OLDS — Boston Pizza won the Business of the Year for 16 or more employees and the Community Spirit award for for-profit businesses during the 2022 Olds & District Chamber of Commerce 2022 Business Awards.
The awards were presented Oct. 19 during a banquet at the Olds College of Agriculture & Technology's Alumni Centre.
In total, nine awards were given out.
The Business of the Year award for 15 or fewer employees went to Mountain View Health and Wellness.
Tedd Charbonneau, former owner of Tedds Food Mart received the Business Ethics Award.
The People’s Choice Award was presented to Westview Co-op and the Mayfair Cinema received the President’s Award.
The Community Spirit award in the not-for-profit category went to the Olds Municipal Library.
Pinkal Patel of Prime Pharmacy was announced as the winner of the Exceptional Customer Service award.
Sixteen-year-old McKenzie Pokorny took home the Youth Employee of the Year award.
More than 160 people attended the event. MC Murray Elliott was thrilled with the turnout, noting organizers would have been happy if they’d sold a hundred tickets.
Time and time again, speakers talked about how great it was that members of the community could meet in person to celebrate the achievements of local businesses after more than two years of COVID.
“This year’s theme is Stand Out and Shine and I think that’s an appropriate theme in 2022,” Elliott said. “It’s been a rough few years and if you are in business, it’s a grind, isn’t it? So stand out and shine indeed.”
Business of the Year 16 or more employees and Community Spirit award for for-profit
Melanie Hepp, who along with her husband Brian introduced nominees, noted that the Boston Pizza franchise, owned by Craig Sutherland, has been in Olds for more than 20 years.
“They continually support local minor sports teams. In 2021 and 2022, Boston Pizza donated pizza sales to the Olds Amateur Football Association on their Football Day,” she said.
“This is cool, this is really cool,” Sutherland said as he accepted the Business of the Year award for 16 or more employees, adding that the award is due to the efforts of his staff.
Earlier, when he received the Community Spirit award for for-profit entities, he said that too, is due to his staff, but singled out two people in particular.
One was his wife. “Without her and her dedication to the business, we wouldn’t be here,” he said.
He also praised franchise general manager Christofer Nepomuceno.
Sutherland sang the town’s praises.
"I've lived in 32 towns in my life. This is the best town,” he said.
Community Spirit not-for-profit
Brian Hepp noted that the Olds Municipal Library has been serving the community since 1958.
“It’s a hub in the community where you can connect and grow without any expectation of monetary contribution,” he said.
“They provide an array of services and programs that support the community at all levels. They provide material and programming to support teachers and school libraries.
“The Olds Municipal Library has always supported the community.”
Lesley Moody, the library’s manager, accepted the award on behalf of the institution.
“Thank you everyone for this wonderful nomination and I definitely am so happy that we have a fantastic team at the library. So come see us, we have lots of programs as well as entertainment,” she said. “See you then.”
People’s Choice
Brian Hepp also introduced the People's Choice Award, saying that Westview Co-op has great customer service, supports many local groups and organizations, and that its employees always greet you with a smile.
President Harvey Walsh accepted the award for the organization.
“It’s been a couple of years of really pushing for customer service, thank you very much,” he said.
Exceptional Customer Service
Patel was thrilled to receive his award.
“Thank you everyone, thank you so much,” he said. “I just opened six months ago and I got this award.”
People who were found to have provided exceptional customer service during the past seven months were also announced.
Month by month they were: March: Joan Molitor of Sim’s Furniture; April: Ry McGibney of Gadgets Computers; May: Niki Brown of Dunrite Printing Services; June: Emily Sheehan of ConnectFirst Credit Union; July: Liam Brown and James Clark of Sim’s Furniture; August: Peat Patel of Prime Pharmacy and September: Connie Lemesurier of ConnectFirst Credit Union.
"You are all winners,” Melanie Hepp said.
Business Ethics Award
Melanie noted that Charbonneau operated Tedds Food Mart for 37 years before selling it in order to retire last year.
“He ran a thriving business and gave back to many worthy causes without hesitation,” she said.
“His remarkable work ethic, demonstrated after long days that often started at 4:30 a.m., served as an example to his staff.
“He's honest and honourable.
“Generations dined on Tedd’s subs, sausage rolls and everything else Tedd’s offered. He also fed many over the years who didn’t have the means to pay.”
She noted that in 2020, Charbonneau was recognized as a 25-year member of the Olds & District Chamber of Commerce.
The announcement that Charbonneau won this award sparked long applause.
“Thank you very much. I want to thank the organizing members of the chamber for reviving this great event, because I think it’s really important and It’s a wonderful opportunity obviously for a lot of us to network,” Charbonneau said.
Charbonneau thanked Elliott for having nominated him.
“It’s really, really special,” he said.
Charbonneau also thanked his “longtime, long-suffering staff” and his many loyal customers (including the Hepps) for enabling him to win the award.
“It’s all been very, very special and it’s been a great career and I’ve enjoyed the town of Olds. It’s just a very, very special place and we’re all lucky to be here. Thank you,” he said.
Business of the Year, 15 or fewer employees
Brian Hepp said Mountain View Health and Wellness owner Jessie Michaud offers customers affordable, quality service.
“He is a caring, truthful person with the best intentions for his clients and friends,” Hepp said. “He helps out the community through different initiatives such as helping the Olds hockey team with his services.”
Michaud got perhaps the loudest laughter and applause for a line in his acceptance speech.
“Thanks mostly to my patients, who, over the last few months when I took first over from Dr. Lentz convinced me that changing the name from Lentz Chiropractic to Jessie’s Crackhouse wasn’t the best,” he said.
Michaud also thanked his business colleagues and “my beautiful wife who is always there to support me.”
“This is the best place to live, we’re so glad that we came here. It’s just a wonderful place; best place in Canada in our opinion,” he said.
President’s Award
Melanie Hepp noted that Mayfair Cinema owners Louise and Jack Craig and family have operated the Mayfair Cinema for “a very long time.”
“Louise, you told me 40 years?” she asked.
"Well, I’ve been working there for 40 years,” Louise replied.
“Being able to contribute to Olds and surrounding communities for as long as they have is truly remarkable and shows commitment and dedication,” Hepp said.
“I’m sure most would agree that the theatre has brought to mind many happy memories of family outings and get-togethers.”
“The choice couldn’t be any better,” chamber president Doug Rieberger said: “Mayfair Cinema.”
That sparked whoops and sustained applause. Louise was visibly emotional.
"Thank you everybody, it means a lot," she said sparking more applause.
Youth Employee of the Year
Melanie Hepp noted that McKenzie Pokorny, 16, the Youth Employee of the Year, has been working at McDonald's for almost a year while attending high school.
“McKenzie is very much a people person who loves working with the public and her team at McDonald's,” she said.
“She is dedicated to her role (of) making customers feel at home. She takes pride in giving everyone an enjoyable experience.
“She is a great asset to her position at McDonald's and to the community.”
The announcement that Pokorny had won the award sparked loud cheers. Lots of her friends came up and took her photo holding it.
Town of Olds Mayor Judy Dahl addressed the crowd on behalf of the town.
She paid tribute to all the businesses and organizations and employees “for your courage to endure entrepreneurial ventures through the pressures of our Alberta economy.”
“Indeed, this is a grassroots community event that stands out and shines,” she said.
Rieberger also addressed the crowd.
“These are some of the best businesses in town in what they do,” he said.
Rieberger agreed it was “fantastic” that the community could get together and celebrate in person again.
“I’m seeing a lot of people I haven’t seen for a few years,” he said.
Crystal Piper, representing TD Canada Trust, the event’s diamond sponsor, echoed Dahl’s comments.
“While the future may be unknown and will create many challenges, it can also be an opportunity for those who are resilient and can embrace it,” she said.
“And we know that the local businesses in Olds are very skilled at this. They play a critical role in our community. They are drivers of economic growth and job creation and they help uplift the community.
"All of you are wonderful examples of what can be achieved with passion and sacrifice and make Olds a wonderful community to live, work and raise our families.”
The local band ‘Nuf Said provided entertainment.
