Month: September 2026

BC Achievement Foundation Announces 2026 Award Recipients

Posted on by bcachievement

Sixteen BC businesses and individuals honoured across three categories: Indigenous Business Award, Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design, and Polygon Award in First Nations Art

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ, (Tsleil-Waututh) / Vancouver, B.C.) – BC Achievement Foundation proudly announces the 2026 award recipients whose creativity, leadership, entrepreneurship, and service are making an indelible impact across British Columbia. This November, 16 businesses and individuals will be publicly recognized across three award programs at ceremonies honouring their achievements, including the Indigenous Business Award, the Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design, and the Polygon Award in First Nations Art––the latter of which carries special significance this year, marking the 20th anniversary milestone of one of the foundation’s longest-running programs.

BC Achievement Foundation was founded in 2003 with a mission of celebrating the spirit of excellence in BC, and annually honours community-nominated individuals and businesses through five award programs held throughout the year.

“We are thrilled to honour this year’s fall recipients who represent the very best of our province from a diverse selection of communities, industries, and backgrounds,” says Rup Grewal, BC Achievement Foundation Executive Director. “At its heart, BC Achievement is about celebrating the remarkable people, artists, entrepreneurs, businesses, and organizations that British Columbians nominate from their own communities. Our goal is to use these award programs to amplify people, share their stories, and demonstrate the impact that individuals, businesses, and creative practices can have on communities throughout the province.”

As part of the award recognition, recipients are given a platform to share their work and stories with audiences across the province through professionally produced short films, premiered at their respective award ceremonies. All recipients receive a commemorative certificate and a medallion and lapel pin designed by renowned Haida artist Robert Davidson. Recipients of the Indigenous Business Award will receive a cash prize. Recipients of the Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design and the Polygon Award in First Nations Art will each receive a cash prize and have their artwork displayed in a combined exhibition at the Roundhouse Exhibition Hall from November 17-24, 2026.

“On behalf of the BC Achievement Board, I want to thank the independent jurors, community partners, and sponsors whose dedication makes these programs possible, and offer my sincere congratulations to all of this year’s recipients. Their achievements reflect the strength, creativity, and resilience found in communities across BC,” says Walter Pela, Board Chair, BC Achievement Foundation.

Launched in 2008, the Indigenous Business Award celebrates excellence in Indigenous entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership across BC. Guided by Indigenous worldviews and led by Angela Marston of Chemainus First Nation and an advisory panel of Indigenous entrepreneurs from across the province, the program recognizes businesses and entrepreneurs whose vision strengthens communities, drives economic growth, and fosters meaningful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous economies. Nominees are evaluated by an independent jury of Indigenous business leaders against four principal criteria––leadership, community impact, innovation, and sustainability.

The 2026 Indigenous Business Award recipients are:

  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year: West Coast Wildflowers
  • Business of the Year – One to Two Person Enterprise: Okimawa Services Inc.
  • Business of the Year – Three to Ten Person Enterprise: Skwálwen Botanicals
  • Business of the Year – 11+ Person Enterprise: Cedar Brush Site Services & Janitorial
  • Community-owned Business of the Year – One Entity: Skeetchestn Dodeca-Homes
  • Community-owned Business of the Year – Two or More Entities: Petroglyph Development Group
  • Business Partnership of the Year: 700 Spland Road Limited Partnership
  • Award of the Distinction: Wendy Grant-John

The 18th annual Indigenous Business Award Gala will take place on November 4, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, attended by Indigenous entrepreneurs and business leaders, First Nations and Indigenous organization representatives, corporate and government leaders, sponsors, past recipients and their families, and open to members of the public. The evening will be hosted by Co-Directors of Ceremonies, Tsetasiya Geena Jackson and Kúkwpi7 (Chief) Willie Sellars of Williams Lake First Nation, with music by DJ O Show.

Established in 2004, the Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design celebrates artists and designers whose work brings together creativity, technical excellence, and function. The award program was recently renamed in 2024, in honour of its founder Sam Carter, a passionate advocate for BC’s creative community. Believed to be the only program of its kind in Canada, it recognizes artists and designers working across a remarkably broad spectrum of practices––including ceramics, furniture, jewellery, textiles, fashion, glass, product and industrial design, musical instruments, and even prosthetics––that raise the profile of applied art and design and its contribution to BC’s creative economy.

The award program recognizes a total of four artists: two established artists for their advanced technical skill, a substantial body of publicly presented work, and a record of mentoring others in their artistic community; an emerging artist with foundational techniques ready for the next step in their professional development; and an artist of distinction selected by the BC Achievement Foundation Board of Directors, on the recommendations of the public, for their extraordinary and sustained accomplishment in applied art and design in BC.

The 2026 Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design recipients are:

  • Corrina Hammond
  • Alan Hung
  • Mona Lisa Ali, Judson Beaumont Emerging Artist
  • Omer Arbel, Award of Distinction

The 22nd annual Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design reception will take place on November 19, 2026 at The Roundhouse Exhibition Hall, bringing together artists, designers, collectors, supporters, and members of BC’s creative community, as well as members of the general public.

The Polygon Award in First Nations Art has been recognizing artistic excellence among First Nations artists in BC since 2007. The program honours First Nations artists’ role in preserving traditional practices while embracing contemporary art, recognizing their contributions to both their communities and the province’s broader cultural landscape. The program recognizes First Nations artists from BC working in diverse fields such as carving, photography, beading, weaving, jewellery, painting, masks, sculpture, stonework, printmaking, basketry, textiles, and media art.

The award program recognizes a total of four artists: two established artists for their advanced technical skill and a record of mentoring others in the community; an emerging artist who demonstrates foundational technique and is ready for the next step in their career; and an established artist of distinction selected by the BC Achievement Foundation Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the public, for their extraordinary and sustained accomplishment.

The Polygon Award in First Nations Art recipients are:

  • Gigaemi Kukwits (Capilano, Kwakwaka’wakw, and Tlingit)
  • Marika Swan (Tla-o-qui-aht)
  • Sheldon Pierre Louis (Sylix), Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist
  • Lyle Wilson (Haisla), Award of Distinction

The 2026 Polygon Award in First Nations Art recipients will be celebrated on November 24, 2026 at The Roundhouse Exhibition Hall. The public reception will include First Nations artists, cultural and community leaders, arts professionals, collectors, galleries, government representatives, sponsors, past recipients and their families, and other attendees.

For tickets and full award program details, please visit bcachievement.com

The IBA program is presented by the BC Achievement Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. It is generously supported by Platform Partner and and dedicated supporter of the Indigenous Business Award Young Entrepreneur of the Year RBC, along with program sponsors: Enbridge, DP World, KPMG, New Relationship Trust, Ovintiv, Vancity, ONNI, West Fraser, Shell, Seaspan, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, BCLC, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, CN, ETRO, Fortis BC, Infracon / Lower Nicola Site Services, and SFU Beedie School of Business.

The FNA program is presented by the BC Achievement Foundation with the generosity of program donors Polygon Homes Ltd. and the contributions of community partner Denbigh Fine Art Services, whose support is instrumental in elevating excellence in BC.

The AAD program is presented by the BC Achievement Foundation with gratitude to community partner Denbigh Fine Art Services.

About BC Achievement Foundation (bcachievement.com)

Established in 2003, BC Achievement Foundation celebrates the spirit of excellence in our province and serves to honour the best of British Columbia through five award programs: Community Award, BC Reconciliation Award, Indigenous Business Award, Polygon Award in First Nations Art, and Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design. By recognizing the accomplishments of our province’s entrepreneurs, artists, community leaders, youth and volunteers, its award programs pay tribute to exceptional people, doing exceptional work.

LISTING INFORMATION:                            

BC Achievement Foundation presents Indigenous Business Award Gala

Date:                           November 4, 2026, 5:30-10pm

Venue:                        Hyatt Regency Vancouver, 655 Burrard Street

Ticket Prices:              $300 per person, including a seated dinner, drinks, and DJ performance

BC Achievement Foundation presents Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design Award Ceremony + Reception

Date:                           November 19, 2026, 5:30-8pm

Venue:                        The Roundhouse Exhibition, 181 Roundhouse Mews

Ticket Prices:              $55 per person, including passed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails

BC Achievement Foundation presents Polygon Award in First Nations Art Award Ceremony + Dinner

Date:                           November 24, 2026, 5:30-9pm

Venue:                        The Roundhouse Exhibition Hall, 181 Roundhouse Mews

Ticket Prices:              $150 per person, including a seated dinner and drinks

Tickets:                       https://bcachievement.com/events/

Get Curious. Come Celebrate. Be Part of the Story. 

Posted on by bcachievement

Looking for a reason to get out, meet some fascinating people and experience something you might not normally come across? We have three. This November, BC Achievement is hosting three very different celebrations, filled with great stories, creative energy, new connections and some truly remarkable people from across the province. Come for the evening, meet the awardees, see their work and discover what makes these celebrations so special. 

Our fall calendar includes the Indigenous Business Award Gala, the Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design reception, and the Polygon Award in First Nations Art dinner. Each has its own atmosphere and community, but all three offer the chance to step into a room full of people doing interesting things and to leave knowing a little more about the talent, ideas and passion found across BC. 

Come curious. 

Who is building an innovative Indigenous business in a community you’ve never visited? Who is carrying an artistic practice forward while taking it somewhere completely new? Who is transforming materials, ideas and techniques into work that makes you stop, look again and ask questions? 

The awardees we celebrate have invested years in what they do. Attending an event is a chance to meet some of them, hear their stories and be part of the community gathering around their achievements. 

Pick an evening. Or join us for all three. 

The Indigenous Business Award Gala takes place November 4 at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. It’s a lively evening celebrating Indigenous entrepreneurs, businesses and community-owned enterprises from across the province, with plenty of opportunities to connect with people from the Indigenous business community and beyond. 

On November 19, we gather at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre for the Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design reception. This is a chance to mingle, explore the exhibition and meet some of the artists and designers whose exceptional work brings together creativity, function and craftsmanship. 

Then, on November 24, we return to the Roundhouse for the Polygon Award in First Nations Art dinner, an evening of art, storytelling, conversation and celebration honouring First Nations artists from across British Columbia. 

Three events. Three very different experiences. And three great reasons to put something a little different on your November calendar. 

And there’s more to see, for free. 

You don’t need an event ticket to experience some of this year’s extraordinary work. 

From November 17 to 24, the Roundhouse will host the joint Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design and Polygon Award in First Nations Art exhibition, featuring work by this year’s award recipients. 

The exhibition is free and open to the public. 

Drop in on your lunch break. Bring a friend. Make it part of an afternoon or evening in Yaletown. Spend some time with the work, discover an artist you didn’t know before and, if something catches your attention, tell someone about it. 

That simple act matters. 

Recognition doesn’t end when an award is presented. It grows when people show up, ask questions, visit an exhibition, watch an awardee film, share a story or introduce someone else to the work. 

Come for the celebration. 

Buying a ticket to one of our fall events is also a direct way to support BC Achievement and the award programs that make this recognition possible. But your presence brings something else too: curiosity, conversation and connection. 

You might come because you know an awardee. You might come with colleagues or friends. You might be interested in Indigenous business, art or design. Or you might simply be looking for an interesting night out and the chance to meet people you wouldn’t ordinarily meet. 

All are excellent reasons. 

Get a ticket. Bring someone along. Come curious. Meet remarkable people. And help us make sure their stories are seen, heard and shared. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/52702159663 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

The Support Behind the Stories 

Posted on by bcachievement

At BC Achievement, our mission is to honour excellence and inspire achievement throughout British Columbia. Recognition is the starting point. The greater opportunity is what happens when we take the story of an award recipient beyond the award itself and share it with people across the province. 

Sponsorship helps us do that. 

It supports the many pieces that bring an award program to life, from reaching communities during the nomination process to celebrating recipients at our ceremonies and events. Just as importantly, it helps us document and share their stories through film, photography, media, digital content and ongoing storytelling. 

These things matter because there are extraordinary people doing important work in every corner of British Columbia, and much of that work happens without a spotlight. 

A community volunteer may have spent decades quietly helping others. An artist may be carrying knowledge forward while opening new creative possibilities. An Indigenous entrepreneur may be creating jobs and opportunities that extend well beyond their own business. Someone working toward reconciliation may be changing relationships one conversation, project or community at a time. 

When we share those stories, recognition travels further. 

Someone sees what is possible. A young artist discovers a new path. An entrepreneur makes a connection. A community feels pride in one of its own. Someone watching a recipient film recognizes an idea, an experience or a value that resonates with them. 

That ripple effect is at the heart of why BC Achievement exists. Our five award programs recognize excellence in community leadership, reconciliation, Indigenous business, First Nations art, and applied art and design. While the programs are different, they share a common purpose: to shine a light on people doing exceptional work and, through their example, inspire others.  

Our sponsors become part of making that possible. Their support gives us the capacity to reach more people, create meaningful experiences for award recipients, produce high-quality films and storytelling, and keep those stories accessible long after an award has been presented.  

There is, of course, value for sponsors too. Partnership creates opportunities for organizations to connect their own values with the people and communities shaping BC. The strongest partnerships are more than a logo on an event program. They come from a shared belief that recognizing good work encourages more good work. 

There are remarkable stories all around us. Sponsorship helps us find them, celebrate them, and most importantly, share them. 

Because when a story reaches the right person at the right moment, recognition can become inspiration. And inspiration has a way of making ripples beyond its original impact. 

If you’re interested in making sure awardee stories are heard, you can find out more about sponsorship opportunities at https://bcachievement.com/engagement/ 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

Behind the Scenes: Bringing Remarkable Stories to the Screen 

Posted on by bcachievement

Each year, we travel across British Columbia to meet the people being recognized through our award programs and capture their stories on film. The finished short films may only be a few minutes long, but behind each one are hours of conversation, preparation, filming and careful editing. 

Before filming begins, our team works with each awardee to learn more about their story and determine where and how it can best be told. Whenever possible, we film people in the places that are meaningful to them: their studios, businesses, workshops, offices, communities and other spaces where their work comes to life. 

On shoot day the focus shifts to the person in front of the camera. 

The interview is intentionally conversational. We ask about beginnings and turning points, influences and challenges, the work they are most proud of and the people who have been part of their journey. We also spend time capturing them doing what they do: creating, leading, teaching, building, collaborating and contributing to their communities. 

Our awardees come from different regions, disciplines, industries and experiences, and there is no single way to tell their stories. Our responsibility is to listen closely and create the space for each person to speak in their own voice. We are continually reminded that behind every achievement is a much larger story of persistence, relationships, generosity, courage and purpose. 

When the final films are shared at our award celebrations and with audiences across the province, viewers see the finished story. What they may not see are the conversations between takes, the laughter when something goes off script, the careful adjustments behind the camera, or the moments of reflection that stay with everyone in the room long after filming ends. 

This year, we wanted to share a little more of that side of the experience. 

These behind-the-scenes images offer a glimpse into how the stories of our 2026 awardees are being brought to life. For our team, every shoot is an opportunity to learn, to listen and to better understand the remarkable people and work that exist throughout British Columbia. 

We are honoured to help tell their stories, and we can’t wait to share the finished films with you. 

Join us as we premiere the awardee films: 

November 4, Indigenous Business Award Gala 

November 19, Sam Carter Applied Art + Design Award Reception 

November 24, Polygon First Nations Art Award Dinner 

Tickets available at https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/52702159663 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

Subscribe To ELEVATE

Receive monthly program information, alumni updates, and news about upcoming events.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.