Unemployment is on the rise in Kelowna as businesses are forced to make difficult decisions amid current economic conditions.

The Salt and Brick restaurant, once a thriving dining spot in downtown Kelowna, closed for good last month after the owner cited a tough business climate.

“It just didn’t make business sense to be open any longer,” said owner Casey Greabeiel on Sept. 26, just days head of the closure.

It’s just one example of people losing work in a city where unemployment is soaring.

“It’s always concerning to see unemployment rise in small-business-dependent communities like Kelowna,” said Ryan Mitton, B.C.’s legislative affairs director with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.

According to Statistics Canada, the jobless rate in the Kelowna area rose to 9.3 per

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