Neighbouring businesses want to help after fire

Fundraiser by Get Bent, Nest & Nectar planned for Wednesday

Last week’s fire at the Cannery Trade Centre affected 11 businesses to the tune of about $56,000.

To help them recover, fellow Cannery business owners Wendy Goudie from Get Bent Yoga and Dance and Fergy Foster from the Nest and Nectar are hosting a fundraising event Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Nest and Nectar.

“Both our business were lucky and unaffected, but we are all close in here. We have to do something,” Foster said.

Goudie said the costs of the fire are varied.

“It’s more than deductibles, which can be pretty high as it is. It’s lost business for being closed for a week, it’s refunding people for products ready to be picked up that were already paid for, there’s more to it. The cost of something like this can be very hard on small businesses,” she said.

Wednesday’s event is to feature performances by Get Bent dancers and a build-your-own-taco bar.

There will be a gift baskets for door prizes and the Nest and Nectar will have fresh made pies to purchase to take home.

All proceeds from the event will be divided up based on the percentage of the overall monetary loss between all affected businesses.

The fire was reported about 1 a.m. on June 25.

It caused sprinklers and alarms to be activated, and produced heavy smoke, although the Penticton Fire Department said fire damage was contained to a second-floor residence.