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Building Community.
Celebrating Island Success.  

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The Salty Awards

Return for 2026

Every day, Salt Spring businesses, entrepreneurs, artisans, growers, service providers, and community organizations make our island a better place to live, work, and visit. They create jobs, build connections, solve problems, support neighbours, and contribute to the unique character of our community.

The Salty Awards are our opportunity to celebrate them.

Hosted by the Salt Spring Chamber of Commerce, the Salty Awards recognize excellence across a range of categories, shining a spotlight on the people and organizations whose passion, innovation, leadership, and community spirit make a lasting impact on Salt Spring Island.


Why It Matters

Salt Spring businesses work hard.


They’re often too busy serving others to stop and realize just how much they’re appreciated.


The Salty Awards are our way of saying:

You matter. What you’re doing is seen, valued, and celebrated.

Being recognized by your peers, customers, and community isn’t just a nice gesture—it’s powerful.
These awards represent love, respect, and gratitude from the people whose lives you touch every day.


Let's Celebrate Each Other

The Salty Awards aren’t just about plaques or podiums—they’re about connection, community spirit, and cheering each other on.

When you nominate someone, you’re helping them see the impact they’ve made. When you vote, you’re lifting up local stories of hard work, creativity, and perseverance.

So let’s make it count.

Let’s show the businesses of Salt Spring what they mean to us.

Let’s celebrate loudly, joyfully, and with deep appreciation.

Because when one of us rises, we all do.



Looking Back at 2025




The 2025 Salty Awards marked the exciting return of the program after a four-year hiatus—and what a return it was.

Mahon Hall was filled with celebration as businesses, community leaders, and residents gathered to honour Salt Spring's entrepreneurs, innovators, artisans, and changemakers. Nine award categories recognized excellence across the island's diverse business community, while handcrafted award sculptures by Red Mountain Forge and surprise gifts from fellow local businesses made each win even more memorable.

More than an awards ceremony, the evening reminded us of the incredible talent, resilience, generosity, and entrepreneurial spirit that exists across Salt Spring Island. It was a powerful celebration of the people behind our local economy and the beginning of a renewed tradition that will continue to grow in 2026.

SEE 2025 SALTY AWARDS









A BIG THANKS TO OUR TITLE SPONSORS FOR THE 2025 SALTY AWARDS











Media Sponsor 


Become a Sponsor for the 2026 SaLTY AWARDS


The Salty Awards are made possible through the support of businesses and organizations that believe in celebrating local excellence. Sponsoring the awards is a meaningful way to demonstrate your commitment to the Salt Spring business community while receiving valuable recognition before, during, and after one of the island's premier business events.

Explore our sponsorship opportunities to learn how your business can help make the

2026 Salty Awards another unforgettable celebration.


BECOME A SPONSOR



See what nominees from the 2017 Salty Awards had to say about what it meant to them to be nominated - as well as snippets from the award evening


Nominations Open August 31, 2026

Know a business, organization, or individual who deserves to be recognized?

Community nominations for the 2026 Salty Awards open on August 31, 2026. Whether it's a favourite local shop, an inspiring entrepreneur, a trusted tradesperson, a welcoming hospitality business, or a community-minded organization, we invite you to help celebrate the people whose dedication, creativity, and hard work make Salt Spring Island extraordinary.

Together, let's recognize and celebrate the businesses and people who help our island thrive.




This Year’s Award Categories


Business of the Year

Recognizing an outstanding Salt Spring business that demonstrates strong financial performance, innovation, and leadership. This award celebrates excellence in customer service, workplace culture, and community impact—honouring a business that sets the standard for success and local contribution.


Community Impact Award

Honouring a business or organization that strengthens Salt Spring through philanthropy, volunteerism, and local investment. This award celebrates those who identify community needs, foster partnerships, and ensure accessible, inclusive support—creating meaningful, lasting impact across diverse segments of the island.

Cornerstone Award

Recognizing Salt Spring’s essential on-island goods and services providers—the businesses other businesses can’t do without. From legal services to marketing, IT support to office supplies, printing to cleaning and waste management, these indispensable providers form the cornerstone of our economy and keep local enterprise running smoothly.


Emerging Business

Celebrating a promising new business showing strong growth, innovation, and clear market impact. This award honours resilience, smart strategy, and creative problem-solving in the early stages—recognizing those building solid foundations for long-term success on Salt Spring Island.


Green Business Award

This award honours businesses that integrate eco-conscious practices, prioritizing sustainability and reducing their environmental footprint through innovation and leadership. It recognizes those who balance environmental stewardship with economic goals while inspiring others toward a more sustainable future.


Hand + Land Award

Honouring Salt Spring’s artisans and growers who excel in craftsmanship, sustainability, and innovation. This award celebrates those who create with care, grow with purpose, and contribute to our island’s culture through exceptional quality, creativity, and thoughtful business practices.


Health + Wellness Award - New Award Category

Honouring a business or practitioner dedicated to enhancing the health, wellness, and quality of life of the Salt Spring community. This award celebrates excellence in care, professionalism, and innovation, recognizing those who create welcoming, inclusive spaces and empower individuals to thrive through physical, mental, emotional, or holistic well-being.


Trades Award

Honouring Salt Spring’s skilled trades businesses whose expertise, reliability, and craftsmanship keep our community thriving. This award celebrates on-island professionals whose work builds, repairs, and sustains the places and services we rely on every day.


Tourism & Hospitality

Honouring businesses that provide outstanding visitor experiences while reflecting Salt Spring’s unique character. This award celebrates exceptional service, creative offerings, and inclusive practices that welcome, inspire, and leave a lasting impression on guests from near and far.




How the Salty Awards Work

We’ve designed this year’s awards to be more accessible, inclusive, and meaningful than ever—with a thoughtful process that ensures nuance, integrity, and community insight at every step.

Here’s how it works:

1. Public Nominations Open - August 31st, 2026

Anyone can nominate a Salt Spring-based business—whether you're a loyal customer, an admiring peer, or someone who simply wants to celebrate great local work. It's fun, easy and a great way to show local businesses your appreciation!

2. Nominee Acceptance

Each nominated business will be contacted to invite them to accept their nomination. If they choose to move forward, they’ll complete a brief nominee application sharing more about their story, values, and impact of their business / organization.

3. Jury Review & Scoring

A panel of fellow entrepreneurs will carefully review and score the nominee packages using consistent criteria rooted in leadership, innovation, inclusion, and community contribution.

4. Onsite Visits with Finalists - 3 in each category

To truly understand the work being done—and to capture the richness that a paper application may miss—jurors will visit each of the finalists  onsite. These jurors are fellow entrepreneurs and community members who bring insight, lived experience, and a genuine curiosity to the process.

These visits aren’t just about evaluation—they’re about building real connections. They create space for meaningful conversations, shared learning, and deeper appreciation, helping to strengthen and support the Salt Spring business community as a whole.

Finalists will be announced in mid October. 

5. Finalists & Awards Celebration

Finalists will be be brought together at the Salty Award Gala Evening on Nov 8th at Artspring, where we'll gather for a joyful, community-wide celebration to honour every nominee, finalist, and winner.



Tickets for Our Award Gala Evening will go on sale in October 2026.

The Award Gala Evening





Salt Spring Info Centre

infocentre@saltspringchamber.com

HOURS: 

Daily, 9am - 5pm 

250-537-5252
Toll-free: 1-866-216-2936

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Salt Spring Chamber Office

chamber@saltspringchamber.com

Our Office is in remote mode + only 
available by appointment

Questions? See who to contact HERE 

We are grateful and humbled to do business on the unceded Coast Salish territories of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples.

121 Lower Ganges Rd
Salt Spring Island
V8K 2T1

Big Thanks to Our Sponsors!




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