Q & A with BC Green Business -Jarret Klim, Program Manager and sustainability advocate as he explains the GreenBiz program and how easy it is for businesses to take the incremental steps towards sustainability. Evolving from the Vancouver Island Green Business Collective (VIGBC) - launched in 2013 by the Synergy Foundation, this organization has expanded under the new name to provide affordable certification and actionable checklists for businesses province-wide.

The City of Campbell River Economic Development is offering local businesses (within city limits, with valid business license) the opportunity to join the BC Green Business and become a member for free. Included in this is a one-on-one audit to tailor options specific to your business. The program is open until all funds are allocated. Applications go directly to the Synergy Foundation. To apply please email Jarret Klim at jarret@synergyfoundation.ca

Freyja is a boutique croissant shop that uses the highest quality and freshest ingredients that are sourced locally and internationally. The croissants take four days to produce as they are based upon a sourdough recipe with its origins in Scandinavia.

This shop is located on Shoppers Row in Campbell River.

During this episode, we will chat with owners Géza and Emese about how they came to Campbell River from Hungary through the BC Provincial Nominee Program, why they chose Campbell River to settle in with their babies and the challenges and successes of setting up shop in a more rural part of Canada.

Stonehouse Teas and Beach Fire Brewing have been collaborating on products for a few years, with success. Today, we hear about how special-batch tea beer was born out of an idea and has evolved into over 30 collaborations between the two businesses. Darrin and Christine also discuss what makes a good team collaboration and how to evaluate whether a collaboration is worth the work it will take to make it a success.

Rachael Weaver and Maureen Hunter of Rivercity Inclusion join us to talk about how they the organization has been supporting the business community through their supported and customized employment programs.

Rivercity Inclusion is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to advocate for services and/or provide services for people with special needs, and their families, who live in the Campbell River area. They will be celebrating 62 years in Campbell River - one of the oldest and most successful inclusion organizations on Vancouver Island.

https://rivercityinclusion.ca/who-we-are

Carl Sweet, equipment sales representative with Inland Truck and Equipment and board director of Truck Loggers Association (TLA), joins us to chat about the forest industry in the region and the future of forestry through innovation.

Sarah and Kyle have a love of craft beer that rivals many - but they turned that love into a festival that not only contributes to the craft beer scene in Campbell River, but also gives back to the community. With deep family ties to the Campbell River Community Foundation, they were motivated to find a way to continue the family tradition of contributing funds to the foundation. Since they are teachers, they decided to get creative and use their organizational skills to organize the first festival in 2019, which was a huge success and all of the proceeds went to the foundation. Now, after a two-year hiatus due to COVID, they are back raising money again with a bigger festival that features 17 different craft beer vendors!

nicbf.com

crfoundation.ca

Christine Lilyholm joins us for this episode to discuss how she innovates and creates products that allows Stonehouse Teas to stand out. Through collaboration, attention to detail and looking to the community and her staff for insight into products, Stonehouse has been a staple business in the community for over 25 years.

George Lambert discovered Campbell River when his career in sound brought him to a music festival at Saratoga Speedway! After that visit, he decided to set roots in the forestry town and eventually founded T-MAR industries in 1984. T-MAR specializes in steep slope logging equipment design and manufacturing.

George talks with us about challenges with HR and supply chain issues, and how he turned those challenges into successes by innovating. He also touches on the current state of the forestry industry and the competing interests for forests and wood products.