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VICTORIA, BC – The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the recipients of The Chamber’s 2023 Greater Victoria Business Awards. Finalists for the prestigious awards represented a range of future-thinking businesses, ranging from sustainable menstrual care innovators to electric planes to long-time local institutions.
The winners and finalists, listed below, have distinguished themselves across 14 Business Award categories, including outstanding customer service, sustainable business practices, emerging businesspeople and long-term leadership. The recipients were chosen by an independent panel of prominent business leaders who served as judges. “Tonight’s award recipients are truly exceptional and deserving of being honoured for their contribution to Greater Victoria’s businesses community,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “It’s important to recognize the hard work and innovation of the award winners and finalists. They deserve the spotlight and will inspire our region’s many amazing entrepreneurs to keep striving for excellence.” This year, two outstanding women will be taking the stage to receive The Chamber’s Award of Distinction and The Chamber’s Member of the Year. The Chamber previously announced Mandy Farmer as the recipient of the Award of Distinction, while Ann Squires Ferguson is the Member of the Year. The Award of Distinction is in recognition of a Chamber member who has had a positive influence on the economy, businesses, and the overall community. The award signifies achievement, resourcefulness and determination. The Chamber Member of the Year award recognizes an engaged, passionate and committed individual who has taken an active role with the Chamber Board or a committee, and who fosters relationships with the community while advocating on behalf of business. The Chamber's 2023 Business Awards were held May 4 at the Fairmont Empress with nearly 400 people in attendance to celebrate hard-working businesses, businesspeople and community leaders. 2023 Greater Victoria Business Awards Winners and Finalists Business of the Year (1-10 Employees); sponsored by City of Victoria
Business of the Year (11-39 Employees); sponsored by Grant Thornton LLP
Business of the Year (40+ Employees); sponsored by BCLC
Business Person of the Year; sponsored by Canadian Tire
Chamber Award of Distinction; sponsored by Times Colonist
Chamber Member of the Year; sponsored by Air Canada
Community Builder; sponsored by Coast Capital Savings
Emerging Business Person of the Year; sponsored by Royal Roads University
Innovation; sponsored by University of Victoria, Peter B. Gustavson School of Business
New Business; sponsored by Futurpreneur
Non-Profit of the Year; sponsored by Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island
Outstanding Customer Service; sponsored by Innov8 Digital Solutions Inc.
Outstanding Workplace of the Year; sponsored by TELUS
Sustainable Business Practices; sponsored by Camosun College
About Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Since 1863, The Chamber has served Greater Victoria by working together to build good business and great community for all through advocacy, networking, professional development, and innovative services as changing times require. In 2020, the Chamber Champions initiative added a powerful resource to provide leadership and guidance to our organization. Current Champions are: BC Ferries, Berwick Retirement Communities, Big Wheel Burger, Camosun College, CHEK Media Group, CIBC, ColdStar Solutions, H2 Accelerator, Knappett Projects, Megson FitzPatrick (soon to be Acera Insurance), Mike Geric Construction, MNP, PARC Retirement Living, RBC, Scotiabank, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, Starlight Developments, TD Commercial Banking, TELUS Business, Times Colonist and the University of Victoria. Find out more at Victoriachamber.ca. Media Contact: Jim Zeeben, Policy and Strategic Communications Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce 250 360-3471 | communications@victoriachamber.ca
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  Ann Squires Ferguson VICTORIA – Ann Squires Ferguson has been named Chamber Member of the Year for 2023 by the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce. "I am beyond grateful for this honour — it is overwhelming to be recognized by so many who I hold in such high esteem,” said Squires Ferguson, CEO of Western Design + Build and a Chamber Board member. “This year has held many challenges for me personally, with a bout of ovarian cancer, and, through it all, I have been buoyed by every kind word of encouragement, every thoughtful gift, every act of support. Our business community is an incredible example of true connection, generosity and compassion. Their collective optimism has carried me through.” Squires Ferguson has been a passionate voice as The Chamber strives to achieves its vision of being the region’s most diverse and influential business association. “I do want to honour our local business leaders’ commitment to the important work that The Chamber is doing around Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Advancement and with the Indigenous Reconciliation Roundtable,’ she said. “When we lift each other up, when we all come together, our whole community is so much stronger, more vibrant and resilient." The Chamber Member of the Year award, sponsored by Air Canada, recognizes an individual who has served as a volunteer at The Chamber, has taken an active role with the board or committees, fosters relationships with the community and advocates on behalf of business. Western Design + Build won in the category of Business Leadership at the 2017 Greater Victoria Business Awards. Squires Ferguson was elected to The Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2021, and serves on The Chamber’s Ambassador committee as well as The Chamber’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advancement (IDEA) committee. “Ann has been an incredible resource for our board and committees,” Chamber Chair John Wilson says. “She is in-tune with the times during a period of profound change and we’re lucky to have someone who is so passionate and committed to making sure we show leadership in ensuring we have a great community for all.” “Ann has inspired us all with her resilience in managing her cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as her ongoing insightful and thoughtful input to her Chamber role” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. The recipient of The Chamber’s Award of Distinction, which honours a Chamber member for outstanding leadership and innovation, will be announced in January. Recipients are chosen for inspiring others and adding resilience to Greater Victoria’s economy. Give the Gift of Recognition this holiday season by nominating a business or business leader for the 2022 Greater Victoria Business Awards. Nominations for 12 categories are open now until Jan. 18, 2023. From innovation to sustainability to being an outstanding workplace, nominating a business you love, own or work for is fast and easy. For more information, go to victoriachamber.ca/business-awards. About Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Since 1863, The Chamber has served Greater Victoria by working together to build good business and great community for all through advocacy, networking, professional development and innovative services as changing times require. In 2020, the Chamber Champions initiative added a powerful resource to provide leadership and guidance to our organization. Current Champions are: BC Ferries, Big Wheel Burger, CHEK News, CIBC, Cold Star Solutions, Knappett Projects, Mike Geric Construction, MNP, PARC Retirement Living, RBC, Scotiabank, Seaspan, Spinnakers, TELUS Business, and the University of Victoria. Find out more at: victoriachamber.ca. Media Contact: Jim Zeeben, Policy and Strategic Communications Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce 250 360-3471 | communications@victoriachamber.ca  VICTORIA, BC – Always a leader, it is no surprise that Frank Bourree has the distinction of being the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce's first recipient of the Governors' Award of Distinction.
“Frank is a long-time colleague and good friend. I couldn’t agree more with our Governors, who chose Frank to receive this award,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams says. “Frank’s commitment to the tourism sector and his work on economic development are second to none. If there was an award for top dad and grandfather, he would be contender for that one too.” Now retired, Bourree is well-known in our region as a co-founder of GT Hiring Solutions and Chemistry Consulting Group. The companies shaped our region by providing employment services to people most in need, and tracking data that helped the tourism industry tell its story through statistics. “Over the many years we’ve known each other, Frank has always been gracious with his time. He continues to volunteer on numerous boards and has spent countless hours patiently offering career guidance to anyone in need of advice,” Chamber Chair John Wilson says. “Congratulations Frank!” Bourree served as chair of the Greater Victoria Chamber from 2014-15. During his term he was passionate about local government engagement, and spearheaded an effort to get digital access to local council meetings as well as vote tracking. Frank is also a collaborator. In his time on the board, he worked with staff to bring together key regional stakeholders to optimize $1.3 million from Western Economic Diversification Canada to promote our region as a desirable place to learn, play and do business. The Governors' Award of Distinction, sponsored by the Times Colonist, is a re-imagining of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award of Distinction recognizes a business person who has contributed to a prosperous community through leadership and vision. Criteria includes having served as a positive role model in the business community, and a long-time association with The Chamber. In December, John Espley was announced as Chamber Member of the Year for 2021. The 2021 Business Awards feature 14 categories recognizing businesses that distinguished themselves in many ways, including excellent customer service, sustainable business practices, emerging professionals and non-profit association of the year. If you know of hard-working entrepreneurs, business people and community leaders who were able to rise above the uncertainty of the pandemic, we encourage you to nominate them at victoriachamber.ca. Individuals and organizations can also nominate themselves. Nominations close Jan. 25. Winners will be determined by an independent panel of prominent business leaders who will serve as judges. The Chamber's 2021 Business Awards will be broadcast on CHEK TV at 6 pm, May 15. Last year’s show reached 50,000 viewers. Since 1863, The Chamber has served Greater Victoria by working together to build good business and great community through advocacy, networking, professional development and innovative services as changing times require. In 2020, the Chamber Champions initiative added a powerful resource to provide leadership and guidance to our organization. Current Champions are: Big Wheel Burger, CHEK News, CIBC, Kinetic Construction, Knappett Projects, MNP, RBC, Seaspan, TELUS, and the University of Victoria. Find out more at VictoriaChamber.ca. Media Contact: Jim Zeeben Communications and Project Manager 250 360-3471 communications@victoriachamber.ca VICTORIA, BC – These turbulent times have forced many of us to adapt and re-focus on new priorities in order to survive and thrive as we bounce forward. With so much change underway, it’s vital to have beacons that guide and inspire us. This year, The Chamber hopes to add a little extra attention to our annual Business Awards and shine the spotlight on entrepreneurs and organizations that have gone above and beyond — especially in support of their staff, customers and clients to manage the challenges of COVID-19. To help share their stories, we’re hoping to spread the word that nominations are open until midnight, Jan. 25.
The 2021 Business Awards feature 14 categories recognizing businesses that distinguished themselves in many ways, including excellent customer service, community builder, emerging professionals and business person of the year. If you know of hard-working entrepreneurs, business people and community leaders who were able to rise above the uncertainty of the pandemic, we encourage you to nominate them at victoriachamber.ca. Individuals and organizations can also nominate themselves. Winners will be determined by an independent panel of prominent business leaders who will serve as judges. The awards ceremony will once again be a televised broadcast — last year’s show reached 50,000 viewers on CHEK TV. “It’s never been a more important time to celebrate our local businesses and the contributions they make to our community,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “So many businesses have been truly outstanding in the work they’ve done to keep our community strong. I’m awestruck every day by the efforts to help others adapt and survive during the pandemic. We are getting through this together and the Business Awards are an opportunity to show gratitude and appreciation for the innovations and leadership carrying us forward.” John Espley — announced in December as Chamber Member of the Year for 2021 — will be honoured during the Business Awards broadcast. The winner of the Governors’ Award of Distinction, which honours a Chamber member for outstanding leadership and accomplishments over the decades, will be announced soon. Since 1863, The Chamber has served Greater Victoria by working together to build good business and great community through advocacy, networking, professional development and innovative services as changing times require. Find out more at victoriachamber.ca. Media Contact: Jim Zeeben Communications and Project Manager 250 360-3471 communications@victoriachamber.ca |
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