Local Business

Hastings Martial Arts in North Saanich first opened in December but was forced to close temporarily due to COVID-19. The studio reopened in June and is now offering classes with increased safety protocols in place. (Photo contributed/Cory Hastings)

Peninsula businesses launch amidst COVID-19

New music school, martial arts studio, pet food store, welcomed with warm community response

  • Aug 2, 2020
Hastings Martial Arts in North Saanich first opened in December but was forced to close temporarily due to COVID-19. The studio reopened in June and is now offering classes with increased safety protocols in place. (Photo contributed/Cory Hastings)
The West Coast Trail Express is operating along the Victoria - Port Renfrew route daily but has been hit hard by charter cancellations and the closure of the West Coast Trail. (Facebook/West Coast Trail Express)

West Coast Trail shuttle operator struggles with closure

Buses now operating Victoria-Port Renfrew route

The West Coast Trail Express is operating along the Victoria - Port Renfrew route daily but has been hit hard by charter cancellations and the closure of the West Coast Trail. (Facebook/West Coast Trail Express)
MD Charlton Co. in Central Saanich, is ringing in its 40th year, and owner Alec Rossa hopes there are many more to come. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Three Peninsula businesses celebrate longevity

MD Charlton in North Saanich celebrates 40th anniversary this year

  • Aug 2, 2020
MD Charlton Co. in Central Saanich, is ringing in its 40th year, and owner Alec Rossa hopes there are many more to come. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Denny Warner, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, says the local business community has proven resilient against the backdrop of COVID-19. (Submitted)

Saanich Peninsula business proves resilient during pandemic

2020 Readers’ Choice celebrates local businesses and organizations

Denny Warner, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, says the local business community has proven resilient against the backdrop of COVID-19. (Submitted)
VIDEO: The 2020 Best of the City results are in!

VIDEO: The 2020 Best of the City results are in!

Find out which local businesses captured the hearts of our readers

VIDEO: The 2020 Best of the City results are in!
Galaxy RV raised a giant Canadian flag outside their new dealership in Langford Friday. (Michelle Cabana/Black Press Media)

PHOTOS: Giant Canadian flag soars above new Langford RV dealership

Flag believed to be the largest on the Island

  • Jul 24, 2020
Galaxy RV raised a giant Canadian flag outside their new dealership in Langford Friday. (Michelle Cabana/Black Press Media)
Happy Buddha Cannabis plans to re-submit its application for its proposed Beacon Avenue store with this storefront design as approved by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCRB) and after a court had ruled in the business’ favour. (Happy Buddha Cannabis/Submitted)

Happy Buddha Cannabis hopes to be before Sidney council ‘soon’

Promise comes after a court ruled in favour of the business

Happy Buddha Cannabis plans to re-submit its application for its proposed Beacon Avenue store with this storefront design as approved by the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCRB) and after a court had ruled in the business’ favour. (Happy Buddha Cannabis/Submitted)
Cannabis flowers on display at Pacificanna give customers chance to peruse their options before purchasing. (Nina Grossman/News staff)

Fairfield cannabis store gains footing after opening mid-pandemic

Victoria shop modeled after standard retail stores, displays

Cannabis flowers on display at Pacificanna give customers chance to peruse their options before purchasing. (Nina Grossman/News staff)
Get a chance to meet the horses of Victoria Carriage Tours up close and personal in Brentwood. The company is offering trolley rides by donation on Sundays through Aug. 2. (Facebook/Victoria Carriage Tours)

Victoria carriage operator trots horse-drawn trolley tours into Brentwood Bay

By-donation, socially distanced rides offered as a thank you to community

Get a chance to meet the horses of Victoria Carriage Tours up close and personal in Brentwood. The company is offering trolley rides by donation on Sundays through Aug. 2. (Facebook/Victoria Carriage Tours)
Tracey McCullough and her husband Brent sit behind their four children Jordan, Lauren, Conner and Kaylee in North Saanich’s In the Garden Childcare Centre. It recently moved to the former Royal Canadian Legion building on Mills Road. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

North Saanich daycare moves with pandemic

COVID-19 created challenges, but also opportunities for business

Tracey McCullough and her husband Brent sit behind their four children Jordan, Lauren, Conner and Kaylee in North Saanich’s In the Garden Childcare Centre. It recently moved to the former Royal Canadian Legion building on Mills Road. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Beer drinkers in B.C. had the chance to fill their growlers at restaurants so that the restaurants could sell off the beer from opened kegs before they spoiled. (Joe Wiebe Photo)

B.C. ends short experiment with growler fills at restaurants

Province extends take-out sales of six-packs, wine

Beer drinkers in B.C. had the chance to fill their growlers at restaurants so that the restaurants could sell off the beer from opened kegs before they spoiled. (Joe Wiebe Photo)
Sandy Oliver, owner of Sidney’s Star Cinema, stands outside the theatre’s temporary location at 9824 Fifth St. The theatre reopened on July 3 after having closed its doors because of COVID-19 in mid-March. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Sidney’s Star Cinema looks to reel in audience with reopening

It’s lights, camera, action — again — for Sidney’s Star Cinema in…

Sandy Oliver, owner of Sidney’s Star Cinema, stands outside the theatre’s temporary location at 9824 Fifth St. The theatre reopened on July 3 after having closed its doors because of COVID-19 in mid-March. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
A virtual career fair is offering people the chance to chat with experts in the film industry. (Photo by Penny Rogers/Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission)

Virtual film industry career fair offers chance to talk with the experts

Experts in 11 different departments, three film union representative will be in attendance

A virtual career fair is offering people the chance to chat with experts in the film industry. (Photo by Penny Rogers/Vancouver Island South Film and Media Commission)
Nancy James, owner of the Maresa Boutique, Bunny Doyle, owner of Shabby Rabbit clothing, and Dale Shaw, owner of the Oak Bay Gallery, said their businesses are struggling despite reopening after COVID-19 closures and now face additional hardship due to the parking turned into patio space in Oak Bay Village. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

Owners say loss of parking pushes businesses to the brink

New Penny Farthing patio ‘will be like New Orleans, or Las Vegas’

Nancy James, owner of the Maresa Boutique, Bunny Doyle, owner of Shabby Rabbit clothing, and Dale Shaw, owner of the Oak Bay Gallery, said their businesses are struggling despite reopening after COVID-19 closures and now face additional hardship due to the parking turned into patio space in Oak Bay Village. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)
Colin Holt, manager at Bolen Books, has noticed an increase in demand for books on anti-racism. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)

Book stores in Victoria notice uptick in sales for anti-racism titles

White Fragility, How to be an Antiracist are among the best selling titles

Colin Holt, manager at Bolen Books, has noticed an increase in demand for books on anti-racism. (Kendra Crighton/News Staff)
Nadia Mugeni dealt with various racial jokes from coworkers at her former job in Canada. “That was one of the first times I became conscious of my black skin,” she said. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Black business owners in Victoria share first-hand experiences with racism

‘The moment they saw my black skin and heard my thick accent they put me in a box’

Nadia Mugeni dealt with various racial jokes from coworkers at her former job in Canada. “That was one of the first times I became conscious of my black skin,” she said. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Lloyd English, who co-owns and operates Peninsula Academy of Music Arts with his wife Diane, fears for the future of the music industry. (Don Bodger/Submitted)

Curtain falls on traditional model of teaching at North Saanich music studio

Saanich Peninsula music teacher strikes flat note about future of music industry

Lloyd English, who co-owns and operates Peninsula Academy of Music Arts with his wife Diane, fears for the future of the music industry. (Don Bodger/Submitted)
Mo:Lé Restaurant, a popular Greater Victoria eatery, has shut its two locations indefinitely, as owner Josh Miller confirmed on Facebook. (Facebook/Mo:Lé Restaurant)

Popular Greater Victoria eatery Mo:Lé Restaurant shuts its doors permanently

Owner says decision ‘wasn’t an easy one to make, but it was the right one’

Mo:Lé Restaurant, a popular Greater Victoria eatery, has shut its two locations indefinitely, as owner Josh Miller confirmed on Facebook. (Facebook/Mo:Lé Restaurant)
Very Good Butchers pitch plant-based vegan meat alternatives to Dragons’ Den. (Courtesy Very Good Butchers)

Victoria vegan butcher goes public on stock market

The Very Good Butchers are on the Canadian Securities Exchange

Very Good Butchers pitch plant-based vegan meat alternatives to Dragons’ Den. (Courtesy Very Good Butchers)
Amatista Spa at The Westin Bear Mountain Resort and Spa officially opens its doors for the first time on June 16 with high safety standards due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy of Jennifer Burgin)

Bear Mountain spa officially opens doors for first time amidst pandemic

Amatista Spa opens June 16

Amatista Spa at The Westin Bear Mountain Resort and Spa officially opens its doors for the first time on June 16 with high safety standards due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Courtesy of Jennifer Burgin)