Careers at Gina’s Gelato | Nelson, British Columbia

We value three things above all else: graciousness, resourcefulness, and integrity. We’re on the lookout for detailed and creative people who live to go the extra mile and love to learn; team members who are ready to bring new ideas to the table so we can grow together.

Disclaimer: We’re about to get pretty detailed, but you should know if this is a good fit for you before you take time to apply.

And hey, if you like getting into the nitty-gritty details, you’re off to a good start for our team. :)

Our passion is making scratch-made gelato, sorbetto, desserts, drinks (and all the fun extras). We believe food made with the best ingredients and by the best team creates the best experiences both for the team and our guests.

We are all about creating a place for friends to gather and enjoy time with each other. No wifi. No tv. Just traditionally-made gelati (plural for “gelato), sorbetti (you guessed it: plural for sorbetto), and desserts made by hand in a vintage shop and enjoyed with good company.

And we do things a little differently than your everyday ice cream or gelato shop to create those great experiences: We look to provide five-star service in unexpected ways. This includes building out an upscale front of house (yes, including the washroom), gold-tray service (we literally use gold trays), personal french press service, and providing gelato and sorbetto tastings for each guest.

We’re constantly dreaming up new ways of presenting desserts, creating new flavours, and looking for ways to partner as locally as possible to get fresh ingredients close to home.

We expect a lot of each other but our team works together to give mountains back in return. If this sounds like the kind of team and work culture that would be second nature for you, please apply!

For those considering a move, Nelson offers a lifestyle that is hard to beat. As one of British Columbia’s most well-known unheard of (somehow, yes) mountain towns, the area is a hub for world-class backcountry skiing, cat/heli-skiing, snowboarding, old-school mountain biking, and incredible, often deserted hiking trails. It’s a place where independent arts, shops, and restaurants are set against a mountain-lake landscape, and where the wilderness is always a stone’s throw away.

Nelson anchors the West Arm of 104-km-long Kootenay Lake in the Selkirk Mountains. From our shop at 526 Victoria Street, Whitewater Ski Resort lies 22 km south (under a half hour by car), as do more than 400 km of bike trails.

• You’ll find snow here: Whitewater averages 1,200 cm (40 ft) of dry powder each winter and is surrounded by the largest cluster of commercial cat- and heli-ski operators on the planet. While we may lack in beginner-friendly terrain, we offer infinite skill progression for those who are dedicated.
• You’ll find singletrack here: Our old-school riding is considered some of the best on the planet (and most technical). Like our skiing, there is no limit to the skill level you can progress to.
• Lake Life: Paddle or swim as often as you want. The West Arm of Kootenay Lake is more protected than the main body’s open waters, and you’ll find tons of parks and public access points to beaches and paddle launches. The lake doesn’t freeze over, either, so you can get out year-round (well, maybe swimming if you’re an actual polar bear).
• Food Culture: With 40+ independent cafés, breweries, and restaurants, Nelson has the highest density of eateries per capita in British Columbia. In fact, for a story written for Hello BC, Gina’s independent (and not very scientific) study found Nelson had more eateries per capita than New York City. If you like food (and we assume you do), you’ll do well here.
• Heritage Core: Roughly 300 restored late-19th-century buildings house yoga studios, galleries, coffee shops, and retail in our little town—the most heritage sites in BC outside of Vancouver and Victoria.
• Connectivity: Though we’re tucked off the beaten track, West Kootenay Regional Airport offers direct flights to Vancouver when you need some city life away from our little city life.

Nelson’s compact layout places wilderness, culture, and a little city that lives bigger than it is all within a ten‑minute reach of Gina’s Gelato—our little corner of downtown, historic, wild Nelson.

Our team members deliver sweet experiences for our gelato guests while keeping the cleanest, safest, and most organized gelato shop (gelateria) — and making it look effortless.

There’s lots to learn, so what you don’t know yet, we’ll help you get there.

• Eligible to work in Canada and have secured local housing before start date (Nelson vacancy rates are low & housing for newcomers is notoriously difficult to secure).
• Local commute of 20 minutes or less preferred; daily long commutes during peak season and/or winter conditions have proven difficult in the past for our team; we strongly prefer local candidates.
• Summer-time commitment: You understand that this is the busiest time of year and you can commit to working from June 1 until the first week of September without vacations (we can make some accommodations for school and days may be swapped with co-workers, of course!)
• Minimum 20 hrs/week; able to stand up to 8 hrs/day, scoop repeatedly, and lift up to 25 kg, all with a positive attitude.
• Open to tasting and championing all menu items—including dairy, egg, nut, wheat, and grain products—so you can speak confidently about ingredients and suppliers.
• Bring a can‑do, resourceful mindset: view “problems” as creative challenges and find solutions that create outstanding guest experiences.
• Thrive in a team environment: naturally positive, uplifting, and committed to 5‑star service for guests and fellow team members.
• Use clean, respectful language at all times: no gossip, no divisive (social, political, etc.) or hurtful topics; steer conversations toward inclusivity and uphold everyone’s dignity, understanding that we all have different worldviews.
• Demonstrate integrity: be honest, own mistakes, follow through on commitments, and treat Gina’s Gelato as “everyone’s job,” pitching in where needed.
• Must arrive scent-neutral: no lingering odours from smoke, cannabis, or strong perfumes/colognes. Light, dessert-scented fragrance is allowed if used minimally. Smoking or vaping is not permitted on or near the premises.
• Contribute to our team‑run TikTok and social media (you’re comfortable on camera and helping out behind the lens, too)
• Stay flexible with changing duties and schedules—ready to lend a hand or new ideas as needs arise.
• Enjoy working with people of all ages, listening to early 20th‑century music on shift, and adhering to our vintage‑inspired dress standards.