BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Celebrating the absolute best in Cranbrook business

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE

AWARD CATEGORY CRITERIA

NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

The New Business of the Year Award recognizes a business that is considered a rising leader in their sector, demonstrating outstanding sustainable business practices. The recipient is financially sustainable, potentially scalable, and being managed with a robust planning process. The recipient materially differentiates itself from its competition, and has been established in the last 3 years.

The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding entrepreneur under the age of 40 who has built their own business or has been a part of the decision-making management team of an existing business. This award pays tribute to an outstanding young entrepreneur who has distinguished themselves not only by their success in business, but also by their creativity, innovative spirit, and community involvement.

Inclusive Employer of The Year Award recognizes an employer that looks beyond traditional recruitment and retention strategies in order to support the needs and development of their staff. From policies and procedures to diversity initiatives, the recipient demonstrates a commitment to identifying and employing diverse individuals and engaging them in an inclusive workplace.

The Age-Friendly Business Award recognizes a business that is dedicated to accommodating the needs of older adults in Cranbrook. The recipient’s business practices include considerations for factors like accessibility, customer comfort and communication.

The Arts & Culture Excellence Award recognizes an individual, business or organization that displays contributions and innovation in the arts that strengthen the cultural, social and economic fabric of the community. The recipient has displayed outstanding creativity and vision in the Cranbrook Arts community, and is devoted to practice within Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and/or Literary Arts.

The Customer Service Excellence Award recognizes a business that embraces the concept that outstanding customer service is critical to the success of their business. The recipient’s business is dedicated to continually striving to exceed customer expectations. Their internal culture through all levels of their organization is centric to a positive customer experience.

The Culinary Excellence Award recognizes a restaurant or other food business that has made an outstanding contribution to Cranbrook’s culinary landscape. The recipient offers their patrons a unique and memorable experience that delights the senses and inspires others through creativity, presentation, quality and passion.

The Tourism Excellence Award recognizes a business or non-profit that has delivered positive community impact through provision of tourism offerings, contribution to an exceptional visitor experience, and/or support for a broader vision to leverage the value of tourism for Cranbrook.

The Retail Excellence Award recognizes a business that has demonstrated outstanding achievement through consistency, innovation, business acumen and overall success. The recipient shows evidence of success that is outstanding for the size of their operation.

The Professional Services Excellence Award recognizes a business, an owner or an employee that demonstrates the highest quality of service to their customers. The recipient is a recognized leader in their professional service industry sector with exemplary professional standards.

The Business-to-Business Excellence Award recognizes a business that works with other businesses to identify and accommodate their needs in the business-to-business service industry. The recipient demonstrates a consistent adherence to the highest quality service and support for their clients. The recipient has demonstrably optimized business processes to drive higher levels of operational performance, customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award recognizes a registered non-profit society or charity that is dedicated to making a difference in Cranbrook through their own mandate. The recipient has an outstanding record of achievement and meets the highest ethical standards of the non-profit community. The recipient shows a high level of care and concern for the community.

The Business of the Year Award (1-15 employees) recognizes a business that is regarded as an industry leader with a strong reputation for success. The recipient demonstrates a high degree of professionalism and performance in key measures of business, showing a substantiated business history exhibiting sustainability and/or growth over numerous business cycles. This business has been established in Cranbrook for more than three years.

The Business of the Year Award (16+ Employees) recognizes a business that is regarded as an industry leader with a strong reputation for success. The recipient demonstrates a high degree of professionalism and performance in key measures of business, showing a substantiated business history exhibiting sustainability and/or growth over numerous business cycles. This business has been established in Cranbrook for more than three years.

The Business Person of the Year Award recognizes an individual that displays outstanding leadership and vision in the Cranbrook business community. The recipient’s business has been operating for at least five years and has succeeded through innovation, risk-taking and a commitment to the community. The recipient serves as a positive role model and mentor and exemplifies community leadership and dedication.

CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE

2025 EVENING OF EXCELLENCE

Friday, October 24, 2025

Key City Theatre

You are invited to a celebration of the best in Cranbrook business and non-profit.

Please join the Chamber as we present 15 awards at our red carpet event. 

Enjoy entertainment, great food & drink, and show your support for the business community and non-profits that are making a difference in  Cranbrook.

Bring your team, your friends, colleagues and family.

This event is for everyone.

TICKETS ON SALE SOON

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards recognize and celebrate the success of Cranbrook’s businesses and their leadership across all sectors; private, public and non-profit.

We shine a spotlight on the best of Cranbrook, to highlight our diversity, creativity, ingenuity and success in the local business community.

The Business Excellence Awards are open to businesses, registered non-profit organizations and individuals.

Everybody is welcome to attend the Award Ceremony!

  • Nomination submissions are open online for a minimum of 2 months prior to the Business Excellence Awards Ceremony
  • Nominations are garnered from peers, community members, or by way of self-nomination.
  • After nominations are closed, each nominee is notified and congratulated by the Chamber.
  • Nominees have the option to decline a nomination. 
  • Those nominees who accept the nomination are required to complete an interview-style questionnaire.
  • A panel of adjudicators is chosen by the Chamber. They are provided a scoring matrix to guide them through the rating process.
  • The Chamber tallies the scores to identify the recipients for each category.
  • The results are kept confidential until the Award Ceremony.

As long as they operate in Cranbrook, the following are eligible for nomination:

  • Businesses
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Registered Non-Profit Organizations
  • Businesspeople
  • Employers
  • Yourself

*note: multi-year nominees are eligible to receive an award for the same category only once every 3 years

As long as they operate in Cranbrook, the following are eligible for nomination:

  • Businesses
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Registered Non-Profit Organizations
  • Businesspeople
  • Employers
  • Yourself

Nominees are not required to hold membership with the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce.

Anybody can submit a nomination. Nominations are garnered from peers, the public or by way of self-nomination.

SUBMIT A NOMINATION »

2025 New Business of The Year

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Young Entrepreneur of the year

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Inclusive Employer of the year

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Age-Friendly
Business of the year

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Arts & CULTURE excellence

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Customer Service excellence

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Culinary Excellence award

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Tourism Excellence
award

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Retailer Excellence award

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Professional Services Excellence

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Business-to-Business Excellence

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Non-Profit Organization of the Year

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Business of The Year
(1-5 employees)

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Business of The Year
(16+ EMPLOYEES)

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Business Person of the Year

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