A total of 271 nominations and more than 100 finalists from all over the Island are confirmed for the 11th annual Vancouver Island Business Excellence (BE) Awards Gala, which will be held at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre in January 27, 2011.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the most nominations we鈥檝e ever had for this event,鈥� said Mark MacDonald, publisher of Business Examiner and Business Vancouver Island, which co-ordinates the annual celebration of the best of business on the Island.
鈥淭he diversity of the nominations is remarkable, and as has been the norm, they are from all over Vancouver Island,鈥� he added 鈥淭his event is not just about business in Victoria, or just about business in Nanaimo or the Comox Valley. It鈥檚 about business throughout the region, and it is a strong representation of the entire region.鈥�
Chris Cathers, business development manager for Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd., which owns Business Examiner and Business Vancouver Island, is amazed at the response this time around.
鈥淭he economy on Vancouver Island has been pretty stable, despite the problems that other areas in B.C. have experienced during the last year,鈥� said Cathers. 鈥淧erhaps that鈥檚 why there are so many companies that have entered the awards program this year.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to see so many success stories. It鈥檚 very encouraging.鈥�
The BE Awards have been a highlight on the business calendar on Vancouver Island since MacDonald originally started the event 11 years ago.
鈥淲e wanted to create an event to celebrate the best of business for all of Vancouver Island,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淭he first gala was at The Empress in Victoria, and the event has been also held in Nanaimo, Parksville and Courtenay, on a rotational basis.鈥�
The independent judging panel is chosen from throughout the Island as well, and MacDonald is pleased with the fact that the winners, typically, are from different cities.
鈥淭here are always some great surprises when it comes down to who is chosen as the winner in a category,鈥� he added. 鈥淭he judges consistently draw conclusions that other people in the know would recognize 鈥� that the winners are the cream of the crop in Island business.鈥�
Cathers fully expects a full house at the January 27 event.
鈥淭he Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards is expected to draw a sold out crowd so purchase your tickets today online to avoid disappointment,鈥� he said.
Tickets to the event are $125 plus HST.
For more information about who the finalists are and tickets go to www.businessvi.ca/beawards.
鈥� Business
Vancouver Island
