The Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce is getting ready to recognize the top businesses in Drumheller.
Next week, on the evening of Wednesday, October 23, the Chamber of Commerce will roll out the red carpet and are inviting businesses and residents to join them for the second annual Business Excellence Awards.
The banquet and awards will be held at the Badlands Community Facility.
“It’s a great chance to celebrate the hard working business owners and employees in Drumheller,” said Roxanne Clark, office and membership coordinator of the Chamber of Commerce.
John Shoff, left, was the recipient of the 2012 Business Professional of the Year Award, presented by then Chamber president Ed Mah. This year, Linda Digby, Colin Kloot, and Ryan Semchuk have been named finalists for the award, which will be presented at the Business Excellence Awards on Wednesday, October 23.
There are six award categories this year; small, medium, large, and rookie businesses of the year, Business Professional of the Year, and Employer Choice Award.
Bits and Pieces Keepsake Quilting, Sears, and Sublime Food and Wine were named finalists for the Small Business of the Year award.
In the medium business category, 99.5 Drum FM, Atlas Coal Mine and For Sight Vision Centre were named finalists.
The finalists in the large business category are Canadian Tire, Freson Bros. IGA, and McDonalds.
There have been a few new businesses who have set up shop in Drumheller. Dry Canyon Collectables, Lowleft Golf, and Made in the Shade were chosen as finalists for the Rookie Business of the Year.
The prestigious Business Professional of the Year will be award to one of three finalists; Linda Digby, Colin Kloot, or Ryan Semchuk.
The Employer Choice Award will either go to ATB Financial, Atlas Coal Mine, Little Explorers Child Care, McDonalds, or Reality Bytes.
In total, roughly 100 nomination forms were submitted. A committee was assembled to parse the nominations down to several finalists in each category.
“We struck a committee who then look over all the nominations and, using some internal criteria, they selected the finalists,” said Clark.
Many of the finalists this year appeared last year as well.
“We see a lot of the same names from last year, which is great, because it means those businesses are doing a great job,” said Clark. “We had some very deserving new names pop up, too. It’s nice to see them get recognition as well.”
Those interested in attending the awards are encouraged to call the Drumheller Chamber office at 403-823-8100 or visit www.drumhellerchamber.com for tickets.
