BC’s top small businesses awarded for resiliency and community impact

British Columbia – After a four-month provincial competition to honour BC’s best small businesses, the winners were announced today at the 19^th annual Small Business BC Awards Gala.

This year, 636 businesses in 88 communities across the province were nominated for the Small Business BC Awards. In total, over 38,000 votes were received from members of the public in support of local small businesses.

The Small Business BC Awards, sponsored by Kwantlen Polytechnic University, focus on honouring truly impactful entrepreneurs. This year, the competition featured two award categories, homing in on businesses that pivoted and flourished during the pandemic, while also having a positive impact in their local community.

SBBC Business Impact Award

The SBBC Business Impact Award, sponsored by Coast Capital Savings, celebrates business owners who are truly making a difference. These hard-working individuals embrace the challenge of entrepreneurship, display their business savvy, and take positive action to invest in their community.

Winner - 1st place: Nature Bee - Saanichton ​ 

Nature Bee was launched by Katie Gamble as an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastics. Formed from her passion for the environment, Nature Bee produces beeswax wraps using locally sourced beeswax combined with pine tree resin, jojoba oil, and cotton. In 2021, Nature Bee helped keep more than 250,000 pieces of single-use plastic out of landfills. They have also partnered with non-profit organizations, providing a portion of their proceeds to programs that help communities and the environment.

“More than just offering beeswax wraps and making a difference in regard to environmental impact, I wanted to create a business that has a community backing it,” says Katie Gamble, founder of Nature Bee. “The best part is showing everyone how easy it can be to become a little more sustainable. A quote I’ve loved since beginning Nature Bee is: anyone who thinks they are too small to make a difference has never met a honey bee!”

Small Business BC Awards judges were impressed by Nature Bee’s overall business strategy, collaborations, and ability to capitalize on available tools and resources to grow the business sustainably and profitably, while contributing to their community.

2nd place: Friendly Composting Inc., Kamloops

Friendly Composting Inc. is a compost collection and local food delivery service that collects residential and commercial food scraps to turn into nutrient rich soil.

3rd place: Lil’ Ronnie’s BBQ, Tofino

Lil’ Ronnie’s is a true wood fire BBQ and live music restaurant, providing a venue for people to enjoy delicious food and live music.

Premier’s People’s Choice Award

This unique award category, sponsored by the Province of British Columbia, is presented to a BC-based small business that can demonstrate the unwavering and loyal support of their community by gaining the most online votes.

Winner: Soul Bite Food Inc., Coquitlam

Soul Bite Food Inc. is a social enterprise that produces delicious vegan dishes created with traditional recipes from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Soul Bite funds projects dedicated to fighting hunger and combating food waste around the world by donating 50 percent of their profits through their charitable organization, Immigrant Link Centre Society (ILCS). Viable food that goes unsold, including surplus perishables, day-old goods or items near the best before date, is collected from grocery stores free of charge and provided to low-income families and refugees in transition. ​ ILCS has grown to 25 locations with nutritious food delivered 7 days a week to more than 3,500 people per month, moving over 900 tons of food annually. 

For more information about the Small Business BC Awards winners visit smallbusinessbc.ca/awards/winners

Access our SBBC Awards community kit with digital assets for web and social at smallbusinessbc.ca/awards/get-involved/

Quotes:

"Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of this year’s Small Business BC Awards. You are demonstrating an outstanding level of passion and dedication that is building a strong and resilient province. On behalf of the Government of Canada, thank you for being a valued partner in British Columbia’s economic recovery by creating jobs and prosperous communities. I wish you all continued success."

Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

"Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Small Business BC Awards and to all of the businesses that were nominated. You are a great representation of the talent, innovation and resilient entrepreneurial spirit that is the foundation of this province. Small businesses in B.C. deserve our thanks and support for their incredible determination and adaptability and all that they do to keep our communities strong."

Honourable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation

"Seeing the incredible creativity and ingenuity of the businesses nominated, there is no doubt that B.C. is home to many resilient entrepreneurs who deserve to be celebrated. These are the businesses that build communities and make us proud to support local; it’s our honour to bring them the recognition they deserve through the Small Business BC Awards."

Tom Conway, Small Business BC CEO

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About Small Business BC

Small Business BC provides entrepreneurs with the information and guidance necessary to build a solid foundation for their business. Through a wide range of products, services, education, and resources there’s a piece that fits with every business. No matter what stage or what skill level, when an entrepreneur finds themselves asking “How do I…?” Small Business BC is the one to call.