Tilray closing Nanaimo properties

LEAMINGTON, Ont. — Cannabis company Tilray Inc., which merged with Aphria Inc. earlier this year, says it will close a Nanaimo, B.C., office and facility. The company says in an email that it is closing the facilities to optimize operational efficiencies and save costs following the merger. The company did not share how many workers […]

Cruise ship bills could hurt BC

VANCOUVER — Two U.S. bills proposed by a congressman and senator aimed at allowing Alaska-bound cruise ships to bypass Canadian ports would have a “devastating” effect on B.C.’s economy, the head of Victoria’s harbour authority says. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski proposed a bill Wednesday that would allow cruise ships carrying more than 1,000 passengers and […]

Business issues top of mind

Business owners and ordinary citizens don’t always agree on what top concerns and priorities for political parties should be during an election, but a Mustel survey released today finds businesses and ordinary citizens lining up on a few key priorities. Inflation, debt and affordability, including affordability of housing, are among the top concerns shared by […]

BC business not very trusting

Research showing B.C. business leaders’ “deteriorating trust” in the province’s economic direction is an urgent wake-up call for policy-makers, the report’s author says. The report, which collected the opinions of 49 top-level B.C. business executives at major firms, showed that three-fifths of the respondents were either “somewhat unconfident” or “very unconfident” about the state of […]

Province ponies up for events

VANCOUVER — The B.C. government is spending $12.9 million to make grants available to festivals, fairs and community events affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Melanie Mark, the minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, says events will be eligible to claim up to $250,000 with applications open until Oct. 1. The money can go toward […]

Visual effects company comes north

The Oscar-winning visual effects company behind blockbuster fare such as Inception and Interstellar is set to expand its footprint in Hollywood North. Double Negative Ltd. (DNEG) will be hiring up to 100 workers for a new feature animation studio in Vancouver as the VFX house aims to grow significantly across Canada’s major tech hubs. Prior […]

Amazon coming to Victoria

Amazon will be the tenant of the now-approved distribution centre on Victoria Airport Authority lands. York Realty will build a 115,000-square-foot centre, expected to be built by fall 2022. It will function as a “last-mile” delivery system. The centre will be the base for drivers who collect packages for delivery to customers. They will arrive […]

Growing B.C.’s forestry sector

Given the carbon emissions intensity of steel and concrete, and the imperatives of addressing climate change, the market for engineered wood products in construction is expected to grow in the coming years. And as it grows and evolves, there may be added benefits for engineered wood manufactures to not only use locally grown timber, but […]

Formal office attire a thing of the past?

Formal threads might just be dead at some B.C. offices, according to a new poll from co-working space provider IWG plc. With pandemic restrictions potentially loosening next month to allow for fully reopened offices and workplaces, it appears West Coast colleagues may be sporting new looks upon their return. The poll reveals most employed British […]

Business awards finalists revealed

The Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce has revealed the three finalists in each of ten Business Excellence Awards categories. Adaptation & Resilience Excellence, sponsored by Downtown Penticton Association: Brodo Kitchen, Hoodoo Adventures, The Hamlets at Penticton Service Excellence – sponsored by Greyback Construction: Fountain Tire, Penticton Meals on Wheels, Tin Whistle Brewing Company […]