The Stettler Regional Board of Trade was finally able to get together to celebrate the 2021 Business and Citizens of the year on March 10.
Originally slated for the fall of 2021, the awards gala was ultimately postponed due to the large rise in COVID-19 cases in the province last fall.
Held in The Hub instead of the Stettler Community Hall, the awards gala was smaller in scale than in years past, however still featured a fantastic catered meal by Centre Ice Concessions for those in attendance.
Alex Mykyta of Stettler’s own Hometown Productions and Media served as Master of Ceremony for the approximately 90-minute event.
In addition to the honourees, delegates to the event included MP for Battle River-Crowfoot Damien Kurek, Stettler Mayor Sean Nolls, and County of Stettler deputy Reeve Les Stulberg.
Due to prior commitments, Drumheller-Stettler MLA Nate Horner sent his regrets.
“It’s truly an honour to join together to celebrate as a community,” said Kurek.
“It’s so encouraging to be able to celebrate those businesses and individuals that go above and beyond to make Stettler such a central part of East Central Alberta.”
Ten businesses and individuals were honoured during the awards gala.
The first award presented was the Eco-Excellence award which was presented by Laura Norman on behalf of the Heartland Beautification Committee to the Jewel Theatre for their “Green Jewel” program.
Accepting the award behalf of Rairdan Services, who owns the Jewel Theatre, were managers Rose Chapman and Sandra Harvey.
The second award presented was Stettler’s Best Kept Secret, which was presented by Brad Wohlgeuth on behalf of award sponsor AutoTrust. The award was presented to Shannon Thibault of Dirt Road Pretty Clothing.
Third up was the Customer Service Award, sponsored by Stettler Learning Centre and presented by Laura Norman again.
The Customer Service Award was presented to John Bruce of Aspen Ford, who was quick to point out that the award was shared with the team at Aspen Ford and did not belong to him alone.
Kelly Hicks and Stettler Dodge sponsored the fourth award.
The Business Innovation Award was awarded to Danny Missikewitz for the redevelopment of his store from the Party Maxx brand to Home & Hobby.
Sponsored by J.T. Auto Body and presented by Joanne MacDonald was the fifth award of the evening, the Stettler Ambassador Award.
The Stettler Ambassador Award was presented to Sweet Home on Main, a business “never scared scared to showcase the community they call home,” said MacDonald.
Next up was Corporate Citizen of the Year award, which was presented to Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions and Sponsored by Westland Insurance.
The seventh award presented was the Small Business of the Year Award, sponsored by TD Bank.
Winning the 2021 award was Patchouli Mint and Spa, who brought their entire team on stage to accept the award.
The eighth of ten awards presented was Business of the Year, which was sponsored by Solution Corp. Inc. and presented by Board of Trade Executive Director Byron Geddes to John’s Men’s Wear, a business with over half a century in the community.
The final two awards presented were Female and Male Citizens of the Year.
Awarded to those who make positive impacts in the community and serve as sources of inspiration, the Female of Citizen of the Year was awarded to Tana Nixon and the Male Citizen of the Year was awarded to Al Campbell.
