The Battlefords Business Excellence Committee has announced a record number of nominations for the 2013 BBEX awards were received by the July 26 deadline.
This is the 20th year for the annual awards event sponsored by the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce that honours excellence in the business community.
Pre-selection committee chair Garth Swanson reported to the BBEX committee Thursday that 34 nomination packages had been received, covering all seven categories - New Business Venture, Customer Service, Marketing, Micro Business (fewer than five employees), Heritage, Community Contribution and Business of the Year.
The nomination packages will be reviewed for eligibility and then will be forwarded to an anonymous jury for judging.
"The BBEX committee is thrilled with the response to the 2013 program," said committee co-chair Paula Scherr in a press release.
"The business community has a lot to be proud of, and this record number of nominations shows that business people want to share their success and tell their stories," she added.
While total counts of nomination kits have not officially been tracked each of the previous 19 years, the BBEX committee said the total number of finalists in each of those years has not exceeded 31, which was achieved in 1995, the second year of the program.
The list of finalists is expected to be announced by Labour Day Week, according to the release, with winners in six of the categories revealed Tuesday, Oct. 8 at an award ceremony at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts.
The Heritage Award recipient will be announced along with the finalists in September.
