Spring Creative Inc

As we head into fall, many business owners across the Kootenays are taking a fresh look at their digital footprint—and asking: "Is our local search presence actually working for us?" 🍂

Navigating Google Business profiles, local SEO, and online visibility can easily feel overwhelming when you're busy running daily operations. That’s where we step in.

We love getting feedback like this from local business leaders like Carey Henry, Owner of MindKind Collective:

💬 “As a new small business owner, I was feeling completely overwhelmed trying to understand Google Business, SEO and online visibility. Fern was an absolute wealth of knowledge and gave me practical, easy-to-understand guidance... If you need help with Google Business, local SEO or improving your online visibility in the West Kootenays, Fern is wonderful!”

Whether you need a full digital infrastructure overhaul or want to make sure local clients can actually find you on Google this fall, you don't have to figure it out alone.

🗓️ Planning for fall? Let's get your digital foundations locked in. Visit springcreative.ca or reach out to schedule a strategy session today.

—

Big news for women-led businesses in BC! 🚀✨

We are so excited to celebrate a massive win for women entrepreneurs across Canada and right here in our own backyard!

The federal government’s recent announcement of a $173.7M investment over five years to renew the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) is incredible news. This means more accessible capital, stronger mentorship networks, and enhanced business training for the rural business owners who keep our communities vibrant.

At Spring Creative, we are deeply passionate about rural economic development. We know that when women entrepreneurs thrive, our entire regional economy grows stronger!

That’s why we are especially proud of our very own Fern Sabo, who is out on the ground helping to bridge the gap as a WeBC Thewebc Regional Ambassador for the Kootenays! 🙌 (We love seeing her out in the community representing such an impactful organization!)

When rural businesses support each other, amazing things happen. We can't wait to see the innovation and resilience this new funding unlocks for local business owners.

💡 Want to know how to tap into upcoming loans, mentorship groups, or training workshops? Give WeBC a follow to stay updated on all their incredible resources and upcoming programs.

👇 Drop a comment below to congratulate Fern, or share this with a fellow woman entrepreneur who needs to see this news!

Social media is great, but what happens when a local customer goes to search for your services on Google and comes up empty? 🔍

This coming Tuesday, June 16 at noon, we are happy to share that our founder Fern Sabo will be joining Lynn Hiscoe, Ona Stanton, and the wonderful Kootenay Connections community for an interactive session: Google Secrets for Local Business Growth.

As business owners in rural BC, our foundational tech infrastructure is what keeps us visible. Fern will be breaking down how the local search landscape is shifting and how you can position your brand to stop hiding from search engines.

🗓️ When: Tuesday, June 16 @ 12:00 PM PT
📍 Where: Online via Zoom

If you’re a member, you're already locked in! If you aren't a member yet but want to join a powerful circle of regional women entrepreneurs, follow the link below to register. 👇✨

https://www.kootenaywomen.com/kootenay-connections-community-membership

Pollinating Online: Making LinkedIn Work for You

Today, our founder Fern Sabo—WeBC's Regional Ambassador for the West Kootenays—had the absolute pleasure of delivering an exclusive, high-energy virtual workshop for their fantastic Pollinator cohort across British Columbia! ✨

With over 1.3 billion professionals on the platform, LinkedIn is no longer just a digital resume—it is a powerful, 24/7 digital storefront for entrepreneurs to build authority, generate warm leads, and drive business growth.

We went deep into step-by-step profile optimization, visibility settings, and networking habits to help these incredible women-led businesses thrive online.

👇 Missed the workshop? We’ve got you covered!
Because Spring Creative is dedicated to helping local businesses build unshakeable brand infrastructure, we have made the training materials completely public!

Head over to our Insights blog to download the full presentation slide deck AND our master LinkedIn Strategy Checklist for free:

https://springcreative.ca/pollinating-online-making-linkedin-work-for-you/

What an incredible day at the Castlegar (Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce) Trailblazers event! 🏔️✨

Our Principal, Fern Sabo, had the absolute pleasure of representing Thewebc today—taking the stage to introduce the event and connecting with inspiring local changemakers before the networking got underway.

To top it all off, the lovely Lynn Hiscoe stopped by to hand-deliver the brand-new June issue of Kootenay Women in Business Magazine. It was fantastic to flip it open and see the WeBC ad featured right there!

📖 Issues of the magazine are distributed all across the West Kootenays at key spots like local Chambers of Commerce. But if you want your own copy, let us know in the comments and we'll make sure Fern gets one into your hands!

As a Regional Ambassador, Fern is so proud to help women entrepreneurs across the Kootenays access the resources, loans, and mentorship they need to thrive.

Did you attend the event today? Let us know your favorite takeaway below! 👇

Calling all women in business in our region—this is exactly where you want to be this Sunday! 🌿🌸

WeBC is proud to partner with Castlegar & District Economic Development to bring this amazing event to our community, and the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce always does a phenomenal job organizing these.

Our founder, Fern Sabo, will be there this weekend in her role as ThewebcWest Kootenay Regional Ambassador. It is always a fantastic opportunity to network and connect with the local business community.

We hope to see you there!

Check out the details below and make sure to register before Friday 👇

🌿✨ Trailblazers: Rooted in Connection, Rising Through Action ✨🌿

Women leading women. Inspiration turning into action. Connections growing into community. 💛

Join us for an empowering afternoon of storytelling, networking, and collaboration with incredible local women making an impact in our community.

📅 Sunday, May 31
⏰ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 The Confluence – 1995 6th Ave
🎟️ $10 | Register online and pay at the door

Hear from inspiring panelists:
✨ Carol Hiebert
✨ Elisha Del Col
✨ Darlene Kalawsky

Enjoy:
Open networking
Growth-focused conversations
Collaboration opportunities
Reflection + inspiration

Hosted in partnership with:
Castlegar And District Economic Development
Thewebc

Spots are limited. Register today through the QR code on the poster or Eventbrite!

As the West Kootenay Regional Ambassador for WeBC, Fern is thrilled to announce that the 2026 Pollinator intake is officially live! 🐝🏔️

With over 220 women in 79 communities across the province already stepping forward to champion one another, the momentum behind this movement is incredible. This is a unique opportunity for local women entrepreneurs to help strengthen our regional business ecosystem.

The WeBC Pollinator Program is a volunteer initiative for those passionate about community-building. In addition to fostering local connections, Pollinators gain access to exclusive professional development, including:

🌟 A free 1-year membership with Athena Collective.
🌟 Specialized workshops from the Scotiabank Women Initiative.
🌟 Targeted training on LinkedIn growth, business funding, and wellness.

WeBC aims to ensure every woman entrepreneur in the Kootenays feels connected and empowered. Help represent our region by joining this growing network!

Learn more or apply by May 8 👇
[https://we-bc.ca/programs-services/pollinator-program/

Apply now to become a WeBC Pollinator. Our intake is now live! 🤗

More than 220 women in 79 communities from across the province have already stepped forward to champion one another, share their experiences, and strengthen their local communities. Their leadership has shown just how powerful this movement can be.

Now, it’s your turn. If you’re passionate about community-building and want to help more women feel supported on their business journey, we’d love to have you join this growing movement.

The WeBC Pollinator Program is a volunteer initiative for women across BC who want to help others discover the support, mentorship, and resources available through WeBC and the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In addition to building strong networks, WeBC Pollinators also receive access to events and workshops from our Sponsor, Scotiabank Women Initiative, a free 1-year membership with Athena Collective, plus free access to exclusive training like:
🌟 Getting the First $50K
🌟 Pollinating Online with LinkedIn
🌟 Silencing the Inner Critic
🌟 Recognizing Burnout

We aim to expand our network so every woman entrepreneur in BC feels connected and empowered. Learn more or apply by May 8 👇🏼
go.we-bc.ca/PollinatorProgram

Spring Creative Inc. is incredibly proud to announce that our Principal Strategist, Fern, has been nominated for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards.

A sincere thank you to Shauna Harper, CEO of WeBC, for the nomination. This recognition comes at a pivotal time as Fern continues her work as a Regional Ambassador, a journey that began over a decade ago when she first connected with the WeBC community as a business owner.

For nearly 30 years, Fern’s work has focused on the "silent architecture" of the region. She designs the brand infrastructure and digital systems that allow vital sectors to scale—from supporting local businesses, non-profits, and governments to the BC Games, healthcare, tourism revitalization, social equality, environmental initiatives, and agricultural planning.

Beyond the data, Fern is a dedicated champion for women business owners across the West Kootenays. Having navigated the unique challenges of building a business in a rural community herself, she is committed to ensuring our entrepreneurs have the digital tools and institutional support they need to thrive.

Please join us in celebrating this national recognition for a leader who builds the "bones" of our regional success.

Thank you to the Thewebc, Women of Influence, and RBC teams for this honour.

For those interested in the impact of this national program, you can learn more about the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and their 34-year legacy here: https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/rbc-cwea/

Earth Day is just a few days away, but Spring Creative has been celebrating all month long! 🌿

Owner Fern Sabo was thrilled to take part in The Great Kokanee Escape at Lakeside Park on April 12th. Supporting the Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society is a long-standing tradition for Fern and the Spring Creative team, reflecting the company’s core values of environmental and community stewardship.

From participating in shoreline cleanups to supporting local fundraisers, Spring Creative remains dedicated to protecting our local waters and the community we call home.

It was a wonderful day spent with:

•Anna Dulisse (Environmental Writer)
•Grace Sabo (Living Lakes Canada)
•Beth Austin (Spring Creative) and her son.

We were proud to contribute as a donor this year and look forward to supporting this amazing organization and event again next year! 🛶💦