A Vernon yoga studio is in the running for a prestigious provincial award, thanks to its young, resilient owner.

Noble Yoga has been selected as a top three finalist in the Small Business BC Awards, which received nomination from over 400 businesses in 75 towns and cities in the province.

The yoga studio on 30th Street is competing in the Best Youth Entrepreneur category against two Vancouver businesses, CAYA Health Centre and AWL Together Leather. 

Noble Yoga is a yoga and integrative multi-sensory wellness studio that is also described as a community hub.

Owner Dolly Reno was first introduced to yoga as a teenager when she was living on the streets as a survivor of a violent relationship. 

As she was pondering her path forward Reno was invited to participate in a yoga class, where she discovered a sense of safety and community in the practice. Yoga became a core part of her journey, and in 2020 she opened Noble Yoga, a studio committed to the wellness and fitness of its members. 

The Best Youth Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by Kwantlen Polytechnic University, spotlights the next generation of business leaders who have taken the entrepreneurial plunge at a young age, 35 and under. 

鈥淲e are so impressed by the variety of businesses represented in the top three finalists this year, from newcomers to veterans, spanning regions as small as Ucluelet and as large as Vancouver,鈥� said Small Business BC CEO Tom Conway. 鈥淵et they all share a common thread; each has showcased their connection to their community and the meaningful impact they鈥檝e made.鈥�

After working to garner the support of their communities and gain as many votes as possible, the top five nominees In the E-Commerce Experience, Business Impact, and Best Youth Entrepreneur categories pitched to a panel of judges why their business should win.

The competition was then narrowed to the top three finalists in those award categories. 

The Premier's People's Choice Award is decided exclusively by a public vote.

The 21st annual Small Business BC Awards winners will be announced Nov. 1. More than $20,000 will be distributed among the four award categories, and the winners will be celebrated at a reception at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Tickets are available at . 

Reno took home the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award at last year's Greater Vernon Chamber Business Excellence Awards.