Kimberly Chamberland and Jasmine Byrne of Big Mountain Foods accept the Business of the Year Award at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo)
The best in Delta business was celebrated Friday night at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards.
Long considered to be the premiere business event of the year in Delta, the awards gala — held this year on Nov. 17 at Tsawwassen Springs — is a high‐profile, prestigious event to honour the businesses, organizations and individuals making a difference in Delta and Tsawwassen First Nation. Honourees are chosen based on the criteria of professional accomplishments, leadership, initiative and community involvement.
Formerly called Hats Off to Excellence, the awards have been presented by the chamber since 1951.
Awards this year were handed out in seven categories: Rising Star Business, Small Business of the Year, Medium Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Community Impact, Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year.
Cookies Ice Cream Co., a family-owned and operated ice cream shop in the heart of Ladner Village, was named this year’s Rising Star Business. Also up for the award was Clean Slate Skin Bar, also located in Ladner Village, and The Hub Refillery in Tsawwassen’s Southlands neighbourhood.
Mr. Moms World Catering, based out of the East Ladner Hall, won for Small Business of the Year, beating TFN-based Anchor Marketing Inc. and Vinca’s Kitchen in Ladner.
Tsawwassen’s Deas Island Dance was named Medium Business of the Year over Tilbury-based nominees J&R Excavation & Demolition and West Coast Windows.
Southpointe Academy, a private K-12 school in Tsawwassen, took home Large Business of the Year, beating Jutt Foods Inc. — owner of both the Ladner and Tsawwassen McDonald’s franchises — and Synergy Rehab Delta Physiotherapy in North Delta’s Sunstone neighbourhood.
Guru Nanak Food Bank, which moved its operations from Surrey to North Delta last December, won the Community Impact Award over fellow nominees Delta Community Living Society and Deltassist Family & Community Services Society.
Big Mountain Foods, a mother-and-daughter-led plant based food manufacturer on Annacis Island, was honoured as Business of the Year, beating Tsawwassen-based home renovation and construction firm New Vision Projects and Socialite Beauty, a makeup, skin and haircare product retailer based in Sunbury.
Citizen of the Year went to longtime Reach Child and Youth Development Society executive director Renie D’Aquila.
Brittaney Penman (left) and Brooke Alexander, owners of Cookie’s Ice Cream, accept the Rising Star Business Award at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Peter Smailes, vice-president administration for Rising Star Business Award sponsor Kwantlen Polytechnic University joins Cookie’s Ice Cream owners Brittaney Penman (centre) and Brooke Alexander for a photo at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Mr. Mom’s World Catering owner Russell Pohl accepts the Small Business of the Year Award at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Mr. Mom’s World Catering owner Russell Pohl (centre) with Steven Ziegler, assistant general manager and director of finance at Small Business of the Year Award sponsor Tsawwassen Springs, at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Deas Island Dance owner/director Lesley Benham accepts the Medium Business of the Year Award at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Deas Island Dance owner/director Lesley Benham, winner of Medium Business of the Year, with Nikki Jacobs of award sponsor Raven Excavation at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Southpointe Academy head of school Gordon MacIntyre accepts the Large Business of the Year Award at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Shahayar Ghuari (left), Fraser Valley business centre manager with Large Business of the Year sponsor BDC, and Southpointe Academy head of school Gordon MacIntyre pose for photos at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Guru Nanak Food Bank general secretary Neeraj Walia accepts the Community Impact Award at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Guru Nanak Food Bank general secretary Neeraj Walia with Joanne Hunton-Sehdev, community and Indigenous relations manager with Community Impact Award sponsor FortisBC, at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Reach Child and Youth Development Society executive director Renie D’Aquila accepts the Citizen of the Year Award at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Reach Child and Youth Development Society executive director Renie D’Aquila poses with her Citizen of the Year Award alongside Sean Hodgins, president of award sponsor Century Group, at the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala, held on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo) Delta Chamber of Commerce executive director Jill McKnight thanks guests for attending the 72nd annual Business Excellence Awards gala on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at Tsawwassen Springs. (James Smith/North Delta Reporter photo)
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