A husband and wife team from Comox was the lone winner from the Valley at the Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Vancouver Island Torch Awards.
Bill and Bonnie Moore, owners of Moore's Cleaning & Maintenance Service, won the trades category at the annual awards.
The Moores have operated their business the past 14 years. The service offers house and office cleaning, maintenance, janitorial and a bit of recycling. Bill, 71, does some yard work as well.
Bill and Bonnie have previously been nominated for a Torch Award, but this is their first win.
"We're very happy," said Bonnie, who made a speech at a gala celebration in Victoria Nov. 7. "It's kind of nice to have something here in the Valley."
The couple is working with Better at Home, a program that helps seniors remain independent by way of house and yard work, and other non-medical services.
"It's a new program that started up in July," Bonnie said. "The United Way is supporting it, and so is the British Columbia government."
Bonnie also cooks and bakes for some of her customers.
"I'm not supposed to but I do it anyways," said Bonnie, who had looked after a Comox woman for 20 years before she and Bill started the cleaning service. "I know people need help, and it's something home care doesn't do. Lots of them can't manage."
One of their clients is blind.
"When I go there I do extra stuff for her. I don't get paid, but I do it anyway. I know how dangerous it is. Can you imagine closing your eyes and walking around all day not seeing and trying to cook yourself a supper?"
The Moores would like to clean more offices, but Bonnie says they're "hard to come by." At the same time, they don't want to take on more than they can handle.
"Because only two of us, we don't want to hire nobody. So we try to stick with the smaller businesses and the smaller places."
They'd like to thank their customers.
Along with the BBB, Bill and Bonnie are Chamber of Commerce members.
Victoria companies dominated the Torch Awards, winning nine of 12 categories.
“The Torch Awards recognize businesses that have made an exemplary commitment to honest and ethical business practices and consumer service excellence,” said Rosalind Scott, president/CEO of BBB serving Vancouver Island. “Local businesses are nominated by customers for their commitment to providing fair, honest, reliable and respectful customer service."
For more information visit bbb.org/vancouver-island.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com