The Calgary Chamber of Commerce wrapped up the 2023 Small Business Week with an annual recognition of the importance, and excellence in business brought to Calgary’s economy by small businesses.
This year, more than 150 different businesses were nominated in eight categories, up from just-under 140 in 2022.
Deborah Yedlin, CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce called each of the businesses that received awards excellent examples of types of businesses that do work in Calgary.
“With Calgary having the second highest number of small business per capita in the country, they are a significant economic driver, adding vibrancy and creating jobs locally,” she said.
Nearly 95 per cent of all Calgary businesses are small businesses.
The 2023 small business of the year award was given to executive recruitment firm Pekarsky and Co, which has been operating in Calgary since 2009 to find executives and board members for corporate and non-profit clients.
“Winning the award is a wonderful public recognition of something my team and our clients have known for nearly 15 years: that we do things differently around here. That we’re not afraid to be totally authentic, transparent and community-minded, at times a bit irreverent, even cheeky, and that it is possible to take your work seriously without taking yourself too seriously,” said Adam Pekarsky, Founding Partner of Pekarsky and Co.
“It’s hugely validating that every so often nice guys do finish first.”
The award was presented by local Calgary credit union connectFirst.
Award winners recognized across multiple industries
ORKA Performance, a rehabilitation and performance company for athletes, received the Grant Thornton Emerging Growth Award.
Local publisher of many of Calgary’s top magazines, RedPoint Media Group, received the TD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.
Two-year-old immigration and refugee law firm Fisher Law took home the SureCall Community Champion Award, recognizing Rowan Fisher and her teams work to help clients around the world navigate Canada’s immigration system.
Showpass, the firm that makes many of Calgary’s ticketed events possible and has been Canada’s fastest growing ticketing company, was awarded the Air Canada Resilient Business award.
Local discretionary investment management firm SANDSTONE Asset Management received the CPA Alberta Social Entrepreneurship Award.
RedBloom Salon, a hair salon that has also focused on helping to build careers in the hair styling industry for it’s employees, took home the People’s Choice Award, presented by credit union Servus.
