Local Business

Werner Karsten shows one of the two turtlepod prototypes he brought with him for display at the Walk With Me event in Courtenay, on Nov. 26. The insulated, mobile pods are intended to provide safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Photo by Terry Farrell

B.C. man designs ‘turtlepods’ – mobile personal shelter prototypes to assist the unhoused

‘I think of it as supporting urban nomadism.’

Kayakers paddle out at Ucluelet’s Little Beach. (Westerly file photo)

Housing co-operative open house on Nov. 30 in Ucluelet

Come and learn on Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Ucluelet Community Centre

The Blue Room’s Janine Riley, left, and Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce manager Seika Anderson will be spreading holiday cheer on Friday, Nov. 25 as the town lights up for its annual Midnight Madness. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Ucluelet’s annual Midnight Madness shopping extravaganza is tonight

Over 30 Ucluelet businesses kickoff the holiday season with the annual shop local celebration

Tourism Tofino is hoping to boost its visitor centre’s educational offerings as well as retail revenue. (Westerly file photo)

Tofino DMO hopes to help tourists get along with locals

Tourism Tofino focused on increasing offseason traffic and cultural education

Tourism Tofino is hoping to boost its visitor centre’s educational offerings as well as retail revenue. (Westerly file photo)
Westerly file photo

Ucluelet wins legal dispute over Wyndansea development

BC Supreme Court sends Onni Group back to the drawing board

Westerly file photo
Warren Barr and Lily Verney-Downey smile at the bar of their Pluvio Restaurant, which was recently named Canada’s best fine dining restaurantby TripAdvisor. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Ucluelet restaurant named Canada’s best fine dining experience

Pluvio tops TripAdvisor’s Best of the Best Awards

Warren Barr and Lily Verney-Downey smile at the bar of their Pluvio Restaurant, which was recently named Canada’s best fine dining restaurantby TripAdvisor. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Ucluelet has past new bed and breakfast restrictions.

Ucluelet passes new bed and breakfast restrictions in heated 3-2 vote

“We need to do something because people are losing the ability to live here”

Ucluelet has past new bed and breakfast restrictions.
Restaurants and other hospitality operations are struggling to find staff, but they aren’t the only industry affected, according to Vancouver Island job market watchers. (File photo by The Canadian Press)

Labour shortages felt in communities across Vancouver Island’s west coast

Businesses struggling to find answers in the wake of a shrinking pool of available workers

Restaurants and other hospitality operations are struggling to find staff, but they aren’t the only industry affected, according to Vancouver Island job market watchers. (File photo by The Canadian Press)
James Manke has been “overwhelmed” by the local support he’s received since rolling new life into the town’s iconic The Wreckage building with a brand new kayak museum. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Iconic building transformed into kayak museum in Ucluelet

West Coast celebrates opening of Manke at the Wreckage on Peninsula Road

James Manke has been “overwhelmed” by the local support he’s received since rolling new life into the town’s iconic The Wreckage building with a brand new kayak museum. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions, left, Janis Joseph, centre, on behalf of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, presents Greg Willmon of Lady Rose Marine Services with a 2022 Business Investment award. Willmon purchased the business nearly a year ago. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News

Lady Rose Marine Services adds Sunday run to Bamfield

Business is approaching pre-pandemic levels after nine months with new owners

Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions, left, Janis Joseph, centre, on behalf of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, presents Greg Willmon of Lady Rose Marine Services with a 2022 Business Investment award. Willmon purchased the business nearly a year ago. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News
Adam Buskard’s Tofino Retreat has earned a spot among Canada’s top ten vacation rentals. (www.vrbo.com)

Tofino vacation rental named one of Canada’s best

VRBO has announced its first-ever Vacation Homes of the Year list

Adam Buskard’s Tofino Retreat has earned a spot among Canada’s top ten vacation rentals. (www.vrbo.com)
Sunny days are back again for businesses feeding off Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail and the other attractions of Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim. (John McKinley photo)

`Life is getting back to normal’ for tourism in Tofino/Ucluelet area

Residents remain cautious with COVID as businesses struggle with staffing as visitors flood back

Sunny days are back again for businesses feeding off Ucluelet’s Wild Pacific Trail and the other attractions of Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim. (John McKinley photo)
Ahousaht Chief Richard George, right, and Ahousaht member Tyler Huebner of TCH Contracting cut a cheque for $12,000 last month for the Tofino Salmon Enhancement Society. (Submitted photo)

Ahousaht member donates $12K to Tofino Salmon Enhancement Society

“We are stepping up to the plate knowing that the collapse of wild salmon is real”

Ahousaht Chief Richard George, right, and Ahousaht member Tyler Huebner of TCH Contracting cut a cheque for $12,000 last month for the Tofino Salmon Enhancement Society. (Submitted photo)
Josh Brown beams over his Vancouver Island Tourism Employee of the Year award overlooking the spectacular view from Black Rock Oceanfront Resort’s lounge on April 23. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Ucluelet hospitality champion honoured

Black Rock Oceanfront Resort’s Josh Brown named Employee of the Year at Island Tourism Conference

Josh Brown beams over his Vancouver Island Tourism Employee of the Year award overlooking the spectacular view from Black Rock Oceanfront Resort’s lounge on April 23. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Toki Doki co-owners Madi Greyson and Kei Lowes stand in front of their food truck on Industrial Way. They recently became a certified Living Wage for Families employer. ((Nora O’Malley photo)

Tofino’s first living wage certified restaurant sets the bar

Tofino’s newest takeout spot Toki Doki has upped the ante for West…

Toki Doki co-owners Madi Greyson and Kei Lowes stand in front of their food truck on Industrial Way. They recently became a certified Living Wage for Families employer. ((Nora O’Malley photo)
Flanked by his parents Cathy and Ronnie Lee, Ron Lee and partner Morgan Coyle clutch Tofino’s Business of the Year starfish trophy in front of his beachside BBQ joint back in November 2021. (TLBCC photo)

Tofino restaurant cracks Small Business BC Awards Top 5

Lil Ronnie’s Beachside BBQ up for Business Impact Award

Flanked by his parents Cathy and Ronnie Lee, Ron Lee and partner Morgan Coyle clutch Tofino’s Business of the Year starfish trophy in front of his beachside BBQ joint back in November 2021. (TLBCC photo)
Jens and Nelly Heyduck, owners and designers at Ahoy Bags, wave special edition sailcloth bags created to show solidarity with Ukraine. (Submitted photo)

West Coast businesses step up to help Ukraine

“Our hearts go out to the Ukrainian people and their suffering”

Jens and Nelly Heyduck, owners and designers at Ahoy Bags, wave special edition sailcloth bags created to show solidarity with Ukraine. (Submitted photo)
West Coast kids learn all about bats during a field trip led by Raincoast Educators to Tonquin Trail. (Raincoast Education Society photo)

Popular Tofino-Ucluelet Field School program in dire need of more funding

Raincoast Education Society says business donations lost due to COVID are not coming back

West Coast kids learn all about bats during a field trip led by Raincoast Educators to Tonquin Trail. (Raincoast Education Society photo)
Bonnie Gurney and Eric Caswell are ready for a relaxing retirement after 35 years operating Pioneer Boatworks shipyard and supply store in Ucluelet. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Pioneer Boatworks owners moving on after 35 years in Ucluelet

A revered local couple is voyaging into the relaxing and well-deserved waters of retirement

Bonnie Gurney and Eric Caswell are ready for a relaxing retirement after 35 years operating Pioneer Boatworks shipyard and supply store in Ucluelet. (Andrew Bailey photo)
(Harbour Air Seaplanes photo)

Harbour Air announces new Tofino-Victoria flights

New route launches on June 2

(Harbour Air Seaplanes photo)