The best of British Columbia’s small businesses have been honoured at the 20th Annual Small Business BC Awards Gala - and a local business is among the winners.

The annual ceremony is a celebration of entrepreneurship, where small businesses are recognized for their exceptional achievements and community contributions.

The Premier’s People's Choice Award went to Leslie Hanes with Discovery Fabrics in Campbell River.

The award, sponsored by the Province, is presented to a BC-based small business that can demonstrate the unwavering and loyal support of their community.

Discovery Fabrics is a family-owned and operated business that makes high-performance fabrics, usually only available to top active and outerwear brands, available to home sewists and makers, and ship across North America.

Hanes said, “This award means a lot to us because we worked so hard to create a business that sustains our employees, satisfies our own needs and wants, and is just a great place to work.“

Discovery Fabrics was selected among 613 nominees across 84 BC communities. Finalists proceeded to pitch their businesses to a panel of BC business leaders, who then selected the winner of each award category.

Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours, an award-winning Indigenous tour company on Vancouver Island, was a runner up for the Business Impact Award.

The Small Business BC Awards is the largest and most recognized awards program in Western Canada dedicated to entrepreneurs, with over 6000 businesses having competed in the last 20 years to be named a top small business.

Each winner - Hanes and Discovery Fabrics included - will be awarded with $10,000 in prize money, professional videography from Small Business BC Awards partner, True Calling, and 1 year of free advisory support from SBBC.