Discover region-wide
From Creston to Cranbrook, Nelson to Fernie, find independent places to eat, play, stay and shop across the entire Kootenay region.
How It Works
Three steps from curious to your next favourite Kootenay spot
Browse free, unlock with a Pass, redeem in seconds at the till.
How discovery works
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Find your next favourite spot
Create a free account and browse every participating business and offer across the Kootenays, on the map or by community.
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Unlock every offer
Get a VIP Pass to redeem every active offer, including VIP-only offers, for a full year. Each offer has its own per-person limit.
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Show up and discover
Visit any business, tap Redeem Offer in the app, ask staff for their 4-digit code, type it into your phone, and show the green Offer Redeemed screen to enjoy your savings. Online offers give you a coupon code and a link to the store instead.
Why explore with Kootenay Connection
Built for the Kootenays, designed to help you discover the best of it
Curated, not crowded
Independent local businesses, each reviewed before it goes live, and real offers, not gimmicks. Every gem on the map is worth the visit.
One pass, in your pocket
No paper coupons or forgotten books. Browse, discover, and redeem right from your phone.
Instant redemption
Find a spot, tap Redeem Offer, type in the staff code and save on the spot. Discovery and savings in the same tap.
Browse free, save big
Create a free account to explore every business and offer, then grab a VIP Pass to redeem them all.
Support local
Every visit helps a real Kootenay business instead of a national platform. Discover more, and keep it local.
What makes Kootenay Connection different
Built for the Kootenays, designed around local business success
Kootenay only
Founded in Creston and focused entirely on the Kootenays. No random cities, no big box chains, just independent local businesses from communities across the Kootenays, including Creston, Nelson, Castlegar, Salmo, Kaslo, Grand Forks, Christina Lake, Cranbrook, Fernie and Invermere.
Business first
Businesses join at no cost, control their own offers and limits, and only provide a discount when a real customer shows up. We are built to support sustainable local commerce, not extract fees upfront.
Curated, not crowded
Independent local businesses, each reviewed before it goes live, and business-controlled offer limits keep everything valuable and sustainable. We protect quality over quantity so every business and passholder gets real value.
Powers local fundraisers
Sports teams, school groups and other community groups can raise money through our separate fundraising program, earning money on every VIP Pass sold with their own code, with the option to pass on a discount too. See the fundraising page for how it works.
Common questions about Kootenay Connection
Billing, refunds and account questions live in the help centre.
What is Kootenay Connection?
Kootenay Connection is a mobile and web app that helps locals and visitors discover independent businesses across the Kootenay region of British Columbia. Members buy a VIP Pass to redeem every active offer in the app, including VIP-only offers, at every participating business.
Where does Kootenay Connection operate?
In communities across the Kootenays, including Creston, Nelson, Castlegar, Salmo, Kaslo, Grand Forks, Christina Lake, Cranbrook, Fernie and Invermere. Founded in Creston. No national chains, only independent Kootenay businesses.
Is Kootenay Connection free to use?
The app is free to download, and a free account lets you browse every business and offer. To redeem offers you need a Kootenay Connection VIP Pass: a one-time payment of CAD $50 that lets you redeem every active offer, including VIP-only offers, for a full year. Each offer has its own per-person limit.
How does the Kootenay Connection VIP Pass work?
One Pass, one price, every active offer. The VIP Pass is a one-time payment of CAD $50, valid for 12 months from purchase. It is not a subscription and does not renew automatically; you can buy a new Pass after it expires. Each offer sets its own limit, usually per person, and the business can change it; the app always shows the current limits before you redeem.
How do I redeem a Kootenay Connection offer?
Visit a participating business and open Kootenay Connection in the app or on the web. Tap Redeem Offer, ask staff for their 4-digit code, type it into your phone, and show the green Offer Redeemed screen to receive your savings. For online offers, the app shows a coupon code and a link to the store.
How can my business join Kootenay Connection?
Kootenay businesses join at no cost. Sign up at business.kootenayconnection.app or ask us to set you up; each business is reviewed, usually within 1 to 2 business days. The business controls its own offers and redemption limits, and only honours a discount when a real customer redeems it, in person, or online with a coupon code for online offers. There are no subscription fees and no per-redemption fees.
Ready to start?
Browsing is free. The Pass is what turns a drive-through into a stop.