Nominations now open for Small Business BC Awards – Think Local

Small businesses in the Thompson-Okanagan region are invited to compete for B.C.’s biggest awards in entrepreneurship, as the 21st annual Small Business BC Awards are now open for nominations.

Whether you’re a business owner, a fan of a local hangout, supporter of an amazing service or inspired by an entrepreneurial undertaking, this is the moment to celebrate the businesses that impact lives with a Small Business BC Award nomination. Make sure your favourite small business owner knows about the awards by sharing this article.

“The Small Business BC Awards are an opportunity to celebrate and support all small businesses, whether they’re a mom and pop shop in a small town, or a burgeoning brand in an economic hub,” Small Business BC CEO Tom Conway says. “What makes this awards competition so unique is that it creates an even playing field where entrepreneurs can prove the strength and impact of their sweat equity, no matter where they are in B.C.”

All small businesses in B.C. can be nominated for the Small Business BC Awards, with nominations open until Aug. 16, 2024, at sbbc.co/nominate. Nominations will be accepted in the following four categories:

Photo: Contributed

Premier’s People’s Choice Award

It takes a community to grow a small business. It also takes a community to win the Premier’s People’s Choice Award. This unique award category, sponsored by the Province of British Columbia, is presented to a BC-based small business that can demonstrate the unwavering and loyal support of their community.

Business Impact Award

The Business Impact Award is sponsored by BCAA Small Business Insurance and goes to the business owner(s) making a difference in their community. For this business, it’s not just about profit margins; it’s about purpose, passion, and a commitment to creating positive change.

E-Commerce Experience Award

As Canadians increasingly turn to online shopping, the E-Commerce Experience Award, sponsored by FortisBC, goes to a small business that presents a frictionless experience for their customers online. Whether it’s on mobile or desktop, this business succeeds online and provides a best-in-class experience for their customers.

Best Youth Entrepreneur

The Best Youth Entrepreneur Award spotlights the next generation of business leaders who have taken the entrepreneurial plunge at a young age. These game-changers have turned passion into profit through grit, hustle, and ingenuity. The Best Youth Entrepreneur Award is sponsored by the Kwantlen Polytechnic University to reward this entrepreneurial spirit in a business leader aged 35 and under.

Businesses are eligible to be nominated for the People’s Choice Award and one additional category. After nomination, businesses must actively gather public votes via various creative channels until voting closes on Aug. 16, 2024. The Premier’s People’s Choice Award is determined solely through public votes, adjusted for regional population differences. In three other categories, the top five finalists are selected based on normalized public votes and evaluations of their written submissions by internal experts.

The chosen top five finalists in the Business Impact, E-Commerce and Youth Entrepreneur categories will then present their cases to a judging panel comprised of previous award winners and business experts, who will decide the winners.

Winners not only earn the title of top small business in B.C. but also share more than $20,000 in prizes across four categories. The winners will also be celebrated at the awards reception on Nov. 1, 2024, at the Vancouver Convention Centre, with tickets available in the fall.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for partners interested in supporting the Small Business BC Awards and its extensive network of entrepreneurs. More information on these opportunities can be found on the Small Business BC website here.

Photo: Contributed

This article is written by or on behalf of the sponsoring client and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.