The ‘vicious circle’ has deepened a persistent worker shortage during a period of record demand. Part seven of our labour series, Pay Check There’s a labour shortage in the construction industry, but it’s not for lack of people wanting to work. The number of new workers may even have increased over the past few years, […]
Business
k’awat’si Marine Transport celebrates a growing fleet with a blessing from community
Boat launches k’awat’si Marine Transport into freight transport ZOE DUCKLOW, LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER Nov. 10, 2020 4:15 p.m. Frigid winds blew into Hardy Bay on Nov. 5, but that didn’t stop Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw elected chief Paddy Walkus from standing on deck of the newly acquired Mars Rustler boat in a t-shirt and sandals, in classic […]
Brewing a burgeoning business in Peace Region

GP Brewing president Matt Toni and head brewer Jim Lague in their newly opened tasting room.Grain Bin Beer and GP Brewing Company both opened early this year into a market previously untested for its appetite for local craft beer. Both teams did what research they could to make sure there was enough interest to sustain a business, but ultimately opened their doors on faith. Both have already surpassed early sales expectations.“We’re where we thought we’d be one to one and a half years in,” said
Mexico lifts Canadian beef restrictions

Move could mean $100 million a year in new exports: Cattlemen’s Assoc. More than a decade after the fallout of mad cow disease, Mexico is lifting restrictions on Canadian beef imports. The news was announced June 28 during a visit by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to Ottawa, ending restrictions on Canadian cattle after a […]
Bite into the tastes of Afghanistan
After a successful Canada Day World Fair, Manija Shirzad looks to bring a new food truck to Fort St. John Good news for everyone who enjoyed the food sampled at the new Afghanistan booth at the Canada Day World Fair: Manija Shirzad is opening a food truck. “People here aren’t too familiar with Afghani food. […]
Houston B.C. reacts to losing their only grocery store
In May 2016, Super Valu in Houston, B.C. announced they were shutting down. It’s the town’s only full grocery store, so residents will need to travel to Burns Lake or Smithers for groceries. I talked with some of them to find out what they think about it. SaveSave
Brewing coffee from a tent
Coffee while camping is essential. Here I talked with Quesnel-based roaster Ian Mason about how to best brew coffee without electricity or running water. This story aired on CBC Daybreak North on June 3, 2016.
Women in aviation work to change gender imbalance
Aircraft mechanic Kelly Lamarche rummages through her old, blue toolbox filled with a mishmash of screwdrivers, ratchets and flexible wrenches. It was in this small, old helicopter hangar – which her dad has owned since she was about six months old – that Lamarche first considered a career in aviation. One day, while with her […]
The business of knitting
Hipsters do it. Students do it. Boys do it. Activists do it. Lovers of sustainability do it. The nooks and the crannies of Vancouver are united in their love of knitting. Experts praise the mental health benefits from knitting. The Vancouver School Board has promoted its’ success in helping a kindergarten student work through his […]
Building permits in B.C. surge ahead of other provinces
B.C.’s building permits are surging ahead while other provinces showed significant decreases, according to Statistics Canada. Data from last November shows nation-wide permits down $6.2 billion (19.6 per cent) from October. Surrey is the fastest growing city in Canada, and so takes its fair share of the building business. Volume doesn’t come without problems, however, […]