Business

The UBC sign is pictured at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

UBC Investment Management Trust invests $120M in reduced carbon investment fund

Assets represent about five per cent of UBC’s endowment

B.C. vaccine passport (Black Press Media)

Salmon Arm chamber survey shows reluctance among membership to enforce vaccine passport

Respondents concerned for employees being shouldered with responsibility of enforcement

A real estate sign is pictured in Vancouver on June 12, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Homes listed for sale in Metro Vancouver have fallen to lows not seen since 2016

New home built during the pandemic, with a specific focus on projects for the rental market

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces new COVID-19 measures for Alberta in Calgary, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta business groups want more clarity around new COVID-19 restrictions

Lack of program details the latest pandemic challenge for province’s small business owners

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces new COVID-19 measures for Alberta in Calgary, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
(Clayton Whitelaw/Black Press Media)

West Kelowna Walmart remains closed after fire

Blaze tore through the loading bays on Sept. 1

(Clayton Whitelaw/Black Press Media)
Dan Proulx and Richard Rolke from the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce urge residents to vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice category for the 37th annual business excellence awards. (Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce/Facebook photo)

Nearly 400 Vernon businesses nominated for excellence awards

Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce awards now open for People’s Choice votes

Dan Proulx and Richard Rolke from the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce urge residents to vote for their favourite in the People’s Choice category for the 37th annual business excellence awards. (Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce/Facebook photo)
One of four totem poles on the corners of a bridge over the Nass River to Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City) in northwestern British Columbia is seen on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada is making a bleak prediction about its members’ ability to rapidly recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel

Pandemic recovery for Indigenous tourism will be slow, says report

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada projects an overall 54 per cent decline since the pandemic

One of four totem poles on the corners of a bridge over the Nass River to Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City) in northwestern British Columbia is seen on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada is making a bleak prediction about its members’ ability to rapidly recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel
Doug Howson loads lumber onto a forklift at Haney Builders Supplies, in Maple Ridge, B.C., on June 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Do-it-yourself-ers benefit from lower prices in aftermath of lumber correction

A two-by-four inch piece of framing lumber that cost $12.65 on June 1 is now selling for $3.95

Doug Howson loads lumber onto a forklift at Haney Builders Supplies, in Maple Ridge, B.C., on June 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Quesnel Coun. Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, vice-president and Vanderhoof Coun. Brian Frenkel, president, prepare for virtual session of the Union of B.C. Municipalities in Vancouver, Sept. 14, 2021. (UBCM photo)

B.C. municipal leaders back more local say in future of logging

Old growth ban makes no sense in Interior, convention told

Quesnel Coun. Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, vice-president and Vanderhoof Coun. Brian Frenkel, president, prepare for virtual session of the Union of B.C. Municipalities in Vancouver, Sept. 14, 2021. (UBCM photo)
A gas station is pictured in North Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, Apr 17, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

UPDATED: Inflation rate rises to 4.1 per cent in August, highest since 2003

StatCan says higher gasoline and housing prices fueled much of the rise

A gas station is pictured in North Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, Apr 17, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
An Amazon tower is reflected in the Amazon Day 1 building above the Amazon Spheres in Seattle. Amanda Snyder | Seattle Times An Amazon tower is reflected in the Amazon Day 1 building above the Amazon Spheres in Seattle. Amanda Snyder | Seattle Times

Teamsters to hold unionization vote at Amazon warehouse in Alberta

Union expects a vote to take place before the end of the year

An Amazon tower is reflected in the Amazon Day 1 building above the Amazon Spheres in Seattle. Amanda Snyder | Seattle Times An Amazon tower is reflected in the Amazon Day 1 building above the Amazon Spheres in Seattle. Amanda Snyder | Seattle Times
Mark Creek dam in the Kootenays is one of the “extreme consequence” dams identified in B.C. Auditor General Michael Pickup’s report on dam safety. (B.C. government photo)

Many of B.C.’s 1,900 dams not adequately regulated, auditor finds

Lands ministry hiring more dam safety staff to catch up

Mark Creek dam in the Kootenays is one of the “extreme consequence” dams identified in B.C. Auditor General Michael Pickup’s report on dam safety. (B.C. government photo)
Stephane Prevost, a Banff restaurateur, poses in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Tourism destinations brace for busy winter without usual supply of foreign workers

Uncertainty around COVID-19 has kept some potential resort staffers from moving to Canada

Stephane Prevost, a Banff restaurateur, poses in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
B.C. finance ministry projections show improvement in economic growth, declining next year as recovery continues from the initial slump due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (B.C. government)

B.C. forecasts $4.8 billion deficit as province’s revenues rise

Increased tax take, federal transfers reduce forecast by half

B.C. finance ministry projections show improvement in economic growth, declining next year as recovery continues from the initial slump due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (B.C. government)
Smartphone app scans QR code from a digital or printed copy of the B.C. vaccine card, confirming vaccine status without showing government identification. (Apple app store images)

B.C. releases smartphone app for reading COVID-19 vaccine cards

Google Play version coming, restrictions take effect Monday

Smartphone app scans QR code from a digital or printed copy of the B.C. vaccine card, confirming vaccine status without showing government identification. (Apple app store images)
Sawmill workers in Princeton, B.C., 2018. The B.C. government has committed to redistributing Crown forest resources to provide a greater share for Indigenous communities. (B.C. government photo)

‘Disrespectful’: B.C. First Nations blast NDP’s forest renewal effort

20 Indigenous communities call for more time, resources

Sawmill workers in Princeton, B.C., 2018. The B.C. government has committed to redistributing Crown forest resources to provide a greater share for Indigenous communities. (B.C. government photo)
Visitors have poured back on to the beaches of the Tofino area, but an inability to attract and keep staff is preventing local businesses from being able to take full advantage. (John McKinley file)

Staffing shortages have businesses in B.C. tourist mecca struggling to stay open

As visitors flood back into Tofino, business owners struggle to find people to serve them

Visitors have poured back on to the beaches of the Tofino area, but an inability to attract and keep staff is preventing local businesses from being able to take full advantage. (John McKinley file)
Vernon’s Tyler Dyck, CEO of Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery and president of the Craft Distillers Guild of B.C., has announced a petition campaign to help local craft distilleries getting the excise tax reduced to a comparable level with craft breweries. (Morning Star - file photo)

Okanagan distilleries seek par on excise tax

Lift Canadian Spirits is a petition campaign aimed at reducing the excise tax so distilleries can be comparable with craft breweries

Vernon’s Tyler Dyck, CEO of Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery and president of the Craft Distillers Guild of B.C., has announced a petition campaign to help local craft distilleries getting the excise tax reduced to a comparable level with craft breweries. (Morning Star - file photo)
A diner at Bartaco uses their app to order an item off the menu, at the restaurant in Arlington, Va., on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. The restaurant is using an automated app for ordering and payments. Instead of servers they use “food runners” to get the food to the tables. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Do we need humans for that job? Automation booms after COVID

Ideally, automation can redeploy workers into better and more interesting work

A diner at Bartaco uses their app to order an item off the menu, at the restaurant in Arlington, Va., on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. The restaurant is using an automated app for ordering and payments. Instead of servers they use “food runners” to get the food to the tables. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry visits COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Victoria as the province shifts to drop-in availability to increase community immunity, Aug. 3, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Face shields don’t qualify in B.C.’s latest COVID-19 mask order

Dr. Bonnie Henry announced return of mask mandate Aug. 24

B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry visits COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Victoria as the province shifts to drop-in availability to increase community immunity, Aug. 3, 2021. (B.C. government photo)