Local Business

Jesse Brown (second from right) is joined by partners Darion Odell (left) and Joel Rybachuk (right) in purchasing Cidel Moving and Storage, and rebranding as Browns Transport. The trio bought the business from the Zoethout family, represented by Rick Zoethout (second from left) and Art Zoethout (third from left). (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Longtime Vernon moving firm delivered to new partners

Browns Transport purchases Cidel Moving and Storage

Vernon’s Cynthia Roberts decided a return to the Okanagan was what she needed for work and happiness. And, thanks to WorkBC, she has found her dream job in Vernon. (Contributed)

Sense of adventure leads to dream job in Vernon

WorkBC helps Cynthia Roberts, 63, find satisfying job after move from Alberta

Vernon’s Dörte Kargut, originally from Germany, successfully found work in her new hometown thanks to the efforts of WorkBC. (Contributed)

Vernon woman journeys from kitchen to administration with Interior Health

Dörte Kargut took a job working in a kitchen to help get familiar administrative position

The second Bloom Tulip Festival in Spallumcheen, on Knob Hill Road, will run May 4-28. Advance tickets for the popular event go on sale online Friday, March 17. (Morning Star - file photo)

North Okanagan tulip festival ready to bloom

Advance tickets on sale for Bloom Tulip Festival in Spallumcheen

The second Bloom Tulip Festival in Spallumcheen, on Knob Hill Road, will run May 4-28. Advance tickets for the popular event go on sale online Friday, March 17. (Morning Star - file photo)
The LMEC Siding and Community Roofing crew are hard at work replacing the old roof at the North Okanagan Hospice House. (Contributed)

North Okanagan Hospice House gets helping hand

4 businesses chipping in to provide new roof

The LMEC Siding and Community Roofing crew are hard at work replacing the old roof at the North Okanagan Hospice House. (Contributed)
Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food (left) was taken on a tour of Lucent BioSciences Inc. at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby on March 15, as part of an announcement for funding for clean tech farming projects in B.C. (Government of Canada photo)

Armstrong farm harvests solar support

Federal funded projects designed to get farms further off the grid and reduce fuel consumption

Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of agriculture and agri-food (left) was taken on a tour of Lucent BioSciences Inc. at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby on March 15, as part of an announcement for funding for clean tech farming projects in B.C. (Government of Canada photo)
A plan to ban drive-thrus in Vernon’s city centre neighbourhood will not move forward. (Google Street View)

Vernon curbs drive-thru ban plan

Council goes against staff recommendation to change zoning bylaw

A plan to ban drive-thrus in Vernon’s city centre neighbourhood will not move forward. (Google Street View)
Owners Minh and Yen Nguyen pose in front of their store, Pho Sate. (Bowen Assman photo)

VIDEO: End of an era for Vernon’s Pho Sate

The delicious Vietnamese restaurant is changing owners as of April 1.

Owners Minh and Yen Nguyen pose in front of their store, Pho Sate. (Bowen Assman photo)
Left to right: Gordon Fowler, Lisa Salt, Laura Reners and Glenn Beach. The realtors with RE/MAX Vernon Salt Fowler took home the Pinnacle Team Award at the RE/MAX International Conference, held in Las Vegas from Feb. 27 to March 1, 2023. (Submitted photo)

Vernon real estate group wins big in Las Vegas

Vernon Salt Fowler snags Pinnacle Team Award at RE/MAX International Conference

Left to right: Gordon Fowler, Lisa Salt, Laura Reners and Glenn Beach. The realtors with RE/MAX Vernon Salt Fowler took home the Pinnacle Team Award at the RE/MAX International Conference, held in Las Vegas from Feb. 27 to March 1, 2023. (Submitted photo)
Members of Save-On-Foods and the Starfish Backpack program (from left) Erica Davies, Mary Jackson, Nathan Murphy, Darryl O’Brian and Terry Trainer. (Contributed)

Grocer feeds hungry kids in Vernon, now Armstrong

Save-On-Foods supports Starfish Backpack program, providing weekly food to elementary students

Members of Save-On-Foods and the Starfish Backpack program (from left) Erica Davies, Mary Jackson, Nathan Murphy, Darryl O’Brian and Terry Trainer. (Contributed)
Business owners: Daina Bull (top left), Anna’s Vitamins Plus; Dawn McLean, Snac Shac; Melissa Knutsvik, Touch of Elegance; AlyssaWiens PMU & Aesthetics (top right); Kiley Routley, Back to Earth. (Contributed)

Women-led North Okanagan businesses up for awards

Five Vernon, Lumby and Coldstream female entrepreneurs up for B.C. honour

Business owners: Daina Bull (top left), Anna’s Vitamins Plus; Dawn McLean, Snac Shac; Melissa Knutsvik, Touch of Elegance; AlyssaWiens PMU & Aesthetics (top right); Kiley Routley, Back to Earth. (Contributed)
Kingfisher Boats has been able to fill a labour gap thanks to the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot through employees like Sandro Araujo from Brazil. (Rhythm Productions photo)

Project brings multiple employees aboard Vernon boat company

Kingfisher Boats hires eight workers for positions through Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

Kingfisher Boats has been able to fill a labour gap thanks to the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot through employees like Sandro Araujo from Brazil. (Rhythm Productions photo)
Erica Clark and her husband and brother have launched a new business venture, Six Mile Convenience Store, on Westside Road. The store had its first day of business Saturday, March 4, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

New Westside convenience store fills void left by 2021 wildfire

Six Mile Convenience Store had its opening day Saturday, March 4

Erica Clark and her husband and brother have launched a new business venture, Six Mile Convenience Store, on Westside Road. The store had its first day of business Saturday, March 4, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Greg Thompson of Coldstream’s Thompson and Sons Construction (left) used a $10,000 grant from Okanagan College’s Apprentice Hiring Project to welcome Ukraine refugee Fedir Solovei (right) to the company. (Okanagan College Photo)

College connects Ukrainian worker with Coldstream company

Okanagan College project allows Coldstream business to hire Ukrainian refugee

Greg Thompson of Coldstream’s Thompson and Sons Construction (left) used a $10,000 grant from Okanagan College’s Apprentice Hiring Project to welcome Ukraine refugee Fedir Solovei (right) to the company. (Okanagan College Photo)
(Neuron photo)

E-scooters hit the streets for third year in Vernon

Neuron Mobility’s e-bikes will roll out later this spring

(Neuron photo)
Sun Country Cycle’s new location is at the north end of the Rail Trail on Kalamalka Rd. (Contributed)

Coldstream bike shop wheels into new location

The larger building “is going to be a much nicer place for people to work and shop”

Sun Country Cycle’s new location is at the north end of the Rail Trail on Kalamalka Rd. (Contributed)
Cory Petty of Cory Petty Construction (left) has tapped into the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Project to permanently land skilled workers like Luiz Fernando de Paula from Brazil. (Contributed)

Vernon business nails down skilled employees through immigration project

Cory Petty Construction able to permanently land three qualified workers thanks to RNIP

Cory Petty of Cory Petty Construction (left) has tapped into the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Project to permanently land skilled workers like Luiz Fernando de Paula from Brazil. (Contributed)
Retired Vernon businessman Wayne Klippert has rediscovered a love for painting. His current works can be found hanging in the windows of Legacy Photo and Framing on 30th Avenue. (Contributed)

Retired Vernon businessman draws back on painting hobby

Legacy Photo and Framing displaying seniors’ works in windows

Retired Vernon businessman Wayne Klippert has rediscovered a love for painting. His current works can be found hanging in the windows of Legacy Photo and Framing on 30th Avenue. (Contributed)
Left to right: Splatsin Coun. Theresa William, Chief Doug Thomas, Coun. Len Edwards and Coun. Sabrina Vergata. The Quilakwa Centre in Enderby has reopened with a new canopy, more pumps and a Chester’s Fried Chicken franchise, Splatsin announced Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Splatsin photo)

Enderby gas station reopens with fried chicken

Numerous improvements have been completed at the Quilakwa Centre

Left to right: Splatsin Coun. Theresa William, Chief Doug Thomas, Coun. Len Edwards and Coun. Sabrina Vergata. The Quilakwa Centre in Enderby has reopened with a new canopy, more pumps and a Chester’s Fried Chicken franchise, Splatsin announced Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (Splatsin photo)
Station BBQ took home both the judges’ and people’s choice awards in the popular Vernon Winter Carnival Chili Cook-Off event, the Downtown Vernon Association announced Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (DVA photo)

Station BBQ, Ratio cook up Vernon Winter Carnival champion chili

Station BBQ claimed both the judges’ and people’s choice awards while Ratio won the theme ‘spirit’ award

Station BBQ took home both the judges’ and people’s choice awards in the popular Vernon Winter Carnival Chili Cook-Off event, the Downtown Vernon Association announced Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. (DVA photo)