Where’s Gabriola, You Say?
Here’s a clue! Starts with “G”. In the Gulf Islands, west coast of Canada. Surrounded by the Salish Sea. On the south side, you can see Nanaimo, Cedar, Ladysmith. On the north side, you can see Whistler and draw your eye along the horizon to Vancouver. From our highest peak, you can see Saltspring Island, also part of the Gulf Islands. In a matter of elimination, we aren’t Galiano or Ganges. We’re Gabriola. So let me show you how to find us, how to plan your visit to us, and how to get around on our beautiful island. This is going to be a comprehensive review, so put your feet up...
Read MoreOde to John Hellum.
John Hellum was larger than life in every possible way, physically, mentally and gastronomically. Unfortunately for us John has died and has left us poor mortals for that ultimate kitchen in the sky. The patrons there will soon learn to recognise and love the man in the hat just as we did. Fortunately as long as there is one person here that knew him, John will live on. His swagger, his story telling ability, his incredible knowledge base on all things, his kind and gentle heart and his rapier like wit will never leave us. Fortunately we can also still experience the essence of John...
Read MoreTax Free Savings Accounts
Let’s talk about Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSA). The government does not give you many chances to save on taxes, this is definitely one you should be taking advantage of. You have been allowed to contribute to a tax free savings account since 2009, with varying maximum annual contribution limits. You do not have to contribute annually, or even the maximum annually, and all limits can be carried forward to future years indefinitely. TFSA contributions can be made all year, not to be confused with RRSP contributions which have to be made by the 60th day of the year to qualify for the...
Read MoreGlen Eden Organic Farm
Certified Delicious! Originally from London, UK Howard and Sally Green met in Toronto where they were both working in an advertising agency. Interestingly they discovered that they shared a common interest for gardening. They left Toronto, turning their caps towards the West Coast in search of a quieter life. Soon their gardening interest took over and retirement plans of sunbathing, traveling or resting on their laurels quickly turned into a farming frenzy. The 8 ½ acre property located on Cowichan Lake Rd, was acquired in 2002 and a great amount of work and effort as well as extensive...
Read MoreArtisans of Gabriola
In the clearest, broadest sense, Arts Gabriola “A creative, engaged, and inclusive community sustaining Gabriola’s vibrant island culture, oversees the importance of arts in community and individual development—both social and economic”. When I was scanning the scape looking for gifts for buyers and sellers of real estate properties here on Gabriola, I discovered right before my very eyes, Allana Thorne, creator of The Thorne Crate Co. Established in 2012 as a start-up she focuses on quality Gabriola-made juicy items stuffed into nifty baskets, all wrapped up spiffy so you can see...
Read MoreFresh from the Cowichan Valley!
The 8 ½ Acres Farm is located just North of the Highway 18, this family farm has it all. Mike Shelten and Talyn Martin grow various seasonal fruits and vegetables all year long. Among their usual products you may find garlic scapes, greens and beans, berries, herbs and many more! Although farming isn’t an easy job and working in this line of business means constantly facing new and unpredictable challenges, adapting to fluctuating weather conditions, and working long hours, these charming farmers enjoy the lifestyle farming offers. The fact that they are able to spend their days...
Read MoreLawn to Food
It’s a very unsuspecting location to find Lynda Smith’s business. In the middle of a Comox neighborhood where homes sit on lots not much larger than a quarter acre, an active vegetable farm is in production year-round. Lynda, founder and operator of Lawn to Food, is immersed in a small business that not only brings fresh, organic and plentiful food to her family’s table, but allows her to educate and coach others to do the same all while sharing the fruits of her labour for others to enjoy. “We had always gown food but I was always the one doing it and the one preparing it and I...
Read MoreToo Far From The City
Did I hear you utter under your breath, “Too far removed from the city for me.” I know you’d be gobsmacked with our “Gabriola emergency services infrastructure”. And, this is what I’m going to call it because moving here without much thought to what would happen if: I locked myself out of my house, out of my car, the campfire got out of control, found my neighbour running down my driveway with his hand slit open from his band saw, hadn’t heard from my elderly neighbour for weeks, witnessed through the autumn mist a crush of Highland cattle herding themselves down Burnside...
Read MoreA New On-Line Shopping Page.
On-line marketing has become an ever increasing presence an the market place and Island Woman magazine has created a platform to assist smaller companies on the island to easily access and share in its potential. Trish Summerhayes, the owner of Island Woman, said “It’s very important to me to do all that I can to encourage small business’ on the island, especially those of island women. I was a small business owner for many years and I know that it can be very difficult to start up and run a business, especially for women. It is so draining trying to obtain start-up money...
Read MorePlanning For The Unexpected
You’ve worked hard to make your business a success. There may have been times when you gambled on a business strategy and won – but, for the most part, you stuck to the meticulous business plan that has been your blueprint for growth and achievement. Now, it’s time for a new plan. What would happen to your business if you were taken away from it, even temporarily? Would it survive? If you’re like most small business owners, the odds are that your years of careful nurturing and building could come tumbling down without your energetic hands on the reins – because you are your...
Read MoreBullying And Harassment
Managing employee conduct issues is one of the most difficult tasks that managers face. When those issues fall under WorkSafeBC legislation about Bullying and Harassment, the responsibilities on supervisors, managers and business owners is great. Being educated on this relatively new legislation will not only reduce the likelihood you will have to deal with a Bullying and Harassment complaint; it will also enable you to respond to an allegation in the best way possible so that you can mitigate the damage. WorkSafeBC legislation regarding workplace bullying applies to all organizations in BC,...
Read MoreHolidays In The Workplace
Tis the season for celebrations … What better way to thank your employees for their contribution to your business over the past year? Well-planned festivities can be a great way to not only recognize your staff for a job well done, but also to boost morale, encourage collaboration and increase team building. Unfortunately, even the best intentioned employers can open themselves up to liability issues if they don’t consider the impact that an office party can have when things go awry. It has become common for employers to cut back on their seasonal parties, not because they don’t want to...
Read MoreLocal Sourcing Brings Rewards
Scott DiGuistini and Merissa Myles set out on a five year business plan to bring wholesome, high quality food to the community while doing their part in land stewardship in support of local agriculture farming. Yet, in less than three years, the Comox Valley couple surpassed their goals and have taken their business, Tree Island Gourmet Yogurt, to a whole new level. Production has grown beyond the ‘mom and pop’ shop initially set on their Old Island Highway site to become a yogurt supplier for top restaurants, to 125 independent and franchise grocers on Vancouver Island, now with the...
Read MoreMinding Your Manners At Work
If you find yourself thinking that things at work are too casual these days, you may be right – but you may also be showing your age. On the other hand, Millennials could learn a thing or two from their senior co-workers in how to conduct themselves in the work world. Business etiquette – whether at the company picnic or in the office – is something that everyone should abide by to ensure that professionalism is maintained at any occasion that involves your colleagues and supervisors. Most companies have policies and procedures to deal with the big ticket items such as Conflict of...
Read MoreLittle Boxes
The world puts things into little boxes. Little boxes with labels; sorted by usefulness or normalcy so that it’s easy to understand what is going around us. These boxes compartmentalize the world into digestible packages; framing what we know, who we are and how we interact with the world. Boxes, categories, classes, they all mean one thing; a limitation on our potential, our self and our connection to the world around us. In my life, growing up on Vancouver Island, going to school in Burnaby and returning as a small business owner to Central Vancouver Island, I have never had much success...
Read MoreHiring a Great Employee
So you are ready to hire an employee … simple, right? Put together an ad and choose from the resumes that come in – what could be simpler? Think again. If you have your own business or are in charge of hiring for an organization, the steps you take to hire a great employee will determine the success of your business going forward. Make sure that you have a job description so that you know exactly the type of person you want to hire and the specific skills that are required for the position. This can take some thinking but it will be well worth it in determining your candidate’s...
Read More