It’s a sought-after award in Kelowna and this year it’s going to Jeff Stibbard.

The founder of Kelowna’s JDS Group of Companies has been named the Business Leader of the Year for 2019 by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.

He’ll receive his award at the annual Business Excellence Awards ceremony on Friday, Nov. 1.

Photo Credit: BC Business

“Jeff and his family have enriched our city, our province and our country to a mind-boggling degree,” said Nikki Csek, president of the Kelowna Chamber.

“What he has done for the resource sector and how he has ethically enriched communities both in Canada and around the world is remarkable.”

The 54-year-old has worked his entire 36-year career in the mining and energy industry and brought his family to many northern and western mining communities before settling in Kelowna.

He founded JDS in 2004 and the company now employs more than 350 people around the world, 50 of them right here in Kelowna.

“We are a family company that not only employs our direct family (two sons) in the business, but also many of our close friends and their family members who have been a big part of our overall success in life and business,” Stibbard says. 

“We have created scholarships and supported keen young locals in the engineering and trades fields to facilitate their employment in our industry.”

Stibbard is active in the community and has raised more than $100,000 for military families through JDS, recently serving as the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Canadian Airforce.

Photo Credit: Kelowna Chamber of Commerce