GVBOT celebrates the triumphs of local businesses at 2025 Business Distinction Awards
Celebratory remarks, cheers, and smiles filled the Fairmont Waterfront hotel on October 30, 2025, as the Greater Vancouver business community gather for GVBOT’s fourth annual Business Distinction Awards.
These awards recognize local businesses that have gone above and beyond to set themselves apart in the region over the past 12 –18 months.
While recognizing the contributions of businesses is always important, celebrating their triumphs was vital this year. Our business community significantly contributes to our economy yet is facing some of the most pressing challenges in decades, from trading complexities to rising costs. Amid these conditions, our local businesses are still striving for success, demonstrating resilience and a commitment to serving their communities.
GVBOT congratulates this year’s BDA recipients, and all businesses in the region, for their hard work and perseverance during these challenging times.
Winners
Business Growth - Operating 3+ Years:
Ideon Technologies
Ideon Technologies is accelerating the world’s transition to low-impact mining by using the energy from supernova explosions in space to image deep beneath the Earth’s surface. This 3D imaging assists geologists and minimizes environmental impacts across the mining value chain, transforming how companies recover the critical minerals required to power the global shift to clean energy. In turn, Ideon is working to improve peoples’ lives and enhance economic prosperity.
Watch video to learn about all the finalists in this category.
Employer of the Year:
Hudson Pacific Properties
Hudson Pacific Properties is reimagining real estate by focusing on epicenters of innovation for tech and media. From their headquarters in Los Angeles throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, to Seattle, New York, and Vancouver, Hudson Pacific Properties owns, transforms, builds, and operates marquee office and studio properties. Their values infuse everything they do, making Hudson Pacific Properties a collaborative, creative, and diverse place to work.
Watch video to learn about all the finalists in this category.
Environmental Impact:
SenseNet
SenseNet is a leader in managing wildfires, working hard to create a safer and stronger world by protecting the environment using cutting-edge technology. With a focus on stopping wildfires before they become uncontrollable, SenseNet uses smart sensors and AI to detect wildfires early and send fast alerts, keeping people, infrastructure, and the natural environment safe. SenseNet has applied their technology across sectors, helping private companies, public authorities, and local communities.
Watch video to learn about all the finalists in this category.
Non-Profit of the Year:
Tie! JA British Columbia & Take a Hike Foundation
JA British Columbia (JABC) is bridging educational gaps for thousands of young people in the province by delivering free hands-on immersive education in work readiness, financial health, and entrepreneurship. For 70 years, JABC has served B.C. youth, including Indigenous communities, people of colour, and at-risk populations. JABC is one of the few organizations with experience and passion that helps young people develop the skills they need to lead successful careers, building a brighter future for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
Take a Hike Foundation empowers youth as they journey through relentless uncertainty, anxiety, and trepidation. Offering essential support through intentional, continuous clinical counselling, land-based learning, and community, Take a Hike Foundation’s programming is embedded in an alternate education classroom, where public school district partners provide high quality education. They provide youth with the skills and resilience they need to graduate high school, build healthy relationships, and achieve success, however they define it.
Watch video to learn about all the finalists in this category.
Outstanding New Venture:
Tiebreaker AI Inc.
Tiebreaker AI is a holistic AI-centric platform designed for safeguarding company compliance and policy management. They are tailored for compliance leaders in mid-market and enterprise organizations, working to empower teams to turn compliance into a strategic advantage that saves time and resources. Tiebreaker believes that compliance and related processes shouldn’t be challenging, leading them to design a user-friendly and intuitive platform that prevents businesses from losing knowledge.
Watch video to learn about all the finalists in this category.
Unique-to-Vancouver:
Accessible Employers
Accessible Employers is leading the way in creating accessible workplaces and communities. Guiding B.C. businesses in becoming inclusive, diverse, and equitable employers, Accessible Employers helps businesses of all sizes navigate the accessibility landscape, establish inclusive employment policies, and access training and resources among other work. With more than 300 members in their Community of Accessible Employers, the organization uses a hands-on approach and depth of expertise to ensure its members receive expert guidance and personalized support.
Watch video to learn about all the finalists in this category.
About the Scale-up Centre for SMEs (SCS)
The Scale-up Centre for SMEs (SCS) is an initiative of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. The SCS works to understand the trends, forces, and issues impacting SME growth, innovation, and competitiveness and develops programming and policy to address these issues. Based on the goals of helping companies to discover gaps, engage with experts, and create solutions to address obstacles to growth, the SCS connects, educates, and inspires SMEs in British Columbia.