local business

Yumbrosia Fine Foods offers a wide variety of quality products imported from Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Best of the City: Yumbrosia brings a world of flavour to Oak Bay

Owner Ihsan Askar provides quality international products to Victoria and beyond

Yumbrosia Fine Foods offers a wide variety of quality products imported from Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Head baker Brook Schaddelee, (from left), manager Michele Byrne and chocolatier Jack Schaddelee smile behind the counter at the Dutch Bakery and Diner. The establishment has operated for 65 years and the current operators still use the traditional European recipes of grandfather and founder Kees Schaddelee. (Courtesy of Dutch Bakery and Diner)

Best of the City: Third-generation owners keep Dutch Bakery recipes alive after 65 years in Victoria

Bakery thrives again after readapting business model during pandemic

Head baker Brook Schaddelee, (from left), manager Michele Byrne and chocolatier Jack Schaddelee smile behind the counter at the Dutch Bakery and Diner. The establishment has operated for 65 years and the current operators still use the traditional European recipes of grandfather and founder Kees Schaddelee. (Courtesy of Dutch Bakery and Diner)
Good Things Consignments owner Junice Da Costa Reis and staff member Terry Battersby pose in the archway of the store’s left wing on Saturday, July 10. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

Best of the City: Oak Bay consignment store breathes new life into old items

Good Things Consignments has helped people find value in their items for 27 years

Good Things Consignments owner Junice Da Costa Reis and staff member Terry Battersby pose in the archway of the store’s left wing on Saturday, July 10. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
QThreadz co-founder Mady Harber runs a pop-up shop of their normally online upcycled, gender-inclusive clothing store in Royal Athletic Park. (Courtesy of Mady Harber)

Sliding-scale, upcycled and gender-inclusive: Victoria shop creates accessible retail space

There are no gender or sexuality expectations at QThreadz

QThreadz co-founder Mady Harber runs a pop-up shop of their normally online upcycled, gender-inclusive clothing store in Royal Athletic Park. (Courtesy of Mady Harber)
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has established a Business Hall of Fame to honour individuals’ contributions to the region’s economy. (Black Press Media file photo)

Business Hall of Fame established to honour contributions to Greater Victoria economy

Selected individuals will be inducted this fall, with a ceremony set for February 2022

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has established a Business Hall of Fame to honour individuals’ contributions to the region’s economy. (Black Press Media file photo)
The July 15 announcement that cruise ships will be allowed back in Canadian waters this fall was a welcome relief to Greater Victoria business associations. (Black Press Media file photo)

Return of cruise ships will buoy Greater Victoria businesses

Cruise ships return allowed by November, but region won’t feel impact until next spring

The July 15 announcement that cruise ships will be allowed back in Canadian waters this fall was a welcome relief to Greater Victoria business associations. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria police arrested 16 shoplifters at one downtown Victoria business in just three days during a project to prevent theft. (Black Press Media file photo)

16 shoplifters arrested at 1 Victoria business in 3 days

Arrests part of Victoria police initiative to prevent thefts

Victoria police arrested 16 shoplifters at one downtown Victoria business in just three days during a project to prevent theft. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Atli Chip Limited Partnership team achieved an important milestone when they loaded their first barge of slash chips which will be delivered to a Paper Excellence mill. (Submitted photo)

First barge of logging waste chips successfully loaded in new First Nations partnership

Atli Resources LP is the forestry arm of the ‘Namgis First Nation

The Atli Chip Limited Partnership team achieved an important milestone when they loaded their first barge of slash chips which will be delivered to a Paper Excellence mill. (Submitted photo)
Starting in June, Government Street will be closed to most vehicles between Humboldt and View streets. A section of Government Street was transformed into a pedestrian-priority walkway in the wake of COVID-19. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria plans 10-hour closures of Government Street come June

City’s business relief plan extended, Government St. from Humboldt to View closed noon to 10 p.m.

Starting in June, Government Street will be closed to most vehicles between Humboldt and View streets. A section of Government Street was transformed into a pedestrian-priority walkway in the wake of COVID-19. (Black Press Media file photo)
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

The Downtown Business Association announced a $60,000 grant program April 6 for businesses hit by vandalism in 2021. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)
Cameron Ezzy has his ducks trained as pest control officers. Through his business, Slugs N’ Bugs for Lunch, he will come to your home and rid your garden of slugs. Photo by Terry Farrell

VIDEO: Vancouver Island entrepreneur opens pest control business with ducks as employees

Slugs n’ Bugs For Lunch will take care of your garden pests naturally

Cameron Ezzy has his ducks trained as pest control officers. Through his business, Slugs N’ Bugs for Lunch, he will come to your home and rid your garden of slugs. Photo by Terry Farrell
A section of Government Street was transformed into a pedestrian-priority walkway in the wake of COVID-19. (Black Press Media file photo)

City seeks input on reimagining Victoria public spaces during COVID-19

Survey responses will inform changes to Build Back Victoria program

A section of Government Street was transformed into a pedestrian-priority walkway in the wake of COVID-19. (Black Press Media file photo)
Hughes Clothing owner Rebecca Burrows. (Photo credit: Table Creative)

Oak Bay business has Instagram hacked, naked photos demanded in return

Hughes Clothing owner creating non-profit in response

Hughes Clothing owner Rebecca Burrows. (Photo credit: Table Creative)
Island Health has reported a possible COVID-19 exposure at Bard and Banker on Jan. 23 between 6 and 10 p.m. (Google Streetview)

Island Health reports possible COVID-19 exposure at Victoria pub

Possible exposure at Bard and Banker Jan. 23 between 6 and 10 p.m.

Island Health has reported a possible COVID-19 exposure at Bard and Banker on Jan. 23 between 6 and 10 p.m. (Google Streetview)
Victoria police say break and enters in Victoria and Esquimalt have been on the rise. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria businesses see second highest number of break-ins on record in 2020

Sophisticated break and enters wreaking havoc on businesses

Victoria police say break and enters in Victoria and Esquimalt have been on the rise. (Black Press Media file photo)
Victoria police arrested a man in connection with a series of break and enters Jan. 29, but police believe more suspects remain at large. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)

Police catch suspect, but Victoria break and enters continue

Additional suspects are believed to be at large

Victoria police arrested a man in connection with a series of break and enters Jan. 29, but police believe more suspects remain at large. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)
Frank Bourree was awarded the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s first Governors’ Award of Distinction for his leadership in the business community. (Courtesy of Frank Bourree)

Frank Bourree receives award of distinction from Victoria chamber

Award recognizes positive role model in business community

Frank Bourree was awarded the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s first Governors’ Award of Distinction for his leadership in the business community. (Courtesy of Frank Bourree)
Langford and Vancouver Island Economic Alliance are partnering to provide local businesses with one-year Island Good memberships. (Courtesy of Vancouver Island Economic Alliance)

Langford offering local businesses free Island Good membership

Island Good label helps consumers identify local products

Langford and Vancouver Island Economic Alliance are partnering to provide local businesses with one-year Island Good memberships. (Courtesy of Vancouver Island Economic Alliance)
Victoria city council unanimously voted Jan. 21 to develop a one-time relief fund for businesses hit by vandalism. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)

City offers relief funds for Victoria businesses hit by vandalism

Limited relief fund will come from 2021 contingency budget

Victoria city council unanimously voted Jan. 21 to develop a one-time relief fund for businesses hit by vandalism. (Courtesy of Victoria Police Department)
Mayor Rob Martin and Costa Canna president Phil Floucault cut the ribbon on Colwood’s first cannabis retail store. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Cowichan Tribes’ Costa Canna cannabis store opens in Colwood

Cowichan Tribes has one-year deal to grow, sell cannabis

Mayor Rob Martin and Costa Canna president Phil Floucault cut the ribbon on Colwood’s first cannabis retail store. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
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