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Nominees for business excellence awards announced

Jan 9, 2017 | 9:08 AM

NANAIMO – Some of the best businesses in the central island are up for some high profile recognition.

Thirteen companies in Nanaimo and Oceanside have been nominated for this year’s Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards.

The Harbour City nominees include Calais Billiards and Spa, the Coast Bastion Hotel, Island West Coast Developments, NYLA Fresh Thread, Seamor Marine and the Nest Bistro.

In a release announcing nominations, Business Examiner magazine editor Mark MacDonald says it’s “one of the deepest and most diverse set of finalists they’ve seen yet.”

The other Nanaimo nominees are Classic Care Services, Ecklundson Construction, Living Forest Campground, Restacon, Rewild Homes, Studio AE Interior Design and Vitacare Natural Health Clinic.

Six Oceanside companies are nominated including Oceanside Roofing, Quality Foods and Weather-Wise Cedar Products in Parksville along with Crossfit Qualicum Beach, Lefty’s Fresh Foods in Qualicum and Waypoint Insurance.

MacDonald says overall, there are 83 nominees island wide.

“I believe this was the largest number of nominations we’ve ever received,” he said. “The scope and variety of what these businesses do is mind boggling. It’s simply amazing what businesses are doing on Vancouver Island.”

There are a number of categories including agriculture, construction/development, health, hospitality/tourism, Real Estate, retail, small business, technology, trades and business of the year.

The ceremony is Jan. 26 in Victoria.