The Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation is now accepting nominations for the 2014 NEDC Business Awards.
The awards recognize and honor the achievements of Nuu-chah-nulth businesses (location open), aboriginal (First Nations, Metis or Inuit) businesses within the Nuu-chah-nulth territory or NEDC clients within Nuu-chah-nulth territory.
“Most of our clients are Nuu-chah-nulth, but we keep it open, so we just say ‘clients’,” said NEDC service officer Jennifer Gallic.
Categories have evolved over the years. This year there are four categories open to nomination: Business of the Year, Best New Business, Best Arts & Cultural Business and Best Youth-owned business.
Previous categories included Artist of the Year, Best Environmental & Sustainable Business and Outstanding Business Achievement.
“We’ve just updated the categories, and they should be this way from now on,” Gallic explained. “We’ve melded Artists and Cultural Business into one category, for example.”
Previous winners are eligible for nomination, as are businesses from outside Nuu-chah-nulth territory, as long as they are owned by a Nuu-chah-nulth member.
“Our Best New Business last year, South Island Cleaning, is in Victoria,” Gallic said. “Our 2011 Youth-owned Business winner, L’Abbatoir Restaurant, is owned by a Nuu-chah-nulth member in Vancouver.”
“Youth” is categorized as any business operator 36 years of age or younger.
Nominations must be sent in by Sept. 19. Nomination forms are available online at www.nedc.info/bizawards. And yes, you can nominate your own business.
You may send in your nomination by email to Jennifer@nedc.info, by fax at 250-724-9967, or by mail at 7563 Pacific Rim Hwy/C/O Jennifer Gallic/Port Alberni, BC/V9Y 8Y5.
“Or they can call me at 250-724-3131. I can take all the information I need by phone,” Gallic said.
Winners will be invited to attend a reception at a date and time to be announced later.
“It’s usually in October, in conjunction with another event, and it’s usually on a Saturday,” Gallic said, adding that the location of the reception has floated over the years. “But most likely, it will be in Tofino.”
