2026 Business Excellence Awards Criteria
General Award Criteria
Any for-profit, non-government-owned business or individual may be nominated for any award category, with the exception of Not-for-Profit of the Year.
Not-For-Profit organizations, (excluding governments) are eligible for Not-For-Profit of the Year, Inclusive Leadership Award, Innovation Award, Environmental Leadership Award and individuals from Not-For-Profits are eligible to be nominated for Business Person of the Year.
Businesses must have a valid business license. Not-for-profits must have valid incorporation or charity number.
Nominee must have been in business for a minimum of three years, with the exception of the Emerging Business of the Year Award category.
Organizations, businesses or individuals may not nominate themselves for any award.
Award winners may not be nominated in the same category for three years following their win, but can be nominated and win in other categories.
Current Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Elected Officials may not be nominated.
Are within Kamloops or Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc region. This includes Kamloops, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, Sun Peaks, Tobiano and Logan Lake!
Business person of the Year
This Kamloops-area business person must:
Hold a significant leadership position (Founder, Owner, CEO, President, or Senior Executive) within their organization(s).
Have made a notable positive economic or social impact within the local area.
Serve as a model of civic leadership, contributing significantly to community initiatives either through their company's actions or personal volunteer work.
Possess a distinguished personal reputation for dedicating efforts towards community enhancement and improving the lives of fellow citizens.
Optional - Supply a letter from 1 mentor OR employee supporting the nomination
Community Service Award
This Kamloops-area business has:
Actively participate in, support, and engage with projects that uplift the community's quality of life and wellbeing, contributing resources such as time, funding, or other assets.
Foster a corporate culture centered on community engagement and philanthropy, extending beyond their primary business objectives.
Maintain an exceptional commitment to community enhancement and positively affecting those in their vicinity.
Optional - Provide 1 letter of support for the nomination from a not for profit, service agency, sports association, etc. That has benefit from the company’s support.
Emerging Business of the Year
This Kamloops-area non franchised business or start up has:
Been operational for 1 to 3 years.
Exhibits proactive leadership and innovation within their sector.
Shows measurable success, growth, or potential, both as a business and employer.
Engages in commendable corporate citizenship, significantly contributing to community betterment.
Demonstrates a burgeoning positive reputation and potential for growth, stable operations, community involvement, and an eagerness to interact with the broader business community.
Employer of the Year
This Kamloops-area business must demonstrate:
An exceptional commitment to employees, evidenced by competitive employment packages.
A dedication to offering professional development and advancement opportunities.
A conscious effort to cultivate a positive workplace culture, emphasizing work-life balance, employee recognition, and rewards.
A minimum of 5 Full-Time Employees.
Environmental Leadership Award
This Kamloops-area business or not for profit organization demonstrates a commitment to sustainable practices and environmental leadership in three or more of the following categories. Contributions should be ongoing and have taken place within the 12 months preceding the nomination.
Waste prevention.
Recycling, repurposing, and embracing a circular economy.
Sustainable purchasing and procurement policies.
Energy and water conservation.
Eco-friendly transportation practices.
Sustainable operations.
Active engagement in developing environmental policies.
Additional efforts as detailed by the nominee.
Excellence in Trades Award
This Kamloops-area business is involved in the trades and has demonstrated success through:
Provides trades-industry services including:
Automotive
Electrical - Construction, Industrial
Instrumentation and Control
Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
Heavy Mechanical
Piping Trades - Plumbing, Steam fitting, Pipefitting, Sprinkler fitting
Power Engineering
Welding
Other as demonstrated by the nominee
Demonstrates workplace safety excellence.
Upholds a reputation for integrity and leadership within the trades.
Provides certified quality services and actively seeks improvement.
Maintains excellent client and/or employee relationships.
Inclusive Leadership Award
This Kamloops-area employer can:
Describe the impact and intent behind their inclusivity and diversity initiatives.
This can be illustrated as broad statistics or as a specific single success story
Illustrate workplace and community cultural shifts towards greater inclusiveness.
Provide examples of positive changes enacted.
Define what Inclusive Leadership signifies to them.
Employers of all sizes are encouraged to apply, whether private, public or not for profit sector.
Indigenous Business Excellence Award
This Kamloops or Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc-area business must be at least 51% Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) owned and operated and must:
Show Indigenous Ownership & Economic Participation
Highlight meaningful Indigenous ownership, leadership, procurement, revenue generation, and economic benefit created through the business.Support Employment, Training & Advancement
Share opportunities created through hiring, retention, mentorship, skills development, and leadership pathways for Indigenous employees.Reflect Land, Culture & Values
Explain how Indigenous values, cultural practices, environmental stewardship, and sustainability are embedded in the business.Foster Community Engagement & Strong Partnerships
Provide examples of authentic community relationships, collaboration, and long-term partnerships that create shared success.Contribute to Community Well-being
Describe support for priorities such as youth, education, culture, wellness, employees, and the broader community.Deliver Measurable Impact
Share results, achievements, growth, or outcomes that demonstrate success and continuous improvement.Optional: Supply one letter of reference or supporting documents.
Innovation Award
This Kamloops-area business or not-for-profit must:
Have a proven record of thriving by adopting, developing and/or creating tools or technology within key areas of organizational operations including:
Manufacturing
Distribution
Information Technology, communications
Marketing, communications
Service experience
Human resources and people management
Professional services
Creative services
Have a culture of continuous learning and innovation embedded within the organization.
Not-For-Profit of the Year
This Kamloops-area not-for-profit organization must:
Be incorporated as a society or charitable organization
Clearly articulate their mission and the positive impact of their work on the community.
Demonstrate organizational excellence, growth, and financial sustainability.
Describe their unique value and impact.
Retailer Award of the Year
This Kamloops-area business that is primarily involved in selling retail goods must:
Demonstrate excellence in customer service and innovative market engagement.
Demonstrate a robust customer service training program.
Have a reputation of excellent product knowledge.
Demonstrate a commitment to commitment to high-quality products.
Service Provider Award 1 – 10 Staff
This Kamloops-area business with 1- 10 staff must:
Commit to excellence in product/service provision.
Have a comprehensive, ongoing employee training program
Offer a unique value proposition and major strengths amongst competition
Explain overall commitment to its customers
Has consistently innovated and can demonstrate how they stay ahead of the curve
Service Provider Award 11+ Staff
This Kamloops-area business with 11+ staff must:
Demonstrate a proven track record of providing superior service to assist clients in achieving their own objectives
Have a comprehensive, ongoing employee training program
Offer a unique value proposition and major strengths amongst competition
Explain overall commitment to its customers
Has consistently innovated and can demonstrate how they stay ahead of the curve
Small Business of the Year
This Kamloops-area, non franchised business, with 1 – 10 full time employees, has demonstrated success through:
Commitment to providing quality products and or services with a wealth of knowledge for customer/client benefit
Proven ability to demonstrate innovation and creativity, within business operations and/or organizational problem solving
Ability to develop and maintain excellent relationships with employees, vendors, suppliers and customers
Exhibit stable business operations or a solid business plan ideas for growth strategy
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Nominee must:
Be the founder or owner of a company and be 35 years of age or younger at the time of nomination submission
Demonstrate a high level of entrepreneurial spirit, perseverance, creativity and purpose.
Has clear vision, and proven ability of achieving professional and personal goals
Demonstrate measurable success and growth as a business and as an employer
Be developing a positive reputation within the business community through excellent product or service offerings.
Optional - Supply a letter from 1 mentor OR employee supporting the nomination