Finalists announced for 2022 Fernie Business Excellence Awards and tickets on sale
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the finalists for this year’s Fernie Business Excellence Awards. There were hundreds of nominations cast for the awards this year which is an amazing testament to how much local businesses are valued by the community.
Businesses that were nominated were asked to complete an awards application that was forwarded to an independent panel of judges from outside the Fernie area. These judges have determined the three finalists in each category (below) as well as the winners – which will be announced on Friday 21 October at the awards gala event at the Rusty Edge. The exceptions to this were the People’s Choice Award, the Chamber Legacy Award, and the Citizen of the Year. Any business that was nominated for any award was in the running for the People’s Choice Award and voting was open to the public with hundreds of votes cast. The Chamber Legacy Award and the Citizen of the Year have been selected by the Fernie Chamber of Commerce board of directors and will be announced at the awards event.
Brad Parsell (Executive Director of the Fernie Chamber) explains, “This is by far our favourite event of the year, and we are so appreciative of the outstanding achievements of our local businesses. Despite the rising costs of doing business, chronic labour shortages, and other challenges thrown at us this past year – our business community continues to find innovative and creative ways to serve their customers. On behalf of the Fernie Chamber, I want to sincerely congratulate all nominees and finalists.”
The awards ceremony will be held on Friday 21 October commencing at 6:30pm. There are limited tickets available to this event and priority will be given to people representing businesses that are finalists, with a maximum of two people per business able to attend. If there are spare tickets available to the general public, these will be released the week of the event. Tickets are $99 for Fernie Chamber members and $119 for non-members. Tickets include drinks upon arrival and a full buffet dinner.
Please find a full list of the 2022 Fernie Business Excellence Awards finalists below. For more information on this year’s awards, please visit: www.ferniechamber.com. The Fernie Chamber would like to thank title sponsors TC Energy and Surerus Murphy.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by The City of Fernie
- Announced at the awards gala on Friday, October 21
COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Columbia Basin Trust
- Elk Valley Suicide Task Force
- Fernie Women’s Resource Centre
- Twin Meadows Animal Rescue Society
NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Fernie Alpine Resort
- Bramasole Restaurant & Wine Bar
- Drift & Sonder – Lifestyle Shop & Refillery
- Miner’s Mud
COMMUNITY TOURISM ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sponsored by Tourism Fernie
- Claris Media / Fernie Fix
- Raging Elk
- Wapiti Music Festival Society
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by College of the Rockies
- Edge of the World Board Shop
- Gearhub Sports
- Nevados Restaurant
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Sponsored by Ski Base
- Drift & Sonder – Lifestyle & Refillery
- Elk River Alliance
- Fernie Fox Hotel
BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by The Free Press
- Abi Moore (Fernie Brewing Co.)
- Kurt Saari (Nevados Restaurant)
- Michelle Nelson (Edge of the World Board Shop)
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Sponsored by Western Financial Group
- Fernie Forge
- Gearhub Sports
- Spa 901
BUSINESS INNOVATION AWARD
Sponsored by Fernie Fox Hotel
- Fernie Brewing Co.
- Fernie Fox Hotel
- Gearhub Sports
CHAMBER BUSINESS LEGACY
Sponsored by Claris Media
- Announced at the awards gala Friday, October 21
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by TC Energy and Surerus Murphy
- Mugshots
- Nevados Restaurant
- Rocky Mountain Chocolate
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Sponsored by Rockies Law Corporation
- Fernie Distillers
- OrganicTan Fernie
- Stick & Stone Cannabis
The winners will be announced on Friday, October 21 at The Rusty Edge with finalists and sponsors in attendance.
All finalists have been issued an invite to this gathering, please each out to jesse@ferniechamber.com if your business is listed above and you did not receive an invite.
