KELOWNA – A total of 80 Finalists have been announced for the First Annual Grant Thornton LLP Thompson Okanagan Business Excellence Awards, set for the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna on Thursday, June 14.
The nomination deadline for the celebration of the finest and most successful businesses in the Thompson Okanagan region – from Kamloops to Osoyoos – was May 1.
Grant Thornton LLP is the Title Platinum Sponsor for the event, and Innov8 Digital Solutions is in as a Gold Sponsor. Category sponsors include RBC Royal Bank, Sandler Training, Business Development Bank of Canada, Diversified Rehabilitation Group and 101.5 EZ Rock Bell Media. Black Press is the Print Media Sponsor for the event, coordinated by Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan newspaper.
“We are astounded by the number of finalists, which came from all over the region,” says Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan. “We are ecstatic with the response, as we had over 200 businesses as part of the nomination process.”
Tamara Joel, the morning host of 101.5 EZ Rock radio, is the MC.
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; Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association; and Anthony Haddad of Penticton’s Economic Development Office.
There will be 17 Categories in the awards.
The finalists are, by city:
Chase (2)
Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Resort, Treetop Flyers Zipline.
Coldstream (1)
SheDevil Delights
Kamloops (11)
Axis Forestry Inc., Chahal Priddle LLP, Hummingbird Drones, Main Street Clothing, Noble Pig, Petland, Riversong Guitars, Robertson Manufacturing, Scorpion Technologies, Visual Signs and Printing, Zimmer Wheaton.
Kelowna (24)
Two Hat Security, 3rd Generation Homes, Bananatag, Black Bean Design, Chriscan Construction, Conroy Exteriors, Current Taxi, Geometrik Manufacturing, GetintheLoop, Great Canadian Oil Change, Highstreet Ventures, Kent Employment Law, OK Excavating, Okanagan Villa Estate Winery, Orthoquest, Oxygen Yoga and Fitness, Perfit, Points West Audio Visual Ltd., QHR Technology, Refresh Financial, SK Form & Finish Inc., Sun City Physiotherapy, Vitalis Extraction, Yeti Farm Creative.
Lake Country (5)
Gibson Contracting, Interior Savings, Nalu Massage Therapy and Wellness, Sip Happens Wine Tours, UBR Services Printing and Copies.
Penticton (18)
Big Bear Software Ltd., Brodo Kitchen, COWORK Penticton, Duffy Baker Construction, Frequency Healing Centre, Get Bent Yoga and Dancing, Glow SUP Adventures, Hoodoo Adventures, International Bar Coding, Moments Under Frame, Of the Land Productions, Poplar Grove Winery, Pulse Kitchen, Redhead Mare, Splendid Bastard Beard Supply, The Nest & Nectar, WineCrush and XCo Inc.
Salmon Arm (1)
Lakeshore Physiotherapy.
Summerland (7)
Dirty Laundry Winery, Grasslands Nursery, Maple Roch Pure Canadian Maple Syrup, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, Swiss Solar Tech Ltd., True Grain Bread and Zias Stonehouse Restaurant.
Vernon (9)
Caufields Engraving, Cobbler’s Rack and Shoe, Nature’s Fare Markets, One Stop Footcare, PickleBall Depot, ROOST Solar, SQM Group, The Beauty Bar, The Crate Escape Dog Adventures.
West Kelowna (2)
Carrington Dental Centre, Northside Industries.
Tickets for the event are $125 plus GST, and available through www.businessexaminer.ca/events.