Kelowna chamber announces business excellence award finalists

The finalists for the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards were revealed on Thursday during a virtual luncheon.

There are three finalists for each of the 15 awards, which will be presented during a gala in early February. This year’s theme is Rock ’n’ Resilience due to all the hurdles businesses have had to face since March 2020.

“Rock ’n’ Resilience is an apt descriptor of our 2021 businesses who are up for the hardware in this most unusual of years,” chamber executive director Dan Rogers said in a press release. “We’ve heard and seen remarkable stories of how to adjust to the new economic realities of 2021, and we know our judges will be able to give us even more insight about surviving in the midst of one of the most unusual business years in history.

“We look forward to our big night in February, even though slightly delayed.”

A panel of judges will now examine the finalists to determine a winner in each category. The business leader of the year will be announced in late January by the independent judging panel.

The finalists for the awards are:

Rising Star Business
Barn Owl Brewing
HUB Office Furniture Inc
Vigilante Marketing

Small Business of the Year
Modern PURAIR
Potentia Human Resources Inc.
Strut Footwear & Apparel

Mid-size Business of the Year
Benson Law LLP
Coe & Company Electric Ltd.
Tranq Sleep Care

Large-size Business of the Year
Ace Plumbing & Heating (Bricor Mechanical Ltd.)
Cintas Canada Ltd.
Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union

Environmental Impact
Ecora Resource Group Ltd
Miss Tulips Green Dry Cleaner
The Best Western Plus Hotel & Suites

Excellence in Agriculture
FloraMaxx Technologies Ltd.
SpearHead Winery
Summerhill Pyramid Winery

Arts & Entertainment
Festivals Kelowna
New Vintage Theatre
Uptown Rutland Business Association

Not-For-Profit Excellence
Habitat for Humanity Okanagan
Kelowna Gospel Mission
Meals On Wheels

Indigenous Business of the Year
Moccasin Trails
Okanagan Select Salmon
Valley West Dental Centre

Social Leadership
Crasian Food Truck
Hampton Pools & Landscape
Level Up Strategies

Young Entrepreneur
Crasian Food Truck
Harmony Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic
Vista Academy

Technology Innovator
Acres Enterprises Ltd.
FloraMaxx Technologies Ltd.
The Valens Company

Excellence in Tourism
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars
Oyama Zipline Adventure Park
Smile Cycle Tours

Inclusive Workplace
Inspire Property Management Ltd.
TKI Construction Ltd.
Tranq Sleep Care

Excellence in Business Ethics
Miss Tulips Green Dry Cleaner
Secure-Rite Mobile Storage
TKI Construction Ltd.