The 18th Annual South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards gala dinner evening was a huge success at the 100 Mile Community Hall on March 3.
Among the many award-winning organizations, Century Home Hardware aced the evening with two awards, including Business of the Year and Customer Service.
With 170 people turning out for the event, chamber president Vern Peever says the awards dinner had the best attendance he has seen, and was also one of the most enjoyable.
“It was quite an impressive display of local talent on all ends, both the business and the artistic. It was a good night.”
Singer-songwriter Candace Copely entertained the crowd with her lovely voice, and Peever notes a performance by local musicians Anthony Lau on the harmonica accompanied by guitarist Karl Beiteberger was breathtaking and incredible.
“I’m usually not a ‘classical guy,’ but you could have heard a pin drop. They did a beautiful job.”
Lau dedicated the performance to Citizen of the Year Eleanor Nicoll, who received her award at the banquet, as well as to all the other worthy nominees for that award.
Peever says the hall was a new, more spacious venue for the annual event that has been growing in attendance.
This hall provided a more comfortable arrangement for the seating at cozy round tables, and plenty of space for folks to move around to partake in refreshments and silent auction.
“Kudos to Jeanette McCrea who organized and executed most of it, with lots of help from [chamber manager] Lisa Carr. It was a great job and I think it went quite well.”
Carr says the decorations were “awesome” for the western-themed event and she received many comments indicating everyone had a great time.
McCrea was also the master of ceremonies, she adds, and Peever, who was declared Director of the Year, made a welcome speech.
The dinner, catered by The Firehouse Diner was delicious, Carr says, adding all the volunteers, equipment loans and donations for the event are much appreciated.
The South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business Excellence Awards went to individuals and businesses as follows:
• Business of the Year – Century Home Hardware
• Community Living Award – Canada Safeway
• Customer Service – Century Home Hardware
• Entrepreneur of the Year – Carina Krahn (The Log House, Easy Go Ranch)
• Go Green – Larry McCrea Law Corp
• Greatest Improvement – Gold Trail Recycling
• Home-Based Business – Simple Elegance Photography
• Newsmaker of the Year – Communities in Bloom
• New Business – Firehouse Diner
• Non-Profit Organization – Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre
• People’s Choice – K9 Pack Pals
• South Caribooster – Lac la Hache Community Club
