Real People, Real Stories

On March - 31 - 2011
Ridley Terminals, Prince Rupert

Exports By the Numbers

China’s emergence as an economic power and the rapid growth of its manufacturing sector has made it a perfect fit as a customer for goods from British Columbia’s resource sectors.

Canada is still the United States’ top trade partner in terms of two-way trade, but China is now a close second.

You may be surprised by a few other things in this BC Stats report. You can find BC Jobs and the Economy on Facebook, too.

Raven Keri Keenan - women in trades

Building a Career in Trades the Right Fit

These three women each pursued their passion and discovered the right fit was working in the trades.

Carmen and Jayme_thumbnail

Need a Career Change?

How’s your job? Ever think about doing something different? Not only did Carmen and Jayme think about it, they did it.

Rick Burns and fresh catch

Olympic Servings of Pink Salmon Lead to Gold Medal Plates

Rick Burns fishes for a living. Now thanks to “the meal of a lifetime” during the 2010 Games, he’s selling frozen-at-sea salmon to fine dining spots in Calgary, Edmonton, Whistler and Vancouver.

Barkerville Main Street

B.C.’s Heritage Boosts Tourism Dollars, Rural Jobs

Heritage tourism is growing, particularly in B.C.’s rural areas, where it bolsters tourist spending and creates jobs.

Cole Island in Esquimalt Harbour

Test Your BC HQ during Heritage Week

Here’s a sample: The Hallmark Society promotes: (a) Collectible greeting cards. (b) Heritage preservation in the Capital Region. (c) Major B.C. sporting events.

2010 tourism thumbnail image

B.C. Tourism Growth Accelerating [INFOGRAPHIC]

Tourism provides work for nearly 129,000 people in the province. The industry is worth $12.7 billion. The province just posted its seventh straight month of gains in international overnight visitors — a key benchmark.

oyster farming thumbnail

Pass the B.C. Oysters – It’s Valentine’s Day!

This week, crews from Fanny Bay Oysters will harvest over 200,000 oysters from the pristine waters of Fanny Bay off Vancouver Island. There is a high likelihood the peculiar looking crustacean will play a part in romantic dinners in B.C. and elsewhere.

Tea

All the Tea in China and Some in B.C. too

Southern Vancouver Island – home to Canada’s first experimental tea plantation – is celebrating Chinese New Year.

Building BC's new modular classrooms for full-day kindergartens

Shelter Industries Strives for Excellence in Modular Classroom Construction

When full-day kindergarten goes province-wide, September 2011, there will be enough space for all, thanks to these modular classrooms built and installed by a B.C. firm.

e-waste

The Shredder: How to Protect Your Data

Recycling — and refurbishing — used electronic equipment is a growing business. Lot of drop-off locations around B.C., too. Learn how you can  divert e-waste from the landfill and help our recycling enterprises.

Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island makes Fave Five tourist destination list

A driving tour of Vancouver Island so impressed travel writer and editor Janeen Christoff that she’s ranked her visit right up there with a safari in South Africa, a visit to Tuscany and a stay in a Turkish hotel built in a cave.

laying a foundation

Laying the Foundation

David and Ken Watson know the importance of a solid foundation — in construction, in business and in family. Their company, founded by their dad, is a northern success story. Another in our Real People, Real Stories series.

Kekuli thumbnail photo

Gas and Groceries, Bannock and Dirt

Meet three Aboriginal business award winners who’ll tell you in a trio of short videos why they started, how they did it and what they’re planning next.

Christmas trees

Deck the Halls with a B.C.-Grown Christmas Tree

There’s hot chocolate, cookies and a fire to keep warm. Now all you need is a saw. Volkmann Christmas Trees in Kelowna will lend you one, or you can leave the sawing to them. Business is good.

Planning now for his future

When Demand Exceeds Supply: Attracting Skilled Workers

By 2019, B.C. will have about 1.1 million available jobs. Current forecasts show we won’t have the skilled labour to fill them. Employers, particularly small businesses, are feeling the pressure. Now there’s a plan. Have a look…

Lisa Hoarau

Tournament Capital of Canada Turns Tourism Hotspot

Lisa Hoarau just landed one of 20 new jobs created by the opening of a Holiday Inn in the Tournament Capital of Canada. Any idea where that is? Hint: It’s the home of the 2011 Canada Summer Games and the B.C. Lions’ training camp.

Rod Marsh

Bowen Island Painters Get An Edge

Quickway Paint & Drywall Inc. company president Rod Marsh of Bowen Island recently discovered one more reason to appreciate membership in his local Chamber of Commerce. Can you guess what it is?

Clayton Hillman

Family-run Business Benefits from Broadband

The product is high quality, the client base is growing and, thanks to broadband Internet service, this Keremeos custom-milled log home business is expanding its sales territory, serving customers quickly and reliably.

Edward Johnson, Nanaimo

An Apprenticeship Journey

For some people, finding your dream career can take a lifetime.  For Nuu-chah-nulth father of four Edward Johnson, all it took was a lunch date with his wife and a stroll past a construction site. Follow Edward’s journey in this short feature.

Urban Sanctuary in China

World Class Exposure for B.C. Forest Products in China

An “Urban Sanctuary” introduced thousands of visitors a day to the beauty of Vancouver and the advantages of building with B.C. wood at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

BC Spirit festivals begin next February

Festivals Rekindle B.C. Olympic Spirit

This coming February, more than 150 communities in our province are expected to hold B.C. Spirit festivals. Another legacy of the 2010 Games.

mcbride saw mill blade

Two Small Saw Mills Come to Life in McBride

A couple of video glimpses into two saw mills in McBride, as hard-hit parts of B.C. begin to emerge from the social and economic impacts of the worldwide recession.

West Lake

Network BC and the West Lake Community

Not so long ago, the advantages of ‘life-by-the-lake’ were diminishing… Despite being so close to Prince George, the community of West Lake was a world away in technology. Then some neighbours decided to do something about it.

Dinoflex of Salmon Arm

Recycled Tires Hitting the Ground

The majority of this Salmon Arm company’s products contain about 90 per cent post-consumer waste. And it all started with a desire to cut down on the amount of tires heading to the local landfill. This is the eighth and final profile in our Small Business Month series. Thanks for your comments and feedback.

EnvirEau Technologies of Richmond

Safe Food and Water: B.C. Firm Making It Happen

With a passion to improve water and food safety around the world, EnvirEau Technologies set out to protect these basic human needs, one mineral-based protection product at a time. Here’s the seventh in the Small Business Month profiles.

Ziptrek Ecotours

Ziplining: A Model for Sustainable Tourism

More than 15,000 people returned home from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with a stand-out memory: ziplining six stories above Vancouver’s lively downtown. Sixth of the Small Business Month profiles.

Canadian Electric Vehicles

Island-Made Electric Cars Going Global

Vancouver Island vehicle manufacturer is helping reduce pollution around the world, one electric refueling truck at a time. Fifth in the Small Business Month profiles.

Oil and Gas Industry Infographic

B.C.’s Natural Gas and Petroleum Industry [INFOGRAPHIC]

It’s Oil and Gas Week in B.C. Oct. 10-16. Have a look at how many direct and indirect jobs the natural gas and petroleum sector brings to our province.

Adventure Engine Inc.

Travel Booking Business Uses Technology to Go Global

When Kelly Acheson and Amber Hayes set up their Rossland business in 2003, it was news – even to them – that they were starting a travel booking tech company. Like many good business ideas, things didn’t turn out as planned. Fourth in a series.

Oil and gas

Connecting Workers with Opportunities in B.C.’s Northeast

If you can’t catch Laurie Dolan on the phone first try, there’s a reason. She’s crazy busy at the Energy Services BC procurement office in Fort Nelson. “Only people living in this area can understand how busy it is here.”

Britannia Mine Museum

Mining in B.C.’s Future

B.C. was built by mining and it’s critical to our economic future. The Britannia Mine Museum is a lens into the past and celebrates the contribution of mining and minerals to the history of this province.

Beediverse of Coquitlam

Solid Research Career Blooms into Bee Business

Beediverse of Coquitlam is another B.C. business successfully exporting its products. The third in the Small Business month profiles.

small buisness highlights small size

Small Business By The Numbers [INFOGRAPHIC]

Guess how many jobs in B.C.’s small business sector. did you say ‘one million’?  That’s right!  More cool numbers and some surprises in our graphic, highlighting Small Business Month in B.C..

Small Business Month launch

Small Business Recognized Across B.C.

They’re all pursuing their dreams. Hear what these British Columbians have to say in this short video as we celebrate Small Business Month.

Acro Media of Kelowna

Web Design Firm Built on Trust

Trust — that’s what clients want when it comes to service, says the CEO of a successful Kelowna corporate web design firm. Another in the Small Business Month series.

takaya tours

First Nation’s Tour Business Making Waves

October is Small Business Month in B.C. Here’s a profile of a First Nation’s cultural tourism company making waves with global customers while strengthening their community’s economy.First in a series of eight profiles this month.

UBCM 2010

Forging Gold Medal Standards at UBCM

Here’s our round-up of stories from the annual convention of the Union of BC Municipalities, held September 27-October 1 in Whistler. Read how the Province and local governments used the 2010 Games to set gold medal standards this year and beyond.

Wells, BC Sparks Modern Day Gold Rush

Wells, B.C. Sparks a Modern Day Gold Rush

The bustle is back in Wells, B.C. Read how high speed Internet changed the District of Well’s fortune, thanks to forward-thinking people like Sundance Topham.

Cargo moving worldwide from YVR

YVR Airport, Province Host World’s Air Industry

Once a year, the people who plan and run airlines, airports and tourism authorities the world over meet in one place to do business. This year, that place is Vancouver.

Justin Hall

Winery Creates Opportunities at NK’Mip

A trip to the Okanagan wouldn’t be complete without a visit to NK’Mip. Opened in 2002 by the Osoyoos Indian Band, it’s North America’s first Aboriginal owned and operated winery.

Construction in B.C.

Climbing, Record-breaking Construction in B.C.

Hammers, nails, wind turbines, wood waste, LEED lighting…the sights and sounds of economic recovery across B.C. Construction projects have tripled, the value has quadrupled. Is it another positive sign? You tell us…

Forging the future - mining infographic

Forging the Future – Mining in B.C. [INFOGRAPHIC]

Mining in British Columbia has been around for over 100 years, providing excellent jobs and economic benefits for many B.C. families and communities. Learn about mining in your province.

Hansel and Gretel

Artists at the Heart of Festival’s Success

Thanks to a recovering economy, a performing arts organization partnered with a land development company to expand a popular performing arts festival. Read on to see the results.

McLeod Lake Indian Band councillor Josie Tylee

Historic Agreement to Change Lives in Small Community

“It makes me happy,” says Elder and McLeod Lake Indian Band councillor Josie Tylee. “It’s a building block for our future,” adds band councillor and former youth worker Yasmin Prince.

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