Award Categories:
As a result of the pandemic, this year, each category will have an extra layer of criteria to recognize a business or business person that demonstrated resiliency by adapting their business model, acting courageously, creating new collaborative partnerships with other businesses or community groups, implementing new procedures to serve their customers or the community and/or taking measures for the wellbeing and mental health of themselves and their staff.

Business of the Year:  

• Small (1-10 employees)
• Medium (11-25 employees)
• Large (26+ employees)

Note: Based on equivalent full-time employees 

A business which, shows leadership in business and in the community, demonstrates excellence in customer service and employee satisfaction, provides workplace education and training, and demonstrates good corporate citizenship and environmental responsibility.

 

New Business of the Year:
A business less than 2 years old that has demonstrated customer service, innovation, leadership and/or other qualities. 

 

Non-Profit Organization of the Year:
A local non-profit organization which has demonstrated outstanding contributions to our community. It has an established reputation for providing exceptional programs and services that would not otherwise be available to those in the community.

 

Supporter of the Arts of the Year:
A business or organization that helps to provide, promote and support arts & culture, in all its forms, in our local community through its core services.
 

Community Builder Business of the Year:
This award acknowledges a business that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to improve the quality of life in our community; a business that unselfishly gives time, talent and finances to improve the community it serves. This business would be known to be a true advocate of supporting local, shopping local and encouraging others to as well. An advocate for the shop small movement as well as promotion of community. This business has a vested interest in the development, success and support of the South Surrey & White Rock community and seen as a true agent of inclusiveness.

Business Leader of the Year - Corporate:
An individual who works for a business and exhibits leadership, exemplifies ethics, and devotes personal time and energy into their local community. They are an inspiration and positive influence at their business and in their industry. They have a proven track record of sustained success. They have an innovative spirit and have demonstrated an exceptional level of performance and dedication.

Business Leader of the Year - Self Owned:
An entrepreneur who owns their business and exhibits leadership, entrepreneurial skills, and demonstrates exceptional vision that contributes to business success of our community. This individual exemplifies ethics, and devotes personal time and energy into their local business area. 

Young Leader in Business - U40
An individual, under the age of 40, who exhibits leadership, entrepreneurial skills, and demonstrates exceptional vision that contributes to business success of our community. This individual exemplifies ethics, and devotes personal time and energy into their local business area. The nominee can be an entrepreneur, employee or a graduate student in business studies.

Community Frontline Heroes :
This year, the Chamber is introducing a new category to honour and recognize the many frontline essential workers who have worked tirelessly through the pandemic to ensure our community continued to run smoothly. Please take a moment to recognize an individual who has shown a great amount of courage and selflessness by putting the needs and safety of others before their own. Health care workers and first responders, food and grocery store workers, essential city workers, long-haul truck drivers, volunteers, etc. The Chamber will present this list as an Honour Roll so that each individual gets recognized.

The following process has been followed by the Chamber since September 2018

Nominations Rules & Process:

• Anyone can nominate a business or individual from South Surrey or White Rock
• Anyone can submit nominations for multiple businesses or individuals
• Membership with the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce is NOT a requirement
• Each nomination can only indicate 2 categories for the nominee (The Chamber reserves the right to place the nominee in the appropriate category)
• Previous winners are ineligible for 3 years in that specific category, following the year in which they won
• Previous winners are eligible to be nominated in other categories 
• Previous nominees and finalists (not including the winners) are eligible to be nominated in the same and/or different categories
• Self nominations are accepted but must be endorsed by at least one other person
• Sponsors are eligible to be nominated, except in the specific award category they are sponsoring
• Businesses represented by the Board of Directors are eligible to be nominated
• Applications must be completed to be accepted

Judging Process:

• The nomination form is short and easy to fill out. It is important, none-the-less, as it provides the basis on which a shortlist of finalists are determined by the Chamber's Events Committee.
• The shortlist of finalists are notified and asked to submit a more detailed package and references.
• Each category has a smaller, separate designated panel of judges that review the more robust nomination packages and make a final decision.
• The judges typically represent business and community leaders, including past award winners. Each judge is asked to sign a 'conflict of interest and confidentiality' declaration on the category they are judging.
• Chamber staff, including the Executive Director, and the Board of Directors do not make up the judges panel and, therefore, do NOT take part in the final decisions.

For assistance in completing a nomination form, or any questions about a nomination, please contact Kaelynn Ball, Events & Marketing Coordinator at 604-536-6844 or events@sswrchamber.ca

Award Winners from the last 3 years:

 

Small Business of the Year (1-10 employees)

2019: Dream Orthodontics (tie)

2019: Grey Haven Hobbies & Games (tie)

2018: White Rock Beach Beer Co. 

2017: Drive 365 Fitness & Health

Medium Business of the Year (11-25 employees)

2019: Southridge Dental

2018: Ocean Park Pizza & Village Pub

2017: Honeylush Hair Studio

Large Business of the Year (25+ employees)

2019: Starline Windows Ltd.

2018: Joseph Richard Group

2017: Comfort Keepers

 

New Business of the Year

2019: Zapoteca Mexican Grill & Seafood

2018: Looby Doo

2017: Seriously Good Catering

 

Non-Profit Organization of the Year

2019: Rotary Club of Semiahmoo (White Rock)

2018: Peace Arch Hospice Society

2017: Peninsula Productions

 

Supporter of the Arts Business of the Year (category introduced in 2018)

2019: Addictive Comedy - now known as Hilarapy 

2018: The Drama Class

 

Community Builder Business of the Year (category introduced in 2018)

2019: Save-On-Foods

2018: Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club

 

Business Leader of the Year - Corporate

2019: Greg Timm, President & COO, Pacific Customs Brokers

2018: Ryan Moreno, CEO & Founder, Joseph Richard Group

2017: Darrell Jones, President, Save-on-Foods

 

Business Leader of the Year - Self Owned

2019: Stewart Peddemors, Personal Real Estate Corporation, RE/MAX Colonial Pacific Realty

2018: Mostafa Sabeti, Golden Glory Martial Arts & Fitness Academy

2017: Jan Wait, Jan's on the Beach

 

Business Leader of the Year (U40) (category introduced in 2019)

2019: Piya Sandhu, Owner & Chief Curator, The Handpicked Home