The Valley Voice
The Valley Voice
Say hi to Jan and Dan, the owners of the Valley Voice. They’ve owned the newspaper for 19 years now but the paper itself is in its 29th year! When asked what they love most about running the only newspaper in the Slocan Valley, they replied in unison, “because it’s a lot of fun!”. Jan and Dan feel lucky to live in a great community and cover all the great things going on. They see the work they do at the Valley Voice as community service and it drives them every day.
Jan and Dan work on the paper non-stop. Jan does the writing and admin and Dan does the production and graphic design.They do almost absolutely everything themselves (minus the printing), with some help from their fabulous writers and mail room workers. They also deliver the paper all the way from their business in New Denver to Nakusp, Nelson and Kaslo.
The way Dan got into the newspaper industry is pretty wild. Back in 1986, Dan got busted in Montreal for possession of marijuana. While he was in jail, his mom won the lottery. She flew out to Montreal, bailed him out of jail and told Dan the way he was living his life wasn’t really working for him (ha!) and asked him what he wanted to do instead. He loved running a newspaper back in university so his mom gave him $25,000 from her lottery winnings so Dan could start up a community newspaper in Souris, Manitoba. This is where he met Jan and fell in love with her at a conference. Jan studied journalism at Carleton University, has a degree in translation and has travelled the world.
This power couple and their service to the Slocan Valley community is truly extraordinary. The Slocan Valley is really lucky to have them and their smiles and zest for life are extremely contagious.
When you choose to buy local, you support business owners like Jan and Dan. And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley
Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.
Silverton Building Supplies
Silverton Building Supplies
Please give a warm hello to Clarence, co-owner of Silverton Building Supplies. Clarence and his son Tim took over this institution in Silverton 2.5 years ago as a very well-established community resource. When you look around town and all the rural areas up and down the Slocan Valley, it’s pretty cool to think of how many houses and shops were built or renovated using materials supplied by Silverton Building Supplies. “Building on a legacy of community service” is an apt slogan for this amazing business.
Silverton Building Supplies is an 8,000-square-foot hardware, housewares and building supplies store with over 23,000 SKUs, plus a full service lumber yard, all sheet materials, plumbing, heating and electrical supplies and so much more. Their service and delivery area extends from Winlaw to Nakusp and over to Kaslo. Clarence says it’s a real privilege to be part of a dedicated team of employees and to serve such friendly and supportive customers.
When you choose to buy local, you support business owners like Clarence and Tim. And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley
Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.
Mountain Valley Station in Slocan
Mountain Valley Station in Slocan
Introducing Patrick and Peggy, the owners of the Mountain Valley Station in Slocan! These two lovebirds have been running this staple in Slocan for over 16 years. They’re so much more than just a gas station. Mountain Valley Station is a bottle depot, home to Purolator and Ace couriers, a convenience store with camping supplies and people tell them all the time they have the best fishing wall in the Valley.
Although Mountain Valley Station is for sale and Patrick and Peggy are ready to retire, they’re still loving the gig. When this little gold mine does sell, they’re really going to miss meeting people from far and wide and the daily interactions with their community. As Patrick says, no matter who you are or what your walk of life is, people in Slocan are an accepting bunch and are always wanting to give their neighbours a hand.
When you choose to buy local, you support business owners like Patrick and Peggy. And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley
Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.
Nuru Coffee Bar in New Denver
Nuru Coffee Bar in New Denver
Meet Tamara. She’s been the owner of Nuru Coffee Bar for 16 years and prior to that, owned a local clothing store for 12. Not only did she create this whimsical coffee bar because of her love for coffee, at the time there was no place to get a really good espresso. What makes Nuru Coffee Bar special is it’s great espresso, baked goods and locally made products (and art!).
Tamara does all the baking in house, including her famous Saturday cinnamon buns. And she loves her community. In a place like New Denver, every business wants their fellow businesses to succeed. She says you can time it, when locals will stop by every single day. She also loves to hire summer students to give them a chance at employment in the summer months.
When you choose to buy local, you support business owners like Tamara. And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley
Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.
Slocan Village Market
Slocan Village Market
Say hello to Jordan, the newest owner of Slocan Village Market. His parents have owned the store for over 15 years and recently, Jordan came back from the coast to take over the reins. So now Nina and Tom can fully enjoy their laid-back Slocan lifestyle (hello slow mornings and kayaking on the lake.)
Slocan Village Market has definitely grown and adapted to the tastes of their customers over the years. In their humble beginnings, they employed just two people and mostly sold beer and cigarettes. Fast forward 15 years, and they’re a true community hub with a full market with an expanded natural foods section to serve the needs of their community. The Slocan Village Market is the largest employer in the Village with over 15 full-time employees.
What Jordan loves most about the store is how social it is and how it’s a big part of people’s daily routine. People come to the Slocan Village Market, get the things they need, chat with friends and hang out with their neighbours. And it makes Jordan really happy.
When you choose to buy local, you support business owners like Jordan. And our whole community thrives. #shopslocanvalley
Check out our Slocan Business Valley Directory for full business listings.