The following employers have been formally designated to participate in the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). This list is published in accordance with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requirements and will be updated regularly as new employers receive designation or are de-designated.
Being designated means that these employers:
- Have been reviewed and approved to participate in the the West Kootenay RCIP
- Have committed to supporting newcomer settlement and integration.
Important Notice for RCIP Candidates and Immigration Representatives:
Do not contact these employers directly to request a job offer unless a position has been publicly advertised. Designation does not guarantee that an employer is currently hiring or that a job offer is available.
West Kootenay RCIP Designated Employer List
Last updated: May 14, 2026
Business, Administration & Finance
| Employer Name |
| Doane Grant Thornton LLP, Castlegar, Nelson & Trail offices |
| Kootenay Columbia Wealth Management, Trail |
Health Sector
| Employer Name |
| Golden Life Management, Castlegar, Creston, Fruitvale, Grand Forks, Nelson & Trail |
| Interior Health, Castlegar, Creston, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Kaslo, KBRH (Trail), Midway, Nakusp, Nelson, New Denver, Rock Creek |
| Kootenay Integrated Health, Castlegar |
| Kootenay Lake Medical Clinic, Nelson |
| Mountain Lake Village (CareCorp), Nelson |
| Castlegar Medical, Castlegar |
| Castleview Care Centre (Chantelle Management Group), Castlegar |
| Dentalcorp Health Services, Nelson |
| Misha Zibin Society, Grand Forks |
| Pharmasave Creston |
| Trail Association for Community Living |
Education, Law, Social, Community & Government Services
| Employer Name |
| Axis Family Resources Ltd, Castlegar |
| Blueberry Creek Community School, Castlegar |
| Brent Kennedy Learning Centre, South Slocan |
| Children and Family Society, Trail |
| City of Grand Forks, Grand Forks |
| Circle of Indigenous Nations, Castlegar |
| Community Connections Support Services, Trail/ Nelson |
| Cornerstone Children’s Centre, Nelson |
| Eclipse Foundation, Trail |
| Four Winds Daycare |
| Freedom Quest Youth Services Society, Castlegar |
| Goat Mountain Kids, New Denver |
| Golden Bears Children’s Centre, Rossland |
| Growing Steps Academy, Trail |
| Habitat for Humanity, Castlegar |
| Kimsis Art School, Castlegar |
| Kootenay Career Development Society, Nelson, Castlegar & Trail |
| Kootenay Employment Services, Creston office only |
| Kootenay Family Place, Castlegar |
| Kootenay Kids Society, Nelson |
| Kootenay Society for Community Living, Castlegar |
| Nelson CARES Society, Nelson |
| Nelson Christian School Society, Nelson |
| Pacific Coast Community Resources, Grand Forks |
| Silly Monkeys Childcare, Castlegar |
| Songbird Early Learning Centre, Nelson |
| Sunningdale Childcare Centre, Trail |
| The Schoolhouse ECLC, Nelson |
| Yasodhara Ashram, Riondel |
Sales & Service
| Employer Name |
| 0807658 BC Ltd |
| 0081392 BC Ltd |
| 1342104 BC Ltd, Nakusp |
| The Adventure Hotel, Nelson |
| Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, Ainsworth |
| Alpine Inn & Suites, Nelson |
| Amanda’s Restaurant, Nelson |
| Ashley Furniture, Trail |
| Ashman’s Burgers, Nelson |
| Baker Street Inn Best Western (Martin Hospitality Group), Nelson |
| Basasak, Creston |
| Bayleaf Indian Fusion, Creston |
| BCAA, Nelson |
| Beauties Pizza, Nelson |
| Bella Soriah/ Chanterelle, Nakusp |
| Best Value Inn & Suites, Castlegar |
| Bhasin Building Maintenance, Castlegar |
| Biggest Little Fruitstand, Castlegar |
| The Black Cauldron |
| Blue Barn Pet and Hobby Farm, Castlegar |
| Bluebelle Bistro, Kaslo |
| Boaz Enterprises Ltd., Trail |
| Boundary Home Building Centre, Grand Forks |
| Broken Hill, Nelson |
| Buffalo Trails Coffee House, Creston |
| Busaba Thai, Nelson |
| Canadian Tire, Trail |
| Cantina Del Centro, Nelson |
| Casey’s Community House, Creston |
| Centex Store & Gas (grocery store only), Rock Creek |
| Chahko Mika Mall, Nelson |
| Chances, Castlegar |
| Chopsticks, Castlegar |
| Christina Lake Motel & RV Park |
| City Furniture, Castlegar |
| The Colander, Trail |
| Columbia River Hotel Best Western, Trail |
| Cowan Office Supplies, Nelson |
| Creston Hotel/ Jimmy’s Pub, Creston |
| Creston Liquor Store, Creston |
| Cube Climbing, Nelson |
| Cuisine of India, Castlegar |
| Cut Rite Meats and Deli, Nakusp |
| Dam Restaurant, South Slocan |
| Deadwood Junction, Greenwood |
| The Dragonfly Cafe, Salmo |
| Edgewood General Store, Edgewood |
| El Taco, Nelson |
| Epiphany Cakes, Nelson |
| Ferraro Foods, Trail & Rossland |
| Finley’s Bar & Grill, Nelson |
| Focused Life-Force Energy, Nelson |
| Fruitvale Kitchen, Fruitvale |
| Full Circle Cafe, Nelson |
| Gabriella’s Restaurant, Rossland |
| Gina’s Gelato, Nelson |
| Golden Chopsticks II, Grand Forks |
| Grand Forks Inn, Grand Forks |
| Grand Forks Renovation Centre, Grand Forks |
| The Handy Store, Trail |
| HG Insurance Agencies, Castlegar |
| Hooper’s Bakery, Rossland |
| Hume Hotel (Martin Hospitality Group), Nelson |
| Iconic Gift Shop, Nelson |
| Jackson’s Hole, Nelson |
| JMJ Building Maintenance, Castlegar |
| The Josie Hotel, Rossland |
| Kaslo Hotel, Kaslo |
| KC Restaurant, Nelson |
| Kokanee Glacier Resort, Nelson |
| Kootenay Bakery Cafe Coop, Nelson |
| Kootenay Cleaning Solutions, Fruitvale |
| Kootenay Columbia Home Medical Equipment, Castlegar |
| Kootenay Co-op Grocery Store, Nelson |
| Kootenay Insurance Services, Trail |
| Kootenay Natural Cleaners, Nelson |
| Kootenay Tamil Kitchen Food & Beverage, Nelson |
| Kootenay Tamil Kitchen Ethnic Foods, Creston |
| Kootenay Tamil Kitchen Masala Shop, Nelson |
| Kurama Sushi Japanese Restaurant, Nelson |
| Kurtis’ No Frills, Trail |
| L&C Bakery, Nelson |
| La Ruelle Bakery, Nelson |
| Magnuson Hotel, Creston |
| Mainstreet Diner, Nelson |
| MapleMirch Foods Ltd, Castlegar |
| Milano Pizza, Fruitvale |
| Nelson Fine Art Printing, Nelson |
| Nelson Fuel Inc., Nelson |
| Nelson Olive Oil, Nelson |
| New Market Foods, New Denver |
| Night Inn Hotel, Grand Forks |
| The Nineteenth (RFV Holdings), Castlegar |
| Omega Restaurant, Grand Forks |
| Oso Negro Coffee, Nelson |
| Outer Clove Restaurant, Nelson |
| Pealow’s Independent Grocer, Creston |
| Peerless Building Maintenance, Fruitvale |
| Pino’s Authentic Italian Cuisine, Trail |
| Port 701, Nelson |
| Prestige Inn, Nelson |
| Prestige Lakeside Resort, Nelson |
| Prestige Resort, Rossland |
| Red Fin Sushi, Castlegar |
| Red Light Ramen, Nelson |
| Refresh Eco Cleaning, Nelson |
| Rel-Ish Bistro, Nelson |
| RDM Janitorial, Castlegar |
| Rock Island Tape Centre, Trail |
| Rockcut Pub, Rossland |
| Safety Net Security, Trail |
| Safeway, Castlegar |
| Safeway, Nelson |
| Safeway, Trail |
| Sakura Sushi, Nelson |
| Sandman Inn, Castlegar |
| Savoy Hotel, Nelson |
| Seasons Maintenance Sports, Grand Forks |
| Serendipity Nail Studio, Nelson |
| Shambhala Music Festival, Nelson |
| Shatti Esthetics Studio, Trail/Rossland |
| Simran’s No Frills, Grand Forks |
| Slocan Gas Bar (grocery store only), Slocan Park |
| Sprout Eatery, Nelson |
| Steve’s No Frills, Castlegar |
| Sunner Barber Shop Ltd, Trail/ Castlegar |
| Super 8 Hotel, Castlegar |
| Sushiwood, Nelson |
| SureStay Hotel Rossland |
| SureStay Best Western, Castlegar |
| Tahnam Thai, Castlegar |
| Tandoori Grill, Nelson |
| Taste of India, Trail |
| Tea Garden Salon & Spa, Nelson |
| Thor’s Pizza, Nelson |
| The Uphill Market, Nelson |
| Trail Coffee Co., Trail |
| Valhalla Inn, Creston |
| Vance Home Furnishing, Creston |
| Vienna Cafe, Nelson |
| Villa Motel, Nelson |
| Western Traveler Motel, Grand Forks |
| Woodbury Resort, Kaslo |
| Working Ventures Insurance Solutions, Trail |
| Yum Son, Nelson |
Trades, Transport, & Equipment Operators
| Employer Name |
| A&A Painting, Nelson |
| A3 Plumbing, Nelson |
| Ace Couriers, Castlegar/ Grand Forks |
| AGBH Logistics |
| Avail Custom Contracting, Nelson |
| Babe’s Automotive, Slocan |
| BC ECO Industrial Services, Nelson |
| Beau Painting, Creston |
| Boundary Electric, Grand Forks |
| Bright Workz Ultimate Autocare, Trail |
| Castle Fuels, Grand Forks |
| Castlegar Warehousing, Castlegar |
| Columbia Drywall, Nelson |
| D.R. Drywall, Nelson |
| Four Lakes Mechanical, Nelson |
| GFL Environmental, Trail |
| Heritage Roofing, Nelson |
| Hil-Tech Contracting, Trail |
| Integra Tire/ E&A Tire, Castlegar |
| Integrity Subaru, Trail |
| J Brand Painting, Nelson |
| Kalawsky Chevrolet Buick GMC 1989, Castlegar |
| Kootenay Custom Tile, Fruitvale |
| Martech Electrical Systems, Castlegar |
| Marwest Industries Ltd., Castlegar |
| Mercer Forestry Services |
| Mountain City Painting, Trail |
| Mountain Transport Institute |
| MS Johal Logistics, Castlegar/ Trail |
| Nelson Toyota, Nelson |
| Nolan’s Contracting, Nelson |
| North Mountain Construction, Nelson |
| OK Tire/ Practicar, Trail |
| Paradise Painters, Nelson |
| Pulpit Plumbing & Heating, Nelson |
| Roalin Coal Transportation, Creston |
| Rokform Solutions, Castlegar |
| Rossland Collision, Rossland |
| RSD Holdings, Castlegar |
| Selkirk Beverages (OZ Holdings), Castlegar |
| Steinegg Cabinets |
| Stellar Painting, Nelson |
| The Sutherland Group, Salmo |
| Valet Restorations, Castlegar |
| Valor Painting, Nelson |
| Venture Mechanical Systems, Castlegar |
| Winmar Nelson |
Manufacturing & Utilities
| Employer Name |
| Accurasee Instruments, Trail |
| ATCO Wood Products, Fruitvale |
| Cirba Solutions, Trail |
| DHC Communications, Nelson |
| Drop Sprockets, South Slocan |
| Ernie’s Used Auto Parts, Castlegar |
| Grand Forks Bottle Depot, Grand Forks |
| Interfor, Castlegar |
| Interfor, Grand Forks |
| Kalesnikoff Lumber, Thrums |
| Kalesnikoff Mass Timber, Castlegar |
| KC Recycling, Trail |
| Mercer Celgar, Robson (Castlegar) |
| Nelson Leafs Recycling, Nelson |
| Nelson Naturals, Nelson |
| Popov Leather, Nelson |
| Silverking Soya, Nelson |
| Spearhead, Nelson |
| Sphere Environmental, Nelson |
| Trail Bottle Depot, Trail |
| TRC Timberworks, Nelson |
| Treasure Life Flour Mills, Creston |
| Valid Manufacturing, Nelson |
| Woody Nelson, RDCK Area F |
De-designated Employers
An employer may be de-designated for a number of reasons. In some cases, this is administrative. For example, an employer may choose to voluntarily withdraw from the Pilot, the business may close, or the business may be sold. If a business is sold, the new ownership must meet the requirement of being in continuous, active operation under the same management for at least two years in the community before being eligible for designation.
An employer may also be de-designated if required program conditions are no longer met. This can include situations where the staff member who completed the mandatory trainings leaves the organization and a new authorized representative has not yet completed the required training.
More serious reasons for de-designation can include non-compliance with federal or provincial employment laws, violations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) or Regulations (IRPR), fraud or misrepresentation, charging fees to a candidate, or failing to meet program commitments.
- Ancron Medical Clinic, Nelson
- Alkeme Bakery, Rossland
Please note: in 2026, gas stations are no longer eligible to be designated employers, therefore all gas stations will be de-designated.