The results are in! Thank you to everyone who put forward nominations and voted in the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Runners-up are listed in alphabetical order.
FOOD & DRINK
Best Bakery
1 Saltwater Bakery
Safeway
Sourdough YPR
Best Burger
1 The Sugar-Free Shop
Arabisk Mediterranean Cuisine
OV Burger Bar
Best Deli
1 Rupert Meats
Safeway
Best Dessert
1 Arabisk Mediterranean Cuisine
Cowpuccino’s Coffee House
Waterfront Restaurant @ Crest Hotel
Best Ethnic Cuisine
1 Arabisk Mediterranean Cuisine
Opa Sushi
The Pavilion
Best Fish and Chips
1 Bob’s on the rocks
OV Burger Bar
Waterfront Restaurant @ Crest Hotel
Best Grocery Store
1 Safeway
Save On Foods
Best Meat Store
1 Rupert Meats
Maverick Mart
Save On Foods
Best Place for Breakfast
1 First Avenue Bistro
The Pavilion
Waterfront Restaurant @ Crest Hotel
Best Place for Coffee
1 Javadotcup
McDonald’s
Starbucks
Best Place for Dinner
1 OV Burger Bar
Arabisk Mediterranean Cuisine
Naomi’s Grill
Best Place for Lunch
1 OV Burger Bar
Arabisk Mediterranean Cuisine
The Pavilion
Best Bar/Lounge/Pub
1 OV Burger Bar
Breakers Pub
Wheelhouse Brewing Company
Best Romantic Restaurant
1 Arabisk Mediterranean Cuisine
Charley’s Lounge @ Crest Hotel
OV Burger Bar
Best Seafood
1 OV Burger Bar
Dolly’s Fish Market
Smile’s Cafe
Best Service
1 Charley’s Lounge
The Pavilion
Yaga Cafe Garden Co.
HEALTH & FITNESS
Best Chiropractor
Dr. Cameron Fagan @ Skeena Sport & Spine
Best Dental Office
Dr. Pyde’s Office
Best Gym
1 Sweatrebel Fitness
Genetics Fitness
Pinnacle Performance
Best Health Practitioner
1 Dr. Corneli Coetzee
Dr. Amor Kloppers
Dr. Francois Erasmus
Best Massage
Andrea’s Relaxation Massage
Best Medical Clinic
1 2nd Avenue Medical Clinic
Casey Medical Clinic
Best Spa Services
Kennsthetics
HOMETOWN FAVOURITES
Best Community Event
BC Annual Dance Competition
Best First Date Location
1 Arabisk Mediterranean Cuisine
OV Burger Bar
Best Hidden Gem
1 Arabisk Mediterranean Cuisine
OV Burger Bar
Yaga Cafe Garden Co.
Favourite Athlete
1 Kory Movold
Favourite Volunteer
1 Chrystopher Thompson
Chantel Meggison
Sean McGovern
Searra Becker
Teresa Mackereth
RECREATION
Best Local Artist
1 Robin Robinson
Chris Fraser
Suzo Hickey
Best Local Attraction
Museum of Northern B.C.
Best Local Lake
Diana Lake
Best Park
Mariners’ Park
Best Staycation Location
Highliner Hotel & Conference Centre
Best Tourist Spot
North Pacific Cannery
Best Trail
Rushbrook Trail
SERVICES
Best Accountant
1 Vohora LLP
Karl Hugenschmidt
Best Auto Service/Repair
1 Frank’s Auto
Gordon Blumhagen
Best Cleaning Business
YPR Cleaning
Best Community Group
1 Change Makers Education Society
Jazz Productions Association of BC
Rupert Rampage
Best Dog/Cat Groomer
1 Doggy Hotel & Spa
Jill’s Dog Grooming
Tidal Tails Dog Grooming
Best Electrical Company
1 Lighten Up Electric
Radical Electric
Best Excavation Company
1 Story’s Excavating
Best Financial Institution
Northern Savings Credit Union
Best Furnace Business
Sullivan Mechanical
Best Gas Station
1 Grassy Bay Services
Chevron
Best Hair Salon
1 Habitat
Bury Hair Design
Best Hairstylist/Barber
1 Janessa Salm
Breann Paulson
Best Home-based Business
1 Mae & Filhas Baked Donuts
The Messy Bun
Best Hotel
1 Highliner Hotel & Conference Centre
Moby Dick Inn
Best Insurance Agency
Northern Savings Insurance
Best Nail Salon
1 Tipzbyjenn
Nails by Diane Marie
Val’s Nail Shades
Best Painting Contractor
Sandra Cummings - Colour Fresh Painting
Best Photographer
1 Hashmark Photography and Film
Jonelle Amanda Photographie
Best Plumbing Company
Sullivan Mechanical
Best Real Estate Agent
1 Mike & Nikki Morse - RE/MAX Coast Mountains
Emily Kawaguchi - RE/MAX Coast Mountains
Nadia Movold - RE/MAX Coast Mountains
Thai Pham - Realty Executives
Best Real Estate Company
RE/MAX Coast Mountains
Best Tattoo/Piercing
1 Crescent Moon Tattoos
Art from Ashes
Best Tire Shop
Entire Automotive
Best Tourism Service
Olde Time Trolley Company
Best Towing Company
1 Wayne’s Towing
Jay’s Towing
Best Travel Agent
Maria Woodworth - Quadra Travel
Best Auto Supplies
Bytown Parts & Industrial
Best Clothing Store
1 Ansens Consignment
Aria Apparels
Homework
Lazy Cat Closet
Best Customer Service
1 Homework
Five Corners Cannabis
Kaien Office Essentials
Best Electronics Store
Andre’s Electronics
Best Eyeglass/Vision Store
Kaien Island Optometry
Best Furniture/Appliance Store
City Furniture & Appliances
Best Liquor Store
Liquor Warehouse
Best Locally-made Products
Midnight Knots
Best New Business
1 Yaga Cafe Garden Co.
Arabisk Mediterranean Cuisine
Best Pet Store
1 Leanne’s Pet Shop
Pet Valu
Best Pharmacy
1 Safeway
Pharmasave
Best Place to buy Jewellry
1 Cook’s Jewellers
Harris & Wick Goldsmiths Ltd
Homesteaders Pawn Shop
Best Retail Store
1 LeBlanc Boutique
The Bargain Shop
Rainforest Fabrics
Best Unique Gifts
Shutter Shack