Williams Lake's friendly, social & entertaining online news source!

By LeRae Haynes 

Teena Olson at Fit City Athletica said that the fires and the heavy smoke are depressing for a lot of people. “When you go outside you can’t breathe well and you can’t do the activities you want to do. You have to keep your kids indoors and when they go out, it’s for short periods of time,” she said. “My kids are seven and 12 and they want to be outside all the time but I have to limit it—it’s a big impact.” 

Teena has now been the owner of Fit City Athletica for one year. She said that it’s very satisfying to work in a business that helps people feel better and feel healthy, especially now with the fires and smoke. 

By LeRae Haynes

 Combining a meticulous attention to detail with an ability to see the big picture, CLS Accounting and Bookkeeping has opened its doors to help small to medium businesses in the Williams Lake area with an extensive range of services.

CLS provides professional services that help a business get its bookkeeping back on track or set up properly from the beginning. They take care of things like year-end accounting, taxes, T1 and T2 forms, personal taxes, cost-accounting, budgeting and financial statement analysis.

Municipal, provincial, and federal governments have historically been the largest contributors to Canadian charities, and in 2008, the different levels of government provided 67 per cent of total funding to this important sector. Because many charities have traditionally been funded by government, Canadians do not always make personal contributions to charitable and not-for-profit organizations—in fact, if one looks at the Fraser Institute’s generosity index, Canadian taxpayers donated less than their American counterparts in 2007 (0.73 per cent of aggregate income compared to 1.6 per cent).

Six reasons to update your tradeshow display

By Tom Foley

Your tradeshow display reflects the personality others will see in your company. Initial reactions will determine if you've captured your audience, or if your company is just making more visual noise. While your booth was once acceptable, it may not be doing the job anymore, but why? Here are six reasons to consider updating your tradeshow look.

1. Your current trade show booth is worn out. Those dents, scratches, stains, and duct tape repairs don't represent your professionalism or reputation.

Mayor Kerry Cook was out and about on Friday meeting and greeting new businesses in Williams Lake.

(Photo: Clippers Barber Shop at 147C First Avenue)

By LeRae Haynes

There is a new place in town where homebuilders and homeowners can find custom cabinets and granite countertops at more than competitive prices, to put the finishing touches on a kitchen, bath or laundry room. 3Gen Cabinetry represents three generations of a family with long-held beliefs in integrity, quality and impeccable customer service.   

(Photos by Suzanne Whittingham: Angie Poulson and Tyler Boucher from 3Gen Cabinetry are part of a new team in town supplying custom cabinetry and granite countertops at more than competitive prices.)

By LeRae Haynes

Pioneer Log Homes is a business that takes a stand and makes a statement both internationally and at home in the community. Their emphasis on consistently high professional standards, customer satisfaction, ‘green’ building practices decades ahead of their time and the importance of family and community set them apart both here and around the world.

(By LeRae Haynes)

You can find a little bit of everything at Me and My Bright Ideas. Owner Sharon Batty is a long-time ‘crafter’ herself, and provides many items for the shop. She also supports other local crafters by selling a wide range of items on consignment.

(Photo: Me and My Bright Ideas is a new shop at 29B South 3rd Avenue where unique, local arts and crafts are sold on consignment, and where creativity and imagination meet quality product and warm customer service.)

(By LeRae Haynes)

Bike enthusiasts of all levels of ability can find the bikes, gear, repairs and advice they need from the staff at Barking Spider. From the tried and true to the cutting edge, from extreme mountain to the open road---Barking Spider can help you enjoy the ride.

(Photo: Scott Gordon and Mitch Elliott from Barking Spider provide first-hand knowledge, expert support and customer service for their customers.)

New this year at Barking Spider is the BH line of road bikes—owner Scott Gordon is the first dealer in western Canada to carry them. “BH is a 100-year-old Spanish company that makes high-quality carbon fiber road bikes, very popular in Europe, that are super-light and efficient,” he said. “You want to go fast? Get on one of these.”

By LeRae Haynes

Caribou Spurs Apparel and Tack is a uniquely Cariboo store that offers high-quality tack, gifts, decor and western wear for all ages. Their convenient location on Broadway Avenue makes it easy for customers with bigger rigs to park store-front while shopping.

Elaine Butler is the Manager of Caribou Spurs and there are five part-time employees. Elaine said that the owners, Lyda and Vic Sharman and the other employees make a great team that prides itself on high quality product, great prices and exceptional customer service.