H♥metown Business
Meet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
How many off us grew up in H i the West Kootenay, couldn’t wait to see the world, only to eventually realize that paradise was at home? The West Kootenay has so much to offer, but we can’t afford just to play. It takes character, industry and imagination to be successful in this rugged landscape. Read the stories of your friends and neighbours in the next few pages for an insight into the origins and scope of some of the businesses and services operating today in our West Kootenay communities.
Beautiful West Kootenay
West Kootenay Hometown Businesses
October 28, 2014
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H♥metown Business
Meet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
Backwoods Solar Bringing you affordable and feasible solar solutions Cheryl Sinclair 250-366-4459 cl.sinclair11@gmail.com
Backwoods Solar has been working with off-grid customers from all over the world for 36 years. Their strong team of technical sales people have a unique philosophy of selling what they believe in because they use the same products in their own homes. The story of Backwoods Solar in the Kootenays started when Bob Watters made a call one day to Backwoods Solar, looking for materials for his own system. Owner, Sequoya Cross answered the phone by chance and a relationship was born. Sequoya was quickly convinced that there was a real need in the local area for alternative resources to generate power. Together, they worked to reduce import costs and provide local technical help and affordable technologies, like blemished (‘blems’) panels.
Bob moved to the Kootenay Lake area iin 2009. He brought his interest energy with him. He in alternative alt started by teaching a few workshops starte and aassisting others with their installations. Within a year, there were a dozen systems operating on and off grid, backup, and stand-alone all from Bob and Backwoods Solar. In the fall of 2013, Cheryl Sinclair and her husband, who had heard about the “Solar Guru” of Lardeau Valley were intrigued. With Bob’s help they installed a solar system that they purchased from Back229 kW of solar in the Kootenays so far and growing. woods Solar. Currently, they see a Solar in the Kootenays. Cheryl Sinclair $46 credit every two months instead has been working as a representative of of an electric bill. Backwoods Solar now for over a year. In 2014, Sequoya was invited to visit What started as a part time job for all of the systems that Bob had a hand in, Cheryl quickly grew to full time; each and quickly fell in love with the area and week is busier than the last helping lothe people herself. She was so impressed cals to become energy independent. She with Cheryl and Bob’s passion to spread couldn’t be happier to help see this vithe word of renewable energy that she sion come to life! invited Cheryl to work with Backwoods
Holly’s Landing Delicious dinners, reasonably priced. Holly Hale
250-227-3443 at Lang’s Marina, Balfour
Holly has a vision for her place at Lang’s Marina – year round, delicious dinners, reasonably priced. The dinner specials will be varied – but all share the ‘good home cooking’ theme. While Holly might yet change her mind about the name of the place, solid home fare will be served. Holly was born and raised in Nelson. She has spent her whole life in the restaurant industry. She initially moved to Whistler where she worked in restaurant and hotel supply, and then managed a Mexican restaurant for four years. After ten years away, she moved back to the Kootenays, back home. In Nelson, she began with a deli lunch truck, her “Got Lunch?” truck was a familiar sight. She also worked with Reg at McQs for many years, including event planning, catering, and eventually managing the kitchen. Her life in the Kootenays includes her horses, dogs, cats…and she is passionate about golf. The opportunity at the landmark ‘Lang’s’ location was a perfect fit for Holly. The kitchen is ready to go, and the place is wellknown. Holly couldn’t resist the challenge and knows how lucky she is to enjoy incredible support from her husband Bob and daughter Natalie. Stop in for a classic or light breakfast, a casual lunch, or a dinner special. Maybe it’ll be a Mexican dish, maybe perogies and sausage, maybe ribs and lasagna. You’ll feel right at home. Winter hours 7:30 am – 7:00 pm Marina gas available 2
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West Kootenay Hometown Businesses
H♥metown Business Celebrating West Kootenay Businesses & Services
Stitch ‘n’ Beach Jewel Endicott 16837 Post Office Road Across from Boccalino’s in Kootenay Bay 250-227-9069 • stitchandbeachquilting@gmail.com Hi, my name is Jewel Endicott. My love of quilting stems from my love of working with colours when painting – that is what inspires me to instill art into my quilts. What others see and what they will put into their creations fascinates me, too; not one quilt is the same, not one person sees or interprets colours or patterns the same way. This is my passion – to build up my stock of fabrics, in different colours and patterns, so that my customers may blend them, with the result being an original and unique creation. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome everyone to Stitch ‘n’ Beach Fabric Quilting Shop located on the East Shore of beautiful Kootenay Lake, just above the ferry landing. I would like to strive to have Stitch ‘n’ Beach bring a flavour to the community, to have a place where quilters and sewers can hang out for a bit, join quilting classes, talk ideas, pass on techniques that they have learned through their years of quilting. To bring those beginners in to learn quilting, or just to stop by for a coffee or tea, bringing their sewing machine so they have a place they can come to and create. Quilters are artisans and in 2015 Stitch ‘n’ Beach will host a quilting show. Through the quilts, all will see what talent lives in our area.
Kaslo Clothes Hanger Proven best prices in the Kootenays! Marian Ranseth On Front Street in Kaslo 250-353-9688 • kasloclotheshanger@yahoo.ca
Come on in and say hello, I’d love to meet you!
Marian Ranseth is the new owner of the Kaslo Clothes Hanger. “I purchased the business in April of this year, put my own spin on sourcing and merchandising, and this summer has exceeded all of my expectations. My customers love the selection of styles, colours and sizing. My customers tell me that I really do have the best prices in the Kootenays!” Marian brings a lifetime of experience in retail management to the Kaslo Clothes Hanger. Born and raised in Win-
West Kootenay Hometown Businesses
nipeg, Manitoba, she has managed many retail stores and has also been the District Manager of multiple stores for a major retail chain. “I have a passion for providing the best selection at the best price, to fit every size. It is important to me that I have something for everyone here, from accessories to outerwear for both men and women. And yes, with the best prices in the Kootenays.” y
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H♥metown Business
Meet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
Drifters Restaurant and Pub A Valley Revival Larry and Annette Plett 250-366-4400 Meadow Creek We have already fallen in love with the Lardeau Valley, and we want to bring that energy into our work with Drifters. We come from Kelowna. Larry was in heating and air conditioning, and Annette was a homemaker. Drifters represents a big change for us, but we are ready to make a change. And we have already learned so much. We are glad to have met so many of you at our “revival” opening weekends in October. It’s been a real
treat for us to be able to host parties that bring the valley together with some great local music. There is so much creativity, talent and life in this valley. We are excited about our Masquerade Extravaganza, coming Friday October 31. Sean Rodman will be providing the musical entertainment, but of course we expect our guests to be hugely and extravagantly entertaining as well. Friend Drifters on Facebook!
Kaslo Sourdough Pasta A taste of the future Lettrari Family Business microsour.com • pastafermentata.com
The family owned and operated Kaslo Sourdough Bakery has been baking a wide variety of sourdough breads for the West Kootenay area since 1993. In 2011 Silvio and Gabi, with their three kids Stefan, Heike and Heidi, expanded their business by inventing the world’s first sourdough pasta which uses their exclusive in-house natural sourdough bacterial culture. Silvio’s passion over the past 24 years of working with natural sourdough led to the creative breakthrough they call Pasta Fermentata™. Together with their employees Emma and Martin, the Lettraris now produce twelve different kinds of sourdough pasta. Each variety has a tremendous individual flavour profile, but all deliver the benefits of the natural fermentation process by which they’re made. After many years of research, the Lettraris know that natural fermen4
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tation is essential for a number of health advantages, including gluten degradation for enhanced digestibility and better nutrient absorption. You may also notice their new driver Hugh, delivering both bread and pasta across the West Kootenays. The Kaslo Sourdough team is proud to provide the best quality products in local grocery/health food stores. For more information, you’re welcome to visit their website: microsour.com West Kootenay Hometown Businesses
Photo: Eye of the Mind Photography
H♥metown Business Celebrating West Kootenay Businesses & Services
Harrier Aerial Services Peter LeCouffe, GIS Technician 250-353-3300 • HarrierSurveys.ca
Aerial Survey Crew: Rob, Peter and Steve
This spring Harrier Aerial Surveys was born to offer aerial remote sensing services using UAV/UAS (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles / Systems). This was made possible with the high precision surveying experience of Robert Simmerling P.Eng, owner of Kodiak Measurement Services, and the GIS/Remote Sensing knowledge of Peter LeCouffe, recent graduate of Selkirk College’s Advanced Diploma in GIS. With the professional help of Kodiak, and Harrier employees Steve Johnson and Bevan Bird, we offer accurate aerial imagery, digital elevation models and 3D measurements and calculations. Applications of our services include landfill monitoring, construction sites, real estate, agriculture, hydro and oil and gas corridors, gas detection, quarry and stockpile volumes, visual inspections of bridges, stacks, power lines and hazardous areas, landslides and slope stability monitoring, to name our primary pursuits. For more information about our services, please visit our website HarrierSurveys.ca Our hanger includes fixed wing and rotor craft to offer the most versatile solutions. We are excited about this new venture and we look forward to serving you. Give us a call, let’s make it fly! Fast is Fine but accuracy is everything - Wyatt Earp
Kaslo Window and Gutter Cleaning Neil Johnson 250-353-3291 • KasloWG@gmail.com
I grew up in Kaslo, and graduated in 2005. Since then, I have lived here on and off, leaving some seasons to work and coming back to be part of community projects. I keep coming back. I moved to Victoria in 2010 to start my exterior home cleaning company. I enjoyed this occupation for the interpersonal connection with clients who all soon became friends, sharing conversation and often times coffee or tea and lunch. Victoria offered the opportunity for me to join in many positive initiatives. I learned a lot from these. However, I’d always visit Kaslo and it would be harder to leave each time. Now, after four years away, I have returned home to family and so many friends, to launch Kaslo Window and Gutter Cleaning. My vision for this business is that I am able to help my neighbours with a great service, and that it will allow me to live in this gorgeous area and pursue my interests in community building. West Kootenay Hometown Businesses
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H♥metown Business
Meet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
David K Stewart Vox/fax: 250-353-7600 Cell: 250-354-5368 sjdks@kaslo.org Throughout his professional career David Stewart has freelanced as an actor/singer, oratorio soloist, recitalist, professional chorister, violinist, and teacher. He made his professional vocal solo debut in 1964 with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under Dr. Charles Munch in a performance of Berlioz’ Damnation of Faust. He has been soloist in many CBC radio premieres of Canadian compositions and recorded Martin y Soler’s Una Cosa Rara for CBC SM5000 with the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra. In 1970, with Jon Washburn, he was co-founder of the Vancouver Chamber Choir. In 2001 he received the Willan Award for outstanding long-term service to the BC Choral Federation. David Stewart maintains a studio at the Langham Cultural Centre where he teaches violin, voice, classical guitar, and cello. He plays violin in the Symphony of the Kootenays and chamber music whenever he gets the chance. He is president of the BC Choral Federation as well as the North Kootenay Lake Arts & Heritage Council, Kaslo Concert Society, and Kaslo GuitarFest Society. David and his wife Stephanie Judy (also a strings teacher) recently moved to Kaslo after twenty years in Argenta. Stephanie is the author of Making Music For The Joy Of It which has been described as the amateur musician’s bible. In his time away from music David Stewart is an avid wood turner.
Ainsworth Motel A local treasure under new ownership! Glen and Cindy Konowalchuk 250-229-4711 • 888-848-4463 info@ainsworthmotel 3595 Hwy 31 Glen, Cindy and son Tyler moved here from Selkirk, Manitoba. Glen worked for the City of Winnipeg as a buyer, and Cindy worked as a housekeeper at a nursing home. The two are sharing skills in their new partnership. In this new life they have chosen, partnership is a priority. “I’m teaching her how to navigate spreadsheets,” says Glen, “and she is teaching me how to clean a room properly.” “We love it here. We’ve been vacationing here for years, and vacationing all over British Columbia for twenty years. This place just felt right. We saw the opportunity, left our jobs, and packed up our family – pets included. We are just settling in here, learning the whole business together. We’re glad to be here this time of year, so we can take it slow at first.” Every day, we are so happy to be here, working together, and building a life where we want to be. 6
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West Kootenay Hometown Businesses
H♥metown Business Celebrating West Kootenay Businesses & Services
Kiara Lynch Realtor® Fair Realty – Live in the Koots Team 250-777-1292 kiara@liveinthekoots.com Kiara grew up in Kaslo and Nelson, graduated from LVR, and then went to the Kootenay School of the Arts for a year before going to Concordia University in Montreal. Kiara has lived in Montreal, Spain, Ireland, and Cuba. When it came time to start a family, she moved back to the Kootenays, because “this is just the best place in the world to raise a family.” “Growing up here, I completely identify with people here, with the choices people are making, and with the values.” Prior to working in real estate, Kiara worked in the nonprofit world, most recently as curator for the Langham. “I really identify with my teammates at the Live in the Koots Team and I love our mandate where we give back part of our personal commissions to support nonprofits in the community.” “I never thought I would be in in real estate – but as a realtor, I can represent this place, and what it means to live here in the truest sense.”
Long, long ago in the small village of Kaslo, I began publishing Pennywise from my kitchen table. Wow, what a trip it has been! In 1975 I had a typewriter, some layout sheets and the firm desire to live and work here in Kaslo. At first it was a very small paper just for the immediate area. Slowly it expanded from Kaslo to Nelson, Slocan Valley, Castlegar, Trail, Rossland,
Judy Erika Emily
Emily
Salmo, East Shore and everywhere in between. Early on I had the good fortune to have Judy Hawes and Peter Williams (both 31 years now) and Karma Halleran (26 years) join me. Now we have a total of 17 talented members on the Pennywise team, of which each one plays an important part. By embracing new technologies, we have embarked upon very exciting times. Karma has long espoused that the core ecoGary nomic drivers of our area are Kendrick small businesses. Some busiKarma nesses, after seeing how the world, and more importantly their competitors use the internet, realize they don’t know where to start and worry that they will be left behind. The buying habits of shoppers are evolving. Karma has taken this issue to heart and now manages our web/ internet division. “I want success for these small businesses in this huge service-driven economy! There is no reason why they shouldn’t have a website West Kootenay Hometown Businesses
Websites 250-353-2602 - Kaslo BC karma@pennywiseads.com just like their competitors. Sure, the big guys have bigger budgets, but that is the beauty of Pennywise – we can serve any budget. Technology is our friend, and will be theirs as well,” says Karma. “We can train the business owner to maintain the site, or we can do it for them. Whatever they decide they want, they know they can depend on us to provide and support any service we offer.” From my kitchen table, to Karma’s dream of web combinations, we are working hard to keep local businesses vibrant. The next chapter at Pennywise has only just begun! Patty Axenroth, Publisher Patty October 28, 20144
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H♥metown Business
Meet your friends and neighbours, who are also your hometown service providers.
Want to be featured in the July Hometown Business Feature? All of us who live here share a love for the area, and most of us have had to be creative to find a way to make a living. Hometown is a great way to share your story, and to grow awareness for your business or your project. The Hometown feature includes a short story of how you came to this business or this project, and a picture of you and your business. Call Tara at the Pennywise to help you tell your story in words and photos.
Reserve now. Space is limited. Tara Lynne Clapp 250-353-2602 mail: tara@pennywiseads.com
You are invited!
Family and friends are hosting
Bill and Sherry’s Retirement Celebration
38 years at Balfour Superette November 2nd, 2-4pm Balfour Evangelical Church 7741 Upper Balfour Road All welcome! 8
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Dr Holly and Ben wish you a safe and happy Hallowe’en, and a reminder to brush and floss! :0)
250-353-7711 • New Patients Welcome Open Tuesday to Thursday and Late For Evening Appointments
West Kootenay Hometown Businesses