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.