Nineteen Indigenous businesses will be recognized at the Aboriginal Business Awards next month, with one Kamloops business to be honoured. Beyond the Bell Out of School Care will be recognized for outstanding business achievement in the Business of the Year category for a three- to 10-person enterprise.

Winners of the ninth annual awards were announced today by the BC Achievement Foundation and will be celebrated at the awards gala in Vancouver on October 26th.

The awards were launched in 2008 and honour excellence in Indigenous business in the province. Chief Gibby Jacob of the Squamish Nation has been selected as the recipient of the 2017 award for Individual Achievement in recognition of his efforts toward economic development and business in the province.

Other award winners include:

Business of the Year – one-to-two person enterprise:

• Sayta Organics, Port Moody
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Life Compass Counselling & Consulting | Equine Edge, Toms Lake
• Outstanding Business Achievement: All About U Arts Ltd., Skidegate

Business of the Year – three-to-10 person enterprise:

• Sierra Helicopters Ltd., Pitt Meadows
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Veridis Plumbing & Heating Ltd., Mill Bay
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Beyond the Bell Out of School Care, Kamloops

Business of the Year – 10 or more person enterprise:

• Prime Quality Construction Inc., Coldstream
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Bar S Ventures, Merritt
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Gordon Peters Logging Ltd., Vanderhoof

Community-Owned Business of the Year – one entity:

• Thuy'she'num Property Management, Ladysmith
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Best Western Tin Wis Resort Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, Tofino
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Homalco Forestry Limited Partnership, Campbell River

Community-Owned Business of the Year – two or more entities:

• Gitxsan Development Corporation, Hazleton
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Huu-ay-aht Group of Businesses, Port Alberni

Aboriginal – Industry Business Partnership of the Year:

• Black Diamond Cygnus, Moberly Lake

Aboriginal – Aboriginal Business Partnership of the Year:

• Twin Sisters Native Plants Nursery, Moberly Lake

Young Entrepreneur of the Year:

• Peterson Stone Works, North Vancouver
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Chastity Davis Consulting, West Vancouver
• Outstanding Business Achievement: Salish Eye Productions, Chemainus