Finalists announced in Small Business BC Awards’ search for top entrepreneurs
March 22, 2021 - British Columbia
The competition is heating up as the Small Business BC Awards narrow down over 900 award nominees to British Columbia’s Top Five, as part of the organization’s search for best small business owners in the province.
This year, the Small Business BC Awards received a record number of nominations; a sign of support for local entrepreneurs who endured many challenges this past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 937 nominations were received, representing 558 small businesses (some businesses nominated in multiple award categories) in 88 communities across BC. Nominations were received from a wide range of industries - from Vancouver Island based donuts to Okanagan tiny homes, Vancouver charcuterie to Valemount spa - offering diverse products and services to British Columbians.
“I think it’s clear from the overwhelming number of nominations and the more than 50,000 public votes, that the spirit of support for small business runs strong in our province. This has been the most difficult year for small business owners and now their communities are standing behind them, recognizing what they’ve been through and celebrating their success,” said Small Business BC CEO, Tom Conway.
“This is a terrific opportunity to celebrate the province’s hard-working small business owners,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “Their success and innovation is inspirational. I congratulate all of the nominees for their hard work – they deserve the recognition. They also deserve our gratitude for the contribution they make to communities throughout B.C.”
After being nominated, small businesses had until March 8, 2021 to gain as many votes as possible from the public. Votes were collected by Small Business BC through their website, and the businesses with the most votes in each category (after a normalization process to allow for regional populations) were narrowed down to the top 20.
After being assessed and judged by an internal panel of business experts, the top five finalists in each category were announced today:
Top 5 Awards Finalists
Best Youth Entrepreneur Award
Presented by Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Purpose Smoothie Co. – Richmond
Sea to Sky Sourdough BReD Inc. – Whistler
Justo's Craft Dips – Victoria
MisMacK Clean Cosmetics – Canoe
Bigfoot Donuts – Courtenay
Best Community Impact Award
Presented by Immigrant Employment Council of BC
Bubbles Blossom Designs – Clinton
Sisters Sage – New Westminster
MisMacK Clean Cosmetics – Canoe
Sḵwálwen Botanicals – Squamish
Bigfoot Donuts – Courtenay
Best Solopreneur Award
Presented by Small Business BC
Jak. Natural Designs – Blue River
Chiwis Kiwi Chips – Squamish
Aspect Film Works – Kamloops
Jada Creations – Terrace
Emerald Earth Organic Spa – Valemount
Best Innovation Award
Presented by Western Economic Diversification Canada
Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery – Courtenay
CORE Landscape Products – Courtenay
Big Bold Brand Inc. – North Vancouver
Matidor – Vancouver
MisMacK Clean Cosmetics – Canoe
Best Immigrant Entrepreneur Award
Presented by BDC
Soul Bite Food Inc. – Coquitlam
Audielicious Restaurant – Fort St. John
Charcuterie Vancouver – Vancouver
Artemex Mexican Handcrafts – West Kelowna
Kleiner Services Inc. - Burnaby
Premier’s People’s Choice Award
Presented by the Province of British Columbia
Bigfoot Donuts – Courtenay
Raven Reads Books Ltd. – Logan Lake
Summit Tiny Homes – Vernon
Sḵwálwen Botanicals – Squamish
Justo's Craft Dips – Victoria
The Premier’s People’s Choice is a unique award category as the winner is selected by the public alone. Sponsored by the Province of British Columbia, this award will be presented to a BC-based small business that can demonstrate they have the unwavering and loyal support of their community by gaining the most votes in their award category.
What happens next
The Top Five finalists will now be required to make a presentation about their business to panel of judges, pitching why their business should win an award. The panel of independent business owners and professionals will then select the winners.
The winners of the Small Business BC Awards will be announced over the course of a three-day virtual gala, from May 4 to May 6, 2021. The winners will receive $1,500, a short video shot by a professional film crew of their business, and an all access pass to Small Business BC’s services.
This year the Small Business BC Awards are sponsored by First West Credit Union and its four locally known and trusted divisions: Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings and Enderby & District Financial.
Members of the public, small businesses, and supporters are encouraged to attend the virtual gala where the winners of the Small Business BC Awards will be announced. Show your support and register today at smallbusinessbc.ca/awards/gala.
For more information about the Small Business BC awards and the top five finalists, visit smallbusinessbc.ca/awards.
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Media Kit - Awards Finalists 2021
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Sara Couper
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.