Penticton Chamber of Commerce announces award nominee list

Nominees for the 2022 Mardi Gras Business Excellence Awards Gala were released on Tuesday by the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, celebrating businesses, organizations and individuals worthy of praise.

The nomination period for the 35 Annual Business Excellence Awards (BEA) wrapped up at the end of August, with Penticton and area residents submitting 123 nominations in 10 award categories, recognizing 99 unique businesses.

The Chamber validated all nominations received; nominees were then asked to complete an official nomination
package to continue to the next stage of the process.

Validated nominations who completed and returned the nominee submission is being reviewed by the chamber's 2022 selection committee, comprised of 13 business and community leaders using set criteria, which will determine the semi-finalists in each award category.

The semi-finalist announcement will take place on Oct. 5, 2022, at Total Restoration Services.

“I look forward to celebrating our local businesses whose owners continue to work passionately, not only for the good of their business, but also for the well-being of the Penticton community as a whole, “Jonathan McGraw, Penticton Chamber Board President said in the press release.

“Congratulations to all our nominations and a big thank you for your service to our community."

The nominees are:

Marketing & Communications sponsored by Downtown Penticton Business Improvement Association:

• Dawnland Communications
• Graphically Hip Promotional Inc.
• Skaha Matters
• South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services (SOICS)
• Travel Penticton
• Wild Slide Presentation Design

Hospitality Excellence sponsored by Travel Penticton:

• Angry Vegan Juice Bar & Vegan Food
• Bowmont Motel
• BRODO Kitchen
• Glow SUP & Adventures
• Highway 97 Brewing Company
• Lachi
• Penticton Speedway
• Skaha Adventures
• Sun N’ Sup
• The Nest
• Tootsies Diner
• Wrights Beach Camp

Not-For-Profit sponsored by Omland Heal Chartered Professional Accountants:

• Auxiliary to the Penticton Regional Hospital
• Fraternal Order of Eagles 4281
• JCI Penticton
• Penticton and Area Access Centre
• Penticton Art Gallery
• Penticton Seniors Drop in Centre
• South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services
• South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society
• South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre
• Treasures & Trinkets (PRH Volunteer Gift Shop)

Community Support Excellence sponsored by Penticton Western News:

• Cherry Lane Shopping Centre
• Farm Gate Winery
• Fountain Tire, Penticton
• Graphically Hip Promotional Inc.
• Verve Senior Living – The Concorde Retirement Community

Service Excellence sponsored by Kettle Valley Memorial:

• Bandit Laser
• Berry & Smith Trucking Ltd
• Better Than Nature South
• Bob’s Door Service
• Carl’s Flowers Company Inc.
• Elevation Woodworks Inc.
• Grizzly Springs Water Company
• Lasting Impressions by Amelia Day Spa
• Lucky’s Pet Supplies
• Michael Hill Jeweller
• Monument Motorsports
• Nurse Next Door – Home Care Services
• Relentless Fire & Safety Ltd.
• Slackwater Brewing
• South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS)
• Teas & Weaves
• TechSavers Computer Repairs
• The Bike Barn
• The Book Shop
• VIP Mobile Service

Workplace Culture Excellence sponsored by South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services (SOICS):

• Archetype Performance
• Cannabis Cottage
• Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory Research Facility
• Greyback Construction Ltd.
• Meiklejohn Architectural Design Studio Inc. (MAD Studio)
• Okanagan College, Penticton Campus
• Penticton Art Gallery
• Penticton and Area Access Centre
• Penticton and Area Cooperative Enterprises (PACE)
• Penticton Lakeside Resort & Convention Centre
• Save On Foods
• Travel Penticton
• ValleyFirst, a division of First West Credit Union

New Business of the Year sponsored by Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union:

• Below the Ankle
• Bluewater Cannabis
• Cherry on Top Shake Shop
• HEK Yeah Media
• Long Haggerty Robertson LLP
• PENBREWTOUR
• Penticton Boat Club
• Penticton E-Kruise
• Penticton Global Grocers
• Penticton Roller Skate
• Seven Elk Shipping Inc.
• Social? Enoteca Ristorante
• South Okanagan Property Management

Young Professional of the Year sponsored by JCI Penticton & Graphically Hip

• Lucy Anderson & Jenny Popoff | Beauty and the Blade
• Cassandra Ford | Grizzly Springs Water Company
• Jacob George | Coyote Cruises
• Jane Long Haggerty | Long-Haggerty Robertson LLP
• Jordan McCallum | Penticton Boat Club & Rentals
• Katie O’Kell | Serendipity Winery
• Tom Weissenmayer | Seven Elk Shipping Inc.

Business Leader of the Year sponsored by TD Canada Trust

• Johnny Aantjes | The Feedway
• Kristen Ferguson | Honey Toast Cafe
• Cherry Fernandez | South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS)
• Kevin Smith | Kettle Valley Memorial
• Hollie Tayal | Modern PURAIR South Okanagan
• Russ Turner | Skaha Rock Adventures

Business of the Year sponsored by Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen

• Barley Mill Brew Pub
• Fountain Tire, Penticton
• IG Wealth Management
• Lucky’s Pet Supplies
• Michael Hill Jeweller
• Nor-Mar Industries Ltd – Brutus Truck Bodies

"I am proud to share that we truly do seek to recognize the best of the best and the prime goal that we instill in the process is to be fair-minded and sincere when it comes to identifying businesses for the great work they do and their importance to the community. So, to all of the businesses that have been nominated, give yourselves a
well-deserved pat on the back," Diane Kereluk, Executive Director Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce said.

Award winners will be announced at a gala event on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre.

Tickets for the Business Excellence Awards Mardi Gras Gala presented by Total Restoration Services can be purchased online here.

“Every year our team looks forward to the Business Excellence Awards. It’s the event of the year,” Tracy Van Raes, Manager of Marketing and Community Relations at Total Restoration Services said.

“Total Restoration is excited to be the presenting sponsor for the third year in a row as we celebrate the successes of our community at the 35 Annual Business Excellence Awards Mardi Gras Gala.”