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/