Kelowna's largest private-sector employer scooped the trophy for 2024 'large business of the year' at the Business Excellence Awards.
KF Aerospace, which employs 850 at its headquarters beside Kelowna International Airport, was presented the marquee award at Friday's gala at the Delta Grand hotel in front of a crowd of 400 of the city's business elite.
KF Aerospace started as Kelowna Flightcraft in 1970 when pilot Barry Lapointe was a one-man show doing small plane maintenance.
Lapointe was on hand at the gala to pick up the trophy.
Over the past 54 years, KF Aerospace grew and grew and grew and is now an international force doing maintenance and plane retrofits for the likes of WestJet, Air Canada, Icelandair, United Airlines, Air North, Alaska Airlines, Sunwing and numerous government and military clients.
As a 50/50 partner with CAE (Canadian Aviation Electronics) in SkyAlyne, KF Aerospace also has a piece of the $11.2 billion and $10 billion contracts to do Royal Canadian Air Force pilot and aircrew training and aircraft maintenance over the next 25 years.
"As one of our signature programs, the Business Excellence Awards recognizes the outstanding efforts of professionals in our region," said Kelowna Chamber of Commerce acting CEO Colleen Clark.
"We are thrilled to see such strong community support for our local businesses and organizations."
Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas was also at Friday's gala.
"The city applauds all the businesses that make our city such a great place to live and work," he said.
"I'd like to congratulate all the nominees and winners, and I particularly want to congratulate the 2024 'business leader of the year' Allison Young, CEO of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. Her work with the foundation has been transformative in championing healthcare in our growing community."
Beem Credit Union (formerly Interior Savings) and Lawson Lundell LLP are the presenting sponsors of the 37th annual Business Excellence Awards.
Here's the full list of winners:
Large business of the year (sponsored by Doane Grant Thornton LLP)
- Winner: KF Aerospace
- Finalists: Coca-Cola Canada Bottling and Sandman Hotel
Business leader of the year (sponsored by MNP accountants and consultants)
- Winner: Allison Young, CEO of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation
No list of finalists is released for this category.
Judges pick the 'business leader of the year' and they are announced prior to the award ceremony to hype the upcoming gala.
Mid-size business of the year (sponsored by Canadian Western Bank)
- Winner: New Horizon Productions
- Finalists: Good Sorts Property Service and Rustic Reel Brewing
Small business of the year (sponsored by Prospera Credit Union)
- Winner: Hatch Interior Design
- Finalists: - MisMacK Clean Cosmetics and Kelowna Concierge
Rising star business of the year (sponsored by Argus Properties)
- Winner: Love It Dental
- Finalists: - A B See Optometry and Vision Therapy and Revelry Food+Music Hub
Young entrepreneur of the year (sponsored by Cristalina PARC)
- Winner: Kristian de Pont of Good Sorts Property Services and Prime Concrete Coatings
- Finalists: Missy MacKintosh of MisMacK Clean Cosmetics and Gabi Goossen of FILL-Kelowna's Refill Store
Indigenous business of the year (sponsored by Pushor Mitchell Lawyers)
- Winner: IG Private Wealth Management (Dayton Janz)
- Finalists: Rad Relish Co. and spaxwawlm Indigenous Initiatives
Technology innovator of the year (sponsored by UBC Okanagan)
- Winner: PRE Labs
- Finalists: - Acres Enterprises and CRWN.ai
Excellence in tourism (sponsored by Tourism Kelowna)
- Winner: Kelowna Concierge
- Finalists: Current Taxi and Quails' Gate Winery
Excellence in business ethics (sponsored by the Better Business Bureau)
- Winner: TLC Solutions
- Finalists: - Adlem Mechanical and innov8 Digital Solutions
Excellence in agriculture (sponsored by TD Benefits)
- Winner: Homestead Foods
- Finalists: - AgriForest Biotechnologies and Farming Karma Fruit Company
Excellence in environmental impact (sponsored by Okanagan College School of Business)
- Winner: Habitat for Humanity Okanagan
- Finalists: Dr. Phone Fix and Current Taxi
Excellence in equity, diversity and inclusion (sponsored by Coast Capital Savings)
- Winner: STRIVE Support Services
- Finalists: Child & Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna and Vadium Security
Excellence in not-for-profit (sponsored by Kelowna International Airport and Edmonton International Airport)
- Winner: Child & Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna
- Finalists: Dress for Success Kelowna and YMCA of Southern Interior BC
Excellence in community impact (sponsored by Rogers for Business)
- Winner: Do Gooders
- Finalists: Kelowna General Hospital Foundation and PURKIDS
Excellence in arts and entertainment (sponsored by Hergott Law)
- Winner: Sncewips Heritage Museum
- Finalists: The Village Dance Academy and Train Wreck Comedy
