Squamish's Sḵwálwen Botanicals is a finalist in the Small Business BC Awards

The community showed this local company the love, helping it qualify for a provincial award. 

Squamish's Sḵwálwen Botanicals is a finalist in the Small Business BC Awards.

It is the sole Squamish nominee. 

"A luxury Indigenous brand creating botanical skin care products, Sḵwálwen Botanicals is a finalist for the Premier’s People’s Choice Award, for enriching their community with Indigenous cultural knowledge, plant science and self-care," reads the release. 

The company, founded by ethnobotanist Leigh Joseph (Styawat), was previously a finalist for the Best Community Impact in 2021 and a finalist in the Premier’s People’s Choice Award in 2020 and 2021.

Joseph, a Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) First Nation member, also appeared on CBC's Dragon's Den in 2021.

Other businesses up for this year's award are: Discovery Trekking Outfitters Ltd. DBA Discovery Fabrics in Campbell River; Timber + Gray of Nanaimo; Truly Lifestyle Brand of Surrey, and West Coast Karma of Courtenay.

This category, which is sponsored by the Province of British Columbia, honours businesses that have won the unwavering support of their community, the release states. 

A public vote decides nominees for the Premier’s People’s Choice Award.

The Top 5 Finalists are selected based on public vote and written responses judged by internal business experts.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the awards, which celebrates community entrepreneurship.

The finalists will now pitch to a panel of BC business leaders to decide the winners.

All winners will be announced at the Small Business BC Awards in-person awards gala on June 2.

In addition to bragging rights, the winner of each category receives a $10,000 prize. For more information about the Small Business BC Awards finalists, go to smallbusinessbc.ca/awards.