The 2022 Stettler Business and Citizenship Awards Gala is in the books.
Taking place Oct. 20, the Stettler Community Hall was a packed venue with both award winners and those attending to celebrate the winners.
Stettler Regional Board of Trade (BOT) special projects manager Donna Morris acted as emcee of the event. County of Stettler Reeve Larry Clarke brought greetings from the county, and Stettler Mayor Sean Nolls, who slid in just under the wire, brought greetings from the town.
Unable to be there in person, the local Member of Parliament for the region, Damien Kurek, sent greetings through a pre-recorded video message.
“It’s been a tough few years,” said Kurek, in his video.
“Perseverance lends itself to the true Alberta identity.”
After the greetings, dinner was served. Dinner was prepared by Theresa’s Catering, and as usual her and her team didn’t fail to impress by providing a large selection of salads, entrees and desserts to choose from.
Following supper was the entertainment. The entertainment for this edition of the Gala was provided by magician, juggler and entertainer Paul Issak who wowed the audience with his talents. Issak performed for around 45 minutes, ending his show by juggling three machetes while on top of an eight-foot-tall unicycle.
After the entertainment finished, it was time for the main event of the evening: the awards ceremony itself.
Kicking things off was the Eco Excellence Award, which was sponsored by the Heartland Beautification Committee and presented by Melanie Koch. The award is presented to a business or organization which works to reduce, reuse, recycle and “otherwise better the community for all who live here.”
With their focus on reducing or eliminating packaging, and on having refillable bulk containers available as an option, The Fresh Wife Soap Company was the winner of the 2022 award.
The next award up was Stettler’s Best Kept Secret.
The Best Kept Secret Award is presented to a business that “excels with the products and services they offer” with “minimal marketing proving that customer experience is the best form of advertisement. The award was sponsored by Auto Trust, and presented by Brad Wohlgemuth to C.R. Class. Ltd.
Third up was Customer Service Award. The award is presented to a business owner, manager or employee who “goes above and beyond” in providing the best in customer service.
Sponsored by J.T. Autobody, the award was presented by Joanne MacDonald to Clint Agema of Shell Stettler.
The fourth award to be presented was the Product and Innovation Award, and it went to a previous winner.
Presented to a business or organization that continually creates value through development of its “products, process, services, or technologies,” the award was presented to Lawlor Jewelry for their continual innovation. It is an honour that they have taken for a second time, earning it first in 2013.
The award was sponsored by Stettler Dodge and presented by Darren Benson.
Next up was the New Business of the Year Award, an award presented to a “new private Enterprise that has shown a successful opening” and “demonstrates a desire for growth and prosperity in the Stettler Community.”
The award was sponsored by Westland Insurance, and presented by Shannon Lukens to the owners of Ford’s Farmstead.
Sixth up was the Small Business of the Year Award. The award is presented to the business owner operating a “successful private enterprise” while “exemplifying an outstanding spirit and commitment to the Stettler Community.”
The award was sponsored by TD Bank Group, and presented by Gord Lawlor to The Shoe Closet and Boutique.
A final business award presented was the Business of the Year. Presented to a business owner operating a large, established company in the community while showing “spirit and commitment” to Stettler.
For 2022, the Business of Year Award was presented to Stettler Dodge. The award was sponsored by SolutionCorp Inc. and presented by Board of Trade executive director Byron Geddes.
Moving into the citizen’s of the year, the first award presented was Stettler’s Female Citizen of the Year, an honour bestowed on Gail Peterson for her outstanding dedication to the community.
The award was sponsored by Canalta Hotels and presented by Brandi Page.
Finally, the Male Citizen of the Year was award to Tom Campbell for his many years of dedicated service to the community.
The Male Citizen of the Year was sponsored by Vision Credit Union and presented by Wendy Kossowan.