Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025

Location: Cirque Restaurant and Bar

• 5:30 PM    Doors Open, Social & Drinks
• 6:30 PM    Dinner is Served
• 7:00 PM    Welcome & Introduction
• s7:30 PM    Award Presentations
• 8:30 PM    Closing Remarks

Enjoy a seamless and stressfree experience thanks to a complimentary shuttle provided by Tunnel 49.

To the Fernie Business Excellence Awards

• Departure time: 5:15 PM
• Pick Up Location: Fernie Memorial Arena

From the Fernie Business Excellence Awards

• Departure time: 9 PM
• Drop Off Location: Fernie Memorial Arena

2025 Award Categories:

• Citizen of the Year
• Community Group of the Year
• New Business of the Year
• Community Tourism Achievement
• Employer of the Year
• Environmental Sustainability Award
• Businessperson of the Year
• Outstanding Customer Service Award
• Youth Employer Award
• Chamber Business Legacy Award
• Business of the Year – Reserved to Title Sponsor
• People’s Choice Award

We invite you to nominate the people and businesses who contribute to the strength of our community, those who inspire growth in the people and in Fernie.

Anyone can nominate a business or individual for any award they feel meets the criteria outlined on the online Nomination Survey.

All nominees from each category will be contacted once the nomination period closes and asked to complete a Nominee Form that will be used by the judges to determine the finalists and winners.

Businesses and organizations nominated in all categories will be on the ballot for the People’s Choice award that the public will vote on in September.

Nominations closed!

The following guidelines are used to maintain a balanced process, ensuring nominees receive a fair chance of becoming a finalist or recipient in their category:

• A local judging panel is responsible for judging the awards categories:
  • The Fernie Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards judging panel is composed of sponsors, past winners, community partners and Fernie Chamber of Commerce board of directors. This panel is responsible for nine (9) of the annual awards categories;
  • The Chamber Business Legacy and The Citizen of the Year awards are determined by a judging panel comprised of the Fernie Chamber of Commerce board of directors;
  • The People’s Choice award is determined by public vote. 
• The determination of finalists in each category (exceptions being: Citizen of the Year, Chamber Legacy and People’s Choice) is made solely by the Nominee Form submitted by the nominee.
• In the case that a judging panel member encounters a conflict of interest, they will no longer be able to contribute to discussions related to that area of conflict.
• In the case that a board member of the Chamber or a sponsor of the Business Excellence Awards receives a nomination, that company will be assessed fairly, without any favorable bias.

For each award category, the winner cannot have won in the previous year. Individuals who won last year are not eligible to win again in the same category this year.

We believe this is a balanced process, ensuring nominees receive a fair chance of becoming a finalist or recipient in their category by local authentication. 

Questions related to the judging process can be emailed to events@ferniechamber.com.