ALEX MITCHELL
ABBOTSFORD – On Thursday, November 16th, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Abbotsford News, recognized 12 winners at the 27th annual Abbotsford Business Excellence Awards.
“With this year marking 110 years of service to the local business community, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce celebrates the innovation and excellence exhibited by all of the awards nominees,” said Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce CEO, Alex Mitchell. “The nominees are truly inspirational and showcase an incredible diversity of organizations and leaders from Indigenous-owned businesses, small operators, entrepreneurs under the age of 40, to large established businesses and non-profits that are major employers.”
Each category was adjudicated by a panel of volunteer judges from across the community. They assessed applications on competencies such as leadership, customer focus, growth, innovation, community impact, and overall business outcomes.
2023 Abbotsford Business Excellence Award Winners:
Home Based Business Excellence Award: Fraser Valley Basket Co.
Fraser Valley Basket Co initially started off as a business creating closing gifts for local realtors, and it has now blossomed into a business where Kristie creates baskets for many different occasions. This includes gifts for corporate needs, holidays, weddings, birthdays, get well soon and sympathy occasions. She is a 1 woman show working out of her house, and can always call on help from her husband, 2 teenagers, and even her mom.
Tourism Excellence Award: Maan Farms Market & Estate Winery
An incredible family story of how a small immigrant family arrived in Abbotsford to start a farm to provide for their family and over the past 40+ years through hard work, innovative ideas, and the will of multigeneration of family members have turned this once small family operation into a world class farm tourist destination.
Manufacturing & Production Excellence Award: BE Power Equipment
Braber Equipment was founded in 1969 by Bill Braber in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Bill’s focus on quality, service, and support became the pillars that drove the business forward. In 1991, Bill’s son, Nick Braber, created BE Pressure Supply and quickly became Canada’s largest manufacturer of pressure washers. Under Nick’s leadership, BE Pressure grew to four global manufacturing facilities. In 2018 the company name was changed to BE Power Equipment to better reflect the diversity of products.
Today, third-generation owner Curtis Braber continues to build on the values instilled by previous generations. BE Power Equipment is proud to be one of the largest manufacturers in North America focusing on high-quality industrial power equipment.
Agricultural & Agri-Business Excellence Award: Aright Greentech Canada Ltd.
Aright Greentech is a 100% woman-owned company. With a total area of 2.39 acres at a Trans-Canada Highway exit and a total project value of CA$8 million, their facility is efficient for cultivating, distributing and marketing fresh produce. Aright Greentech Canada aims to reduce the miles that food travels before it reaches our plates by producing and consuming locally, strengthening the roots of local communities. Owner, Tanya Mehta, has achieved this by working with like-minded ag-innovators. At the same time, Aright Greentech embarks on creating resilient food systems that are not only environmentally and economically sustainable but also socially just for future generations.
Consumer Services Excellence Award: Hugs in a Mug coffee Bistro
Hugs in a Mug Coffee Bistro is an independently owned and operated Coffee Bistro in East Abbotsford. They opened their doors in August of 2020 with the goal of becoming a community coffee shop where people feel comfortable and at home. Hugs in a Mug has a great team, and the owners aim to teach valuable life skills for their personal and professional growth and to set them up for a successful future. They love their community and support it in numerous ways including supporting local schools, charities and organizations with donations of baked goods, gift certificates, meeting space and on-site support for their events.
Indigenous Business of the Year Award: Wingerz Food Truck
Metis Owned and Operated, Wingers Food Truck is a family run business from Abbotsford. Most of where they service is the Abbotsford/Mission/Chilliwack area but tend to venture Delta, Surrey, Maple Ridge and beyond. In addition to fresh wings and fries, their sauces are homemade, packaging containers are compostable, and “keep the change” tips and donations are donated to local charities.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Brian Neufeld
Zone Garage Fraser Valley is a floor coating specialist business – They provide coatings for concrete or wood flooring – they can do everything from airplane hangars to bathrooms to countertops with of course mastering the garage floor – they offer an affordable way to have people transform their area from old to brand new in as little as 24 hours – What excites Zone Garage Fraser Valley is seeing the customers reaction taking a unpopular storage area and making it a part of the home the way they have always dreamed
Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award: The Reach Gallery Museum
As the only professionally operated public art gallery in the Fraser Valley, The Reach plays a key role in the development of regional arts practitioners and audiences. The Reach is vital to the preservation and research of community history, holding significant artifact and archival collections and providing historical resources and programming for audiences of all ages. Now in its second decade, The Reach has become an award-winning hub of cultural activity, providing audiences with a robust range of exhibitions, programs, and experiences, sharing its exhibitions with venues across the country, publishing unique curatorial research, and nurturing the growth of the artistic, historical, and cultural communities in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley.
The Business of Doing Good Award: Abbotsford Restorative Justice & Advocacy Association
The Abbotsford Restorative Justice & Advocacy Association brings restorative practices to our community in four main programs: Their Restorative Justice Program creates opportunities for youth and adults who come into conflict with the law to take accountability for their actions, hear how they have impacted others, and work to repair harm and damaged relationships. Their Restorative Action Program brings restorative principles to the school system. Their Restorative Mentoring (RM) program matches at-risk youth from their RJ and RA programs with responsible young adult mentors. Lastly, their Community Restorative Practice (CRP) Program focuses on addressing conflict between community groups, allowing participants the opportunity to have a voice in the issues that affect them.
New Business of the Year: Prestige Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine
Over the past two years, their team has grown over 18 employees and their dedicated physiotherapists, massage therapists, kinesiologists and administration staff are passionate about helping clients achieve their goals. Their team takes the time to listen to and understand individual needs, performing thorough assessments, creating personalised treatment plans, and ensuring that they are able to help as many patients as possible. They are proud to have such a hard-working dedicated team and understand that each member of their team is integral to their success.
The Established Business of the Year: Blackwood Building Centre
Abbotsford’s Blackwood Building Centre has a range of products carefully selected for home renovation, repair, and maintenance projects. Lumber, paint, hand and power tools, plumbing and electrical supplies and all manner of building materials – including plans, are available at the store. They have had a huge community impact in the last 53 years, and been resilient in the face of adversity.
The Company of Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs Award: Amanda Mango
Amanda Mango is not only the owner of Home By Mango, the online store that provides everything from bath and body products to ecofriendly items, home décor, baking mixes and more, she is also the host and organizer of The Mango Market in Abbotsford. This outdoor monthly market features 50+ local artisans, food trucks and entertainment. Her last name Mango also is an acronym for Makers and Artisans Networking to Generate Opportunities. She wants to not only connect shoppers with local makers, but connect small businesses together to create a collaborative and supportive small business community.
For more information on the awards: https://www.abbotsfordchamber.com/business-excellence-awards/
