Vancouver, BC – (December 22, 2010) – Small Business BC (SBBC), in association with title sponsor, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), are pleased to announce the top ten shortlisted companies in each award category for the 8th Annual Small Business BC Successful You Awards.
New this year, all award categories were nomination based and the top ten small businesses, in each category, were determined by online voting.
The top ten finalists in each award category are:
Best Concept Award, sponsored by Certified General Accountants of BC
- Hear at Home – North Vancouver, BC
- Urban Foliage – Burnaby, BC
- Cycle Component Network – Vancouver, BC
- Hapi Foods Group Inc – Sechelt, BC
- Serenity Performing Arts Centre– Birch Island, BC
- Vshoen Boutique Inc. – Victoria, BC
- Jazz Café Kelowna – Kelowna, BC
- RauDZ – Kelowna, BC
- Cargoh – Vancouver, BC
- Ugi Fitness Inc. – Vancouver, BC
Best Company Award, sponsored by TELUS
- Quicktech – Vancouver, BC
- Masc – Vancouver, BC
- Appnovation Technologies – Vancouver, BC
- Steeples Restaurant – Shawnigan Lake, BC
- Trisko Talent Management – Vancouver, BC
- Innergy Corporate Yoga – Vancouver, BC
- Tasktop Technologies – Vancouver, BC
- All That Jazz Enterprises – Vancouver, BC
- Open Door Yoga – Vancouver, BC
- MacDonald & Lawrence – Cobble Hill, BC
Best Green Business, sponsored by BC Hydro
- FROGBOX Inc. – Vancouver, BC
- Down to Earth Health Shop – Fort Nelson, BC
- West Coast Helicopters – Port McNeil, BC
- Walker Technologies – Courtenay, BC
- Digitech Renewable Printer Cartridges – Vancouver, BC
- LimeLight Event Marketing – Vancouver, BC
- Saul Good Gift Co. – Vancouver, BC
- Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen – Kelowna, BC
- The Car Co-op – Vancouver, BC
- West Coast Sightseeing – Burnaby, BC
Best Employer, sponsored by WorkSafeBC
- Seeds Natural Food Market – Cumberland, BC
- Steve & Cara’s Auto Shop – Creston, BC
- Bellevue Natural Health Clinic – West Vancouver, BC
- CityMax.com – Vancouver, BC
- Van-Isle Truck Tech Ltd. – Ladysmith, BC
- MacDonald & Lawrence – Cobble Hill, BC
- TS Developments – Cowichan Bay, BC
- Tasktop Technologies – Vancouver, BC
- Kary Movers Ltd – Langley, BC
“We’re thrilled with the enthusiastic response received from the small business community. We believe the new nomination and online voting for the Successful You Awards encouraged more participation from the small business community because the nominees’ networks and public had a say in who moved on to the next round,” said George Hunter, CEO of SBBC.
A panel of judges will now review the submitted applications from the top ten shortlisted companies and select the top five finalists in each category. The top five finalists will be announced on February 15, 2011. These finalists will be asked to present a ten minute business pitch, followed by a question and answer period led by the judges.
“These awards celebrate the excellence of successful small companies in British Columbia just as the small business community itself exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of our province,” said Colin Hansen, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for Small Business. “Over 57 per cent of British Columbia's private sector jobs are with small businesses and the sector accounted for almost a third of total provincial GDP, the highest of all provinces.”
Winners in each of the award categories will gain prestigious local, regional and national exposure and recognition and will be revealed at the Awards Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver on March 29, 2011.
“British Columbia’s small business community is once again demonstrating its vibrancy. As title sponsor, Insurance Bureau of Canada is proud to be associated with such a distinguished group and we want to congratulate all entrants and the shortlisted companies,” said Lindsay Olson, IBC’s Vice-President, British Columbia, Saskatchewan & Manitoba.
The Awards is a province-wide event that recognizes and celebrates the important contributions B.C.’s entrepreneurs make to their local communities and global economy. The Awards is free to enter and open to all new and existing small businesses in across B.C.
Important contest deadlines and events are as follows:
- Announcement of Top 5 Finalists: February 15, 2011
- Business Pitch Presentations: February 22 – March 15, 2011
- Successful You Awards Ceremony: March 29, 2011
For more information about the shortlisted companies visit, www.successfulyou.ca/vote