The nominees are in for the Merritt and District Chamber of Commerce’s annual business excellence awards.
The 10 awards are given out to corporate and individual members of the local business community as nominated by other members.
Leading the way in the biggest award category — Employee of the Year — is Home Hardware with three employees up for the prize (Mary Wong, Dea Raymond and Crystal Bennett), who join Brian Croaker (Canadian Tire), Cora-Lee Poehnell (B.C. Visitor Centre), Donna Morrison (Merritt Printing), Brandon Flick (Robin Hood Security), Angie Koczkur (Grand Pub and Grill), and Katherine Reid (Tim Hortons).
Vying for Employer of the Year are Peter Moyes (Home Hardware), Carrie Ware, Dana Egan (Grand Pub and Grill), and Adventure Management.
There are seven nominees for Business of the Year: Interior Savings Insurance, Home Hardware, Grand Pub and Grill, Purity Feed, Cooper’s Foods, Baillie House, and Johnny’s on the Rez.
The chamber also hands out hardware for Home-Based Business of the Year (nominees this year are Crystal Leier Photography, Kim LeClair, and Grandma’s Kitchen) as well as the Sustainable Community Award (nominees are the Nicola Valley Farmers Market, Nicola Valley and District Food Bank, Robin Hood Security and Bass Coast).
There are two nominees up for Non-Profit of the Year: Merritt Country Run and the Nicola Valley Community Garden Society.
Nominees are also up for the Community Booster Award, the Harry Sanders Memorial Award, the Rick Isbister Memorial Award for Community Development, and the Tourism Award of Excellence.
The awards gala takes place at the Florentine on Sept. 20. Tickets are available at the chamber office or by calling 378-5634.
