Small Business BC Awards will give away $40,000 in prize money to province's best

Small business owners are invited to compete for $40,000 in prize money as Small Business BC celebrates the 20th anniversary of its annual awards.

The Small Business BC Awards will honour the best and the brightest small businesses in the province. Last year Kamloops' Friendly Composting finished second in the Business Impact Award.

“To mark our 20th anniversary, we’re thrilled to be returning to an in-person gala where a $40,000 prize purse will be shared among four winning businesses,” Small Business BC CEO Tom Conway said in a press release. “To help make this year the most inspirational awards ever, we’re asking the public to nominate a small business that has impacted your community.”

Businesses can compete for four awards: Premier’s People’s Choice Award, Business Impact Award, E-Commerce Experience Award and Best Youth Entrepreneur.

The nomination window opened Monday (Jan. 16) and will close on March 10. Nominations can be submitted here, and once a business is nominated it must gain as many public votes as possible up until the March 10 deadline.

Friendly Composting’s co-founder and chief financial officer Claire McLoughlin said placing second in the Business Impact Award category has been a boon to her business.

“There’s something special about seeing your work get this kind of recognition,” McLoughlin said. “It’s given us confidence and pride that we’re on the right track.”