Spirits were flowing and spirits were high during the Spirit of Ladysmith Community Awards held Saturday night.
The awards ceremony, presented by the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, recognized the outstanding efforts of businesses, non-profit organizations and local residents over 2011.
The evening was co-ordinated by Rhonda Shirley and Kathy Holmes and emceed by Coun. Jill Dashwood and Lesley White of Bastion Law Group.
Picking up the award for Small Business of the Year in the one to 10 employees category was GNB Builders Inc. Kelsey Smith accepted the award.
Steve Wilkinson and Steve Robinson of Ladysmith Pharmasave took home the award for business of the year in the 11-plus employees category over Western Forest Products.
The Volunteer of the Year category was chalk full of worthy nominees, including Historical Society volunteer Isabelle Oulette, Community Policing volunteer Audrey Ballegeer, Rotarian David Walbank and many Ladysmith Family and Friends volunteers.
Ultimately, the award went to Nita Grant, a first-time nominee who said the two most rewarding projects she has been involved in are the 50-plus computer club and the Coats for Kids program.
“The community donates so much stuff for those kids and it comes right from the heart,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed, and then when my name came up, I was speechless.
“I would like to thank the community for always supporting me, the people in the community … that’s where it comes from.”
Grant was joined in the celebrations by Grant Jewellers colleague Coleen Andreychuk-Burke, who picked up the award for Service Employee of the Year in a business with one to 10 employees. The nominees also included many Ladysmith Family and Friends employees, Marti Westergaard of Blooms at the 49th, and Lesley Parent of 49th Parallel Printers.
Winning the Service Employee of the Year Award for a business with 11-plus employees was Colleen Gaudreault of Ladysmith Pharmasave.
The Ladysmith Kinsmen, who have been hard at work with projects such as the Brown Drive Kin Park and Gilbert Frenchy ball hockey field, received the award for Non-Profit Organization of the Year.
Accepting the award on behalf of the organization was Rod Saunders.
“It’s nice to be noticed because a lot of people don’t even know [who] we are,” he said. “The Kinsmen have worked really hard.”
Steve Wilkinson of Pharmasave Ladysmith picked up the award for Entrepreneur of the Year, a category that also included Nikki MacCallum of Nikki Designs and Peter Richmond of 49th Parallel Grocery.
Grade 11 student Katrina Stirling was recognized as 2011’s Youth of the Year. Stirling, who was a nominee at last year’s awards, said it was an honour to be recognized.
She said being a part of the Ladysmith Ambassador program has been the most rewarding aspect of the school year.
“I have learned so much and got to meet so many amazing people through the program,” she said.
For a complete list of the award sponsors and all the award nominees, click here.
