Shoppers in the area who have been to an outstanding business now have the chance to give them special recognition.
Nominations are being accepted for the third annual Lakeland Business of the Year Awards.
“Promoting and celebrating business excellence is just such an important thing. So often deserving businesses and not-for-profits go without recognition for long periods of time, and yet the work they do is so amazing and appreciated,” said Andrea Yaremie, executive director of the Bonnyville and District Chamber of Commerce. “I think it's important to give people an avenue like this to say ‘you know what, this business is amazing. They're doing such good things.' We just want to recognize them for that.”
A combined effort between the Bonnyville and Cold Lake Chambers of Commerce, the Lakeland Business of the Year Awards were based off of a long-running event in Cold Lake. Since joining forces, the Lakeland awards have been a great success – selling out both years.
“It's been really great. We've been really excited to partner and collaborate with the Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce. I think it enhances the experience and exposure of both communities, because we're so close a lot of times people in both communities are utilizing the businesses in both Bonnyville and Cold Lake,” said Yaremie.
Any businesses within the Bonnyville – Cold Lake area are eligible to be nominated for the awards, with anyone able to submit a nomination form. For those who receive utility bills, they can expect to find a nomination form in the mail with their bill.
“I would like to see 50 nominations. I don't think we normally get that many, but I would like to see a lot of nomination forms. It means that people are experiencing that excellent service in the businesses and being able to appreciate what they're doing,” Yaremie noted.
The five categories businesses can be nominated in are Outstanding Large Business, which was won by Choquet Insurance Groups in 2015; Outstanding Small Business, which went to Lakeland Arctic Spa; Most Promising New Business, awarded to Jennie's Diner; Outstanding Not for Profit, won by the Bonnyville Community Church; and Community Involvement, which was won by The Players Lounge last year. There is also an employee award for Exemplary Customer Service.
“If you've had a great experience in a business, or you've received a great type of service, it is really important to recognize those people because we are in that society where we hear more of the negative then the positive,” said Sherri Bohme, executive director of the Cold Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce.
She added, “Recognition of any kind is really important, but in this event you're being recognized by your customers or your manager, depending on the category.”
Once the nominations are in, they will be passed along to the judging committee. Businesses who are up for an award will also be asked to submit a package to the committee.
“It's really easy. We want to encourage people not to be intimidated, we're not asking people to write long essays or anything like that, just a little note about why they're nominating a business,” Yaremie explained.
The winners will be announced at the Business of the Year Awards event on Oct. 14. This year is Bonnyville's turn to host the evening affair, which will be located at the Centennial Centre.
The deadline for nominations for the 2016 Lakeland Business of the Year Awards is Aug. 15. Forms can be found at www.bonnyvillechamber.com. For more information, or to inquire about tickets for the event, contact the Bonnyville chamber 780-826-3252.
