The Fernie Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the finalists for the 2017 Community and Business Excellence Awards sponsored by CanAus Coal Limited and Trucut Ltd. There were 139 nominations representing 70 unique entries. Those entries have been judged by a volunteer panel of business people from Tofino to Toronto.

“Working at the chamber, with the businesses of Fernie, we see local entrepreneurs and business owners building our community. We see them hiring staff, donating to causes they love, and dedicating hours to provide us services and products we love. The awards are a great way to recognize the success and hard work these businesses put in day-in and day-out to make Fernie a place we all want to live,” said Patty Vadnais, Executive Director of Fernie Chamber of Commerce.

And the finalists are:

Spirit of Fernie, sponsored by ISOSCELES Business Systems

  Avalanche City Roller Derby

  Elk River Watershed Alliance (Elk River Alliance)

  Wapiti Music Festival

Community Tourism Achievement, sponsored by Tourism Fernie

  Canyon Rafting Co

  Island Lake Lodge

  Stag Leap Running Co

Outstanding Customer Service, sponsored by Scotia Bank

  Nevados

  Super 8 Fernie

  Healing Hollow

New Business of the Year, sponsored by Summit Fund of Fernie Alpine Resort

  Cinch Homes

  Coal Town Goods

  Four Cubs Kit & Clothing Inc.

  Sterling Detailing

Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by Community Futures East Kootenay

  Keegan Street – Rooftop Coffee Roasters

  Ryan Doehle – ISOSCELES

  Vanessa Whilms – Soar Studios

Team of the Year, sponsored by EK Employment

  Island Lake Lodge

  Snow Valley Spa and Leisure

  Tanglefoot Veterinary Clinic


Employer of the Year, sponsored by College of the Rockies

  Rockies Law Corporation, Fernie

  Spa 901

  Super 8 Fernie

Fernie Business of the Year, sponsored by CanAus and Trucut Ltd.

  Fernie Brewing Company

  ISOSCELES Business Solutions

  Three Sisters Day Spa

People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Rockies Law Corp.

  Kettle Black Bartending

  Rooftop Coffee Roasters

  Three Sisters Day Spa

Chamber Business Excellence, sponsored by Fernie Chamber of Commerce

  Rockies Law Corporation, Fernie

  Super 8 Fernie

  Western Financial Group

Community Leadership Award, sponsored by Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge

  Fernie Brewing Company

  Park Place Lodge

  Super 8 Fernie

 Citizen of the Year, sponsored by The City of Fernie

 Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by The Free Press

Congratulations to the many businesses that were nominated and that have been selected as finalists. “There is great ingenuity and grit shown by Fernie businesses to succeed,” stated Graeme Nunn, Board President Fernie Chamber of Commerce. “The finalists showcase just a small sample of the amazing businesses operating in Fernie and it is great to take some time this October to celebrate their work.”

There will be a VIP Reception for all finalists on October 17, 7-9 p.m. at the Park Place Lodge, sponsored by Capasiti Consulting and Teck. This reception is a chance for the finalists to come together and celebrate before the Business Excellence Awards Gala held on October 24.

This year’s Award keynote speaker is Dan Pontefract. We invite you to join us for this great evening celebrating the best in Fernie. Dan is Chief Envisioner at TELUS, a Canadian telecommunications company, where he heads the Transformation Office, a future-of-work consulting group that helps organizations enhance their corporate cultures and collaboration practices.

Previously as Head of Learning & Collaboration at TELUS, Dan introduced a new leadership framework–called the TELUS Leadership Philosophy–that dramatically helped to increase the company’s employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%.

He is the author of THE PURPOSE EFFECT: Building Meaning in Yourself, Your Role and Your Organization as well as FLAT ARMY: Creating a Connected and Engaged Organization. A renowned speaker, Dan has presented at multiple TED events and also writes for Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today and The Huffington Post. Dan and his wife, Denise, have three young children (aka goats) and live in Victoria, Canada. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Victoria. His next book, OPEN to THINK, publishes in 2018.

Tickets for the award gala are available on line at FernieChamber.com/Awards or by calling the Chamber at 250-423-6868.

Lead image: The 2016 awards finalists and winners. Photo submitted

Fernie Chamber of Commerce

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