From a pet resort, lawyers, restaurateurs and a big grocer to a sign company, dancers, a water park and a makeup artist.
They’ve all made the list of finalists for the 2023 Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Businesses Excellence Awards.
“This event is one of my favourites of the many we host throughout the year,” said chamber chair Dan Price of Sun Life Global Investments.
“Having so many top-notch contenders for these awards tells us that Kelowna and our surrounding area continue to be home to a level of business excellence that matches that of any city in the country.”
The theme of this year’s 36th annual awards is ‘Rise Up’ – reference to how businesses literally and figuratively have to ‘rise up’ in order to thrive in this post-pandemic, near-recession, wildfire-and-smoke environment.
Now that the list of finalists is out (see below), judges will start visiting the finalists’ place of business to find out more and choose winners.
Those winners will be announced at the Nov. 17 Rise Up Gala at the Delta Grand hotel.
Tickets, which are $195 each, to attend the gala are now on sale here: https://secure.kelownachamber.org/events/36th-Annual-Business-Excellence-Awards-Gala-6329/details
There’s a new category – People’s Choice Business of the Year – in which the winner won’t be decided by the judges, but by you.
Interactive Counselling, Kelowna Pet Resort and Supplement King are the finalists for the People’s Choice.
You can vote for your favourite until Nov. 3 at: https://kelownachamber.wufoo.com/forms/peoples-choice-business-of-the-year-finalist
The Business Leader of the Year category also works differently.
A list of finalists isn’t released for this category.
Instead an independent panel of judges picks the winner, who will be revealed a week or so before the Nov. 17 awards to hype the gala.
The winner will also be at the awards to be honoured.
The judges’ panel is seeking additional nominees to be considered for Business Leader of the Year.
Make your suggestion by Tuesday at 9 am at: https://kelownachamber.wufoo.com/forms/business-leader-of-the-year-nominations-2023/
2022’s Business Leader of the Year was Brea Lake of Accelerate Okanagan.
Drumroll please for the 2023 finalists:
Large Business of the Year
2022 winner: Northside Industries
People’s Choice Business of the Year (new category)
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Interactive Counselling
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Kelowna Pet Resort
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Supplement King Kelowna
Mid-Size Business of the Year
2022 winner: Modern PURAIR
Small Business of the Year
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BlackBean Marketing Ltd.
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Potentia HR
2022 winner: Strut Footwear
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
2022 winner: Dr. Harmony Mir of Harmony Chiropractic
Indigenous Business of the Year
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Fireweeds Boutique
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Sncewips Heritage Museum
2022 winner: First Nations Finance Authority
Rising Star Business of the Year
2022 winner: Fortune Creek
Excellence in Tourism
2022 winner: Oyama Adventure Park
Excellence in Agriculture
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K.L.O. Farm Market
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There & Back Again Farms
2022 winner: AgriForest Bio Technologies
Excellence in Business Ethics
2022 winner: Okanagan Restoration
Technology Innovator of the Year
2022 winner: Innovative Aerospace
Excellence in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
2022 winner: Tranq Sleep Care
Excellence in Community Impact (new category)
Not-for-Profit Excellence
2022 winner: Mamas for Mamas
Arts and Entertainment Achievement
2022 winner: Sncewips Heritage Museum
