Submitted by the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce
From multi-generational veteran industry leaders to newly arrived rising entrepreneurial stars, a crowd of over over 150 were on hand for the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards last week.
“For judges, the Chamber’s board, and hopefully the audience, the awards were really very inspiring — and surprising too,” says Chamber executive director Tom Thomson.
With over 200 businesses nominated by the public, Thomson says the cross section of 36 semifinalists revealed unprecedented local levels of entrepreneurialism and innovation.
“In every sector, we’ve either seen long-time business owners show their savvy and leadership by innovating to meet the challenges of these new disrupted times, or attracted national-calibre talents, even world-calibre, who see the Nelson region as a place to build successful new businesses and new lives.
“There’s a lot of young new energy here now, and it’s bolstering the foundation built over generations by those who gave so much to get us here, and got us through the pandemic.”
Last week’s Business Excellence Awards, held at the Prestige Convention venue were the first since the COVID-19 crisis started three years ago.
The Business of the Year award came down to three local titans: Kootenay Co-op, Kalesnikoff and Whitewater Ski Resort.
Noting the closure of 35 mills in the B.C. Interior since 2005, and the loss of close to 40,000 forestry jobs in the last 30 years, Kalesnikoff took top honours due to its $37-million investment in its innovative mass timber plant — amongst the first in Canada — and the creation of 100 new jobs, bolstering the company’s payroll to 250 positions.
“This is like winning an Oscar,” laughed owner Ken Kalesnikoff when he took the podium mic, tearily speaking of the importance of family above all, and noting that his Uncle Koozma started the local mill with a horse and logging outfit in the 1930s.
Here’s the other semifinalists and winners:
Hospitality Excellence: Broken Hill, Pitchfork Eatery, Amanda’s Restaurant, Beer Garden at the Hume — and the winner… Kyle Chambers, Nicole and Marc Forest Smith and The Royal.
Tourism Excellence: Baldface Lodge, Kokanee Mountain Zipline, Ainsworth Hot Springs — and the winner… Dianna Ducs and Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism.
Retail Excellence: Zinnia Textiles, Valhalla Pure, Nelson Olive Oil Company — and the winner… Randy Horswill, the Horswill family and Hippersons/Home Building Centre.
Non-Profit-Community Organization: Kootenay Career Development Society, Nelson Road Kings’, Kootenay Co-Op Radio, the SHARE Housing project — and the winner… Kootenay Career Development Society.
Rising Star: Nelson Studio 88, Taylor & Mae Eco Collective, Beauties Pizza, Horse & Snake Vintage — and the winner… Mandy and Aron Ashman, Ashman’s Smash Burgers & Fries.
Professional Service: Maybank Mobile Veterinary Services, Family Financial, Peak to Moon Creative, Vitality Health — and the winner… Matt Hanlon, Jeff Harker and Kays Road Contracting.
Technology-Innovation Excellence: Drop Designs and Manufacturing, Spearhead, SMRT1 Technologies, Live It Earth — and the winner… Woody Nelson Cannabis Production.
Inclusive Employer: Oso Negro, Nelson CARES Society, Nelson Boxing & Athletics Club — and the winner … Store manager Shane Warman, assistant manager Brad Sayers and Save-On-Foods.
For more detail on each business visit https://www.discovernelson.com/chamber/business-excellence-awards/.