DAN PROULX
VERNON – Innovators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and champions were celebrated during the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce’s 38th annual Business Excellence Awards gala Nov. 3.
Awards were handed out in 17 categories during the event at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre, with MNP as the presenting sponsor.
“The Business Excellence Awards are a testament to the commitment, hard work and strength businesses and non-profits demonstrate daily, and we congratulate the winners and all the nominees. You truly make the North Okanagan shine,” said Robin Cardew, Greater Vernon Chamber president.
The winners of the 2022 Business Excellence Awards are:
- Large Business of the Year sponsored by MNP: Fox Plumbing Heating Cooling Electrical (Honourable mention: Nixon Wenger LLP, Real Canadian Superstore, VantageOne Credit Union)
- Medium Business of the Year sponsored by Fox Plumbing Heating Cooling Electrical: COBS Bread (Honourable mention: The Kal, Keystone Property Management, White House Mortgages)
- Small Business of the Year sponsored by Community Futures: Home for Dinner (Honourable mention: IRIS The Visual Group, Kaleco Clothing, Kasper Denture Clinic)
- People’s Choice Award sponsored by Total Restoration Services: Kasper Denture Clinic (Business)
- People’s Choice Award sponsored by Total Restoration Services: Good Food Box Society of the North Okanagan (Non-Profit)
- New Business of the Year sponsored by Tolko Industries: La Carraia (Honourable mention: Neuron Mobility, The Okanagan Eatery)
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by Nixon Wenger Lawyers: Mykola Zrazhevskyi and Maksym Yenin – Yenin.art Studio (Honourable mention: Samantha Sewell – Raising Stars Preschool, Kalyn Webster – Electric Fat Bike Company)
- Business Leader of the Year sponsored by Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan: Troy Hudson – Sovereign Lake Nordic Club (Honourable mention: Kim Heizmann – Kim Heizmann Personal Real Estate Corporation, Lynella Henke – Vernon Teach & Learn, Deb White – White House Mortgages)
- Employer of the Year sponsored by City of Vernon: Turning Points Collaborative Society (Honourable mention: NexusBC Community Resource Centre, North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society, VantageOne Credit Union)
- Customer Service Award sponsored by Okanagan Spring Brewery: Fox Plumbing Heating Cooling Electrical (Honourable mention: COBS Bread, Family First Optometry, Touch of Elegance Studio and Training)
- Trades Business of the Year sponsored by Scotiabank: Richbuilt Homes (Honourable mention: Laing Roofing, Pleasant Valley Painters)
- Non-Profit Excellence Award sponsored by Community Foundation North Okanagan: North Okanagan Hospice Society (Honourable mention: Community Dental Access Centre, North Okanagan Friendship Centre, Vernon and District Association for Community Living)
- Tourism Business of the Year sponsored by Tourism Vernon: Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre (Honourable mention: Okanagan Science Centre, Predator Ridge, SilverStar Mountain Resort)
- Professional Business of the Year of the Year sponsored by TD Bank: Castanet (Honourable mention: Nixon Wenger LLP, North End Spine and Sport Physiotherapy, Numu Technologies)
- Restaurant of the Year of the Year sponsored by Davidson Lawyers LLP: Eatology (Honourable mention: Ratio Juice Wall / Ratio Coffee & Pastry, The Roster Sports Club Bar & Grill)
- Diversity Excellence sponsored by Kal Tire: Community Futures North Okanagan (Honourable mention: North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society, Okanagan Regional Library – Vernon branch, Turning Points Collaborative Society)
- Retail Business of the Year of the Year sponsored by the Downtown Vernon Association: Kaleco Clothing (Honourable mention: COBS Bread, FILL – Vernon’s Refill Store, Sweet Hoopla)
- Chamber Champion sponsored by the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce: Neuron Mobility
With the People’s Choice Award, proceeds from online voting will go towards community-based programs offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association – Vernon and District branch.
The emcees for the evening were Turner Gentry and Jess Mattia, from Vernon’s Pure Country 105.7.
“Thank you, Turner and Jess, as well as our sponsors, nominees and North Okanagan residents who submitted nominations. The 38th annual Business Excellence Awards gala is an overwhelming success because of you,” said Dan Proulx, Greater Vernon Chamber general manager.
Dan Proulx is General Manager of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce