Jane Long opened her chartered accountant’s business in downtown Osoyoos just over a year ago and has enjoyed great success since. Long was thrilled to find out she has been nominated as a finalist in the Best Emerging Entrepreneur category for the upcoming Small Business BC Awards. (Keith Lacey photo)
The owner of new chartered accountant’s office in Osoyoos is thrilled to have been nominated for a prestigious provincial small business award.
Jane Long opened her business in downtown Osoyoos – her office is located in the same building as O’Delight’s Restaurant at the corner of Main Street and 85th Street – in November of 2013.
She had previously worked with the Osoyoos Indian Band in Oliver before deciding to go into business for herself.
“I’m extremely pleased to have been nominated for this award,” said Long. “I’m very happy and very excited. It was not something I was expecting.”
She was also pleased to find out that a client had nominated her for the award.
Long grew up in Vernon and said she and her husband are thrilled to now call Osoyoos home.
“I’m just shocked by the amount of community support we’ve received since we moved here just over one year ago,” she said. “
Long has been nominated in the category Best Emerging Entrepreneur.
The top 10 finalists in numerous categories for the 12th annual Small Business BC Awards were announced last week. These awards acknowledge the contribution that more than 400,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs across British Columbia make to their local communities and the global economy.
From October 1 to November 30, British Columbians were asked to nominate and vote for their favourite small businesses. This year was the biggest year yet for the competition with over 460 nominations received from upwards of 70 communities across the province.
Nominated companies were given two months to gain as many votes as possible through word-of-mouth, social media, e-communications and other creative means.
Those who activated their communities and received the most votes have been named Top 10 semi-finalists.
These extraordinary small businesses will now move forward to face a panel of judges, who will review their applications, and based on the award criteria, narrow down the competition to the top five finalists in each category.
The top five finalists in these categories will be announced on January 30 and invited to give a Dragons’ Den-style pitch in front of a panel of judges on why they should be named the best in BC.
The winners will be honoured and celebrated on Feb. 26, 2015 at the Small Business BC Awards Ceremony in Vancouver.
The night will include messages from Premier Christy Clark and the Honourable Minister Naomi Yamamoto, among others.
Long said she would be thrilled to meet Clark and attend the provincial awards banquet.
Winners will receive the Premier’s Prize of $1,500 cash, a one-year All-Access Pass to Small Business BC education and resources and one-on-one business mentorship opportunities with notable advisors from the award sponsors.
More information on the finalists and the Small Business BC Awards can be found at www.sbbcawards.ca.
Over 3,000 entrepreneurs have participated in the awards competition since its inception.
This year, Small Business BC introduced two new award categories for Best Emerging Entrepreneur and Best Immigrant Entrepreneur.
Premier Christy Clark and the BC Government are supporting the awards for the second year through the Premier’s People’s Choice Award, and the Premier’s Prize of $1,500 cash given to each of the award category winners.
“This year we saw a tremendous amount of participation in the Small Business BC Awards through a high number of nominees coming in from across the province. It’s fantastic to see so many small businesses being recognized, not only for their success, but also for the positive impact they’re having on their local communities and the contributions they’re making to the economy. It’s going to be a tough job selecting the winners, but we’re very excited to see who comes out on top,” said George Hunter, CEO, Small Business BC.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
