WESTLOCK — The Westlock and District Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its Business and Community Awards Gala next month and have announced the long list of nominees.
The third annual event takes place April 20 at the Westlock and District Community Hall and will see awards go to Westlock-based businesses and individuals in several categories, including exceptional customer service, community ambassador, renovation/restoration, business of the year, digital marketing, new business, innovation and two new categories this year — youth leadership and not-for-profit.
“It is an incredible list that showcases the excellence and diversity of our business community and Westlock community as a whole,” said chamber president Graeme Harrington. ”We’ve had at least as many (nominees) as prior years, if not more, so we’re thrilled about that.”
Harrington noted the two new award categories were created and chosen after feedback from chamber members and Westlock residents.
“They came from membership and the public as suggestions and we basically took all suggestions and brought them to the board,” he said. “Those were the two that we settled on to add this year.”
In one award category, the pioneer award, nominations are not being made public and are being kept under wraps until the award is presented on the night of the gala. The award has been presented twice before with the inaugural recipients Albert and Florence Miller and last year’s recipient Dwight Brown.
“They are always confidential nominations. That award is selected in the same way as the others, which is by the committee but we keep the nominations confidential primarily because there are a number of people that could be nominated year over year,” said Harrington, noting the pioneer award is a distinct honour and almost like a community legacy award. “So we wanted to treat it a little differently, so it’s a surprise.”
Harrington said the gala dinner is again being catered by Isobel’s Catering and entertainment this year includes the Grand Duelling Piano Show from Edmonton.
“We wanted to give a little bit of a different flavour to the event for the third year to keeps things lively,” said Harrington. “It’s excellent entertainment.”
