2020 Business Excellence Awards Book

20rs!

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LLP

TWENTIETH ANNUAL

January 30, 2020 at the

Westin Bear Mountain Resort, Victoria Proudly presented by

Gold Sponsors: Platinum Media Sponsor:

Category Sponsors:

Your assets are not just numbers …

They represent everything you hold dear: how you spend your time, who and what you care about, and your hopes for the future.

• • • •

It took a lot of hard work to get where you are.

Your passion for your business is motivating and you work hard.

Your dreams for the future are possible.

You are proud of your achievements and grateful for your successes.

We know you are smart enough to learn how to invest and manage your own money. It is a question of what you want to do with your time.

Wouldn’t you rather be doing what you love instead of sitting in front of your computer looking at spreadsheets?

Our clients feel confident they have a partner who cares about them and who is there to help them at every stage of the journey. Take your business and your personal life to the next level of success by planning your investments and retirement with the help of an expert.

Please contact us today to set up a confidential meeting.

Services You Can Expect Include: ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Holistic Personal, Corporate and Family Wealth Planning Cross Border Wealth Management Canadian retirement plans: RRSP, RRIF, IPP, TFSA, etc.

American retirement plans: IRA, Roth, rollovers, etc.

Investment advice and portfolio asset allocation April M. Dorey Award winning research Vice President, Private Client Group, Excellent service!

Wealth Manager

Direct Line: 250.405.2429 or 1.888.778.0356 www.DoreyWealth.com

Securities-related products and services are offered through Raymond James Ltd., Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund, for Canadian residents; Raymond James (USA) Ltd., Member FINRA/SIPC, for US residents. Insurance products and services are offered through Raymond James Financial Planning Ltd. for Canadian residents, not a member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Please note that not all products will be available everywhere and to everyone.

Not intended to solicit clients currently working with a Raymond James Financial Advisor.

Welcome to the 20th Annual Grant Thornton LLP Business Excellence Awards January 30, 2020 at the Westin Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria It’s a new decade, and this is a great way to start it off: by celebrating the “best of the best” in business with the 20th Annual version of the of Grant Thornton LLP Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards! The businesses represented in this program and that have joined us this evening represent the best of the best in 17 different categories to honour their performance over the past calendar year. Business owners, managers and leaders are gathered tonight for networking, camaraderie, and an evening of positive reflection about their accomplishments.

Table of Contents Category

Page

Judges’ Biographies 2 Automotive

4

Beverage

6

Construction/Development

8

Entrepreneur of the Year

14

Food & Food Production

16

Health Care

20

This event is brought to you by our generous Sponsors: Platinum Title Sponsor Grant Thornton LLP, Platinum Media Sponsor Black Press, Gold Sponsors RBC Royal Bank and the Business Examiner. Our Category Sponsors this year are Invest Comox Valley, Helijet and Coastal Community Credit Union. Without them, the Business Excellence Awards would not be possible.

Hospitality

22

Manufactured Wood Products

24

Manufacturing

26

And this year, we’re delighted to have Stacy Ross of CHEK TV serve as our Master of Ceremonies!

Ocean Products

28

Professional

29

Retail

33

Technology

38

Tourism

39

Trades

40

This what the Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards has always been about. There are always good stories to tell in every environment and economy, and these Awards were created for exactly this purpose: To celebrate the successes of companies in our economy in a wide variety of sectors.

The pages of this Official Souvenir Book are filled with profiles, photos and contact Information for some of the most successful businesses on Vancouver Island over the 2019 calendar year. There are some amazing stories to be told, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to highlight these as sterling examples of what can be, and is being done, in our region.

Of course, this also wouldn’t be possible without all the businesses that have been nominated for the 17 categories in this year’s awards.

Business Examiner Victoria and Business Examiner Vancouver Island tell stories about business, and the Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards gives the publication a great opportunity to highlight some of the biggest and brightest stars of the year.

They are honoured to be able to combine their efforts to put together this night to remember. Don’t forget to look for photos and the winners at: www.businessexaminer.ca

Small Business (Under 50 Employees)

43

Business of the Year

45

Mark MacDonald President

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 1

Judges for the 20th Annual Grant Thornton LLP Business Excellence Awards Jolynn Green

Jolynn Green

Jolynn’s hands-on experience assisting hundreds of small businesses from startup to expansion and her rich and diverse work experience combined with lifelong learning has created a business acumen steeped in business, human resources, project management, organizational development and nonprofit sector management.

She is an entrepreneur at heart and has been self-employed.

Her career began in the community economic development arena as a Chamber of Commerce Manager/ EDO actively pursuing economic development opportunities. Motivated by the grassroots development approach and the business development aspect of Western Diversification Canada’s Community Futures Program mandate, Jolynn joined the team of Community Futures Central Island in July 2010 as an Executive Director.

Community Futures, a not for profit itself, understands the need for diversified income streams and self-reliance. Community Futures provides capital to businesses in the way of repayable loans whether operated by an individual, corporation or not for profit. Jolynn’s work experience gave her the desire to continue to expand her knowledge base and as a result she is a graduate from Royal Roads University of Victoria.

Geoff Crawford

Geoff is the Business Development Manager at the Comox Valley Economic Development Society, also known as Invest Comox Valley. The Comox Valley Economic Development office was formed in 1988 and is a non-profit society with annual funding from the City of Courtenay, Town of Comox and the Comox Valley Regional District Areas A, B and C. The Comox Valley Economic Development Board of Directors is comprised of 14 individuals including members and directors.

Geoff works closely with Executive Director John Watson and the team to create projects and promote the Comox Valley as an ideal destination for businesses to come and locate in the area.

Derrold Norgaard

Geoff Crawford

Derrold Norgaard

For most of his career, Derrold was a Tax Partner with KPMG LLP, one of Canada’s largest accountancy and consultancy firms, working out of both the Vancouver and Victoria offices. Derrold held the dual role of Tax Partner in Victoria and Office Managing Partner for the office until his departure from KPMG LLP in 2008.

Derrold is the Principal behind Island Tax. Derrold focuses on a family office role acting as a private tax advisor for high wealth individuals, families and businesses. His team of assistants and associates allow for his work and practice to take place across Canada.

Derrold’s primary areas of practice include personal tax planning, international tax and corporate taxation.

He has authored several articles on Canadian tax planning and has been an instructor in Canadian Institute tax programs for many years. He is a frequently requested speaker to business groups throughout Canada and Asia. He has also been recognized as one of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC, and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, Top Instructors for his teaching in various tax programs over the years, including the Advanced Tax Program sponsored jointly by the Canadian Tax Foundation.

Over the years, Derrold has worked on a variety of assignments throughout Canada, and has also been an active speaker and seminar leader for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Certified General Accountants Institutes of British Columbia and Hong Kong, as well as various business associations throughout Canada, Germany, and several Pacific Rim nations.

Stacy Ross, Master of Ceremonies Stacy has been part of the CHEK family since April 2000 when she was hired as a fill-in, weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter. She’s still convinced she only got the job because her mini-van was burglarized the evening she auditioned but something clearly stuck. Through a number of different positions in sports and then news, and several changes of station ownership, she is now a proud employee-owner and the anchor of CHEK News at 5.

Her career before television included stints with the (then) Juan

2

de Fuca Chamber of Commerce, the Victoria A.M. Business Services Association and a Westshore based real estate agent.

Away from work, Stacy is living the dream, in Metchosin, with her husband, two kids. Her parents and her childhood home are right next door.

She’s very honoured and proud to be involved with tonight’s Grant Thornton LLP Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees.

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Stacy Ross

Think boldly.

Act boldly.

It’s not just about achieving success.

It’s about sustaining it.

That’s why Grant Thornton LLP is proud to support innovative local businesses.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 Grant Thornton LLP Business Examiner Awards. These companies have made impressive advances and are clearly leading the way. We’re proud sponsors of the awards because we know exemplary leadership inspires others.

Courtenay Duncan Nanaimo Victoria

grantthornton.ca

Audit | Tax | Advisory

© 2020 Grant Thornton LLP. A Canadian Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd. All rights reserved.

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 3

Sponsored By

Automotive

Cowichan Auto Repair Cowichan Auto Repair opened its doors 3.5 years ago. CAR is a female owned, full service, automotive repair/maintenance and detailing facility in Duncan, serving the Cowichan Valley.

They offer FREE services, including Towing, Loaner Car, CARFAX, On-line auto maintenance schedules for cars or light trucks, followed up with friendly reminders that let customers know when a car is due for service. Cowichan Auto Repair is the home of Women & Wheels workshops which enlighten, empower and educate women.

Cowichan Auto Repair 5275 Chaster Road Duncan, BC 778-422-3100 www.cowichanautorepair.com

Laird Wheaton GM Laird Wheaton Chevrolet Buick GMC Corvette Cadillac has been selling vehicles in Nanaimo and the Central Island region since 1990.

They offer a full service dealership including sales, financing, 22 service bays, parts and a body shop.

Laird Wheaton GM 2590 Bowen Road Nanaimo, BC 250-758-2438 www.lairdwheaton.com

Belmont Collision Belmont Collision is a family owned and operated business; currently run by the third generation! They have been servicing the Westshore since 1975, and their sister location, Sooke’s Westcoast Collision & Glass, has been servicing the Sooke area since 1991.

Belmont Collision offers collision repairs, automotive glass and automotive mechanical services and is an ICBC accredited Express Repair facility providing full autobody repair.

Mechanical services including computerized wheel alignments, air conditioning service and repair and windshield repair and replacement are offered at their Westshore location. Belmont Collision is also a designated vehicle inspection facility, and is an I-Car Internationally recognized Platinum Level facility.

Belmont Collision 892 Goldstream Avenue Victoria, BC www.belmontcollision.com

4

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

CONGRATU CONGRATULATIONS to all the no to all the nominees

Here’s to your continued succe Here’s to your continued success, from all of us at RBC® Vancouver Island Comm at RBC® Vancouver Island Commercial Banking.

Tom Siemens Jack Leung

Mark BrandleTom Siemens

Simon Miller Kevin Gillanders

Sherman Lum Kevin Gillanders

Vice President Commercial Banking Vice-President Commercial Banking South Vancouver Island Vancouver Island 707 Fort St. 2nd Floor 250-356-4544 Victoria, BC jack.leung@rbc.com 250-356-4544

Commercial Account Manager Banking Vice-President Commercial 250-356-4732 North Vancouver Island simon.miller@rbc.com 205 Commercial St. Nanaimo, BC 250-741-3516

Commercial Account Manager Vice-President Commer 250-464-0212 South Vancouver Island mark.brandle@rbc.com 707 Fort St. 2nd Floor Victoria, BC 250-356-4544

Commercial Account Manager Vice-President Commer 250-356-4609 North Vancouver Island sherman.lum@rbc.com 205 Commercial St. Nanaimo, BC 250-741-3516

TM

® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. VPS94217 30075 (05/2015)

® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. VPS94217

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 5 APPROVALS 100% of Final Size

shelf ad Congratulations shelf ad - English 94217 AD_30075_Warwick.indd

7.5” x 9.75” None

shelf ad Congratulation 94217 AD_30075_Warwick.in

Beverage

Ace Brewing Company Ace Brewing Company is the newest Micro Brewery to open in the Comox Valley. Located on the south end of Courtenay, it is easily accessible being right off the Old Island Highway, Cliffe Avenue, with loads of parking and near the River Walkway which is popular for cyclists and walkers.

Patrons are pleasantly surprised with all eight beers on tap, including seasonal beers and a perfectly aged Lager. They create quality authentic brews for all to savoir and already have a great following with many regulars. Their kitchen serves a wide variety of quick fresh picks from the menu, including hot dogs, mac n’ cheese, panini etc...

Ace Brewing Company 150 Mansfield Drive Courtenay, BC 604-290-2071 www.acebrewing.ca

Land & Sea Brewing Land & Sea Brewing is a community focused brewery located in Comox that offers a great variety of crisp, clean and crushable beers brewed onsite. Their beer is accompanied by their feisty kitchen that serves up an assortment of delicious, locally sourced eats to pair with beverages.

They also offer wine, cider and Kombucha from local manufacturers as well as juice boxes and craft sodas for kids.

Land & Sea Brewing 2040 Guthrie Road Comox, BC 250-941-5577 www.landandseabrewing.ca

Parsell Vineyard Vancouver Island’s only natural winemakers, crafts small lot artisanal wines from 100 per cent Saanichton fruit, using no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or sulfites in the wine making process.

They are the first winery in BC to pioneer using reusable wine bottles, to reduce costs for consumers and to reduce our environmental impact, a green “win-win” scenario.

They sell wines direct-to-consumer in Canada and are expanding in 2020 to select U.S. markets, bringing hand-crafted BC wines to the global market from the Saanich Peninsula.

Parsell Vineyard 2838 Lamont Road Saanichton, BC 778-922-4525 www.parsellvineyard.com

White Sails Brewing White Sails Brewing opened in 2015 with the goal of creating a unique gathering space celebrating the local Nanaimo community. White Sails has become a beacon, recognized locally, nationally and internationally as an award-winning Brewery and Taproom.

White Sails Brewery produces its award-winning craft beer in-house for two primary market segments. The White Sails Taproom showcases its beer alongside local cider, wine and coffee and a locally sourced food menu in a 100+ seat West Coast inspired Taproom.

White Sails Brewing 125 Comox Road Nanaimo, BC 250-754-2337 www.whitesailsbrewing.com

6

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Congratulations to all Business Examiner Awards Nominees!

Victoria: 905 Fort St., Victoria BC V8V 3K3 Tel: 250-385-9786 Sidney: 2455 Beacon Ave., Sidney BC V8L 1X7 Tel: 250-656-1233

www.islandblue.com

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 7

Construction/Development

Sponsored By

AFC Construction Privately owned and based in Courtenay, AFC Construction has been providing General Contracting, Project Management and Construction Management services on a wide variety of projects since the founding of the company in 2004.

AFC’s track record of successfully delivering projects throughout Vancouver Island and surrounding islands include commercial, Industrial and residential buildings.

AFC Construction is focusing on improving its apprenticeship program by hiring and mentoring more young workers; Including the promotion and support of female participation in this key industry.

AFC Construction 111-2459 Cousins Avenue Courtenay, BC 250-897-1789 www.afcconstruction.com

Alair Homes Alair Homes has served the great communities in and around Nanaimo for over 12 years by providing high-quality custom-built homes and historically appealing yet modern renovations.

The company takes pride in all its projects; from multi-million-dollar estates to budget friendly starter homes, all with the same level of care, craftsmanship and topnotch customer service. Stu Hopewell heads Alair Homes in Nanaimo along with his team to provide a hands-on approach, and the very best service and transparency in the building industry to their customers. These two major factors have resulted in Alair Homes’ success in Nanaimo and across North America.

Alair Homes 96 Wallace Street Nanaimo, BC 778-762-1349 www.alairhomes.ca/nanaimo/

Island West Coast Developments Island West Coast Developments (IWCD) is a medium sized commercial construction company based in both Nanaimo and Victoria, providing construction management/ general contracting services to a wide range of business types both on and off the Island. A large portion of their projects are design-build projects, which allows them to work closely with clients in developing a unique finished product that meets with their individual wants and needs.

IWCD started in 1986 as Island West Coast Homes and expanded into the commercial market in 1992. IWCD is very proud to be one of Canada’s Best Managed Company’s – a program we have been involved in since 2013 and have achieved Gold Standard status for the last 2 years.

Island West Coast Developments Ltd. 2214 McCullough Road Nanaimo, BC 250-756-9665 www.iwcd.ca

8

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Construction/Development

Sponsored By

Congratulations to Alair Homes on your success!

Serving Nanaimo & Central Vancouver Island

250.616.4126 brett@betile.ca www.betile.ca

Proud supporter of Alair Homes, congratulations on your success!

Nanaimo: Parksville: Campbell River:

250.753.2353 250.954.0331 250.286.0051

www.pioneerfireplace.com

www.mazzeielectric.com

Serving Vancouver Island, Northern BC and Kelowna

Congratulations to Alair Homes on being recognized as one of Vancouver Island’s leading businesses!

RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL

LTD

Congratulations to Stu and the team at Alair Homes on your success!

Not just another D.A.M drywall company Proud supporter of Alair Homes! damgood-drywall@live.ca

• land surveying • development consulting • geomatics

250-753-9778 | 435 Terminal Ave. N, Nanaimo www.turnersurveys.ca | info@turnersurveys.ca

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 9

Construction/Development

Congratulations to Alair Homes on being recognized as one of Vancouver Island’s leading businesses!

Proud supporter of Alair Homes, congratulations on your success!

Sponsored By

Congratulations to Alair Homes on your recognition as one of Vancouver Island’s leading businesses!

Proud supporter of Alair Homes, congratulations on your success!

3090 Barons Road, Nanaimo P: 250.729.0504 admin@crossandco.ca www.crossandco.ca

732 Caledonia Avenue, Victoria

P 250.370.2191

www.jacobyandgames.com

Congratulations to Stu and the team at Alair Homes on all your success!

2050 Minetown Rd, Nanaimo P: 250.755.1994 E: tttexcavating@hotmail.com www.tripletexcavating.ca

2730 Fairbanks St, Nanaimo P: 250.758.3818 E: blake@phoenixsiding.ca www.phoenixsiding.ca

10 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Congratulations to Alair Homes on being recognized as one of Vancouver Island’s leading businesses!

Kitchen Cabinets, Countertops, Murphy Beds, Built-Ins & Commercial Millwork A proud partner and supplier of premium cabinetry to Alair Homes.

Congratulations to Stu and the team!

www.midislandcabinets.com Parksville: 250.954.1789 | Nanaimo: 250.585.2118

We are proud to support the 2020 Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards.

Congratulations to all the winners and runners up!

ALL SEATS ARE BUSINESS CLASS

Patriot Electric is a BC Hydro Alliance contractor specializing in Electric Vehicle charger installations for both your home and work place.

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE VANCOUVER ISLAND BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS

250-590-3214

helijet.com |

Social icon

Square Only use blue and/or white.

For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

helijet | 1.800.665.4354

(OďŹƒce)

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 11

Construction/Development

Sponsored By

Sartori Custom Homes Sartori Custom Homes is a custom home builder serving the mid Vancouver Island region.

The company was founded in 1973, and has been operating on Vancouver Island for just under three years. Dan Sartori has been with the company for well over 20 years, and has been President of the company since 2007.

Sartori Custom Homes offers clients assistance with land procurement, initial concept design, architectural design, interior design, and of course build. Their open book system of project management gives clients comprehensive access to all of the budget and costs in advance as well as during, which is universally appreciated by all who engage them for their services. It also makes them, as a business, accountable for each and every dollar spent.

They have chosen to take on a limited number of projects at any given time in order to maintain one on one engagement through all aspects of the design-build process. Dan personally manages each project to ensure that the level of quality and attention to detail never wavers.

Sartori Custom Homes 3434 Bromley Place Nanoose Bay, BC 250-984-7983 www.sartoricustomhomes.ca

Congratulations to Sartori Custom Homes on your nomination. You deserve it!

P: 250.713.6040

5683 Brookwood Drive, Nanaimo E: ellisexcavating@shaw.ca www.ellisexcavating.ca

Kitchen Cabinets, Countertops, Murphy Beds, Built-Ins & Commercial Millwork A proud partner and supplier of premium cabinetry to Sartori Custom Homes.

Congratulations to Dan and the team!

www.midislandcabinets.com Parksville: 250.954.1789 | Nanaimo: 250.585.2118 12 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Sponsored By

Construction/Development

Saywell Contracting Ltd. Saywell Contracting Ltd. is a mid-sized construction firm with offices located in Nanaimo and Courtenay. They house a balanced team of constructors, project managers and project coordinators experienced and diversified in Project Management, Construction Management and General Contracting to offer a wide range of services in residential, multi-family, commercial and industrial construction.

Founded in 1998, Saywell Contracting is a Canadian Construction Association, Gold Seal Certified, HPO Licensed company, members of the Vancouver Island Construction Association, the Canadian Green Building Council and Passive House Canada dedicated to Building Peace of Mind.

In the past year they have successfully completed a variety projects that have given them the opportunity to increase their presence all over Vancouver Island.

Saywell Contracting Ltd. 2599 McCullough Road Nanaimo, BC 250-729-0197 www.saywellcontracting.com

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 13

Entrepreneur LIFT Startups LIFT is inclusive: If you’re a community-minded, entrepreneurial, and/or innovative/unique business on the Island, they can help.

LIFT actively promotes community members on its award-winning social media channels.

LIFT members are supporting each other on social media, offering LIFT VIP Offers in monthly newsletters, and giving advice at BizOnDeck workshops and LIFT socials – and more.

LIFT Startups 1540 Hobson Avenue Courtenay, BC 250-897-2365 www.liftstartups.ca

Imagination FX Imagination FX has been a full-time business for owner Nene Kraneveldt since 2007 At Imagination FX, their mission is to meet people and organizations where they are at, IMAGINE a new desired future, and to help make their vision a reality.

Imagination FX is an Indigenous consulting and multi-media firm. Their services are delivered primarily to First Nations, Federal and Provincial governments, non-profit organizations and public sector clients. Professional consulting services include: Community Engagement; Comprehensive Community Planning; Training; Proposal Development; Program Development; Curriculum Development & Delivery; Essential Skills; Research; Facilitation; Health & Wellness Programming; and Financial Literacy Curriculum Development and Delivery.

Imagination FX Port Alberni, BC 250-730-6363 www.imaginationfx.ca

Saseenos Veterinary Clinic Saseenos Veterinary Services is a locally owned and operated full service veterinary clinic that has been servicing the families of Sooke and Greater Victoria area of 30 years. The clinic is nestled in the trees, backing onto a regional multi-use trail and across the street from the ocean.

The purpose built facility offers full service pet care with in house laboratory and x-ray ability as well as digital dental x-ray and a full surgical suite.

Saseenos Veterinary Clinic 5490 Sooke Road Sooke, BC 250-642-7387 www.saseenosvet.com

Stonehouse Teas Stonehouse Teas specializes in loose-leaf tea, hot and cold beverages, including a coffee bar and bubble teas. Serving Campbell River since 1995, they also offer quality giftware, tea accessories and wholesale tea to other cafes and restaurants in Campbell River and the surrounding communities (Quadra Island, Comox, Port Alberni). Stonehouse Teas products are also available through their online store, primarily serving western Canada and occasional US customers. Stonehouse Teas began as a small business before tea became popular, selling loose-leaf tea at farmers markets and home parties.

Stonehouse Teas 605 11th Avenue Campbell River, BC 250-286-1231 www.stonehouseteas.com

14 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Fun! Fabulous!

Flags and Banners!

Compass Electric Compass Electrical would like wouldour likededicated to thank our to thank crew dedicated crew and and office staff and of office course and of course ourstaff customers for their our customers for their continued support!. continued support!

Artopia is known for high-quality custom flags, banners, and seasonal textile displays.

Artopia makes banners for business, shopping centres, special events and festivals, corporate identities, and real estate developments.

Call 250-594-9943, cell: 250-516-9987 or email: karol@artopia.info to add some sizzle to your site!

www.artopia.info

Compass Electric 110-1039 Langford Parkway, Victoria, BC V9B 0A5

250-886-4611

info@compasselectric.net

McGORMAN MacLEAN

Chartered Professional Accountants

Congratulations to all of the Finalists! mcgormanmaclean.com 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 15

Food & Food Production Chocolate Tofino Chocolate Tofino is a locally owned chocolatier that makes artisanal chocolate and gelato with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, but they’ve always been about so much more. They aim to create a memorable Tofino visitor experience that guests treasure for years and try to recreate as often as they are able.

Chocolate Tofino first opened 17 years ago. They are passionate about fresh chocolate and making the best gelato, and make everything by hand in small batches. They have been highly rated on TripAdvisor for years and have had the privilege of serving wellknown celebrities and the Prime Minister and his family.

Chocolate Tofino 1180 A Pacific Rim Highway Tofino, BC 250-725-2526 www.chocolatetofino.com

Eatmore Sprouts & Greens Ltd. Eatmore Sprouts & Greens Ltd. provides fresh, locally grown, certified organic sprouts and greens year round in the Comox Valley and beyond for a happier healthier planet.

Eatmore Sprouts & Greens Ltd. is a Certified Organic Farm producing a variety of sprouts, greens and vegetables on 3.75 acres near Courtenay. Their sprouted products are sold through restaurants, grocery stores and wholesale distributors throughout Western Canada. Sprout products include: Alfalfa, Deli, Garlic, Clover, Broccoli, Sunflower Greens, Microgreens and Pea Shoots. Sprouts are produced in an indoor growing facility and greenhouse buildings. They produce over 10,000 pounds of sprouts and greens weekly, year round!

Eatmore Sprouts & Greens Ltd. 2604 Grieve Road Courtenay, BC 250-338-4860 www.eatmoresprouts.com

Fatso Peanut Butter Fatso is an all-natural peanut butter enriched with plant-based superfats. The business was launched in November, 2016 at a few choice retailers in Victoria. For the first two years, Fatso was run as a solo mission, demoing in stores across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland every weekend and the owner made personal deliveries to all retailers out of an SUV that held exactly 73 cases.

After establishing Fatso as a well-recognized brand name across western Canada, they set their sights on nation-wide distribution. In January, 2019, after taking on two employees, they secured national distribution and are now established in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Today, Fatso boast three successful flavours (Classic, Crunchy Salted Caramel, and Cocoa) and over 1,300 retail doors across Canada, with more being added every week. In October, they also launched in all Whole Foods Markets in Washington and Oregon, marking our official debut in the US market.

Fatso Peanut Butter 4264 Blenkinsop Road Victoria, BC 250-885-1366 www.eatfatso.com

16 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Congratulations to all 2020 Buisness Excellence Award nominees

From all of us at Victoria Pub Company

FOOD for the Body

DRINK for the Spirit

MUSIC for the Soul

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 17

Food & Food Production Locals Restaurant Chef Ronald St. Pierre and Tricia St. Pierre opened Locals Restaurant in 2008 with the goal of setting a new standard for the Comox Valley’s food culture, showcasing outstanding food and beverage production in the region and on Vancouver Island.

They were committed to closing the producer-consumer gap by building relationships and putting a face and name to local producers. As well, they promote environment sustainability in an industry that is very energy demanding.

Ronald’s partnerships with farmers and producers has resulted in local small businesses growing, diversifying and developing value added products. Ronald and Tricia believe that in order for customers to support locals, Locals must support the community. In the past 12 years, over 1,100 gift certificates and food donations have been made in support of community organizations.

Locals Restaurant 1760 Riverside Lane Courtenay, BC 250-338-6493 www.localscomoxvalley.com

Picnic Charcuterie Picnic Charcuterie was founded in January, 2014, on the values of supporting sustainable agriculture on Vancouver Island and perpetuating traditional techniques.

On a shoestring budget funded by a generous family member, and with the help of her father, owner Christina Windsor renovated an old public works garage into a 420 sq. ft.. charcuterie production facility and retail area that opened to the public on June 15, 2014.

Since then, and thanks to the generosity of local angel investors, Windsor has more than doubled Picnic’s production and retail spaces, and has diversified Picnic’s offerings from strictly house-made meats to a full complement of gourmet products.

Picnic is a now full-service delicatessen offering a wide selection of house-made handcrafted traditionally fermented salami, smoked meats and preserves, as well as gourmet accoutrements and heat-and-serve meals for retail and wholesale.

Picnic Charcuterie 700 Industrial Way Tofino, BC 250-889-5738 www.picniccharcuterie.com

Running W Egg Farm - Farmer Ben’s Eggs Farmer Bens Eggs is a Vancouver Island based Egg Grader. They also do business under the name Running W Egg Farm Ltd. Running W Egg Farm Ltd is the egg production side of the business. They are currently the only Producer grader on Vancouver Island.

They produce over 20 million eggs per year and purchase additional eggs from another Cowichan Valley Farm to assist them in meeting the need of over 350 customers from Victoria to Campbell River.

They have been in the egg production side of the business for 38 years and decided to branch out to self-marketing and Grading in 1994 ( 25 years). They currently have 19 employees.

Running W Egg Farm - Farmer Ben’s Eggs 1711 Herd Road Duncan, BC 250-746-6110 www.farmerbenseggs.ca

18 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Sponsored By

Congratulations Nominees and Recipients of the Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards.

Like you, we are dedicated to providing exceptional, personalized service.

LOCAL • DOMESTIC • INTERNATIONAL • OFFICE

Estimator – Bruce Budd bbudd@amjbc.ca | 250.474.2225 www.amjcampbell.com

Investing in health and safety helps create a successful business.

We’re working with businesses to ensure current and future workers stay safe.

Access resources at worksafebc.com/smallbusiness 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 19

Health Care Comfort Keepers Comfort Keepers Victoria has been in business for 6.5 years and they work primarily in Victoria, but also provide services from Sooke to Sidney. This family-owned company primarily serves the elderly, providing assistance to help them live as safely and as independently as possible, in the comfort of their own home.

They essentially have 3 tiers of service. The first is called “homemaking and companionship” where our caregivers assist with tasks such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, driving to/from appointments, helping organizing activities, etc. The next tier is “personal care”, where they help with showering, toileting, dressing, medication management, dementia care, etc. The final level of service is our “24hour care”. This is usually reserved for clients who have severe/complex health challenges, for those living with advanced dementia or those who are palliative.

Comfort Keepers 207-1001 Cloverdale Avenue Victoria, BC 778-265-5999 www.comfortkeepers.ca/victoria

Charge Fitness Charge Fitness is an innovative fitness studio that offers workouts using Electro-Muscle Stimulation (EMS) technology. One of the main goals of Charge Fitness is to provide an accessible workout that inspires people, of all levels of fitness and ability, to improve their health and wellbeing! During a workout, EMS electrodes transmit electrical impulses through the skin which stimulate motor nerves to signal the muscles to contract.

Whether these signals originate from the nervous system or from the EMS system, both result in muscles contracting - only the contractions from the EMS system can be made stronger and longer lasting. Compared to conventional strength training, EMS activates nearly all of the motor units at the same time. This means people can effectively train up to 10 major muscle groups simultaneously, compared to a typical gym session where muscle groups are trained one after another.

In an effort to appeal to the busy professional, who make up a lot of Victoria’s growing community, Charge Fitness offers 20 minute workouts that are the equivalent of a two-hour gym session. The workout can be quite challenging to all fitness levels. Further, Charge Fitness also appeals to those who have injuries or joint issues by providing resistance for muscles without the use of weights, leading to less stress on the body.

CONGRATULATIONS to Steve Campbell and the Charge Fitness team on your nomination as one of the top companies on Vancouver Island!

Charge Fitness has been open since February 3, 2018, and was the first studio founded in Victoria. Since then they have opened up in Edmonton and Leduc, Alberta. Charge Fitness is proud to be contributing to the health of Victoria’s community Charge Fitness 1031 Fort Street Victoria, BC 778-440-4111 www.chargefitness.ca

w w w. i n b od y c a n a d a .c a

20 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Health Care Eden Gardens Nanaimo Travellers Lodge Society (NTLS) operating as Eden Gardens (formerly Nanaimo Travellers Lodge), is a non-profit organization and registered charity.

NTLS has been providing quality compassionate care to residents from all over Vancouver Island, predominantly the central core, since 1979.

Eden Gardens on Northfield Road opened in 2017, and was designed and built with compassionate dementia care in mind. Featuring communities and neighborhoods, courtyards and meeting spaces, providing a secure, safe environment for elders and their families. Resident rooms are all private. Dining takes place within the neighborhood creating a homey environment where elders can assist with setting the tables and enjoying their family mealtimes.

Each neighborhood has large windows with views of the gardens.

Main floor living provides access to the outdoors; the upstairs residences have atriums to enjoy. A family room with large screen TV is a gathering place for socializing and entertainment, and for those looking for a quieter space, each neighborhood has a quiet area with seating in front of the fireplace.

Eden Gardens 1917 Northfield Road Nanaimo, BC 250-758-2646 www.edengardens.ca

Proud supporter of Eden Gardens!

P: 250.712.1001 | www.bowersmedical.com

Thank you!

We are proud to be part of our Vancouver Island communities!

Dip your paddle into our Down Easy Pale Ale. Now in six-packs.

waypoint.ca 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 21

Hospitality Alderlea Farm and Cafe Award winning Alderlea Farm has been in business for 16 years, producing and distributing organic biodynamic vegetables and meat. Alderlea Farm Café grew from the farm’s food box (CSA) program nine years ago.

The restaurant is an authentic farm to table destination. A commitment to green sustainable business practices, environmental and community principles has been number one for Farmer John and Cook Katy The restaurant has consistently increased business approximately 30 per cent each year. This growth has led the Ehrlichs to produce vegetables and meat on the farm solely for the restaurant. The Café provides a full menu featuring farm to table fare.

Alderlea Farm and Cafe 3390 Glenora Road Duncan, BC 250-597-3434 www.alderleafarmandcafe.com

Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa The Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa is an award-winning luxury resort, with panoramic views of the Georgia Straight and exquisitely appointed guest rooms.

Nestled in an old growth forest on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island, the resort features the world-class Pacific Mist Spa with a signature spa experience called the Hydropath®, a re-created West Coast shoreline in a cave like setting featuring sandstone sculpted caves and pools, a guided spa experience through eight unique elements.

The spa also offers spa treatments, yoga, an outdoor heated pool, hot tub, infra-red sauna and steam cave.

Kingfisher Oceanside Resort and Spa 4330 Island Highway South Courtenay, BC 800-663-7929 www.kingfisherspa.com

Long Beach Lodge Resort Long Beach Lodge Resort opened in spring 2002 and was designed to resemble a grand West Cost style home. It is located in Tofino, which is a small surf town located at the “end of the road” on Vancouver Island.

Their luxurious boutique resort has 41 lodge rooms, 20 Rainforest Cottages, and is located on 8 acres of oceanfront property on the beautiful beach of Cox Bay. The Great Room restaurant is the gathering place and the heart of the resort where guests can enjoy full service dining and lounge with spectacular ocean views, comfy chairs, and a roaring fireplace. The Sandbar Bistro is an outdoor patio restaurant and was created as an extension of the Great Room. At the Sandbar, guests can enjoy casual table & to-go food service and beverages while watching the sun set over Cox Bay. Long Beach Lodge Resort 1441 Pacific Rim Highway Tofino, BC 250-725-2442 www.longbeachlodgersort.com

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Hospitality Pluvio restaurant + rooms Pluvio restaurant and rooms offers a unique experience celebrating the best local products and natural elements of Ucluelet, Tofino and Vancouver Island. In the restaurant, Chef Warren Barr offers creative and inspired cuisine, focusing on seasonal and wild ingredients foraged from the Ucluelet forests and coastline. The small restaurant and open kitchen allow for personal and refined service in an environment inspired by our surroundings. The restaurant was opened in April 2019, after purchasing the local fine dining staple ‘Norwoods Restaurant’, and was selected as the number 4 best new restaurant in Canada by Air Canada and enRoute magazine, at the annual ‘Canada’s Best New Restaurant’ awards in October.

Pluvio restaurant + rooms 1714 Peninsula Road Ucluelet, BC 250-726-7001 www.pluvio.ca

The Stick In The Mud Coffee House The Stick opened 07/07/07 at 7:00!

It began as a back alley espresso bar in Sooke with plans to bring in baked goods from outside providers. Their goal was to geek out on preparing Specialty Coffee. They sampled a bunch of bakeries, made their decisions and asked about delivery but it turned out that Nobody delivered to Sooke back in ‘07...So they bought an oven and quickly became an Espresso Bar/ Bakery.

And then a Roasting facility.

And then a wholesaler of roasted coffee, fresh baking, coffee equipment, green coffee...

That is how they have grown into a back alley coffee juggernaut!

The Stick In The Mud Coffee House 6715 Eustace Road Sooke, BC 250-642-5635 www.stickinthemud.ca

Orian Construction Inc. is proud to be nominated this year, and we would like to thank all those who have made our success possible.

Orian Construction Inc. (250) 812-1496 | www.orianconstruction.ca 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 23

Manufactured Wood Products Sponsored By Creative Woodcraft Creative Woodcraft specializes in the design, build and installation of custom cabinetry for the home, office or commercial space. Their shop and showroom in Cobble Hill, is where almost everything is made and finished. With 15,000 square feet of shop and office space, and over 35 employees, they are able to take on small and large jobs with a focus on custom manufacturing and quality construction.

As a custom manufacturer, they are not restricted to a certain door style or cabinet size. They can take a customer’s ideas, design it and manufacture it the way the customer envisions. Each job is drawn on their state-of-the-art cabinet drafting software where cabinets are sized to best suit the room layout, incorporating the customer’s ideas and choices Creative Woodcraft 1340 Fisher Road Cobble Hill, BC 250-743-4111 www.creativewoodcraft.ca

San Group Founded in 1979, San Group is a privately held, environmentally conscious, fully integrated Canadian forestry company, based out of Port Alberni and Langley BC. San Group produces some of the most stunning high-end forest products in the world. San Group has evolved from a small lumber remanufacturing facility to a multi-level, fully integrated forest products corporation, creating high-quality lumber products that are exported to more than 25 countries world-wide. The San Group slogan - From Harvest to Home - describes their fully integrated supply chain business model focused on managing every aspect of product development – allowing San Group to add as much value as possible to each log extracted from BC forests.

Distributing lumber products direct to consumers through their Canadian San Cedar Direct lumber outlets and exporting to over 25 countries worldwide including to India, China, the Middle East, the United States and a number of European and Oceanic Countries including France, UK, Netherlands, New Zealand and Australia.

San Group 100 Seizai Road Port Alberni, BC 778-683-2312 www.sangroupinc.com

an k you Mi d-Isl and C abinets for b eing a va lu e d c ustomer

Congratulat ons to the team at M d Island Cab nets

phone

250.954.1234 | Parksv lle, BC | www.ourglassshop.ca 24 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

60 4. 5 07 .0 56 1 | web www.j s c d. c a

Sponsored By

Manufactured Wood Products

Mid-Island Cabinets Ltd. Mid-Island Cabinets Ltd. has been in business for over 27 years. They design, manufacture and install cabinetry for residential homes and commercial projects.

They are a custom manufacturing cabinet shop, and build cabinets for any space including kitchens, bathrooms, closets, entertainment centers, wall beds, just to name a few. The majority of the work they do encompasses the mid-island, but we also do quite a bit of work in Victoria and Fort Saint John.

In 2019, the company purchased a new edgebanding machine that has allowed it to produce a more seamless product. This is also a big improvement on their slab doors as it leaves the doors water resistant. MIC has also undergone a change in management roles which has resulted in changes to company procedures and overall morale. The company has been taking steps to become more lean manufacturing-wise, and efficient. They have switched their main drawer hardware so that 1 drawer can be assembled in 1.5 minutes versus the previous time of 4 minutes per drawer.

Mid-Island Cabinets Ltd. 1500 Springhill Road Parksville, BC 250-954-1789 www.midislandcabinets.com

Always proud to support Mid Island Cabinets.

Congratulations from all of us!

250-951-2000

Parksville, BC • www.sabojang.com

COngratulations to our valued partner, Mid-Island Cabinets!

201-620 Finlayson St., Victoria BC 877.FLOFORM | FLOFORM.COM

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 25

Manufacturing

SCS Steel Container Systems SCS Steel Container Systems Inc. is a proud Canadian owned and operated Lean manufacturer. They have been serving the Waste, Recycling, Construction, Forestry, Oil and Gas and Mining industries in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the US for over 30 years.

SCS provides a full range of steel container products including roll off containers, recycling containers, scrap containers, sediment bins, camp bins, lugger bins, front load bins, rear load bins, flat decks, gravel boxes, and self dumping hoppers.

They also launched a start up manufacturing steel pools for the consumer market that they branded as dunk pools (www.dunkpools.com).

SCS Steel Container Systems Inc. 2935 Trans Canada Highway Nanaimo, BC 250-245-4262 www.scsinc.ca

Budget Glass Budget Glass provides glass products and installation services in all aspects of the residential and automotive glass business and has been serving the Nanaimo area in central Vancouver Island for 36 years.

As full-time owners/operators, Brian Dusch and John Anderson enjoy being involved in the community, working directly with staff, and taking a personal interest in getting to know the needs of our customers. Their commitment is to carry the best products, hire the most qualified people, and offer the best warranties in the business.

The biggest change for Budget Glass in 2019 was the commercial work. They have completed four apartment buildings, two large fitness centers and many commercial tenant improvements throughout the year.

Budget Glass 3900 N Island Highway Nanaimo, BC 250-758-3374 www.budgetglass.com

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Multi-discipline Business Valuation & Real Estate Appraisal firm serving Western Canada.

1.250.929.2929 Info@MalahatValuationGroup.com

www.MalahatValuationGroup.com

Ernest Bednarz, CBV B.Com Partner, Busienss Valuation

Aleksandra Bednarz, B.Sc

Partner, Real Estate Appraisal

Smart business owners need to know the true value of their business and its assets to make critical decisions that are based on facts not speculation. We answer the age old question “what is it worth�?

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 27

Ocean Products Cascadia Seaweed Corporation

Cascadia Seaweed is growing to be North America’s largest provider of cultivated seaweed. Cascadia Seaweed offers a rich mix of kelp and other seaweeds. Seaweed as a food product can be offered as a fresh/frozen salad or dried for use as industrial foodstuff. It is loaded with micronutrients including protein, more calcium than milk, an excellent source of vitamin B12 (perhaps the only vegan source of that vitamin) as well as zinc and other important minerals. The farms include two species of seaweed, Sugar Kelp and Pacific Wakame. These first two farms, situated near Bamfield, will produce 90 tonnes of kelp ready to harvest in June, 2020. Our goal is to reinvigorate coastal BC by engaging First Nation and other coastal communities in high volume seaweed farming.

Cascadia Seaweed Corporation 2199 Deerbrush Crescent North Saanich, BC 778-350-3322 www.cascadiaseaweed.com

Manatee Holdings Ltd. Manatee Holdings Ltd. specializes in harvesting gourmet foods from the sea with the use of commercial divers. Their product is marketed primarily in China. In the wild fisheries their divers harvest sea cucumbers and red urchins. In 1992 the company pioneered the geoduck clam aquaculture industry into place in B.C. They now have their own shellfish hatchery located in the Comox Valley. It produces geoduck clam and oyster seed for sale. They also have the largest equity position in subtotal geoduck aquaculture tenures in the province. Their mandate is to create the most environmentally beneficial food production operation on land or sea in the world.

Manatee Holdings Ltd. 4097 Gartley Point Road Courtenay, BC 250-331-0486 www.sustainableaquaculture.ca

Seaflora Skincare Inc. Based in Sooke, Seaflora Skincare Inc manufactures the Seaflora Skincare brand of 37 skin and body care products based on certified organic seaweeds hand-harvested from the nearby Salish Sea. Primarily a B2B business, they supply many five star resort properties such as The Fairmont Empress, Wickaninnish, Shangri-la, Blackrock Oceanfront Resort, Sonora Resort, Elmwood Spa, Grail Springs, Pebble Beach Golf Resort and over 200 other spas and retailers.

Seaflora Skincare Inc. 2105 Otter Point Road Sooke, BC 250-642-5328 www.seafloraskincare.com

West Coast Wild Scallops

An owner/operator fishing family, Joel Collier is a fourth generation fisherman who took over operations of his parents fishing business in 2014. They fish prawns and all five species of salmon.

In an effort to diversify, they began fishing swimming scallops in 2017. Although the fishery had existed for over 20 years, it was small-scale with most fishermen selling at farmers markets, direct to restaurants or to wholesalers on an order-by-order basis. They created West Coast Wild Scallops in order to market and sell their catch. Their scallops are unique and are the only wild scallop on the BC coast abundant enough for a commercial harvest.

West Coast Wild Scallops 5403 Wildwood Road Courtenay, BC 250-703-6763 www.wildscallop.org

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Professional Iredale Architecture

Founded in 1980, Iredale Architecture is a mid-size, full-service architecture firm with over 30 staff between their two offices in Victoria and Vancouver.

In addition to architecture, their team has expertise in building envelope science, interior design, space planning, master planning, heritage rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and LEED and Passive House facilitation. They provide services for a wide range of architectural projects throughout Vancouver Island and on the main land. Their projects include educational, civic, cultural, commercial and residential buildings.

Iredale Architecture 16 Bastion Square Victoria, BC 250-381-5582 www.iredale.ca

Integral Wealth Securities This Wealth Management business is focused on Planning, Investments, Insurance & Group Benefits and has been in operation in Nanaimo since 1977 (Under the name Sullivan Wealth Management). They do work for clients all over the country with a particular focus on Vancouver Island.

They offer investment clients a full range of investment products like stocks, bonds, ETFs and Funds but are fairly unique in their offering of a Vancouver Island based All Island Equity Real Estate Investment Trust (AIE REIT) and All Island Equity Mortgage Investment Corporation (AIE MIC).

Integral Wealth Securities 450 Wentworth Street Nanaimo, BC 250-753-1124 www.integralwealth.com/nanaimo

Our Services • Janitorial services and building maintenance • Equipment and repairs facility • Post construction clean ups and rentals

• Landscaping • Carpet Cleaning • Floor Care & Cleaning

6981 E Saanich Rd, Victoria, BC V8Z 5Z2 • Info@powercleanbc.ca • (778) 351 - 1250 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 29

Professional

Prime Engineering

Established in 2010, Prime Engineering Ltd. is a privately owned company that has grown to a staff of approximately 75 people servicing commercial, industrial, power generation and government and institutional facilities.

Prime Engineering is an electrical design, supply and services firm that provides customers with High Voltage testing, commissioning, maintenance, power system protection studies, general electrical designs, control system designs and project Quality Assurance programs. They also manufacture unit substations and electrical switchgear.

Prime Engineering Ltd. 717 Aldebury Street Victoria, BC 250-590-8912 www.primeeng.ca

R. Anderson & Associates R. Anderson & Associates Inc., formerly Duncan Sabine Collyer Partners LLP, first opened its doors in the Alberni Valley in 1939. From Port Alberni Valley to the West Coast municipalities of Tofino and Ucluelet to Parksville and Qualicum, they provide professional accounting, tax, advisory and bookkeeping services including Non-Profit audits, Canadian Taxation - Personal and Corporate/ Not for Profit Tax Compliance, Estate Tax Planning and General Business Advisory Services.

They strive to earn the respect, trust and confidence of clients by working side by side with them understanding their needs, goals and objectives and by designing successful solutions.

R. Anderson & Associates 5155 Argyle Street Port Alberni, BC 250-724-5717 www.andersonassociates.pro

Pacific Station Notaries Tiah Workman has practiced as a notary public in Nanaimo for 27 years, having been commissioned in December 1992. She built a tremendously successful and busy practice over the years primarily in the areas of residential real-estate transfers, mortgages, Wills and other estate-planning documents. She also provide services under Power of Attorney and as an Executor for many of my very senior clients who either have no family or have family in another Province or country. The majority of their work is related to real-estate transfers and mortgages.

Pacific Station Notaries (formerly Tiah M. Workman Notary Corporation) 101-5220 Dublin Way Nanaimo, BC 250-756-7720 www.nanaimonotary.ca

Tomkins Financial Tomkins Financial is a father and son team that clients can count on. They have been providing Nanaimo and surrounding communities with financial advice for close to 30 years. They believe in looking at a client’s life as a whole rather than just the individual components. This includes, financial planning, estate planning, pension advice, investment advice, tax consulting, Life & Disability insurance, retirement planning, severance packages, and saving for children’s education.

Tomkins Financial 1200 Princess Royal Avenue Nanaimo, BC 250-753-7777 www.tomkinsfinancial.com

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Retail The Wildwood Collective The Wildwood Collective is a hair studio located in Chemainus. At the Wildwood Collective, they strive to make clients happy and do their best to be part of the community. The business would not be successful without the amazing community that supports the business. The store tries its best to use products that they feel good about using on clients, and products they feel good about using themselves every day.

Aside from Hair, they also showcase the work of local artists on their walls and sell locally made products. The owner, Kelly Bellamy, is an artist and a hairstylist and wanted to combine her passions into one space, and she also offers photographic services and art classes from the salon.

The Wildwood Collective 9756 Willow Street Chemainus, BC 250-324-4440 www.thewildwoodcollective.com

Resthouse Sleep Solutions Resthouse Sleep Solutions opened in 2014 after the owners found it nearly impossible to source natural bedding products for homes. Their reasoning was this: They felt there should be better options for people looking for healthy, non-toxic sleep products. Furthermore, they recognized that the prevailing notion of a one-size-fits-all mattress wasn’t working for most people. As customized bedding options simply weren’t available, they felt the industry was ready for some innovative and positive disruption.

Almost immediately, they were embraced by a larger community that fully appreciated the value of a local business that offered organic products.

Resthouse Sleep Solutions 126 Station Street Duncan, BC 844-855-7378 www.resthouse.ca

The Cut Cartel The Cut Cartel Barbers Inc. is the well-crafted service bar that combines the custom craft of barbering the environment reminiscent of a man cave, and lounge for men’s cuts, trims and shaves. An inspired space from a by gone era, the leather couch clad living room makes for lively banter before or after a visit to with one of our talented barbers. laid-back attitude makes for an experience in the tradition and craft of a genuine barber. The Cut Cartel Barbers Lounge offers traditional barbering services quality men’s grooming products, billiards, darts and event rentals. The Cut Cartel is not just a Barbershop but a gathering place where clients can relax, play pool and have a coffee.

The Cut Cartel 2425 Bevan Avenue Sidney, BC 778-351-2001 www.cutcartelbarbers.com

Oui Jewellery

When founder Raul Caballero arrived in Canada in 2012, he came with a dream, to start his own business. Inspired in Canada’s diversity, Raul created the concept of Oui; that is why the name is a mix of English and French, and designers are located in 16 different countries, since they want to reflect the multiculturalism of the Canadian population. Today most people know Oui as a small boutique locally managed and owned, specialized in bold modern design. Originally, they were only a retail store, but they now produce a line of locally sourced hand-made jewellery.

Oui Jewellery 1037 Fort Street Victoria, BC 778-265-7684 www.ouijewellery.com

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 31

Retail

NYLA Fresh Thread

NYLA Fresh Thread is an independent family owned and operated menswear store. They opened their doors in July, 2014, on Bathtub weekend, as a dress casual menswear store in downtown Nanaimo. It was a soft opening, and having never been in retail before, they wanted to make sure that the store was properly set up before they launched the brand into the market.

They’ve seen tremendous growth over the last couple of years, due to a broad branding and marketing campaign. They set very lofty goals to maintain the retention of current customers and gain more of a market share by building awareness across Vancouver Island. They’re currently exceeding projections for 2019, with tremendous growth during the year and 31 per cent growth over 2018.

NYLA Fresh Thread 206 Commercial Street Nanaimo, BC 250-716-3331 www.nylafreshthread.com

Rustic Roots Hair Studio Rustic Roots opened its doors originally in 2013 in beautiful Sooke offering hair services that leave clients feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.... all while looking out onto a beautiful ocean view.

Services include cuts, colour, colour correction, blow outs, special occasion styling, barbering and consultations. All products used are plant based and are not tested on animals. Shampoo and styling products are offered for sale. Some clients come from Duncan and the Westshore but the main bulk of clientele reside in Sooke.

Rustic Roots Hair Studio 7-6631 Sooke Road Sooke, BC 250-732-3831 www.rusticrootshair.ca

Westshore Bicycles Westshore Bicycles is a family owned and run bicycle sales and repair shop in the Westshore, now for 10 years! They specialize in giving all customers the best experience with professional and friendly service. All staff are avid cyclists and have, or still compete on some level. This gives the store a unique advantage in helping customers from beginner to advanced athlete. They also have the largest kids’ bicycle selection on Vancouver Island, and serve mostly the Westshore and Greater Victoria area and as far as Duncan.

Westshore Bicycles 104 800 Kelly Road Langford, BC 250-590-6960 www.westshorebikes.com

Cascadia Liquor Colwood Cascadia Liquor Colwood is a locally owned and operated liquor store in Colwood. Cascadia Colwood opened December1st, 2007 with a focus on local suppliers and providing a wide range of local and unique product offerings for guests. They have continued to grow over the years with seven liquor stores spanning the island from Courtenay to Victoria and continually look for expansion opportunities. Their stores all share a welcoming west coast feel, a great wine, craft cider, craft beer and spirits selection.

Cascadia Liquor Colwood 107-2244 Sooke Road Victoria, BC 250-478-1303 www.cascadialiquor.com

32 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

9

8

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 33

Retail The Bride’s Closet The Bride’s Closet is a bridal boutique showcasing several international bridal designers, bridesmaids and prom/formal wear.

They are located in the Old City Quarter in downtown Nanaimo at 279 Selby Street and have been in business for over 22 years. Their customer base is Vancouver Island and the lower mainland.

Other services they provide are in-store alterations as well as complementary pickup and drop off ferry service for mainland brides.

The Bride’s Closet 279 Selby Street Nanaimo, BC 250-753-4975 www.thebridescloset.com

Barclay’s Fine Jewellers Barclay’s Fine Jewellers is a busy, full-service jewellery store located in the heart of Oak Bay Village in Victoria. They offer on-site custom jewellery design, restoration and repair, watch repair, engraving and appraisals as well as an extensive collection of beautiful, high-quality jewellery for sale. Barclay’s is a family run business whose repeat customers choose their services for the expertise they offer, the turn-around time and value they have come to expect from the shop. Peace of mind and absolute attention to detail are the guarantees that they offer. Geoffrey and Christine have owned the business since 1999, but it has been in place as a jewellery store since 1986.

Barclay’s Fine Jewellers 106-2187 Oak Bay Avenue Victoria, BC 250-592-1100 www.barclaysjewellers.com

Bound To Be Different Bound to be Different is best likened to Mary Poppins’ carpet bag: A tiny space containing many hidden treasures! Within 300 square feet they host a dynamic array of products including women’s clothing, jewellery and accessories, international giftware lines, greetings cards, handbags, socks and scarves. Gentleman’s grooming products, children’s gifts and seasonal wares, all carefully curated alongside the works of 20 local artisans. They celebrate potters, tailors, sculptors, jewelers, sign makers, woodworkers, soap and candle makers and stained-glass artists. They have been operating for four happy years and their customer base now extends far beyond Vancouver Island. They are ideally located in the world-famous mural town of Chemainus and their vibrant community attracts people from all over the world.

Bound To Be Different 9736 Chemainus Road Chemainus, BC 250-324-4119 www.boundtobedifferent.com

34 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Victoria!

GEOFFREY BEATTIE3.01

ct.

3.01 ct.

Owner, Barclay’s Fine Jewellers “Warren Buffett said, ‘If you don’t know

Look, twins!

jewellery, then know your jeweller.” I

love that I help people capture, preserve and

commemorate

their

special

moments through jewellery. We are a two level operation specializing in

repair, custom design and exclusive

Natural fancy light yellow diamonds

is our wonderful customers.

We are grateful to everyone for your support!

$75,000

106 - 2187 Oak Bay Ave. 250-592-1100 barclaysjewellers.com 106 - 2187 Oak Bay Avenue | 250-592-1100 www.thebridescloset.com

250.753.4975

barclaysjewellers.com

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 35

I’d like to thank all of our team, who we call the A-team, for their excellent work and continuing to strive for customer service excellence.

Also, thank you to all of our customers for their support over the last 19 and counting years.

We wouldn’t be here without them.

Good luck and congratulations to all of the finalists for this year’s Business Excellence Awards.

Regards, Mark Nagra, President

Parksville, BC | 250.248.7133 info@parksvillemattress.com Mark

Neelam

www.ParksvilleMattress.com

36 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Retail

M&N Mattress Shop M&N Mattress Shop has been in business for the last 19 years and counting. They specialize in B.C made mattresses (like their well-known Ironman Mattress), B.C Made bedroom furniture, B.C made cabinet beds, and now as of recent, B.C made sofas of all kinds. Their Clientele is primarily Vancouver Island based with the focus on Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Nanoose Bay and Nanaimo. But the company has reached just about the whole Island and as far as Ontario, California, Phoenix, Maui, and Puerto Rico to just name a few.

M&N Mattress Shop has taken over two more spaces beside their store, renovated those two locations completely and made it into one store. They have now since opened their official store the “Sofa Gallery� due to the high demand of quality Canadian made furniture. They also have their very own house brand mattress line called “NewGen Mattresses� that comes with the best warranty in Canada. When it comes to the direction of the company, they have always prided themselves on being “health conscious� and with the owners of the company being vegan, they are slowly transitioning the stores into being a “vegan friendly� place to shop for mattresses and furniture. Which means products will be free of animal cruelty and the entire mattress line will be completely vegan by January 31, 2020. With most of the products being B.C made, they have a green, low carbon footprint. They have also made the ethical decision to recycle their used mattresses or donate their “used & clean� mattresses to places such as S.O.S, or to help people in need.

M&N Mattress Shop #1-291 East Island Hwy Parksville, BC 250-248-7133 www.parksvillemattress.com

to

Mark, Neelam and the team at M&N

You deserve this!

From your friends at Kingsdown.

Island’s Best Awards

The makers of the Pure Energy mattress!

RESTWELL SLEEP PRODUCTS is proud to congratulate

I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH MY EXPERIENCE AT THE M&N MATTRESS SHOP. WE WERE SO IMPRESSED THAT WE SENT A VISITING FAMILY MEMBER TO BUY FROM THEM!

I LOVE MY NEW BED WITH THE “LOWER�

HEAD BOARD. THE ADJUSTABLE BASE IS PURE LUXURY, AND MY IRONMAN MATTRESS IS SUPER COMFORTABLE, AND IT DOES NOT GET HOT WHEN I SLEEP ON IT!

M&N MATTRESS SHOP on being nominated for a Vancouver Island...

2020 Business Excellence Award

WE BOTH EXPERIENCE SLEEPING ISSUES AND WITH SOME APPREHENSION DECIDED TO PURCHASE THE IRONMAN MATTRESS. WE DEFINITELY WOULD RECOMMEND THIS MATTRESS AND RECOMMEND M&N MATTRESS SHOP!

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 37

Technology Abeego Toni Desrosiers is the founder of Abeego and inventor of the world’s first reusable, breathable food wrap. Abeego, offered in a variety of sizes, saves food by picking up where the peel leaves off, keeping food fresher longer than you ever imagined.

Headquartered in Victoria, Abeego conducts business in almost 40 countries worldwide.

Their mission to Keep Food Alive is unique to their beeswax food wrap. While the plastics conversation is an important one, they drive home the messaging about how Abeego saves food from the compost to save time, money, and the environment. They help customers see that Abeego is not a plastic wrap alternative, but their tool for victory in the kitchen. Abeego shares product knowledge and food wisdom in a way that builds community while instilling customer confidence. Now 11 years in the making, beeswax wrap is trending worldwide and listed as Whole Foods’ top 2019 trend.

Abeego 2716 Rock Bay Avenue Victoria, BC 855-522-3346 www.abeego.com

Mustimuhw Information Solutions Inc. Mustimuhw Information Solutions Inc. is an Indigenous software and services company that has been in business since 2014, focusing primarily in the health and social services sector for Indigenous run service organizations.

Mustimuhw is the Coast Salish term for “All the People”. It is the name that the Cowichan elders gave to their core product offering and by extension the company. It is very fitting in that their product focus is on individual, family and community health and wellness.

Mustimuhw Information Solutions Inc. 5780 Allenby Road Duncan, BC 778-403-5473 www.mustimuhw.com

Barnacle Systems Inc. Barnacle Systems Inc. is a boat security and monitoring company based in Victoria.

Founded in 2017, the team at Barnacle developed their flagship product for the marine industry called BRNKL (pronounced ‘barnacle’). BRNKL is for boat owners who need to be able to check in on their vessel remotely from their smartphone, tablet, or computer. Like a ‘home security system for your boat’ users can see inside of their vessel(s) using an onboard camera while also monitoring critical alerts such as anchor drag, low batteries, loss of shore power and high-water.

Unlike standard marine electronics that provide monitoring while on board, BRNKL has a built-in global cellular service. So, whether someone is at the dock, at home, or halfway around the world their boat is at their fingertips. Within one year of launching, Barnacle Systems has protected boats in nearly twenty countries.

Barnacle Systems Inc. 1327 Beach Drive Victoria, BC 250-208-0807 www.brnkl.io

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Tourism Cape Scott Water Taxi Cape Scott Water Taxi is a water and land transport company based in Port Hardy established in 2008. They move hikers, paddlers, surfers, bird watchers and anyone wanting to view the North End of Vancouver Island and the Mid Coast of BC. Their travels can take customers from Port Hardy to Cape Scott, Knights Inlet to the South or Bella Coola and Bella Bella to the North.

They are also the only company permitted to move hikers to the North Coast Trail by boat.

Cape Scott Water Taxi & North Coast Trail Shuttle 6555 Hardy Bay Road Port Hardy, BC 250-902-8208 www.capescottwatertaxi.ca

Campbell River Whale Watching Since 2008, Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours has been a key player in Campbell River’s whale watching industry. Founded by “Hurricane Jack” aka Jack Springer along with his partners Jennifer and Aaron, the three brought many years of experience with them as they started their new venture. Over the past 11 years, the company has grown from one boat to seven and continues to expand. In 2018, Tyler Bruce and Stephen Gabrysh purchased the company, which offers a range of tours from whale watching, grizzly bear viewing, ocean rapids, fishing charters, guided hikes of Elk Falls and Ripple Rock, as well as brewery, distillery, and winery tours.

Campbell River Whale Watching & Adventure Tours Discovery Harbour Marina, E Dock Campbell River, BC 250-287-2667 www.campbellriverwhalewatching.com

Island Joy Rides Island Joy Rides are experience makers. Born out of a love for the outdoors and the sense of freedom that cycling and paddling bring, their boutique bicycle and kayak tours celebrate active lifestyles, locally-sourced food, and connection with people and places. Whether customers join them for an afternoon or 6 days on guided or self-guided adventures, Joy Rides are designed to help people (re)discover joy while experiencing the best of Campbell River, the Comox Valley, and the Discovery Islands. They are moving into their 9th season of operation.

Island Joy Rides 1740 19th Avenue Campbell River, BC 250-830-8522 www.islandjoyrides.com

Salish Seaside RV Haven Salish Seaside RV Haven is Western Canada’s premier Motor Home Park, located on a private peninsula right in the heart of Victoria’s waterfront harbour. Proudly owned and operated by the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations since 2017, the RV Haven has been recently renovated to the highest standards with new services, utilities and concrete pads. The majority of the sites are right on the water, commanding spectacular views in all directions. They provide RV site rentals with full use of amenities for daily, nightly, weekly & monthly bookings year-round for local and international guests.

Salish Seaside RV Haven 445 Head Street Victoria, BC 250-686-1375 www.victoriarv.com

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 39

Trades

Bayside Diesel and Marine Bayside is a full service marine repair company that specializes in Diesel and Gas engines.

The family owned and operated business delivers expert service that customers value. Their marine mechanics are factory trained in Volvo Penta, Cummins, Suzuki, Evinrude, Northern Lights, Hamilton Jet, Indmar EFI Systems and certified in ABYC Marine Systems. They expanded their business in 2018 by purchasing 2,600 square feet commercial space with a storage yard that official opened it’s doors to current and new clients January 1, 2019. With the expansion they were able to triple their sales and they also expanded by starting a sister company called Coast Boat Hauling in February, 2019.

Bayside Diesel and Marine 12-10189 Mcdonald Park Road Sidney, BC 778-351-1123 www.baysidedieselandmarine.ca

BMT Group Services Ltd.

BMT Group Services is a one stop shop allowing for customers to have all aspects of their vehicle taken care of without moving to a different location. By offering this diverse service of mechanical repair, collision repair and vehicle refinishing, customers can drop their vehicle off and be confident that repairs will be done in an efficient manner. In addition the company has reached out to those companies that surround Victoria Airport providing them with lower down time and a location that is easily accessible. This has proved positive as the company now looks after equipment for courier companies as well as aircraft refuelling and ground support vehicles to augment the motor coach operators, truck fleets and individual RV owners they presently service.

BMT Group Services Ltd. 1947 Canso Road North Saanich, BC 778-426-2684 www.bmtgroup.ca

Terra Nova Plumbing

Terra Nova Plumbing is a family owned plumbing and heating company in the Comox Valley that has developed into three divisions. Their first major move was the Service Division and they actively sought out Property Management and Restoration Companies and offered 24/7 availability to them and their clients. This Division offers all aspects of plumbing, hydronic heating and gas fitting as well as poly-B replacement. Their Construction Division continued with new residential and light commercial construction, along with general contracting of complete renovations of bathrooms and kitchens, and they’ve added a Waterworks Division.

Terra Nova Plumbing (Termax Industries Ltd.) 6-2401 Cliffe Avenue Courtenay, BC 250-338-8026 ww.terranovaplumbing.ca

Westcom Plumbing & Gas Ltd. Westcom Plumbing and Gas Ltd. Is an island owned and operated business serving the south of Vancouver Island, from Port Renfrew to Sidney. They work on a very broad range of both plumbing and gas services, including new construction, renovations, gas heating, gas appliance and water heater installations and servicing, while also specializing in gas fireplace servicing and repairs.

Attention to detail is one of their key values at Westcom Plumbing and Gas Ltd. Accepting the Grant Thornton LLP Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards Trades Category award last year and numerous awards the past couple years has really opened a door to a whole new level.

Westcom Plumbing and Gas Ltd. 3025 Robinson Road Sooke, BC 250-686-7335 www.westcomplumbing.ca

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Trades

Complete Marine Diesel & Gas Engines • Service • Repairs • Repower Diagnostics & Troubleshooting

778.351.1123 12-10189 Mcdonald Park Rd Sidney

E: Info@baysidedieselandmarine.ca

www.baysidedieselandmarine.ca

Your One Stop Mechanical and Collision Repair Shop.

Authorized Service Centre

BMT Group Services offers a one stop fullProud servicetofacility providing mechanical provide our services to service, collision repair and painting to the CVS Cruise Victoria - Victoria’s Sightseeing Bus, Motorhome (RV) and Trucking markets. and Charter leader.

We are proud to be nominated as a finalist for a 2020 Vancouver Island Buses: Motorhomes: Trucks • Commercial Vehicle Repair Centre Business Excellence Award.

778.426.2684 • www.bmtgroup.ca 1947 Canso Road, Sidney, BC V8L 5V5

VANCOUVER ISLAND GROWN

Cultivate Quality of Life

Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees for committing to business excellence!

Landscape + Outdoor Living

Design + Production Transparent, process-driven management.

Projects thoughtfully designed and executed.

EDEN Projects Design@edenprojects.ca

250-858-6555 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 41

Trades

Sponsored By

Proline Roofing Ltd.

Proline Roofing Ltd. is a one-stop roofing and gutter contractor now in its 20th year of business serving the greater Victoria and surrounding communities, as well as Salt Spring Island and Southern Vancouver Island (as production permits).

2020 Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards Finalist We specialize in residen�al and commercial sloped and flat roofing including torch-on, fiberglass shingles, metal, TPO and repair/maintenance services.

Our in-house gu�er division offers 5” K-style aluminum gu�ers, downspouts, leaf guard, fascia board and fascia cladding services.

Our qualified mason handles brick chimney re-builds and repairs.

Proudly serving Victoria and Surrounding Communi�es for 20 years.

They offer both residential and commercial sloped and flat roofing including fiberglass shingles, torch-on, metal, TPO and a variety of repair services via their busy repair/maintenance division. They also offer gutter and downspout installation, fascia board, leaf guard and cladding and have a mason who handles chimney repair/replacement work.

After not having a mason sub-contractor for a couple of years the company has partnered with a highly experienced and energetic mason to once again offer chimney and brick work for their brick restoration division. They also acquired a custom metal cutting machine to fabricate their own high-quality standing seam metal panels to meet the growing demand of metal roof installations.

Proline Roofing spent a large sum of funds to successfully bring in several foreign workers on Visas to keep up with the high business demand as finding qualified, reliable and hardworking staff has been an ongoing struggle throughout BC for most contractor businesses.

3578 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC 250-475-1310 | www.prolineroofing.com

Proline Roofing Ltd. 3578 Quadra Street Victoria, BC 250-475-1310 www.prolineroofing.com

www.lumberworld.net 42 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Small Business (Under 50 Employees)

Sponsored By

Down To Earth Gardens and Nursery Down To Earth Gardens and Nursery is a full-service design and build landscape company with a twist. They are nestled in the woods of Metchosin with a beautiful, two-acre retail nursery full of trees, shrubs, baskets, edibles and more. All of their plans and materials are grown on-site and are used in the landscapes that they design and build. Their work takes them from Sooke to Sidney and their team has been designing and installing landscapes for more than 20 years.

Down To Earth Gardens and Nursery 1096 Derrien Place Victoria, BC 250-391-9366 www.downtoearthgardensandnursery.com

Excel Career College Excel Career College is a small business that started 30-years ago by the current President, Pauline Stevenson. The College has been built on the commitment to help students succeed in the workplace. The College works closely with industry and employers to ensure labour market needs are addressed while providing relevancy and practicality for learners. The College’s solution, and client-centered approach, has been the catalyst for expanded market reach from local students and employers to expanded delivery all over BC and is working with International clients to develop programs outside of Canada.

Excel Career College 201 841 Cliffe Avenue Courtenay, BC 250-334-2452 www.excelcareercollege.com

Level 10 Eurospa Level 10 Eurospa, established in 1990, is an award winning, full service salon and day spa celebrating its 30th year of providing the Comox Valley with products and services above the expected. It is a Certified Green Circle Salon, diverting 95% of all salon and spa waste out of the landfills and waterways since 2014. From hair design, facials and skin rejuvenation, manicures and pedicures, nails and hair removal, to relaxation massage, hydrotherapy and body wraps, they offer some exquisite signature treatments that keep clients coming back for more.

Level 10 Eurospa 204-1025 Cliffe Avenue Courtenay, BC 250-334-0209 www.level10eurospa.com

Natural Evolution Hair Studio Natural Evolution is a certified green sustainable salon and members of Green Circle, the beauty industry’s movement for positive green change, meaning that 85-95% of our waste is recycled and kept out of waterways . They only chose sustainable products and practices and act with the understanding that we are responsible for each other and future generations. Natural Evolution has six talented and conciseness stylists working together in a common goal of practicing sustainable beauty. 2019 has been an incredible year of growth and exposure for the company.

Natural Evolution French Creek Landing, 303 805 Island Highway West Parksville, BC 250-954-0096 www.naturalevolutionhairstudio.ca

20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards 43

Small Business (Under 50 Employees)

Sponsored By

Nickel Bros.

Nickel Bros. is a house moving company that is really a recycler of buildings, and has been a family run business since 1956. It’s their goal to eliminate demolition waste.

A 1,600 sq/ft home represents about 60 trees worth of lumber, roughly equivalent to the amount that one person could recycle in 100 years. Sadly, most houses that need to be removed from a site aren’t recycled; they’re torn down and thrown in a landfill. Each discarded home adds between 40 and 80 tons of building materials to that landfill. Nickel Bros provides an affordable alternative to demolishing these homes, by offering them to others for re purposing, and moving them to new properties.

Home recycling is a highly effective option for reducing impact on our environment while creating sustainable home ownership opportunities for families and seniors.

Nickel Bros.

1990 Balsam Road Nanaimo, BC 604-209-1513 www.nickelbros.com

Session Taproom + Kitchen + Spin Session Taproom + Kitchen + Spin essentially has two businesses under one roof and through one front door. They are very intertwined and yet very different.

Spin: A boutique spin studio similar to those that are available in larger cities. There is nothing like it in Campbell River. With enthusiastic, motivating instructors, great music, dark lighting and various class styles, they have built a community of committed riders and helped numerous people realize their own strength and determination while reaching their fitness goals.

Taproom + Kitchen: They bring their passion of local food, craft beer, cider, spirits and beverages to Campbell River. They offer 12 rotating craft beer and cider lines and host various events, such as a Brewmaster Dinner Series, Comedy Nights and Tap Take Overs.

Session Taproom + Kitchen + Spin 926 Island Highway Campbell River, BC 250-588-6406 www.sessioncr.com

Wallace Driving School Ltd. Wallace Driving School Ltd.’s mission is to provide the best driver education in order to save lives and reduce crashes. Since 1976 they have been operating first in the northern half of the province, and since 2007 on Vancouver Island.

They offer training for new drivers, seniors and corporate clients. They are one of only 50 schools out of 700 in B.C. approved to deliver the Graduated Licensing Program course for new drivers. They are the only school in BC approved to train instructors for theory and practical certification. They have 12 instructors on staff.

Wallace Driving School 1814 Vancouver Street #102 Victoria, BC 250-383-7483 www.wallacedrivingschool.com

44 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

Sponsored By

Business of the Year (Over 50 Employees)

Harbour Air Seaplanes

Founded in 1982 with two seaplanes, Harbour Air began as a charter airline servicing the forestry industry in BC. Now with a fleet of 40 aircraft and a team of 450 staff, Harbour Air offers scenic tours, private charters and daily scheduled flights to destinations throughout coastal BC and Washington.

As one of the world’s largest all-seaplane airlines and North America’s first carbon neutral airline, Harbour Air welcomes nearly 500,000 passengers on 30,000 flights annually. Over the past 38 years, the company has become renowned for its safety standards, excellent customer service, team-based culture and commitment to sustainability and innovation.

In April 2019, Harbour Air announced its partnership with magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution. Together the two will connect communities with clean, efficient and affordable electric air travel by converting Harbour Air’s seaplanes into an allelectric fleet. The team has completed converting its first aircraft to electric power, the DHC-2 Beaver, with test flights for the world’s first all-electric commercial flight held in December.

Harbour Air Seaplanes 950 Wharf Street Victoria, BC 250-414-4283 www.harbourair.com

Footprints Security Patrol Inc. Footprints Security provides uniformed guard service, mobile patrol and alarm response service throughout Vancouver Island. Growing from a humble beginning as a “Mom and Pop” family business that started in Qualicum Beach with two employees, Footprints is now the largest privately owned and operated security company on Vancouver Island, with over 390 employees, the largest mobile patrol and alarm response security fleet with 35 vehicles, and regional offices in Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, and Courtenay.

The principals, brothers Simon Collery and Adrian Collery, are dedicated to serving island communities. With their combined 60 plus years of security experience, it is their strong leadership skills, and ties to the communities that they live and work in, that have driven the company’s success. It is their focus on creating strong relationships with communities, clients, and staff that have contributed to Footprints’ success.

Footprints Security Patrol Inc. 3A 4890 Rutherford Road Nanaimo, BC 250-753-6944 www.footprintssecurity.com

VMAC Global Technology Inc. Founded in 1986, VMAC is the leader in compressed air innovation, designing and manufacturing the most innovative mobile air compressors and multi-power systems available.

VMAC is one of the only true air compressor manufacturers in North America, designing and manufacturing air compressors and multi-power systems in-house, at the 40,000 ft² headquarters in Nanaimo, BC. VMAC offers six different product lines, including diesel, gas, and hydraulic driven air compressors, UNDERHOOD™ air compressors, transmission-mounted air compressors and multifunction power systems.

VMAC crafts its own rotors and parts using an in-house foundry, CNC machines, and other specialized equipment. Investing in machinery and technology allows VMAC to reduce time-to-market for parts and products, while maintaining upmost quality. VMAC air compressors and multi-power systems are sold worldwide. Over 60% of VMAC’s sales are exported through a dealer network of over 300 partners in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Africa.

VMAC Global Technology Inc. 1333 Kipp Road Nanaimo, BC 250-740-3200 www.vmacair.com

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Email or Call Today to learn more: John MacDonald TF: 1.866.758.2684 Ext. 130

E: john@businessexaminer.ca | W: businessexaminer.ca/be-digital

BE Award Gold Sponsor

RBC Royal Bank RBC is proud to be a key sponsor of the Business Examiner’s 2020 Business Excellence Awards. This wonderful event celebrates our best and brightest businesses across Vancouver Island, and we at RBC want to congratulate all the nominees and Award winners for this very well deserved recognition.

Entrepreneurship is a powerful force that drives innovation, productivity, job creation and economic growth. Here on Vancouver Island, more and more people are becoming entrepreneurs. The desire to create and grow a business, large or small, requires a combination of character, talent, vision, energy, timing and good advice.

Successful entrepreneurs know that good practical information and advice can make a big difference in running a successful business. Your RBC Account Manager is your business partner and advocate, providing solutions to meet your business needs, and help your business to

achieve its fullest potential.

Your RBC Account Manager will: • Understand your company’s goals and vision for the future • Share their in-depth industry-specific knowledge and experience • Deliver products, technology and services to help your business save money, seize opportunities and reduce risk • Be your Go-To Financial Partner, working closely with your lawyer, accountant, RBC specialists, and other key partners Contact your RBC branch. Let’s make your Someday happen. ™ Congratulations to all those nominees and winners at the 2020 Business Excellence Awards.

46 20th Annual grant thornton llp Business Excellence Awards

New world. New challenges. New learning.

Co-ed Preschool-Grade 12 | On-Campus Equestrian Program

Entrepreneurial Thinking

Global Sustainability

admissions@qms.bc.ca

Experiential Learning

www.qms.bc.ca