November saw much of the North Coast Commercial sector ramping up their efforts for the upcoming Christmas season, with local businesses looking to keep some of those holiday shopping dollars from drifting away from the region
It was also a month where many of the regions business owners gave back to the community through a number of promotions that helped with a number of local initiatives through the month.
The month also highlighted some of the issues that business owners face, whether it be with relations with City Hall to the more serious concerns of crime that have been noted in the area over the last month.
November also brought a pair of familiar community events back to the North Coast, with the Annual Rotary Auction taking place at mid month, while the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce also launched their nomination process for the annual Business Excellence Awards to be handed out in early 2018.
Our review of the Commercial and economic scene in the region for the last month can be found below:
November
The month started off with some sticker shock, as gas prices at local gas stations rose to just below 1.40, eventually dropping to levels a little more familiar over the last few months.
Whether Business owners should embark on some housekeeping on their locations if some of the land is city owned made for a theme in November as Councillor Barry Cunningham raised some questions related to the city's response to some work done by Western Canada Marine Response on Dry Dock Road.
One of Prince Rupert's most popular dining establishments was knocked out of business for the next little while, as a fire at Dolly's Fish Market resulted in significant damage, an incident which will require repairs and renovations that at last report will carry on into 2018.
Owning a convenience store in the community continues to be a dangerous occupation, with another robbery taking place in the city in early November, with PJ's Park Avenue store once again the targets of armed robbers.
The situation is also becoming a familiar one for residents of Terrace, with the RCMP in that community responding to a morning robbery of a store in the Thornhill.
Northern Savings, the Prince Rupert based financial institution raised the alarm last month over yet another email scam that was targeting the North Coast, this one directed at customers of the Credit Union.
November was also a month where the City's Rotarians took over CityWest's Community television channel, hosting their annual Rotary Auction, which as always was well supported both by the business community through donations and the public who participated over the course of the three nights of the annual event.
The Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce also launched their nomination period for the annual Business Excellence Awards, with a strong response to the nomination process taking place through the month.
North Coast residents took note of our story of a local chef who has relocated to Canmore, Alberta and found some impressive success both in the launch of his own restaurant in the tourist mecca of the west. To go along with the success of Blake, former Rupertite Blake Flann also is in the running for a national cooking competition in 2018.
A number of regional corporate partners have lent their financial assistance to Shames Mountain, helping the Northwest ski hill to purchase a new snowcat for the slopes.
Would be pot entrepreneurs for Prince Rupert will have to wait a little bit longer before the City is ready to outline its bylaw requirements for commercial marijuana operations, with City Council extending their prohibition until July of 2018.
Save on Foods continued on with some of the community support program, launching a day of support for the Prince Rupert Food Bank, with a stuff the van promotion in November. The Third Avenue West grocery store is also collecting coats for those in need this winter.
Local artisans had their chance to showcase their works in November with the annual Kaien Island Craft Fair taking place at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre.
The Metlakatla Development Corporation outlined some of its programs through their Annual General Meeting of the third week of November.
The City's local business community took to their plaid last month, as Prince Rupert Businesses celebrated the Plaid Friday concept, dedicated towards reclaiming some of the purchasing that takes place on line in the city.
Members of the Lax Kw'alaams Band were being asked to take part in a business survey in November, designed to help community members learn more about how they can best develop their own commercial industry.
A new business program debuted on the CityWest Community channel in November, with Leah Jowe hosting It's Everyone's business, which puts the spotlight on small business development in the region.
You can keep up to date on the ebb and flow of the Prince Rupert commercial scene through 2017 from our Taking Stock tracker archive which can be reviewed here.
We imagine we probably have missed a few here or there, so if you know of a business having opened, or seen the Going out of business sign appear somewhere in the area, drop us a line at our email account of northcoastreviewpr@yahoo.ca
Or send us a short message through our twitter feed of @CharlesHays
No comments:
Post a Comment