WHO MAY NOMINATE: Any Chamber member, resident, business person of West Vancouver or Bowen Island.  Note: Nominees are not required to be members of the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.
Exclusions: Chamber Board Directors, also excluded from the judging process.

WHO MAY BE NOMINATED: Any member of the West Vancouver Chamber, any business or citizen meeting the criteria of the awards category detailed in categories below. Self-nominations are allowed in one category only, but must be supported by at least one written testimonial from a verifiable community leader.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE - Thursday March 12th 2020

  *          *          *          NOMINATION CRITERIA PER AWARD CATEGORY        *         *          *

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR – Lifetime Achievement
This West Vancouver or Bowen Island resident has demonstrated exceptional success and leadership through a diverse body of committed community service over an extensive period of time, with significant benefit to community and/or various organizations.  Only volunteer community service can be considered.  
For example: Community board chairs, municipal committee, review board or working group chairs; arts, culture, sports, foundation, society and educational board leaders, capital campaign chairs, advisory board chairs.

BUSINESS LEADER
An outstanding leader in the West Vancouver business community, the winner will be an example of innovative accomplishment not only to the corporate bottom line, but also actively or by example, helping our community through the challenges of economic, societal and green transition while keeping West Vancouver on the regional map.
For example:  Innovators, corporate leaders, developers, company owners/managers, institutional leaders, broadcasters, writers, architects, not for profit change makers.

RISING STAR
This award is presented to an under 40 year old trailblazer making community waves in any business: technology, service, invention, communications, marketing, design, entertainment, sport or finance.  The recipient may be an entrepreneur, a business or service leader changing the way we think about and navigate our world, informing and enhancing our understanding and opportunities within it, or improving our lives.  The award will acknowledge the recipient as “someone to watch” on the way up.
 
MINI to MID BUSINESS
With a minimum of 1 employee or a maximum of 30, this businessperson might have found the resilience to succeed and indeed thrive by re-strategizing a business model in a rapidly changing business environment where nothing can be taken for granted.  Or by refining a longtime, essential service and upping the service level.  The recipient will have demonstrated that change is a friend, and profits can be maximized, even while our local or global world in rapid transition.
For example:  Owners or managers succeeding and growing against industry odds through embracing change:  restaurants, retailers, services, publications, niche stores.
 
SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATOR
With climate change, sea level rise, wildfires, toxic runoff, mountains of garbage as emblems of our present, the recipient of this award will be a futurist, thinking far beyond the here and now, inventing changes or solutions that solve the problems we face in protecting our environment for future generations.  The recipient can work for you, or be a business owner you know, or have worked small or large miracles in making sustainability the bedrock of West Van economic progress in any line of business.
For example:  Owners, entrepreneurs, employees, businesses or community innovators highly committed to climate change mitigation and sustainability leadership.

ESSENCE of COMMUNITY AWARD
The recipient of this award operates an existing or new business that captures the magic, quirkiness or comfort of what it means to live in West Van, Bowen Island or Lions Bay.  This business makes us feel at home, long for it when we’re away and jump for joy when we return.  Restaurant, art gallery, special shop, bank, service company, particular décor or design—the winner embodies that special ambiance that personifies community character.

ABOVE & BEYOND BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
This award will be awarded to either a for/not-for-profit business or organization who continually goes above and beyond expectations to provide commitment to customers, clients and community.  That service or business might protect our safety, our health, provide us with outstanding physical or artistic experiences or accommodate our everyday retail or service needs.  The defining criterion is an exceptional devotion to service, responsibility, duty or calling.