Three Victoria Small Businesses Announced As Top 5 Finalists for Small Business BC Awards

VICTORIA, BC, Feb. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - The Top 5 finalists have now been selected for the 12^th Annual Small Business BC Awards in each of the 10 award categories, and three very special companies are from Victoria.

The Small Business BC Awards is a province-wide competition where British Columbia's entrepreneurs and small business owners compete to have their company named one of BC's best businesses.

This year was the biggest year yet for the competition with over 460 nominations received from 70 communities across the province, including 13 nominations from Victoria.

The Top 5 finalists from Victoria include:

• Flytographer – Best Concept
• Origin Gluten-Free Bakery – Best Employer
• Rise Adventure & Wellness Solutions – Best Emerging Entrepreneur

Over the next two weeks, finalists in nine of the categories will present a Dragons' Den-style pitch to a panel of judges to convince them why they should be named a BC best business. Premier's People's Choice is the only award category based purely on votes.

Winners will be announced on February 26, 2015 at the Small Business BC Awards Ceremony at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver, where 500 small business owners, government representatives and other key business influencers will enjoy an evening that recognizes the amazing entrepreneurs in the province.

More information on the Small Business BC Awards can be found at www.sbbcawards.ca 

Quick Facts

Premier Christy Clark and the Honourable Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business will deliver special messages at the 2014-15 Small Business BC Awards Ceremony.

• The winners of the first-ever Best Emerging Entrepreneur Award and Best Immigrant Entrepreneur Award will also be announced at this year's ceremony.
• Over 3,000 entrepreneurs have participated in the SBBC Awards competition since its inception.

Quotes

"Small Business BC is proud to acknowledge the exceptionally talented, creative and passionate entrepreneurs in our province. The SBBC Awards provide a platform to showcase the impact that small businesses are having on their communities and the contributions they're making to the economy and to celebrate the dedicated entrepreneurs who built them." – George Hunter, CEO, Small Business BC

"On behalf of IBC, I want to congratulate the hard-working, resourceful and skilled candidates in each category and wish them all the best in the final rounds. Thank you all for your dedicated efforts to better our communities and province. As small businesses are an integral part of British Columbia's economy, we are pleased to return as title sponsor of the Small Business BC Awards for the sixth consecutive year." – Bill Adams, VP, Western and Pacific, Insurance Bureau of Canada

About Small Business BC
Small Business BC provides entrepreneurs with the information and guidance necessary to build a solid foundation for their business. Through a wide range of products, services, education and resources there's a piece that fits with every business. No matter what stage or what skill level, when an entrepreneur finds themselves asking "How do I…?" Small Business BC is the one to call.

About Insurance Bureau of Canada
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. For more than 50 years, IBC has worked with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC supports the vision of consumers and governments trusting, valuing and supporting the private P&C insurance industry. It champions key issues and helps educate consumers on how best to protect their homes, cars, businesses and properties.

P&C insurance touches the lives of nearly every Canadian and plays a critical role in keeping businesses safe and the Canadian economy strong. It employs more than 118,000 Canadians, pays $6.7 billion in taxes and has a total premium base of $48 billion.  

For media releases and more information, visit IBC's Media Centre at www.ibc.ca. Follow IBC on Twitter @InsuranceBureau (and @IBC_West/ @IBC_Ontario/ @IBC_Atlantic) or like us on Facebook. If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2-ASK-IBC.

SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada

Media Contact: Mark Blendheim, Communications Manager, Small Business BC, Direct: 604-775-5607, Cell: 604-339-4759, [email protected]