13th Annual

The awards were reimagined and rebranded as The Salty Awards, introducing community voting for the first time. Winners in the Business, Community, and Fun categories were selected through online voting, with 686 nominations and 3,395 ballots cast.

Business Awards

• Top Young Entrepreneur Under 40 — Jessica Termuende
• Top Customer Service — O My Goddess Herbal Products
• Top Health Care Provider — Melissa Johnson – Essential Oil Parlour
• Your Choice Restaurant or Food Truck — Salt Spring Salads
• Greatest Trades Person — Ben Velthuizen – Fieldhouse Knife and Tool
• Top Green Business — Salt Spring Salads
• Top Professional Service — Ashleigh Roslinsky
• Your Stylist, Barber or Spa Service — 19B Barber
• Top Local or Visitor Experience — Salt Spring Island Cheese Co.
• Top Geek or IT Person — Brendan Simmons – Salt Spring Computers
• Greatest New Business (Under 3 Years) — Salt Spring Salads
• Top Place to Shop Local — Country Grocer
• Top Tuesday or Saturday Market Vendor or Artisan — O My Goddess Herbal Products
• Top Farm or Agricultural Business — Bullock Lake Farm
• Greatest Business Overall — Country Grocer

Community / Fun Awards

• Top Ferry Run — Fulford to Swartz Bay
• Server Extraordinaire — Alex Gay
• Favorite Non-Profit — BCSPCA Salt Spring Island
• Funniest Person on Salt Spring — John Bateman
• Salt Spring’s “Know It All” — Banana Joe Clemente
• Favourite Hippy — Valdy
• Person “Who Goes the Extra Mile” — Bryan Dubien
• Favourite Teacher Ever — Jason Donaldson
• Where to Spend Your Last $10 — Barb’s Bakery & Bistro
• Top First Responder — Arjuna George
• Your Volunteer of Choice — Alisha Renaud
• Top Live Show or Band — Billie Woods
• Best Menu Item on Salt Spring — Salt Spring Salads
• Local Media Choice — Salt Spring Exchange
• Favourite Salt Spring Writer — Toko-pa Turner

Event Sponsors: Island Savings, Windsor Plywood, Salt Spring Exchange, Thrifty Foods, Driftwood Publishing, Moby’s Pub, Country Grocer, Mouat’s Trading, PCS Pest Control, and Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance.

Additional Support: Alchemy Farms, Celebrity Accents, The Fishbowl Magazine, Harbour House Hotel, Terrier Marketing Inc., and the members of the Salt Spring Island Chamber of Commerce.

12th Annual

The 2017 Salt Spring Business Awards celebrated the people, businesses, and organizations that make Salt Spring Island unique. Held at Meaden Hall, the event shifted to a community voting format, allowing residents to recognize their favourites across a wide range of business and community categories—from restaurants, farms, and tourism to teachers, first responders, and local personalities.

Sponsored by Island Savings and Windsor Plywood, the awards reflected the community's appreciation for the businesses and individuals who help shape island life.

WINNERS: 

• Greatest Business Overall: Barb’s Bakery & Bistro 
• Greatest New Business (under 3 years): Salt Spring Wild Cider
• Top Entrepreneur under 40: Genevieve Price
• Top Health Care Provider: Lady Minto Hospital
• Top Customer Service: Moby’s Pub
• Top Tourism Business: Saturday Market
• Favourite Farm / Agriculture Business: Bon Acres Farm
• Your Go To For A Coffee or Tea: Barb’s Bakery & Bistro
• Your Choice Restaurant: Three House Cafe
• Favourite Place to do Yoga: Celeste Mallett Jason Yoga
• Favourite Spa Treatment: Solace Organic Spa
• Favourite Food Truck: El Loco Taco
• Best Local Band: Barefoot Thieves
• Top Ferry Run: Fulford Harbour - Swartz Bay
• Most Loyal Customer: Rene Valcourt
• Greatest Teacher Ever: Jason Donaldson
• Top First Responder: Mitchell Sherrin
• Favourite Writer on the Island: Arthur Black
• Favourite Hippy: Sally Sunshine

11th annual

Salt Spring Business Awards were held at ArtSpring on October 20, 2016, as part of Small Business Week celebrations. The event recognized outstanding businesses and organizations across the island and more than 90 ventures and associations were nominated, with finalists submitting applications for judging, while larger businesses were also acknowledged with certificates of appreciation for their contributions to the community.

Winners

• Small Business (under 15 employees) — El Loco Taco
• Non-Profit Association — Lady Minto Hospital Auxiliary Society
• New Business — Whiskers Pet Store
• Agricultural/Farm Business — Singing Bird Farm
• Green Business — Net Change Consulting Inc.
• Trades & Construction Business — Scott's Plumbing and Heating
• Tourism Business — Western Splendour Tours and Charters
• Outstanding Customer Service — Roly Poly Rice Balls

WINNERS

• Business (Over 15 Employees): Island Savings

• Small Business (Under 15 Employees): El Loco Taco

• New Business: Bohemia Consignment

• Green Business: Purely Salt Spring

• Agricultural Business: Stowel Lake Farm

• Tourism Business: Thistle Dew Cottage

• Outstanding Customer Service: Ann Taylor - Salt Spring Visitor Information Centre & Sean Mulligan - Outspokin' Bike Shop

• Construction Trades: Island Gates + Fences

• Non-Profit: BCSPCA Salt Spring 

• People's Choice Award: El Loco Taco

9th Annual

The 9th Annual Salt Spring Business Excellence Awards brought the community together once again at the Harbour House Hotel to celebrate the outstanding businesses, organizations, and individuals that help make Salt Spring Island thrive. The evening recognized excellence across ten award categories, from established businesses to emerging entrepreneurs and community organizations, the awards highlighted the diversity, innovation, and spirit of Salt Spring's business community.

WINNERS: 

• Business of the Year (Over 25 Employees): Windsor Plywood and Salt Spring Cheese
• Small Business of the Year: Twang & Pearl
• New Business of the Year: El Loco Taco
• People's Choice Award: El Loco Taco
• Agriculture/Farm Business: Duck Creek Farm
• Trades & Construction Business: Green City Builders
• Tourism Business: Duthie Gallery
• Green Business: Island Escapades
• Outstanding Customer Service: Jeremy Milsom, Salt Spring Inn
• Non-Profit Association: Salt Spring Literacy
• 
  

8th Annual

The 8th Annual Salt Spring Business Excellence Awards drew more than 250 guests to a sold-out gala at the Harbour House Hotel, celebrating the outstanding achievements of Salt Spring's business community. Presented in partnership by the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce, Island Savings, and the Gulf Islands Driftwood, the event honoured winners across nine award categories. 

WINNERS:

• Business of the Year (Over 15 Employees): Country Grocer
• Small Business of the Year: Fishbowl Magazine
• Outstanding Customer Service: Leon's Gardening and General Maintenance
• Non-Profit Association of the Year: Salt Spring Public Library
• Green Business of the Year: Thrive Lifestyle
• New Business of the Year: Doctor Computer
• Tourism Business of the Year: Beach House B&B
• Agriculture/Farm Business of the Year: Foxglove Farm
• People's Choice Award: Doctor Computer
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7th Annual

Held at the Harbour House Hotel's Orchard Room, the 7th Annual Salt Spring Business Excellence Awards was a sold-out celebration of local business excellence. The evening honoured 32 finalists and winners across nine award categories, with finalists selected from 115 businesses nominated by community members—more than double the number of nominations received the previous year. Nominees submitted detailed award packages that were evaluated independently by a panel of five judges—Tom Bremner, Peter Grove, Wayne McIntyre, Susan de Stein, and John Tylee—highlighting the growing prestige and credibility of the awards program.

WINNERS:

• New Business: Rawsome Living Foods Cafe and Juice Bar
• Non-Profit Group: BC SPCA, Salt Spring Island Branch
• Tourism Business: Salt Spring Vineyards
• Agriculture/Farm Business: Sue's Park Drive Stand
• Green Business: Moby's Oyster Bar and Marine Grill
• Outstanding Customer Service: Ganges Village Cobbler
• Young Entrepreneur (Under 25): The Resistance
• Small Business (Under 15 Employees): Salt Spring Metal Recycling
• Business of the Year (More than 15 Employees): Salt Spring Inn
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2011

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Fifth Annual Awards

Attendance grew to more than 150 guests, with judging expanded to include representatives from a variety of island sectors.

Winners

• Business of the Year (Over 10 Employees): Moby's Oyster Bar & Marine Grill

• Small Business of the Year (Under 8 Employees): Bruce's Kitchen

• New Business of the Year: Mid Island Co-op Gas

• Green Business of the Year: Imagine That Graphics

• Agricultural/Farm Business: Foxglove Farm

• Building & Construction Trades: Polaris Plumbing

• Market Vendor of the Year: Salt Spring Savouries

• Business Ambassador: Salt Spring Community List

• Citizen of the Year: Brian Finnemore

NOMINEES: 

New Business of the Year: Mistaken Identity Vineyard, CFSI Radio, Gallery 8,  Pura Vida. Sponsored by Thrifty Foods. 

Market Vendor of the Year: Melanie Platz and Paul de Roo, the Salt Spring Forge, Salt Spring Island Cheese Company + Monsoon Coast. Sponsored by  Salt Spring Island Cheese.

Agricultural/Farm Business: Salt Spring Seeds. Sponsored by The Wine Cellar. 

Building & Construction Trades: Sponsored by John Cade of Royal Lepage. 

Business Ambassador: Salt Spring Air, David Wood of Salt Spring Island Cheese, Dan Jason of  Salt Spring Seeds + Country Grocer's Paul Large. Sponsored by Salt Spring Air. 

Small Business of the Year: Symmetric Design, Island Star Video, Rendevous Cafe, Beach House B+B, Mid Island Co-op, TJ Beans, Pegasus Gallery, Flash Flagging, Barnyard Graphix, Love My Kitchen, Flow Day Spa, The Wine Cellar, Choices, Island Gourment Safari, Twist and Flip Gymnastics, Salt Spring Metal Recycling, Gallery 8, Salt Spring Books, Admiral's Specialty Foods, Acoustic Planet, Raven Street Market, Lakeside Gardens + Moonstruck Organic Cheese. Sponsored by Island Star Video + TJ Beans. 

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2009

Fourth Annual Awards

Nearly 100 guests attended the gala, with 42 businesses and individuals nominated across a growing number of categories.

Winners

• Business of the Year: Salt Spring Coffee Company
• Agricultural/Farm Business: Foxglove Farm
• Small Business of the Year: Salt Spring Island Metal Recycling
• New Business of the Year: Gecko Green Living
• Green Business of the Year: Salt Spring Coffee Company
• Building & Construction Trades: Joe Toutant Construction
• Business Ambassador: Salt Spring Air
• Citizen of the Year: Richard Murakami
• Market Vendor of the Year: Alvaro Sanchez

Nominees:

Business of the Year: Auntie Pesto's, Salt Spring Air, Salt Spring Island Cheese, Salt Spring Inn, Slegg Lumber, Thrifty Foods + TJ Beans. Sponsored by Mouat's Trading Co. 

Green Business of the Year: Salt Spring Air + Salt Spring Refund Centre. Sponsored by Island Savings

New Business of the Year: Market Place Cafe, Del Vecchio Pasta Fresca, Cafe Talia, Salt Spring Inn, Flow Day Spa, Bruce's Kitchen + Salt Spring Catering by Kelly. Sponsored by Thrifty Foods. 

Small Business of the Year: Angel Cottage Studio (Julie's Pantry), Del Vecchio Pasta Fresca, Fables Cottage, Gulf Island Veterinary Clinic, Jana's Bake Shop, Meron Moroz Bookeeping, Dr. Lorraine Machell + Monsoon Coast. Sponsored by Island Star Video + TJ Beans. 

Building & Construction Trades: Salt Spring Interiors, Wayne Michener Plumbing, Tuxedo Painting and Wallcovering + Rick Andrews Excavating. Sponsored by John Cade of Royal Lepage. 

Market Vendor of the Year: Bite Me Treats, Salt Spring Raw Foods, Melissa Searcy + Knitwits. Sponsored by Salt Spring Island Cheese. 

Agricultural/Farm Business: Salt Spring Island Cheese Company + Foxglove Farm and Garden Supply on Atkins Road. 

Business Ambassador of the Year: Salt Spring Coffee Company. Sponsored by Salt Spring Air. 

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