2025 Nanaimo Business Awards

Presented By: 

 

The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize ‘leaders and achievers’ in the 25th annual celebration. The awards presentation will be LIVE at the Coast Bastion Thursday, May 15th, 2025!

This event honours individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations that have contributed to the fabric and growth of the Nanaimo community. 

Nominations were live from February 1 until March 15 and are now CLOSED.
This year, all nominees were required to submit answers to a series of questions designed to highlight their achievements, values, and impact. These responses were carefully reviewed and scored by a panel of independent judges in a blind evaluation process. The People's Choice Award was the only category voted on by the public. The Survey was live April 1 - April 22 for The People's Choice Award.

1. Community Builder: 

• The Community Builder of the Year Award honours a business, non-profit organization, or public sector agency that demonstrates a commitment to the community beyond their usual business 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..

Sponsored by: Acera Insurance 
Nominees: 

• Acclaim Celtic Dancers
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island
• Blaise The Trail Inc.
• Coco Cafe & Cedar Opportunities BC Society
• CurVa-Voom
• Deni's Dynamite Deals
• Downtown Nanaimo Business Association
• Island Crisis Care Society
• Island Savings
• Kitties & Cream
• Mid Island Co-op
• Mood Cannabis Co.
• Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation
• Nanaimo Brain Injury Society
• Nanaimo Buyers Club
• Nanaimo Child Development Centre
• Nanaimo Hospice Shoppe
• Nanaimo Women's Business Network
• Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation
• Norm's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
• Red Shelf Decor
• Red's Bakery
• Rita & Rachel Cousins Mortgage Brokers
• Sea Wolves Men's Cancer Pack
• ServiceXCEL
• Women of Influence Nanaimo (WIN) Network

2. Creative Services: 

• The Creative Services award recognizes graphic designers, photographers, videographers, web designers, social media influencers – and anything else in the field that fits in here! 

Sponsored by: The Coast Bastion Hotel 
Nominees: 

• Acclaim Celtic Dancers
• Aligned Kitchen and Cabinets
• Candice Deanna Makeup | Hair| Photography
• Equal Films Ltd.
• Island 360 Photobooth Inc.
• Knotty Birch Studio
• Pye Design
• Salsa Dancing Nanaimo
• Spotlight Academy

3. Diversity & Inclusion: 

• This award celebrates an organization that demonstrates exceptional dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within their business and the broader community. It recognizes champions who move beyond rhetoric, showcasing unwavering support for underrepresented or marginalized groups through tangible actions and enduring initiatives!

• Acclaim Celtic Dancers
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island
• Blaise The Trail Inc.
• Coco Cafe & Cedar Opportunities BC Society
• CurVa-Voom
• Kitties & Cream
• Nanaimo Child Development Centre
• Salsa Dancing Nanaimo
• Spotlight Academy
• Nanaimo Women's Business Network
• Purple Cactus Lingerie
• Red Shelf Decor
• The Cooperators
• Women of Influence Nanaimo (WIN) Network

4. Downtown Business Impact Award: 

• This award honours a downtown business that has demonstrated exceptional resilience, adaptability, and commitment to excellence while navigating unique challenges of operating on Nanaimo's core. This business has shown unwavering dedication to its customers, employees, and the revitalization of downtown. The award celebrates innovation, perseverance, and the ability to thrive while contributing to the vibrancy and growth of the downtown core.

• Almost Famous Laser
• Black Rabbit Kitchen
• Funk Revival
• Kitties & Cream
• Precise Mechanical Repairs
• Red's Bakery
• Red Shelf Décor

5. Family First: 

• Honours a business that creates a culture that supports work/life balance. Demonstrates support and care for employee’s parental needs such as job sharing, option to work from home or flexibility when family matters arise. Staff and owners demonstrate an inclusive attitude towards families with young children for both employees and customers.Aids and support to employees with aging seniors.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island
• My Undies Bra and Lingerie Boutique
• Nanaimo Community Hospice Society
• Precise Mechanical Repairs Ltd.
• VEGAIN Nutrition Inc.

6. Financial Services: 

• This award is for businesses in banking, finance, investment, accounting, insurance, consulting services, or other professional services will be recognized for their product and service range, industry knowledge, and expertise. 

• Acera Insurance
• BDC - Business Development Bank of Canada
• Canadian Western Bank
• Communities Futures Central Island
• Cooperators
• Hewer Rowat Armet & Associates
• Integral Wealth Securities
• Island Sky Advising
• PROFiX Accounting & Strategy Ltd.
• Rita & Rachel Cousins Mortgage Brokers
• Struthers, Udeagha & Associates- IG Private Wealth Management
• The Cooperators

7. Food & Beverage: 

• The Food & Beverage award recognizes hospitality businesses that consistently demonstrate excellence in food service, quality, and presentation.  Customers feel special and staff feel safe and supported ensuring an equilibrium.

• Coco Cafe & Cedar Opportunities BC Society
• Kinsu Chocolates
• Le Brunch Cafe
• Little George's Pizza & Pasta-Local Guys
• Nanaimo Moose Lodge
• Red's Bakery

8. Health & Wellness: 

• The Health & Wellness award goes to a favourite business that seems to always go above and beyond, an alternative health care provider, pharmaceutical, natural/homeopath, RMT, physio, or chiropractor with service second to none! 

• Ears To You | Mobile Hearing Clinic
• Nanaimo Child Development Centre
• Nanaimo Community Hospice Society
• Nettle Acupuncture
• Sea Wolves Men's Cancer Pack

9. Innovation: 

• The award honours a business that has developed a process, product or service that is original and contributes to profitability and/or market share. This is demonstrated through the use of science and/or technology to create a business that is original or unique; shows a high degree of originality, creativity.

• Acclaim Celtic Dancers
• Hufnagel Consulting
• Kitties & Cream
• Purple Cactus Lingerie
• Red Shelf Decor
• VEGAIN Nutrition Inc.
• Women of Influence Nanaimo (WIN) Network

10. Major Employer: 

• This award recognizes a company in any industry for excellence as a business who engages in innovative practices, is outstanding as a pioneer in their field and are focused on positively impacting the community through more than their workforce weight.  These business show promise for growth and increased positive stimulus as a community economic driver. 

• Island Crisis Care Society
• Mid Island Co-op

11. Micro & Home-Based Business: 

• This award recognizes businesses with up to 10 employees.  This includes start ups, entrepreneurs, and businesses who’ve entered the succession movement.  The interruption in normal business activities has inspired many to enter this entrepreneurial business development model. 

• Acclaim Celtic Dancers
• Aligned Kitchen and Cabinets
• Blaise The Trail Inc.
• Candice Deanna Makeup | Hair | Photography
• CurVa-Voom
• Hufnagel Consulting
• Island 360 Photobooth Inc.
• Island Karaoke
• Kinsu Chocolates
• Kitties & Cream
• Nettle Acupuncture
• Purple Cactus Lingerie
• Red Shelf Decor
• Salsa Dancing Nanaimo
• VEGAIN Nutrition Inc.
• WPDoneRight.com 

12. New Business of the Year: 

• This award is presented to a new business in operation for not more than three (3) years. This business is recognized for its excellence in the areas of management, branding, marketing, product development and quality, staff training and customer service.

• Aligned Kitchen and Cabinets
• Hufnagel Consulting
• Kinsu Chocolates
• My Undies Bra and Lingerie Boutique
• VEGAIN Nutrition Inc.
• WPDoneRight.com

13. Not-For-Profit: 

• This award is presented to a registered not-for-profit organization which, through its activities and initiatives creates tangible benefits to individuals and/or the community at large which demonstrates ongoing achievements for the well-being of those it directly involves.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island
• Coco Cafe & Cedar Opportunities BC Society
• Deni's Dynamite Deals
• Island Crisis Care Society
• Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation
• Nanaimo Brain Injury Society
• Nanaimo Child Development Centre
• Nanaimo Community Hospice
• Nanaimo Conservatory of Music
• Nanaimo Moose Lodge
• Nanaimo Women's Business Network
• Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation
• Sea Wolves Men's Cancer Pack
• Women of Influence Nanaimo (WIN) Network

14. People's Choice Award: 

• This is your chance to shine in the spotlight! The People’s Choice Award is open to any business in Nanaimo, big or small; it is recognition for their outstanding service, community spirit, or impact. It’s all about local love, businesses were voted for and the winner will be announced tonight!!

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island
• Coco Cafe & Cedar Opportunities BC Society
• Candice Deanna Makeup| Hair| Photography
• CurVa-Voom
• Deni's Dynamite Deals
• Funk Revival
• Gulf Islands Builds
• Island Junk Solutions Nanaimo
• Island WineWorks
• Island-ish Lifestyle Boutique
• Nanaimo Community Hospice Society
• Nanaimo Hospice Shoppe
• Nanaimo Lifelines
• Nanaimo Women's Business Network
• Nettle Acupuncture
• Norm's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
• Purple Cactus Lingerie
• Precise Mechanical Repairs
• Red’s Bakery
• Sea Wolves Men's Cancer Pack
• ServiceXCEL
• VEGAIN Nutrition Inc.

15. Personal & Aesthetics Services: 

• The Personal & Aesthetic Services award includes anything that you look and feel good. This award reflects spas, hair stylists, nail technicians, personal trainers, tailors, estheticians, make-up artists etc.  

• Candice Deanne Makeup| Hair| Photography
• Noble Common Hair Co.
• Nettle Acupuncture

16. Property Developers:

• Property development drives a large part of Nanaimo’s economy and keeps us housed and our businesses in buildings they need.  Big or small, Nanaimo’s developers shape our neighbourhoods and community.

• Gulf Island Builds
• Lone Tree Properties Ltd. - The Foothills

17. Retailer:

• This award is given to a business that offers excellence in retail through presentation of a unique concept, an intriguing environment, unique products and/or services and consistent delivery of high-value service. 

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Vancouver Island
• CurVa-Voom
• Ears to You Mobile Hearing Clinic
• Funk Revival
• Island Wine Works
• Kitties & Cream
• My Undies Bra and Lingerie Boutique
• Nanaimo Buyers Club
• Nanaimo Hospice Shoppe
• Purple Cactus Lingerie
• Red Shelf Decor
• VEGAIN Nutrition Inc.

18. Small & Medium Business:

• Small & Medium Enterprise targets businesses with 11-99 employees.  This award gives recognition of businesses with a vision and demonstrated capacity for sustainable growth, engagement in innovative practices, demonstrating outstanding performance in their field. 

• Berwick on the Lake
• Coco Cafe & Cedar Opportunities BC Society
• Ears to You Mobile Hearing Clinic
• Integral Wealth Securities
• Mood Cannabis Co.
• Nanaimo Community Hospice Society
• Norm's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
• Precise Mechanical Repairs
• ServiceXCEL

19. Trades & Skilled Labours:

• This Award is for the people who take your dreams and ideas from paper and turn them into reality: contractors, builders, electricians & plumbers, roofers, carpenters

• Gulf Islands Builds
• Norm's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
• Precise Mechanical Repairs
• ServiceXCEL
• Simply Painting
• Trev Homes

20. Women in Business:

• The Women in Business Award honours a female 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.

• Acclaim Celtic Dancers | Desirée Pahl
• Aligned Kitchen and Cabinets | Adrianna Golinsky
• Almost Famous Laser | Amanda Chinn 
• Artzi Stuff | Tanya Streeter
• Black Rabbit Kitchen | Amy Ferris
• Blaise The Trail Inc. | Blaise Hunter
• Candice Deanna Makeup | Hair |Photography - Candice Deanna Johnson
• Coastal Community Credit Union | Hollie Quiring
• Downtown Nanaimo Business Association and Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce | Roberta Bowman
• Funk Revival | Brooke Vermeersch & Katherine Russell
• Hufnagel Consulting | Jennifer Hufnagel
• Island 360 Photobooth Inc. | Aura Reed
• Island Clinical Counselling | Kathryn Atkinson
• Island WineWorks | Fiona Berry
• Island-ish Lifestyle Boutique | Kelly Klaassen
• Kinsu chocolates | Breanna Maika
• Kitties & Cream | Kelly Whiteside
• Knotty Birch Studio | Jennifer Tryhorn
• Little George's Pizza and Pasta Local Guys | Rohini Mehendiratta
• My Undies Bra and Lingerie Boutique | Virginia Coverdale
• Nanaimo Brain Injury Society | Kix Citton
• Nanaimo Community Hospice Society | Bonnie Ross
• Nanaimo Hospice Shoppe | Tiffany Lang
• Nanaimo 's Women's Business Network | Rita Cousins
• Nettle Acupuncture | Erin Thorpe
• Purple Cactus Lingerie | Marie Armstrong and Hayley Armstrong-Durst
• Pye Design | Amy Pye
• Red Shelf Decor | Dee Fontans
• Red's Bakery | Stevie Sawatzky
• Rita & Rachel Cousins Mortgage Brokers | Rita Cousins
• Root Interiors | Shauna Root
• Spotlight Academy | Jacqui Kaese
• VEGAIN Nutrition Inc. | Melissa L'Heureux-Hache
• WPDoneRight.com | Peggy Richardson

21. Young Entrepreneur:

• Young entrepreneurs have what it takes to make it in business – a good idea, vision, and understanding of their marketplace and those unique qualities of a successful business operator – passion, drive, energy, and creativity.

• Aligned Kitchen and Cabinets
• Candice Deanna Makeup | Hair | Photography
• Ears To You | Mobile Hearing Clinic
• Fairytale Landscaping
• Funk Revival
• Kitties & Cream
• Precise Mechanical Repairs
• Purple Cactus Lingerie
• Nanaimo Community Hospice Society
• Nettle Acupuncture
• VEGAIN Nutrition

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