{"id":573169,"date":"2026-03-31T15:52:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/573169\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:52:10","slug":"3-vancouver-island-small-businesses-creating-space-to-unplug-and-connect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/573169\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Vancouver Island small businesses creating space to unplug and connect"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the age of AI<\/a>, brick-and-mortar businesses aren\u2019t just making a comeback, they\u2019re being built as an intentional choice to centre human connection. Here are the towns proving that people still crave a face-to-face chat with a farmer, the creak of a bookstore\u2019s floorboard and the smell of fresh food in a local caf\u00e9<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Springford Farm | Nanoose Bay<\/p>\n

Since 1853, the Springford family has built their enterprise from a small homestead into a seventh-generation cornerstone of local food.<\/p>\n

In 1989, descendants Colin and Diane Springford moved to Nanoose Bay, laying the foundation for today\u2019s Springford Farm<\/a>. The grass-fed beef herd and free-range egg operation grew in the late 2000s, and in 2014 Diane opened the on-site market\u2014now a well-known barn-style landmark on Northwest Bay Road offering the farm\u2019s products alongside Vancouver Island\u2013made foods.<\/p>\n

The Springford family says the storefront reshaped the farm\u2019s trajectory, forging a direct link with customers and grounding farm-to-table in everyday life.<\/p>\n

The once-modest shop has grown into a hub where people can support Island growers and stay connected to the land and each other. Next up: the launch of a viewing barn in that offers visitors a behind-the-scenes look at how free-range hens live\u2014and how eggs move from the barn to customers\u2019 plates.<\/p>\n

The Book Nook | Port Hardy<\/p>\n

In the heart of the northernmost town on Vancouver Island sits an unexpected gem: a bookstore, caf\u00e9 and craft shop under one roof. Welcome to the Book Nook<\/a>\u2014part of Caf\u00e9 Guido & Company\u2014where books, art, gathering, community and belonging meet.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, some locals were skeptical\u2014they\u2019d say, \u2018How many cappuccinos can you sell in Port Hardy?\u2019\u201d owner-operator Davida Hudson laughs. \u201cBut it\u2019s about more than coffee. It\u2019s about belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since 2004, the Book Nook and Caf\u00e9 Guido have collaborated with North Island College, hosting events including readings by authors Eden Robinson, John Vaillant and Lucy Hemphill, as well as the premiere of the documentary How a People Live\u2014about the Gwa\u2019sala-\u2018Nakwaxda\u2019xw First Nation.<\/p>\n

In a town where gathering spaces are few and far-between, the Book Nook has become a celebrated space for the community\u2014reminding locals and visitors alike that connection can still thrive in remote corners of the province. \u201cThere\u2019s a richness to life here\u2014you just have to open yourself to it,\u201d shares Hudson.<\/p>\n

Yaga Cafe | Prince Rupert<\/p>\n

Perched in Seal Cove, Yaga Caf\u00e9 Garden Co<\/a>. is an abundant garden centre, event space and caf\u00e9\u2014a gathering place that nourishes people, the land and Indigenous identity.<\/p>\n

Originally Azalea Gardens, a local fixture since 1991, the space was purchased in 2013 by the Gitmaxmak\u2019ay Nisga\u2019a Society. Renamed Yaga\u2014meaning \u201cat the bottom of the hill\u201d\u2014it reflects both its location and community roots. The business quadrupled in size between 2014 and 2025, adding new greenhouses in 2021 and 2024 and launching the outdoor patio caf\u00e9 in 2022.<\/p>\n

Their mission: connect people to the land and create local jobs. \u201cWe hire Nisga\u2019a members whenever we can and have a great team of people who are passionate about this place,\u201d says Sheri Pringle, garden centre manager.<\/p>\n

Today, Yaga is known for its plant nursery and hydroponic facility. The caf\u00e9 serves up a menu as vibrant as its gardens\u2014salads and sandwiches alongside cultural favourites like Nisga\u2019a stew. <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\"Riley<\/p>\n

Riley Webster writes our Small Town Success column. A storyteller at heart with a deep curiosity for humankind, her work is rooted in a passion for exploring what connects us all and how we can leave the world a better place.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the age of AI, brick-and-mortar businesses aren\u2019t just making a comeback, they\u2019re being built as an intentional…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":573170,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194298],"tags":[49,48,55],"class_list":["post-573169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-vancouver","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-vancouver"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/573169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=573169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/573169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/573170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=573169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=573169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=573169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}