Local Business

Hamels Fabrics & Quilting is set to open on April 6 in Sooke. The shop is located at 2044 Otter Point Road. (Mark Martins/Pixabay)

Fabric and quilting store opens doors in Sooke

Shop is filled with all kinds of ‘bright, bold and cheery’ designs

The Downtown Business Association announced a $60,000 grant program April 6 for businesses hit by vandalism in 2021. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)

$60,000 grant program announced for vandalized Victoria businesses

Businesses hit during 2021 are eligible for grants up to $1,000

Find a sunny spot for a rosé. (Zoë Ducklow/News Staff)

Website helps patrons find patios for dining on Vancouver Island

Indoor dining closure and the onset of spring created a need for a patio locator

  • Apr 5, 2021
Julie Angus, CEO of Open Ocean Robotics, is the winner of the 2021 B.C. Cleantech Industry Icon award. (Photo: Open Ocean Robotics)

Saanich-based robotics company charting new course for ocean exploration with autonomous boats

Open Ocean Robotics sees endless opportunities in their solar-power, remote-operated vessels

Julie Angus, CEO of Open Ocean Robotics, is the winner of the 2021 B.C. Cleantech Industry Icon award. (Photo: Open Ocean Robotics)
Early reviews indicate Heathen Smokehouse, Colin Stann’s Langford-based business, is off to a great start. (Rick Stiebel/News Staff)

Gourmet products smoking good for Langford man’s PTSD

Post traumatic stress disorder follows career in corrections

Early reviews indicate Heathen Smokehouse, Colin Stann’s Langford-based business, is off to a great start. (Rick Stiebel/News Staff)
New figures from Statistics Canada show online retail continues to boom, while traditional retailers recorded significant declines in January 2021. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Online retail sales up more than 100% in January 2021 year-over-year

Sales at non-essential retailers such as clothing stores dropped significantly in January

New figures from Statistics Canada show online retail continues to boom, while traditional retailers recorded significant declines in January 2021. (File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS)
The Cyr family has run Bee Canadian, a small business that has sold and rented mason bees from their Oyster River farm for seven years. (Photo courtesy Bee Canadian)

Island company rents out 135,000 mason bees despite impacts of COVID-19 restrictions

Bee Canadian delivers pollinators to renters in pandemic-friendly fashion

The Cyr family has run Bee Canadian, a small business that has sold and rented mason bees from their Oyster River farm for seven years. (Photo courtesy Bee Canadian)
Eric Taccogna (left), Justin Kopetzki, Adam Conlin co-own Victoria-based Justo’s Craft Dips – a finalist in two Small Business BC Awards. (Courtesy Justo’s Craft Dips)

Victoria craft dip company a finalist in two Small Business BC Award categories

Young entrepreneurs behind Justo’s Craft Dips focus on sustainability, positivity

  • Mar 27, 2021
Eric Taccogna (left), Justin Kopetzki, Adam Conlin co-own Victoria-based Justo’s Craft Dips – a finalist in two Small Business BC Awards. (Courtesy Justo’s Craft Dips)
Langford Mayor Stew Young says earning a BC Economic Development Association award is good news for the city. (Screenshot/City of Langford)

Langford earns another nod for economic development

I am Langford campaign wins award for economic recovery and resiliency

Langford Mayor Stew Young says earning a BC Economic Development Association award is good news for the city. (Screenshot/City of Langford)
Supporting local was made easier last year by a Victoria-based online site that allowed shoppers to purchase gift cards online. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria initiative sells nearly $1 million in local business gift cards

Support Local BC lets people purchase local gift cards in one online space

Supporting local was made easier last year by a Victoria-based online site that allowed shoppers to purchase gift cards online. (Black Press Media file photo)
The attractiveness of Colwood as a place to set up or expand a business will be among the points discussed at an online roundtable panel discussion March 30. (Facebook/City of Colwood)

Colwood hosting prosperity roundtable online March 30

Entrepreneurs, developers encouraged to offer input, learn how city can help their business thrive

The attractiveness of Colwood as a place to set up or expand a business will be among the points discussed at an online roundtable panel discussion March 30. (Facebook/City of Colwood)
Oak Bay officers are investigating a reported fraud after a woman noticed a charge on her credit card for just over $4,000 on March 11. (Black Press Media file photo)

Credit card fraud worth over $4,000, stolen stepping stones and more reported in Oak Bay last week

Oak Bay police also warning about vaccine phone scams

Oak Bay officers are investigating a reported fraud after a woman noticed a charge on her credit card for just over $4,000 on March 11. (Black Press Media file photo)
Ken Winchester, a recently retired master distiller, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Whiskey Awards last month. (Black Press Media File Photo)

Canadian Whiskey Awards raise a glass to Saanich Peninsula’s Devine Distillery

The distillery will have to slide the bottles over and make some trophy space on the top shelf

Ken Winchester, a recently retired master distiller, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Whiskey Awards last month. (Black Press Media File Photo)
The #MyBelmont community is celebrating its third anniversary in Langford. The 22-acre development is next to the Belmont Market, and offers both rental apartments, commercial space and condominium homes suited for first-time buyers. (Photo submitted)

#MyBelmont community celebrates three-year anniversary

The 22-acre development offers rental apartments, condominium homes, commercial space

The #MyBelmont community is celebrating its third anniversary in Langford. The 22-acre development is next to the Belmont Market, and offers both rental apartments, commercial space and condominium homes suited for first-time buyers. (Photo submitted)
Bill Collins, chairperson of Cascadia Seaweed, enjoys a piece of sugar kelp, in 2020. The company has received $12,500 through a joint federal-provincial program to develop a traceability system for its seaweed. (Black Press Media File)

Sidney-based Cascadia Seaweed receives funding for tracing system

Company with with farms off the coast of Vancouver Island aims to build consumer confidence

Bill Collins, chairperson of Cascadia Seaweed, enjoys a piece of sugar kelp, in 2020. The company has received $12,500 through a joint federal-provincial program to develop a traceability system for its seaweed. (Black Press Media File)
The biggest risk to the Island's economy post-earthquake is that it may never return, according to Bruce Williams, interim CEO of the South Island Prosperity Partnership. (Contributed by Bruce Williams)

Greater Victoria businesses in chamber spotlight for 2021 awards

Annual awards program highlights local companies making the most of things, despite the pandemic

  • Mar 7, 2021
The biggest risk to the Island's economy post-earthquake is that it may never return, according to Bruce Williams, interim CEO of the South Island Prosperity Partnership. (Contributed by Bruce Williams)
Zahra Rayani-Kanji of Heart Pharmacy, Sidney Pharmacy manager James McCullough, and Naz Rayani, owner and founder of Heart Pharmacy, join sisters Becky Brigham and Judy Costanzo outside the business. Sidney Pharmacy has become the sixth Heart Pharmacy outlet in Greater Victoria after its purchase from Brigham and Costanzo. Their parents, Frances and Jim Brigham, first opened the business in 1959. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney Pharmacy changes ownership, but retains family tradition

First opened by Frances and Jim Brigham in 1959, Sidney Pharmacy is now part of Heart Pharmacy

Zahra Rayani-Kanji of Heart Pharmacy, Sidney Pharmacy manager James McCullough, and Naz Rayani, owner and founder of Heart Pharmacy, join sisters Becky Brigham and Judy Costanzo outside the business. Sidney Pharmacy has become the sixth Heart Pharmacy outlet in Greater Victoria after its purchase from Brigham and Costanzo. Their parents, Frances and Jim Brigham, first opened the business in 1959. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Ronald Schinners, owner of The Cabbie in the #YYJ, opened his taxi service in the West Shore last month. (Dawn Gibson/News Staff)

‘One man show,’ The Cabbie in the #YYJ cultivates 45,000 followers on Instagram

New taxi company brings unusual spunk to the West Shore

Ronald Schinners, owner of The Cabbie in the #YYJ, opened his taxi service in the West Shore last month. (Dawn Gibson/News Staff)
(Courtesy Very Good Butchers)

Very Good Butchers brand adds cheese to its platter

The Cultured Nut products to be rebranded under Very Good Cheese banner

(Courtesy Very Good Butchers)
Crews disassemble the iconic red and white KFC bucket from a sign on Goldstream Avenue. (Photo courtesy of Mark Schoor)

Iconic KFC bucket removed from Goldstream Avenue

Popular fast-food chain closes Langford location

Crews disassemble the iconic red and white KFC bucket from a sign on Goldstream Avenue. (Photo courtesy of Mark Schoor)