NICOLE CLARK
PENTICTON – The Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to unveil the highly-anticipated list of nominees for the 36th Annual Business Excellence Awards. Since its inception in 1987, these prestigious awards have celebrated the outstanding achievements of businesses, organizations, and individuals who have made significant contributions to Penticton and the surrounding area through their dedication, innovation, and hard work.
The nomination period for the 36th Annual Business Excellence Awards concluded on August 9th receiving a remarkable 128 nominations across ten award categories, acknowledging the outstanding accomplishments of 108 unique businesses, nominees, and community leaders. All nominations were validated, and the nominees were invited to complete official nomination packages to advance to the next phase of the selection process.
The next stage involves an extensive review of the validated nominations by the 2023 selection committee, comprised of 13 distinguished business and community leaders. Using well-defined criteria, these volunteer judges will determine the semi-finalists in each award category. The Semi-Finalist Announcement is scheduled for Tuesday, September 19, 2023, from 5:30pm-7:30pm, during the Nominee Reception, hosted at and by Parker’s Chrysler.
Nicole Clark, President of the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce shared her enthusiasm, stating, “I look forward to celebrating our local businesses whose owners continue to work passionately, not only for the good of their business but also for the well-being of the Penticton community as a whole.”
Here are the nominees across the ten award categories:
Marketing & Communications (sponsored by Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association)
• Concepta Marketing
• DogLeg Marketing & Business Solutions
• Graphically Hip
• KJB Digital
• Osoyoos Home Hardware
• Total Restoration Services, South Okanagan
• Winemaker’s Cut
Hospitality Excellence (sponsored by Travel Penticton)
• Barley Mill Brew Pub
• Eskala Mountain Sports
• District Wine Village
• Meeples & Milkshakes Board Game Café
• Paradox Events, Okanagan
• Penticton Speedway
• Pizzeria Tratto Napoletana
• Splash BC – Penticton Wibit
• Sushi Kojo
• Tickleberry’s
• Winemaker’s Cut
• Wrights Beach Camp
Not-For-Profit (sponsored by Omland Heal Chartered Professional Accountants)
• Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (ALERT)
• Community Foundation of the South Okanagan
• Discovery House
• Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association
• Fraternal Order of Eagles Penticton 4281
• Naramata Centre
• Penticton Art Gallery
• Penticton Farmer’s Market
• South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society
Community Support Excellence (sponsored by Penticton Western News)
• Graphically Hip
• Gratify
• IGA Penticton
• KJ Coffee Bar
• Long-Haggerty Chartered Professional Accountant Inc.
• Parker’s Chrysler
• RPR Heating & Air Conditioning
• Samosa Express
• Secure-Rite Mobile Storage
• The Bumwrap
• Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union
Service Excellence (sponsored by Kettle Valley Memorial)
• Ascend Hair Salon
• Below the Ankle
• BMO Nesbitt Burn
• Brentview Developments
• Crêperie Ooolala
• Diamond Edge Stucco
• Heena Nagar Personal Real Estate Corporation
• Lasting Impressions by Amelia
• Nurse Next Door
• Okanoggin Barbers
• Our Glass & Aluminum Ltd
• Penticton Honda Centre
• Red Bag
• Scotia Bank
• Secure-Rite Mobile Storage
• Shoppers Drug Mart
• South Okanagan Custom Countertops
• South Main Market
• Southern Interior Landscaping
• The Concorde Penticton
• Wish Kwok and Associates
Workplace Culture Excellence (sponsored by South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services)
• Bench 1775 Winery
• EDSA Minimart Philippine Products
• Greyback Construction
• Long-Haggerty Chartered Professional Accountants Inc.
• Okanagan College
• OneSky Community Resources
• Penticton Art Gallery
• Ramada Penticton Hotel & Suites
• Red Bag
• Red Rooster Winery
• Save on Foods
• South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society
• Total Restoration Services, South Okanagan
• YMCA South Okanagan – Jump Start
New Business of the Year (sponsored by Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union)
• Abandoned Rail Brewing Co.
• ACCZLE
• Anona Fawn Consulting
• Badgirl Branding
• Concepta Marketing
• Dragonboat Pub
• Emochoice Canada Inc.
• Fiesta Mexicana Penticton
• Game Cave
• Kin & Folk
• Lake to Lake Landscaping
• Nor-Val Equipment Rentals Ltd.
• OKN Renew Renovations Ltd.
• Penticton Roller Skate
• Stillfood Bistro & Cappuccino Bar
• Sprouting Shoots Consulting Inc.
• The Hub on Martin
• Well Pharmacy Penticton
• WordPlay Therapy Services
Young Professional of the Year (sponsored by JCI Penticton & Seven Elk Shipping Inc.)
• Ashley Luke-Schipholt | South Okanagan Property Management
• Dayton Keddie | Southern Interior Landscaping
• Derek Adduono | Red Bag Imports
• Haley Regan | Four Seasons Cultural Society
• Harley Elasoff | Summerland Seniors Village
• Martyn Lewis | Coconut Express & Brit Bar
• Paige Schultz | Travel Penticton
• Shayna Laird | Penticton Chiropractic & Co.
• Theresa Payton & Tyson Still | Stillfood Bistro & Cappuccino Bar
• Zara Taylor | Harmonic Hands Massage
Business Leader of the Year (sponsored by TD Canada Trust)
• Alexis Esseltine | Tin Whistle Brewing Co.
• Fred Harbinson | Penticton Vees
• Jane Long-Haggerty | Long-Haggerty Chartered Professional Accountant Inc.
• Janine Cumberland | Enchanted Florists & Paradox Events Okanagan
• Kristen Ferguson | Honey Toast Café
• Leigh Follestad | Just 4 Fun
• Lucas Griffin | Secure Rite Mobile Storage
• Stacey Rexin | Penticton & Area Cooperative Enterprises (PACE)
• Vanessa Jahnke | PURE Gym
Business of the Year (sponsored by Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen)
• Benjamin Moore
• Blaze King
• Greyback Construction Ltd.
• Kettle Valley Memorial
• Long-Haggerty Chartered Professional Accountant Inc.
• Lucky’s Pet Supply
• Millionaires’ Row Cider Co.
• Red Bag
• RPR Heating & Air Conditioning
• Secure-Rite Mobile Storage
• Slimz Brand Barber Lounge
• Southern Interior Landscaping
36th Annual Business Excellence Awards (Please note that not all nominees accepted their nominations, and the Chamber may reassign nominees to appropriate award categories based on criteria)
Michael Magnusson, Executive Director of the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the Chamber’s commitment to fairness and sincerity in recognizing the exceptional contributions of businesses to the community. “With investments in technology and assigning multiple judges to each category who don’t even know who their counterparts are, each selection is made as objectively as possible.”
The award winners will be revealed during a grand gala event on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre, East Ball Room. Tickets for the Lights Camera Excellence Old Hollywood Awards Gala, presented by Total Restoration Services, can be purchased online at https://awards.penticton.org/awards-gala
Tracy Van Raes, Manager of Marketing and Community Relations at Total Restoration Services, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “Every year, our team looks forward to the Business Excellence Awards. It’s the event of the year. Total Restoration is excited to be the presenting sponsor for the fourth year in a row as we celebrate the successes of our community at the 36th Annual Business Excellence Awards Lights Camera Excellence – Old Hollywood Gala.”
For more information about the 36th Annual Business Excellence Awards and the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, please visit https://awards.penticton.org