Left in Maple Ridge won best workplace at the Small Business B.C. Awards, Thursday, Feb. 25.
The businesses with the highest number of votes in each award category were announced as the Top 10 semi-finalists on Dec. 11. The Top 5 finalists moved on to face a panel of judges who determined the best business in each of 10 award categories.
Award recipients were recognized with the Premier’s Prize in the amount of $1,500 cash. The winners were also offered a one-year all-access pass to Small Business B.C. education resources and experts, and one-on-one business mentorship opportunities with notable advisors from award sponsors.
“We’d like to congratulate the winners of this year’s Small Business B.C. Awards and wish them the best of luck as they move on to grow their very successful operations,” said George Hunter, CEO at Small Business B.C.
“The participation of greater numbers of nominees from even more communities across the province this year has made for an entertaining and very high-spirited competition.”
Left is an innovative media and technology company that has holdings in mobile and Internet-based businesses. The company prides itself on fostering a supportive, happy, and healthy environment for its staff. Employees are offered flexible working hours to accommodate family needs and an unlimited number of paid community days to pursue volunteer opportunities, among other benefits.
“We are delighted to receive this award, which recognizes the contributions of our fantastic team of Lefties,” said co-founder and CEO Chris Jensen. “Our company is founded on 10 core values and when we live these values, then great things happen for us, our families and our communities. If we can encourage other small businesses to make the world a bit better each day, then we will have been true to our core values.”
As a top five finalist in the Best Workplace category, Left presented a 10-minute Dragons’ Den-style pitch to a panel of industry experts to prove themselves as B.C.’s best.
“Small businesses like Left play a vital role in developing the economic and social fabric of our province,” said MLA Doug Bing (Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge). “Since opening its doors in 2010, Left not only has achieved commercial success, but it has also proven itself to be a great contributor to our community.”
“It’s great to see that small businesses like Left are creating such positive work environments,” added Marc Dalton (Maple Ridge-Mission). “It makes a huge difference in the well-being of employees and their families.”
