Small Shifts, Big Impact for Local Bakery
La Ruelle Bakery owner Justine Gareau Loyer (left) has been working with the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce’s Business Climate Advisor Grace Henecka (right) on cutting energy costs, reducing emissions and improving her business’s bottom line through the Simple Shifts Program.
Sustainability Program Available to All Businesses
Taking simple steps toward sustainability that impact a small business’s bottom line doesn’t need to be difficult — and the outcomes can be significant.
Justine Gareau Loyer and her team at La Ruelle Bakery are responsible for the tantalizing waft of freshly baked bread that permeates the morning air in the 200 block of Herridge Lane. Handmade from scratch, transforming simple ingredients into delicious artisan breads and pastries takes passion — and a whole lot of oven heat.
Though the small business owner has always been mindful of reducing her bakery’s environmental footprint, taking it to the next level required a little push. That came when she discovered the Simple Shifts Program, a new initiative developed in collaboration between the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce and FortisBC.
“Everything moves very fast in a bakery, especially in the morning,” says Gareau Loyer. “You need to have a simple and organized system that makes it easy for our crew to implement small changes that result in a bigger overall impact.”
At a Chamber hosted Business Breakfast in November, Gareau Loyer was introduced to the program by Business Climate Advisor Grace Henecka, who spearheads the effort to provide free supports and resources to local businesses.
The Simple Shifts Program helps businesses cut energy costs and reduce associated emissions through low-cost, easy-to-implement actions and simple daily habit changes. The program addresses common energy-wasting behaviours through best-practice guidance, practical tools and customized support that fit seamlessly into daily operations.
Teamwork Key to Realizing Results
Outcomes can be as simple as providing reminder stickers to turn off lights and computers, or more substantial resources that help businesses explore energy retrofits.
“Some of these actions and solutions might seem obvious, but we are here to empower businesses to make changes and help guide them toward tangible results,” says Henecka. “We know that small business owners are often stretched in day-to-day operations, so finding the time can be a challenge. This program makes it much easier and helps build a customized plan for a positive way forward.”
La Ruelle Bakery owner Justine Gareau Loyer shows an example of easy steps that help remind staff. The template resources are free and available online.
Businesses can access the free program through a do-it-yourself online toolkit or through customized support. Gareau Loyer chose the latter, which included a site assessment, action plan, customized materials and ongoing guidance.
Small changes at the bakery include better utilization of commercial ovens and fans that require a considerable amount of energy to produce its breads and pastries. The bakery has also implemented an organized recycling system that helps with sorting and reducing disposal costs. Even simple actions such as turning off washroom lights and completing end-of-shift checklists are practices Gareau Loyer stresses to her staff of 10, several of whom are part-time high school students.
“It’s both a financial and an ethical decision,” says Gareau Loyer. “What caught my attention was the environmental aspect, but when you start doing the little things it makes total sense. Every penny matters when you are a small business owner, so if this reduces my energy costs then that’s very valuable to our success. If every individual does just a little bit, all together it makes a real difference. I’m proud of it.”
Originally from a small town in Quebec, Gareau Loyer moved to the Nelson area 18 years ago after discovering it while working as a tree planter. While raising her three boys, she began working part-time for Raymond Gariépy at Au Soleil Levant, who started the French bakery 24 years ago at 281 Herridge Lane.
When Gariépy decided to retire in 2024 and sell the business, Gareau Loyer took the plunge and became a small business owner.
“It’s such a little gem — we had to keep it alive because it is such a special place,” she says. “Making organic sourdough bread is specifically important to me. It’s really important that we feed the community good, healthy food.”
Through the Simple Shifts Program, small changes inside local businesses can add up to meaningful impacts — helping owners strengthen their bottom line while contributing to a healthier, more sustainable community.
The Simple Shifts Program is delivered by the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce with support from FortisBC.
