Finalists for Kamloops Chamber of Commerce and MNP Business Excellence Awards announced Wednesday

Photo: Kristen Holliday

An event to announce finalists for the 35th annual Business Excellence Awards was held at Match Eatery and Public House on Wednesday evening.

Finalists for the 35th annual Business Excellence Awards were announced on Wednesday, at an event hosted by the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce and MNP at Match Eatery and Public House.

Calli Duncan, co-owner of Far & Wide — a finalist in three awards categories — said it’s exciting to be nominated, and to be in a room with “so many people that are making Kamloops such a great place.”

“It just was really lovely to feel recognized and valued for the work that we’re doing,” Duncan said.

Duncan said it was a humbling experience for business partner Brianne Sheppard and herself to have won the award for emerging business of the year in 2020.

“It kind of felt like we'd arrived in some way. It's just a really wonderful event. We're excited now to be able to participate in it fully, and I think it's just a great excuse to get together and recognize each other whether you win or not.”

Cassidy Watt, nominated for young entrepreneur of the year, opened a new storefront for her hair and makeup business, Cassidy Watt Artistry Collective, in May.

Watt said with BC announcing their reopening plan, her business has been busier than it has ever been.

“After such a crazy time with COVID and the effect that it had on the wedding industry and the event industry, it's super nice that we were able to come out with a busy season under our belts still, and able go forward, and to be nominated for an award on top of it is just super exciting,” Watt said.

Finalists for the City of Kamloops Community Service Award include Lyons Landscaping, C&C Resources for Life and A Groess Underground.

Up for the Open Door Group Inclusive Leadership Award is New Gold’s New Afton Mine, Kamloops Indian Band Corporation and Far and Wide.

Fiddleheads Violin Studio, Lyons Landscaping and Arrow Transportation were named as finalists for the Kamloops Chamber Environmental Leadership Award.

Up for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Excellence in Trades is Five Oak Contracting Ltd., JUL Construction Ltd., and Middleton Energy Installations and Middleton Energy Services Ltd.

Finalists for the Kubera Retailer Award include Far and Wide, Real Deals on Home Decor Kamloops and Nu Leaf Produce Market.

The CN Service Provider award for businesses with up to 10 employees include Ocean Pacific Adventure Sports, CentreCore HVAC Services Ltd. and Nuance Dance Studio.

The Kamloops This Week Service Provider award for businesses with 11 or more employees include Kamloops Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre, NextGen Electrical Services and Middleton Energy Installations and Middleton Energy Services Ltd.

Up for the BCLC Innovation Award include New Gold’s New Afton Mine, Arrow Transportation Systems Inc. and Monte Creek Winery.

Finalists for the Kamloops Chamber Development of the Year award include Arpa Investments Ltd., Kelson Group and Nationwide Self Storage and Auto Wash LP.

Kamloops Chamber Employer of the Year award finalists include Cutting Edge Consulting, JUL Construction Ltd. and Forward Law.

The Community Futures Thompson Country Emerging Business of the Year award finalists are Friendly Composting, Bright Eye Brewing and Pepper.

The TRU School of Business and Economics Young Entrepreneur of the Year award finalists are Far and Wide’s Calli Duncan, Jon Hudon, from Ocean Pacific Adventure Sports and Cassidy Watt, from Cassidy Watt Artistry Collective.

Finalists for the Kamloops Chamber Not-For-Profit of the Year include Mount Paul Community Food Centre, ASK Wellness Society, Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society and The Mustard Seed Kamloops.

Up for Venture Kamloops Small Business of the Year include Thompson Cleaners and Tailors, Nu Leaf Produce Market and Fiddleheads Violin Studio.

Finally, the Abbot Wealth Management IPC Business Person of the Year award finalists include The Noble Pig’s Meaghan Summers, Margot Middleton from Middleton Petroleum Services, Dawn MacKenzie of Seasons Health Therapies, and GK Sound’s Greg Klohn.

Speaking in front of the group of business owners and representatives at Match, Tyson Andrykew, past president of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, thanked independent selection committees for their role in determining award finalists.

“We know that these were tough decisions as all nominees were excellent candidates,” Andreykew said.

The committees will be interviewing each finalist to determine the winners of the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce and MNP Business Excellence awards.

Winners will be announced at the Business Excellence Awards Gala, held on Oct. 21.