Business awards seek nominations from Island companies

NANAIMO – 17th annual awards take place in Victoria in January.

Nominations are currently sought for businesses on Vancouver Island that had a particularly good year.

Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards, which honour the best of Island businesses, is seeking nominations by Dec. 1 for its 17th annual event.

“These awards have always been about shining the spotlight on worthy and interesting companies,” said Mark MacDonald, of Business Examiner, who coordinates the event. “Each year we are impressed by the quality and quantity of businesses that are worthy of celebrating, and we expect this year to be one of our best ever.”

Awards will be given out Jan. 26 in Victoria.

Categories this year include: agriculture; automotive; construction/development; entrepreneur; forestry/wood products; green; health; hospitality/tourism; manufacturer; ocean products; professional (legal, accounting, insurance); real estate; retail; small business (fewer than 50 employees); technology; trades; and Business of the Year (more than 50 employees).

“Each year, it seems that the nominations are nearly evenly split between companies south of the Malahat, and those from north of the Malahat, and this year is no different,” MacDonald said. “That’s not surprising, as the population of both areas are very close, but it also shows the strength of the economy on Vancouver Island is spread out.”

There is no charge to participate. Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.businessexaminer.ca/events.

For more information on the event, please contact MacDonald at 1-866-758-2684, ext. 120, or e-mail mark@businessexaminer.ca

Nanaimo News Bulletin