Surrey Business Excellence Awards
This Surrey Board of Trade awards program celebrates business in Surrey – a great place to live, learn and work! The companies featured each year – the nominees and finalists – have reached a unique point of business success. The Surrey Board of Trade, for over 25 years, has celebrated Surrey businesses in this way. The event focuses on strength and innovation within every entrepreneur to take an idea and use it to build a business. The video presentations, shown in the evening, are inspirational – from the small business to the large business to the not-for-profit service organization to the business person of the year. They are all trendsetters. They have made their dreams a reality and inspired others to make their dreams come true.
Surrey is the fastest-growing city in Canada and a powerful economic engine in the Lower Mainland. With the most extensive industrial land base in the region,businesses from near and far are looking at Surrey as their choice to do business. Surrey has the advantage of being centrally located in the fast-developing Fraser Valley between Vancouver and the US Border commercial hub.
Surrey has five major highways and deep-sea docking facilities, and proximity to two international airports – Abbotsford and Vancouver.
Surrey is exciting now! Surrey has an exciting future! And you are ALL a part of it!
Surrey also stands at a critical juncture where the right decisions and investments have and will create economic opportunities for a generation and beyond. The Surrey Board of Trade stands behind making a vibrant downtown Surrey and developing all town centres in Surrey. Why? This stand harnesses the ability to bring in international businesses and local and national investment opportunities for Surrey. The government advocacy that the Surrey Board of Trade engages in has realized many successes and delivered great media profiles locally and nationally. Please check out their work behind the scenes to drive Surrey’s economy at their website – businessinsurrey.com/policy.
2024 Winners
Business Person of the Year Category:
Joshua Gaglardi, Orion Construction
Business Excellence 1-10 Employees Category:
Onex Enterprises Inc.
Business Excellence 11-40 Employees Category:
ThoughtsWin Systems Inc.
Business Excellence 41+ Employees Category:
Crown Building Supplies Ltd.
Not-for-Profit/Association of the Year Category:
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver
New Business of the Year Category:
Mishe Optometry
Young Entrepreneur of the Year Category:
CG Singh, Glen Group
Corporate Social Responsibility Award:
PW Trenchless Construction Inc.
Sponsors
Co-Presenting Sponsors
Proudly Supported By
VIP Reception Sponsor
Ice Bar Sponsor
Entertainment Sponsor
Award Sponsors
Community Sponsor
Media Sponsors
Nominations
Nominations are closed for 2024.
Nomination Form
The nomination deadline is September 4.
Categories
Business Excellence: 1-10 employees
Business Excellence: 11-40 employees
Business Excellence: 41+ employees
Not-For-Profit / Association of the Year
Business Person of the Year (any leadership role)
New Business of the Year
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Sample Financial Health Letter
HOW TO NOMINATE
Anyone can nominate a business or individual for a Surrey Business Excellence Award, and self-nominations are accepted. A Surrey Board of Trade membership is not required, although the company must have a Surrey business license.
CRITERIA
Categories 1 – 3: The number of employees is based on equivalent full-time employees and/or contractors.
Categories 1 – 5: Businesses must have been in business for more than 3 years.
Category 6: Business must have been in operation for at least 6 months and no longer than 3 years. Businesses nominated in this category must be new and may not have previously operated anywhere. (i.e., no franchises, no re-purchased businesses, no new locations).
Category 7: Nominees must be 35 years or younger and own a Surrey-based business.
The business premises must be located within Surrey and have a current Surrey business license.
Previous winners in a particular category are ineligible for 3 years following the year they won.
A business/organization may only be nominated in one category.
Applications must be completed to be accepted, including a letter of financial health and business license.
The information provided in response to the following questions provides the basis for determining finalists. Please respond to the questions as clearly and thoroughly as possible to give the judging panel the best information on which to base their initial decisions. The SBOT reserves the right to change categories.
For assistance in completing a nomination form or any questions about a nomination, please contact Heather Booth, Events and Communications Manager, at 604.634.0341 or heather@businessinsurrey.com.
The Surrey Board of Trade and Surrey Business Excellence Awards are accessible to all businesses in Surrey. The awards help local organizations improve performance by introducing business assessment and excellence models.
Categories
- Business Excellence: 1-10 employees
- Business Excellence: 11-40 employees
- Business Excellence: 41+ employees
- Not-For-Profit / Association of the Year
- Business Person of the Year (any leadership role)
- New Business of the Year
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Submission
Please submit your nomination online or to:
Heather Booth
101-14439 104 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3R 1M1
heather@businessinsurrey.com
T: 604.634.0341
F: 604.588.7549
Full-Time Equivalent Calculation
To calculate the full time equivalent (FTE) of your workers:
Take the average number of hours worked/billed per week and divide it by 40 (number of full-time hours). Add together all FTEs to determine your number of FTE staff/contractors.
EXAMPLE
Example of a company that employs/contracts 15 people, but the FTE is 11:
- Five 40 hour workers = FTE of 1.0 x 5 = 5.0
- Six 30 hour workers = FTE of 0.75 x 6 = 4.5
- Four 15 hour workers = FTE of 0.375 x 4 = 1.5
Total Full-Time Equivalent workers = 11
The chart below will assist you in determining the FTE of each of your workers.
Previous Winners
2023
Business Person of the Year Category: Dr. Paul Ghotra, CIMtech Green Energy Mfg Inc.
Business Excellence 1-10 Employees Category: Back On Track Recovery Ltd.
Business Excellence 11-40 Employees Category: Big Dig Excavating Ltd.
Business Excellence 41+ Employees Category: Lotus Terminals Ltd.
Not-for-Profit/Association of the Year Category: UNITI
New Business of the Year Category: Safe Sweat Fitness Ltd.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year Category: Janine Cindy Santiago-Nagi, Sun City Optics
Corporate Social Responsibility Award: Back On Track Recovery Ltd.
2022
Business Person of the Year Category: Dr. Greg Thomas, G3 Consulting Ltd.
Business Excellence 1-10 Employees Category: Ace Community College
Business Excellence 11-40 Employees Category: CIMtech Mfg Inc.
Business Excellence 41+ Employees Category: Aplin & Martin Consultants Ltd.
Not-for-Profit/Association of the Year Category: Surrey Crime Prevention Society
New Business of the Year Category: Living Water Dentistry
Young Entrepreneur of the Year Category: Ivneet Bains, Math4me Learning
Corporate Social Responsibility Award: All of Oils, Wholesome Oils and Vinegars
2021
Business Person of the Year: Dr. Ryan D’Arcy, HealthTech Connex Inc.
Business Resilience Winner with 1-10 Employees: PED Education Inc.
Business Resilience Winner with 11 – 40 Employees: Surrey Digital Printing
Business Resilience Winner with 41+ Employees: Jacob Bros Construction Inc.
Not-for-Profit Resilience: Phoenix Drug & Alcohol Recovery and Education Society
Surrey International Trade Award: The Teal-Jones Group
Surrey Innovation Award: LIVE WELL Exercise Clinic
Surrey Environment and Business Award: Platinum Pro-Claim Restoration
2020
Business Person of the Year: Roger Steers, RJC Engineers
Business Resilience Winner with 1-10 Employees: Mainland Whisky
Business Resilience Winner with 11 – 40 Employees: My Greek Taverna
Business Resilience Winner with 41+ Employees: Nana’s Kitchen & Hot Sauce Ltd.
Not-for-Profit Resilience: Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society
Surrey International Trade Award: Sundher Group
Surrey Innovation Award: Firetech Manufacturing Ltd.
Surrey Environment and Business Award: OCION Water Sciences Inc.
