Surrey, B.C.
Board of Trade awards program celebrates businesses and the people behind them
By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
Janine Cindy Santiago-Nagi, owner of Sun City Optics, could not believe that she had won an award for doing something she loves.
She arrived in Canada from the Philippines 13 years ago.
She studied instrumentation and automation engineering but after working in the oil and gas industry for five years, Santiago-Nagi decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and transitioned from an engineer to an optician.
In October 2018, she acquired Sun City Optics, a reputable eyecare practice in Kamloops, serving the community for 15 years.
“The clinic offers expert guidance and vision services, especially for newcomers to Canada. The commitment to exceptional care and continuous learning has earned Janine recognition. Sun City Optics was selected as a finalist for Canada Eyecare Practice of the Year in 2021 and 2022. In March 2022, Sun City Optics expanded to a second location in Surrey. Indeed, Janine’s dedication and expertise continue to impact her community positively,” a report in surreynowleader.com reads.
According to the Surrey Board of Trade, the awardees are all trendsetters. “They have made their dreams a reality and inspired others to make their dreams come true.”
The nominees and finalists have reached a unique point of business success, it added.
The Surrey Board of Trade, for over 24 years, has celebrated Surrey businesses through the Surrey Business Excellence Awards.
The event focuses on strength and innovation within every entrepreneur to take an idea and use it to build a business.
Santiago-Nagi thanked her patrons, especially fellow Filipinos, for their support and loyalty that helped her win the recognition.
“Dito sa Surrey karamihan po nang ating customers ay ating mga kababayan natin. Masasabi ko na 90 percent nang ating mga customers ay mga Pilipino,” she told Omni News in a separate interview.
She said some of their customers are from neighboring Abbotsford and Chilliwack and even as far as Whistler in British Columbia.