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| From the Opening of Saturday's Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards |
The Prince Rupert And District Chamber of Commerce honoured a lot of excellence and some strong perseverance for the last year, hosting their annual Business Excellence Awards online this year, the Chamber's response to the challenges of COVID-19.
Opening with an impressive video montage of the community complete with a Game of Thrones like musical score, the near two hour program streamed live over the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page and featured a number of presentations on the evening, starting with a traditional welcome from Clarence Nelson who shared themes of learning from the elders and history of the North Coast.
The showcase event for the Commercial Sector also featured an address on the state of local business from Chamber President Michelle Boomars-MacNeil.
The Chamber president noted of the challenges of the year, with a change to how business has operated and new words like bubbles, masks, virtual meetings all entering the lexicon of local chamber
She paid tribute to the health care professionals in our community, as well as those in the essential services and offered some thanks for all that they have done in the community.
Ms. Boomars-MacNeil noted of the businesses that have ceased operations recounting some of the challenges that made for their decisions to exit the business community.
She noted how COVID has changed the way business operates and compared the arrival of virus as an invitation to a party that we would rather have passed on, but have worked together to overcome some of the many challenges that were put up to them.
Also making appearances as part of the evening's presentation and speaking on the path ahead for the business community were Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain and Port Edward Mayor Knut Bjorndal and MLA Jennifer Rice.
The hosts for the evening were members of the Rising Starts mentorship program who provided for the introductions of the nominees and announcement of the winners; while members of the Chamber and local business or industry outlined some themes on the local situation as they introduced each category.
Ken Veldman from the Prince Rupert Port Authority delivered the Diamond Sponsor Address to those viewing from home or at watch gatherings (using social gathering measures) around town.
You can refresh your memory on the nominees here.
The 14 category winners as announced on Saturday night included the following:
Community Involvement
Good Times Games
Dining Distinction Award
The Pavilion Restaurant
Home Based Business Excellence
Nails by Diane Marie
Indigenous People's Entrepreneurship
Uncle Robbie's Food Truck
Individual Customer Service
James Barker -- Sunset Lounge/Save on Foods
Industry and Manufacturing Excellence
Entire Automotive Services
Not for Profit of the Year
Prince Rupert Gymnastics
Professional Excellence
Prince Rupert Optometry
Retail Excellence
Eddies News
Rookie Business of the Year
Five Corners Cannabis
Tourism and Accommodation
The Crest Hotel
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Ansens's Consignment
Excellence in Responding to Unexpected Challenges
Wheelhouse Brewing Company
Business of the Year
Ansen's Consignment
You can relive the announcements from Saturday through the Facebook Restream link here.
For more items of note from the Commercial sector across the Northwest see our archive page here.
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