By Chad Klassen

Businesses say receiving Chamber awards validate success, growth in Kamloops

Oct 23, 2017 | 4:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — Two days after winning another pair of Kamloops Chamber Business Excellence Awards, it was just another day at the shop for Mike Miltimore, whose team makes hundreds of customized Riversong guitars every year. 

There are new innovative guitars they’re working on all the time, including a relatively new acoustic guitar that syncs to an iPhone. 

“It’s the world’s first smart acoustic guitar. We’re making them right here in Kamloops,” said Miltimore. “It allows you to get all that electronic music as a guitar playe, and you can get new sounds. It basically makes it totally unlimited.”

It’s up for the Acoustic Guitar of the Year through Music Merchandise Review’s magazine, competing with guitar makers around the world. Innovations and continued growth is why Miltimore and his team took home the two business awards on Saturday — Business Person of the Year and Small Business of the Year. 

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“The people we’re shortlisted with, I would’ve voted for those guys,” said Miltimore. “It’s really awesome. It’s a vote to what we’re doing here at Riversong Guitars.”

Lyons Landscaping also won a pair of awards, selected as the Business of the Year and Employer of the Year. 

“Business of the Year is spectacular to win, but Employer of the Year, where your team votes for you and does a testimonial on you and the company, speaks volumes for really what we’re building here,” said Colin Lyons, president of the company. 

CIFM’s Henry Small got rewarded for all his contributions to the music community through events like Music in the Park. He won the Community Service Award. 

“Starting Canada Day and Music in the Park and First Night, things that you’re involved with as far as putting on things to entertain the people of Kamloops,” said Small. “It’s a gift to be able to entertain people and it’s even a greater gift when you’re acknowledged and supported by your community to do those things.”