THE MOBILE food truck Puckered Pig Bistro was named Newsmaker of the Year Oct. 15 as the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce held its 2016 Business Excellence Awards gala.
The Puckered Pig figured prominently in the wide-ranging debate earlier this year over where, when and how mobile food trucks could do business within the city.
In all, 12 awards were presented with winners chosen from balloting open to all members of the community.
This was the 17th annual awards gala hosted by the chamber and the theme of the event, held at the sportsplex banquet room, sported a Canadian theme made colourful by the presence of two Mounties in dress red serge uniforms.
That theme carried on with Terrace resident Caleb Brousseau, a bronze medal winner in the sit-ski Super G class at the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games held in Sochi, Russia, giving a talk.
Chamber manager Erika Magnuson-Ford said 165 people attended the gala.
“There was such a good feeling all evening. It was the most successful one yet,” she said.
And here is the complete list of the winners:
Community Booster Award – Bryan Gascon from Canadian Tire.
Company of the Year Award – Skeena Landing
Contributor to the Arts Award – Art in Motion Dance Studio
Customer Service Award – Sonny’s Collectables
Employee of the Year Award – Caledonia Secondary School band and choir director Geoff Parr.
Executive of the Year Award – Darryl Tucker and Linda Parker from Sherwood Mountain Brewhouse
Home-Based Business of the Year Award – Eye4Nature Photography
Newsmaker of the Year Award – The Puckered Pig Mobile Bistro
Renovation of the Year Award – Michael Hogg for the renovation of the former Christ Lutheran Church on the corner of Sparks and Park.
Rookie of the Year Award – Transcend Fitness
Tourism Excellence Award – Northwest Regional Airport
Volunteer of the Year Award – Donna Slavik from Kimmunity Angels.
Another award, the Chamber’s Choice Award as decided by the chamber executive for a business who has actively participated, promoted and supported the organization, was also presented.
It went to SpeeDee Your Office Experts.
Those at the gala also donated more than $1,580 that night to assist the family of an RCMP member who has had to move to Vancouver as their young son is undergoing treatment for leukemia for a second time.
The money was collected by passing around the Stetsons worn by the two Mounties at the gala.
“The Terrace chamber is overwhelmed by this generosity and very pleased to be able to help raise some money for this family,” said Magnuson-Ford.
Entertainment was provided by several groups of dancers from the Art in Motion dance studio. the meal was catered by Emmy’s Catering and Rio Tinto was the diamond sponsor. Door prizes were donated by Sherwood Mountain Breweries, Central Mountain/Hawkair, the Sandman Inn and My Mountain Co-op.