation

A survey from Ownr found 31 per cent of small business owners are worried about their tax burden

Small business owners are feeling the pinch from inflationary pressures and taxes. (Black Press File Photo)
Kathleen Bodaly has opened Witchy Woman Supply Co. at Harbour Quay in Port Alberni. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)

BIZ BEAT: Single candle sparks new small business on Port Alberni’s waterfront

Business moves from farmers’ market to storefront

Kathleen Bodaly has opened Witchy Woman Supply Co. at Harbour Quay in Port Alberni. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)
Nanaimo author Josh Gillingham has created the Vancouver Island Coffee Tour website that includes a map with directions to a growing list of more than 50 independent coffee roasters across the Island and Gulf Islands that tourists and residents can follow to find the region’s best brews. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo author’s online ‘coffee tour’ an added perk for visiting Vancouver Island

Residents and visitors can follow guide to more than 50 Island-region coffee roasters

Nanaimo author Josh Gillingham has created the Vancouver Island Coffee Tour website that includes a map with directions to a growing list of more than 50 independent coffee roasters across the Island and Gulf Islands that tourists and residents can follow to find the region’s best brews. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
Construction continues on the new Wendy’s restaurant at Johnston Road and Cherry Creek Road in Port Alberni. The eatery will likely open at the end of April. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni residents await official opening of Wendy’s in Alberni Mall

Construction continues at the corner of Johnston Road and Cherry Creek Road

Construction continues on the new Wendy’s restaurant at Johnston Road and Cherry Creek Road in Port Alberni. The eatery will likely open at the end of April. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Darioush Diba, owner of Bubby’s Restaurant, stands outside its Menzies Street location. He questions the need for the level of traffic restrictions into James Bay as are being exercised by VicPD. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Eateries less busy, staff late since checkpoints installed for Victoria protests

Operators have mixed views on need for Victoria police controls on neighbourhood entry

Darioush Diba, owner of Bubby’s Restaurant, stands outside its Menzies Street location. He questions the need for the level of traffic restrictions into James Bay as are being exercised by VicPD. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Handmade and painted wooden hearts are available for a minimum $5 donation at Westcoast Home Hardware. All funds will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross.(FACEBOOK PHOTO)

BIZ BEAT: Port Alberni businesses show support for Ukraine

Many businesses in Port Alberni are holding fundraisers for humanitarian efforts

Handmade and painted wooden hearts are available for a minimum $5 donation at Westcoast Home Hardware. All funds will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross.(FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Earth, Land & Sea, a local, family-run processing facility, will process the material from the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District’s new roadside organics collection program. (NEWS FILE PHOTO)

Nine Alberni Valley businesses nominated for excellence on Vancouver Island

21st annual Business Excellence Awards in-person celebration planned for March 17

Earth, Land & Sea, a local, family-run processing facility, will process the material from the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District’s new roadside organics collection program. (NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Emma, 10 months, and Dylan Lowe-Wylde, 3, accompanied by mother Deena Sparling, have a quick chat with Santa Claus at Steampunk Café during Moonlight Madness in Uptown Port Alberni on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. <ins>Santa will return to Steampunk Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to visit with kids. Photos by non-perishable food or cash donation.</ins> (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Santa Claus makes appearance at Steampunk Café in Port Alberni

Uptown Port Alberni celebrates Moonlight Madness

Emma, 10 months, and Dylan Lowe-Wylde, 3, accompanied by mother Deena Sparling, have a quick chat with Santa Claus at Steampunk Café during Moonlight Madness in Uptown Port Alberni on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. <ins>Santa will return to Steampunk Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to visit with kids. Photos by non-perishable food or cash donation.</ins> (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Rob and Nellie Lindsay are the new owners of Mr. & Mrs. Potato food truck. They will join the food truck pod at Clutesi Haven Marina. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

BUSINESS BEAT: Dog Mountain Brewing is expanding in Port Alberni’s uptown neighbourhood

A number of Alberni Valley businesses celebrate anniversaries at this time of year

Rob and Nellie Lindsay are the new owners of Mr. & Mrs. Potato food truck. They will join the food truck pod at Clutesi Haven Marina. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Michelle Frost has opened a new shop in Port Alberni, Coastal Flow Creative, that offers lessons and supplies for the fibre arts. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)

BUSINESS BEAT: Coastal Flow Creative in Port Alberni focuses on fibre arts

New eateries, new owners at established restaurants are a trend in the Alberni Valley

Michelle Frost has opened a new shop in Port Alberni, Coastal Flow Creative, that offers lessons and supplies for the fibre arts. (FACEBOOK PHOTO)
Theodore Naim is the owner of 24 Hour Club, specializing in sought-after name brand sneakers and streetwear. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)

BUSINESS BEAT: New shops bringing fresh looks to Port Alberni

From sneakers to screenprinting to barbering, new stores mean opportunity

Theodore Naim is the owner of 24 Hour Club, specializing in sought-after name brand sneakers and streetwear. (TERESA BIRD/ Alberni Valley News)
Enjoying a beverage on a restaurant patio in Port Alberni comes with some new COVID-19 conditions as of Sept. 13, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni businesses grapple with threats as new COVID-19 vaccine passports start

‘These things are beyond our control…there is no option to opt out.’

Enjoying a beverage on a restaurant patio in Port Alberni comes with some new COVID-19 conditions as of Sept. 13, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Markus Spodzieja (centre) with his crew members at the Bikery bakery. (Kiernan Green / News Staff)

The Bikery opens Island’s first kosher bakery in Victoria’s Public Market

Baker Markus Spodzieja and business partner Kimanda Jarzebiak filling a local niche

Markus Spodzieja (centre) with his crew members at the Bikery bakery. (Kiernan Green / News Staff)
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

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)