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Steel & Oak named New West Chamber's 2023 business of the year

The brewery was among 14 Platinum Award winners recognized for their community efforts and entrepreneurial spirit.
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
Steel & Oak contrib2 2019
Jorden Foss (left) and James Garbutt, co-founders of Steel & Oak.Contributed/File

A New Westminster brewery along the Quayside has concocted a yet another winning formula — for business.

Steel & Oak was named business of the year at the 2023 New Westminster Chamber of Commerce Platinum Awards, held at the Massey Theatre Thursday night, Nov. 23.

The Quayside brewery was one of 14 total winners from the annual event that celebrates and recognizes businesses and entrepreneurs that go the extra mile for their community.

According to the chamber, the business of the year is meant to honour "a business that has achieved remarkable success and significantly impacted the local economy, customer service, innovation, and community involvement."

This adds to Steel & Oak's three medals from BC Beer Awards earlier this year, including two gold for its Megalith (Strong Ale and Lager) Sunglow suds (Weissbier).

Additonally, Roqiya Ahamadi was selected as the New West Chamber's citizen of the year for 2023.

Ahamadi, coordinator of Hope We Made, part of the non-profit Social Forum Hope that fights against child poverty and child labour in Afghanistan, was knowledged for her consistent contributions to "the overall well-being of New Westminster."

The other Platinum Award winners were as follows (in alphabetical order by category):

Bernie Legge Artist of the Year Award

  • Janet Kvammen
    • "Named after Bernie Legge, a renowned theatre artist from New West, this award celebrates the legacy and impact of nominees in the community, their breadth of influence, and the discipline(s) in which their cultural impact has been made. Nominees must be residents of or operate studio space in New Westminster and actively contribute to the overall well-being of the city."

Climate Readiness Award

  • Sylvis Environmental
    • "This award is presented to a business or organization that has utilized innovative approaches to sustainability, demonstrated excellent leadership and advocacy for environmental issues in their community, and has seen their efforts culminate in meaningful results and improvement for New Westminster."

Community Catalyst Award

  • Purpose Society
    • "This award is supported by the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society and aims to recognize those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to engagement, community involvement, and social responsibility."

Customer Service Excellence Award

  • L'Onore Pizza
    • "This award celebrates businesses or individuals that prioritize customer satisfaction, actively contribute to the community, and innovate their customer service practices. These businesses or individuals stand out as leaders in providing outstanding punctuality and personalization that sets them apart from their competitors."

Destination Business of the Year

  • Hidden Wonders Speakeasy Magic Experience
    • "This award celebrates the efforts of businesses that have contributed to the visibility and attractiveness of New Westminster as a destination. The recipient of this award will have shown exceptional dedication and commitment to promoting New Westminster as a must-visit destination and will have made a significant contribution to the city’s status as a must-visit destination."

Digital Communication Award

  • Downtown New West BIA
    • "This award recognizes the use of digital technology to enhance customer engagement, improve operational efficiencies, and drive business growth. The recipient is chosen based on their ability to leverage social media, web design, mobile apps, and other digital platforms to achieve measurable results."

Employer of the Year

  • Jamie and Yvette Cuthbert (Rocky Point Ice Cream New West)
    • This award "recognizes an organization with exceptional commitment to its employees, fostering a positive work environment and promoting professional growth and development. The employer must hold a valid business license in the City of New Westminster."

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

  • Jordan Kofsky (Kofsky Mortgage)
    • "This award recognizes professionals who serve as role models for the New Westminster community, have made significant contributions to their respective fields, and have positively impacted the community through their innovative ideas and initiatives."

Female Business Leader of the Year

  • Karima Jivraj (Bosley's by Pet Valu Columbia Square)
    • This award "celebrates exceptional women in the business community of New Westminster who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and community engagement. Nominees must live or work in New Westminster, identify as female, and have made significant strides in their field. They should also have a positive impact on their employees, customers, and the wider community. Finally, the nominee should be recognized as a role model and inspiration to others."

Home-based Business of the Year

  • Studio3 Creative
    • "This award honours an entrepreneur who has demonstrated exceptional business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit in building a successful business from the comfort of their own home."

New Business of the Year

  • Sea2Sky Wellness Club
    • "This award recognizes the hard work, dedication, and passion of the new business owner(s). Nominees will be evaluated based on their overall business performance, future growth potential, and their ability to meet the vision of the New West Chamber for the community."

Not-for-Profit of the Year

  • New West Family Place
    • "This organization has demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and dedication to improving the lives of individuals and communities in the city."