Jim Humphrey took home the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Cowichan Lake District Chamber of Commerce’s 19th Annual Spring Fling Business & Community Excellence Awards Gala, held on April 27.
Humphrey won the award for his outstanding years of service as a volunteer director and president of the chamber, and for his vision, dedication and commitment to the economic and tourism enhancement of the Cowichan Lake area.
Jamie Doyle won the Above & Beyond Award for his quick thinking and for acting for the good of the community during the windstorm last December.
Both awards were presented by Alistair MacGregor, MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford.
The chamber’s Katherine Worsley said it was a “fantastic evening”.
“We’re so happy to be located in a community filled with such wonderful people,” she said.
“Thank you to our attendees for purchasing tickets and bidding in the auction, and to the amazing businesses and people who donated auction items to our event.”
Bob K. Day, chairman of the Cowichan Lake Trail Blazers Society, was awarded Citizen of the Year, with Dick Orman and Dennis Peters finalists in the category.
RELATED STORY: DAY, PETERS, AND ORMAN ANNOUNCED AS CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Scarlett’s Second Hand Boutique & Coffee Bar, owned by Scarlett Feltrin, was named Business of the Year, with Carmanah Pizza and SwordFern as finalists. Mallory Marrs won the Youth of the Year Award, with Matthew Kercher and Amanda Nixon named as finalists.
Maureen Loebus took home the Community Service Volunteer of the Year Award, with Katherine Worsley and Eva Fearon as finalists.
Stephen Nahirnick, owner of Black Jax Appliance Repair, won the Customer Service of the Year Award, with Lorna Vomacka and Denise Allen as finalists.
The coveted and fun Oswald Award was also presented during the ceremony, with the title of Mr. Fantastic going to Frank Worsley, and the Miss Fabulous title went to Jean Osborne.
RELATED STORY: AWARDS HANDED OUT TO DUNCAN’S BEST
Katherine Worsley said many people and organizations came to together to make the night a success.
“Thanks to Sophia and Austen Chilton, Julie Black and Amanda Nixon for helping to sell tickets for our grand prizes during the event, to Azam Kahn and his staff of Vancouver Island Event Catering for the delicious buffet dinner and dessert, to Cowichan Lake Recreation for the hall rental and setup/takedown, to Kaatza Lakeside Players for the lighting,” she said.
“Thanks also goes to the chamber directors and staff for planning the event and decorating the hall, to our guest emcee, the Town of Lake Cowichan’s Deputy Mayor Tim McGonigle and our guest auctioneer Huntly Ketchen, to our award presenters MP Alistair MacGregor, Town of Lake Cowichan Mayor Rod Peters, CVRD Chairman Ian Morrison, and Island Savings representatives Pinder and Kim.”
Worsley also thanked Special Occasions for the glasses and napkin rentals, Heritage House Trophies for preparing the award plaques, Beverly North of Deep Fried Ice Cream for the secondary awards, the award recipients and their families, and for everyone who made the Spring Fling possible.
“We couldn’t have done it without you,” she said.
