Winning entrepreneurs announced in Small Business BC provincial awards contest

For 2021, the Small Business BC Awards received a record-breaking 937 nominations, representing 558 small businesses in 88 communities across BC.

This year’s Awards celebrates small businesses that have managed to continue to grow by pivoting and adapting despite the challenges this year. We’re delighted to share our 2021 Award winners:

Best Community Impact: Sisters Sage – Vancouver, B.C.
Best Immigrant Entrepreneur: Charcuterie Vancouver – Vancouver, B.C.
Best Solopreneur: Jada Creations – Terrace, B.C.
Best Youth Entrepreneur: Sea to Sky Sourdough BReD – Whistler B.C.
Best Innovation: Matidor – Vancouver, B.C.
Premier’s People’s Choice: Bigfoot Donuts – Courtenay, B.C

The winners of the Small Business BC Awards were announced in six award categories today, representing the best in entrepreneurship in our province this year. In a year like no other – we celebrated small business good news stories – businesses that have pivoted and overcome the challenges caused by the pandemic.

The Small Business BC Awards are an annual awards contest that seeks nominations from the public, and from entrepreneurs themselves, in support of local businesses that have an impact on their community. This year, the Small Business BC Awards received a record-breaking 937 nominations, representing 558 small businesses in 88 communities across BC.

“This year was particularly special for us at Small Business BC. We saw an overwhelming show of support from friends, families and communities coming forward to honour the small businesses they love during a difficult year,” said Small Business BC CEO, Tom Conway. “The awards mean that much more, knowing that every business nominated has faced challenges and still found ways to thrive in this new environment. It gives hope to the many other entrepreneurs who are still under extreme pressure.”

For 18 years, the Small Business BC awards have been bringing attention to amazing businesses in our province. The awards not only recognize the outstanding achievements of small business owners, but also aim to inspire other entrepreneurs.

“Congratulations to all the nominees and winners of the Small Business BC Awards. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I want to commend you on the hard work, determination, and optimism that you have continued to show during this unprecedented time. Small businesses are crucial partners in Canada’s and British Columbia’s economic recovery. We are committed to supporting you, because when small businesses thrive, our communities thrive,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada.

“Small businesses earn our appreciation every day and in difficult times like these they deserve extra credit for their resilience and determination. It’s an honour to recognize the winners of this year’s Small Business BC Awards,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation, Government of British Columbia. “Small businesses and the people they employ are at the heart of many B.C. communities. Congratulations on your awards.”

This year the Small Business BC Awards were sponsored by First West Credit Union and its four locally known and trusted divisions: Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings and Enderby & District Financial.

The winners of the 18th annual Small Business BC Awards are:

Best Community Impact: Sisters Sage – Vancouver, B.C.

Lynn-Marie and Melissa-Rae Angus are the sisters behind Sisters Sage, an Indigenous brand that hand-crafts wellness and self-care products, inspired by their culture and traditions.

They are the winners of the Best Community Impact Award, which goes to a company that is truly making a difference in their community. This business has taken positive action to invest in their community and sees social responsibility as an integral part of the business’ success.

Judge’s comments about selecting Sisters Sage as the winner:

“Lynn-Marie and Melissa-Rae took their past experience and negative memories to create something new to empower others. I love their energy and how they use it to educate and collaborate with other small businesses in their community. Their industry can be competitive, so it’s a huge value to collaborate and lift small businesses up!”

“Lynn-Marie and Melissa-Rae are giving out so much inspiration to others who need some personal empowerment. Their combination of positive energy and practical approach is awesome. They are truly making a significant difference in their community.”

Best Immigrant Entrepreneur: Charcuterie Vancouver – Vancouver, B.C.

Established in 2019, Charcuterie Vancouver brings people together and creates a sense of community by elevating special events and occasions with the most unique, flavourful and beautiful custom-made charcuterie boards, tables and boxes.

Winner of the Best Immigrant Entrepreneur Award, owner Sadaf Rahimi is recognized as an outstanding new Canadian who has started a successful business in B.C. She has overcome adversity, exhibits leadership both in her community and within her business, and has strong track record of business growth.

Judge’s comments about selecting Charcuterie Vancouver as the winner:

“Her products show creativity, they’re high quality, and they provide value. Sadaf’s been very successful in marketing the business based on presentation and reputation. It’s also an amazing feat to find delivery partners so quickly, and a great strategic move to teach her skills online to train future workers and franchisees.”

“Sadaf’s enthusiasm and creativity have carried her to achieve great things in a short space of time. She gives back to her community, donating food to local non-profits, while also launching the Charcuterie Academy to teach others how to create a charcuterie business. She’s now exploring expansion possibilities across North America.”

Best Solopreneur: Jada Creations– Terrace, B.C.

Jada Creations is an Indigenous owned and operated business specializing in authentic Indigenous wearable art.

Jada Creations, founded by Jaimie Davis, is the winner of Best Solopreneur Award which recognizes an outstanding individual that has started and grown a solo business. Jaimie has demonstrated the unique skillset required to stay focused on long-term goals, while juggling the day-to-day demands of running a successful company.

Judge’s comments about selecting Jade Creations as the winner:

“Jaimie’s passion and commitment to being successful by being her authentic self is quite evident in her business and through the five-year business plan she laid out for the panel of judges. On top of everything Jaimie has done to take her business to the next level, she also finds time to pass on her knowledge to young people in her community.”

“Jaimie speaks with passion about her business, culture and family, and provides an authentic point-of-view about the Indigenous experience. It’s inspiring to see her goals, not only for herself but for her community and the next generation.”

Best Youth Entrepreneur: Sea to Sky Sourdough BReD – Whistler B.C.

Sea to Sky Sourdough BReD is a 100% plant-based, organic sourdough bakery nestled at the base of Whistler mountain – the only bakery in town that you can ski to.

Sea to Sky Sourdough BReD owners Natasha Tatton and Ed Tatton are the winners of the Best Youth Entrepreneur Award, which encourages entrepreneurial ambition in youth and awards them for their clear vision for the future of their business, a track record of growth and demonstration of social, environmental or economic impact.

Judge’s comments about selecting Sea to Sky BReD as the winner:

“They have an authentic approach to their business and I can see how they genuinely connect to their community and are thought leaders in their area.”

“Their values are tied to everything they do and their story is incredible. I love how passionate and dedicated they are to being local and doing good in the world. Since the beginning, they’ve been focused on giving back, which is rare and hard to do. They are sacrificing profit in order to help people, the planet, and animals.”

Best Innovation: Matidor – Vancouver, B.C.

Matidor is a software solutions company that bring simplicity, unity and visibility to the complex world of field services. It is the ultimate location visualization and data collaboration tool for businesses, with the only software solution of its kind that has built-in GIS functionality.

Co-founders Vincent Lam and Sean Huang are winners of the Best Innovation Award, which recognizes a business that develops advanced or innovative technologies to meet the needs of industry in B.C. This business contributes to making the province a strong and rapidly growing innovation economy, and is creating a positive impact in their industry and community.

Judge’s comments about selecting Matidor as the winner:

“There’s no doubt Vincent and Sean have built a winner that is being highly regarded across the industry. They are a smart team that have even the small details figured out and their business model, with limitless users is genius, especially since collaboration is the value proposition of the product.”

“We are impressed. This team is really organized, have in place well-developed marketing plans and security plans and are launching new products every month. They are innovators!”

Premier’s People’s Choice: Bigfoot Donuts – Courtenay, B.C

Family owned and operated, Bigfoot Donuts is on a mission to reinvent the humble donut. Lyndsey Bell and Jay Valeri launched Bigfoot Donuts, following their lifelong love of baking and desire to bring quality, handcrafted donuts to the Comox Valley.

As winners of the Premier’s People’s Choice Award, Bigfoot Donuts garnered the unwavering and loyal support of their community by gaining the most votes in their award category. By calling out to the people who love their donuts and support their business, they came out on top and are the People’s Choice.

About the Small Business BC Awards

The winners of the Small Business BC Awards were announced over the course of a four-day virtual gala, from May 3 to May 6, 2021. A three-month long judging process decided the winners, which included a nomination and public voting period, an internal judging process to select the top five in each category, and finally a presentation to a panel of business experts to choose the winners.

The winners will receive $1,500, a short video shot by a professional film crew of their business, and an all-access pass to Small Business BC’s services, as well as the right to call themselves one of B.C.’s top small businesses!

For more information about the Small Business BC awards visit smallbusinessbc.ca/awards.

Media release, videos, and feature image provided by Sara Couper, Small Business BC