Local businesses and staff were honoured last week at an event held by the Terrace Chamber of Commerce where finalists for the Business Excellence Awards were presented.
The event was held at the Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club and featured an evening of appetizers, prizes and a presentation, which recognized Terrace businesses and staff nominated
for awards.
Finalists were chosen out of 16 categories and the public can vote for winners until Oct. 9.
Finalists for each category include:
Company of the year: Cafenara, Bandstra Transportation and Progressive Ventures.
Executive of the year: Ernie Froese of Rona, Lynne Hughes and Lorna Sandhals of Northwest Training and Donna Demers of Kemp Harvey Demers Inc.
Retailer of the Year: Canadian Tire, Misty River Tackle & Hunting and Kids Quest.
Home-based business award: Gordon Robertson Inc., Digital Photography by Cara Devaney and Viva Holistic Healing Centre.
Volunteer of the year: Esperanza Cortez, Gurjeet Parhar and Kerry Geisbrecht of the Terrace Beautification Society.
Community Booster Award: Yvonne Moen, Skeena Diversity and My Mountain Co-op.
Rookie of the year: Baker Extraordinaire, One Love and Innovation.
Contributor to the arts: Matthew Daratha with Skeena Diversity, Hilda Talstra and Diane Francis with Uniglobe Travel.
Excellence in innovation award:
City West Cable and Horizon Dental Clinic.
Employee of the Year: Andrew Van Dyk with Save on Foods, Debra Jephson with SunRonkai LLP and Terry Unrau with Northwest Business Machines.
The Green Award: Cambria Gordon, Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine and the Greater Terrace Beautification Society.
Tourism Excellence:
Debbie Letwaski with the George Little House, Bruno Belanger with Gemma’s and Web Bennett Jr. with Kitselas Canyon.
Customer service award: Danvis Dorrett with Mr. Mikes, NWCC Workforce Training and Wightman & Smith Insurance.
The family friendly business award: Creative Zone, Kalum Community School and Kids Quest.
Newsmaker of the year: Kitimat LNG Terminal, My Mountain Co-op and Chayo Nyawello with Skeena Diversity.
The sixteenth award up for grabs is the welcoming and inclusive workplace award and the finalists are: Kermode Friendship Society, Northwest Training and Cafenara.
Anyone wishing to vote can do so online at surveymonkey.com/s/TerraceBEA2011 or can complete a ballot and fax it to 250-635-2573.