Kelowna business finalists

Five Kelowna companies are top five finalists in the 2017 Small Business BC Awards.

Nominees for the 14th annual awards were announced today and Kelowna got some major nods, with many of the city’s nominees recognized in several categories.

Digital youth engagement company Mazu snagged three nominations, with nods in the Best Innovation, Premier’s People’s Choice and Best Employer categories.

Two other companies also landed in the top five in three categories.

Rambow Mechanical Ltd. was nominated in the Best Company, Best Employer and Best Apprentice Training categories, while Central Kitchen and Bar made the list for Best Employer, Best Company and the Premier’s People’s Choice Award.

Meanwhile, Two Hat Security was named a finalist in the Best Company and Best Innovation categories, and Infuse I.T. a finalist in the Best Concept category.

The awards are presented by Small Business BC and the Insurance Bureau of Canada, which every year ask community members to nominate small business deserving recognition.

This year’s top five finalists were chosen from 699 nominees across 72 communities in the province.

Once named to the top five, the businesses are asked to face a “Dragon’s Den” style panel of judges. They will have ten minutes to pitch their business.

That panel selects the winner in each category, which will be announced at a special ceremony in February.