June 16 Gala At Coast Capri Hotel In Kelowna Will Unveil Winners
KELOWNA – Sparkling Hill Resort of Vernon, FH&P Lawyers of Kelowna and Fox Plumbing Heating Cooling Electric of Vernon are the finalists in the Business of the Year category for the Grant Thornton LLP Thompson Okanagan Business Excellence Awards that will be held Thursday, June 16 at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna.
There are a total of 80 Finalists in 18 categories for this celebration of the finest and most successful businesses in the Thompson Okanagan region – from Kamloops to Oliver.
Grant Thornton LLP is the Title Platinum Sponsor for the event, and Pushor Mitchell LLP is in as a Gold Sponsor. Category sponsors include William Wright Commercial, Freedom Capital, Decisive Dividend Corporation, Halcyon Hot Springs Resort, All Elements Design • Manage • Build, Hero Security, 103.9 The Lake/CKOV-FM Radio and Highway 97 Brewing. Black Press is the Media Sponsor, and the event is coordinated by Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan.
“We are always amazed at the quality and diversity of companies that enter these awards,” says Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan. “We are expecting a great get together, as people are excited to get out and celebrate the fact they’ve survived – and thrived – during the past two years of pandemic shutdowns.
“Events like these are great for people to get out and network face to face, especially since this is something we haven’t been able to do for a long, long time,” he adds, noting tickets are still available for the event.
Winners of each category will be invited to a “Breakfast For Champions” event Friday morning, hosted by Grant Thornton LLP and Business Examiner.
Radio personality Tamara Joel is the Master of Ceremonies for the event.
A team of independent judges located throughout the Thompson Okanagan region will adjudicate nominations. They include Maxine DeHart of the Ramada Hotel, a Kelowna city councillor and business columnist; Jim Anderson, Executive Director of Venture Kamloops; and Ellen Walker-Matthews, CEO of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association.
There will be 18 Categories in the awards.
The finalists are, by category:
Automotive
Kelowna Hyundai, Ellis Creek Auto Body of Penticton, and Lexus of Kelowna.
Construction/Development
Five Oak Contracting of Kamloops, Society of Hope of Kelowna and TKI Construction of Kelowna.
Entrepreneur
Academy of Dance, Movement Collective, Ocean Pacific Adventure Sports and DiVine Tours of Kamloops, and Vigilante Marketing of Kelowna.
Financial
Balance Financial, Financial Dream Solutions and Prospera Credit Union of Kelowna.
Food & Beverage
Cannery Brewing, Maple Leaf Spirits and Slackwater Brewing of Penticton, Shuswap Cider Company of Salmon Arm, Alchemist Distiller and Granny’s Bakery and Café of Summerland, and Underground Brews of Vernon.
Green
GeoConnect Energy of Salmon Arm, Beauty Box Studio of Summerland and FILL Vernon’s Refill Store.
Health Care
The Recovery Spa, Canadian Blood Services, Childhood Connections, Harmony Chiropractic and Tranq Sleep Centre of Kelowna, Rise Wellness Centre of Penticton, and Monashee Health Collective of Vernon.
Hospitality/Tourism
Naramata Inn, Covert Farms Family Estate of Oliver, Skaha Rock Adventures of Penticton, Summerland Taxi, The Okanagan Science Centre of Vernon, and Kelowna Concierge.
Manufacturer
Summit Tiny Homes and Wayside Press of Vernon.
Non-Profit
CHBA Central Okanagan and Central Okanagan Food Bank of Kelowna, Therapeutic Riding Association of Kamloops, and North Okanagan Cycling Society of Vernon.
Professional
Meiklejohn Architects, Twin Creek Media, Twirling Umbrellas of Kelowna, Long-Haggerty Robertson LLP of Penticton, Lawson Engineering of Salmon Arm and Potentia Human Resources of West Kelowna.
Real Estate
Inspire Property Management of Kelowna and RE/MAX Real Estate Kamloops.
Retail
Vernon Teach and Learn, Paynter’s Fruit Market of West Kelowna, Far + Wide and Fiddleheads Violin Studio of Kamloops, Strut Footwear of Kelowna, Eskala Mountain Sports of Penticton, and Olive Us Oil & Vinegar, Sweet Hoopla and Teassential of Vernon.
Technology
Taste Advisor Inc., Agents of Discovery and Perfit Dental Solutions of Kelowna.
Trades
Coe & Company Electric, Modern PurAir and Okanagan Insulation Services of Kelowna, Cameron Exteriors of Salmon Arm, Nailed It Landscaping and Verity Electrical Contracting of Summerland and Impact Drywall of West Kelowna.
Winery
Spearhead Winery of Kelowna, Monte Creek Winery and Serendipity Winery of Naramata.
Small Business of the Year
Current Taxi and Hub Office Furniture of Kelowna, Jafa Signs of Penticton and Gym of Rock of Salmon Arm.
Tickets for the event are $140 plus GST, and available through https://business-examiner-news-group.myshopify.com/products/2022-thompson-okanagan-business-excellence-awards
The event starts with cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and awards at 8 p.m. Dress is business (not casual).
A few category sponsorships are still available, and other information about the event can be obtained by contacting MacDonald at mark@businessexaminer.ca