Business Nomination Region: Penticton, Summerland, Naramata, Kaleden, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, and Keremeos. 

All businesses, non-profit organizations, business and community leaders are eligible for nomination, provided they meet the following criteria. 

  • All Business or Organizations that are nominated for a business excellence award must have a valid business license where applicable. Non-profit or charitable organizations must be registered as a society or charity
  • Individual award nominations, such as Young Professional of the Year and Business Leader of the Year, must also meet these requirements. *The business or non-profit they are affiliated with at the time of nomination must have a valid a business license where applicable or be a registered non-profit or society. (updated July 17, 2024)
  • Nominee only requires ONE nomination to be considered for an award category. JUDGING is not based on the number of nominations received.
  • A business person or business owner/employee can nominate themselves for their own business (*excludes for Young Professional and Business Leader of the Year - self nominations not accepted)
  • Each award category has its own eligibility criteria that the nominees must meet to be eligible to submit an award application. The Chamber reviews all nominations against the specific eligibility criteria for the award category the nomination is in and will notify nominees when they are approved to submit an award application.
  • Nominee must not have been Penticton Chamber Business Excellence Award winner in the award category they are nominated for in the past 3 years (includes 2021, 2022, 2023).
  • There is no cost to nominate a business or for a business to receive a nomination.
  • Nominee does not need to be a Chamber member to be nominated.
  • Penticton Chamber reserves the right to realign nominee to a different category if required. 
  • The Chamber may request further information to confirm or complete your application.
  • Nominees may only accept nomination in one award category. 

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION TODAY!

Guideline for Chamber Board, Staff and Sponsor: To ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation process for the Business Excellence Awards, all nominations, including those involving Chamber board members, staff, or sponsors, will be assessed impartially by an independent Judging Committee using the Awardify platform. This process guarantees transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the awards.

Conflicts of Interest:

  • To maintain the integrity of the awards, board members, Chamber staff, and sponsors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Any individual with a conflict of interest will recuse themselves from discussions or decisions related to their nomination.
  • Judges will follow guidelines and criteria to evaluate each nomination based solely on merit.

Chamber Board Directors: Ineligible for the following categories: New Business of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, Business Leader of the Year and Business of the Year

Title Sponsor: May not be nominated or self-nominate for Business of the Year.

Award Sponsors: Sponsor businesses are not eligible to be nominated in the award category they sponsor.

Previous Award Winners: Nominees are not eligible if they have won an award in the same category in the past three years (2021, 2022, 2023)

Award Criteria Date AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 applies to all award categories.

  • For Profit must have been in operation a minimum of 2 years as of September 1, 2024 (24 months); 
  • Not-for-Profit must be a registered society or charity in operation a minimum of 2 years as of September 1, 2024 (24 months). Ineligible for the following award categories Hospitality Excellence, Community Builder, Service Excellence, New Business and Business of the Year. 
  • New Business in operation for less than 3 years as of September 1, 2024 (36 months); 
  • Young Professional of the Year must be aged 19 to 40 as of September 1, 2024 who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit. Eligible nominee must be in an ownership, management, or leadership role for a minimum of two years - does not need to be with the same business or organization. *Business or non-profit they are affiliated with at the time of nomination must have a valid a business license where applicable or be a registered non-profit or society. (updated July 17, 2024) 
  • Business Leader of the Year must be aged 40 or older as of September 1, 2024. Eligible nominee must be in an ownership, management or leadership role for more than 2 years - does not need to be with the same business or organization. *Business or non-profit they are affiliated with at the time of nomination must have a valid a business license or be a registered non-profit. (updated July 17, 2024) 
  • Business of the Year in operation a minimum of 4 years as of September 1, 2024  (48 months)

Additional Information:

  • Penticton Chamber reserves the right to disqualify incomplete applications without notice;
  • Acceptance of the applications received is at the discretion of the Penticton Chamber;
  • If there are fewer than three applications in any category, Penticton Chamber reserves the right to eliminate that category from judging or extend the deadline for the specific category to solicit additional nominations;
  • All nominees and selection committee judges must agree to the code of conduct;