Nominations open for annual Nanaimo Chamber Awards

Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce CEO Kim Smythe said there’s a wide range of categories.

“There’s 20 plus categories listed on our website, everything from environmental responsibility to best customer service, to best restaurant,” said Smythe. “This year we’ve added on health care and medical services business of the year, so very diverse sets of awards and different criteria for each of the awards that are given out.”

Smythe said the recognition for the finalists and winners can have a tangible positive impact on their businesses.

“We publicize the nominees and we publicize the finalists, we keep the price very low for the event so that individuals or businesses can afford to bring some of their staff that evening and that’s how we end up with roughly 400 in the room,” said Smythe.

The Business and Community Achievement Awards are like any other set of awards in Canada, people tend to be shy about taking credit for the good work they do.

Smythe hopes that the business community will accept the kudos from their peers.

“So often we see people reluctant to nominate themselves, and nominees reluctant to be part of the judging process because here in Canada we’re all so humble and modest it seems. When people lead the community with their business activities and their community activities they should stand up to be recognized,” said Smythe.

The awards are one of the biggest events on the Chamber calendar, Smythe said.

Two of the other large scale events are the Business Expo in October and the Christmas Luncheon and Auction in December.

dmarshall@islandradio.bc.ca

by Dan Marshall

Nominations open for annual Nanaimo Chamber Awards

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