The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce has broadened its Business Excellence Awards to include a new Health and Wellness Excellence Award, signalling a growing local emphasis on workplace wellbeing as a pillar of community resilience.
New category highlights workplace wellness
The award, added ahead of the Chamber’s 42nd annual Business Excellence Awards, is sponsored by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Vernon and District Branch and will recognise businesses and organisations that prioritise the physical, mental and emotional health of their workforce while promoting healthier lifestyles.
"Businesses are recognizing that supporting the holistic health of their employees creates a stronger, more resilient community," said Sonja Harkness, executive director of the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce.
The Business Excellence Awards, presented by Kal Tire, will take place on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. The chamber said nominations for the new Health and Wellness Excellence Award, along with the traditional categories, are now open.
How to nominate and what the award seeks to recognise
Community members and local business owners are invited to submit nominations at vernoncc.awardify.io/nominations. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 18. The chamber has framed the award to shine a light on local organisations "leading the way in fostering balanced, supportive work environments."
- Eligibility: local businesses and organisations in the Greater Vernon area.
- Award focus: programs or practices that support physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
- Submission deadline: Sept. 18 via the chamber's nomination site.
The move to add a health and wellness category reflects wider conversations in Vernon and beyond about the role employers play in supporting employee wellbeing. While the chamber honoured business leaders at its 41st annual awards, the new category explicitly connects business excellence with health outcomes in the community.
Event and nomination details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award | Health and Wellness Excellence Award (new category) |
| Event | 42nd Business Excellence Awards, presented by Kal Tire |
| Date | Thursday, Oct. 22 |
| Venue | Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre |
| Sponsor for new award | CMHA Vernon and District Branch |
| Nomination deadline | Sept. 18 |
| Nomination site | vernoncc.awardify.io/nominations |
The chamber's executive director framed the partnership with CMHA Vernon as a way to "shine a light on local organizations leading the way" in creating balanced workplaces. For Vernon businesses, the award presents both recognition and an incentive to invest in employee supports that have ripple effects for families and neighbourhoods.
As Vernon prepares for the October gala, community members and employers have an opportunity to highlight workplace programs and policies that go beyond traditional measures of business success, placing health and wellbeing alongside service, innovation and growth.
