Stuart Anderson and Andrea Mann stand below the tall timber Rusty Spur sign that tells Lumby the beloved farm, feed and pet store has proudly opened the doors to a new home on Shuswap Avenue.
Customers honk and wave as they pass and pull into the parking lot so they can shop for animal feed and supplies in a building that’s nearly five times bigger than the previous location.
“We outgrew our previous space and when we found this building, we saw it as a huge opportunity for future growth,” says Stuart. He and his wife Andrea have co-owned the Lumby store for over four of its 19 years at the original Highway 6 location with the iconic horse statue outside.
The building they came upon is 6,500 square feet, has parking for nearly 30 vehicles and is easily accessible for delivery trucks. The couple could see what a difference it would make for their customers if they could expand the breadth and variety of their stock—but how would they buy the building and have enough capital to invest in more inventory?
“We were able to cover a large portion of the mortgage through a traditional lender and hoped Community Futures would be able to support the loan for the rest,” says Stuart.
“To have Scot behind us through the process meant we had someone looking out for us and guide us through the process, and he was there to bounce off ideas and questions.”
As is common with commercial property transactions, complexities presented themselves with easements and environmental conditions—several of which were flagged by Scot and navigated by a team of professionals including a lawyer, real estate agent, primary lender and others. CF North Okanagan covered some of those transactions and when the environmental assessments came back clean:
“We all had peace of mind and we knew we were making the right decision. We feel very fortunate that we were able to benefit from their consultative nature, expertise and focus on supporting a growing business in this community.”
Nearly two years after the idea to buy a building came to the Rusty Spur owners, the new location opened in August. They opened their Enderby store 2021 and also operate their online store. In both communities, Rusty Spur has become a community hub for small farmers, hobby farmers, and pet owners.
Not far from the big new sign, Stuart and Andrea will create a pond, gazebo and picnic tables as a casual community gathering space and watering hole for dogs.
“This is reflective of our dedication the community,” says Stuart, adding that none of it would have been possible without Scot, Leigha Horsfield and the loans committee at Community Futures North Okanagan.
“We’re so thankful they believed in us.”
Ready to grow your business? Learn how our business loans and resources can help you reach your goals. https://www.futuresbc.com/
https://www.futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Rusty-Spur-scaled.jpg25601920Natalie Appletonhttps://futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Community-Futures-North-Okanagan-Logo.pngNatalie Appleton2023-08-29 09:30:352023-09-14 09:00:33‘Thankful they believed in us’: Loan Helps Rusty Spur Rope a New Store
With axes in
hand and 65-pound pumps strapped to their backs, Craig Moore and his wildland
firefighter crew run towards disaster when others are running away.
Whether venturing deep into isolated forests or into populated communities, Moore, owner/operator of Rider Ventures, and his team work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect to deal with what can be, at times, a harrowing situation.
“Scot is one of our guys behind the scenes. He is very approachable and easy to work with and has supported us big time. He always sees the future goal, and I can always bounce ideas off him,” Moore says.
Rider Ventures now employs more than 55 seasonal employees, most of whom come from Indigenous communities in the Southern Interior.
The company
implements forestry services such as prescribed burns, vegetation and tree
clearing and thinning, as well as wildfire and flood safety and suppression,
emergency response, training, consulting, and overhead personnel services to
government agencies, corporations, and private property owners.
FireSmart Canada certified, Rider Ventures not only works with the Okanagan Nation Alliance, Splatsin Development Corporation, Okanagan Indian Band, and Secwépemc Tribal Councils, but with clients such as BC Hydro, City of Vernon, the Village of Lumby, Landmark Solutions, Tybo Contracting, Emergency Management BC (EMBC), Bo Sash Construction, and Tolko among others.
“Our objective has always been to provide a multi-trained and empowered workforce that works safely, efficiently, and with integrity,” says Moore.
Putting the Wheels in Motion
Originally a structural firefighter, Moore started fighting forest fires all over the province with the BC Ministry of Forest’s Wildfire Service. He also served as a volunteer firefighter with the Coldstream and BX fire departments and is currently with the Lavington department.
After leaving the ministry in 2015, Moore started
Rider Ventures. His first job was helping the Village of Lumby mitigate damage
from spring flooding.
What
started as a one-person show soon expanded when Moore gently persuaded his
wife, Jaclyn, to join the business. She left her job with Interior Health and
started working as the company’s human
resources and administrative leader from the couple’s home base in Coldstream.
In 2018, the Moores approached Community Futures and met with Loans Advisor Scot McNair for guidance.
“We wanted to purchase more equipment and go into other ventures,” Jaclyn explains. “Community Futures, with the help of Business Financial Advisor Barb Schulz at CIBC, was able to help us secure a loan and start a payroll credit. We were also able to purchase PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), including fire retardant uniforms, chainsaws, hand-held radios, and more.”
“Scot is very approachable and easy to work with and has supported us big time. He always sees the future goal, and I can always bounce ideas off him.”
Craig Moore, Rider Ventures
Roots of the Matter
As a member of the Sqilxw (Okanagan) Nation, whose great-grandmother migrated from Omak in
Washington State to the North Okanagan, Moore believes in using
traditional land stewardship methods acquired from his ancestors
To better understand
Rider Ventures’ objectives, it helps to look at the company’s logo. Steeped in
Indigenous culture, it features the same colours of a traditional medicine
wheel surrounding a sacred eagle, with two feathers attached.
“When I thought
of the logo, it had to mean a lot and also represent a diversified group,
including women, men, and the different cultures, including Indigenous that we
represent. The main goal was that everyone here respects one another,” Moore says.
“The colours
not only represent the seasons but hold other meanings. Black represents the
earth and where energy is held; yellow is the sun and represents the spiritual;
white is wisdom; red is the warrior and represents courage. The eagle is the
hierarchy, while Two Feathers is what I am called.”
Members of the public who attended the
Interior Provincial Exhibition parade this summer likely saw Rider Ventures’
logo emblazed on its emergency response truck, along with its team singing and
drumming. The float earned the company first prize.
Training Future Wildland Firefighters
With its
credentials in Wildland firefighting, Rider Ventures has recently grown from a
five-pack (personnel) fire suppression team to a full-fledged 20-member fire
crew with its own Mobile Treatment Unit.
“We also
offer enhanced fire protection and have danger tree assessors, danger tree
fallers, and power saw operators and also provide structural protection,
including putting sprinklers on homes threatened by wildfire,” Moore says.
To meet the
demand for fire suppression staff, Rider Ventures has also been offering boot
camps to the general public. All participants receive 22 certificates out of
the camp, which is held at a remote location over eight days with accommodation
and meals provided.
Not only do participants learn the
fundamentals of firefighting, but they also participate in team-building and
fitness exercises, such as the WFX-FIT test, which is a timed circuit test.
This includes carrying a 65-lbs. pump on your back up a ramp in less than 14
minutes and 30 seconds.
“We have had many members complete the test
with flying colours,” Moore says, adding, “Many members of Indigenous
bands from around the province have taken the boot camp. It’s not only about
the fitness and hands-on training, but it’s also about building friendships and
relationships and respect for one another.”
“I could not have done this without all the
people behind the scenes. My marketing expert, Misty Bergquist, has also helped put us on the map. We all play
a major role in the success of this business and its future,” Moore says.
For more information on Rider Ventures,
visit them on Facebook or online at riderventures.ca.
Community Futures Business Services is available to those who want to start a new business or take an existing business to the next level. CFNO also offers business loans for most business-related purposes, including start-ups, seasonal requirements, working capital, and expansions. To learn more, contact our Vernon office at 250-545-2215.
https://www.futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Rider-Ventures-2-e1571941563705.jpg862982Kazia Mullinhttps://futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Community-Futures-North-Okanagan-Logo.pngKazia Mullin2019-10-23 09:15:142019-10-23 09:15:14Fighting More Than Just Fires
Like the Lorax from Dr. Seuss’ famed fable of the same name, you could say that Caitlyn Snyder speaks for the trees. She not only loves trees, like the Lorax, but she also has a penchant for bright colours, which is evident from the very pink wood chipper that is attached to her new work truck.
Snyder was able to purchase the truck thanks to the business loan she received
from Community Futures North Okanagan.
The truck is essential to the work Snyder does as an International
Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist. The owner of
Wise Wood Tree Care Ltd., Snyder performs tasks such as tree removal, pruning,
stump grinding, and tree surgery. She also practices something she likes to
call “tree-cycling.”
“We utilize all the material that we take from the landscape
and recycle it to make mulch and even furniture,” says Snyder, who has a
sawmill, firewood plant and lathe on her 12-acre property in Lumby, BC. “I
really care about trees, and I always encourage proper tree care and
maintenance. That’s why I believe people should always hire a properly trained
and insured arborist.”
“I really care about trees, and I always encourage proper tree care and maintenance. That’s why I believe people should always hire a properly trained and insured arborist.”
Caitlyn Snyder
Surviving Mother
Nature
Snyder’s love of trees has taken her all over the world. From
Calgary originally, she started landscaping when she was 18 years old. Her love
of adventure and warmer climates eventually took her to Australia and New Zealand,
where she lived for two years and worked as a tree consultant, silviculturist,
and tree surgeon.
With her visa expiring, Snyder decided to return home to Alberta, where she finished her diploma in environmental horticulture at Olds College, majoring in arboriculture. She then moved to Vancouver, where she worked for a tree company, before moving to Vernon.
“I had just moved here when I was offered a job as parks technician with the forestry department up in Wood Buffalo near Fort McMurray. I was up there for a year and a half and worked on a huge transplant project in downtown Fort Mac before all the trees perished in the 2016 wildfire.”
It was around then that Snyder decided to seek greener
pastures.
A Hand Up
Snyder started Wise Wood Tree Care four years ago after
securing her property in Lumby. Named the best home-based business in 2016 and in
2018 at the Lumby District Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, Snyder has seen
her business grow from the ground up.
However, she recently had to seek help when her first work
truck started giving her mechanical trouble.
Referred to Community Futures, which offers loans to new
and existing businesses, Snyder met with loans advisor Scot McNair and
filled out a loan application.
“With the type of equipment I run, I need a truck that is outfitted with a boom and bucket as well as a dump box, so that we can carry all the wood waste from the tree removals and prunings,” explains Snyder. “This was an amazing opportunity to be able to get a new truck from the help of Community Futures.”
Climbing her Way Up
Snyder not only runs a successful business but she also
competes as a tree climber, and has been a judge for the Pacific Northwest and
the Prairie chapters of the ISA.
She is about to demonstrate her tree-climbing prowess to the
rest of Canada when she makes her TV debut on the CBC-TV comedy show, Still Standing.
A TV crew, along with the show’s host Jonny Harris, recently
visited Snyder’s property when the show was filmed in Lumby.
“I taught Jonny how to climb a tree,” laughs Snyder.
The episode is expected to air during Season 5 of the
series.
In the meantime, you can find Snyder doing what she loves best — caring for trees and driving her new truck with the distinctive pink wood chipper.
Are you looking to expand or add to your business? Community Futures Business Services is available to those who want to start a new business or take an existing business to the next level. CFNO also offers business loans for most business-related purposes, including start-ups, seasonal requirements, working capital, and expansions. To learn more, contact our Lumby office at 250-547-6483 or in Vernon, call 250-545-2215.
https://www.futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Caitlyn-new.jpg13331000Kazia Mullinhttps://futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Community-Futures-North-Okanagan-Logo.pngKazia Mullin2019-05-07 09:10:302019-05-07 09:10:30For the Love of Trees
IT LOOKS JUST LIKE GRANDMA’S LIVING ROOM. Every detail of the space screams vintage, save for the large flat-screen monitor off to the side. Centred on the chocolate brown shag are two rusty brown floral patterned sofas. Pictures of family members in shiny metal frames are showcased on shelves around a veneer cabinet that is mysteriously padlocked. A painting of sunrays shining down on a mountain range is prominently displayed, while on the coffee table sits an envelope, where the clues of escape lie within.
Part of a worldwide entertainment craze that, with the opening of Beyond Belief Entertainment Centre, is now in Vernon, escape rooms are not the same games we played as youth, where Colonel Mustard used the wrench in the ballroom to murder Miss Scarlet.
“Our escape rooms offer interactive live entertainment, where the players have to solve puzzles and riddles while looking for clues using the three theme scenarios we have. They have 60 minutes to finish the mission and escape the room,” explains Gary Woitzik, the co-owner of Beyond Belief, which not only features three escape rooms, but also an indoor axe-throwing target area.
Situated in a warehouse building in the north end of Vernon, Beyond Belief is the brainchild of Gary and his wife Jenn.
After acquiring the space two years ago, the couple’s plan was to start an event venture that used different theme rooms for birthday, Christmas parties and the like. They started last November, when Jenn, who has an aptitude for design, created a Santa’s village with her mom, and opened it to the public.
“After two weeks of crazy, hard work, we decided to change our idea,” said Jenn.
Gary and Jenn Woitzik in ‘Aunt Edna’s condo’ escape room at Beyond Belief Entertainment Centre in Vernon.
That’s when Gary, who specialized in computer technology and once owned and operated an indoor golf simulator in his native Ontario, came up with the idea to open an escape room.
“Gary has the Midas touch when it comes to business,” said Jenn. “We both felt there was not much here as far as entertainment goes for a certain age group and we heard that escape rooms were popular.”
After conducting extensive research and communicating with escape room forums online (yes, they are a thing), the Woitziks came up with a plan.
“We had our own vision and didn’t want to copy other rooms, some of which are designed by game designers then franchised out. We wanted to create something unique,” says Jenn. “We were thinking of possibility starting with one or two scenarios, but we wanted to make a good first impression, so that our escape rooms would not only cater to a younger generation, but to everyone.”
The three different themed rooms include the aforementioned ‘80s Aunt Edna’s condo, the ‘50s Hollywood room, which resembles a starlet’s dressing room, as well as a serial killer theme —think Hannibal Lector from The Silence of the Lambs.
To keep things fresh, the Woitziks plan to change the theme of the rooms on an annual basis.
“Everything in our rooms is monitored. We have microphones and cameras so that we can help people by giving them nudges. We want to see them succeed. That’s also why we give them 60 minutes to escape instead of the standard 45 minutes,” said Gary.
“It’s taking an evening of playing board games at home to a whole new level!”
– Rob Short, Loans Coordinator, Community Futures North Okanagan
Having poured a good chunk of their life savings already into the building, the Woitziks needed funds to bring their escape room-entertainment centre idea into fruition. That’s when they decided to approach Community Futures North Okanagan about its business loans services.
Guided by loans coordinator Rob Short, the Woitziks created a business plan, which was eventually approved by Community Futures’ loans committee.
“Jenn did most of the work, which saved us a lot of money as she designed it herself, but we also are grateful to Community Futures. Rob came to the warehouse a few times to check out what we were doing. He really helped us out at a good time, when we wouldn’t have been able to keep moving forward,” said Gary.
“Community Futures shared in the excitement that Gary and Jenn brought with their business plan, as it had both a high degree of entrepreneur spirit and introduced a new form of family entertainment to Vernon,” added Short. “It’s taking an evening of playing board games at home to a whole new level!”
The Woitziks know they made the right decision about their business venture, as they have already held a soft opening to some good reviews. More recently, they catered to a group of lawyers from Nixon Wenger and some doctors visiting from Calgary.
“Escape rooms are great for teamwork building,” said Jenn. “Some people that have visited other escape rooms have said that they like ours the best.”
“The axe throwing is also a great way to blow off some stream and frustration after a hard day at work,” added Gary.
With their official opening expected for some time in November, the public can now start booking into Vernon’s newest entertainment adventure. To book an escape room or axe throwing session, visit beyondbelief.ca or call 250-244-8408. You can also find Beyond Belief on Facebook.
Do you need financial help to open or expand your business? Reach out to Community Futures North Okanagan business loans program by contacting our business team at 250-545-2215 or at futuresbc.com
https://www.futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Beyond-Belief-2.jpg9461410Kazia Mullinhttps://futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Community-Futures-North-Okanagan-Logo.pngKazia Mullin2017-10-30 10:07:302017-10-30 10:07:30Escaping to a New Adventure
THE MOMENT TOM MAXWELL stepped inside Charlie’s Grocery last June, he had a feeling that the little Alexis Park store was where he and his wife Louise needed to be.
“There was just something about the place that tugged on our hearts, and we felt that this was the perfect place for us,” says Maxwell.
Part of the attraction was the size of the store. With just a few hundred square feet, the shelves were filled with all the necessities of a neighbourhood convenience store, from milk and lotto tickets to Tums and slushes. Perfectly manageable for a couple not yet ready to retire.
What was also attractive to the couple was the neighbourhood itself and the types of customers who walked through the doors morning until night for mints or coffee, or just to talk. The big yellow and red Charlie’s Grocery sign stands tucked just off Alexis Park Drive, surrounded by high density housing for seniors and lower income families.
“Louise and I spent a number of years working with seniors and working-class families in the inner-city of Calgary, and that was really comfortable for us. It’s in our DNA to be with that crowd,” says Maxwell. Before the idea of purchasing a convenience store in the North Okanagan came to his mind, Maxwell worked nearly a decade as COO for the Calgary non-profit Victory Foundation. His last project there, which spanned several years, was overseeing the conversion of a condemned heritage building into transitional housing for 60 men trying to overcome homelessness.
But it was time for a change, and a previous career managing grocery stores in the Northwest Territories and British Columbia gave Maxwell some ideas: The Okanagan. Buy a business. A convenience store.
There was just one problem. Despite coming close, local financial institutions were unable to assist with the loan Tom and Louise needed to buy Charlie’s Grocery, operating in Vernon, it’s said, since 1959.
We just needed someone to take a chance and believe in us.
“We went to three or four lending institutions and we just couldn’t quite get there. We spent four months in that cycle and it was getting frustrating. They were just looking at the numbers, and it felt like, ‘They don’t even know us. I know we can make it work.’ We just needed someone to take a chance and believe in us.”
And then someone told him about Community Futures North Okanagan (CFNO), and their business loans program. Before long, he’d had several phone conversations with CFNO loans coordinator Rob Short, and things looked promising.
“It felt surreal. We had been up against so many obstacles. It was a rollercoaster of, ‘It’s going to happen!’ to ‘It’s not happening.’ We thought, let’s apply, but we were expecting the same answer. That door was open just a little and I said as long as that door’s not closed, as long as there’s a glimmer, let’s see what happens.”
What happened was Community Futures’ loans committee approved Maxwell’s loan. On Dec. 20, 2016, the couple took over Charlie’s Grocery. And as the couple recently celebrated their first month in business—and is already on a first-name basis with a handful of customers—Maxwell says he still has that feeling about the place.
Thanks to a small business loan through Community Futures North Okanagan, Tom Maxwell and his wife, Louise, recently celebrated their first month in business.
“Some people wondered why we would want to buy Charlie’s.’ It’s not for everyone but it’s a perfect fit for us, it really is, and we realize that more and more every day. For us, the business part is not the be-all end-all. I envision myself taking time to chat with the customers and look forward to having a positive impact on the community, and that’s the part I love. That’s the bigger picture.”
Short, who facilitated Maxwell’s loan application, says a landmark has been preserved, and a valuable social need has been filled for that neighbourhood.
“It has a much bigger impact on that community than just a fellow owning a general store. His approach with his customers and his vision to make it a local meeting place, that’s what really rang the bell for us.”
As Maxwell stands below the iconic Charlie’s Grocery sign (and he didn’t even think about changing the name), he says he’s grateful Community Futures was able to look beyond just the numbers.
“More than words can say, I appreciate that someone believed in us and took a chance on us.”
Do you dream about opening your own business? Community Futures North Okanagan offers loans for a range of business purposes, including start-up, working capital, seasonal needs and expansion. Contact our Business Services team today. Call 250 545 2215 or visit our website to learn more.
https://www.futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TOM-STORE-HR.jpg8141031Kazia Mullinhttps://futuresbc.com/wp-2/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Community-Futures-North-Okanagan-Logo.pngKazia Mullin2017-01-26 09:58:452017-01-26 09:58:45How Tom Bought Charlie’s: The Business Loan that’s Helping a Whole Community
