The Battlefords Business Excellence Awards took place Tuesday at the Dekker Centre and it was Ilta Grain Inc. who went home the big winners.
Ilta Grain Inc. took home the award for Business of the Year. The Business of the Year was selected out of all the nominees up for awards at the BBEX Awards at the Dekker Centre, put on by the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce.
The business is a leading exporter of grain throughout the world, with two plants in North Battleford.
Accepting the honour was Steven Ulven, Saskatchewan project manager for the business.
“It’s an honour to be Business of the Year,” he said, particularly crediting the people who provide the service.
“It’s about people and relationships,” said Ulven.
Winners were revealed in the other categories and they included the following:
In the Community Contribution category the winner was Scott Campbell Dodge Ltd. General manager Trent Gadzke accepted on behalf of the business.
“I’m very proud”, he said, adding that Scott Campbell “has always been active in the community since he moved here 15 years ago.”
Other nominees in the category were Gutters Bowling and Game Centre, and Ultra Print Services Inc.
For Micro Business, the BBEX winner was Action Realty ASM Ltd., Alberta Mak, broker-owner and Tia Baker, salesperson, were on hand to accept.
Mak called the award “incredibly humbling and very exciting,” noting there were a lot of other nominees in the category. Other nominees were Aaron M. Cadrin – Investment and Insurance, Aurora Boutique, CrossFit North Battleford, and Nova Fitness Centre.
In Marketing, the BBEX went to North Battleford Hyundai. Quentin Marjoram, the business’s comptroller, was on hand to accept the award.
Other nominees were Caleb Village, and Home Building Centre of North Battleford.
For New Business Venture, the winner was Aaron M. Cadrin – Investment and Insurance.
Cadrin was on hand to accept the award, one of two categories in which his business was nominated. He said his business put “effort and pride into customer relations” and is looking to be established in the community for the long term.
Other nominees in this category were Battlefords Hearing Centers Inc., CrossFit North Battleford and Dental on Main.
For Customer Service, the BBEX went to Caleb Village, which was another business that had been up for two nominations. Shannon Langley, general manager, accepted on behalf of the business, the retirement village on the former Kinsmen Aquatic Centre site that now has 108 residents.
Other nominees were Blend Restaurant, Bralin Technology Solutions, Four K Auto Service, Nova Fitness Centre & Massage, North West College, Scott Campbell Dodge Ltd. and The Cup Café & Bakery.
In Battlefords’ Best Employer category, the BBEX went to Innovation Credit Union. Jay Crockett, people division specialist for Innovation Credit Union, accepted the award.
Other nominees were Ilta Grain Ltd. and North Battleford DQ Grill and Chill.
The other category is the Heritage Award category, which is the only category in which the recipient is announced prior to the BBEX Awards event. This year the Heritage Award went to Sallows and McDonald / Wilson and Zehner Funeral Home.
“This award means a lot to the funeral home and the community as well,” said T’Neale Laycock, funeral director Sallows and McDonald / Wilson and Zehner Funeral Home, who accepted the award along with fellow funeral director Martin deBussac. The business has roots in the Battlefords going back 109 years.
There was one more announcement at this year’s BBEX Awards. The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce announced Kristian St. Amant, a student at North West College, was this year’s recipient of the Stan Wychopen Memorial BBEX Scholarship.
