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The spotlight fell on local small businesses and non-profits during the Whitecourt and District Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Awards ceremony Saturday night.
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Five awards were given for 2022, with additional nominees also named during the event at St. Joseph Parish Hall.
The first award given was for the Non-Profit of the Year, which went to the Community Lunch Box Society.
“I’m very proud of Whitecourt, and I feel happy to work at the Community Lunch Box,” said Bobby Jones, who accepted the award. He works in maintenance and carries out various other tasks at the Community Lunch Box.
“It keeps me going, and I love the place.”
The society had a busy year ensuring kids at Whitecourt schools have healthy lunches and snacks.
The other nominees were the Boys and Girls Club and the ECHO Society.
Microtel won the Community Attraction Award, for “influence in attracting visitors … and making the community a more attractive place to work and visit,” chamber Director Paula Miller said. Microtel was the only nominee in the category.
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The Legacy Award recognizes “outstanding achievement in innovative practices and customer service, sustained growth and contributions to local employment,” Miller said. The category also honours active community participation.
Mountain Pizza and Steak House snagged the Legacy Award, with Crockett Automotive Repair also nominated.
The Emerging Business of the Year Award honours a business less than three years old that has demonstrated some success and community connection, Miller said.
The award went to Precious Sprouts Childcare Center, which opened in April 2022.
“The award made us feel great, and more recognized within the community,” Precious Sprouts Director Crystal Valcourt said.
The other nominees were Öko Shop and Refillery, Timber West Tires and Tri-Steel Salvage Ltd.
The Customer Service Excellence Award went to Öko Shop and Refillery, with MR MIKES SteakhouseCasual also nominated.
During the awards night, outgoing chamber President Mark Dickin also passed the (literal and metaphorical) gavel to new President Louise Meier.
Meier in turn presented a gavel to Dickin, thanking him for his leadership and “sound and fearless representation of us at any and all tables we were privileged to have you at.”
