Wine glasses and chandeliers at a ballroom gala event

Fiddleheads Violin Studio is Poised to Win a 2023 Thompson Okanagan Business Excellence Award

Presented by Pushor Mitchell LLP, the Thompson Okanagan Business Excellence Awards honours the best of the best in British Columbia's Thompson Okanagan region businesses. The annual event sees Fiddleheads as one of 82 Finalists selected from 249 nominated businesses in 2023.

This is the second consecutive finalist designation for Fiddleheads in these awards.

"We are beyond excited with this year’s Finalists,” says publisher of the Business Examiner News Group, John MacDonald.

"One of our mandates is to help SMEs celebrate their successes and milestones... This event provides exactly this kind of opportunity, creating opportunities for celebration, networking and business development."

A team of independent judges located throughout the Thompson Okanagan region will adjudicate nominations. The finalists will be separated into 17 categories, by industry and size.

Green & Sustainability

Last year Fiddleheads was a finalist in these awards' Retail Business of the Year category.

This year Fiddleheads' owner Rhiannon Nachbaur provided the committee with information regarding her green practices and efficiencies. She anticipates Fiddleheads' inclusion in the Green & Sustainability category.

Fiddleheads' primary focus outside of quality products and award-winning is on eco-friendly operations and previousy won the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce "Environmental Leadership Award" (2021) and the Shuswap Chamber of Commerce "Green Award" (2007).

Over 26 years in business the violin shop has celebrated many green accomplishments from operations to the materials/construction of instruments themselves:

  • Products made with minimal chemicals and deforestation
  • Cutting distribution chains means less fuel for moving freight and storage space
  • All equipment is chosen for its eco features, including ability to be repaired rather than replaced and from companies that treat their workers and our environment well
  • Fiddleheads recycles many materials for clients, from sheet music to violin strings, and sees many non-profits and schools receiving items that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill

Image: Stick person with briefcase. Text: "2023 BE Awards Finalist"

Gala Event

Finalists and members of the business community will attend a Gala Dinner on Thursday, June 1 at 6PM at the Manteo at Eldorado in Kelowna, BC.

Tickets for the event are $199 plus GST, table rates and other seating options are available. The event starts with cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and awards at 8 p.m. Dress is business, not casual.

It is currently unknown if Rhiannon and her husband will be in attendance due to Rhiannon's current bout with long-covid tachycardia, but she graciously thanks the talented award organizers for the repeat opportunity and honour.