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NANAIMO – This year’s Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards finalists have been announced with the number of contenders greatly exceeding any past year’s count.
According to Kim Smythe, Chamber CEO, “I think the increase in nominations partly reflects the positive performance of much of the business community in the past year. Many businesses are proud of their successes and happy to join in celebrating this and their colleagues accomplishments in 2015.”
The Business Achievement Awards will be presented in an ‘Oscar-style’ red carpet event at the Port Theatre on Friday, March 4. Reserved seats are available at the Port Theatre Box Office. “We’ve been doing this in a gala banquet format for years and decided it was time for a change. Taking a ‘showtime’ approach hopefully also elevates the finalists and winners to an onstage presentation to recognize them for their great work in the past year” stated Smythe.
“Paparazzi, upscale appies, plenty of bubbly available, a jazz band in the lobby, a 10 piece big band on stage to help welcome winners to the podium, and an After Party at Minnoz will surely all help add to the festive atmosphere and mood” according to the Chamber CEO.
This is the 16th annual event presented by the Chamber. Nominations were open to all businesses in the Greater Nanaimo area, whether they are Chamber members or not.
Finalists Include:
- TOURISM
- Living Forest Campground, Nanaimo Track & Field Club, Sundown Diving, Vancouver Island Catamaran, Vancouver Island Expeditions
- HOSPITALITY (under 20 employees)
- Brannen Lake Campgrounds
- HOSPITALITY (over 20 employees)
- Coast Bastion Hotel
- RESTAURANT
- Coco Café, Dish, Riso Foods Inc., The Nest, Westwood Bistro, White Spot North
- DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT
- 2 Chefs Affair, Bee’s Knees, Modern Café, The Nest
- DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
- 2 Chefs Affair, The Queens, NYLA Fresh Threads
- RETAIL
- City Tile, Coast Wholesale Appliances, Iron Oxide Art Supplies, NYLA Fresh Thread, Westcoast Shutters, Blinds & Closets
- RETAIL (25+ employees)
- Dodd’s Furniture, London Drugs Port Place, Quality Foods
- PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
- AGS Services, Carto Investment & Insurance (Sun Life), Church Pickard, Elite Image, HA Photography, Hayes Stewart Little, Investors Group
- CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING
- Island West Coast Development, Milner Group, Nanaimo Precast, Tectonica
- INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY
- BC Robotics, FireBozz, Inuktun, Resonance Software, Seamor Marine, Thriving Locally
- THE ARTS
- Balbina Art, Harbour City Theatre Alliance, Iron Oxide Art Supplies, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo Arts Council, Nanaimo Conservatory of Music, Spotlight Academy, Vancouver Island Symphony, Vancouver Island Short Film Festival
- COMMUNITY SERVICE – NOT FOR PROFIT
- Boys & Girls Club, Haven House, Innovation Island, Makerspace, Nanaimo Child Development Centre, Nanaimo Food Share Society, Nanaimo Women’s Resource Centre, Nanaimo Youth Services Association
- COMMUNITY SERVICE – SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
- Coco Café, Code Brew, Salvation Army
- CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Coast Salish Development Corporation, Coastal Community Credit Union, Island Savings Credit Union, MNP
- BUSINESS EXCELLENCE – Up to 10 employees
- Balloon Emporium, Bee’s Knees, HA Photography, Pye Design, Sea Salt Food Company Inc.
- BUSINESS EXCELLENCE – 11 – 49 employees
- Nesvog Meats, Nanaimo Precast Ltd., Northridge Health Performance Centre
- BUSINESS EXCELLENCE – 50+ employees
- Origin at Longwood, Paradise Island Foods
- EMERGING BUSINESS
- 460 Communications, Dish, Driven Performance, Elite Image, FireBozz, Glacial Bay Organic Clay, Pye Design, Roar Public Speaking, Sea Salt Food Company Inc., Thriving Locally, Vancouver Island Expeditions
- YOUTH INITIATIVES
- TBA
