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Our Success Stories
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Powell River Souvenirs
If you wanted to buy a tourist souvenir of Powell River a year ago, you would have had to settle for a shirt or some generic souvenir with “Powell River” added to it. If you were looking for something made locally you could certainly find it, but not quite to fit the average souvenir purchaser’s parameters.
Locally made handicrafts are available, but are not usually labelled with “Powell River”. A large variety of local artwork is also available, but art is generally too expensive for souvenir buyers. That leaves consumable items such as blackberry jam, which would say “Made in Powell River” on the label. The problem is that many travellers are reluctant to purchase such items for fear of breakage and a huge mess in their luggage.
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| Wilde Road Organic Farm & Guesthouse
The Wilde Road Organis Farm & Guesthouse will be ready to accommodate guests shortly. Owner Julie Bellian sold her bed and breakfast in Vancouver and relocated to Powell River in 2003. Julie has a background in organic gardening and landscaping, has lived in Europe and has experience in the hospitality sector. Her decision to establish an agri-tourism business is, therefore, very fitting.
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Centennial Service (1986)
When Esso in Powell River took over the distribution of fuel for Texada Island last year, the owners and manager of the only gas station on the island – Centennial Service (1986) – realized that they were going to have to do something.
"We had to have new gas tanks because…[the change] meant we had to have enough tank storage to last for one week between deliveries," explains manager Linda Messmer. "The dangerous cargo run [on the ferry] is only once a week. I knew that once I got a bigger tank I could last a week."
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Proline Video & Imaging
Jerald Formby, Owner/Operator
When Jerald Formby graduated from high school, he received a video camera for a present. He started making amateur videos, and eventually that graduation gift took him into the future.
"I decided I'd like to make videos professionally," he says. And that's what he did.
Jerald now owns and operates Proline Video and Imaging. He creates and produces a wide variety of videos. His projects range anywhere from wedding videos and photo videos to documentaries and informational videos.
After high school graduation, Jerald moved to Vancouver where he took a video and television course at Columbia Academy.
"I worked for several production companies in the city after I finished school, and then I decided to move back to Powell River. I wanted to start a video production company in Powell River."
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Lund Hotel
Dave Formosa, Maynard Harry, Kevin Blaney (of the Sliammon Development Corporation)
Five years ago a dilapidated old hotel was transformed into an historical community treasure through the partnership and efforts of the Sliammon First Nation and local businessman Dave Formosa. Though the project may have been considered a risky one by some, it has been very successful, and all parties involved are looking toward continued success and expansion in the years to come.
Kevin Blaney (Chegajeimwx) is the president of the Sliammon Development Corporation (SDC), through which Sliammon First Nation is the majority owner of the Lund Hotel.
“We saw in Lund the chance to get our nation on the road to economic opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industry,” he says. The place was chosen for a reason.
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| Powell River Custom Tile & Marble
Steven Cantryn, Owner/Operator
Powell River Custom Tile & Marble is growing to fill the needs of Powell River. Since Steven Cantryn opened the store in the spring of 1994 he has been expanding and upgrading the retail space and workshop. Most recently he has been revamping the whole presentation of the store, changing it from a tile store to a very user-friendly display gallery.
Steven’s business has evolved over the past nine years.
“In the last four years, I've made a conscious decision to separate my trade skills from my business skills identifying weaknesses and strengths and growing both independently."
With 14 years of tiling experience, Steven now spends more time designing tile installations and fabricating granite countertops, marble hearths and memorials.
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Aromas Gourmet Coffee and Lunch Bar
Debra McKinnon, Owner/Operator
The very first thing Debra did after her job at a jewellery store came to an end was to ignore the advice her father gave her, "never own your own business."
Taking her personal inventory, she determined that great people skills and a love for cooking were predominant amongst many others. The fact that she is not a coffee drinker did not deter her from the decision to open a coffee bar in a growing industrial area.
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Terracentric Coastal Adventures Ltd.
Christine Hollmann and Hugh Prichard, Owners/Operators
For Hugh, the adventure began early in life. Growing up in Ontario, he worked at a summer residential camp program for inner-city children and youth as a counsellor and whitewater paddling guide on extended out trips. This work continued as he designed and facilitated adventure learning programs in a variety of settings from the jungles of Guyana to the frozen barren lands of the Canadian Arctic.
The majority of Christine’s exposure to an experiential model of learning came as she travelled with the international youth organization Up With People. For a year she lived and learned with other young people from 25 countries, while participating in an experiential curriculum of marketing, stage, light and sound craft, community service, and cross cultural education. She travelled with them a second year—this time in a leadership role—as a staff member gaining valuable facilitation, workshop presentation, counselling and group management skills. Christine also returned to the organization’s headquarters in Colorado to assist in the training of new staff.
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Impact Signs
Angela Hodges, Owner/Operator
“I actually gave myself a raise”, exclaims Angela Hodges, owner and operator of Impact Signs. A hectic business life, long hours of work and total dedication are paying off.
When Angela found out about a sign business for sale she did not dream of taking a serious look at it herself. She was full time employed. Shortly after, her employers decided to close down the business, leaving Angela looking at all other options to continue working. While at the Employment Insurance office she found out about Community Futures’ Self Employment Workshops and decided to participate with the purchase of the sign business in mind. “I had never run a business before and knew nothing about creating signs, but I had the assurance of the seller that he would be willing to train me”.
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| Theden Forest Products LTD.
Who said that a family business doesn't work? Darren Gaylard, a partner in Theden Forest Products Ltd. begs to differ.
Darren started with the first team of the SEA program in 1993, formed the partnership with his father in law and never looked back. "A partnership that was job creative, combining strengths and building a future for many," says Darren.
Feeling their way into the highly competitive market of secondary wood products the partners spent three years in narrowing the many products to one specialized one, wood flooring. "With hard work as a family team we are proud to specialize in Western Canadian Wood Flooring. Quality custom flooring made using only our local woods, fir, maple and alder, from rustic to wide plank styles.
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Powell River Taxi 2001
June Jolie, Rob Maithus, and Rick Maithus, Owner/Operators
It could be said that cabs have driven into the blood of June Jolie and her brothers Rob and Rick Maithus.
"For me initially [driving taxi] was a job," says June Jolie. "I had to support my children and I had no other means. But once I got started, I loved it." "Everyday is a new adventure," Rick says. "You don't know who you're going to meet."
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