The Vernon Chamber of Commerce Awards KingFisher Boats Large Business of the Year at Vernon’s Business Excellence Awards

KingFisher built its first aluminum fishing boat in Fort Erie, Ontario, in 1959. In 1972, we moved to Lavington, just outside Vernon, and we’ve been building boats in the community ever since. It is an honour and privilege to be recognized as Large Business of the Year in the region, for the second time.

On October 22, our Director of Product Development, Matt Melchart, together with Bobbie-Jo Thompson, Production Manager, Mike Badowski, Director of Sales & Marketing, and President, Baxter Bolton, accepted the award at the 2026 Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, held at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

Being recognized by the business community where we call home is extremely meaningful to the entire KingFisher Boats family.

“This award means so much because it comes from the community we’ve called home for more than 50 years, and where we’ve significantly grown our business.” says Baxter Bolton, President, KingFisher. “KingFisher’s success is driven by our 200 employees – the incredible people who design, build and deliver our boats, and by the families who support them every day. Many of these families are our neighbours here in Vernon. To be recognized by the greater business community is something all of us take immense pride in.”

Great boats are built by great people. This belief has carried us from that first boat in 1959 to more than 133,000 KingFisher boats now proudly owned and operated by anglers, adventurers and families across North America. Along the way, we’ve grown into a North American leader in heavy-gauge welded aluminum boats and we keep looking ahead.

Our proprietary Pre-Flex® hull technology, our investment in advanced manufacturing, and our wide range of fishing and recreational vessels including our new 38 GFX, reflect our commitment and constant drive for excellence on the water.

And our work doesn’t stop at the shop door. Through apprenticeships and partnerships with Okanagan College, BCIT, Thompson Rivers University and the University of Northern British Columbia, we’re helping train the next generation of skilled tradespeople. We’ve also invested more than $100,000 in protecting riparian areas, because the lakes and rivers our team members and customers enjoy must be looked after.

To us, business excellence is about creating good jobs, supporting our community, and building a place where people want to do their best work.

This award belongs to the people who build our boats, from our designers and engineers to our welders, fabricators and finishing crews, and to all our employees who make that work possible, from our office and customer service teams to the crews who keep our shop clean and safe.

To everyone on the KingFisher team: Congratulations. You earned this. And to the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce and our neighbours: Thank You.