By Sheena Miller, Executive Director
Smithers District Chamber of Commerce
On behalf of the Smithers District Chamber of Commerce, it is with immense gratitude, pride, and excitement that we reflect on another unforgettable Community & Business Excellence Awards Gala. The 2026 CBEA celebration held at the Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge was a living masterpiece of colour, community spirit, creativity, and celebration. This year’s “Spectrum of Colour & Excellence” theme reminded us that every individual, volunteer, entrepreneur, employee, organization, and business adds something unique and important to the vibrant fabric of our region.
This annual gala is far more than an awards night. It is a celebration of resilience, leadership, innovation, collaboration, volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and the incredible people who continue to shape a thriving and connected Bulkley Valley. The Chamber extends heartfelt congratulations to all nominees, shortlisted finalists, and award recipients. Being nominated by your peers and community is an achievement in itself and reflects the positive impact you are making every single day.
This year’s award recipients included:
• BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR, Sponsored by Edmison Mehr Chartered Professional Accountants: Avi Ranjan – Smithers Lumber Yard & Panago
• CITIZEN/VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR, Sponsored by RBC Smithers: Stacey Dupois
• CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE – BUSINESS, Sponsored by Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge : Smithers Home Hardware
• CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE – INDIVIDUAL, Sponsored By Smithers Toyota : Leona McEwen – Nature’s Pantry
• EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION, Sponsored by Nature’s Pantry: Derek Willmont – Heartwood, Climb High & EdGE Learning Centre
• FAMILY FRIENDLY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, Sponsored by Bulkley Valley Credit Union: Bulkley Valley Regional Pool & Recreation Centre
• HOME-BASED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, Sponsored by Smithers Lumber Yard: Bulrushes & Blooms
• MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO ARTS & CULTURE, Sponsored by Scotiabank: Camus Photography
• PUBLIC SERVICE EXCELLENCE, Sponsored by Aspen Inn & Suites: Northern Society for Domestic Peace
• TOURISM EXCELLENCE, Sponsored by Tourism Smithers: Runway Café & Bar
• YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR, Sponsored by Bulkley Valley Credit Union
: Mahi & Nadia – Louise’s Kitchen
• ZERO WASTE CIRCULAR ECONOMY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, Sponsored by Bulkley Valley Wholesale: Replay Outdoors
• BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, Sponsored by Doane Grant Thornton: Bulkley Valley Credit Union
• RESOURCE & MINING EXCELLENCE, Sponsored by Rugged Edge Holdings
: Seabridge Gold
• DAVID McKENZIE COMMUNITY CHAMPION – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT, Sponsored by Rotary Smithers: Glen Greene
Also awarded throughout the evening were:
- Village of Telkwa Business Leadership Award: Michelle Finch – MTB Lures
- Town of Smithers – Best Residential Development: 3037 Meadow Place – Carey Cholwezi Pott
- Town of Smithers – Best Commercial / Industrial / Institutional Development: 2941 and 2949 19th Ave – Treeline Wood Products (2014) LTD / DKG Ventures Ltd – Owned by Dan and Kelly Groot
- Town of Smithers – Best Mixed-Use Development: 3860 Third Ave – Monstra Holdings Ltd
One of the most moving moments of the evening was presenting Glen Greene with the David McKenzie Community Champion Lifetime Achievement Award (accepted by his son Peter) in recognition of 43 years of dedicated Rotary Club and community service. Glen’s unwavering commitment to service truly captured the spirit of the evening and served as a reminder of the extraordinary volunteers who quietly help build stronger communities year after year.
This year’s awards program was only possible because of the tremendous support of our sponsors, partners, volunteers, Chamber members, judges, and community champions. A special thank you to our major event sponsors and supporters including Newmont Canada, Bulkley Valley Credit Union, the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, Smithers Lumber Yard, Rotary Club of Smithers, Seabridge Gold, Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge, and Farley Rose for believing in the importance of celebrating local excellence and investing back into community.
We are deeply grateful to all of our incredible event contributors and partners:
• Host Venue & Catering: Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge
• Master of Ceremonies: Trever Morris & Trevor Bruintjes
• Live Auctioneer: Lara Collingwood
• Live Music & Drumming: Goodfellas Jazz Quartet & Ewk Hiyah Hozdli Dance Group
• Event Design Support: Farley Rose
• DJ: “Late Night Lonny”
• Media Support: The Moose, CICK & Interior News
• Designated Driving: Powered by Seabridge Gold x EdGE Learning Centre & Heartwood
• Printing Support: Bulkley Valley Printers
• Floral Support: Larkspur
• Audio-Visual & Tech: Steven Taylor
• Event Photography: Camus Photography
• Social Media Support: Sarah Belford
• Awards Trophy Support: Charrine Lace & Mark DeHoog
• Independent Shortlisting & Judging Committee: BC, Kitimat & Chetwynd Chambers, Megan Bacon (Seabridge Gold), Kevin Tyler (Smithers Community Services Association), and Vanita Des Mazes (RE/MAX Bulkley Valley)
The Chamber would also like to recognize the incredible businesses and organizations who generously contributed to this year’s live fundraiser auction, helping support the Chamber’s year-round advocacy, economic development initiatives, youth entrepreneurship programming, events, and community-building work:
• Kispiox River Lodge
• Bulkley Valley Regional Pool & Recreation Centre
• Northern Edge Sport Association
• The Pig & Happy Pig Organic Farm
• Peaks & Valleys AI Strategies & Sky High Business Services Ltd.
• Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge
• Wet’suwet’en Native Art
• Riverside Kitchen
• Sunlife Smithers
• Oscars
• Smithers Airport & Silverking Helicopters
• Carters Jewellers Smithers
• Hudson Bay Mountain Resort
While the gala itself is the most visible part of the awards process and celebration, it represents only 10% of the work involved behind the scenes. Events of this scale require months of project management planning, thousands of emails, meetings, sponsorship conversations, logistics, volunteer coordination, communications, promotions and countless hours of dedication. The passion, creativity, and commitment poured into this event by our staff and volunteers is truly extraordinary.
To our Chamber Board of Directors and our emcees Trever Morris and Trevor Bruintjes, thank you for your leadership, volunteerism, and continued support throughout the year. Your willingness to step forward and champion business and community initiatives makes a meaningful difference.
A special acknowledgement must also be shared with Farley Rose – our event Gala decor and design partner for dedicating countless hours helping create such a magical, immersive, and vibrant gala atmosphere. From décor to creative vision, to the setup team, their contribution ELEVATED the entire evening beyond mention.
Finally, to the outstanding team at Prestige Hudson Bay Lodge, especially Emma and the entire hospitality team, thank you for your professionalism, flexibility, care, and event excellence throughout the entire planning process. From menu tastings to room set-up to the countless details behind the scenes, we are incredibly grateful for your partnership.
The Community & Business Excellence Awards continue to remind us why celebrating local matters. In a time when communities face economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, and rapid change, recognizing local excellence is more important than ever. These awards shine a spotlight on the people and organizations creating opportunity, investing locally, supporting neighbours, mentoring youth, building culture, driving innovation, and strengthening the social and economic fabric of our region.
Congratulations once again to every nominee, finalist, sponsor, volunteer, and award recipient. Thank you for helping paint our community with colour, compassion, leadership, and excellence. The Smithers District Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate you.
