Business Excellence celebrated at BOYAs

Photos courtesy of www.imagesstudios.com

The Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Bonnyville & District Chamber of Commerce hosted the 4th annual Lakeland Business of the Year Awards (BOYA) on Saturday at the Energy Centre in Cold Lake.

Winners of the awards were recognized for their outstanding achievements to the community and the customers they serve. There five categories, with recipients from each community and one joint award.

Community Involvement –  RBC Royal Bank, Cold Lake

An joint award between each community. This award celebrates a business that goes above and beyond to serve the community; through volunteerism, activism and customer service. The 2017 BOYA recipient for Community Involvement was RBC Royal Bank, Cold Lake.

Outstanding Not for Profit

The Outstanding Not for Profit category celebrates the not for profit organizations that help keep the community vibrant. The not for profit organization often works with volunteers and limited resources. This award celebrates the not for profits that make an outstanding contribution to our region.

Bonnyville – Bonnyville Friendship Centre

Pauline Mawer with the Bonnyville Friendship Centre says the organization’s goal is to serve the community. “We serve the community, that’s where our heart and passion is.”

Cold Lake – Lakeland Humane Society

 

“On behalf of all of us, at the Lakeland Humane Society, we are so grateful for everyone in this community and all the support you’ve given us; I am so honoured.” Nicole Mbanefo, with the LHS thanks the business owners and community members for all the support they have given the shelter over the years, “and to the cats & dogs… thank you!”

Exemplary Customer Service

Exemplary customer service gains customer loyalty and puts businesses above all others. This award celebrates staff members that have given their all to improve a business, its customers’ satisfaction & experience and organization’s growth.

Bonnyville – Stephanie Wilmot Tellier Guardian Pharmacy

Cold Lake – Shannon Schumacher – Waterfront Harbour Bed & Breakfast

Outstanding Small Business

This awards goes to outstanding businesses, with under 10 staff members. “We are proof, that rural innovation & entrepreneurship can succeed,” Carmen Jubinville, representing Community Futures, say it is an honour for organization to sponsor the Outstanding Small Business award category.

Bonnyville – Glendon Motorsports

“Being from Glendon it’s very nice [to be recognized],” Julie Kissel, owner of Glendon Motorsports, says the community has been part of the Bonnyville Chamber for a few years and recently became part of the Glendon Business Alliance, a group under the umbrella of the Bonnyville Chamber. “It’s amazing for them to welcome us. This is wonderful recognition for our town.”

Cold Lake – Muse Inspired

“I want to thank our customers and our community, you guys are ultimately the root of our success,” Muse Inspired.

Outstanding Large Business

This category recognizes large businesses, over 10 employees. Large businesses offer significant economic benefits to the region, this award recognizes those businesses that are outstanding.

Bonnyville – Seven Lakes Oil Field Services

Seven Lakes Oil Field Services thanks their employees, “our employees are our most important thing. That goes from a new hire that just started to our board of directors.”

Cold Lake – Jackknife Oil Field Services

“It’s an honour [to receive this award].”

Most Promising New Business

This category celebrates new businesses in the community that display the greatest potential. This award celebrates businesses that have taken the risk of being entrepreneurs.

Bonnyville – Boon Energy Services

“This is a team that came together,” owner Myles Morrison, says it is thanks to his employees that Boon Energy Services is accepting the award, “I have three of the hardest working people in the industry [at the ceremony] with me, and about 40 more working hard everyday and some of them that are working hard right now.”

Cold Lake – Nourish the Soul Wellness Centre

“As a new business, one thing I noticed when getting into it, was trying to find benchmarks of success. It’s not always financial. This [award] shows me, with the Chamber recognizing me and the people supporting, that I am truly meeting the needs of my clients. Thank you.”

 

The Lakeland Business of the Year Awards are hosted annually through the Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce and Bonnyville & District Chamber of Commerce. Award recipients are nominated by the public. Once the nominees are selected a judging panel, from each community, determines the winners through a series of merit based questions. Watch for the 2018 call for nominees in early July.