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The Summerland Chamber of Commerce is making several changes to the 79th annual Business and Community Excellence Awards on Saturday, March 11.
The changes to the awards and ceremony for 2017 are due to the growth in the event.
Along with the existing 11 awards, the chamber presents an additional three awards have been developed to recognize excellence in customer service, agriculture business and the arts.
The chamber will still celebrate all their nominees in a reception to be held in February, but will no longer use a selection committee to decide the finalists.
Instead, the voting will be opened up so that all nominees are eligible.
In order to meet the demand for tickets for the award ceremony and to make the evening more affordable, they are moving away from a traditional sit-down dinner.
This year the awards gala evening will be a fun, Oscar-style party held at Centre Stage with live entertainment, a signature cocktail and beverages along with several food stations providing small bites.
The evening will provide all the nominees and their community supporters the opportunity to attend the event and celebrate everyone's success.
Nominations for the awards will open on Jan. 5, 2017.
"We anticipate these changes will bring a new energy to the award process and the gala event and allow many more people to participate," said chamber president Erick Thompson.
