As 2011 moves along the time is coming to vote for the best businesses in the Columbia Valley. The 2011 Business Excellence Awards are taking nominations and the voting will soon begin and run until March 31. This voting will give all residents an opportunity to have their say in 12 different categories this year. Susan Smith is the executive director of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre. Smith feels these awards have a very special meaning to those people who run businesses in the area.

“Absolutely, businesses take great pride in receiving these awards,” Smith said.

“In any community there are examples of excellence and it is healthy for a community to acknowledge those examples by honouring deserving businesses, owners and employees. Business awards help establish a standard of excellence for how we as a community do business and how we wish to be perceived by people who do business within in our community. Acknowledging excellence makes everyone strive to improve,” she added.

Smith also spoke of how the awards are an important part of what the Chamber does for local businesses.

“ The responsibility of a chamber of commerce is to support businesses to succeed and by acknowledging excellence we further encourage that success and hold those award winning and nominated businesses, entrepreneurs and employees up as positive examples of business in our community.”

People can vote electronically or usepaper based forms that are available at AG Valley Foods, Monkey’s Uncle, Home Hardware, Meet on Higher Ground, Kootenay Saving, Valley Alley, Smoking Water Café or the Hoodoo Grill.