RECORDING OF THE 2021 SURREY BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Surrey, B.C. – On Thursday, November 4, 2021, the Surrey Board of Trade recognized eight winners at the 23rd Annual Surrey Business Excellence Awards – the Resiliency Edition, with presenting sponsors Grant Thornton LLP and TD Bank, and media sponsors CKNW, Global BC and the Surrey NOW-Leader. This year’s digital event was led by Master of Ceremonies Jay Durant of Global BC.
“The Surrey Board of Trade realized that these past two years have been incredibly difficult for Surrey’s business community, but they have also brought the community together in a way we haven’t seen before. A focus was again made on business resiliency and a sense of community. They are inspirational – from the very small business to the large business to the not for profit service organization,” said Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade.
The digital version of this year’s event included virtual networking, and lively entertainment sponsored by Trans Mountain Corporation. Finalists in all 8 categories were featured through professional video presentations.
2021 Surrey Board of Trade, Surrey Business Excellence Award Winners:
Business Person of the Year: Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, HealthTech Connex Inc.
Sponsored by Hamilton Duncan
Dr. Ryan D’Arcy is a passionate neuroscientist, academic professor, entrepreneur, and innovative thought leader who has been instrumental in driving BC’s neuroscience and neuro-technology industry. He is the Co-Founder, President, and Chief Scientific Officer of HealthTech Connex, a neuro-technology company focusing on brain vitality and cutting-edge innovations and services for immediate impact on health improvements and neurological performance. Ryan co-founded Surrey’s Health and Technology District and has been instrumental in its success. An unwavering advocate for Surrey and BC’s role in health technology innovation, he continues to fulfill his position as the BC Leadership Chair in Medical Technology Innovation. His extensive experience in translational neuroimaging has resulted in more than 274 published works, $100M in funding investment for health technology innovation and several breakthrough biotechnology products to market
Business Resilience Winner with 1-10 Employees: PED Education Inc.
Sponsored by FortisBC and the Surrey NOW-Leader
Over the last 20 years, PED Education Inc. (PEDEd) offered two primary services – nursing foot care and education. PEDEd provides regular nursing foot care services for seniors, focusing on mitigating diabetes, vascular disease and the early detection of other foot complications that impair mobility. In addition, PEDEd educates clients on foot health so that their clients can maintain a higher level of independence while also connecting them with other health related services. When the pandemic hit, PedEd’s services were effectively shut down, but the calls for service did not wane. PEDEd shifted more education to an online format and used technology to invite family members into a client visit virtually. Recognizing the urgent need that seniors had for foot health care support, PEDEd got to work researching, consulting, and designing specialized barriers. Once their safety plan was approved by WorkSafeBC, they shared their safety plan with other foot care nurses so they could restart their businesses and provide care to clients. PEDEd coordinated group purchasing power of personal protective equipment when it was hard to come by, acting as a leader for their industry.
Business Resilience Winner with 11 – 40 Employees: Surrey Digital Printing
Sponsored by LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic
Surrey Digital Printing originally opened as a three-person blueprint shop. Over the years, they have grown into a multidisciplinary company that prints everything from business cards to large billboard signs. Among their core values, passion and customer service are paramount. Not only are they passionate about printing, but they are passionate about people. When the pandemic struck, they had two key goals: to keep all staff employed and to be as convenient as possible for their clients. They achieved these goals by creating an online store and keeping their retail location open. They extended their product offerings to include personal protective equipment and print-based safety solutions to help clients navigate the pandemic. Not only did they keep their staff employed, but they also grew their team. At the same time, they continued to support local non-profit organizations, including the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society, HAVAN, the Surrey Children’s Festival, Cloverdale Minor Baseball/Fastpitch, Mercy Walk for Wellness, Twins Cancer Fundraiser, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Business Resilience Winner with 41+ Employees: Jacob Bros Construction Inc.
Sponsored by MNP
Founded in 2008, Jacob Bros is a general contractor with a focus in heavy civil and building construction. When the pandemic hit, Jacob Bros was faced with the decision to continue operating and keep employees safe or shut down. Some projects were considered critical infrastructure that could not be delayed, while other projects ceased all work immediately. Jacob Bros decided that there was a duty to employees to provide financial security. In comparison to the many safety risks that the construction industry manages daily, the COVID-19 safety principles were relatively easy issues to address. Jacob Bros redeployed staff to project sites where acceleration of work was possible, incented clients to continue with work by discounting pricing, and elected to self-perform more work. Jacob Bros is a proud supporter of local small businesses, suppliers and service providers. They seek to be an active participant and make contributions to the community that they live and work in, through local charities, schools and initiatives that are important to their employees and clients.
Not-for-Profit Resilience: Phoenix Drug & Alcohol Recovery and Education Society
Sponsored by Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Phoenix Society is a multi-service agency dedicated to providing accessible services and opportunities to people who face barriers related to addiction, mental health, housing, education, criminal justice involvement and/or employment. A key purpose of the Society is to provide housing and support services for people at multiple entry points on the continuum; Phoenix develops community-based projects that meet people where they are at, helping participants exit the cycle of addiction and homelessness. Though the pandemic restricted how Phoenix could deliver critical services, all programs remained operational and in fact, Phoenix continued to grow. New programs were added during the pandemic, including Phoenix House a 10-bed substance use program and The Nest – a 40-bed supporting housing program in Newton. As things progressed, 2021 saw the launch of our Mobile Community Kitchen that serves free meals to those in need, serving nearly 10,000 meals since January. Additionally, a men’s knitting club was born during the pandemic, garnering international attention and news coverage on CNN.
Surrey International Trade Award: The Teal-Jones Group
Sponsored by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
A multi-generational family-owned company that began in 1946, the Teal-Jones Group is the largest privately owned timber harvesting and primary lumber product manufacturing company in BC, employing more than 1,000 people across BC. Their Surrey mill site and headquarters supports more than 500 jobs across seven specialized milling operations, giving the company the flexibility to ensure every log arriving at the site is directed to its highest-value potential. Teal-Jones has invested and committed to investing $60 million in its primary Surrey site since 2019 to strengthen its value-added manufacturing capability in BC. The company ensures 100% of every log it mills is used, with sawdust and chips directed to partners in pulp, paper, and biofuel production. The Teal-Jones Group markets and ships forest products to North America and five other major export regions where lumber products are in high demand for housing. This market diversification optimizes their sales orders with production for maximum operational excellence. Following the fire that decimated Lytton earlier this year, The Teal-Jones Group donated enough lumber to rebuild 50 homes and buildings – about a half-million board feet.
Surrey Innovation Award: LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic
Sponsored by the Health and Technology District
Established in 2011 in the city of Surrey, LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic is the Ultra-Private Gym for people who want to improve their health. Their clinically supervised, small-group sessions are customized to their member’s needs and are fun, social and inspiring. As the only medical fitness franchise in Canada, they have locations in four provinces and continue to grow despite challenging times. As a fitness business, this industry has been one of the hardest hit with pandemic closures and restrictions. They created a virtual training program so that their members could continue their wellness journey from the comfort of their own home. LIVE WELL has been spearheading recovery for the fitness industry in BC and across Canada, pushing for gym memberships to be a tax-deductible health expense. LIVE WELL continues to be the place for people to start their health journey, no matter their age, health or fitness level. There are 11 LIVE WELL locations in the lower mainland, including a South Surrey and Guildford location.
Surrey Environment and Business Award: Platinum Pro-Claim Restoration
Sponsored by EXP Services Inc.
Platinum Pro-Claim Restoration (PPCR) is a full-service fire and water damage restoration company committed to providing excellent service, while applying sustainable business practices to their organization. In 2019 PPCR expanded to Surrey, reducing the driving time between jobs in Metro Vancouver, shrinking its carbon footprint. Since then, PPCR has amplified its community efforts with local Surrey organizations, including the City of Surrey, Surrey Sport, Sources BC, and the Surrey Fire Fighters’ Charitable Society. Recently, PPCR has teamed up with the Phoenix Society to divert non-restorable household items to those in need. Their goal to divert 85% of all debris removed from job sites from the landfill was achieved recently on a large fire-loss job in Fleetwood. PPCR is also the only ClimateSmart certified restoration company in Canada. With sustainability in mind, they have one of the largest electric vehicle fleets in BC, with over 20% of their 90-vehicle fleet being EV. Additionally, they have made all of their EV charging stations available to the public, free of charge, in an effort to promote electric vehicle use.
Co-Presenting Sponsors: Grant Thornton LLP and TD Bank
Entertainment Sponsor: Trans Mountain Corporation
Supporting Sponsor: Western Community College
Award Sponsors: EXP Services Inc., FortisBC, Hamilton Duncan, the Health and Technology District, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic, MNP and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Community Sponsor: the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel
Media Sponsors: News Talk 980 CKNW, Global BC and the Surrey NOW-Leader
Event Supporters: Glen Chua Media and Focus Audio Visual
For further information, please contact Anita Huberman, President & CEO, Surrey Board of Trade, at 604-340-3899 or anita@businessinsurrey.com.
