Small Business BC Awards, 2021 Nominations Open
byNominations are now open for the 18th annual Small Business BC Awards. Once a simple business planning contest, the awards have evolved over the years to a large-scale provincial competition with a reputation for prestige and excellence among the BC small business community.
Small Business BC Awards
If you’re a business owner, you can nominate your own business. Or, if there’s a small business you love, show your appreciation and nominate on their behalf. Nominations and voting are open until 11:59pm on March 7, 2021.
Categories:
- Best Community Impact
- Best Immigrant Entrepreneur
- Best Innovation
- Best Solopreneur (new this year)
- Best Youth Entrepreneur
- Premier’s People’s Choice
Once nominated, businesses engage with their community to gather as many votes as possible before the deadline March 8th. The top 5 businesses in each category with the most votes and best applications will move on to the next stage of the contest, where they’ll pitch their business to a panel of business experts.
Nominees can increase their brand visibility, reach new customers and boost their reputation.
In a typical year, the event would culminate with a gala award ceremony where the success of the small business community is toasted. As we continue to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the award ceremony will be held virtually in 2021 over several days.
Update: Finalists Announced
In all, a total of 937 nominations were received, representing 558 small businesses in 88 communities across BC. These businesses received over 51,150 votes. Here are the Top 5 Finalists in each category:
Best Community Impact Award – sponsored by IEC-BC
- Bigfoot Donuts, Courtenay
- Sḵwálwen Botanicals, Squamish
- Bubbles Blossom Design, Clinton
- MisMacK Clean Cosmetics, Canoe
- Sisters Sage, New Westminster
Best Immigrant Entrepreneur Award – sponsored by BDC
- Audielicious Restaurant, Fort St. John
- Charcuterie Vancouver, Vancouver
- Artemex Mexican Handcrafts, West Kelowna
- Kleiner Services, Burnaby
- Soul Bite Food Inc., Coquitlam
Best Innovation Award – sponsored by Western Economic Diversification Canada
- CORE Landscape Products, Courtenay
- MisMacK Clean Cosmetics, Canoe
- Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery, Courtenay
- Big Bold Brand Inc., North Vancouver
- Matidor, Vancouver
Best Solopreneur Award – sponsored by Small Business BC
- Jada Creations, Terrace
- Jak. Natural Designs, Blue River
- Aspect Film Works, Kamloops
- Chiwis Kiwi Chips, Squamish
- Emerald Earth Organic Spa, Valemount
Best Youth Entrepreneur Award – sponsored by KPU
- Bigfoot Donuts, Courtenay
- Justo’s Craft Dips, Victoria
- MisMacK Clean Cosmetics, Canoe
- Sea to Sky Sourdough BReD Inc., Whistler
- Purpose Smoothie Co., Richmond
Premier’s People’s Choice Award – sponsored by B.C. government
- Bigfoot Donuts, Courtenay
- Raven Reads Books Ltd., Logan Lake
- Sḵwálwen Botanicals, Squamish
- Summit Tiny Homes, Vernon
- Justo’s Craft Dips, Victoria
The winners will be announced during Small Business BC Awards Week from May 3-6, 2021, register for your free ticket here.
Related: Small Business BC Digital Meetups During COVID-19 Isolation