2025 Nanaimo Business Awards
Presented By:
The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize ‘leaders and achievers’ in the 25th annual celebration. The awards presentation will be LIVE at the Coast Bastion Thursday, May 15th, 2025!
This event honours individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations that have contributed to the fabric and growth of the Nanaimo community.
Nominations were live from February 1 until March 15 and are now CLOSED.
Questionnaires will be sent out March 17. Questionnaires MUST be returned by March 31, if your questionnaire is not received by then, you are ineligible for the award. Judging period is from April 1 - April 22. This year ALL nominees will fill out a questionnaire to be submitted to the judges.
The People's Choice Award will be the only category voted on by the public. The Survey will be live April 1 - April 22 for The People's Choice Award.
Nanaimo Business Award Categories:
This event honours individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations that have contributed to the fabric and growth of the Nanaimo community.
Nominations were live from February 1 until March 15 and are now CLOSED.
Questionnaires will be sent out March 17. Questionnaires MUST be returned by March 31, if your questionnaire is not received by then, you are ineligible for the award. Judging period is from April 1 - April 22. This year ALL nominees will fill out a questionnaire to be submitted to the judges.
The People's Choice Award will be the only category voted on by the public. The Survey will be live April 1 - April 22 for The People's Choice Award.
Nanaimo Business Award Categories:
1. Retailer:
- This award is given to a business that offers excellence in retail through presentation of a unique concept, an intriguing environment, unique products and/or services and consistent delivery of high-value service.
Sponsored by:
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2. Food & Beverage:
- The Food & Beverage award recognizes hospitality businesses that consistently demonstrate excellence in food service, quality, and presentation. Customers feel special and staff feel safe and supported.
Sponsored by:
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3. Health & Wellness:
- The Health & Wellness award goes to a favourite clinic that seems to always go above and beyond. Such as an alternative health care provider, pharmaceutical, natural/homeopath, RMT, physio, or chiropractor with service second to none.
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4. Personal & Aesthetic Services:
- The Personal & Aesthetic Services award includes anything that makes you look and feel good. This award reflects spas, hair stylists, nail technicians, personal trainers, tailors, estheticians, make-up artists etc.
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5. Creative Services:
- The Creative Services award recognizes digital creative services such as graphic designers, photographers, videographers, web designers, social media influencers. And the Arts in the form of dance, theatre, drawing, clay, painting etc.– and anything else in this field that fits!
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6. Financial Services:
- This award is for businesses in banking, finance, investment, accounting, insurance, consulting, or other professional services, whom will be recognized for their product and service range, industry knowledge, and expertise.
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7. Property Developers:
- This award goes to a diverse selection Property developers, designers, and builders. These unsung heroes, enable the Nanaimo community to grow and prosper.
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8. Family First Award:
Honours a business that creates a culture that supports work/life balance. Demonstrates support and care for employee’s parental needs such as job sharing, option to work from home or flexibility when family matters arise. Staff and owners demonstrate an inclusive attitude towards families with young children for both employees and customers. Provides assistance and support to employees with aging seniors.
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9. Young Entrepreneur:
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10. Micro & Home-Based Business:
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11. Small & Medium Business: 11 - 99 Employees:
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9. Young Entrepreneur:
- If you are under 40 – this award is for you! Young entrepreneurs have what it takes to make it in business – a good idea, vision, and understanding of their marketplace and the unique qualities of a successful business operator – passion, drive, energy, and creativity.
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10. Micro & Home-Based Business:
- This award recognizes businesses with up to 10 employees. This includes startups, entrepreneurs, and businesses who’ve entered into this business movement.
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11. Small & Medium Business: 11 - 99 Employees:
- Small & Medium Enterprise targets businesses with 11-99 employees. This award gives recognition of businesses with a vision and demonstrated capacity for sustainable growth, engagement in innovative practices, demonstrating outstanding performance in their field.
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Nominees
12. Major Employer -- 100+ Employees:
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13. Community Builder of the Year:
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14. Trades & Skilled Labour:
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15. Indigenous Business:
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21. Diversity & Inclusion Award:
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22. Downtown Business Impact Award:
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12. Major Employer -- 100+ Employees:
- This award recognizes a company in any industry for excellence as a business who engages in innovative practices, is outstanding as a pioneer in their field and are focused on positively impacting the community through more than their workforce weight. These business show promise for growth and increased positive stimulus as a community economic driver.
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13. Community Builder of the Year:
- The Community Builder of the Year Award honours a business, non-profit organization, or public sector agency that demonstrates a commitment to the community beyond their usual business practices; has a long-term desire to build diverse, inclusive and balanced communities; makes a sustainable and tangible impact in the region; and displays a clear commitment to social responsibility.
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14. Trades & Skilled Labour:
- These are the people who take your dreams and ideas from paper and turn them into reality: contractors, builders, electricians & plumbers, roofers, carpenters, you get the gist.
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15. Indigenous Business:
- Recognize Indigenously owned and operated businesses – ground breakers or long-standing operations. We’re looking forward to many nominations demonstrating the diversity of our community
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16. People’s Choice:
- This award will go to any business who YOU think deserves it!
Sponsored by:
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17. Not-For-Profit:
- This award is presented to a registered not-for-profit organization which, through its activities and initiatives creates tangible benefits to individuals and/or the community at large which demonstrates ongoing achievements for the well-being of those it directly involves.
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18. Innovation Award:
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19. Women in Business:
- The Women in Business Award honours a female who is the founder, CEO, President, or Senior Executive of a company who exhibits business leadership and vision; displays a significant commitment to the success of both their business and the region as a whole; serves as a positive role model or mentor for other business people; and exemplifies professional behaviour maintaining an upstanding reputation in the business community and region as a whole.
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20. New Business of the Year:
- This award is presented to a new business in operation for not more than three (3) years. This business is recognized for its excellence in the areas of management, branding, marketing, product development and quality, staff training and customer service.
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21. Diversity & Inclusion Award:
- This award celebrates an organization that demonstrates exceptional dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within their business and the broader community. It recognizes champions who move beyond rhetoric, showcasing unwavering support for underrepresented or marginalized groups through tangible actions and enduring initiatives.
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22. Downtown Business Impact Award:
- This award honours a downtown business that has demonstrated exceptional resilience, adaptability, and commitment to excellence while navigating unique challenges of operating on Nanaimo's core. This business has shown unwavering dedication to its customers, employees, and the revitalization of downtown. The award celebrates innovation, perseverance, and the ability to thrive while contributing to the vibrancy and growth of the downtown core.
Sponsored by:
Nominees:
2025 Nanaimo Business Awards
Event Sponsors
Title Sponsor
Award Sponsors
Date and Time
Thursday May 15, 2025
6:00 PM - 9:30 PM PDT
May 15, 2025
6:00 to 9:30 PM
Location
Coast Bastion Hotel
Fees/Admission
Member Rate: $135.00
Non-Member Rate: $145.00
