The New Westminster Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations from the business and non-profit community for a new award this fall.
The Platinum Awards is a new event for this year to recognize the businesses and individuals who have made outstanding achievements and contributions in the community.
In the past, the chamber has presented two separate awards to acknowledge excellence, with the Celebration of Business Excellence award (known as COBE) and the Citizen of the Year/ Bernie Legge Cultural Award.
After doing an event audit in the community, the chamber heard from businesses and individuals that a single event would be more appreciated than two separate events.
The award is a way to both celebrate and encourage excellent customer service and community involvement in New Westminster, said Cori Lynn Germiquet, executive director of the chamber.
"We're seeing nominations coming in, we've got greater sponsorship than we've ever had, lots of interest, lots of excitement," she said. "It's going to be quite inspiring to be in that room with all these different people."
The awards will be presented at a dinner event at La Perla Ballroom at the River Market, beginning with a reception at 6 p.m. on Nov. 15.
There are 16 categories for the award, including sections for non-profits, businesses and individuals of different ages.
Germiquet said she expects about 250 people will be in attendance, and all nominees will receive a complimentary ticket for the event.
All nominees will receive a certificate and winners will receive a Platinum Awards trophy.
For winners, getting this award will mean more than just having a trophy to put on their shelf, Germiquet suggested.
"I think (it is) a sense of pride and a sense of acknowledgement, knowing how much these people put into their community and knowing that their community appreciates them," she said.
The deadline to submit names of businesses or individuals is Oct. 15.
For more information on nomination criteria, visit www.newwestcham ber.com, or call 604-521-7781.
