Kootenay BizBlog » by Keith Powell
Business developments in the Kootenays…
Canfor plans $40 million sawmill upgrade in Kootenays—Radium to re-open with new planer
The bulk of the investment—$38.5 million—will be made in a new planer plant at its Radium Hot Springs sawmill. Canfor also plans to install a new biomass energy system and modify the existing mill.
The company will also spend more than $1 million to upgrade its drying capacity at its Canal Flats sawmill.
Work on the new planer mill is scheduled to start next month, with operation anticipated in the fourth quarter of this year.
The investment is the first round in Canfor’s planned multi-year capital investment program, which is intended to increase at Canfor's Southern Interior mills.
“These investments are critical to support the restart of our Radium division, which was indefinitely closed in May 2009,” said Canfor CEO Don Kayne. “The fibre in the Kootenay region is amongst the best in the world, and these investments will secure our ability to make top-quality products here to supply global markets.”
Kootenay Rockies CDS meets with BC Regional Community Marketing Team
This annual get together provides an opportunity to share experiences and information about tourism development throughout the province. The agenda included a review of the various programs related to community development, such as the Community Tourism Foundation (CTF), the Community Tourism Opportunities (CTO), Tourism BC’s Business Essential guides and workshops, an overview of regional priorities and key marketing strategies.
Emilie Cayer-Huard commented: “The community programs are all designed to support local tourism organizations in building capacities and increase efficiency—from providing the tools to develop a comprehensive tourism plan, to cost-sharing key marketing initiatives and facilitating industry workshops, there is a wide range of resources available. My role is to keep the communities throughout the Kootenay Rockies informed on those resources and to support co-ordinate initiatives.”
One of the main agenda items was to review all the project proposals for the upcoming year from the communities participating in the Community Tourism Opportunities (CTO) program.
“The CTO program is really tailored to be community-driven. There is a lot of flexibility in the projects that are approved because we, as the Regional Community team, want to ensure that the communities can achieve what is on their priority list,” said Cayer-Huard.
During the fiscal year 2011-2012, 16 communities in the Kootenay Rockies participated in the CTO program. They completed various projects, all cost shared with the province up to a total budget of $254,000. The projects included pieces such as the design and production of brochures and maps, community branding activities, mobile websites and the production of promotional videos.
Fore! Kootenay Rockies golf courses swing into spring
Kootenay Rockies golf courses are preparing to open for the 2012 golf season—many are open already. Check the list below to find out where you can play now or projected opening dates.
- Balfour Golf Course - April 13
- Bootleg Gap - April 20
- Castlegar Golf Club - mid-April
- Christina Lake - Open
- Copper Point Golf Club - Open
- Copper Point - The Ridge - Open
- Cranbrook - April 13
- Creston - Open
- Eagle Ranch - Open
- Fernie - May 11
- Golden - early May
- Granite Pointe in Nelson - May 1
- Greywolf at Panorama - early May
- Mountainside at Fairmont - Open
- Kimberley Golf Club - April 20
- Kokanee Springs - April 19
- The Springs at Radium - Open
- Redstone in Rossland - April 30
- Revelstoke - April 27
- Riverside at Fairmont - Open
- Shadow Mountain - Opening Soon - April 21-tentative
- St. Eugene - April 19
- Trickle Creek Golf Resort - May 11
- Wildstone Golf Course - April 20
- Windermere Valley - Open
9 Hole, Par-3s, executive courses:
- Kaslo Golf Course - April 23
- Little Bear, Castlegar - April 12
- Spur Valley, Radium - April 11
Source: Kootenay Rockies newsletter
Promotional video touts Edmonton link to the Kootenays
The video was recently produced by SnowSeekers Media of Alberta and focuses on the ease and advantages of the direct link that Integra Air is offering from Cranbrook to Edmonton and back, said airport manager Tristen Chernove.
The Integra Air flight recently expanded to five days a week and flies directly into the executive flight centre at the Edmonton International Airport. Though small, the plane is comfortable to ride in and provides quick access to and from the Edmonton airport via the Canadian Rockies International Airport.
Flight volume has been increasing since the inception of the service. Residents and visitors to the area are finding the link very attractive—though more volume is always appreciated—so talk up this direct flight to Edmonton.
Check out the video and forward it to your colleagues.
Opportunities for advancement
Statistics Canada has just released the December employment figures for Canada. And it's good news for the Kootenays.
The unemployment rate has dropped from 8.7 per cent in December of 2010 to its current level of 6.8 per cent in December of 2011—1.9 per cent improvement.
This means that there are 75,400 people employed in the Kootenays in December, 2011 versus the 66,000 in December, 2010. This is an improvement of 12.5 per cent year-over-year.
Looking for good employees? Why not sign up for the College of the Rockies Career Expo on March 8th and meet the best and brightness of young minds—the students of the College of the Rockies.
Call Kootenay Business 250-426-7253 for details.
Keith Powell is the publisher and founder of Kootenay Business magazine which is part of the Koocanusa Publications family. He has written a regular sales and marketing column, called Ad Talk, in Kootenay Business magazine for over 20 years. He also writes a daily business blog about business developments in the Kootenays. He is a director of Kootenay Rockies Tourism.
E-mail Keith if you have a business story idea.