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Morinville businesses honoured

The Morinville Chamber of Commerce honoured the town's high rollers last Wednesday evening with a Las Vegas casino-themed Business Awards Gala.

The Morinville Chamber of Commerce honoured the town's high rollers last Wednesday evening with a Las Vegas casino-themed Business Awards Gala.

"Recognizing businesses that contribute so much to the community is our chance to show our appreciation for everything that the businesses do within our community," said chamber president Sheldon Fingler, last week.

"It's so important how local business affects a community and how much they do for a community. I think it's important for everybody to recognize that those small businesses — those big businesses, their name is on the back of a soccer jersey as the child runs across the field, it's on the back of a hockey jersey as a player skates down the ice and I think business contributes far more than just giving you the opportunity to shop in their facility," he said.

During the sold-out ceremony last week, awards were handed out to the Morinville Public Library for Best Non-Profit Organization, to Crackmasters for Best Home-Based Business and to the Flower Shop for Best Small Business 2010.

"We were really shocked, and quite pleasantly surprised," said Flower Shop owner Charlene Parrent.

The Flower Shop was named Best Small Business in 2009 as well.

"I have a really loyal client base and I think we are able to provide that customers service that a lot of the bigger places aren't," she noted.

Other award winners included Kanga and Roo's Childcare Centre, which was named Best Medium Business and Morinville Vision Care, which won for Best Large Business.

The 2010 Community Service Award went to Investors Group.

This year the Morinville Veterinary Clinic, which has been in business since 1977, picked up the People's Choice Award.

"Of all the awards they could have given us, it probably means the most to us and the reason that it means the most to us is because it is the people that chose," said owner Lucille Landals.

"We deal with people and their pets constantly and in matters where the animals are really ill or even in cases where we have euthanasia, and those things that have to happen, it's a very difficult time for the owners. That's where we always stretch ourselves to meet that need," she explained.

"We're all animal owners ourselves and we're connecting with you on that level."

New business wanted

While some businesses in Morinville have had to close their doors over the last few years, there has also been some good news for the business community, such as the announcement, earlier this year, that Subway had been named Franchise of the Year for North America.

"For Subway to recognize Morinville as the Franchise of the Year for all of North America is incredible. It's absolutely incredible," said Fingler.

"It almost seems like there is somewhat of a life cycle, new ones come in and old ones are leaving," he said.

Fingler said the community needs to find a way of bringing and keeping more businesses in Morinville.

"We've got to get the business community stronger."

The community's growing population and new housing starts hitting high numbers are both good incentives for business owners looking to open up shop in Morinville, he added.

"Morinville proves to be an active community in regards to business and we've got many, many success stories in Morinville and we're looking to have many more. We're definitely looking for more business."

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