MEDIA RELEASE

November 26, 2021

 

BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Nominations are in and it’s a long list with more than 200 received

 

Kelowna: The 2021 Kelowna Chamber Business Excellence Awards are moving into the judging phase and the list of locally based companies and entrepreneurs which have been nominated in the 15 different categories runs three pages with more than 200 nominations received.

“It’s been a long haul this year for all these companies and organizations and we’re happy to see that so many have been recognized for their efforts,” says Dan Rogers, Executive Director of the Kelowna Chamber. “We’re also thrilled to have our presenting and many of our award sponsors back with us as we couldn’t do this important work without our loyal corporate partners.”

Farris LLP and Interior Savings Credit Union are back as presenting sponsors for the 34th Annual Awards which recognize the best in business and community leadership in the central Okanagan.

The categories and number of nominees for 2021 include:

  • Rising Star Business: 20
  • Small Business of the Year: 39
  • Mid-size Business of the Year: 13
  • Large-size Business of the year: 12
  • Environmental Impact: 17
  • Excellence in Agriculture: 8
  • Arts & Entertainment: 9
  • Social Leadership: 14
  • Excellence in Business Ethics: 8
  • Not for Profit: 26
  • Young Entrepreneur: 6
  • Excellence in Tourism: 10
  • Inclusive Workplace:   7
  • Indigenous Business: 9


Last year Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC was tabbed as Business Leader of the Year. This year’s Leader will be announced just prior to the Awards Gala which is now scheduled for early February when capacity limits are expected to be more than the current 50% restriction. The three finalists in each category will be announced at a virtual event on December 2nd.

For more information: Dan Rogers, Executive Director, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce  dan@kelownachamber.org

 

BACKGROUNDER

Nominees for 2021 Kelowna Chamber Business Excellence Awards

 

Rising Star Business

Sponsor: Argus Properties

Barn Owl Brewing

Bliss Yoga Lounge

Darbar Indian Cuisine 

Flex Realty Group

Grey Hearts Denim

Fancy Fort Parties

Farming Karma

HUB Office Furniture Inc

MAVAN Backyard Venture Fund #2

Model Bean Coffee Co

Old School Petals

Perseval & Young Cheesemongers

Robyn Jones Skin Care

Rock Renovations

Rose and Raven

Second Slumber

Staples STUDIO Canada

TMA West (JS Mortgages)

Untold Branding

Vigilante Marketing

Small Business of the Year

Sponsor: Prospera Credit Union

3rd Generation Homes

Atomic Vapor Kelowna

Aurora Print Solutions

Auto Focus Glass

Bliss Bridal

Cooper Medical Supplies 

DKL Financial Group

Floral Designs by Lee - All Occasions

Glendinning Insurance Services

Glenmore Hair Studio

Heritage Office Furnishings

Hampton Pools & Landscape

Harmony Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic

Hollywood Market

Impact Events 

Indigenous World Winery

Inspire Property Management Ltd. 

John Bachelder Construction

Kelowna Skin Cancer Clinic / Revive Skin Care

Level Up Strategies

Miss Tulips Green Dry Cleaner 

Moccasin Trails

Modern PURAIR

Move + Flow

Now Bookkeeping 

Okanagan Office Systems

Orchard Chiropractic & Physiotherapy

Outbound Cycle

Passionate Blooms Floral Co

Potentia Human Resources Inc. 

QB Gelato & Bakery

Royal Mobile Tire Service

SpearHead Winery

Sotheby's Realty - Justin O'Connor Group

Spartan Movers Ltd

Strut Footwear & Apparel

Team Hamer-Jackson

Total Interiors

Van Houtte Coffee Services

Mid-size Business of the Year

Sponsor: Canadian Western Bank

Basil & Mint Restaurant & Bar

Benson Law LLP

Coe & Company Electric Ltd. 

Competition Glass Company 

Energyplex

International Gateway

Mervyns The Body Shop

Northern Computer

The Kanata Kelowna Hotel

TKI Construction Ltd.

Tranq Sleep Care

Twirling Umbrellas

Valley Pool and Spa

Large-size Business of the Year

Sponsor: Grant Thornton LLP

Ace Plumbing & Heating (Bricor Mechanical Ltd.) 

Acres Enterprises Ltd.

Bananatag

Cintas Canada Ltd

Ecora Resource Group Ltd

Hotel Eldorado Resort 

Innov8 Digital Solutions

Kelowna Toyota

KF Aerospace

Pro-Ex Transport Systems Ltd

The Best Western Plus Hotel & Suites

Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union

Environmental Impact

Sponsor: PARC Retirement Living

Acres Enterprises Ltd.

Competition Glass Company 

Ecora Resource Group Ltd

Hampton Pools & Landscape

Miss Tulips Green Dry Cleaner 

Secure-Rite Mobile Storage

Summerhill Winery

The Best Western Plus Hotel & Suites

Excellence in Agriculture

Calissi Farms

FloraMaxx Technologies Ltd. 

Gatzke Orchard

Indigenous World Winery

Northern Cherries Inc. 

O'Rourke's Peak Cellars

SpearHead Winery

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

SunCity Cherries

Arts & Entertainment

Sponsor: Hergott Law

Ballet Kelowna 

Festivals Kelowna

Jomae Arts

New Vintage Theatre

Okanagan Symphony Orchestra

Rotary Centre for the Arts

Studio9 School of the Arts

Uptown Rutland Business Association

Wentworth Music


 

Not-For-Profit Excellence

Sponsor: BOYD Autobody & Glass

BGC Okanagan

Childhood Connections Childcare Society

CNIB

Downtown Kelowna Association 

Dress for Success

Habitat for Humanity Okanagan

Kelowna BC SPCA

Kelowna Gospel Mission

Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society

Meals On Wheels

Neil Squire Society

Paws It Forward Dog Rescue

The Kelowna Pride Society

The Stober Foundation 

Vista Academy

Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada

YMCA of Okanagan

Indigenous Business of the Year

Indigenous World Winery

Kekuli Cafe

Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society

Little Miss Chief

Moccasin Trails

Okanagan Select Salmon

Spirit of the Lake Native Boutique

Two Eagles Golf Course 

Valley West Dental Centre 



 

Social Leadership

Sponsor: Rogers Communications

3rd Generation Homes

Crasian Food Truck

Hampton Pools & Landscape

Hollywood Market

Kelowna Skin Cancer Clinic / Revive Skin Care

Kelowna Toyota

Level Up Strategies

Miss Tulips Green Dry Cleaner 

Modern PURAIR

Potentia Human Resources Inc

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

The Kanata Kelowna Hotel

TKI Construction Ltd.

Twirling Umbrellas

Young Entrepreneur

Sponsor: Secure-Rite Mobile Storage

3rd Generation Homes

Crasian Food Truck

Harmony Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic

Hollywood Market

Move + Flow

Vista Academy

Technology Innovator

Sponsor: UBC Okanagan

Acres Enterprises Ltd.

Atomic Vapor Kelowna

Bananatag

FloraMaxx Technologies Ltd. 

Miss Tulips Green Dry Cleaner 

Now Bookkeeping

The Valens Company

Two Hat Security

Excellence in Tourism

Sponsor: Edmonton International Airport & Kelowna International Airport

Gatzke Orchard

Indigenous World Winery

Kelowna Pride Society (The)

Moccasin Trails

O'Rourke's Peak Cellars

Oyama Zipline Adventure Park

Smile Cycle Tours

SpearHead Winery

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Tourism Kelowna

Inclusive Workplace

Sponsor: RBC

BGC Okanagan

DKL Financial Group

Kanata Kelowna Hotel (The)

Indigenous World Winery

Inspire Property Management Ltd. 

TKI Construction Ltd.

Tranq Sleep Care

Excellence in Business Ethics

Sponsor: BBB 

Miss Tulips Green Dry Cleaner 

Okanagan Restoration Services

Secure-Rite Mobile Storage

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

TKI Construction Ltd.

Twirling Umbrellas

UVwise.ca 

 

OTHER BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD SPONSORS INCLUDE:

Diamond Sponsor:

Crowe Mackay LLP

 

Wine Sponsor:

Summerhill Pyramid Winery

 

Printing Sponsor:

Wayside Press

 

Business Leader of the Year:

MNP LLP

 

Media Partners:

Bell Media 

Kelowna Now