This year, the Ecostar Awards celebrate a decade of highlighting Vancouver Island’s green business community.
The annual gala recognizes outstanding environmental and social achievements with awards presented to businesses, organizations, and individuals who have demonstrated initiatives, projects, and innovations that contribute to a vibrant future for both community and environment.
To commemorate reaching double digits, this edition brings exciting additions, including new awards categories and business nominations – open now through August.
Last year’s gala marked record-breaking attendance as green leaders gathered in celebration at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria. Among the winners were Rugged Coast Research Society, recognized with the Clean Oceans Award for restoring and protecting sensitive remote marine ecosystems in collaboration with Indigenous organizations, Reciprocity Trusts Society, winner of the Social Impact Award for their work creating a meaningful model to acknowledge and recognize Indigenous lands, and the QENTOL YEN W̱SÁNEĆ Marine Guardians Program, who took home the Ecological Stewardship Award for their efforts in protecting and monitoring the endangered southern resident killer whales. Since 2015, the annual event has celebrated more than 130 businesses and organizations and engaged more than 1,350 community members across the Island.
The Ecostar Awards are hosted by Victoria-based not-for-profit Synergy Foundation, which aims to catalyze change and guide communities and local economies toward a more regenerative future. Other Synergy initiatives include BC Green Business and Project Zero.
The 17 award categories this year are: Clean Oceans, Circular Champion, Climate Action, Construction and Manufacturing, Ecological Stewardship, Ecopreneur of the Year, Experiential Tourism, Greenest Retailer, Innovation, Inspirational New Venture, Leadership in Hospitality, Legacy, Local Food, Non-profit of the Year, Sustainable Workplace, Waste to Resource and Youth Leadership.
Nominations and applications are open. Those looking to nominate an organization or business have until Aug. 8. Organizations can apply for awards until Aug. 29. Learn more and apply at www.ecostarawards.com.
The gala takes place at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria on Nov. 13.
