Having her company named corporate citizen of the year is a humbling experience for Paulette Webb.
The realtor and co-owner of Royal LePage Downtown Realty Armstrong picked up the Hub International Barton Insurance Corporate Citizen of the Year on behalf of her office at the recent Armstrong-Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards and Gala at St. Joseph’s Hall.
“It was a definitely a team effort,” said Webb, who accepted the honour, along with Royal LePage realtor Bev Carlson, from presenter and past winner Terry McKinty of Askew’s Foods.
“Everyone contributes to our success, the realtors and the staff.
“To be singled out is really quite an honour, especially with our fellow nominees. They’re all such great corporate citizens.”
Also nominated for the award were The Armstrong Inn; A&W Armstrong; Valley First Credit Union Armstrong; Askew’s Foods; Nor-Val Rentals; Shepherd’s Home Hardware and Kiss FM.
Carlson also went home with a prize, winning the five-pound chocolate Hollywood display door prize donated by Chocoliro Finest Chocolate, whose owners, Peter and Jolanda Rotzetter, accepted the Blackwell Building Movers Small Business of the Year honour.
Other winners included VantageOne Credit Union (Kohler Customer Service award); Hillbilly Haven (Shepherd’s Home Hardware Revitalization award); Passive Remediation (City of Armstrong Green Community award); Shear Kreations (North Okanagan Employment Enhancement Services Young Entrepreneur of the Year); Armstrong Farmer’s Market (Anchor Inn Tourism Award); and Rapid Span (Township of Spallumcheen Manufacturer/Innovator of the Year).
Close to 50 businesses and individuals were nominated for the eight awards.
“Armstrong-Spallumcheen businesses contribute significantly to our community and the people recognized this evening are role models, continually demonstrating the qualities of leadership,” said chamber president Sandra Starke, herself a draw prize winner (she bought winning key that unlocked a necklace from Enderby Jewellers).
“Thank you to all of the sponsors, and the committee for organizing this wonderful event.”
Starke presented the final honour of the evening, silencing emcee Andrew Laird, of Kiss FM, by announcing that his radio station won the President’s Award.
“There are always people and companies that show so much support for our communities, but there aren’t really categories that they fit into,” said Starke.
“That’s why this award was created.”
Laird accepted the honour with co-workers Diane Mann and Jason Tissington.
More than 100 people, including a guest from Fort St. James, attended the Hollywood-style evening, greeted at the door by tuxedo-clad pastor Bruce Brown of Glad Tidings church, who insisted on asking everybody who they were wearing as they wandered down the red carpet.
The meal was provided by Mary Serhan and her catering crew at St. Joseph’s Church.
Special tributes were given to outgoing chamber employee Angela Passmore, who now works for the Kindale Developmental Association.
Chamber of commerce executive director Patti Noonan received a floral tribute and a standing ovation from the crowd when introduced by Starke and Laird for her role in organizing the gala night, and for the work she does for the chamber.
Sponsors of the event were Askew’s Foods, The Morning Star, Telus, Nor-Val Rentals and Kiss FM.
