VERNON – Entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and community pride were celebrated during the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce’s 37th annual Business Excellence Awards gala Oct. 29.
Awards were handed out in 16 categories during the event, with MNP as the presenting sponsor.
“It was exciting to hear the name of the winner revealed in each category and we can congratulate them. However, the gala was an opportunity to pay tribute to all of the nominees for their dedication, resiliency and investment in the community,” said Robin Cardew, Greater Vernon Chamber president.
The winners of the 2021 Business Excellence Awards are:
Large Business of the Year sponsored by MNP: Okanagan Spring Brewery –(Honourable mention: Fox Plumbing Heating Cooling Electrical, Tolko Industries, Wayside)
Medium Business of the Year sponsored by Fox Plumbing Heating Cooling Electrical: The Roster Sports Club Bar & Grill – (Honourable mention: Farm Bound, Total Restoration Services)
Small Business of the Year sponsored by Community Futures: FILL – Vernon’s Refill Store – (Honourable mention: Dump Runz, Olive Us Olive Oil & Vinegar Tasting Room, Vernon Teach & Learn)
People’s Choice Award sponsored by Total Restoration Services: Pivot Rx Pharmacy
New Business of the Year sponsored by Tolko Industries: The Roxy Cafe –(Honourable mention: Aly Pain Parenting Expert, Taste Buddies Gourmet, Pivot Rx Pharmacy)
Young Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by Nixon Wenger Lawyers: Mitchal Derksen, Numu Technologies –(Honourable mention: Shelby Fisher, RJ Fisher Transport)
Business Leader of the Year sponsored by Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan: Jaye Siegmueller, Farm Bound – (Honourable mention: Kari Gares, Verico Mortgage House; Troy Hudson, Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre; Todd Robinson, Okanagan Spring Brewery)
Employer of the Year sponsored by City of Vernon: Bridge Educational Society – (Honourable mention: Fox Plumbing Heating Cooling Electrical, NexusBC Community Resource Centre, Tolko Industries)
Customer Service Award sponsored by Okanagan Spring Brewery: Olive Us Olive Oil & Vinegar Tasting Room – (Honourable mention: Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, Monashee Health Collective, North Okanagan Skin & Laser)
Trades Business of the Year sponsored by tekmar Control Systems: Allegria Homes – (Honourable mention: Phyxter Home Services, Roost Solar
Non-Profit Excellence Award sponsored by Community Foundation North Okanagan: Turning Points Collaborative Society – (Honourable mention: Men’s Shed Vernon, North Okanagan Hospice Society, Sovereign Lake Nordic Club)
Tourism Business of the Year sponsored by Tourism Vernon: Davison Orchards Country Village – (Honourable mention: Caravan Farm Theatre, Grace & Flow)
Professional Business of the Year of the Year sponsored by TD Bank: Monashee Health Collective – (Honourable mention: Okanagan Restoration Services, Sproing Creative, Ukrainetz Workplace Law Group)
Restaurant of the Year of the Year sponsored by White House Mortgages: The Kal – (Honourable mention: The Fig, Intermezzo Restaurant & Wine Cellar, Marten Brewing Co.)
Diversity Excellence sponsored by Kal Tire: Tolko Industries – (Honourable mention: Interior Health)
Retail Business of the Year sponsor by Corbett Office Plus: Olive Us Olive Oil & Vinegar Tasting Room – (Honourable mention: Cotton’s Chocolates, FILL – Vernon’s Refill Store)
With the People’s Choice Award, partial proceeds from online voting will establish a scholarship for a local business student while other proceeds will fund Chamber initiatives to support local business.
The gala included a video message from Mark DeVolder, an international speaker and author of Perpetual Pivot: How the Best Leaders Adapt to Exponential Change. The emcees were Brian Martin and Rebecca Barton from Beach Radio.
“Thank you to Mark, Brian and Rebecca for making the gala a very special occasion. We also want to recognize our sponsors and the residents who submitted nominations. All of you have made the 37th annual Business Excellence Awards a resounding success,” said Dan Proulx, Greater Vernon Chamber general manager.