This special award recognizes a long-standing businessperson who has made a significant and lasting impact on the community through their dedication and remarkable longevity in business. Unlike other award categories, this recipient will be awarded selectively by the Chamber, in years when the Chamber has identified a deserving recipient.
Fashioning a legacy takes time. Paul Jovanovic, owner of Kootenay Tailor Shop, has put in the time—36 years, in fact. That’s how long Paul has been suiting up Cranbrook residents in their finest threads.
“People love me in this town like family,” Paul said. “I enjoy it here.”
Paul grew up in Serbia with his parents and two brothers. His father was a shoemaker and his brothers were millwrights. Paul’s first work experience came as a shoemaker for his dad. When it came time for Paul to decide what profession to pursue, he listened to his mother, who told him to become a tailor.
Paul began tailoring in Canada in 1982 in Whitehorse, Yukon. He then moved to Prince Rupert before settling into Cranbrook in October of 1989.
Paul has become a fixture in Cranbrook over the last 36 years as a reliable, respectable, personable tailor who can be trusted with customers’ fanciest clothes.
Paul has earned the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce’s Business Legacy award through dedication, commitment, and hard work over a period of 36 years. You might think this has earned Paul a rest from his toil, but not so. Expect to see Paul continuing to serve Kootenay customers into the coming years, or at least until someone attempts to match his skill.
“Customers say, ‘Won’t you ever retire?’ ” Paul said. “I’m never going to retire. I would like to, but I don’t have any competition! Then I could have a break.”
Out Of The Woods Home Inspection
OTHER NOMINEES
Next Adventure Home Inspections
Bizzy Bear’s Cub Cuts
Maggie B’s Mercantile
Redeemed Detailing
Emily Popoff, Talking Helps Heal Kootenays Ltd.
OTHER NOMINEES
Nic Gawletz, Next Adventure Home Inspections
Ashley Taylor, Sweet Gestures Chocolate Shoppe Ltd.
Ground Floor Coworking Space
OTHER NOMINEES
St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino
Safeway Inc.
Out Of The Woods Home Inspection
OTHER NOMINEES
Next Adventure Home Inspections
Bizzy Bear’s Cub Cuts
Maggie B’s Mercantile
Redeemed Detailing
Emily Popoff, Talking Helps Heal Kootenays Ltd.
OTHER NOMINEES
Nic Gawletz, Next Adventure Home Inspections
Ashley Taylor, Sweet Gestures Chocolate Shoppe Ltd.
Ground Floor Coworking Space
OTHER NOMINEES
St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino
Safeway Inc.
Kootenay Ramps & Access
OTHER NOMINEES
Auntie Barb’s Catering
Bizzy Bear’s Cub Cuts
OK Tire Stores Inc.
Cranbrook Arts
OTHER NOMINEE
Fisher Peak Performing Artists Society
Meraki Mechanical Ltd.
OTHER NOMINEES
Britany Shears
Silver Path Financial Solutions Inc.
Cranbrook Pest Control
Guidance Planning Strategies Ltd.
Neatology Inc.
Great Canadian Oil Change
Mission Thrift Store Cranbrook
StratIS Group
The Baker89
OTHER NOMINEES
Numa Dining & Lounge
Fenwick & Baker
Cranbrook Golf Club
OTHER NOMINEES
Fort Steele Heritage Town
Kamu Sauna
Spirit of the Rockies Festival
Huckleberry Books Inc.
OTHER NOMINEES
Britany Shears
Kootenay Communications Ltd.
My Best Friend’s Closet
Talaria
Urban Verve
The Paw Shop
Just Music Ltd.
Bumble Tree
Silver Path Financial Solutions Inc.
OTHER NOMINEES
Britany Shears
Alisha Trozzo, 2day FM
Josh Eimer, StratIS Group
Barbie Torres, Bizzy Bear’s Cub Cuts
Morganne Jones, Meadowlark Osteopathy
Dan Meldrum, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Drain Service East Kootenays
Westland Insurance
StratIS Group
OTHER NOMINEES
Sidekick Printing Inc.
Silver Path Financial Solutions Inc.
Neatology Inc.
Alopex
Kootenay Kwik Print
Community Connections Society of Southeast BC
OTHER NOMINEES
Mission Thrift Store Cranbrook
Therapeutic Paws of Canada
Cranbrook Archives, Museum and Landmark Society (CAMAL)
JCI Kootenay
The Studio Spin Barre Yoga Ltd.
OTHER NOMINEES
StratIS Group
Britany Shears
Silver Path Financial Solutions Inc.
Kamu Sauna Ltd.
RONA Cranbrook Building Centre Ltd.
Apex Accounting
Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre
Baker Hill Dental
Fenwick & Baker
Ted Murrell, Save-On-Foods
OTHER NOMINEES
Jennifer Bird, Fly Fusion Magazine
Chancellor Litke, Guidance Planning Strategies Ltd.
Paul Jovanovic, Kootenay Tailor Shop
Nathan Lieuwen, Cranbrook Bucks
Rachelle Langlois, Silver Path Financial Solutions Inc.
NOTE: If you submitted a nomination and don’t see it here, the nominee may have declined the nomination OR the nominee did not meet category criteria.
The Chamber assembled an adjudication panel to review the nominations and award scores based on a matrix. Locked in the Chamber boardroom, fueled by coffee and muffins, a 3.5 hour judging session took place. We received four sets of score sheets that were filled out independently and confidentially.
Special thanks to:
Galen Olstead – Executive Director, Key City Theatre
Jon McWhirter – Owner/Operator, McWhirter Office Solution
Marnee Bellavance – Owner/Operator, Printed Matter Services
Leanne Jensen – CAO, New Dawn Developments
Big thanks to this group of community leaders for their valuable time and thoughtful insight.
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 of the Year 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 has been in a leadership role for a minimum of one year at a business that 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.
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!
As long as they operate in Cranbrook, the following are eligible for nomination:
*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:
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.
Sponsorship is an effective way of gaining exposure for your business. Reach out for more information.
