Small Business of the Year | Industry

Presented to a tourism business, facility, event or attraction with fewer than 20 employees that provides exceptional visitor experiences that result in high levels of customer satisfaction through product development and/or services.

Award Nominees

Chocolatier Constance Popp - Award Winner

Chocolatier Constance Popp has been producing some of Winnipeg’s best artisan desserts for over a decade and is a flagship of Winnipeg’s trendy food scene. The business has been given high praise by Chatelaine Magazine, Canada’s Best 100 Restaurants, Canadian Living, Food Network, as well as winning CBC Manitoba’s best ice cream contest. With all of these accolades, the chocolaterie is a local success, seeing at least a 10 per cent annual growth since 2015.

Coal and Canary Candle Company

Coal and Canary Candle Company has made a name for itself with its unique artisanal candles. The company’s pride in being a local shop has shone through with a flagship store at The Forks, which also features an array of local products, giving other Winnipeg startups a platform to sell their goods. The company has seen excellent growth with business doubling in volume annually. The candles have become very popular and continue to be hand-poured in Winnipeg.

Third + Bird

Third + Bird has raised the bar for artisan pop-up markets nationwide by promoting local makers with modern designs and fresh ideas. A “skip the mall, shop small” philosophy drives co-founders Chandra Kremski and Charla Smeall to provide a venue for makers and shoppers to connect. This business model has seen great success, and Third + Bird has developed a passionate social media following. In 2017, their spring and fall markets welcomed more than 20,000 shoppers.