Business Excellence Awards — Awards honour Nelson businesses

The Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce celebrated some of the area’s top businesses during its AGM held Thursday night.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tom Thomson said Nelson is a truly entrepreneurial community with close to 1,300 business licences issued in the city, one of the largest per capita in the province.

“We are truly fortunate to have a vibrant and diverse business community that is driven by technology, manufacturing, tourism, arts and culture, education, health and wellness and construction,” he said.

The Business Excellence Awards recognize businesses and business leaders in Nelson and Area that have achieved excellence in the community through their business efforts and initiatives.

This year, the Business of the Year award was presented to Pacific Insight, proud to be designing and manufacturing world-class electronic product solutions for the transportation industry from just outside Nelson.

Awards also went to Nelson Home Building Centre, honoured for excellence in retail as a business with over 40 employees. Gerick Cycle and Ski was chosen for retail excellence as a business with under 40 employees.

Nelson Electric Tramway Society was recognized for Hospitality Tourism Excellence, and the Professional Service Excellence award went to Lakeside Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Clinic.

For many years the Chamber has acknowledged the Business of the Year and recently they expanded the format to recognize other business sectors.

Thomson said, over the years there have been tremendous businesses recognized by the Chamber.

“These businesses are prime examples of what we should all be striving towards. Ninety eight per cent of all business in BC happen to be small business. They are the economic and social backbone of municipalities around BC, and we need to acknowledge what that means for the economy, and our community,” he said.

Last year’s honourees were Kootenai Moon Furnishings for Retailing Excellence, Mountain Waters Spa for Professional Service Excellence, and the Hospitality Tourism Excellence award went to the Hume Hotel. Whitewater Ski Resort was chosen as Business of the Year. In 2012, Shambhala Music Festival was selected for Business of the Year.

The Chamber worked in partnership with the Nelson Star to solicite nominations, and also went out to its membership for their votes.

“Congratulations to all of the businesses that were nominated,” said Thomson.

The Chamber Board will continue to build on the success of the Business Excellence Awards in the coming years, he added.