2024 Saanich Peninsula

Business Excellence Awards

NOMINATIONS WILL OPEN NOV 15th 2024!

Since 2006 the Saanich Peninsula Chamber has been proud to honour local businesses through the yearly Business Excellence Awards for the Saanich Peninsula. These awards are to celebrate the achievements and dedication of our local businesses and business community.

If you know a local business you believe should be nominated for one o the following awards please let us know by filling in the short application form for that category. Nominations will close Dec 31, 2024 and the presentation of the awards will be hosted in February of 2025.

Award Categories

Business of the Year

The Business of the Year Award celebrates a business that demonstrates continual business excellence through positive business growth; displays a commitment to the community; exemplifies superior customer service; and embraces an outstanding commitment to quality.

  • 20 or more employees
  • Has been in operation for more than 3 years 
  • Has demonstrated a capacity for or has sustained growth with a pathway to future growth
  • Evidence of significant contributions to the health of the community including financial contributions, business growth, employee development, sound or innovative business practices, community service and exemplary customer service
  • Achieved business excellence in their industry and is recognized as a leader in the community    
  • Established employment leadership standards for staff diversity, training, professional development and retention 

Small Business of the Year

The Small Business of the Year Award celebrates a small business that demonstrates continual business excellence through positive business growth; displays a commitment to the community; exemplifies superior customer service; and embraces an outstanding commitment to quality.

  • Under 20 employees
  • Has been in operation for more than 3 years 
  • Has demonstrated a capacity for or has sustained growth with a pathway to future growth
  • Evidence of significant contributions to the health of the community including financial contributions, business growth, employee development, sound or innovative business practices, community service and exemplary customer service
  • Achieved business excellence in their industry and is recognized as a leader in the community    
  • Established employment leadership standards for staff diversity, training, professional development and retention

Startup of the Year

The Startup of the Year Award celebrates a new business that has achieved outstanding business performance in a short period of time; demonstrates exceptional promise for continued growth; serves as an inspiration for other new businesses; and displays a commitment to the community.

  • Does not include an existing business under new management, or an existing business with a new satellite, mobile, or franchise operation 
  • Is a new and emerging business that has shown growth and profitability in its first 1-3 years of operation 
  • Demonstrates exceptional promise or potential for future growth, commercial success, and/or customer base  
  • Has gained an expanding positive reputation and demonstrates excellence in innovation, management, marketing 
  • Can show how their business has progressed in line with their business plan

Environmental Stewardship

The Environmental Stewardship Award celebrates a local business that demonstrates through their business practices their responsibility for environmental quality. This sense of responsibility is a value that can be reflected through their choices and shaped by unique environmental, social, and economic interests. They demonstrated their commitment to environmental quality through continuous improvement of environmental performance, and a commitment to efficient use of natural resources, protection of ecosystems, and, where applicable, ensuring a baseline of compliance with environmental requirements.

  • Is not considered a ‘green business’ and demonstrates environmental and sustainable business practices in their operations outside the product or service they sell and outside of their usual business practices
  • Demonstrates a long-term commitment to environmental sustainability through leadership and integration of responsible practices into the culture of their business
  • Evidence of sustained reduction or improved efficiency in waste outputs, energy usage or environmental impact of their operations
  • Evidence of one new “green” project that has been implemented this year and how it has been tracked and measured
  • Demonstrates a commitment to sustainable development and energy conservation and is recognized as a leader in your community and/or your industry

Employer of the Year

The Employer of the Year Award celebrates a business that shows a commitment to a healthy work environment through practices that benefit employees physically, intellectually and/or emotionally; has competitive employment packages; focuses on workplace culture as well as employee recognition and reward programs; is dedicated to professional development and/or advancement opportunities; and shows diversity in the workplace.

  • Evidence of a focus on workplace culture including employee recognition and reward programs
  • Evidence of leading the way in employee engagement, satisfaction and retention with a strong and sustainable employee compensation package including compensation and benefits
  • Evidence of a commitment to a healthy and balanced work environment with employee programs that support their wellbeing through health and wellness, inclusion, safety, workplace diversity and community involvement initiatives 
  • Evidence of established programs and/or services that support the challenges employees face working on the Saanich Peninsula; transportation, housing, work/life balance
  • Evidence of dedication to providing professional development and/or training and advancement opportunities

Innovation Excellence

The Innovation Excellence Award celebrates a business that has developed innovative business practices and/or continues to evolve product, services, and processes to respond to a changing business environment. The business exemplifies inclusivity and adaptability.

  • Evidence that the innovation may disrupt and reshape their industry by pushing conventional boundaries and through groundbreaking achievements in bringing innovation to market 
  • The development of a process, product or service that contributes to profitability and/or market share, demonstrated by the use of science or technology, that shows a high degree of originality, creativity, and/or experimentation
  • Evidence that effective adoption of the innovation will benefit customers and provide a positive impact on society and/or the community   
  • Evidence of usefulness, commercial relevance and projected success of the innovation in new or existing markets 
  • The actual or potential benefit of the new product or service

Leader of the Year

The Leader of the Year Award celebrates a business person who is the founder, CEO, President, or Senior Executive of a company who exhibits business leadership and vision; displays a significant commitment to the success of both their business and the region as a whole; serves as a positive role model or mentor for other business people; and exemplifies professional behaviour maintaining an upstanding reputation in the business community and region as a whole.

  • Demonstrates a commitment to advancing marketplace trust through integrity and ethical business practices  
  • Is a leader in progressing principles of inclusion and diversity in the workplace and in the community 
  • Serves as a positive role model or mentor for other business people and the future generation of business leaders 
  • Demonstrates a commitment to the community 
  • Exemplifies outstanding leadership skills in their own business and has made a notable and sustainable impact on the industry and the Saanich Peninsula region 

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award celebrates a business owner or founder 35 years or under, who has excelled in business; exemplifies outstanding leadership and/or entrepreneurial skills in their field; and demonstrates exceptional vision that contributes to business success.

  • The nominee must be an owner or CEO of a private or public company, and responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business. Co-founders are eligible if they share leadership responsibilities at the company.
  • Non-founding entrepreneurs are only eligible if the individual manages the business and assumes the associated risks.
  • The nominee must have been in their current leadership role for at least two years, by the application deadline.
  • The nominee’s company must be at least three years old.

Art Finlayson Community Engagement Award

The Art Finlayson Community Engagement Award celebrates an individual that demonstrates a commitment to the community beyond their usual business or life practices; has a long-term desire to build diverse, inclusive and balanced communities; makes a sustainable and tangible impact in the region; and displays a clear commitment to social responsibility.

  • Evidence that Social Responsibility is one of their tenets or pillars and the social, environmental, and financial outcomes are measurable (provide 3 examples in any or all categories)
  • Uses its resources, creativity, and community connectivity to excel at corporate citizenship and engage employees with their community (provide 2 examples) 
  • Demonstrates a commitment to the community outside of normal business practices and beyond their business or professional responsibility (provide evidence)
  • Recognizes and encourages exceptional activities such as but not limited to volunteerism, community-based learning, or research, outreach, partnerships and curricular engagement   
  • Evidence that the organization/business models diversity and inclusion in the workplace and business decision making