The Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Excellence Awards on the weekend.
The event, which took place at the Clarke Theatre, was a red carpet evening featuring entertainment and plenty of opportunity for businesses to honour their own.
This year’s award recipients were:
President’s Award
Cal Crawford has lived in Mission for more than 28 years. A strong believer in contributing to the community, Cal likes to be involved at all levels. He has over 38 years of real estate experience and is well known for his expertise in ownership, management, training and sales.
Cal has served as a Director on the Edmonton Real Estate Board and was honoured by Realty World Canada with the Martin Coleclough Award for Manager of the Year for Realty World Canada in 1986.
Before real estate, Cal was an electrician for 13 years. Cal has received recognition from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board for being in the top 10 per cent of Sales Associates in Production for the past 18 years.
In more than 20 years of living in Mission, Cal has contributed greatly to his community. At different times Cal has served as president, first vice-president, second vice-president and director of the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce, president of the Kinsmen Club of Mission, and has been an active Kinsmen for 20 years.
Cal has also been the chairman of the Candlelight Parade and the chairman of the Mission Showcase. Cal was a founding member of the Mid-day Rotary Club of Mission serving as president in July 2007 and June 2008. Some of Cal’s achievements include the Special Citizen Recognition Award in 1992, Citizen of the Year award in 1995, and Business Leader of the Year Award in 2010. Cal’s contributions to the community have helped him become a very well-respected and trustworthy person who always looks to put others first.
Over the years, the City of Mission has honoured Crawford with a Special Citizen Recognition award; a Citizen of the Year award and a Business Leader of the Year award.
Big Bang Award
Lacey Developments is a full service contractor serving the Fraser Valley building beautiful custom homes and doing award-winning renovations and commercial work.
Based in Deroche, the company is a proud member of the Mission community as an active member of the volunteer committee. Staff work to run the Blessings in a Backpack program serving Dewdney, Deroche and Mission Central elementary schools sending food home on weekends with over 40 children. The team is the key to Lacey Developments’ success in construction as well as its long-term relationships with Mission companies
Educational Leader Award
At Vancity the sky is the limit – and they put their money where their mouth is with the employee tuition reimbursement program. Vancity encourages its staff to set goals and to find their passion which the company supports by offering a variety of professional development opportunities. Through in-house training, one-on-one coaching sessions, and an online learning platform that offers instructor-led courses available to all Vancity staff at anytime. Vancity loves to see its employees grow.
Community Builder Award
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley is a community minded organization that focuses its efforts on the needs of children in the area. When a child or parent comes to them looking for extra support, they are matched with a volunteer mentor who is accepted through a stringent screening process. Through group programs, healthy living habits are encouraged and children can have fun and socialize with other kids their age under guidance from an adult mentor. With the dedicated staff here in Mission, BBBSFV works hard to put their passion for helping youth to work for the community.
Local Focus Award
Martin’s Downtown is a fully licensed, full service restaurant serving lunch and dinner. It also have event space available for private bookings of 20-50 guests. Diners enjoy the benefit of gathering together to enjoy great food in an inclusive environment. Martin’s supports other local business by purchasing local goods and services. The company also supports local, not-for-profit organizations with goods and services at no or reduced cost.
Customer First Award
Arsenault Tree Service is a family run business with 40 years of industry experience. The company is a full service arborist focused on plant health care, committed to the safety of employees and the public, providing superior customer service as well as being dedicated to continued education and professional development for all employees. Arsenault puts its customers first by always trying to answer every phone call in person and offering any help or guidance they can on initial customer contact. Whenever possible staff place follow up calls to arrange for estimates the same day and if the current work commitments will not allow them to supply estimates and have work completed in a timely manner, they are honest with customers so that they can make decisions based on their schedules and needs, not the company’s.
Power of Small Award
Trendy or what Knot Yarns & Gifts is a trendy local yarn store selling yarn and yarn related handmade artisan items like knitted shawls, scarves, hats, sweaters, handwoven clothing, pillow cases, blankets, (yarn) pottery handmade buttons and much more. They provide customers with unique and authentic yarns and gifts, and support local yarn artists from all around the Fraser Valley and B.C.
