Hundreds gathered and honoured each other at the Quesnel and District Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards in Quesnel’s Senior Centre on Saturday, Oct. 18.
The night started with Kathy Somerville, Manager of the Quesnel and District Chamber of Commerce’s opening remarks. Saying it was one of the hardest years to narrow down the lists of nominees in each category. With one of the most prosperous years for new businesses growing in the city, some businesses were celebrating milestones among the plethora of reasons.
Summed up by only one category out of the eleven in the night had fewer than a dozen nominees.
This year, a brand new award was given out. Lifetime Achievement Business Award. This was awarded to Ted Martindale, owner of Granville’s Coffee.
“It means a heck of a lot. I’ve lived here since 1950, and my family has been in business in this town since 1950, including my parents, and my brother,” Martindale said, who accepted his award, dedicating it to Mary Sjostrom, who passed earlier that week.
“ I developed this crazy idea of Granville’s in 1993, and thanks to the people of Quesnel, I have enough volume to do community work. As a result I wind up with this award, but sometimes I don’t know whether I deserve it. It’s something that I really, really appreciate.”
Winning Business Person of the Year was Jamie Delves of Lil Red Pony Feed & Supplies, who said she was taken back by the win.
“There was a lot of great nominees, I am shocked to be honest,” Delves said. “I just have a lot of gratitude for the community of Quesnel and for everybody that trusted me and trusted my business, for all the support. To my family for their unwavering support. It’s a true honor.”
During the evening, around $1,000 of door prizes, donated by more local businesses, were drawn.
It was a night that showcased how the business community of the town comes together.
The List of all the winners and their categories follows:
Business Person of the Year — Jamie Delves
Business of the Year (5 Employees or Less) — Sign Stop
Business of the Year (5 Employees or More) — Paradise Salon & Spa
New Business of the Year/New Ownership — Crumb & Get it
Agricultural Excellence Award — Harvest Cariboo Agriculture Producers Association (Quesnel Farmer’s Market)
Home–Based Business — Cookie Bitz
Lifetime Achievement Business Award — Ted Martindale, Granville’s Coffee
Indigenous Social Leadership Award — Tori Clement
Excellence in Tourism Award — Lhtako Dene Nation
Social Leadership Award — Steven Mitchell, Way of the First
Greatest Improvement Award — Prestige Riverside Lodge
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