VICTORIA – Bailey Western Star Trucks Inc. of Campbell River and Daldas Farms Ltd. of Black Creek were among the top award winners at the 15th Annual Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards, held Thursday night at the Westin Bear Mountain Resort.
Bailey Western Star won for Automotive Company of the Year, while Daldas Farms picked up the Agricultural Company of the Year Award.
“What these awards are all about is celebrating the successes of the Vancouver Island companies who have quietly worked behind the scenes to make their communities better and employees a great place to work,” says Mark MacDonald, President of Invest Northwest Publishing Ltd., which publishes Business Examiner Victoria and Business Examiner Vancouver Island. “In most cases, they’ve been doing what they do best without fanfare, and this event brings them into the spotlight to take a bow.”
Real Estate Webmasters of Nanaimo was named Business of the Year for over 50 employees, while the Small Business of the Year for under 50 employees was taken by Hoyne Brewing Company of Victoria.
RBC Royal Bank and Hayes Stewart Little Chartered Accountants were the Gold Sponsors of the event. Astrid Braunschmidt of CTV Vancouver Island was MC.
Other category winners were:
Agriculture Company of the Year: Daldas Farms Ltd. of Black Creek.
Automotive Company of the Year: Bailey Western Star Trucks Inc. of Campbell River.
Construction/Development Company of the Year (Tie): Allterra Construction Ltd. of Victoria and Alair Homes of Nanaimo.
Entrepreneur of the Year: Atomique Productions Ltd. of Victoria.
Forestry/Wood Products Company of the Year: Coastland Wood Industries of Nanaimo.
Green Company of the Year: Fort Realty Ltd. of Victoria.
Health Company of the Year: Island Optimal Health and Performance of Nanaimo.
Hospitality/Tourism Company of the Year: Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort of Port McNeill.
Manufacturer of the Year: Viking Air Ltd. of Sidney
Ocean Products Company of the Year, sponsored by Grieg Seafood: Taste of BC Aquafarms Inc. Of Nanaimo.
Professional Company of the Year: Johnston, Johnston and Associates Ltd. of Nanaimo.
Real Estate Company of the Year: Chard Development of Victoria.
Retail Company of the Year: Cascadia Liquor of Victoria.
Technology Company of the Year: PBX Engineering Ltd. of Victoria.
Trades Company of the Year: Roc-Tech Contracting of Nanaimo.