Futurpreneur Dustin Erickson floats away with the Best Emerging Entrepreneur Award at the 12th Annual Small Business B.C. Awards

On Thursday, February 26, members of Futurpreneur Canada’s B.C. team had the opportunity to attend the 12th Annual Small Business B.C. Awards. The award ceremony recognizes the outstanding achievements of B.C.’s entrepreneurs and celebrates the contributions small business owners make to their local communities and to the global economy.

This year, Futurpreneur Canada was proud to partner with the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation to co-present the inaugural Best Emerging Entrepreneur Award to Dustin Erickson of Float Space, the first and only commercial sensory deprivation centre in the greater Okanagan Valley. The award was created to celebrate entrepreneurs who have demonstrated community leadership, entrepreneurial initiative, and a strong vision for change.

On winning the award, Dustin said, “I am honoured to receive the first ever SBBC award for Best Emerging Entrepreneur. I am so grateful that each and every day I have the opportunity to apply the tool of floatation REST – Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy – to my business, my education, and my life.”

Float Space is a modern sanctuary for physical and mental wellbeing, a temple for personal development, and a hub for creativity and performance enhancement. Floatation centres have an incredible impact on the local community simply by providing space for people to rest, relax, and reset their senses from the busy stimulation of the outside world.

Speaking about REST, Dustin said, “it is true; you can prime inspiration with solitude. If I can leave everyone with one thing, it is this: do not avoid the void. If you make time for nothing, it will make time for you.”

For more information about Float Space, visit their website at www.floatspace.ca.

Small Business B.C. Awards were given in nine other categories, including Best Community Impact, Best Company and Best Immigrant Entrepreneur. In total, there were 460 nominated businesses across all the categories, and each category was narrowed down to five finalists. The winners were selected after a five-month process that culminated in a Dragon’s Den style pitch to a judging panel. To read about the other businesses that won awards at last night’s event, check out Small Business B.C.’s press release.

Nominations for the 13th Annual Small Business B.C. Awards open on October 1, 2015; all businesses in B.C. are encouraged to participate.

L-R: Michka Asli, Futurpreneur B.C Customer Relationship Manager; Dustin Erickson, Float House; Humaira Hamid, Business Development Associate, Futurpreneur; Jill Earthy, Regional Director, Futurpreneur Canada.