Be Transparent Safeguard Privacy Be Transparent Be Responsive Advertise
Build Trust #torchawards Advertise
Be Transparent Tell the Truth Honor Promises
Safeguard Privacy Embody Integrity
Tell the Truth Honor Promises
Be Responsive Be Transparent
Safeguard Privacy
Advertise #torchawards
Build Trust
Safeguard Privacy Honor Promises Tell the Truth #torchaw
Build Trust Be Responsive Advertise Honestly Honor Promises
Be Transparent Safeguard Privacy #torchawards Safeguard Privacy
#torchawards Honor Promises Be Responsive Tell the Truth Safeguard
Build Trust #torchawards Advertise Honestly Honor Promises Build Trust
Honor Promises Embody Integrity #torchawards Tell the Truth #torchawards
Be Responsive Build Trust Advertise Honestly Be Transparent Honor Promises
Tell the Truth Be Transparent Honor Promises Safeguard Privacy Be Responsive
Advertise Honestly Build Trust Be Responsive Advertise Honestly Tell the Truth
#torchawards Safeguard Privacy Tell the Truth #torchawards Be Transparent
Safeguard Privacy Advertise Honestly Be Responsive Tell the Truth Be Transparent
Honor Promises Tell the Truth Be Transparent Advertise Honestly #torchawards
Safeguard Privacy Be Responsive Honor Promises Build Trust Honor Promises Build
Safeguard Privacy #torchawards Tell the Truth Be Transparent Tell the Truth se Honestly
Advertise Honestly Build Trust Be Responsive Embody Integrity Tell the Truth
Safeguard Privacy Advertise Honestly #torchawards Be Transparent Be Responsive
Tell the Truth Honor Promises Advertise Honestly Tell the Truth Safeguard
Safeguard Privacy Build Trust Be Responsive Embody Integrity Build Trust Tell the
Safeguard Privacy #torchawards se Honestly Advertise Honestly #torchawards Honor
Safeguard Privacy Tell the Truth Honor Promises Safeguard Privacy Be Responsive
Be Responsive Build Trust Be Responsive Tell the Truth Honor Promises Embody
Tell the Truth Be Transparent #torchawards Advertise Honestly Build Trust
Advertise Honestly Tell the Truth Advertise Honestly Be Transparent Tell the
Safeguard Privacy Build Trust Safeguard Privacy #torchawards Safeguard
Safeguard #torchawards Privacy Be Responsive Tell the Truth Embody
Promises Be Responsive #torchawards Honor Promises Advertise Honestly Embody
Build Trust Advertise Honestly Tell the Truth Embody Integrity Build Trust
Be Responsive Build Trust Safeguard Privacy Be Responsive #torchawards
Tell the Truth Be Transparent #torchawards Embody Integrity
Advertise Honestly Advertise Honestly Tell the Truth Be Transparent
Safeguard Privacy Tell the Truth Be Responsive Be Transparent
#torchawards Build Trust Be Responsive Be Transparent
Safeguard Privacy Advertise Honestly Be Transparent
Safeguard Privacy Honor Promises Embody
Be Transparent #torchawards Tell the Truth
Be Responsive Build Trust
Tell the Truth Be Transparent
Advertise Honestly
Safeguard
Safeg
TORCH AWARDS
2014
June 19, 2014Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver
#torchawards
HONESTY
INTEGRITYCOMMUNITY
EXCELLENCETRUST
Our Torch Awards are the premier awards for the Better Business Bureau. Established in 2007, these awards honour outstanding achievement by businesses and organizations serving mainland British Columbia and Yukon Territories. There are various categories that recognize outstanding achievements by area businesses in the fields of marketplace and community excellence. Our continued collaboration with our partners – Accredited Businesses, other service providers and stakeholders – is showing tangible results in several areas, most notably our shared model of honesty and integrity in serving our valued consumers. BBB Accredited Businesses are leaders in corporate social responsibility, who simply know that doing the right thing is just good business. We thank all those whose efforts reach the level of excellence essential to making British Columbia, a leader and a benchmark for a strong, healthy and inclusive business marketplace.
Across a broad range of business, social and ethical indicators, this year’s finalists rank among the top of their industry groups. We congratulate all of this year’s finalists and recipients of the 2014 Torch Awards.
Message From The President
DANIELLE PRIMROSEPresident and Chief Executive Officer
Program2 0 1 4 T O R C H A W A R D S
Torch Awards Presentation
Community Excellence Award - Small Business CategoryCommunity Excellence Award - Large Business Category
(Presented by: Boughton Law Corporation)
Marketplace Excellence Award - Small Business CategoryMarketplace Excellence Award - Medium Business Category
Marketplace Excellence Award - Large Business Category(Presented by: TAG Financial Group)
Welcoming Remarks & IntroductionDanielle Primrose
President & CEO, Better Business Bureau Serving Mainland BC
Keynote AddressMauro Manzi
Senior Vice President, Pacific Region for TD Bank Group
Closing
For over 100 years, Better Business Bureau has helped millions of people make wiser buying decisions and has set standards for ethical business practices.
BBB serving Mainland BC is a non-profit organization and is one of 112 BBBs in North America that serve businesses and consumers, helping to foster a healthy and ethical marketplace. Locally in BC, we support over 3,500 Accredited Businesses that pledge to BBB’s Code of Business Practices.
Through more than four million public business reviews, BBB helps consumers make better decisions by reporting unbiased information on businesses. BBB also serves as an intermediary between consumers and businesses handling over 7,000 local disputes in 2013.
BBB is dedicated to be the undisputed leader in advancing ethical behaviour in the marketplace -- instilling consumer confidence and building trust for all.
About BBB Serving Mainland BC
#TORCHAWARDS
Mark Savard
Covenant House
Jane O’Connor
Canadian Association of Family Enterprise – Vancouver Region (CAFE)
Jenneil Peters
Modern Working Woman
Dawn McKenna
Down Syndrome Research Foundation
Marketplace Excellence
Sheila Charneski
Former BBB President, 2007
Bob Elton
Vancity
Mark Wexler
SFU Beedie School of Business,
Business Management & Organization Studies
Lisa Niemetscheck
Forum for Women Entrepreneurs
Bob Saito
ICBC
Peter Seidl
BCIT School of Business
Fiona Douglas-Crampton
Dalai Lama Center
2014 Judges Committee
Community Excellence
Candidates for the BBB Torch Awards are evaluated based on the criteria and standards set by BBB’s Code of Business Practices. The finalists and recipients are selected by an independent panel of judges from the business and academic community.
The Torch Award represents a company’s commitment to integrity and ethical business practices. It is the highest achievement the BBB awards to the business community.
The Torch Awards program promotes the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure a healthy and equitable marketplace.
Join us on and using the #torchawards hashtag!
#TORCHAWARDS
Preliminary Review
Applications are sent to
the judges for preliminary review and
scoring.
Ensuring that all criteria have been met, including all materials on the
application checklist.
Screening Final Review
The judges make a final
determination as to the Torch Award finalists and recipients.
Judging Process
Norma Reid is the breaking news anchor for CTV News at Five and Six and anchor for CTV News at 11:30 p.m. at CTV Vancouver. Norma has been a journalist for nearly a decade. Her live reporting from CTV’s Chopper 9 during the 2011 Stanley Cup Riot helped the CTV Vancouver team win the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence.
As a reporter, Norma has covered major news stories such as the 2010 Olympic Games; the RCMP shootings in Spiritwood, Saskatchewan and the hunt for Ryan Jenkins, one of America’s most wanted men. It doesn’t matter how challenging the story, Norma will find a way to tell it. When victims of the Japan earthquake arrived in Vancouver, Norma was one of the first on scene at YVR to tell their stories. She has spent nights in the Downtown East Side; reported from the Odyssey the night the legendary club closed its doors; and for weeks, Norma rode the wave of excitement covering the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. But her heart is in breaking news. As News Anchor and Co-Host of CTV Morning Live, Norma anchored live major breaking news, including hostage takings, the Prince George mill explosion, and the aftermath of the 7.7 earthquake that shook BC’s north-central coast in 2012.
When not working, Norma spends a great deal of time volunteering with various charities and organizations in the Lower Mainland, including the Kids Help Phone, BC Oral Cancer, Union Gospel Mission, CH.I.L.D. Foundation and the Richmond Animal Protection Society.
Mauro Manzi is the Senior Vice President, Pacific Region for TD Canada Trust, responsible for overseeing TD’s retail operations in British Columbia, including more than 160 branch locations across the province.
Mauro’s career at TD Bank Group spans nearly 20 years. He has served in a number of different departments and senior roles, most recently as Vice President, Distribution Support in Branch Banking for the Greater Toronto Area.
Prior to this role, he was District Vice President, TD Commercial Banking, Pacific Region where he led a team of commercial bankers in Surrey and Langley, managing the Fraser Valley market.
Mauro is active in the community and sits on the Campaign Cabinet for the United Way of the Lower Mainland. He has worked with many different community organizations over the years, including the Merrymount Children’s Centre, Vancouver Society of Children’s Centres and the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation. He is a past Director for the Surrey Board of Trade.
Mauro holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia. He lives in Surrey with his wife Luisa and two children. In his spare time, he enjoys soccer and attending many of his children’s activities.
MAURO MANZIKeynote Speaker @MauroManzi_TD
NORMA REIDMaster of Ceremonies @CTVNorma
#TORCHAWARDS
“This year’s finalists set the bar high for other businesses in
British Columbia. On behalf of Boughton Law, I would
like to thank you for your positive impact on the marketplace and our
community.”
– The Honourable Wally Oppal, Q.C.
Senior Counsel at Boughton Law
boughtonlaw.com
Uniquely West Coast
Boughton Law is a Vancouver-based law firm. Organizations of all sizes and structures as well as individuals rely on us for their business, dispute resolution, personal and public sector related legal matters. Reflective
of our West Coast roots, we strive to make complex legal matters simple.
As an accredited business and partner of the BBB of Mainland BC for more than 30 years, it is our honour to support the
2014 Torch Awards.
Award CategoriesSmall BusinessLarge Business
Community Excellence awards recognize businesses that blend financial success with positive community
outcomes. Finalists in this category have demonstrated exceptional leadership in local initiatives that are
helping to support communities.
COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARD
FINALISTS
Mills is a local, family owned and operated supplier of stationery, technology products, furniture, printing
services and education products. Mills’ experience in the office supply industry dates back to 1949. Founder Don Mills set out from his parents home at the age of 19 to become the youngest person in Canada to establish a commercial stationery company. The company was Mills Printing Stationery Co. and today, as Mills, it continues to be a visionary family business thriving as one of the largest office supply providers in British Columbia. Brad and Blair Mills have carried on their father’s legacy of care and determination while executing a vision of commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
Mills’ mission is to give their community residents the opportunity to gain a new lease on life and instil hope and trust in society that has given up on them. Whether it is through the hiring practices in their warehouse or their support of H.A.V.E. Café and Dress for Success, Mills’ goal is to give people stability and more influence in their families and communities. A significant part of Mills’ values is supporting local procurement and purchasing. As a member of LOCO BC, Mills works with other members in educating businesses and consumers about the impact their purchasing has on the economy and community support.
Nimbus School of Recording Arts is Vancouver’s audio school offering small class sizes, mentorship from industry experts and hands-on training in real studios. Courses
include: audio engineering, music production, post & game audio, live sound and the music business. Nimbus helps students turn their passion for music into a career.
Inspired by a young patient stricken with cancer, Nimbus School of Recording Arts’ co-founder GGGarth Richardson worked to develop a mobile recording studio that music therapists could use with bedridden patients at the Children’s Hospital. Since then, the School has supported numerous community projects such as Camp Goodtimes (helping young cancer patients create music), and the Access to Music Foundation with free recording time in the Nimbus studios.
AWARD FINALISTSCOMMUNITY EXCELLENCE
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA) is one of Canada’s first highly accredited private culinary institutes providing Culinary Arts & Baking & Pastry Arts diploma programs. PICA strives for success in the
hospitality industry and they are proud to be able to support the community through local and established associations such as ‘Growing Chefs’, ‘Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship’, as well as being able to get solidly behind significant food initiatives such ‘Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise Conservation’ program and ‘Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia’.
PICA’s numerous charitable contributions and support include the following organizations: Growing Chefs! Chefs for Children’s Urban Agriculture; Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship Program; Chefs’ Table Society of BC; BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF); Project Chef! Cook Healthy Edible Food; Canuck Place – Pediatric Hospice Palliative Care BC; Vista D’oro Cookies for Kids – BC Children’s Hospital
#TORCHAWARDS
Nimbus School of Recording ArtsVancouver, BC
Pacific Institute of Culinary ArtsVancouver, BC
Vancouver College of Counsellor TrainingVancouver, BC
The Vancouver College of Counsellor Training (VCCT) has provided a course curriculum that reflects core competencies widely recognized in the professional counselling field for over 25 years. The programs offered are designed to provide stimulating and enriching opportunities for personal growth and professional development through intensive training in research-based counselling theory and skills.
The administrative staff at VCCT make continuous efforts to increase the quality and relevance of its programs and courses - recognized by UBC as equivalent to their Master of Counselling Psychology prerequisites and by Trinity Western University as equivalent to some of the required courses for their undergrad degree. VCCT also supports all students and graduates by providing job postings, employment resources, volunteer opportunities, resume-writing assistance and other employment-related services to increase their success in the workforce.
Just as the training of counsellors involves requiring students to be aware of and adhere to the highest ethical standards of integrity, so does VCCT as a college training counselors.
Mills BasicsVancouver, BC
TAG Financial salutes the importance of trust, respect, and integrity not only to customers but
also to the success of one’s business.
Marketplace Excellence awards are presented to a BBB Accredited Business in recognition of their
commitment to exceptional standards. Finalists have proven to be leaders in their industry, benefiting
customers, employees, and their community.
MARKETPLACE EXCELLENCE AWARD
FINALISTS
“Congratulations to the 2014 Marketplace Excellence Torch Award finalists for achieving BBB’s highest recognition for business trust!”
-John Tomlinson, President
Award CategoriesSmall Business
Medium BusinessLarge Business
SMALL CATEGORYMARKETPLACE EXCELLENCE
Blue Crest Electric Ltd. offers residential and commercial electrical services across
BC’s entire lower mainland and south of the Fraser River. Blue Crest’s company mission is a commitment to honesty and integrity while providing exceptional service to clients, keeping their safety and security as their priority.
Blue Crest believes giving back to the community not only promotes goodwill but emphasizes the importance of stewardship and charity. Their involvement with local public service organizations, such as the Cyrus Centre, has been both rewarding and gratifying for the company.
Blue Crest Electric is interested in leaving a legacy of sustainability. In order to accomplish this, management has been intentional and proactive in developing methods to ensure customer satisfaction, well-rounded staff, and a healthy business model as well as ensure community and environmental interests are protected.
The Jouta Performance Group is a team of human resources consultants based in Vancouver. Jouta’s purpose is to help organizations develop the people, policies and practices that
create efficiencies, reduce expenses and, most importantly, generate revenue.
Jouta’s greatest achievements are the sustainability of the programs and services put in place for their clients. They do this through investing time getting to know their clients, enabling Jouta to completely tailor their HR advice. Jouta listens to all employees so that they fully understand what’s happening, and they walk side-by-side with business leaders through their HR challenges, equipping them with HR best practices that meet them where they are now, and into the future.
School Is Easy Tutoring (originally named Academic Advantage) was founded in 2002 and is now one of the largest tutoring agency in the Lower Mainland, Comox Valley/Campbell River and the Greater Victoria area.
In 12 years of building trust, School is Easy Tutoring has empowered over 5,000 students by building their confidence in school and increasing their lifetime achievement. School is Easy Tutoring commits to BBB standards in their day-to-day operations including a promise to fulfill corporate responsibilities and requirements, listen actively to customer concerns and provide a fair outcome, advertise honestly, honour all promises, respect the confidentiality of clients and teachers, always pursue best practices, and be transparent and accountable.
School is Easy has countless testimonials from thankful parents who have said that tutoring helped their child pursue careers they never dreamed possible. School is Easy Tutoring received various awards and has appeared in the Vancouver Sun, Business in Vancouver, Maclean’s and Profit magazine.
#TORCHAWARDS
Blue Crest Electric Ltd.Abbotsford, BC
Jouta Performance GroupVancouver, BC
School Is Easy TutoringBurnaby, BC
MEDIUM CATEGORY
Founded in 1996 by Sue Singer, the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is located in Vancouver, British Columbia at the entrance to Granville Island. This accredited, private and co-educational culinary institute provides students with Culinary Arts and Baking
& Pastry Arts diploma programs.
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is recognized as the first culinary school in Canada to embrace Ocean Wise status and Green Table Network programs. The Institute’s commitment to their faculty, students, customers, suppliers and surrounding community mirrors Better Business Bureau’s standards for ‘integrity, trust and ethics’’. They do this through their professional development policy, stringent program review policy, and commitment to keep true to their commitment to the general public when it comes to accountability for service, product and advertising.
MARKETPLACE EXCELLENCE
Sofo Kitchens was founded by Radu Soos in 2008 when he started his business out of his small garage. Today, Sofo Kitchens has thrived and outgrown their space three times. They believe trust is a function of two primary factors: 1) Integrity which includes respect, ethics and intent; and 2) Performance which includes a business’s track record of delivering results in accordance with BBB standards and/or addressing customer concerns in a timely, satisfactory manner.
The work of Sofo Kitchens has been recognized both locally and internationally. They were recently awarded the 2014 Best of Houzz in Customer Satisfaction Award by the Houzz community, an online community platform that connects millions of homeowners and home professionals. In 2013, Sofo Kitchens competed in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design Competition and took home the notable Silver A’ Design Award in Como, Italy for their World Kids Books project.
#TORCHAWARDS
Sofo KitchensMaple Ridge, BC
Pacific Institute of Culinary ArtsVancouver, BC
Photo Credit: Lu Yao / thelulife.com
LARGE BUSINESS
Canstar Restorations is a full-service restoration company with offices in Coquitlam, Surrey and Whistler. Canstar is committed to continuous
improvement of its business practices and always keeps its stakeholders in the forefront. Their mission statement evokes a goal in everyone to not just strive for good, but to be the best in the industry. Investing in the right people, training, and equipment is a decision that Canstar Restorations made years ago. Thinking long term yesterday is the cornerstone of the quality service Canstar Restorations provides today. Likewise, commitment to the safety of customers and employees comes at a cost, and Canstar’s efforts were awarded with a Certificate of Recognition from the BC Construction Safety Alliance. Ethical quality service goes hand in hand with community sponsorship of post-secondary education, hospices and food banks is matched by Canstar staff’s participation in other community events.
MARKETPLACE EXCELLENCE
Maple Leaf Self Storage is a Canadian-owned and operated self storage company based in West Vancouver, BC. Since 1984, they have been providing businesses and families in Western Canada with solutions for their self storage needs.
Maple Leaf Self Storage’s mission is: “To help create space in the lives of people as they experience personal or professional change by providing innovative and customized solutions for their storing and packing needs”.
Maple Leaf Self Storage is a long-time member of various community businesses, including the Better Business Bureau (A+ rating), and numerous Chambers of Commerce. In 2007, Maple Leaf was a finalist for Outstanding Business of the Year with the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce. Maple Leaf proudly supports many charitable organizations, including Starlight Children’s Foundation and Access Youth Outreach Services Society.
Founded in 1929, Williams Moving & Storage remains a family-owned and operated business spanning over 85 years and four generations of the Williams family.
Williams Moving & Storage prides itself in it’s Value Proposition backed by the moving industry’s only money back guarantee, ensuring every employee from management to the front lines is Backcheck™ certified, and being the only Canadian moving company with its own recycling department.
The team members of Williams Moving & Storage work hard every day to ensure their customers have the best experience possible and that Williams Moving & Storage remains an industry leader.
#TORCHAWARDS
Canstar RestorationsCoquitlam, BC
Maple Leaf Self StorageWest Vancouver, BC
Williams Moving & StorageCoquitlam, BC
Marketplace Excellence Award2013 Brighter Mechanical Ltd. (Large Business Category)2013 Mira Floors and Interiors (Medium Business Category)2013 Excalibur Electric Ltd. (Small Business Category)2012 Rogers Group Financial (Large Business Category)2012 China Star Holiday (Canada) Ltd. (Small Business Category)2011 Blue Crest Electric Ltd.2010 BCAA2009 Silver Bullet Shredding 2008 Poulin’s Pest Control
Community Excellence Award2013 Hollyburn Properties Ltd. (Large Business Category)
2013 Megaphone (Street Corner Media Foundation) (Small Business Category)
Green Award2013 Green Coast Rubbish Inc.2012 Mills Basics2011 Lunapads International Ltd.2010 Kiwano Marketing2009 SPUD!
2008 Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company
Advancing Marketplace Trust (2008 - 2012)2012 Ethical Bean Coffee2011 Ethical Deal2010 EcoEco/Red Dot Campaign2009 BC Association of Farmer’s Markets
2008 Lululemon
Consumer Leadership (2008 - 2012)2012 Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band 2011 David Suzuki2010 Smart Cookies2009 Chris Olsen, CTV and David Baines, Vancouver Sun2008 Jeff Burton, BC Crime Prevention Association
Buzz Award for Social Media Excellence (2011)2011 Wolfgang Commercial Painters
TORCH AWARDS Past Winners
JOIN US NEXT YEAR2015 TORCH AWARDS
Apply for 2015 Torch Awards
Help promote trust and ethics in BC and get recognized for it! Contact us for 2015 Torch Awards sponsorship and partnership opportunities.
Applying for BBB’s prestigious Torch Awards is an opportunity to publicly showcase your business achievements and be recognized for your efforts in doing business the right way.
BBB does not select the winners. Entries are evaluated by independent panels of influential leaders from impartial business, non-profit and academic communities.
Award finalists and recipients receive tremendous visibility and exposure in the public and are provided special marketing privileges and opportunities.
Minimum Requirements:- Four years in business- Have an “A” rating on your BBB Business Review- A non-profit or for-profit organization- Headquarters located within the service area of Mainland BC/Yukon
Become a Sponsor
Join the Conversation
Get regular updates on the latest news on Mainland BC’s marketplace. Join the conversation to support and help promote marketplace trust and ethics.
#torchawards
@BBB_BC
BBBmainlandBC
Better Business Bureau Mainland BC
BBBmainlandBC
Shear ComfortMinuteman Press Tri-Cities
Better Business BureauServing Mainland BC
Suite 404-788 Beatty StreetVancouver, B.C. V6B 2M1
www.bbb.org/mbc
#torchawards
Gold Sponsors
Media Partners
Platinum Category Award Sponsors
*Trademark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus used under license
Silver Sponsors
Top Related