Real Stories

How it started

Trish and Steve Brousson were always interested in healthy living, so when a small health food business came up for sale in Fort St. John in 1989, they leapt at the opportunity. The health food store has grown to four locations in BC and Alberta, bringing wholesome food and supplements to those communities.

Health on the rise

In the beginning, Homesteader Health Foods relied on an older clientele for its business, but the demographic has changed in the last few years. “There’s a lot of interest in healthy living within Fort St. John,” said Trish Brousson, co-owner of Homesteader Health Foods. Now, the already-thriving independent health food store is seeing more and more of its clientele coming from younger, more permanent members of the community.

“Living in a smaller community, there’s always so much more.”
- Trish Brousson, co-owner

A community bands together

There are many benefits to being a local business owner in a tight-knit community. For the Broussons, the spirit of Fort St. John really shone after, in 1998, a fire tragically burned their store down. It only took five days for the community to come together and help set up the store in a new location, where it remained for the next 15 years.

Room to grow for independent businesses

Affordable rents, reasonable taxes, and a strong community are part of what make Fort St. John a great choice for local businesses. “A big advantage is that you get to know your customers,” Trish shares. That relationship makes it fun to go to work, and means your customers are also your friends. “It makes going to work so much better,” she said. “You can go to Vancouver or Edmonton to go shopping, but most people do want some social contact and also to know they are supporting their community.”

How it started 

This family business was founded in Fort St. John in 1980. Three generations later, the production, instrumentation, and electrical company is still providing for the oil and gas industry from northern BC to western Alberta, but has expanded its services to include telecommunications, IT, computer communication equipment, air compressors, millwrighting, and more. 

Freedom to expand

Since opening in Fort St. John over 40 years ago, Pimm’s has never considered relocating. Economically, the city has been a boon for the company, allowing it to grow financially. Geographically, it has been well-positioned to thrive in multiple industries. In 2008, when the oil and gas industry hit a slump, the success that Pimm’s had enjoyed over the years allowed it to remain agile and branch out to other industries. The business continues to thrive, serving multiple industries, headquartered in Fort. St. John with a second office in Grande Prairie, Alberta. 

A growing community

Born and raised in Fort St. John, Ted Pimm, general manager of Pimm’s, has no plans to leave. “I love it here,” said Pimm, who returned to the city. That insight has allowed him to see how the community has changed over the decades. “It feels like it’s doubled since I was a kid,” he said. “It’s grown quite a bit.”

“We didn’t choose Fort St. John, it chose us.”
- Ted Pimm, General Manager

Unlimited potential

The amount of growth that Pimm has witnessed in Fort St. John has led him to believe it is a city with lots of possibilities. With increased developments, a low cost of living compared to major cities, and a young population, he sees lots of room for expansion in a variety of industries. 

How it started 

Hardik Patel moved to Fort St. John from India in 2013 with plans to continue his education and eventually settle down in Canada. He began thoughts of starting his own business after finishing a diploma in Business Management from Northern Lights College. Already a fan of COBS Bread Bakery, Patel saw the fresh bread franchise as an opportunity to offer something different for the community—with a side of giving. “I was a customer before and always loved their products, and at the end of the day, the best part is, the leftovers are donated to local charities and food banks,” Patel explained. COBS opened in June 2020. 

“We wanted to invest our time, money, and life in Fort St. John, and we wanted to bring something new.”
- Hardik Patel, Owner/Operator

Economically competitive

Choosing to open the bakery in Fort St. John was as much a financial decision as an emotional one. After conducting market research and looking into the economic advantages of Fort St. John versus other Canadian cities, Patel and his wife decided that not only did their hearts belong in the Peace River Region, but their business did as well, thanks to the city’s affordability. Compared with B.C.’s Okanagan region, for example, Patel found that securing a space would have been difficult due to population and demand. Fort St. John already had reasonable prices, more options, and friendly, helpful landlords.

Navigating challenges, together

Giving back to the community was always an important part of Patel’s business model. Patel felt the love returned when navigating the challenges of opening during the pandemic. “The bakery was already being built,” said Patel. “We couldn’t step back, we had to move forward.” Community support was instrumental to the bakery’s success. “We received a great response, with customers visiting every day for our fresh products.” Even as customers patiently followed the pandemic’s safety guidelines—sometimes waiting in -40 degree celsius cold!  

New faces, new opportunities

Over the last nine years, Patel has seen the positive impact of recent development. “I see new customers coming and going every day—more people settling in town for work with their families.” The growing diversity, amount of parks and recreation, and job opportunities in Fort St. John have Patel excited for the future. “It’s going to keep getting better and better and in the long run, the city will be booming.”