SUNDRE — The community recently celebrated a large pool of nominees during the in-person return of the annual Sundre Business Awards.
Hosted by the Sundre & District Chamber of Commerce in partnership with multiple sponsors on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Sundre Arts Centre – where there was nary a seat to spare – the invite-only wine and cheese awards ceremony shone a spotlight of appreciation on local businesses chosen by the community.
“We had so many nominees this year,” Monica St.Dennis, a chamber director, told the packed house prior to the awards presentations.
St.Dennis had previously told the Albertan that more than 70 businesses were nominated among approximately 50 forms that people had filled out.
She was also pleased by the near-capacity crowd for the facility’s table-and-chair setup.
“It was so wonderful to see all those people there,” she said.
“People were ready to have an event again,” she said, adding it was the first in-person business awards night since the start of the pandemic.
However, while she was confident there would be a good turnout, St.Dennis did not necessarily anticipate the near full house.
In the face of all the complications involved in hosting a live, in-person event last year, the chamber at the time had opted to above and beyond providing certificates to winning businesses also offered free promotions in the form of social media posts as well as advertising on the programmable rooftop digital scrolling display at the Main Avenue traffic lights.
Since then, St.Dennis said the chamber had received feedback from people who wanted to see the more formal, in-person gathering brought back as the preferred way to recognize and celebrate the business community.
Lois Warnock, chamber president, was joined by husband and Sundre mayor Richard Warnock to name the nominees and present the winners with a framed award certificate.
Lois expressed gratitude to everyone who came out to celebrate the contributions of local businesses to the community.
“That’s quite a list of nominees,” added Richard to applause.
“I was really pleased with the number of nominations that were filled out,” Lois, who credited St.Dennis for taking the organizational lead, told the Albertan.
The chamber aspired not only to celebrate businesses chosen as favourites by the community, but also offer recognition alongside a show of appreciation to all of those who were nominated, she said.
“That was the intent,” she said, adding she was happy with the evening’s format that offered everyone who attended a chance to get back out together to celebrate the business community, which has endured no shortage of hardships – and in some instances even success stories – over the past couple of years.
There among the 10 categories was one, two-way tie as well as two, three-way ties. And a small local business that only just started up one year ago this past September swept up three awards.
“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” said Tessa Crouch, the owner of Whispering Willows, adding she was especially caught by surprise to be named business of the year in the category of one to 10 employees.
Additionally, Crouch’s business won the Sundre Shines award – which is presented to a business owner who has invested the greatest effort to maintain and beautify their storefront, building or lot – and was also in a three-way tie for the Customer Service Award alongside The Farmhouse Market and RLB Roofing.
The other three-way tie was in the Spirit of Sundre category for businesses that go above and beyond in giving back to community through donations of time, effort, in-kind contributions and/or money. The winners were Freson Bros., Sundre Thrift Shop, and RLB Roofing.
The two-way tie was between Backwoods Bakery & Café as well as Friedt Flowers and Veggies for Employer of the Year.
There was also a big round of applause for Oliver Klassen, the operator of Olly’s Ice Cream and winner of Young Entrepreneur of the Year who residents have undoubtedly seen making the rounds through town this summer riding a bike offering a cool treat on those sweltering days.
“I wouldn’t make it one hour peddling around Sundre!” Richard said to some laughter.
Following is the complete list of the 2022 Sundre Business Awards winners.
2022 Sundre Business Awards winners
Business of the Year 1-10 Employees (19 nominees) - Whispering Willows
Business of the Year 11-plus Employees (16 nominees) - Sundre Home Hardware Building Centre
Rookie Business of the Year (eight nominees) - Elk & Owl Craft Coffee Co.
Legacy Award (18 nominees) - Sundre Home Hardware Building Centre
Employer of the Year, two-way tie (12 nominees) - Backwoods Bakery & Café and Friedt Flowers and Veggies
Employee of the Year (16 nominees) - Rebecca Hoekstra
Young Entrepreneur of the Year (five nominees) - Olly’s Ice Cream – Oliver Klassen
Customer Service Award, three-way tie (15 nominees) - Whispering Willows, The Farmhouse Market, RLB Roofing
Spirit of Sundre, three-way tie (13 nominees) - Freson Bros., Sundre Thrift Shop, RLB Roofing
Sundre Shines (five nominees) - Whispering Willows
