Some of Morinville’s businesses were on top of their game Thursday night.
The Morinville & District Chamber of Commerce celebrated its fifth annual awards gala at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre on Oct. 17.
The Monopoly themed evening, Chamberopoly, took off with a formal dinner and entertainment by comedians Donovan Workun and Mark Meer of Atomic Improv. Then chamber president and monopoly man Simon Boersma – dressed in hat, suit and grey mustache – took to the stage to recognize local successes.
“I think we have to celebrate success to celebrate companies and what happens in the community especially with knowing that entrepreneurship is what brings communities to life,” said Boersma in an interview ahead of the event.
J’Lynn Esthetics was the winner of this year’s Home-Based Business Award. Owners Jen O’Connor and sister Lacey Allen said their esthetics and manicure business had been nominated before and won the award once, in 2011.
“It feels fantastic, really fantastic,” said Allen. “You feel more appreciated too. It makes you want to keep going when you know that people appreciate what you are doing.”
Valerie Ralph, manager of the Morinville ATB Financial branch, presented the sisters with their award. ATB Financial later received the Community Service Award.
The Small Business Award was presented to Atlas Premium Home Development, while Sheldon Fingler of Infinite Event Services accepted the Medium Business Award.
After 196 dog years in business, Champion Petfoods won their first award in Morinville that night, taking hold of the Large Business Award. David Marshall, director of planning and development, said he didn’t even know they were nominated.
“It feels great,” he said. “We are an award winning company but this is our first time to win a Morinville award so that’s exciting.”
The Legacy Award went to law firm Putnam and Lawson, while the winner of the Youth Entrepreneurial Spirit Award was Rory Turner with the Morinville Library. The Morinville Food Bank Society received the Non Profit of the Year Award.
Two First Nation Spirit of Business awards went to professional artist Leo Arcand and Delphine Bruno of Rez Boyz.
A sculptor of contemporary Canadian Aboriginal art for 22 years, Arcand said he has worked on the reserve for many years and felt surprised when he was nominated for an award.
“It was a good feeling to be recognized from your community for something that you enjoy doing,” he said.
Not being able to separate them in terms of work ethic, the chamber gave away another two awards for Chamber Volunteer of the Year to Paula Hittinger and Heather Folkins.
Boersma said the two have worked with the chamber for ten years, and always offer a helping hand.
“They work so hard together and they are such amazing people and they’ve really given to the chamber for so long,” he said. “And again today they were here to help and they are not even on the board.”
Fifteen-year membership awards given out that night went to the Morinville Free Press, Champion Petfoods, Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools, and Sturgeon County. The Morinville Veterinary Clinic, Drayden Insurance and Linda Getzlaf of Re/Max Realty accepted 20-year membership awards.
Boersma said votes for each nominee and winner were cast by the community and kept secret until the event. He added the gala was a full success and people were very gracious.
“We just have a fabulous group of business people here in the community and it’s just awesome to work with them,” he said.
