A sold-out crowd watched as the 2017 Olds and District Chamber of Commerce Business awards were presented at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites on Oct. 12.
The Business of the Year award for firms with 16 employees or more went to Canadian Tire, the lone nominee.
Olds Dry Cleaners was named winner of the award for Business of the Year with 15 or fewer employees. Unfortunately, no one was on hand that evening to receive it, so Wayne Burgess of sponsor Cam Clark Ford accepted it on the company's behalf.
Casa de Flores took home the Community Spirit award, which goes to businesses.
The Olds & District Christmas Angels Society received the Community Spirit award for non-profit organizations.
The People's Choice business award went to Fountain Tire.
David Ruan of Preferred RX Pharmacy took home the Exceptional Customer Service award.
The 2017 Better Business Bureau Ethics award was presented to the Pomeroy Inn & Suites.
The Youth Employee of the Year award went to Cassidy Matthews of the Olds Regional Exhibition, the lone nominee in that category. Unfortunately, she was not on hand to receive it. Tracy Gardner of ORE accepted it on her behalf.
There was a new wrinkle this year: $400 in Chamber Bucks, which go to a monthly Exceptional Customer Service winner, based on the number of times they've been nominated. Merry Anne Bell of the Olds Highlands Golf Course was the winner.
Olds and District Chamber of Commerce president Ben Stone praised not only the award winners, but also all those in business in Olds.
"I understand that this is an awards night, so we're recognizing some of the best businesses and service that's being provided, but with my piece I just want to acknowledge the impact that small and medium business in general has on all of us ñ not just the winners, but everybody who puts a full day in," he said.
MC Murray Elliott presented a bottle of wine to new chamber executive director (ED) Caroline Bodmer for all she did to help organize the awards, after having been hired in September.
Elliott thanked former chamber ED Robbin Corsiatto for all her work to pull the event off as well.
"I just want to acknowledge the impact that small and medium business in general has on all of us ñ not just the winners, but everybody who puts a full day in."BEN STONE PRESIDENT OLDS AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRES
