Small Business BC Awards announces its 10 finalists

Credit: Small Business BC. Clockwise from top left: Finalists Afrofusion, Meraki Beauty Bar, Amawilc, Tardigrada Design Studio, Nature Bee and Lil’ Ronnie’s BBQ

The annual awards celebrate companies with loyal followings that are making a difference in their communities

Small businesses live and die by the communities they serve. Cue the Small Business BC Awards, which give customers a chance to nominate their favourite entrepreneurs.

For its 19th edition, the annual awards tallied 636 nominations representing 442 businesses in 88 communities throughout the province. Now we’re down the top five finalists for cash prizes in two categories.

The Business Impact Award celebrates skilled entrepreneurs who have invested in their community and made social responsibility a key part of their success. The five finalists, who were chosen from a group of 20, must pitch a judging panel of business experts and participate in a Q&A session. The Premier’s People’s Choice Award goes to the business that gets the most votes from the public.

Two of this year‘s finalists are run by BCBusiness 30 Under 30 winners: Michelle Tran, co-founder of Meraki Beauty Bar; and Katie Forsyth and Claire McLoughlin, founders of Friendly Composting. 

READ MORE: 30 Under 30: Katie Forsyth and Claire McLoughlin started Kamloops’ first and only residential and commercial composting service

The three winners of the Business Impact Award, plus the Premier’s People’s Choice Award champ, will be announced on April 28. You can register to attend the virtual awards ceremony here. 

And now, here are the 10 finalists in both categories.

Business Impact Award

1. Amawilc, Pemberton 
2. Atlin Mountain Coffee Roasters, Atlin 
3. Friendly Composting, Kamloops 
4. Lil’ Ronnie’s BBQ, Tofino 
5. Nature Bee, Saanichton 

Premier’s People’s Choice Award

1. Afrofusion, Kamloops 
2. Meraki Beauty Bar, Burnaby 
3. Nature Bee, Saanichton 
4. Soul Bite Food, Coquitlam 
5. Tardigrada Design Studio, Vancouver