VANCOUVER, BC --(Marketwired - December 12, 2016) - Small Business BC, the province's premier resource for entrepreneurs, and the Insurance Bureau of Canada, asked British Columbians to nominate their favourite small businesses for the 14th Annual Small Business BC Awards between October 1 and November 30, 2016.
The Small Business BC Awards is the largest small business awards competition in the province. These awards recognize the outstanding achievements of British Columbia's entrepreneurs and celebrate the contributions new and existing businesses registered in B.C., with fewer than 50 employees, make to their local communities and the global economy.
This year, 699 nominations were received from 72 communities across the province. These businesses were given two months to gain as many votes as possible. Those who activated their communities and received the most votes have been named the Top 10 Semi-Finalists in this year's competition:
PREMIER'S PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Presented by the Province of British Columbia
- Beachcomber Coffee Company Inc. - Gibsons
- Bowen Island Massage Therapy - Bowen Island
- Cowichan Energy Alternatives - Duncan
- Kaslo Sourdough - Kaslo
- Picnic Charcuterie - Tofino
- Pivotstar Designs Inc. - North Vancouver
- Roxann's Hats - Fort Langley
- Sea To Sky Air - Squamish
- Vintage and Restoration Love - Dawson Creek
- Wheelhouse Brewing Company - Prince Rupert
BEST APPRENTICE TRAINING
Presented by ITA and Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Benchmark Automotive - Prince George
- Harbourview Autohaus Ltd. - Nanaimo
- Heidout Restaurant and Brewhouse - Cranbrook
- Ironside Design Manufacturing Inc. - Chilliwack
- K&K Electric Ltd. - Port Hardy
- Northern Electric - Prince George
- Northern Legendary Construction - Charlie Lake
- Rambow Mechanical Ltd. - Kelowna
- Sprucehill Contracting Inc. - North Vancouver
- Technicon Industries Ltd. - Terrace
BEST COMMUNITY IMPACT
Presented by Vancity
- Brook Public Relations Firm - Cranbrook
- Cowichan Energy Alternatives - Duncan
- Fraser Lake Dollar Store and Corner Store - Fraser Lake
- Good Times Games and Electronics - Prince Rupert
- Greater Vancouver Lice Clinic - Maple Ridge
- Lighthouse Labs - Vancouver
- My Mountain Co-op - Terrace
- Rainbow's Roost - Kamloops
- Sea Hiker Swimming Inc. - Bowen Island
- Tla'amin Convenience Store - Powell River
BEST COMPANY
Presented by Sage
- Dalex Auto Services - Fort Nelson
- Elite Image - Nanaimo
- Game Quest - Prince George
- Northern Lights Estate Winery - Prince George
- Nucleus Networks Inc. - Vancouver
- Rocky Point Ice Cream Inc. - Port Moody
- Vernon Teach and Learn Ltd - Vernon
- Wheelhouse Brewing Company - Prince Rupert
- Wholesale Furniture Brokers - Kamloops
- Yeti Farm Creative - Kelowna
BEST CONCEPT
Presented by Small Business BC
- Canada's Best Apps - Whistler
- Infuse I.T. | VinStream - Kelowna
- Lil Worker Safety Gear - Comox
- Mint Magazine - Kelowna
- Next Generation Apparel - Victoria
- Play Grounds Café - Prince George
- Studio Robazzo - Victoria
- The Great Fraser River Salmon BBQ Competition - Hope
- Vertical Edge Window Cleaning - Kelowna
- Wine Crush Market - Penticton
BEST EMPLOYER
Presented by TruShield Insurance
- Aequilibrium Software Inc. - Vancouver
- Blue Pearl Mortgage - Surrey
- Central Kitchen - Bar - Kelowna
- Friendly Giant Window & Gutters - Victoria
- Longevity Graphics - Coquitlam
- Motherload Transport Services Inc. - Nanaimo
- Picture This Today 3D Inc. - Victoria
- RDC Fine Homes Inc. - Whistler
- Valley Acrylic Bath Ltd. - Mission
- VictorEric - Vancouver
BEST IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEUR
Presented by Small Business BC
- County Chic Paint Ltd. - Duncan
- Envisioning Labs - Vancouver
- Fans of Vancouver Tours - Vancouver
- FreshWorks Studio - Victoria
- Lilian Cazacu Notary Corporation - Langley
- Nirvana Foods Inc. - Richmond
- Rosewood Photography Studio - North Vancouver
- Trademark Factory - Vancouver
- Vancouver ProStyle Contractors Ltd. - Langley
- Way to Canada Immigration Services - Coquitlam
BEST INNOVATION
Presented by BC Innovation Council
- Filaprint - Tumbler Ridge
- IT Glue - Vancouver
- Mazu - Kelowna
- NZ Builders - North Saanich
- Phoenix Molecular Designs - Richmond
- Spark - Vancouver
- StoryTap - Vancouver
- Terramera - Vancouver
- The Alinker - Richmond
- Two Hat Security - Kelowna
BEST INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Presented by UPS Canada
- Arriba Mexico Food Co. - Esquimalt
- CanDig Mini Excavators Inc. - Kamloops
- CPE Systems Inc. - Burnaby
- Doi Chaang Coffee Co. - Vancouver
- First Light Technologies - Victoria
- Fusion Brand - Vancouver
- Mountain Coffee Ltd. - Delta
- Numpfer - Vancouver
- Serengeti Northern BC-International & Specialty Grocery Store - Prince George
- Wize Monkey - Vancouver
BEST MARKETER
Presented by Yellow Pages
- JY Knows It Business Consulting - Surrey
- K'pure Naturals - Mission
- Lifeblood Marketing - Kelowna
- Loulou Lollipop - Richmond
- Prince George Airport Authority - Prince George
- Rocket Web Labs - Vancouver
- Sue Studio Marketing - Vancouver
- The Argosy - Prince Rupert
- The Henna Hut - Penticton
- What's Up? Hot Dog! - Vancouver
The Top 10 Semi-Finalists will be given one month to provide our expert panel of judges a detailed application outlining why they deserve to win the award. These applications will be used to decide the Top 5 Finalists, which will be announced on January 23, 2017.
The winners of each category will be announced at the Small Business BC Awards Ceremony on February 23, 2017 at the Pan Pacific Vancouver.
Recipients of Small Business BC Awards are recognized with the Premier's Prize in the amount of $1,500 cash, a one-year all-access pass to Small Business BC education, resources and experts, and one-on-one business mentorship with notable advisors from the award sponsors.
More details on the Small Business BC Awards can be found at www.sbbcawards.ca.
Quotes
"Small businesses are the backbone of Canada's leading economy, responsible for creating over a million jobs in B.C. That's why we worked hard to become the most small business-friendly jurisdiction in North America. Congratulations all the Top 10 Semi-Finalists for being recognized as innovative, responsible pillars in their community." - Premier Christy Clark
"Small businesses account for 98% of all businesses in B.C. -- they drive the economy and create jobs for British Columbians. All the Top 10 Semi-Finalists for the Small Business BC Awards should be proud that their communities voted them into the top spots! Congratulations to all the Top 10 Semi-Finalists in the Small Business BC Awards." - Hon. Coralee Oakes, Minister of Small Business, Red Tape Reduction and Liquor Distribution, Province of British Columbia
"This year, we saw an incredible level of participation in the Small Business BC Awards with 699 nominations from 72 communities across the province. Their efforts to build a vibrant economy in B.C. deserve the respect of all British Columbians and the Small Business BC Awards are the best way to celebrate and acknowledge their success and contribution." - George Hunter, CEO, Small Business BC
"IBC is proud to support small businesses in British Columbia and across Canada. Insurers and consumers know that when small businesses succeed it promotes job creation and economic growth. That is why Canada's insurance industry is committed to working with small business owners to make sure they have the protection and coverage they need to help them grow and prosper." - Bill Adams, Vice-President, Western and Pacific, IBC
"At the BC Innovation Council we are lucky to do what we do as we get to witness the broad reach that technology has on the province. Every day, we are able to witness the benefits our province's innovators are able to provide to B.C. We see first-hand that tech is everywhere and we are proud to sponsor an award that recognizes this." - Carl Anderson, President and CEO, BC Innovation Council
"We're looking forward to meeting all the nominated employers for the Best Apprentice Training Award this year. Small businesses make up a large portion of B.C.'s economy and this community plays an important role in ensuring that skilled trades apprentices are getting the right hands-on experience on their apprenticeship journey. We're excited to partner with Kwantlen Polytechnic University to recognize an employer that is doing their part to training B.C.'s trades industry." - Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority
"I would like to congratulate the semi-finalists for the Best Apprenticeship Training Award. Small businesses are highly-valued partners across KPU's various programs, including Trades and Horticulture. Their support of our students and the real-world mentoring is vital to their success as apprentices. We recognize the essential contribution of small business to the ecology of B.C. and Canada's economy and are honoured to have the opportunity to celebrate this significant contribution from small businesses across the province." - Salvador Ferreras, Ph.D., Provost and Vice-President Academic, Kwantlen Polytechnic University
"We are thrilled to see such strong levels of participation and engagement in the Small Business BC Awards this year. As avid supporters of the small business community, we offer our heartfelt congratulations to the outstanding businesses that have emerged as Top 10 Semi-Finalists for each of the award categories." - Paul Struthers, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Sage Canada
"TruShield Insurance is proud to partner with an innovative organization like Small Business BC and help support the hard-working entrepreneurs of British Columbia. We're amazed to see such impressive growth in the participation for the 14th Annual Small Business BC Awards, and we look forward to honouring both the success of these finalists and their contributions to our communities. Congratulations to each of you!" - Mike Gaba, Manager, Business Development, TruShield Insurance
"UPS Canada is proud to collaborate with Small Business BC to offer the Best International Trade Award to entrepreneurs in British Columbia. We would like to acknowledge those who were nominated, and congratulate those who are now Top 10 Semi-Finalists in the 14th Annual Small Business BC Awards." - Paul Gaspar, Director of Small Business, UPS Canada
"Small businesses are the drivers of the local economy, they innovate to create new products and services, generate jobs and help our communities thrive. We congratulate the Top 10 organizations along with those who were also nominated for the impact they are making in the communities where we live and work." - Catherine Ludgate, Manager, Community Investment, Vancity
"On behalf of Yellow Pages Group, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to this year's Top 10 Semi-Finalists. B.C. has some phenomenally successful entrepreneurs who have made huge contributions to local communities, and it gives me great pleasure to see the successes and achievements of those making a difference being acknowledged and recognized." - Sonny Magon, Senior Sales Manager, Yellow Pages
About Small Business BC
Small Business BC provides entrepreneurs with the information and guidance necessary to build a solid foundation for their business. Through a wide range of products, services, education and resources there's a piece that fits with every business. No matter what stage or what skill level, when an entrepreneur finds themselves asking "How do I...?" Small Business BC is the one to call.
About Insurance Bureau of Canada
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. For more than 50 years, IBC has worked with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC supports the vision of consumers and governments trusting, valuing and supporting the private P&C insurance industry. It champions key issues and helps educate consumers on how best to protect their homes, cars, businesses and properties. P&C insurance touches the lives of nearly every Canadian and plays a critical role in keeping businesses safe and the Canadian economy strong. It employs more than 120,000 Canadians, pays $8.2 billion in taxes and has a total premium base of $49 billion.
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Contact Information:
Media Contact:
Mark Blendheim
Communications Manager
Small Business BC
Direct: 604-775-5607
blendheim.mark@smallbusinessbc.ca
