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Support and partnership strengthens local businesses: Mermaid Ball

The annual Mermaid Ball and Business Awards was held on Oct. 12
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Attendees at the Mermaid Ball had the opportunity to take pictures in a photo booth featuring a living statue of a mermaid. Photo by Megan Roth/Sylvan Lake News.

Building a business community and supporting each other is the key to a successful and thriving local economy, according to the winners of Friday night’s business awards.

The Sylvan Lake Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Mermaid Ball and Business Awards, Oct. 12 where the general overtone of the night was the continued need for support.

Chamber President Keri Pratt said in her address it is through working together and supporting Sylvan’s businesses that we will see the economy grow.

“I know through the support we show each other, and it can be seen here [at the Mermaid Ball] we will continue to grow stronger as a community,” Pratt said.

Mayor Sean McIntyre echoed the sentiment during his address on behalf of the Town and added partnership between businesses and other parts of the Town are equally as beneficial.

The Town sponsors and supports local business in many ways, according to McIntyre.

“We rent office space to the Chamber in the Municipal Government Building as well as encourage further economic growth through the Sustainable Waterfront Area Redevelopment Plan, which is a bit of a mouthful so we started calling it ReImagine Sylvan,” McIntyre said.

He continued on to say the partnerships developed through the Town and the Chamber are important to growing the community and local businesses. This partnership is also beneficial to Vicki Kurz, the Town’s economic development officer, who works to grow potential investment in Sylvan Lake, he said.

While some of the business owners and employees said a quick ‘thank you’ in response to winning an award, most echoed the ideas from Pratt and McIntyre.

The team from Sylvan Lake Sylvan Lake Physical Therapy and Sporty Injury Clinic, who won Small Business of the Year, said they were grateful to have a business in Sylvan Lake where the business community was so supportive of one another.

This year the Sylvan Lake Business Awards had 11 awards, with one new award added, which was previously awarded through a different platform.

The Chamber of Commerce added the Sylvan Lake FCSS Youth Friendly Business Award. This award goes toward a business in town that provides a positive place for local youth.

Part of the requirements for the award is the business must hire young people regularly as well as supporting their development and skills for the future.

The nominations for the award came strictly from youth in the community, and they then voted on the business. There was 175 nominations cast and more than 300 youth voted for the award.

Timber Coffee was awarded the first ever Sylvan Lake FCSS Youth Friendly Business Award.

Dan Jensen, accepted the award and said it was a great honour.

“Not a lot of people realize we are a non-profit and part of Youth Unlimited,” said Jensen. “It means so much to be recognized for helping the youth in our community, because they are our next generation and will be making changes in our world behind us.”

The winners from the Sylvan Lake Business Awards are:

Employee of the Year

Matthew Bagnall, Murdoch D’Mello Insurance & Financial Solutions, The Co-operators

Green Business

Booster Juice

Marketing Excellence of the Year

NexSource Power Inc.

Visitor Friendly

Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash

Customer Service Excellence

Sylvan Steam and Spa

Young Entrepreneur

Dan Jensen, Timber Coffee Co.

Business Woman of the Year

Jennifer Goodall, Saks Shoes

New Business of the Year

Shift Power Yoga

Small Business of the Year

Sylvan Lake Physical Therapy

Large Business of the Year

NexSource Power Inc

Sylvan Lake FCSS Youth Friendly Business

Timber Coffee Co.

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Hundreds of people gathered at the Sylvan Lake Community Centre on Oct. 12 for dinner and the presentation of the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards at the 2018 Mermaid Ball. Photo by Megan Roth/Sylvan Lake News.
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The Employee of the Year award sponsored by Buckwildz was presented to Matthew Bagnall of Murdoch D’Mello Insurance & Financial Solutions, The Co-operators. The awards were presented by Keri Pratt, president of the Chamber, and Jason Rathwell from the Business Development Bank of Canada. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News
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The Young Entrepreneur award sponsored by Adrenalin Motors was presented to Dan Jensen, Timber Coffee Co. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News
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The Business Woman of the Year award sponsored by the Strategist Group was presented to Jennifer Goodall, Saks Shoes. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News
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The Green Business of the Year award sponsored by Rowanoak Law Office was presented to Booster Juice. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News.
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The award for Customer Service Excellence sponsored by Servus Credit Union was presented to Sylvan Steam and Spa. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News
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The Marketing Excellence of the Year award sponsored by Clearview Glass was presented to NexSource Power Inc. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News
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The Visitor Friendly award sponsored by the Town of Sylvan Lake went to Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News
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The New Business of the Year award sponsored by Canadian Tire went to Shift Power Yoga.
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The Small Buisness of the Year award sponsored by Collins Barrow went to Sylvan Lake Physical Therapy. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News
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The Large Business of the Year award sponsored by RBC Royal Bank went to NexSource Power Inc. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News
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This year the Chamber added the new Sylvan Lake FCSS Youth Friendly Business award for a business that hires younf workers, provides a safe place and supports youth programs and schools. It was nominated and voted on by the youth of Sylvan Lake. The inaugural award was presented to Timber Coffee Co. Photo by Kaylyn Whibbs/Sylvan Lake News