Eight businesses across 11 categories have received top accolades from its residents and champions in the greater Sooke region at the 2021 Business Excellence Awards, hosted by the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce on the evening of December 7th by Zoom. CHEK+ was the title sponsor.

“Our community voted these businesses as the top of the various categories,” said Karen Mason, President of the Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce. “The voting turnout was great with over 3,000 votes submitted, and over 330 local businesses nominated. Special mention to the Sooke Food Bank who took home three awards! They were already an incredible organization, and the community more than recognized their value over the past two pandemic years of the pandemic.”

Multiple awards were won by the Sooke Food Bank (Not-for-Profit, Pandemic Pivot, and People’s Choice) and Cathy’s Corner Café (Dining and Hospitality, and Business of the Year). Both of these organizations feed the hearts and stomachs of people in need, and are known for the generosity and community spirit.

The Business Excellence Awards categories, sponsors and winners list is as follows:

  1. Dining and Hospitality sponsored by Rustic Roots Hair Studio: Cathy’s Corner Cafe
  2. Home-Based Business sponsored by EnerTech Solutions: Meanwhile in Sooke
  3. Manufacturing and Industry sponsored by Sooke 2 for 1 Pizza: Sheringham Distillery
  4. Not-for-Profit and Volunteer sponsored by District of Sooke: Sooke Food Bank
  5. Pandemic Pivot Award sponsored by Stick in the Mud: Sooke Food Bank
  6. Professional Services sponsored by Reliance Signature Services: West Coast Family Medical Clinic
  7. Retail and Services sponsored by Chamber of Commerce, Group Insurance Plan: Collar & Comb Grooming
  8. Trades and Skilled Labour sponsored by Menard Plumbing & Heating: West Shack Auto Service
  9. New Business of the Year sponsored by A Sea of Bloom: D.A. Forbes Pharmacy Sooke
  10. People’s Choice sponsored by Village Food Markets: Sooke Food Bank
  11. Business of the Year sponsored by CHEK+: Cathy’s Corner Cafe

An additional prize was won by Beverly Maloff, who won the $200 gift card of her Sooke business of choice, selected among the voters who voted for four or more categories.

The trophies will be physically awarded to the Business Excellence Awards winners in a January walk-about with the Mayor of Sooke, Madam Mayor Maja Tait. The specific details will be announced at a later date.

Those who missed the presentation and want to watch it can see it online at sookeregionchamber.com (or below).

Special thanks to our title and other sponsors, and to the Sooke News Mirror for their additional support in running the contest and voting process online.


The full list of winners and runner-up nominees are as follows:

New Business of the Year sponsored by A Sea of Bloom

  • 1st D.A. Forbes Pharmacy Sooke
  • 2nd Bits of Bliss Confectionery
  • 3rd Collar & Comb

Business of the Year sponsored by CHEK+

  • 1st Cathy’s Corner Cafe
  • 2nd Sooke Family Resource Society (SFRS)
  • 3rd Menard Plumbing and Heating

People’s Choice sponsored by Village Food Markets

  • 1st Sooke Food Bank
  • 2nd Menard Plumbing and Heating
  • 3rd Meanwhile in Sooke

Dining and Hospitality sponsored by Rustic Roots Hair Studio

  • 1st Cathy’s Corner Cafe
  • 2nd The Lazy Gecko
  • 3rd Route 14

Home-Based Business sponsored by EnerTech Solutions

  • 1st Meanwhile in Sooke
  • 2nd Active Reactive Field for Dogs
  • 3rd Menard Plumbing and Heating

Manufacturing and Industry sponsored by Sooke 2 for 1 Pizza

  • 1st Sheringham Distillery
  • 2nd Bad Dog Brewing
  • 3rd Stick in the Mud Roastoreum

Not-for-Profit and Volunteer sponsored by District of Sooke

  • 1st Sooke Food Bank
  • 2nd SFRS Community Thrift Store
  • 3rd Amber Academy Youth Fine Arts Society
  • 3rd Sooke Shelter Society

Pandemic Pivot Award sponsored by Stick in the Mud

  • 1st Sooke Food Bank
  • 2nd VIHA SEAPARC Vaccination Clinic
  • 3rd Route 14
  • 3rd Tidal Performance Strength and Fitness

Professional Services: sponsored by Reliance Signature Services

  • 1st West Coast Family Medical Clinic
  • 2nd Chris Bryant, DMD
  • 3rd Otter Point Dental

Retail and Services sponsored by Chamber of Commerce, Group Insurance Plan

  • 1st Collar & Comb Grooming
  • 2nd A Sea of Bloom
  • 2nd Sooke Family Resource Society Thrift Shop (SFRS)
  • 3rd Village Food Markets

Trades and Skilled Labour sponsored by Menard Plumbing & Heating

  • 1st West Shack Auto Service
  • 2nd Dumont Tirecraft & Auto Centre
  • 3rd Westcom Plumbing and Gas Ltd