2018-2019 Small Business BC Awards
Our province’s best small business owners and the top communities supporting entrepreneurship were announced at last night’s Small Business BC Awards Gala, which celebrates excellence in business and contributions to the local, national and global economy.
Close to 600 small businesses from 58 BC communities were nominated in ten unique award categories as part of the annual awards program. Three municipalities were also selected for the Open for Business Award; an award where the BC Small Business Roundtable recognizes the work local government and First Nations are doing in their communities to support small business.
To bring awareness to the critical role entrepreneurship plays in Canada’s economy, the Honourable Mary Ng, Federal Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion and Honourable Bruce Ralston, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology were in attendance at last night’s awards ceremony.
Premier’s People’s Choice
Sponsored by the Government of British Columbia
Munday Media and Design
Munday Media & Design offers custom design services to businesses and organizations who want to engage, captivate and be remembered by their customers and clients. They work in branding, logo creation, print media, web design, social media start up, photography and more.
Best Apprentice Training
Sponsored by ITA
RDC Fine Homes
Since 1993, RDC Fine Homes has specialized in the construction and renovation of sustainable green homes that work better, live better and last better; homes that are uniformly comfortable winter and summer, have the very best indoor air quality, are durable and above all else, energy efficient.
Best Community Impact
Sponsored by Vancity
Long Table Grocery
Long Table Grocery is a locally-owned independent food hub that provides good food that’s sustainably sourced and is locally-rooted in the Cariboo region of BC. They purchase local produce and food products when available, and purchase fair trade and organic produce when produce is unavailable locally. Their focus is on organic growers, while also supporting several more conventional local farms whose practices they know and trust.
Best Company
Boldly Creative
Boldly is a commercial production company based in Vancouver and run by four producing partners, Shelby Manton, Geoff Manton, Sebastien Galina and Kristoff Duxbury. They help to find Directors, Producers and Post-Production personnel for global clients.
Best Concept
Barnacle Systems Inc
Barnacle Systems aim to help people who experience “boater’s anxiety” with their product that monitors the health of their boat whether they’re at the dock, at home, or half way around the world. If you’re familiar with the concept of a “smart home”, Barnacle Systems’ product works in much the same way, except on the water.
Best Employer
Lux Insights
Lux Insights is a high-touch, boutique market research agency with offices in Vancouver and Seattle. They are the current winner of the top award for qualitative excellence in North America, but half of their business is quantitative. They cross all industries and our clients include Amazon, Nintendo and Ancestry.
Best Immigrant Entrepreneur
Sponsored by BDC
Moving2Canada.com
Moving2Canada founder, Ruairi Spillane, moved to Vancouver in 2008 to take up a role in finance. Life was good, but something was missing. He kept wondering why nobody was providing newcomers to Canada with information from the exploring stage all the way to long-term settlement. With entrepreneurial zeal, Ruairi built a network that filled those gaps in knowledge. Since launching in 2012, Moving2Canada.com has been the one-stop shop for free, impartial information and resources to make the transition to Canada enjoyable and simple.
Best Innovation
Sponsored by Western Economic Diversification Canada
Coulson Ice Blast
After serving in World War 2, Cliff Coulson returned to his roots in British Columbia, Canada where he began working in the Forest Industry in 1934. After working various jobs in the industry, Cliff founded Coulson Forest Products Ltd. in 1960. Under the leadership of Cliff’s son, Wayne Coulson, what was once a small logging company has evolved into a conglomerate of companies working in a variety of industries including aviation, lumber manufacturing, logging, and gaming.
Best International Trade
Thai Roots Trading Corp
Thai Roots started because of the true love for Thai food possessed by founder, Mild Rungmongkonsawad. She is a foodie who loved sampling new foods wherever she went. But, no matter where she went, she always came back to her roots: Thai food. Her mission is to share this passion with the world.
Best Marketer
Longevity Graphics
Since 2001, Longevity Graphics has been designing successful websites and implementing internet marketing strategies by providing across-the-board internet services to businesses looking to take advantage of online marketing potential. They are an internet marketing, website design, and development solution provider helping businesses to establish their web presence.