Ninety Cranbrook businesses, individuals, and organizations are nominated for a Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce 2018 Business Excellence Award.

The jury panel interviews begin today and will run through Friday.

The chamber office will be crazy busy for the entire week.

“We will have 90 nominees, 36 judges and at times up to four rooms going simultaneously all week,” said Chamber office manager Laura Kennedy. “The interview method we employ is really rewarding. The judges and the nominees always find the process very satisfying and worthwhile.”

Three years ago, the chamber moved away from public voting to determine recipients and implemented an interview system that sees three judges interview nominees with a standard list of questions to start a conversation.

“It is important that these awards are subjective and not a popularity contest,” said Chamber Executive Director David D. Hull. “This is strictly a merit based subjective process that ensures the recipient in each category is demonstrably deserving of being recognized by the most prestigious business awards offered in Cranbrook.”

The recipients for the 12 awards will be kept under a cloak of secrecy and revealed at the Business Excellence Awards gala April 14 at St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino.

LIST OF NOMINEES

New Business of the Year

Sponsored by: Community Futures East Kootenay

• Kootenay Canine Adventures
• Raw House Juicery
• Kootenay Life Cycle
• Go Cranbrook
• Lux & Lace Hair Boutique
• Kootenay Computer
• Clear Sky Radio – Summit 107
• Inner Roar Yoga and Wellness

Accredited Professional Services Excellence

Sponsored by: Jim Pattison Broadcast Group – B104 & The Drive

Balance Massage Therapy

BDO Canada LLP

Completely Healthy Acupuncture

McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd.

Miles, Zimmer & Associates

The Hearing Loss Clinic

Victoria Ave Dental

Isaac Hockley, Realtor

Business of Year 1-15 Employees

Sponsored by: Cranbrook Downtown Business Association

• Big Horn Electric Ltd
• Canadian Rockies Landscape
• Isosceles Business Systems Inc.
• Sweet Gestures Chocolate Shoppe
• Apsire2bfit Training Services
• Cranbrook Flooring
• Duffy’s Doors
• Mad Lillies Hair & Company

Business Person of the Year

Sponsored by: Banking Association of Cranbrook

Nominee                                           Company

Brendan Dowling                             Heritage Inn Hotel & Conference Centre

Mike Adams                                     Taylor Adams Chartered Professional Accountants

Russ Sheppard                                Rockies Law Corporation

Rene Kowalchuck                           Denham Ford

Barry Zwueste                                  St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino

Joey Hoechsmann                          The Bedroom Furniture Galleries

Manufacturing and Production Excellence

Sponsored by: Rocky Mountain Diesel Ltd.

• Mrs. Palmer’s Pantry
• Cranbrook Interior Woodwork Ltd.
• Happy Cow Ice Cream Inc.
• Maverick Construction
• Applied Compression Systems
• Any Wear Garment

Business to Business Excellence

Sponsored by: Koocanusa Publications

All 7 Tech Solutions (RBBS Telecom)

Cranbrook Pest Control

EK Freedom Business & Tax Center

Interior Trophies

POS-n-go Solutions Inc

Jim Pattison Broadcast Group – B104 & The Drive

Business of Year 16+ Employees

Sponsored by: St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino

• Alpine Toyota
• Kal Tire
• Vast Resources Solutions Inc.
• Riemann Painting
• Home Hardware
• Denham Ford

Hospitality & Tourism Excellence

Sponsored by: Pacific Coastal Airlines

Cranbrook History Centre

Days Inn

Elizabeth Lake Lodge

Fort Steele Heritage Town

Kootenay Soulfood Company

True Root Café

Ultimate West Flyfishing

Allegra Restaurant

Retailer Excellence

Sponsored by: Business Development Bank of Canada

• The Choice
• Real Deals on Home Décor
• The Paw Shoppe
• Bumble Tree
• Cranbrook Dodge
• Top Crop Garden, Farm & Pet

Non Profit Organization of Year

Cranbrook Search & Rescue

BC SPCA East Kootenay Branch

Big Brothers Big Sisters Cranbrook

Cranbrook & District Community Foundation

Cranbrook Eagles Boxing Club

Cranbrook Farmer’s Market

Cranbrook Public Library

Friends of Children

Columbia Outdoor School

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 24 Cranbrook

East Kootenay Foundation for Health

MADD Kimbrook

Young Entrepreneur of Year

Sponsored by: College of the Rockies

Nominee                               Company

Melissa Hambalek               Initial Design

Jesse Roberts                      Arby’s

Jordan Nering                      Artistic Media Productions

Jason de Rijk                       Sidekick Stickers

Danielle Eaton                      Brook PR

Customer Service

Sponsored by: New Dawn Developments Ltd.

•       St. Eugene Golf Resort

•         Willow Appliance

•        Frank Steak and Schnitzel Haus

•         Just Music

•         Lotus Books

•         M&K Plumbing & Heating

•         The Heidout & Fisher Peak Brewing Co

•        RDEK –  Wycliffe Exhibition Grounds

•         The Bedroom Furniture Galleries

•        Nutter’s Bulk & Natural Foods

Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce

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