The Sole Providers
Talaria Footwear — with locations in both Kimberley and Cranbrook — helps you feel comfortable and supported at work.
Emily Starling & Evangeline Leclair both work in the nuclear medicine department at East Kootenay Regional Hospital, where the team uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and treat illnesses. While they both love the technical aspect of their work — which keeps them on their feet during long days — it’s the connection with their patients that brings them the most joy. Nicole Leclair Photo
You work hard. Your footwear should work harder. Plenty of us in the East Kootenay work in skilled trades — including more women than ever. If you’re among them, you need shoes that keep you safe and feeling your best — so that you get the most of those big days, and enjoy a long, flourishing career.
Well-made work footwear provides excellent arch and metatarsal support, which prevents pain and reduces fatigue. The right footwear also defends against impact and compression hazards, improves stability, and prevents falls. This kind of support and quality is found only in well-made shoes. At Talaria, we’re proud to carry a wide range of work-appropriate footwear, including full size runs of womens’ work boots from both Blundstone CSA and, at our Cranbrook location, Red Wing.
Red Wing — an iconic company that’s been an industry leader since its inception in 1905 — handcraft their work boots in the USA. Blundstone, a classic brand well-loved in the Kootenays, makes a robust steel-toe boot that easily pulls on and off.
“I switched my work boots to Blundstones for the ease of getting them on,” says Jodie Wheeler, an East Kootenay local who’s worked in the pulp and paper industry for 15 years, working her way up to the first female digester operator at her mill. “These boots hold up better than most women’s work boots, and have great cushioning.” Nicole Leclair Photo
The work boots from both these leading-edge companies are tough and dependable, just like the women wearing them. We also have a robust selection of men’s work boots as well, at both our Kimberley and Cranbrook locations. The craftsmanship that goes into each pair ensures their durability — so that you’ll wear them for many years to come.
Our excellent selection of work footwear goes beyond just blue collar: we carry high-quality options for workers across many industries — including healthcare, where safety and comfort matter most. The friendly and highly knowledgeable staff at Talaria provide every customer with a professional fitting, so that you find the shoe that works best for you.
For locations and hours, please visit www.talaria.ca.
Find this full-length story and more in The Trench’s Summer + Fall 2024 edition: