Chemainus + District Chamber of Commerce

11/01/2026

Who says networking has to feel like networking?

Good company, great conversations, and plenty of laughs at our Chamber Mixer on Tuesday evening Serious Brewing Company

It was wonderful to see local business owners and community members getting together, making new connections, and catching up with familiar faces.

A big thank you to Matt Skeldoch, Manager, and Iain Warren, Brewmaster, for being such welcoming hosts. We'd also like to recognize owner Wayne Procter for his investment in Chemainus and for helping create another great gathering place in our community.

Ever thought about hosting a Chamber Mixer at your business?

It's a fantastic opportunity to bring fellow business owners through your doors, show them what you do, and give them a chance to get to know you.

After all, when people know your business, they're much more likely to recommend it.

And that's what we're here for. Helping local businesses connect, support one another, and grow together.

Interested in hosting? We'd love to hear from you!

10/31/2026

One street. 45+ vendors. A whole lot of holiday spirit! 🍷

Chemainus Sip & Shop is back November 14, and Willow Street is the place to be!

Explore a festive night market filled with unique gifts, food trucks, live music, delicious treats, local w**e, b**r, c***r and spirits, plus special offers from downtown businesses.

Bring your friends, discover something new and make a night of supporting local!

A big thank you to the Chemainus BIA for organizing this wonderful community event. The Chemainus + District Chamber of Commerce is proud to support the festivities and help bring together a fantastic lineup of vendors.

📅 Saturday, November 14
⏰ 3–7:30 PM
📍 Willow Street, Chemainus

Free admission!

Find out more at visitchemainus.ca

10/30/2026

Hello Neighbours! We at Neighbourhood House are in need of donations of ground coffee, any brand. If you are able to donate and don't have a way to get it to us please send us a message and we can arrange pickup. Thank you in advance! ❤️

10/30/2026

Follow the yellow footprints... there's a little magic waiting in Old Town Chemainus! ✨

Just beyond Waterwheel Park, tucked away along the charming streets of Old Town, you'll find Trembling Aspen Studio, a wonderful little haven of creativity belonging to local ceramic artist and Chamber member Laura Gosnell.

We recently stopped by for a visit and had such a lovely time getting to know Laura and exploring her studio!

Laura creates beautiful, handcrafted porcelain pottery inspired by the West Coast. From delicate details to playful designs, her pieces are full of personality, and it's easy to see the talent and care behind her work.

And there's more to discover! Laura also offers pottery workshops, retreats, and even a beautiful guest suite on the property.

Here's the charming part: Trembling Aspen Studio is open by appointment or by chance. If Laura's studio sign is out front, you're welcome to pop in and see what she's been creating!

Send her a text and see if she's around and available: (250) 203-4721

We loved Laura's warm hospitality, hearing about her work, and meeting her adorable four-legged welcoming committee. 🐾

Next time you're exploring Chemainus, follow those yellow footprints and see where they lead. You never know what little treasures you'll find!

10/29/2026

La Petite has changed. And by tomorrow, it'll have changed again!

We're happy to shine a spotlight on Chamber member La Petite Store, a Chemainus favourite that has evolved from La Petite Auction House into a wonderfully eclectic shop filled with vintage furniture, beautiful home décor, artwork and unexpected little treasures.

And with inventory changing daily, there's always something new to discover!

Behind it all are Dawn and Morgan, a creative couple with quite a story of their own.

Dawn grew up on Haida Gwaii, while Morgan is originally from Smithers. The two met in Terrace and went on to spend 35 years running a home décor shop on Haida Gwaii before making their way to Vancouver Island about 12 years ago.

While they still hold auctions off-site, their Chemainus store has taken on a whole new life.

And there's plenty of creativity behind it all! Dawn plays upright bass with two bands on Vancouver Island, while Morgan is a talented visual artist working in several mediums. You may even recognize his beautiful bird paintings, featured in galleries around the Island.

That artistic influence is everywhere you look. Each little nook is thoughtfully arranged, inviting you to wander, explore and discover something unexpected.

If you haven't visited La Petite lately, make a point of stopping in. You might be surprised at what you find!

📍 9686 Chemainus Road, along the Chemainus Strip, just south of the Chemainus Theatre.

10/26/2026

Big plans for your business? Get someone in your corner who knows the numbers.

Please welcome Sarah Sabo and Aries Accounting, one of our new Chamber members!

Sarah earned her CMA designation in 2004, now recognized under the unified CPA designation, and built years of public practice expertise before launching Aries Accounting from her home in West Kelowna. What began as a small home business grew into a thriving practice with a custom office in Lakeview Heights.

After transitioning to a fully digital model, Sarah relocated to Vancouver Island to be closer to family while continuing to serve clients across British Columbia.

Today, Aries Accounting is a fun, approachable, client-first full-service firm. Sarah and her team take the stress out of tax time with corporate year-end and personal tax filings, proactive year-round tax planning, complete bookkeeping, payroll management, GST/PST compliance, and hands-on QuickBooks Online training.

Combining simple digital tools with clear, jargon-free communication, Aries Accounting delivers expert financial guidance with a warm, accessible touch.

Welcome to the Chamber, Sarah and team!

Website link in the comments.

10/24/2026

📌 This affects our entire Chamber district: Chemainus, Crofton, Saltair, Thetis Island and Westholme.

I wanted to share an update on the work underway to support workers impacted by the Crofton pulp mill closure and the ongoing curtailments at the Chemainus and Cowichan Bay sawmills.

Through our Mill Closure Response Working Group, we’re working with the BC Centre of Training Excellence in Mining to organize two introductory sessions on working in the mining industry later this month, specifically for forestry workers impacted by the mill closure and sawmill curtailments. The sessions will provide an opportunity for these workers to learn more about potential employment opportunities in the mining sector in northern BC.

I want to thank Brian Bull from the Chemainus sawmill and Adrian Soldera from the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) for helping organize these sessions. Workers interested in attending should contact the United Steelworkers or PPWC directly to register.

North Cowichan is also working with the Shinohara Nexus Group, which is opening a new production facility in Chemainus and expects to hire 30 workers when operations begin in early 2027.

The company has expressed a strong interest in hiring local forestry workers impacted by the closures and curtailments, recognizing that many have skills that can transfer directly to its operations.

We’re working with the company to organize an open house in mid-to-late November, where interested workers can learn more about its plans and submit their resumes. We’ll share details as soon as they’re confirmed.

Finally, Ron Anderson & Sons, which operates a manufacturing facility in the Chemainus Industrial Park, is expanding its operations and hiring an additional 35 workers. North Cowichan helped the company secure provincial funding to retrain forestry workers impacted by the mill closure and curtailments for these positions. The company is keen to receive applications from interested candidates, and anyone interested is encouraged to contact Ron Anderson & Sons directly for more information.

We know the mill closure and curtailments have created significant uncertainty for workers and their families. Connecting affected workers with new opportunities and supporting them through this transition remains an important priority.

10/23/2026

WE JUST STOPPED IN AT B&H TIRECRAFT… AND WOW, ARE THEY BUSY.

The bays were full, tires were moving, phones were ringing and the whole shop was humming.

And honestly? That tells you something.

B&H Tirecraft has been serving Chemainus since 1956, and there is an incredible amount of experience under that roof of this third generation family run business .
Justin and Nathan Hollett have a combined 60 years experience between them at B&H Tire. Justin leads the mechanical side with Nathan overseeing the tire side of the business.

Keeping it in the family, Sarah Hollett also part owner handles the accounting and office matters for the business.

Some of the recently retired team members who had been there for 40+ years.
That experience didn’t leave with them. It was taught, shared and passed down.
And that matters when you’re trusting someone with your vehicle.

Nathan told us that word of mouth means everything to them, and that really sums up this kind of local business.

Need a second opinion on your vehicle repair or have a tire question?
Need someone local you can actually talk to?
Go see the team at B&H.

And if winter tires are still sitting in your garage, now is definitely the time. This crew is already hopping, so get your changeover booked!

This is what supporting local looks like: experienced people, local knowledge, generations of trust and a business that has earned its reputation one customer at a time.

B&H Tirecraft | Chemainus, BC

BandH Tirecraft

10/22/2026

🦷 A NEW SMILE IN OUR CHAMBER COMMUNITY!

We're delighted to welcome Crofton Dental as one of the newest members of the Chemainus & District Chamber of Commerce!

It's always exciting to see new businesses putting down roots in our communities, and we're pleased to have Dr. Ebby Boaz and the Crofton Dental team joining our growing network of local businesses.

Supporting local means more than shopping local. It means celebrating the entrepreneurs, professionals and service providers who invest in our communities and help make them great places to live and work.

We're looking forward to getting to know the Crofton Dental team and helping introduce them to our wider Chamber community!

Keep an eye on our upcoming Chamber newsletter, where we'll be sharing a little more about Crofton Dental and the people behind the practice.

📍 1578 Joan Avenue, Crofton, BC

Please join us in giving Dr. Ebby and the entire Crofton Dental team a warm Chamber welcome! 💙

10/21/2026

Four floors. 50+ vendors. Thousands of treasures waiting to be discovered!

🎉 WELCOME TO THE CHAMBER | RED BARN ANTIQUES GALLERY!

We're excited to welcome Red Barn Antiques Gallery to the Chemainus & District Chamber of Commerce!

You can't miss that big red barn on Henry Road, and once you step inside, you'll quickly discover there's a whole lot more than meets the eye!

With over 6,000 square feet across four levels, Red Barn is packed with vintage furniture, beautiful antiques, quirky collectibles, artwork and all sorts of wonderfully unexpected finds.

And that's what makes shopping local so much fun! You're discovering one-of-a-kind treasures, supporting local vendors and helping our business community thrive. With new finds arriving regularly, there's always a reason to come back!

A little local connection: The property is owned by Jim Shockey, internationally known outdoorsman and the man behind the incredible Hand of Man Museum in Maple Bay.

Speaking of which, have you visited the Hand of Man Museum? They're a Chamber member too! Why not make a day of it and explore both?

📍 3088 Henry Road, Chemainus 🕙 Open daily | 10 AM – 5:30 PM

Please join us in giving Red Barn Antiques Gallery a warm Chamber welcome!

Check out their website in the comments, but better yet, go explore for yourself! Bring a friend, shop local and see what treasures you uncover.