Five Comox Valley companies have been named finalists for the 18th annual Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards, which will take place Jan. 25 in Victoria.
Local businesses up for awards this year include Blinds & Bubbles Boutique (from Comox), Dale Roberts Notary and Strong Hearts Fitness, (both from Courtenay), Tree Island Gourmet Yoghurt (from Royston) and the Cumberland Crate Company.
Tracey McGinnis, a co-owner of Blinds & Bubbles Boutique, said she and her husband were surprised and honoured when they received the email saying their business was nominated.
“As a small business and husband and wife team, you typically go about your day with your head down and just work super hard for your clients and hope you enjoy what you do,” said McGinnis in a statement.
“So when we won the Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award last year, it took some time to get our heads around it. It is always tough to [receive] public accolades for doing what you think should just be automatically expected of your business.
“Then we received an email saying we have been nominated and are a finalist for the Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards…mind blown!”
Strong Hearts Fitness owner Adam Morden also said his business is proud to be named a finalist.
“The Comox Valley is an amazing community and we are honoured to be a business that is recognized as strengthening community — in body and in spirit,” said Morden. “We’re grateful for our dedicated, exceptional staff, and for our amazing clients, who inspire us to be better every day.”
Hosted by Business Examiner, the annual awards gala will take place on Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort, in Victoria. There are 88 finalists nominated in total from across the Island.
Tickets to the gala cost $125 plus GST and can be purchased through businessexaminer.ca.
The event will include cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and the awards ceremony at 8 p.m.