Everyone has favourite places to shop and acquire needed services and the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce wants to hear about all of them in order to celebrate and recognize business excellence with the 2013 Chamber Business Awards.
Nominations are now open and there are a number of categories to nominate a favourite business in: from customer service excellence, to the impact they have on the greater community and more.
Chamber manager, Tammy Verigin-Burk, said she is pleased with the amount of nominations that have come in so far, after only being advertised for a short period of time but wants to get the word out that the more nominations the better.
She is also excited about a new Community Impact Award which will recognize the accomplishments of those organizations in the not-for-profit sector that contribute to the economic, social and / or cultural well‐being in the Castlegar area.
Businesses do not have to be Chamber members to be nominated and can be nominated in more than one category. Businesses must be established for at least 12 months to qualify.
Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.castlegar.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Business-Awards-Nomination-Form.pub20131.pdf or you can find them in the Castlegar News to cut out.
They can also be forwarded to the Chamber office either by mail (1995 6 Ave Castlegar, BC V1N 4W3), fax ( 250-365-5778) or email: cdcoc@castlegar.com
Once the nomination period ends on Tuesday, April 30, they will be reviewed by a panel and those selected that fit the criteria will be notified.
"There are five people on the panel," said Verigin-Burk. "It may go to seven but it is always an uneven number. The panel members are not on the Chamber executive and are made up of a cross-section of business owners or managers representing a range of businesses and age groups."
After that, a formal recognition of the winners will take place Saturday, June 15 at Chances in Castlegar. Tickets for the awards night are on sale at the Chamber office for $50 per person.
"We switch up the venues to be inclusive of all of the facilities that provide catering," said Verigin-Burk. "Chances has a lovely conference room and we look forward to having the banquet and awards show there."
The award categories are:
BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
The award is presented to an individual who is a dedicated leader, contributor (not always financial) and embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship. The conduct of the recipient and his/her business must be above reproach with regard to ethics, quality, and service and project a positive community image.
BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
A business that has been in operation for more than three years and has consistently offered outstanding service and/or product to its customers and displays a strong commitment to community involvement.
CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE
Presented to a business that is committed to high standards of customer service. This company delivers exceptional service in their dealings with customers, educates and encourages their staff to improve and excel in matters of customer relations. This company also strives to improve the customer experience within their business through communications, problem solving, and innovation.
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
The award recognizes the accomplishments of those organizations in the not-for-profit sector which contribute to the economic, social and / or cultural well‐being of Castlegar & area. Criteria: The organization must have an established reputation for delivering a high level of programs and/or services as well as a track record of efficient and effective management.
GREEN AWARD
The nominee business must: display environmental responsiveness through personal leadership and effort; demonstrate innovation in stewardship of the environment; display commitment to exemplary environmental responsiveness, beyond governmental requirements; encourage others to be environmentally responsible.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AWARD
This business must exemplify innovation, professionalism and integrity. This category is limited to the professional company, not the individual employee or contractor or a retail store.
CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR
Companies must sell construction services, employ trades people, and/or contract out labour supply in the industrial, commercial, institutional, residential, and civil.
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
A business, organization, or individual(s) that: supports the Castlegar tourism industry and contributes to the development of Castlegar as a must-see destination.
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
An entrepreneur(s) between the ages of nine and 35 as of December 31 of the current year who: is an owner(s) or manager(s) and must have been actively involved in the company’s daily management. She/he is recognized as employing ethical business standards with customers, employees and suppliers, while contributing to the quality in life in the community.