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Technology is everywhere, it powers the modern economy; more or less, good or bad. We carry it in our pockets, we wear it, we drive it, and it’ll soon be driving us ~ even more. How did this happen so quickly? How far is it going to go? Is it slowing down or speeding up? What does this mean for a regional and rural economy? Are we empowering our youth to tackle what’s coming or training them properly for jobs that don’t yet exist? These are among the topics explored in the tech and...

Small and medium-sized businesses are vital to British Columbia’s economy. As part of the StrongerBC provincial economic recovery plan, the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program provides fully-funded grants to eligible businesses to ensure they have the support they need during and beyond COVID-19. The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program will invest up to $300 million in targeted financial support for some of the hardest hit businesses in BC that employ...

In response to the unparalleled economic impacts of COVID-19, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) and community partners have compiled the results of a "second survey" to assess the changing effects of the pandemic on the local business community. The survey, conducted in August, was completed by 101 owners and/or operators representing a broad cross-section of Cowichan businesses.  The results show that the Cowichan economy has experienced a modest improvement since the first survey...

Stats Canada Releases June Labour Force Survey: The survey highlights positive signs of recovery in the BC economy.  According to the data, the number of people employed in BC rose by 118,000 in June, following an increase of 43,000 in May.  These gains have brought back around 40 per cent of the total job losses seen in BC since February. View June Labour Force Survey View Minister’s Statement...

British Columbians shopping for a bottle of BC wine will see a new area recognized for their grape-growing and winemaking on the label – the Cowichan Valley. The Cowichan Valley is being recognized as a new sub-geographical indication (sub-GI), an official and protected term under B.C. law used to help consumers identify B.C. wines’ origins. The Cowichan Valley sub-GI is roughly defined as the area between the Cowichan watershed, the eastern coastline from Mill Bay to Maple Bay and the western...