Local Business

The first cruise ship of the 2019 season – the Celebrity Eclipse – docks in Victoria. (Black Press Media file photo)

Tourism spending in Canada dropped by almost 50 per cent in 2020

Tourism-related jobs dropped by almost 29 per cent

Victoria’s Fairmont Empress hotel closed for three months in late 2020, early 2021, to undergo renovations in leveraging slower hotel traffic because of COVID-19 restrictions. A new report from Statistics Canada find many businesses in the accommodation and food services sector are bracing for another tough year. (Courtesy of Fairmont Empress hotel)

Survey finds Canada’s hospitality industry has low expectations for year ahead

Almost 87 per cent of businesses in accommodation and food services report lower revenues in 2020

Joe Klepacz (from left), Shawn Oviatt, Aidan Herrling and Peter Arnold complete an outdoor classroom at Mountview Elementary School recently. The structure is one of 20 similar projects in School District 27 aimed to create outdoor learning spaces for children. (Theresa Herrling photo)

Local builders provide outdoor learning spaces for children in School District 27

“We gave them artistic license and a basic square footage … they are looking wonderful.”

100 Mile Free Press reporter Patrick Davies, on Willow, tries horseback riding for the first time at Spring Lake Ranch.

Horsing around is hard work

Riding a horse for the first time is no small feat for reporter.

100 Mile Free Press reporter Patrick Davies, on Willow, tries horseback riding for the first time at Spring Lake Ranch.
Mr. T Contracting is building a new business park at 103 Mile. Photo rendering is of the first building to be on site. (Photo submitted).

Business park for 103 Mile

Mr. T Contracting has started construction of a small business park.

Mr. T Contracting is building a new business park at 103 Mile. Photo rendering is of the first building to be on site. (Photo submitted).
Sue Moss, executive director of the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce, recently sold $38,850 in Chamber Bucks to West Fraser. (Kelly Sinoski photo - 100 Mile Free Press).

South Cariboo Chamber members to get Christmas boost

West Fraser give ‘Chamber Bucks’ for Christmas bonus

Sue Moss, executive director of the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce, recently sold $38,850 in Chamber Bucks to West Fraser. (Kelly Sinoski photo - 100 Mile Free Press).
Sue Moss is the new executive director of the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce. (Kelly Sinoski photo, 100 Mile Free Press).

New Chamber head hopes to help businesses prosper

Sue Moss takes over role in South Cariboo.

  • Oct 24, 2020
Sue Moss is the new executive director of the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce. (Kelly Sinoski photo, 100 Mile Free Press).
Canim Lake Band member Carl Archie is a semi-finalist in the Pow Wow Pitch, Canada’s premier pitch competition for Indigenous business owners and emerging entrepreneurs. (Submitted photo).

Canim Lake member selected for Pow Wow Pitch

Archie is founder and CEO of Sklow’ Analytics, financial analytics tool for First Nations in Canada.

  • Oct 1, 2020
Canim Lake Band member Carl Archie is a semi-finalist in the Pow Wow Pitch, Canada’s premier pitch competition for Indigenous business owners and emerging entrepreneurs. (Submitted photo).
Doug Dent, left, president of the South Cariboo Community Enhancement Society, and Lisa Catto, centre, of the United Way, present a cheque for $2,500 to Willie Giesbrecht, of the Cariboo Pioneer Centre in Lac La Hache. The grant will be used to improve the building’s interior, including installing a commercial kitchen for its functions.

Kitchen help

Cariboo Pioneer Centre receives a $2,500 cheque from Cariboo Community Enhancement Society.

Doug Dent, left, president of the South Cariboo Community Enhancement Society, and Lisa Catto, centre, of the United Way, present a cheque for $2,500 to Willie Giesbrecht, of the Cariboo Pioneer Centre in Lac La Hache. The grant will be used to improve the building’s interior, including installing a commercial kitchen for its functions.
Brad Severin the executive for the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the community to participate in the Big Spend on July 25. (Devyn Johnstone photo)

South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce encouraging 100 Mile House to take part in The Big Spend

For every $100 spent at a local business, $63 is circulated back into the local economy

Brad Severin the executive for the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the community to participate in the Big Spend on July 25. (Devyn Johnstone photo)
Andrew Brown is the designer and entrepreneur behind the product and company known as Furr Dogz a fun way to both groom and clean your dog. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Williams Lake entrepreneur confident in success of portable pet cleaning station

Andrew Brown is the creator of Furr Dogz portable pet cleaning station

Andrew Brown is the designer and entrepreneur behind the product and company known as Furr Dogz a fun way to both groom and clean your dog. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)
Bamboo is a venerable dog at 17 years old but with the help of a wheelchair, he’s able to walk around like a dog half his age. (Patrick Davies - 100 Mile Free Press)

New wheelchair for dogs aims to increase the length and quality of senior dogs’ lives

‘Just like in the human world where we have walkers, wheelchairs and diapers’

Bamboo is a venerable dog at 17 years old but with the help of a wheelchair, he’s able to walk around like a dog half his age. (Patrick Davies - 100 Mile Free Press)
A message from the District of 100 Mile House

A message from the District of 100 Mile House

Sponsored message

  • Jun 1, 2020
A message from the District of 100 Mile House
(Black Press File photo)

100 per cent of Cariboo businesses have had to reduce employee hours or lay employees off, study finds

This survey was conducted by the BC Chamber of Commerce called the COVID-19 Impact Pulse Check #3

(Black Press File photo)
Dianne Timmons the owner of JD’s Salon cuts the hair of her longtime customer of 20 years Sharon McNolty. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

Hairdressers and barbers happy to reopen for the general public

‘We’ve had a couple of people say I ain’t wearing no mask and well you don’t get a haircut’

Dianne Timmons the owner of JD’s Salon cuts the hair of her longtime customer of 20 years Sharon McNolty. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)
A message from Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod

A message from Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod

Sponsored message

A message from Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod
A message from the District of 100 Mile House

A message from the District of 100 Mile House

Sponsored message

  • May 25, 2020
A message from the District of 100 Mile House
Pharmasave is beginning to loosen its COVID-19 precautions but doesn’t plan to return to regular operations until at sometime in June at the earliest. (Max Winkelman - 100 Mile Free Press)

Pharmacy restricted number of customers in store

Customer safety during the time of COVID-19 has been paramount on all…

Pharmasave is beginning to loosen its COVID-19 precautions but doesn’t plan to return to regular operations until at sometime in June at the earliest. (Max Winkelman - 100 Mile Free Press)
A message from the District of 100 Mile House

A message from the District of 100 Mile House

Sponsored message

  • May 19, 2020
A message from the District of 100 Mile House
Flowers in bloom at the Horse Lake Garden Centre. (Patrick Davies - 100 Mile Free Press)

Horse Lake Garden Centre open for business

“I think it’s working well now”

Flowers in bloom at the Horse Lake Garden Centre. (Patrick Davies - 100 Mile Free Press)