Vernon Shines At 41st Business Excellence Awards: Celebrating Tourism Growth And Local Innovation In This Canadian Destination

Published on October 30, 2025

The 41st yearly Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, held connected October 23 astatine nan Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre, was an breathtaking arena that celebrated section business achievements, marking different twelvemonth of maturation and occurrence successful nan North Okanagan. More than 300 section residents gathered for nan evening, which recognized innovation, dedication, and nan important domiciled businesses play successful enhancing nan region’s tourism manufacture and organization life.

Tourism astatine nan Heart of nan Community

The evening highlighted nan increasing value of tourism successful shaping Greater Vernon arsenic a vibrant destination. One of nan standout moments of nan nighttime was erstwhile Tourism Vernon was awarded nan prestigious Chamber Champion Award. This nickname acknowledges nan tourism organization’s committedness to promoting nan area arsenic a must-visit destination and its ongoing support of section businesses and organization initiatives. Tourism Vernon’s dedication to showcasing nan region’s earthy beauty, section attractions, and unsocial experiences has played a cardinal domiciled successful nan area’s increasing estimation arsenic a apical tourism spot successful nan Okanagan Valley.

A Spotlight connected Local Tourism-Driven Businesses

Tourism-driven businesses were a focal constituent of nan evening, pinch respective awards recognizing those that lend importantly to nan section system and tourism. The Rise Resort took location nan Large Business of nan Year award, underscoring its effect connected nan section hospitality assemblage and its domiciled successful attracting visitors from adjacent and far. The Edge astatine The Rise Resort besides garnered nan Restaurant of nan Year grant for its fantabulous work and culinary offerings that lend to nan wide impermanent acquisition astatine nan resort, making it a celebrated spot for some locals and tourists.

The Agri-business Excellence grant went to Silverstar Veggies, known for its sustainable farming practices that proviso fresh, section nutrient to nan organization and visitors. This grant highlights nan beardown relationship betwixt agriculture and tourism successful nan area, wherever visitors bask farm-to-table eating experiences and a chance to research nan region’s cultivation roots.

Promoting Diversity and Well-Being

In summation to tourism, nan evening besides honored businesses and organizations that beforehand diversity and community well-being. The Diversity Excellence grant was presented to nan Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Vernon and District Branch for its efforts to supply intelligence wellness support and raise consciousness successful nan community. Such initiatives are basal successful creating an inclusive situation for some locals and visitors, ensuring that everyone feels invited and supported erstwhile they travel to Vernon.

The Non-profit of nan Year grant was fixed to nan Community Dental Access Centre, an statement that provides dental attraction to underserved populations. This grant emphasizes nan captious domiciled non-profit organizations play successful enhancing nan well-being of residents and visitors, making Vernon a much accessible and charismatic spot for group of each backgrounds.

Fostering Future Tourism Leaders

Recognizing emerging entrepreneurs and their contributions to nan tourism manufacture was besides a cardinal portion of nan evening. Raising Stars Pre-school received nan Young Entrepreneur of nan Year grant for its committedness to processing young minds and fostering nan adjacent procreation of organization leaders. Early puerility improvement programs for illustration this are basal to building a beardown early for Vernon, helping to create a sustainable tourism manufacture pinch a semipermanent attraction connected organization care.

Meanwhile, nan Professional Business of nan Year grant went to Steve Braun Coaching and Counselling, a work that supports section intelligence wellness and well-being—important factors that power nan value of life for some residents and visitors. With intelligence wellness progressively recognized arsenic a important portion of a destination’s appeal, Braun’s activity supports nan tourism manufacture by fostering a healthier, much welcoming community.

Celebrating Customer Service Excellence

Tourism thrives connected affirmative customer experiences, and nan Customer Service Excellence grant went to Dr. Phone Fix, recognized for its exceptional work and customer loyalty. Visitors to Vernon and residents alike use from specified businesses that supply reliable services and awesome experiences, encouraging group to return and urge nan area to others.

The Tourism Excellence grant went to Grace and Flow Events, a institution that has helped heighten Vernon’s tourism offerings by creating memorable experiences for visitors done arena readying and management. Their dedication to crafting unsocial events contributes to nan area’s entreaty arsenic a desirable spot for some locals and visitors to bask typical occasions, specified arsenic weddings, firm events, and festivals.

Supporting nan Local Economy and Tourism Infrastructure

As nan metropolis of Vernon continues to grow, its tourism infrastructure is besides evolving. The city’s financial readying agency precocious reported that nan worth of building permits issued for nan first 3 quarters of 2025 reached $168 million, somewhat little than nan erstwhile year’s $203 million. However, this fig still demonstrates beardown maturation successful nan building sector, peculiarly successful commercialized and residential developments that straight support nan section tourism industry. The city’s ongoing efforts to amended its infrastructure and support section businesses will proceed to fortify its position arsenic a premier destination for visitors.

Additionally, nan city’s support for initiatives for illustration nan Temporary Use Area (TUA) endorsement for The Rise Golf Course reflects nan increasing request for venues that tin accommodate ample events, further enhancing nan tourism experience. The TUA will let nan play people to big outdoor ceremonies and events pinch liquor service, offering visitors an exclusive abstraction to bask nan area’s earthy beauty while supporting nan section tourism economy.

Emergency Support for Community-Driven Projects

The metropolis has besides received backing from Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund, which supports municipalities successful addressing urgent issues for illustration constituent usage and overdose crises. This backing will support section initiatives that thief amended nan well-being of residents and visitors alike, ensuring that Greater Vernon remains a safe and welcoming destination for all.

Looking to nan Future of Tourism successful Vernon

The 41st Annual Greater Vernon Business Excellence Awards not only celebrated nan achievements of section businesses but besides underscored nan captious domiciled tourism plays successful nan region’s economical development. With a attraction connected community-driven growth, nan evening highlighted really tourism and section businesses are moving hand-in-hand to make Greater Vernon a apical destination. As nan metropolis continues to turn its infrastructure and support its section enterprises, Vernon’s early arsenic a vibrant and sustainable tourism destination looks bright.