Business excellence: A list of Chamber award-winning businesses

KootenayBiz celebrates business excellence with a list of Chamber of Commerce award winners from around the Kootenays

Every year in communities across the Kootenays, local Chamber of Commerce organizations celebrate business excellence, exceptional employees and the hard-working and talented people and volunteers that make our towns and cities better places to live. 

Our list of award-winners recognized in 2022 includes a diverse and distinguished array of recipients. There are examples of courageous and trail-blazing business people who refused to let a worldwide pandemic get in the way of their entrepreneurial dreams and others who channeled personal loss and tragedy into inspiration. Others, like the owner of Wild Wonders Insectarium in Invermere, have created success stories out of sharing their interests and passions with the world. There are also examples of dedicated, passionate individuals and organizations that go above and beyond every day to make a difference in their local communities.

Let’s raise a hand and acknowledge these shining stars who continually strive for excellence. Read on for our list of chamber award winners from across the Kootenays and Columbia Valley in 2022:

Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence award winners

When: April 2, 2022
Read more: Cranbrook Chamber honours business excellence at annual awards
The winners:

• Business Person of the Year: Heidi Romich
• Business of the Year (1-15 employees): Sweet Gestures Chocolate Shoppe
• Business of the Year (16+ employees):The Heid Out Restaurant & Fisher Peak Brewing Co.
• New Business of the Year: Twisted Peaks Frozen Yogurt
• Non-profit Organization of the Year: Operation Street Angel
• Professional Service Excellence: The Hearing Loss Clinic
• Retailer Excellence: The Paw Shop
• Hospitality & Tourism Excellence: Ella’s Cafe
• Inclusive Employer of the Year: Kootenay Computer
• Customer Service Excellence: M&M Food Market
• Age-friendly Business of the Year: Pharmasave
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Two Birds Deli, Marina Stropky & Maraih Tarasoff
• Business to Business Excellence: Artistic Media Productions

Trail & District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards

When: May 14, 2022
Read more: Trail’s 2021 Business Excellence Awards celebrated in style
The winners:

• Business of the Year: Good Stuff
• Business Person of the Year: Ona Stanton – Business Reach Marketing
• Employer of the Year: The Pastry Shop
• Emerging Entrepreneur: Leanne Hawkins – Kootenay Made Co.
• Excellence Under 40: Charlotte Truant – Lota Love Photography
• Go Green: Happy Hills Farm
• Customer Service: Bella Tire Service Centre
• Community Impact: Rossland Beer Company
• Professional Service: Thea Hanson Real Estate
• Retail: Coast 2 Coast Clothing Co.
• Not-for-Profit/ Charitable Organization: Trail’s incrEDIBLE Farmers Market
• Tourism: Trail Smoke Eaters

Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards

When: October 20, 2022
Read more: Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce honours business excellence
The winners:

• New Business of the Year and People’s Choice Award: Wild Wonders Insectarium
• Business of the Year (1-15): Winderberry Nursery/Edible Acres Farm & Cafe
• Business of the Year (16+): The Station Pub
• Employee of the Year: Rhonda DeVries, Big Horn Meadows
• Community Builder: Summit Youth Hub
• Outstanding Workplace: Little Badgers Early Learning Centre
• Sustainable Practices: Wings Over the Rockies
• Outstanding Customer Service: Unleashed! Pet Care Services
• Business Person: Jessica Fairhart, Tourism Radium
• Chamber Member: Dee Conklin, Palliser Printing
• Non-Profit/Association: Columbia Valley Search and Rescue
• Youth Entrepreneur: Japhy Shine Hunt

Fernie Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards

When: October 21, 2022
Read more: Indie music, innovation and incredible food celebrated at Fernie’s Business Excellence Awards
The winners:

• Business of the Year: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
• New Business of the Year: Drift + Sonder Lifestyle Shop and Refillery
• Businessperson of the Year: Kurt Saari, Nevados Restaurant
• Employer of the Year: GearHub Sports
• Citizen of the Year: Pat Gilmar
• Community Group of the Year: Fernie Women’s Resource Centre
• Community Tourism Achievement: Wapiti Music Festival Society
• Environmental Sustainability Award: Fernie Fox Hotel
• Business Innovation Award: Fernie Brewing Co.
• Outstanding Customer Service Award: Spa 901
• Chamber Business Legacy Award: Fernie Meat Market
• People’s Choice Award: OrganicTan Fernie

Elkford Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards

When: October 22, 2022
Read more: Elkford’s Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards celebrated with six winners
The winners:

• Business of the Year: Legacy Ford
• Industrial Business of the Year: Nightcrawler 4x4
• Small Business of the Year: The Bath Shack
• Customer Service of the Year: Kootenay Market
• Non-Profit of the Year: Elkford Biking Club
• Volunteer of the Year: Len Gostick

Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards

When: November 5, 2022
Read more: Winners stoked at Revelstoke’s annual Business Excellence Awards
The winners:

• Business of the Year: Revelstoke Optometry Centre
• Citizen of the Year: Dylan Hardy
• Entrepreneurial Excellence: Joanne Gawler, Revelstoke After School Society
• Youth Employer of the Year: Little Big Works
• Sustainable Business Excellence: Tourism Revelstoke
• Tourism Attractions Excellence: Revelstoke Golf Club
• Food and Beverage Excellence: Dose Coffee
• Accommodation Excellence: Courthouse Inn Revelstoke
• Retail Excellence: Revy Outdoors
• Industrial and Manufacturing Excellence: Integrated Apparel
• Construction Excellence: Absolute Contracting / BC Housing Project - Humbert Street
• Trades and Service Excellence: Artisan Drywall Contracting Ltd.
• Technology and Innovation Excellence: Adaptive Homes Ltd.
• Community Support Excellence: Community Connections Society
• Organization of the Year: Revelstoke Museum and Archives
• Employee of the Year: Bobbi Doebert, Revelstoke Credit Union

Castlegar Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards

When: November 5, 2022
Read more: Castlegar Chamber of Commerce plays host at 2022 Business Excellence Awards
The winners:

• Business Person of the Year: Harold Chernoff, Trowelex
• Business Excellence: Tailout Brewing
• Manager of the Year: Sally Diep, Humble Bean Coffee Co.
• Customer Service Excellence: Blue Barn Pet
• Restaurant Award: Tacos El Gringo
• The Green Award: Moonrise Boutique
• Professional Service: Sun Life Financial
• Contractor of the Year: PNT Contracting
• Tourism Development: Castlegar Sculpturewalk
• Young Entrepreneur Award: Solomon Burk, Train with Solly
• Community Social Award: Castlegar Hospice Society
• Innovator of the Year Award: The Roasted Chickpea
• The Board of Directors Choice Award: Grateful Table
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Kalesnikoff
• Home Based Business Award: Into the Wild Off Leash Adventures

KootenayBiz celebrates all the innovative people behind the businesses that provide inspiration to entrepreneurs throughout the Kootenay region. We recognize that this list is only a fraction of community leaders who help to make our area a great place to live and conduct business.

Do you know an innovative entrepreneur who deserves recognition? We would love to hear who you would nominate as a leader in business excellence. Who knows, we may share their story on KootenayBiz in the future.