Several local businesses will be vying for Island-wide business awards this week.
A number of businesses from Ladysmith and the Cowichan Valley are finalists for the 12th annual Vancouver Island Business Excellence Awards, which will be presented this Thursday (Jan. 26) at the Westin Bear Mountain Resort in Langford.
Double-finalist 49th Parallel Grocery is up for Business of the Year (more than 50 employees) and Retailer of the Year awards this year.
Ladysmith Hair Shop is a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year, while Western Forest Products has been named a finalist for Forestry/Wood Products Company of the Year.
Other nearby finalists include Merridale Ciderworks (Hospitality/Tourism Business of the Year) and Island Savings Credit Union (Insurance/Financial Services).
The Business Excellence Awards are an all-Vancouver Island event, sponsored by RBC Royal Bank, Hayes Stewart Little Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia and co-ordinated by Business Examiner and Business Vancouver Island newspapers.