Business

Reba McEntire poses with Brent Gray, Mati Arsoniadis, Ashlynne Riddoch at the Washington Avenue Grill Monday (May 23, 2022). (Contributed photo)

Country-music superstar Reba pops into White Rock restaurant while filming in B.C.

Reba McEntire was ‘a pleasure to serve’

 

Simon Howse (left), general manager of Parastone, and Brad Parsell (right), executive director of the Fernie Chamber of Commerce. The pair gave short speeches at the first ‘Business, Banter and Beer’ event in over two years at the Fernie Hotel and Pub on May 18, 2022. (Joshua Fischlin/The Free Press)

‘We’re still standing’: Business, Banter and Beer events return to Fernie

Housing and staffing were brought up at the first BBB event in over two years

 

A woman walks past the logo for Google at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2018. Google says its Russian subsidiary is planning to file for bankruptcy because it can’t pay staff and suppliers. Russian state media reported Wednesday, May 18, 2022 that the U.S. tech company’s Russian subsidiary submitted notice of its intention to declare bankruptcy to a national registry. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

Google’s Russian business plans to file for bankruptcy

Subsidiary can’t pay staff and suppliers

 

A worker organizes chairs and tables on the patio of a restaurant on College St., Toronto, Thursday, October 28, 2021. Restaurants across Canada are cutting back hours and tightening up menus as persistent labour shortages and spiking costs threaten to derail the industry’s comeback from crushing pandemic restrictions.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima

‘We just don’t have enough workers:’ Restaurants rocked by labour shortage, inflation

Workers pushing back against long hours, unstable schedules and low pay

A worker organizes chairs and tables on the patio of a restaurant on College St., Toronto, Thursday, October 28, 2021. Restaurants across Canada are cutting back hours and tightening up menus as persistent labour shortages and spiking costs threaten to derail the industry’s comeback from crushing pandemic restrictions.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima
Long-time treasure hunter Werner Streicek shows off a bit of gold he discovered. He and his daughters are set to begin their first full season of mining in the Cariboo region starting this summer. (Adam Louis/Observer)

Harrison Hot Springs treasure hunter eyes gold in the Cariboo region

Werner Streicek will rely on decades of mining experience to create legacy for family

Long-time treasure hunter Werner Streicek shows off a bit of gold he discovered. He and his daughters are set to begin their first full season of mining in the Cariboo region starting this summer. (Adam Louis/Observer)
Rocklin Broad, 11, hand-carves wooden wands out of sticks he finds in his backyard in Lake Country. He's now selling them for $10 apiece, and the response to his hobby turned business has been overwhelming. (Submitted photo)

The boy who carved: Lake Country kid’s handcrafted wands in high demand

Rocklin Broad’s hobby has turned into a booming business overnight with more than 50 order requests in a day

Rocklin Broad, 11, hand-carves wooden wands out of sticks he finds in his backyard in Lake Country. He's now selling them for $10 apiece, and the response to his hobby turned business has been overwhelming. (Submitted photo)
Peter and Lori Stofko Photography by Lia Crowe

Taking care of business

Denver to Victoria for Lori and Peter Stofko

  • May 6, 2022
Peter and Lori Stofko Photography by Lia Crowe
The Fernie Hotel and Pub. (Soranne Floarea/ The Free Press)

‘Business, Banter and Beer’ events to return this spring after two year hiatus

The first two networking events are set for May 18 and June 15

The Fernie Hotel and Pub. (Soranne Floarea/ The Free Press)
Lance and Chase Beaudoin

Life. style.etc.

Lance and Chase Beaudoin

  • Apr 27, 2022
Lance and Chase Beaudoin
Fernie Chamber executive director, Brad Parsell speaking at the 2022 chamber AGM in Apr. 21, 2022. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Fernie Chamber AGM has major focus on housing

It was the first in-person chamber AGM since 2019

Fernie Chamber executive director, Brad Parsell speaking at the 2022 chamber AGM in Apr. 21, 2022. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
Donna Verlaan portrait by Lia Crowe photography

Secrets and Lives

with Donna Verlaan

  • Apr 25, 2022
Donna Verlaan portrait by Lia Crowe photography
Fernie Mayor Ange Qualizza speaking at the 2022 Fernie Chamber of Commerce AGM. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

Anger towards local government will hurt businesses: Fernie Mayor

Ange Qualizza said that the business community was well-served by the City of Fernie at the chamber AGM

Fernie Mayor Ange Qualizza speaking at the 2022 Fernie Chamber of Commerce AGM. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
The Hudson’s Bay Company heritage building in Winnipeg is photographed Thursday, April 21, 2022. One of the landmark stores formerly run by the Hudson’s Bay Co. is about to undergo a major transformation in the name of reconciliation with Indigenous people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Hudson’s Bay Co. calls donation of Winnipeg building an act of reconciliation

Company set to transfer what was one of its flagship stores to a First Nations group

The Hudson’s Bay Company heritage building in Winnipeg is photographed Thursday, April 21, 2022. One of the landmark stores formerly run by the Hudson’s Bay Co. is about to undergo a major transformation in the name of reconciliation with Indigenous people. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition March 9, 2020, in Washington. Musk’s lawyer says a federal judge would trample on the Tesla CEO’s free speech rights if he ordered Musk to stop talking about 2018 tweets saying he had the funding to make Tesla a private company. In a court document filed Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Lawyer Alex Spiro says a motion from a group of Tesla shareholders seeking a gag order doesn’t establish that Musk’s comments will prejudice the pool of jurors who may hear the case. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Judge rejects gag order in suit over 2018 Elon Musk tweets

Lawyers have argued Musk is trying to influence potential jurors

Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition March 9, 2020, in Washington. Musk’s lawyer says a federal judge would trample on the Tesla CEO’s free speech rights if he ordered Musk to stop talking about 2018 tweets saying he had the funding to make Tesla a private company. In a court document filed Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Lawyer Alex Spiro says a motion from a group of Tesla shareholders seeking a gag order doesn’t establish that Musk’s comments will prejudice the pool of jurors who may hear the case. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Monorail tracks and concrete pilings lead into contemporary hotel under construction at Walt Disney World July 7, 1971 Orlando, Florida. The idea was presented to Florida lawmakers in a movie house outside Orlando, Florida 55 years ago: Let Disney form its own government and in exchange it would create a futuristic city of tomorrow. (AP Photo/SDS)

Florida Senate passes bill to end Disney self-government

Proposal could have huge tax implications for Disney which transformed Orlando into a destination

Monorail tracks and concrete pilings lead into contemporary hotel under construction at Walt Disney World July 7, 1971 Orlando, Florida. The idea was presented to Florida lawmakers in a movie house outside Orlando, Florida 55 years ago: Let Disney form its own government and in exchange it would create a futuristic city of tomorrow. (AP Photo/SDS)
Aly Jiwani - Lia Crowe photograph

Full throttle ahead

Aly Jiwani turns a love of cars into top sales and leadership roles

  • Apr 20, 2022
Aly Jiwani - Lia Crowe photograph
This Aug. 13, 2020, photo shows a logo for Netflix on a remote control in Portland, Ore. Netflix’s video streaming service suffered the first loss in worldwide subscribers in its history, leading to a massive sell-off of its shares. The company’s customer base fell by 200,000 subscribers during the January-March period, according to a quarterly report released Tuesday, April 19, 2022; its stock dropped by 23% in after-market trading. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, file)

Netflix shares drop 25% after service loses 200K subscribers

Projecting a loss of another 2 million subscribers during April-June period

This Aug. 13, 2020, photo shows a logo for Netflix on a remote control in Portland, Ore. Netflix’s video streaming service suffered the first loss in worldwide subscribers in its history, leading to a massive sell-off of its shares. The company’s customer base fell by 200,000 subscribers during the January-March period, according to a quarterly report released Tuesday, April 19, 2022; its stock dropped by 23% in after-market trading. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, file)
FILE - Vancouver businessman David Sidoo leaves following his federal court hearing March 15, 2019 in a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme in Boston. Sidoo is now accused in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme dating between 2013 and 2018. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via AP, File)

B.C. businessman David Sidoo accused in $145 million US ‘pump-and-dump’ scheme

U.S. SEC alleges former CFL player worked in multi-player ring to trick investors out of millions

FILE - Vancouver businessman David Sidoo leaves following his federal court hearing March 15, 2019 in a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme in Boston. Sidoo is now accused in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme dating between 2013 and 2018. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via AP, File)
The company logo graces one of the doors of a delivery van for Amazon Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Denver. Amazon said Wednesday, April 13, 2022 it will add a 5% “fuel and inflation surcharge” to fees it charges third-party sellers who use the retailer’s fulfillment services as the company faces rising costs. The company said in an announcement on its website that the added fees will take effect on April 28 and are subject to change. Federal data released Tuesday showed inflation hit 8.5% in March, its fastest pace in more than 40 years. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)

Amazon adds 5% ‘fuel and inflation surcharge’ to seller fees

Seattle-based company notes added fees take effect April 28

The company logo graces one of the doors of a delivery van for Amazon Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Denver. Amazon said Wednesday, April 13, 2022 it will add a 5% “fuel and inflation surcharge” to fees it charges third-party sellers who use the retailer’s fulfillment services as the company faces rising costs. The company said in an announcement on its website that the added fees will take effect on April 28 and are subject to change. Federal data released Tuesday showed inflation hit 8.5% in March, its fastest pace in more than 40 years. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)
Darren Morcom - Lia Crowe photograph

At your service

Financial planner Darren Morcom and his passion for helping others

  • Apr 13, 2022
Darren Morcom - Lia Crowe photograph