Photo: Contributed
It’s Small Business Week in Canada, and B.C. will be celebrating all the contributions the smaller companies make to their local communities as well as the provincial economy.
There are more than half a million small businesses in B.C. that employ nearly 1.1 million people, and the government gives plenty of the credit for the province’s low unemployment rate to small businesses.
The government reports there were 15,600 new businesses established in the province last year and that B.C. has held the No. 1 spot among provinces in small business job growth over the last five years at 7.7 per cent.
B.C. also leads all provinces in gross domestic product generated by small business, at 34% of overall provincial GDP.
There are two small business awards whose nomination periods are now open. The Small Business BC Awards honour the achievements of entrepreneurs in categories such as best employer, best immigrant entrepreneur and the premier’s people’s choice award. The winners will receive one-year, all-access passes to Small Business BC services and cash prizes of $1,500.
The Open for Business Awards recognize communities that have adopted best practices to create a business-friendly environment.
Nominations for both awards close Nov. 30.
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