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SWISH SPLASH: Outstanding businesses that contribute to the social, cultural and economic vitality of the province were honoured at the 38th annual Richmond Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards, presented by TD. Yours truly served as master of ceremonies of the sold-out affair. Newly minted executive director Matt Pitcairn and Chamber chair Rob Akimow greeted 350 guests who gathered at the River Rock Show Theatre for the awards ceremony that honoured 27 finalists representing the best of some 14,000 businesses who call the municipality home.

Award for Outstanding Business of the Year (76+ employees) went to White Water West, a leading global designer of waterparks based in Richmond. Starting with a single waterslide park he designed in Penticton in 1981, founder Geoff Chutter has built his company into an industry powerhouse that assembles some of the world’s largest water parks. With 21 satellite offices worldwide, including in Shanghai, Barcelona, Switzerland and Dubai, Chutter employs some 650 employees and generates $200 million in annual sales. The company is working on its largest project to date: a $35-million waterslide park in China.

Other winners celebrated: Cogent Industrial Technologies (26-75 employees category); Peekaboo Beans (1-25 employees category); Nature’s Path Organics (business leadership); Applied Biological Materials (innovation); Qoola Yogurt (new business); Procurify (young entrepreneur); The Great Little Box Company (outstanding workplace); and Touchstone Family Association (association). Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie was on hand to induct property management firm Conway Richmond into the Business Hall of Fame.

Geoff Chutter’s White Water West and Arjan Stevens’ Nature’s Path familyrun businesses were celebrated at the 38th annual Richmond Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards.

From left, David Cameron, Amit Sandhu and Rattan Bagga, principals of the Young Entrepreneur Leadership Launchpad, were among 27 businesses recognized at the 38th annual Business Excellence Awards.

Richmond Chamber of Commerce chair Ray Akimow, left, and past chair Barry Grabowski welcomed Olympian and Richmond city councillor Alexa Loo to the 2015 Business Excellence Awards.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie presented the Hall of Fame Award to Conway Richmond’s Michele Cupit. The real estate and property management firm has been building in Richmond since 1958.

Michael McCoy and Judy Valsonis of Touchstone Family Association, a nonprofit social service agency, were on hand to receive the outstanding association award.

Executive director Matt Pitcairn, right, welcomed newly elected MP Joe Peschisolido to Richmond Chamber of Commerce’s premier event.