Three small businesses from Vancouver Island are the finalists for the Small Business BC Awards.
The Awards, hosted by Small Business BC, have been running for 21 years, focusing on recognizing and elevating small businesses throughout BC.
The organization says three Island businesses made it to the finals after competing with over 400 businesses from 75 towns and cities, making it to the top five in three categories.
They say the categories are E-Commerce Experience, Business Impact, and Best Youth Entrepeneur, with the nominees pitching why they should win to the judges.
In the end, only three finalists remain for each category, with Small Business CEO Tom Conway saying they are impressed by the variety of competitors.
“From newcomers to veterans, spanning regions as small as Ucluelet and as large as Vancouver,” said Conway. “Yet they all share a common thread; each has showcased their connection to their community and the meaningful impact they’ve made.”
For the Business Impact Award, an award given to those who make a difference in their community, Tofino’s Ahous Adventures is one of the finalists for getting visitors to explore the Ahousat territories through those who have lived there.
Along with Mint Cleaning, which offers cleaning products in Ucluelet, West Coast Karma from the Comox Valley has been nominated for the Premier’s People’s Choice Award. Karma is a store known for selling clothing and accessories with nature-inspired designs.
Small Business says the award is given to a business that showcases the unwavering support of their community, with the winner decided by a public vote.
The winners will be announced at the Vancouver Convention Centre on November 1.
