BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Celebrating the absolute best in Cranbrook business

2024 EVENING OF EXCELLENCE

On Friday, October 25, 2024, join us in celebrating the absolute best in Cranbrook business & non-profit! Spend a night among the best in Cranbrook as we sweep you off to an experience like the Grammy’s.

Join us for an evening full of gratitude and recognition for our local
businesses and non-profits. Enjoy live entertainment, walk the red
carpet, indulge in an incredible spread of food and drink and witness 15
incredible award recipients take the stage – it will be a night to
remember!

What started as a single customer service award in 1991
has evolved and grown into a complete recognition of excellence in
business throughout our community.

Open to all who call Cranbrook & area home, we are inviting you to experience this prestigious event with us for 2024.

CATEGORIES OF EXCELLENCE

**NEW IN 2024** CULINARY EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Culinary Excellence Award recognizes a restaurant or other food business that has made an outstanding contribution to Cranbrook’s culinary landscape. They offer their patrons a unique food experience that delights the senses and inspire others through creativity, knowledge, and passion. They also practice the highest standards of food quality and safety.

The Excellence in Arts Award recognizes an individual or organization displaying outstanding creativity and vision in the Cranbrook arts community. The recipient is in devoted practice within one or more of the following areas: Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Literary Arts. The award acknowledges contributions and innovation in the arts that strengthen the cultural, social and economic fabric of the community.

The Non Profit Organization of the Year Award recognizes a non government organization, society or charity that is a not for profit dedicated to making a difference within the sphere of their stated goals and objectives. 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 Tourism Excellence Award is presented to a company or organization which demonstrates a commitment to excellence in the areas of tourism. This award recognizes true excellence by those who truly embrace going above and beyond. Providing extraordinary customer service and experiences the recipient makes visitors and locals alike feel like they are the number one priority during their visit.

The Professional Services Excellence Award honours a company or professional that provides services to individuals, groups or businesses. The recipient demonstrates an adherence to the highest quality service and support for their customers. Adhering to the exemplary professional standards the recipient demonstrates excellence and is a recognized leader in their professional service industry sector.

The Retail Excellence Award recognizes a business that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the retail sector. The award recognizes success, innovation, and ethics in business practices. The recipient is a retail leader with a consistent record of accomplishment, innovative business processes, an astute business acumen and overall success. The recipient shows evidence of success that is outstanding for the size of their operation.

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

The Business to Business Excellence Award recognizes excellence in the business to business service industry. Working with other businesses, and recognizing their needs, 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 Customer Service Excellence Award will be presented tonight to a Cranbrook company 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. They have an ingrained culture through all levels of their organization built around the customer experience.

The Age Friendly Business Award is presented to a business with dedicated commitment and business practices that best serve older adults in Cranbrook. Criteria includes accessibility, customer comfort and communication.

The Business of the Year, 1-15 employees Award will be presented to a business that has been established in Cranbrook for more than three years. This well-rounded recipient is regarded as an industry leader with a strong reputation for their business successes. The recipient demonstrates a high degree of professionalism and performance in key measures of business. The recipient’s business shows a substantiated business history exhibiting sustainable growth over numerous business cycles.

The Business of the Year, 16+ Employees Award will be presented to a Cranbrook business that has been established for more than three years. The well-rounded recipient is regarded as an industry leader with a strong reputation for their business success. The recipient demonstrates a high degree of professionalism and performance in key measures of business. The recipient business shows a substantiated business history exhibiting sustainable growth over numerous business cycles.

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

The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding entrepreneur, age 40 and under, that has distinguished themselves by building their own business or as 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.

The Business Person of the Year Award goes to an individual displaying 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 for other business people and exemplifies community leadership and dedication.

New Business of The Year

NOMINEES

Delightfull

Creative Souls Hair & Beauty

Peak Custom Creations

Kemlee Equipment Ltd.

930IT

Kootenay Driving Academy

Maggie B’s Mercantile

Buzzy Bears Cub Cuts

Closet 31

1-15 Business of The Year

NOMINEES

Cranbrook Interior Woodwork Ltd.

FW Green Clinic

Sidekick Stickers

MJ’s Floral Boutique

Max’s Place

Britany Shears Salon

16+ Business of The Year

NOMINEES

Tanglefoot Veterinary Services

Save On Foods

Steeples Veterinary Clinic

Top Crop Garden, Farm & Pet

Age Friendly Business of The Year

NOMINEES

The Hearing Loss Clinic

Fine + Well Health & Chiropractic

Kootenay Ramps and Access

Gipman Kitchen & Cabinetry

Professional Service Excellence

NOMINEES

Talking Helps Heal Kootenays Ltd.

Morgan Turner Photography

Arch Allure Microblading

Guidance Planning Strategies Ltd.

Cranbrook Veterinary Hospital

Fruition Wellness

Inclusive Employer of The Year

NOMINEES

Westland Insurance – Cranbrook St. Location

The Home Depot

Kootenay Lawn Doctor

Business to Business Excellence

NOMINEES

Tarralin D. Hanson, Notary Public

NextGen Automation

Modern PURAIR ® Kootenays

StellerVista Credit Union

Tourism Excellence

NOMINEES

The Baker Hotel

Cranbrook Farmer’s Market

Encore Brewing

St. Mary Angler Fly Shop

Customer Service Excellence

NOMINEES

Sweet Gestures Chocolate Shoppe

Northstar Bicycle Co.

Morchella Market & Café

Shadow Mountain Golf Course

Cranbrook Co-op Gas Bar

Westland Insurance – Victoria Ave Location

High Country Sports

Meraki Mechanical

Retailer Excellence

NOMINEES

The Choice Shop

Pages Book Emporium

Bumble Tree

The Spiral Path

Excellence in Arts

NOMINEES

Kya Dubois

Brenda Burley – Key City Theatre

Brian Clarkson

Symphony of the Kootenays

Business Person of the Year

NOMINEES

Sylvia & Norbert Roepke of Cranbrook Interior Woodwork

Jesse Roberts of Fire Hall Kitchen & Tap + Encore Brewing

Louis Nelson of Dominos Pizza, Cranbrook

Mike Kaufman of Kootenay Best Blinds

Keon Chung of Just Music Ltd

Culinary Excellence, Sponsored

NOMINEES

Family Thai Restaurant

Mama’s Dumplings

Fire Hall Kitchen & Tap

Pure Leaf Bubble Café

Flippin’ Crêpes

Non Profit Organization of the Year

NOMINEES

Columbia Outdoor School & Blue Lake Camp

Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy Cranbrook

Girl Guides Cranbrook

Boys and Girls Club Cranbrook

Friends of Children Cranbrook

Royal Canadian Legion #24 Cranbrook

East Kootenay Foundation for Health

Junior Chamber International Kootenay

Community Connections Society of Southeast BC

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

NOMINEES

Sasha Longbottom-Denham of Creative Souls Hair & Beauty

Hailey Walker of Hailey’s Cupcakes

Chance Litke of Guidance Planning Strategies Ltd.

Ashley Taylor of Sweet Gestures Chocolate Shoppe


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Business Excellence Awards recognize and celebrate the successes of Cranbrook’s best businesses, and their leadership, across all sectors, private, public and not for profit within Cranbrook’s economic zone.

The Business Excellence Awards shines a spotlight on organizations and validates their efforts to prosper in a strategic manner. Celebrating the diversity, creativity, ingenuity and success of the local business community the Business Excellence Awards are open to organizations of any size and individuals.

  • Nomination submissions are open online >2 months prior to the Business Excellence Awards Ceremony.
  • Nominations are garnered from peers, the public or by way of self-nomination.
  • After nominations are closed, each nominee is notified and congratulated by the Chamber.
  • Nominees accept nomination. We send them an interview-style questionnaire that they fill out. (If a business does not want to accept the nomination, their name is removed from consideration.)
  • We will then provide adjudicators copies of the completed questionnaires for designated categores along with a matrix to score each nominee to ensure unbiased rating.
  • Once we receive back all three adjudicator’s matrices, we will tally the score and advise who the recipient is.

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

  • Cranbrook Businesses
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Not-for-Profits
  • Employers
  • Yourself

Award nominations are open to all of the above, regardless of Chamber membership status

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

No! The Business Excellence awards are open to all who call Cranbrook & area home. We invite all of Cranbrook businesses, non-profits, entrepreneurs, and leaders the chance to be recognized for their greatness.

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

SUBMIT A NOMINATION »