2026 Business Excellence Awards
The 39th Annual Business Excellence Awards Gala will take place on November 20, 2026, at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort.
Award category sponsorships are now fully committed, but a limited number of additional Gala sponsorship opportunities remain available. For sponsorship details, contact hello@kelownachamber.org .
Award Categories
Recognizes an individual, business, organization, or creative initiative that contributes to a vibrant community through visual arts, graphic arts, music, performance, entertainment, creative production, or public-facing artistic experiences.
FINALISTS:
Kinshira Entertainment
Leif David - Magician
Rotary Centre for the Arts
The BBB Torch Award for Ethics honours businesses and organizations that stand out for their commitment to trustworthy, ethical business practices. Their leaders demonstrate a high level of personal character, ensure that the organization’s practices meet the highest standards of ethics, and build relationships based on trust with customers and the community.
FINALISTS:
Harmony Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic
Hello Enthusiast Project Inc.
Moving Solutions for Seniors
Recognizes an individual business leader who demonstrates exceptional leadership, professional achievement, community involvement, mentorship, and commitment to strengthening the local business community.
FINALISTS:
Recognizes a farming, food production, food processing, agri-business, agri-tourism, agricultural supplier, or related business that demonstrates leadership, innovation, sustainability, and contribution to the regional food and agriculture sector.
FINALISTS:
Carnist Ethical Butcher
Trinity Legacy/Helen’s Acres
Volcanic Hills Estate Winery
Recognizes an organization that has undergone significant transformation through the adoption of a new technology, such as changes to its operations, business model, customer experience, workforce, culture, products or services, or decision-making processes.
FINALISTS:
Evergreen Building Maintenance Inc.
Minga
Secure-Rite Mobile Storage
Recognizes a business or organization that has taken meaningful action to foster equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging within its workplace, customer experience, leadership, and community engagement.
FINALISTS:
OCCA Communities Association
KCR Community Resources
Kelowna Pride Society
Recognizes a for-profit business that demonstrates exceptional social leadership and creates measurable, positive impact in the community through programs, partnerships, philanthropy, employee engagement, advocacy, or responsible business practices.
FINALISTS:
Cabin 5 Canada
Partners In Resources Inc. (Piers)
Prestige Hotels & Resorts
Recognizes a registered not-for-profit, charity, society, or community-serving organization that demonstrates exceptional leadership, service, collaboration, innovation, and measurable social impact.
FINALISTS:
BC SPCA Kelowna Animal Centre
Dress for Success Kelowna
OCCA Communities Association
Recognizes a business or organization that demonstrates leadership in sustainability, environmental stewardship, innovation, and measurable positive environmental impact.
FINALISTS:
Columbia Bottle Enterprise
Dr. Phone Fix
GreenStep Solutions
Recognizes a business, organization, attraction, venue, accommodation provider, restaurant, winery, event, tour operator, or hospitality-based business that enhances the visitor experience and contributes to the growth and reputation of tourism in the Central Okanagan and beyond.
FINALISTS:
Loyly Floating Sauna
Red Bird Brewing
Volcanic Hills Estate Winery
Recognizes a business majority-owned by an Indigenous person, community, or organization that demonstrates entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, cultural integrity, and positive impact within Indigenous and broader communities.
FINALISTS:
Metis Financial Corporation of BC Inc.
Mohkoman Creative
SncƏwips Heritage Museum
Recognizes a large business, generally with 51 or more employees, that demonstrates outstanding achievement, growth, leadership, operational excellence, community impact, and positive workplace culture.
FINALISTS:
Bannister Automotive Group Inc
Canco Petroleum Ltd.
Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Recognizes a mid-size business, generally with 16 to 50 employees, that demonstrates strong growth, leadership, innovation, operational success, customer service, community contribution, and positive workplace culture.
FINALISTS:
Energyplex Entertainment Centre
Ford Salon
Unicast Inc.
Recognizes a promising new or emerging business that demonstrates strong growth potential, innovation, customer traction, professionalism, and community involvement. Generally open to businesses operating for less than three years. Franchises may be excluded, depending on final eligibility rules.
FINALISTS:
Stephanie Horman - Cabin 5 Canada
Dr. Brittany Schamerhorn - Ivy Health Clinic
Renée Warren - The Pink Skirt Project
Recognizes a small business, generally with 1 to 15 employees, that demonstrates outstanding achievement, growth, customer service, innovation, community impact, and positive workplace culture.
FINALISTS:
Buzz Marketing
Omega Communications
Steamoji Kelowna
Recognizes an individual sales, business development, account management, customer success, or client experience professional who demonstrates outstanding results, relationship-building, service excellence, integrity, and contribution to business growth.
FINALISTS:
Greg Portas - Pinnacle Roofing
Simon Ward - Royal LePage Kelowna
Bradley Krauza - Interior Beverages
Recognizes an outstanding entrepreneur or emerging business leader aged 40 or under who demonstrates leadership, innovation, business acumen, growth, professionalism, and community involvement. The nominee should own, operate, or play a significant leadership role in a business or enterprise.
FINALISTS:
Barbara Egan - Alive Counselling
Shawn Gauba – Connects Wireless
Dr. Brittany Schamerhorn – Ivy Health Clinic
Sponsors