Finalists announced in provincial Small Business Awards contest

VANCOUVER, Jan. 30, 2014 /CNW/ - The top five B.C. small businesses were announced today as part of the provincial Small Business BC Awards.

The Small Business BC Awards, celebrate entrepreneurs across British Columbia in eight award categories, ranging from Best Concept to Best Community Impact.

"This is an opportunity to acknowledge the exceptionally talented, creative and passionate entrepreneurs in our province," says George Hunter, Small Business BC CEO. "It's a platform for entrepreneurs in every stage of business to showcase the impact they're having on their communities and the contributions they're making to the economy. We're proud to bring awareness to those businesses and to celebrate the dedicated entrepreneurs who built them."

A total of 417 businesses from 55 cities across B.C. were nominated this year. They have now been narrowed down to the top five businesses in eight award categories. These companies will face a panel of judges in early February to convince them why they should be named the top businesses in B.C.

"In today's economy, the leadership and ingenuity that small businesses embody are a catalyst for future economic growth. IBC is pleased to partner with Small Business BC to help raise awareness of the importance of Canada's small business sector. Today we congratulate the hard-working, resourceful candidates in each category who persevered to make it this far and wish them luck in the next stage of the competition," says Bill Adams, Vice-President, Western and Pacific, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). IBC is proud to return as title sponsor of the Small Business BC Awards for the fifth consecutive year.

The following are the top five finalists for the 11^th Annual Small Business BC Awards:

Best Company sponsored by TELUS •       AZ World Translation & Interpretation          - North Vancouver •       Burger55 - Penticton •       Fitness on the Go - Vancouver •       Save Everyday - Vancouver •       Tours by Locals - Vancouver	Best Community Impact sponsored by Vancity •       Bamboletta Dolls - Cowichan Bay •       The Green Kiss - Victoria •       On the Farm Country Market - Squamish •       Save Everyday - Vancouver •       Skipper Otto's Community Supported Fisher -  Vancouver
Best Concept sponsored by MNP •       Float House – Vancouver •       Medeo - Vancouver •       Roam Mobility - Vancouver •       Thank You Products – Campbell River •       Vancouver Tumblebus - Port Coquitlam	Best Green Business sponsored by SBBC •       Aspenware Inc - Vernon •       Eclipse Awards – Vancouver •       Green Chair Recycling - Vancouver •       Natural Pod - Vancouver •       Watertiger - Vancouver
Best Employer sponsored by WorkSafeBC •       Bike Hike Adventures, Vancouver •       Coastal Trademark, Vancouver •       Fully Managed, Vancouver •       Neutron Factory Works, Delta •       Williams and White, Burnaby	Best International Trade Business sponsored by Livingston International •       Fruiticana Produce Ltd. - Surrey •       Herbaland Naturals Inc. - Richmond •       Kahuna Paddle Boards - Whistler •       Williams and White Equipment - Burnaby •       Xanatos Marine Ltd. – North Vancouver
Best Online Marketer sponsored by SageOne •       The Bench - Kamloops •       Main Street Communications          - Maple Ridge •       Make it Productions - Vancouver •       Mason Industries - Surrey •       West Coast Thrift - Nanaimo	Best Workplace sponsored by WellnessFits •       CNN Bikes, North Vancouver •       Cucumber Marketing, Vancouver •       iWorx, North Vancouver •       The Oracle, Whistler •       Homeroom Small Business Solutions, Vancouver

The winners will be announced on February 27, 2014 at the Small Business BC Awards Ceremony at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver

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

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. Visit www.smallbusinessbc.ca  

About Insurance Bureau of Canada
Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. The P&C insurance industry employs over 118,600 Canadians, pays more than $7 billion in taxes to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and has a total premium base of $46 billion.

SOURCE: Insurance Bureau of Canada

Media Contact: Sara Couper, Communications Manager, Small Business BC, 604-775-5607, [email protected]