Business

Agriculture depends on irrigation in many parts of B.C., and licences are required for using groundwater sources such as wells for agricultural or industrial use. Farm irrigation in Abbotsford. (B.C. government)

More time needed for B.C. groundwater registration, opposition says

B.C. Liberals, Greens says most well owners unaware

Agriculture depends on irrigation in many parts of B.C., and licences are required for using groundwater sources such as wells for agricultural or industrial use. Farm irrigation in Abbotsford. (B.C. government)
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Bank of Canada to maintain inflation mandate, consider job market in rate decisions

BoC may decide to allow inflation to sit closer to either end of the bank’s target range

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Properties are surrounded by high water after floodwaters began to recede at Everglades Resort on Hatzic Lake near Mission, B.C., Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. Parts of British Columbia’s tourism industry are facing another uphill battle with an uncertain recovery horizon after this year’s damaging storms.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Damaged parks, reduced holiday travel among impacts of flood on B.C. tourism

Floods compound losses from wildfires this summer and lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

Properties are surrounded by high water after floodwaters began to recede at Everglades Resort on Hatzic Lake near Mission, B.C., Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. Parts of British Columbia’s tourism industry are facing another uphill battle with an uncertain recovery horizon after this year’s damaging storms.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A program in Victoria’s Camosun College is giving automotive technicians the skills the need to work on electric vehicles. (Photo courtesy of Camosun College)

Mandate to enforce EV sales quotas needed by end of next year: Guilbeault

Road transportation accounts for one-fifth of Canada’s total greenhouse-gas emissions

A program in Victoria’s Camosun College is giving automotive technicians the skills the need to work on electric vehicles. (Photo courtesy of Camosun College)
Block One restaurant at 50th Parallel Wintery in Lake Country. (OpenTable.ca)

Lake Country winery corks Top 100 Canadian Restaurants

OpenTable’s list of the Top 100 Restaurants for 2021 is determined based on online reviews

Block One restaurant at 50th Parallel Wintery in Lake Country. (OpenTable.ca)
Vernon’s Deb White of White House Mortgages has been elected to lead the first-ever all-women, four-member board of the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association - British Columbia. (Facebook photo)

Vernon woman heads historic all-female B.C. board

Deb White elected president of first all-women board of Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association – BC

Vernon’s Deb White of White House Mortgages has been elected to lead the first-ever all-women, four-member board of the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association - British Columbia. (Facebook photo)
Red Chris copper and gold mine in Northwestern B.C., opened in 2015, is now owned by Newcrest Mining, one of the sponsors of a water innovation contest for B.C. mines. (B.C. government photo)

Mining Association of B.C. offers cash prize for water innovation

Newcrest, Teck co-sponsor contest similar to Australia

Red Chris copper and gold mine in Northwestern B.C., opened in 2015, is now owned by Newcrest Mining, one of the sponsors of a water innovation contest for B.C. mines. (B.C. government photo)
Home Block at Cedar Creek Estate Winery is one of the Kelowna restaurants that made the top100 list (opentable.ca)

3 Kelowna restaurants in Top 100 Canada list

OpenTable’s list of the Top 100 Restaurants for 2021 is determined based on online reviews

Home Block at Cedar Creek Estate Winery is one of the Kelowna restaurants that made the top100 list (opentable.ca)
(Canadian Press photo)

Travel, tourism sectors see glimmers of hope amid Omicron uncertainty

Many Canadians second-guessing their travel plans as information trickles out about Omicron

(Canadian Press photo)
Ernie and Donna Smith are in their second year of selling Christmas trees at their farm on Lyman Hill. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm couple’s Christmas tree farm busy amid shortage

Lyman Hill residents Ernie and Donna Smith began selling their trees last winter

Ernie and Donna Smith are in their second year of selling Christmas trees at their farm on Lyman Hill. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
The proposed Calgary Airport to Banff Passenger Rail is shown in this artist’s rendering handout image at the Banff Train Station. The company behind a proposed passenger rail service that would connect Banff to the Calgary International Airport says the project will cost $1.5 billion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Liricon Capital

Company behind proposed Calgary-Banff rail link asks province to kick in

Kenney sees merit in $1.5-billion passenger rail link but not ready to commit cash next

The proposed Calgary Airport to Banff Passenger Rail is shown in this artist’s rendering handout image at the Banff Train Station. The company behind a proposed passenger rail service that would connect Banff to the Calgary International Airport says the project will cost $1.5 billion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Liricon Capital
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says home sales activity in the area for the month of October remain below long-term historical averages. A real estate sign is pictured in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, June, 12, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

Mortgage rates predicted return to pre-pandemic levels of 3% by late 2022, BCREA says

First rate increase from Bank of Canada is expected in mid-2022

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says home sales activity in the area for the month of October remain below long-term historical averages. A real estate sign is pictured in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, June, 12, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
Royal City Youth Ballet’s performance of ‘The Nutcracker’ at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 7, 2019. Theatre and sports events with more than 50 people now require proof of vaccination and seating, but business holiday events can include standing and mingling. (Andrea Rondeau/Cowichan Valley Citizen)

Business holiday parties OK for more than 50, B.C. tourism group says

Standing, mingling allowed if you’re vaccinated for COVID-19

Royal City Youth Ballet’s performance of ‘The Nutcracker’ at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 7, 2019. Theatre and sports events with more than 50 people now require proof of vaccination and seating, but business holiday events can include standing and mingling. (Andrea Rondeau/Cowichan Valley Citizen)
Falling Canadian dollar coins or loonies are pictured in North Vancouver, B.C. Wednesday, May 29, 2019. A new survey of more than 4,000 small- and medium-sized businesses found the average salary increases given to men this year were double those women received. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Small, medium-sized businesses gave women smaller raises than men in 2021: survey

Humi research also found men were 4.4 per cent more likely to receive a raise than women

Falling Canadian dollar coins or loonies are pictured in North Vancouver, B.C. Wednesday, May 29, 2019. A new survey of more than 4,000 small- and medium-sized businesses found the average salary increases given to men this year were double those women received. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Aura Rose and her husband, Wouter van der Hall. (House of Rose)

Kelowna’s House of Rose Winery closing down

The last day the winery will be open is Sunday, Dec. 12

Aura Rose and her husband, Wouter van der Hall. (House of Rose)
The Kelowna Costco location on Highway 97. Photo: Mackenzie Britton

New Kelowna Costco location to open in spring

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

The Kelowna Costco location on Highway 97. Photo: Mackenzie Britton
People line up outside a Lululemon Athletica store in Ottawa, as non-essential retail stores re-open with limited in-store capacity, on the first day of Ontario’s first phase of re-opening amidst the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, on June 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Lululemon vs. Peloton: The fine line between inspiration and imitation in fashion

The dispute comes at a time when athleisure is booming

People line up outside a Lululemon Athletica store in Ottawa, as non-essential retail stores re-open with limited in-store capacity, on the first day of Ontario’s first phase of re-opening amidst the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, on June 11, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
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)
Vernon’s BlueSky Organics was named the winner of the Best Growing Media at the Grow-up National Cannabis Awards Nov. 30, 2021. (Submitted photo)

Vernon soil producer takes home national cannabis award

BlueSky Organics took home the Best Growing Media title at the Grow-up National Cannabis Awards

Vernon’s BlueSky Organics was named the winner of the Best Growing Media at the Grow-up National Cannabis Awards Nov. 30, 2021. (Submitted photo)
GM workers use human assistance automation to weld vehicle doors at the General Motors assembly plant during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oshawa, Ont., on Friday, March 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Jobless rate drops to 6 per cent in November as number of long-term unemployed falls

Gains didn’t take into account the flooding situation in British Columbia which happened after survey

GM workers use human assistance automation to weld vehicle doors at the General Motors assembly plant during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oshawa, Ont., on Friday, March 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette