For a comprehensive overview of Nelson’s economy and demographics, please download our Economic Development Handout and the Report To Partners.
Business Resources
Starting a Business
Corporation of the City of Nelson
Regional District of Central Kootenay
Running a business in Nelson or one of our district communities? You’ll need a valid business licence from the City of Nelson, or the Regional District of Central Kootenay. Check out their websites for a Business License Application, and to review Business Licensing and Regulation Bylaws.
Community Futures Central Kootenay
Community Futures Central Kootenay is a non-profit community economic development organization. We are committed to helping people in the Central Kootenay region who are either operating or are planning to start their own business.
Business Basin Advisors Program
The Basin Business Advisors Program (BBA) supports and inspires entrepreneurship and builds economic capacity in Columbia Basin communities (like Fernie) by strengthening and supporting existing businesses and agriculture producers. They provide free, one-to-one, confidential business advisement and assessment services to commercialized businesses assisting in creating and sustaining jobs and/or bringing wealth into the Columbia Basin region.
Women’s Enterprise Centre
The Women’s Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organization devoted to helping BC women start, lead and grow their own business. We provide business loans up to $150K, with access to an additional $100K through a partnership with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
Finance, Insurance & Legal Services
Check out our Business Directory here.
Labour Assistance and Job Seeking
Kootenay Career Development Society
From employment readiness programs and supports to training opportunities, the KCDS team is here to help both job seekers and employers meet their goals. KCDS is committed to diversity, inclusion and respect.
Work BC
WorkBC helps people find jobs, explore career options and improve their skills. We also help employers fill jobs, find the right talent and grow their businesses.
Tourism
Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism
Located in the southeast corner of British Columbia, along the magical shores of Kootenay Lake, this region is an inspirational mecca for foodies, art-goers, music lovers, history buffs and adventure seekers. Discover the East Shore from Wynndel to Riondel, cross the glacial-fed Kootenay Lake over to Balfour, on a free ferry, and journey along the shoreline to Ainsworth Hot Springs, Kaslo, North Kootenay Lake and Nelson BC.
Destination BC
Destination British Columbia (Destination BC) is a provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for BC’s tourism industry through a combination of global marketing, destination development, industry learning, cooperative community-based programs, and visitor servicing. Destination BC receives approximately $52 million each year, out of a Provincial investment of about $140 million in BC’s tourism ecosystem as a whole. These investments help to improve the visitor experience, support businesses and communities, and strengthen BC’s worldwide reputation as a destination of choice.
Kootenay Rockies Tourism
Kootenay Rockies Tourism (KRT) is one of BC’s five official Regional Destination Management Organizations (RDMO) and is under contract as a representative of Destination BC (DBC), the Provincial Destination Management Organization (PDMO). KRT has operated since 1978 and represents over 700 tourism businesses and operators. This includes resorts, accommodation properties, wellness retreats, golf, ski, adventure, communities, retail, food & beverage, transportation, arts & culture and attractions.
Chamber Networks
BC Chamber of Commerce
The BC Chamber of Commerce is the largest and most broadly-based business organization in B.C. We represent local chambers of commerce and boards of trade in communities throughout the province. For more than 70 years, the BC Chamber network’s policies and strategic advocacy have helped build a business-friendly B.C.
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Since 1925, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has connected businesses of all sizes, from all sectors and from all regions of the country to advocate for public policies that will foster a strong, competitive economic environment that benefits businesses, communities and families across Canada.
Nelson Region and Greater Community
Sinixt Nation
Sinixt Nation is the collective group of indigenous human beings who are the sovereign indigenous caretakers of Sinixt tum-ula7xw (mother-earth), located in the area now known as the interior plateau of British Columbia, Canada. Sinixt territory extends north of Revelstoke crosses the international boundaries to Kettle Falls, Washington in the south, to the Monashee Ridge in the West, and in the east and is traditionally all the way from the Rocky Mountain Ridge encompassing the entirety of the headwaters of the shwan-etk-qwa (Columbia River).
Regional District of Central Kootenay
Incorporated in 1965, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is a local government that serves an estimated population of 60,000 residents. Our region consists of 11 electoral areas (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K) and nine member municipalities: Castlegar, Creston, Kaslo, Nakusp, Nelson, New Denver, Salmo, Silverton and Slocan.
Selkirk Innovates
Selkirk Innovates is an arm of local post-secondary Selkirk College. It is a regional research centre with a mandate to support informed decision-making by Columbia Basin-Boundary communities through the provision of information, applied research and related outreach and extension support.
Columbia Basin Trust
The Columbia Basin Trust is a regional Crown corporation that manages its assets for the ongoing economic, environmental and social benefit of the Columbia Basin region, and was created in 1995 by the Columbia Basin Trust Act to benefit the region affected by the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) in 1964.
West Kootenay-Boundary Regional Hospital District
The main purpose of the WKBRHD is to provide funding for hospital equipment and capital projects. Projects and priorities are proposed each year by the Interior Health Authority (IHA), with a list developed in consultation between the IHA and WKBRHD.
Interior Health
Interior Health is a regional health authority in British Columbia. It is one of the five publicly-funded regional health authorities, serving the southern interior region of BC – including Nelson’s Kootenay Lake Hospital.
Selkirk College
Founded in 1966 and located amidst the breathtaking beauty of southern British Columbia, Selkirk College is home to 50-plus nationally recognized programs serving more than 2,800 full-time learners per year in certificate, diploma, bachelor degree, co-operative education and continuing education programs. With five campus locations in four different West Kootenay and Boundary communities, Selkirk College offers outcomes for in-demand employment, credit transfer to a multitude of universities for degree completion and enhanced training to further career opportunities.
Whitewater Mountain Resort
Pure simple and real… DEEP. Whitewater Mountain Resort is renowned for receiving 12-plus metres (40 feet) of light, dry powder every season. Located 20 minutes outside of Nelson in the Selkirk Mountains, Whitewater’s average temperature of -8C makes for ideal conditions whether you’re hitting pillow lines or carving groomers.
Brittny Anderson
Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kootenay Central
Elected in 2020 and again in 2024, Brittny is a member of the provincial New Democrat Party representing the riding of Kootenay Central. In November 2024, she was appointed to the cabinet portfolio of Minister of State for Local Governments & Rural Communities. Brittny entered public office when she was elected to Nelson City Council in 2018 and served on the board of the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK). Professionally, Brittny has worked for regional government in the environmental services department, focused on services such as resource recovery and water systems.
Rob Morrison
Member of Parliament for Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies
Re-elected in 2025 for his third term, Rob is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He lives in Creston BC, and is a member of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. He is a retired RCMP officer and diplomat.
Nelson CARES
In 1974, a group of dedicated Nelson residents came together with a single vision: create a fairer, safer and socially just community. More than five decades later the Nelson CARES Society, one of the community’s most diverse non-profit organizations, advocates for people living in poverty and supports a wide variety of community programs and services including affordable rental housing; an emergency shelter; residential and employment services for adults with disabilities; legal information and victim services.
Nelson District Arts Council
NDAC has individual and group members who participate in art and culture related activities. Members represent such disciplines as theatre, music, dance, visual arts, crafts, heritage and writing. The NDAC presents a number of projects each year including Nelson ArtWalk, Hidden Creek Artist Residency, Appetite for Art, the Dance Educator’s Showcase, the Rural Artist Support Weekend, the Nelson International Mural Festival and Bigby Place Arts Initiative. Members are eligible through us for small funding awards from the BC Arts Council.
Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery
Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery serves as the cultural touchstone for Nelson and district. As the society’s vision statement notes: “a vibrant, community-based organization dedicated to being a significant cultural anchor for the Nelson district of British Columbia.” The historical venue provides integrative art and regional history programs to encourage new perspectives and foster a collaborative community.
Kootenay Co-op Radio
Established in 1999 and serving the communities of Nelson, Kaslo, the Slocan Valley, New Denver, Silverton, the East Shore and Castlegar, Kootenay Co-op Radio broadcasts 50 original music, spoken word and news shows a week, playing everything from rock and classical, to pop, world, bluegrass, hip hop, country, jazz and electronic, and programs include National Public Radio’s Democracy Now, and local current affairs show Kootenay Morning, thanks to over 100 volunteer programmers.
Baldface Lodge
Founded in 1999, Baldface Lodge is nestled in the Selkirk Mountains at an elevation of 6,700 feet, just a few minute helicopter ride northwest of Nelson. The Lodge offers 32,000 acres of terrain, and another 25,000 acres for advanced and expert skiers and snowboarders at its newly acquired operation, Baldface Valhalla in the Slocan Valley.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Business Emergency Preparedness
BC Wildfire Prevention Resources
www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention
Top 10 Steps to Prepare your Business for Evacuation
https://www.bceda.ca/docs/2020_BCEDA_10_Steps_to_Prepare_your_Business_for_Evacuation.pdf
PreparedBC: Guide for Small Businesses
Nelson Fire and Emergency Services
nelson.ca/626/Fire-Rescue-Services
Nelson FireSmart
nelson.ca/256/FireSmart-Property-Assessments
RDCK Firesmart
www.rdck.ca/EN/main/services/emergency-management/wildfires/firesmart.html
RDCK Evacuation Notification System (ENS) powered by Voyent Alert!
www.rdck.ca/EN/main/services/emergency-management/emergency-alerts.html
Business Continuity Resources & Guides
- Top 10 Steps to Prepare Your Business for Evacuation
- Checklist to create a business continuity plan
- Destination BC – Emergency Resources
- Provincial level emergency management – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)
Natural Disaster Preparedness Resources
- BC Wildfire Service (wildfire prevention & active fire information)
- Flooding Preparedness
- Landslide Safety
- Home Peparedness Checklist for Power Outage: PreparedBC
- Prepare for Power Outgages – BC Hydro
- Interior Health Emergency Preparedne
WE’RE HERE TO HELP
For more information talk to our friendly staff at the Visitor Information Centre.
91 Baker Street
Nelson BC
Phone: (250) 352-3433
Toll Free: 1-877-663-5706
