A full list of businesses and individuals nominated for the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards is now available online.
There are 97 nominees in 11 categories, this year, with winners being announced at the 21st annual awards gala Thursday, Oct. 26.
The list was released Tuesday, with details about the awards dinner being held at the Cascades Casino and Coast Hotel & Convention Centre.
Tickets for the gala are $90 each and available at www.langleychamber.com or by calling 604-371-3770.
The event will feature a nominee reception, a cocktail reception, a four-course meal, dinner entertainment by Langley’s Exit 58, comedic emcee duo Clay St. Thomas and Karen Daniels of JRfm, and the Academy Awards-styled awards presentations.
Nominees for this year’s awards are:
• Community Impact (for-profit)
· C&D Logistics Ltd.
· CBM Lawyers
· Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union
· Luachmhar Marketing & Events
· Magellan Law Group LLP
· McDonald’s Restaurant
· Mountain View Veterinary Hospital
· Otter Co-Op
· Oxygen Yoga Aldergrove
· Redwoods Golf Course
· Running Room Ltd.
· The Neighbourhood Art Studios Ltd.
· Valley Traffic Systems Inc.
• Community Impact (non-profit)
· Downtown Langley Business Association
· Langley Community Farmers Market Society
· Langley Community Music School
· Langley Ukulele Association
· Special Olympics Langley
• Environmental Leadership
· Kwantlen Polytechnic University
· Langley Community Farmers Market Society
· Running Room Ltd.
• Service Excellence (retail & service)
· C&D Logistics Ltd.
· DLC West Coast Mortgages
· Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union
· Erikson’s Daylily Gardens
· iPartnerMedia Canada
· Langley Community Farmers Market Society
· Luachmhar Marketing & Events
· Lucid Water Co. Ltd.
· Magellan Law Group LLP
· Murrayville Plumbing & Heating Ltd.
· Otter Co-Op
· Oxygen Yoga Aldergrove
· Phoenix Rising Metaphysical Emporium
· Running Room Ltd.
· Sabil Insurance Agency (Aldergrove) Ltd.
· Sands & Associates Inc.
· Storage for Your Life
· T. Bear Disposal
· The Charter Group at TD Wealth Private Investment Advice
· The UPS Store Walnut Grove
• Service Excellence (food & beverage)
· Beatniks Bistro
· Cedarbrook Bakery, Deli & Bistro
· Earls Langley
· Signature Catering
· Trading Post Brewing
• Entrepreneur of the Year
· Dena Fyfe - Buhf Beauty Boutique
· Brandon Stone - GDirect Finance
· Jenna Robins - Haute Design
· Lilian Cazacu - Lilian Cazacu Notary Corporation
· Spencer Turley - Murrayville Plumbing & Heating Ltd.
· Linda Luu - Oxygen Yoga Aldergrove
· Goldie Bradaric - Phoenix Rising Metaphysical Emporium
· Jessica Kennedy - Strong Souls
· Freda Lombard - Zealous Art
• U40 Businessperson of the Year
· Will Granleese - Antrim Investments
· Rhonda Buchanan - Change Of Pace Hair Studio
· Austin Spencer - Dominion Lending Centres
· Jenna Robins - Haute Design
· Darian Kovacs - Jelly Marketing
· Cherise McGee - Langley Community Farmers Market Society
· Megan Parker - Luachmhar Marketing & Events
· Spencer Turley - Murrayville Plumbing & Heating Ltd.
· Linda Luu - Oxygen Yoga Aldergrove
· Ryan Pozniak - Pacific Coast Distribution Ltd.
· Goldie Bradaric - Phoenix Rising Metaphysical Emporium
· Adera Angelucci - SPIRO Creative
· Brandon Roe - The WestEast Group
· Lance Verhoeff - Trading Post Brewing
· Travis Strain
• Small Business of the Year
· Mountain View Veterinary Hospital
· The Local Space
· DLC West Coast Mortgages
· Lilian Cazacu Notary Corporation
· Magnus Law
· Phoenix Rising Metaphysical Emporium
· Erikson’s Daylily Gardens
• Medium Business of the Year
· Edmonds Batteries Ltd.
· Jelly Marketing
· Magellan Law Group LLP
· Oxygen Yoga Aldergrove
· Schmidt and Funk Financial Services
· Sundher Timber Products Inc.
• Large Business of the Year
· Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley
· Cascades Casino Langley
· CBM Lawyers
· International Play Company Inc.
· Otter Co-Op
· Wolfe Auto Group
• George Preston Memorial Businessperson of the Year
· Nadine Koreman - Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley
· Robert Koreman - Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley
· Dana Matheson - C&D Logistics Ltd.
· Rhonda Buchanan - Change Of Pace Hair Studio
· Peter Luongo - Langley Ukulele Association
· Megan Parker - Luachmhar Marketing & Events
· Linda Luu - Oxygen Yoga Aldergrove
· Scott Waddle - Precision Auto Services Ltd.
More on the chamber front
Speaking of chamber events, Small Business Month is upon us, and the local chamber is packing in the events.
One held yesterday (Wednesday, Ocdt. 4), was a chin wag with the chair of Metro Vancouver, Greg Moore.
That was one of the chamber’s frequent Coffee & Conversation sessions, where they provide the Langley business community a rather unique, intimate discussion with one of the local government representatives.
The next Coffee and Conversation won’t roll out until January or February, when they’re expecting to bring back the MPs and grown number of MLAs – that includes speaker of the house Darryl Plecas.
Also on tap for the chamber is a special workshop for the non-profit sector.
There’s an afternoon-long session planned at Fort Langley Golf Course next Wednesday, Oct. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m., where they will cover a number of topics important to creating a non-profit board of directors that work.
The interactive and hands-on workshop is designed to outline best board practices for both directors and executive directors.
The cost is $35 for chamber members, $45 for non-members, and the workshop will including covering of legal matters such as the BC Society’s Act, insurance, proper minutes, as well as roles and relationships and organizational health.
The next day is their Lunch & Learn seminar in the chamber board office.
The topic this month is Amplifying your business with video, offered from noon to 1 p.m.
The monthly dinner is set for Tuesday, Oct. 17, again at the Coast Hotel & Convention Centre.
This event always starts at 5 p.m. with an hour and a half of networking, followed by dinner and presentations starting at 6:30 p.m.
Kath Britton, director of business development with the Women’s Enterprise Centre, and Christian Hansen, the director and senior trade commissioner, will speak about business resources “you didn’t even know you needed.”
“The chamber is constantly working to find ways to help our members grow their businesses and as business professionals,” said president Jack Nicholson, “We are excited to hear what our presenters have to share about how their unique resources can support our members’ businesses.”
Pre-registration is required for all of these chamber function, and can be done by emailing events@langleychamber.com, or by calling 604-371-3770.
For an up-to-date list of chamber seminars and networking events, people can visit their website. www.langleychamber.com.
Kwantlen gives ‘food guy’ degree
Darrell Jones has become a household name for many. His smiling face appears and his rather distinct voice appear in broadcast regularly.
Well, the president of Save-On-Foods – the grocery conglomerate with its head office in North Langley – is being given an honorary degree to Kwantlen Polytechnic University today (Thursday, Oct. 5).
It’s recognition for more than just his work in the retail grocery industry, but his philanthropic nature.
When a massive windstorm knocked out power to the Surrey Food Bank in 2015 and caused 10,000 pounds of food to spoil, the food bank’s clients did not go hungry.
Not only was the food replenished by Save-On-Foods, but Jones and a team of company volunteers arrived to help distribute the extra food.
“Mr. Jones and the Save-On-Foods team were the first to come to our aid and replaced the lost product and donated even more so that the food bank was able to provide emergency aid to those affected by the storms,” recalled Feezah Jaffer, associate executive director of the Surrey Food Bank.
Most people know Jones as the affable “Save-On-Foods guy” from the television commercials.
But the South Surrey resident is also a successful business leader who combines his passion for the retail grocery industry with a commitment to support local food banks and the residents they serve. Jones’ philanthropy has touched the lives of thousands in Surrey, White Rock, and North Delta.
“He has a spirit of philanthropy and a commitment to his community in equal measure,” noted Dr. Alan Davis, president and vice-chancellor of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
KPU will present Jones with the honorary degree at its fall convocation ceremony, in recognition of the many ways in which he supports his community.
As president of Save-On-Foods and its parent company, the Overwaitea Food Group (OFG), Jones has overseen the largest expansion in the company’s 102-year history.
Originally from Cranbrook, Jones joined OFG as a bagging clerk while still in high school, and has remained with the company for more than 40 years, working at 20 different stores as clerk, senior clerk, grocery manager, assistant store manager and store manager.
He supported his local community everywhere he has worked.
Jones was appointed to the board of directors of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation in 2016 and he continues to serve that organization. Locally, his unwavering commitment to local food banks has had an enormous impact on vulnerable residents in Surrey, White Rock and North Delta.
“The ability to put food on the table — it’s something thousands of people can’t do without help from food banks and community-minded good citizens like Darrell,” said Davis.
“At Save-On-Foods, we’re deeply committed to supporting the communities we serve, because we live here too,” said Jones. “Finding ways to partner with organizations who, like us, are committed to giving people a hand up, rather than just simply a hand out, makes all kinds of sense to us. This is especially true when it comes to helping ensure that our vulnerable populations — particularly children — have access to safe, nutritious food. Simply put, it’s the right thing to do.”
Supporting Canada’s favourite pastime
With Scotiabank being the lone bank still serving downtown Langley City, I feel I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention and effort by this financial institution to help kids get engaged in hockey.
Scotiabank reached a milestone this week. Since 2008, they’ve help one million children – and counting – be part of the hockey world in different ways.
“Through Scotiabank’s support of community hockey, we have helped give over one million kids and counting the chance to play Canada’s favourite game,” said John Doig, chief marketing Officer at Scotiabank.
“We have seen so many dreams become a reality through sport, and we are proud to be able to help provide young people across the country with the chance to see their hockey heroes play the game they love,” he elaborated.
“At Scotiabank, we believe that everyone needs a team. Whether at home, work or at school, we know that being part of a team is a living example of how we are better together.”
Scotiabank supports hockey at all levels in Canada – from grassroots hockey through to the NHL.
This year they are continuing their support of community hockey teams, all seven Canadian NHL teams, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, and some of the biggest celebrations of hockey including Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, Rogers Hometown Hockey, Scotiabank Girls Hockey Fest, and more.
Scotiabank isn’t stopping at supporting one million kids. They have even more hockey dreams to make a reality, Doig said.
And to mark the start of the hockey season, Scotiabank will be providing tickets to nearly 1,200 kids for marquee games across Canada, including 2017-2018 NHL home opener games in Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Edmonton and Scotiabank sponsored games in Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal.