Local Business

Penticton’s Wildstone Construction Group is among four Okanagan companies named among Canada’s Best Managed by Deloitte. (wildstone.com photo)

Four Okanagan companies named among Canada’s Best Managed

Two from Vernon, one each from Penticton and West Kelowna named to Deloitte’s Best Managed companies list

Kirsten (Fergy) Ferguson admiring the balloon display in Ukrainian colours on opening day of her new location Honey Toast on Front Street Sunday, May 1. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Honey Toast Cafe opens in downtown Penticton to flowers, hugs and cheer

The cafe is named in honour of Fergy’s grandma’s special honey toast treat

Accelerate Okanagan has partnered with Prospera Credit Union to offer Level Up Local grants, a new grant program to help small to medium-sized Okanagan businesses embrace technology amid the pandemic. (Submitted photo)

Grants up for grabs to help small Okanagan businesses go digital

Small to medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs can now apply for a Level Up Local grant

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery raised more than $25,000 for the Ukraine Emergency Fund through vodka sales, the distillery announced Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (Submitted photo)

Okanagan distillery raises $25K for Ukraine through vodka sales

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery donated 100 per cent of March vodka proceeds to the Ukraine Emergency Fund

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery raised more than $25,000 for the Ukraine Emergency Fund through vodka sales, the distillery announced Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (Submitted photo)
Wine Industry job fair at Naramata Centre April 10 from 9 to 4 p.m. (File photo)

South Okanagan wine industry hosts job fair in Naramata today

Wineries, restaurants and tour companies are hiring

Wine Industry job fair at Naramata Centre April 10 from 9 to 4 p.m. (File photo)
Snow on Highway 5 early morning April 5, 2022 southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking southwest. (DriveBC)

Storm warning still in effect on Coquihalla Highway with more flurries forecast

‘Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve,’ says Environment Canada warning

Snow on Highway 5 early morning April 5, 2022 southbound at Zopkios Rest Area, near the Coquihalla Summit, looking southwest. (DriveBC)
Okanagan Spirits is donating 100 per cent of the proceeds from sales of its three brands of vodka in March to humanitarian and relief efforts in Ukraine. (Okanagan Spirits photo)

Okanagan Spirits donating March vodka sale proceeds to Ukraine effort

Sales from its three brands, all sizes, will be donated to the relief effort for the embattled European nation

Okanagan Spirits is donating 100 per cent of the proceeds from sales of its three brands of vodka in March to humanitarian and relief efforts in Ukraine. (Okanagan Spirits photo)
Longtime friends Cassie Walters and Raelyn Lachapelle opened the doors to their new downtown Salmon Arm space for their business, The Nom Shuswap, on February 1, 2022. There, customers can pick up pre-ordered meals and grab-and-go meals, as well as smoothies and cold-pressed juices. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

‘Full-time Noms’: Salmon Arm friends focus on nutritious meals for people on the go

The Nom Shuswap opens doors in downtown Salmon Arm

Longtime friends Cassie Walters and Raelyn Lachapelle opened the doors to their new downtown Salmon Arm space for their business, The Nom Shuswap, on February 1, 2022. There, customers can pick up pre-ordered meals and grab-and-go meals, as well as smoothies and cold-pressed juices. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery was named Artisan Distillery of the Year at the 2022 Canadian Whisky Awards, and also went home with three gold, two silver and one bronze medal. (Okanagan Spirits photo)

Okanagan Spirits wins top honour at Canadian Whisky Awards

Vernon and Kelowna distillery named Artisan Distillery of the Year, wins three gold medals

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery was named Artisan Distillery of the Year at the 2022 Canadian Whisky Awards, and also went home with three gold, two silver and one bronze medal. (Okanagan Spirits photo)
The Kelowna Costco location on Highway 97. Photo: Mackenzie Britton

New Costco location in Kelowna to open spring 2022

The new location will have a larger warehouse, more parking and a gas station

The Kelowna Costco location on Highway 97. Photo: Mackenzie Britton
Valley First has donated between $10,000 and $25,000 to four different organizations as part of its Simple Generosity program. (Contributed)

Credit union cash helps Okanagan businesses

Valley First donates between $10,000 and $25,000 to four separate organizations to help businesses grow

Valley First has donated between $10,000 and $25,000 to four different organizations as part of its Simple Generosity program. (Contributed)
Accelerate Okanagan has received $275,000 from the federal government, funding that will support the creation of new and improved capital training activities for entrepreneurs over the next two years. The funding was announced Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Submitted photo)

New funding accelerates opportunities for Okanagan investors

Accelerate Okanagan has received $275,000 to support capital training activities for entrepreneurs

Accelerate Okanagan has received $275,000 from the federal government, funding that will support the creation of new and improved capital training activities for entrepreneurs over the next two years. The funding was announced Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (Submitted photo)
Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is donating three hot meals for every full-sized bottle or advent calendar sold starting Nov. 25, 2021. (OK Spirits photo)

Okanagan distillery turning liquor sales into hot meals over the holidays

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is donating three hot meals for every bottle or advent calendar sold

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is donating three hot meals for every full-sized bottle or advent calendar sold starting Nov. 25, 2021. (OK Spirits photo)
Amanda Homeniuk, owner of Vernon’s Kaleco, is one of 450 women whose businesses are featured on WeBC’s new virtual pop-up shop, which is open until Jan. 3, 2022. (Submitted photo)

New virtual pop-up shop boosts Okanagan women in business

The online shop features more than 450 women-led businesses in B.C.

Amanda Homeniuk, owner of Vernon’s Kaleco, is one of 450 women whose businesses are featured on WeBC’s new virtual pop-up shop, which is open until Jan. 3, 2022. (Submitted photo)
Anita’s Organic Mill co-owner Taylor Gemmel outside the Chilliwack location. (Michelle Gemmel submitted file photo)

Nature’s Path acquires majority interest in Chilliwack organic food business

Largest organic cereal and snack maker buys into Anita’s Organic Mill

Anita’s Organic Mill co-owner Taylor Gemmel outside the Chilliwack location. (Michelle Gemmel submitted file photo)
Kelowna International Airport. —Image: Capital News file

‘Bureaucratic bungle’: No timeline on Kelowna airport opening to international travel

Kelowna International Airport has not offered international services since April 9, 2020

Kelowna International Airport. —Image: Capital News file
The crew at Kelowna’s Burger Baron. From left to right: Owner Karrin Morris, staff members Fay Harley and Pamela Butcher, manager Lucas Findlay and staff member Amandip Bassi. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)

‘One Big Bundled Family’: The success behind Kelowna’s Burger Baron

The Burger Baron team is a family of 11, and the customers are an extension of that family

The crew at Kelowna’s Burger Baron. From left to right: Owner Karrin Morris, staff members Fay Harley and Pamela Butcher, manager Lucas Findlay and staff member Amandip Bassi. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
After a little over a year in operation, a take-out-style restaurant in Kelowna is closing its doors. (Twila Amato/Black Press Media file)

Downtown Kelowna eatery closes after 7 months in operation

Kalamansi had a new approach to food, but it wasn’t the right time for it, owner said

After a little over a year in operation, a take-out-style restaurant in Kelowna is closing its doors. (Twila Amato/Black Press Media file)
Deville Coffee is at the corner of Bernard Avenue and Pandosy Street, which formerly housed Starbucks Coffee. (Contributed)

Successful opening week for new downtown Kelowna café

Owner Jenna Kopperson said the turnout made her hopeful in the midst of the pandemic

Deville Coffee is at the corner of Bernard Avenue and Pandosy Street, which formerly housed Starbucks Coffee. (Contributed)
Flair Airlines announced that it plans to grow its flight schedules by 33 per cent in Canada and the U.S. with four new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft next April and May. (Contributed)

Flair Air adds 2 new routes to Kelowna airport as part of expansion project

Kelowna airport director delighted to see more growth by airline

Flair Airlines announced that it plans to grow its flight schedules by 33 per cent in Canada and the U.S. with four new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft next April and May. (Contributed)