Spotlight a stellar company or deserving individual by nominating them for a 2024 Kelowna Business Excellence Award.
Nominations are now open in 16 categories of the prestigious awards program organized by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Lawson Lundell lawyers and Beem Credit Union (formerly Interior Savings).
"Kelowna has an extraordinary business community," said Kelowna chamber chair Maryse Harvey.
"The Kelowna Business Excellence Awards recognizes outstanding businesses and the exceptional people who contribute to the growth of our region."
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You don't have to be a chamber member to nominate a business or individual.
And, businesses that are nominated don't have to be a chamber member.
Anyone can nominate and any business or individual can be nominated.
In fact, you can even self-nominate yourself or your business.
Nominations opened today for the 37th annual edition of the awards and will remain open until midnight Sept. 23.
Nominations will be accepted online at https://kelownacc.awardify.io. in 16 categories.
Here's the list of categories accompanied by last year's winners:
1. Large business of the year (2023 winner: Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing)
2. Mid-size business of the year (2023 winner: Secure-Rite Mobile Storage)
3. Small business of the year (2023 winner: Potentia HR)
4. Marketing campaign of the year (new category for 2024)
5. Rising Star business of the year (for a new business) (2023 winner: EtheoMed)
6. Young entrepreneur of the year (2023 winner: Ashton Olsen of E-Kruise bikes)
7. Excellence in tourism (2023 winner: Splash BC Water Parks, doing business as Wibit Water Parks)
8. Excellence in agriculture (2023 winner: There & Back Again Farms)
9. Indigenous business of the year (2023 winner: Sncewips Heritage Museum)
10. Excellence in business ethics (2023 winner: Manchester Signs, Printing & Graphics)
11. Excellence in equity, diversity and inclusion (2023 winner: Peter's Your Independent Grocer)
12. Technology innovator of the year (2023 winner: AgriForest Bio-Technologies)
13. Excellence in environmental impact (2023 winner: FILL-Kelowna's Refill Store)
14. Excellence in community impact (2023 winner: BrainTrust Canada)
15. Not-for-profit excellence (2023 winner: Kelowna branch Canadian Mental Health Association)
16. Arts and entertainment excellence (2023 winner: Rotary Centre for the Arts)
After nominations are closed, three finalists in each category will be chosen by the judges and revealed at an event in October.
Winners will be announced on Nov. 15 at the Kelowna Business Excellence Awards gala banquet at the Delta Grand hotel.
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There's also a 'business leader of the year' award.
The winner is not determined by the regular nomination process, but is rather determined by the judging panel.
The winner in 2023 was Kelowna International Airport CEO Sam Samaddar.
