Wheelhouse Brewing Company threw open its doors to a packed house before Christmas 2012 and has kept them open ever since. Founded by three friends with a passion for beer and start-up capital from Community Futures, Wheelhouse offers the Prince Rupert area with a selection of maritime-themed brews, a lounge with a retro vibe and often live entertainment. There are a number of consistent flavours on tap, including the appropriately named Flagship Pale Ale, the popular Golden Gillnetter and full-bodied Brown Ale. Wheelhouse also provides a number of seasonal flavours throughout the year to diversify their offerings. The beers can be bought directly from the brewery or can be enjoyed in most pubs and restaurants in town.

Fresh Onion was started by a couple who, as it turns out, took the Prince Rupert lunch scene by storm. Their restaurant, located in the Ocean Centre Mall, offers a large variety of fresh foods in an old-style diner setting. The main focus is the food – burgers, curries, sandwiches, soups, and more. Fresh Onion expands variety to their popular catering service, offering butter chicken for meetings to a full-course Christmas dinner for holiday parties.

It is never too late to pursue your dreams, especially when family is by your side. Buster’s Tasty Treats was founded by a mother and her two children after realizing the potential of her homemade dog treats. With mom at over 80-years-young, and some help from Community Futures, the three of them launched operations in Prince George with the finances handled in Prince Rupert. Buster’s has seen instant rapid growth and can be found in Pet Stores and Grocery Stores throughout BC. Consumers are clearing shelves as their pets literally bark for more.

NC Fire identified a major gap in the Prince Rupert fire safety market - a number of buildings were exposed to fire risk due to outdated systems. Taking it upon themselves to rectify the situation, NC Fire now offers fire safety services both small and large, from fire extinguisher servicing to large-scale fire suppression systems inspections. They have experienced quick growth and are poised to be a leader in fire safety for the region.