KELOWNA -Four hundred business and community leaders were on hand as KF Aerospace was named the 2024 Large Business of the Year at the 37th Annual Kelowna Chamber Business Excellence Awards on Friday November 15 at the Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort. Established by Barry Lapointe in 1970 as Kelowna Flightcraft, KF Aerospace has grown into a world-class aerospace company with significant impact.

Other category award winners include PRE Labs Inc. as Technology Innovator of the Year and Hatch Interior Design as Small Business of the Year, with Dayton Janz – IG Private Wealth Management awarded Indigenous Business of the Year. A complete list of award recipients is below.

“As one of our signature programs, the Business Excellence Awards recognizes the outstanding efforts of professionals in our region”, said Colleen Clark, Acting CEO, Kelowna Chamber. “We are thrilled to see such strong community support for our local businesses and organizations.”

Kelowna mayor Tom Dyas helped open the celebration. “The City applauds all the businesses that make our city such a great place to live and work. I’d like to congratulate all the nominees and winners, and I particularly want to congratulate the 2024 Business Leader of the Year: Allison Young, CEO of KGH Foundation. Her work with the KGH Foundation has been transformative in championing healthcare in our growing community.”

Chamber Board President Maryse Harvey greeted the distinguished crowd and thanked everyone for attending including the many award and event sponsors, with Beem Credit Union and Lawson Lundell LLP noted as presenting sponsors of the program.

Official photographs of the Large Business of the Year and Business Leader of the Year can be downloaded here. Additional photographs will be available after November 30, 2024.

Business Leader of the Year: Allison Young, CEO, KGH Foundation

 

Large Business of the Year: KF Aerospace

2024 BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY MNP

Allison Young, Chief Executive Officer, KGH Foundation

EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT SPONSORED BY OKANAGAN COLLEGE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Habitat for Humanity Okanagan

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY DOANE GRANT THORNTON

KF Aerospace

MID SIZE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY CANADIAN WESTERN BANK

New Horizon Productions

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY PROSPERA CREDIT UNION

Hatch Interior Design

RISING STAR BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY ARGUS PROPERTIES

Love It Dental

INDIGENOUS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY PUSHOR MITCHELL LLP

Dayton Janz – IG Private Wealth Management

EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE SPONSORED BY TD BENEFITS

Homestead Foods

EXCELLENCE IN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT SPONSORED BY HERGOTT LAW

SncƏwips Heritage Museum

EXCELLENCE IN EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION SPONSORED BY COAST CAPITAL SAVINGS

STRIVE Support Services

EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM SPONSORED BY TOURISM KELOWNA

Kelowna Concierge Ltd.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY CRISTALINA PARC

Kristian de Pont: Good Sorts Property Services & Prime Concrete Coatings

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA – OKANAGAN

PRE Labs Inc.

EXCELLENCE IN NOT-FOR-PROFIT SPONSORED BY KELOWNA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT & EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Child & Youth Advocacy Centre of Kelowna

EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY IMPACT SPONSORED BY ROGERS BUSINESS

Do Gooders

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS ETHICS SPONSORED BY BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU

TLC Solutions

Colleen Clark is Acting CEO of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce