State of the Basin Focus - Subjective Well-being Research Released
Personal and community well-being contribute to the health, vitality, and future of our communities. To understand this subjective well-being, in 2021, researchers at Selkirk Innovates administered a survey to 400 residents of the Columbia Basin-Boundary Region. The survey asked over 100 questions regarding residents’...
LIVING HERE: More than just a pretty fascia: Why Castlegar believes community is the best foundation
The Visitors’ Centre in Castlegar, is your typical, volunteer-built building. In the 1980s, locals came together, donating material, time and sweat to raise the chocolate-malt coloured building. And during last June’s heat dome, the space was a significant point of contact. “That was a big deal for us to ensure we had a lot...
B.C. minimum wage increases June 1 for lowest paid workers
As of June 1, 2022, B.C.’s lowest paid workers will get a pay boost as the minimum wage increases from $15.20 to $15.65 per hour, which is the highest of any province. This increase is part of a commitment made by government in 2018 to support workers and their families. Five years of measured, predictable increases have...
Kootenay Entrepreneurs to Compete in Spring Pitch Showcase Finale
The Kootenay Association for Science and Technology (KAST) has partnered with Spring Activator and Volition to host a Pitch Showcase Finale, a capstone event of the Investment Readiness Training (IRT) program in support of tech-focused entrepreneurs and start-up founders from across the Kootenay region.This FREE virtual event...
Midway Mill resumes operations after a maintenance-mandated shutdown
After a four-week long shutdown to repair and restore mill equipment, Vaagen Fibre Canada’s Midway Mill is back in operation. The shutdown started April 4, and was a way to conduct a thorough check-up on the health of all the machinery and ensure a smooth-running operation for the remainder of the year, said Plant Manager...
City of Castlegar Brings Business Outdoors
The City of Castlegar approved a Sidewalk Vendor Bylaw which supports outdoor patios and vending. The new Bylaw replaces the Open Streets Pilot Project by introducing specifications for storefront retail and patios and providing certainty by creating a long-term program through regulation. Open Streets was initiated in 2020...
BC Chamber of Commerce Responds to BC Budget 2022
The provincial government today unveiled its 2022 budget that reflects its plans to support priorities such as childcare, homelessness and mental health, reconciliation, and the continued transition to a low carbon economy. “The budget provides significant resources to support inclusive and clean growth as outlined in the...
Castlegar gets funding for new multi-purpose visitors centre
The Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a huge funding announcement from the federal and provincial governments that means we will be able to move ahead with plans for a new $5 million multi-use, Passive House certified, Mass Timber building, that will operate with 85% reduced emissions. This...
A Foundation of Respect; Forging Employee and Company Relationships
Teck Trail Operations is proud to commemorate 125 years of continuous smelting with an eight-part series that explores the company’s significant role in the region and industry, from the gold rush to becoming one of the world’s largest fully integrated zinc and lead smelting and refining complexes. Since 1896, visionary...
New virtual holiday pop-up shop supports Kootenay women-owned businesses
As shoppers search for the perfect gift this holiday season, WeBC is making it easy to spend locally with a new virtual pop-up shop, #WeShopBC, featuring over 450 women-led businesses based in British Columbia. WeBC, previously Women’s Enterprise Centre, is a non-profit organization that supports B.C.-based small business ...
