It may have been a new location and new format for the Battlefords Business Excellence Awards, but there were some familiar names among the winners.
Scott Campbell Dodge Ltd. was named Business of the Year Award at the Oct. 2 event. The runner-up was WPD Ambulance, who did not come away from the evening empty-handed as they took home a BBEX Award in the Community Contribution category.
This is the second time Scott Campbell Dodge took the top BBEX prize - the last time was in 2006.
"This is about our employees," said a smiling Scott Campbell to reporters. "They're the ones that make this operation what it is, make Scott Campbell Dodge what it is."
He credited their focus on customer service and on their efforts to give back to their community as reasons for their success.
This was the first BBEX Awards held at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts at the new Credit Union CUPlex, making the night even more memorable for Campbell, a major contributor to the project.
"I have to tell you I'm so proud that the field house is opening," said Campbell, who gave $150,000 for naming rights to one of the soccer fields at that component.
"I feel great about it, I feel proud that we're able to do it. I feel very proud. It's a huge accomplishment in my life to contribute that back to my community, and that's not something a business has to do."
Scott Campbell Dodge has been doing some building of their own at their location this year. They hope to be in to their energy-efficient new showroom by mid-December - coincidentally, around the same time the new field house is expected to open.
This was the 19th year of the BBEX Awards, held annually by the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce. But there were a few changes to the awards festivities this year, and not just with the new location.
For one, the "gala evening" had been moved from their traditional spring date to the fall. The event also featured hors d'oeuvres instead of the full dinners of the past, allowing the more than 300 guests to do more mingling.
The look of the BBEX Award itself captured the different feel of the night. Sisters Debbie Wells and Janice Stefan produced framed fused glass pictures that were presented to the award winners this year. That was a change from the oil paintings, sculptures and handcrafted miniature desks that served as awards in the past.
There was also a change to the award categories, with the new Micro Business category added and the Export Achievement category dropped this year.
The first Micro Business BBEX Award went to Chrysalis Yoga, a service-based yoga instruction business that has been operating for six years.
Recipient Barbarah Lavoie is the sole owner/employee and said she was proud to be the first winner in the category.
"Excellent, I love it," said Lavoie, who welcomed the addition of the category to the BBEX awards. "It's a good award to have - a good category."
The Heritage Award, recognizing businesses in the Battlefords who have demonstrated excellence over a long period of time, went to Maher Travel (1982) Ltd. Owner Barbara Schmidt accepted the award.
"It means a lot to me. I've been working for the company for 40 years," said Schmidt. "We've carried out the same tradition over the past 40 years of offering honest and reliable service."
Five finalists competed in the Community Contribution Award category: BMO Bank of Montreal, Battlefords Agricultural Society, Gold Eagle Lodge, M and M Meats, and the winner WPD Ambulance. Operations manager Jason Toovey accepted the award for WPD.
"We do a ton of community involvement throughout the whole year," said Toovey, with over 400 hours dedicated to the city and area over the past year, with employees giving of their own time "because they care about the Battlefords to do those things." He also pointed to the CUPlex as one of the items they did fundraising for.
The two nominees in the marketing award category were Norsask Farm Equipment Ltd. and McGuffy's News, Inc. It was McGuffy's that took the prize.
"I think it's very exciting, said Flo Gamble, who co-owns McGuffy's News along with her husband Roger. "It's been exciting to learn and grow and meet the people, so it's been great."
McGuffy's won a BBEX Award the previous year in the New Business Venture category.
This year in the New Business Venture category, open to businesses operating for between one and three years, Oil Can Charlie's Ltd. took the honors, topping nominees Battlefords Animal Hospital, Brio Boutique and Shared Secrets Top Trends and Leisure.
Oil Can Charlie's owner Jay Bottomley noted his business has been particularly well received and pointed to the distinct type of customer service they provide as the difference.
"I came up with the concept because I wanted to be something different," said Bottomley, pointing to the other generic quick-lube oil-change shops.
"I wanted it to be an experience for the customer," he said, pointing to the distinct outfits the staff wears, the décor and the "old fashioned customer service that we offer."
Finally, the BBEX Award in the customer service category went to an establishment that was in full view across from the Dekker Centre's windows. Gold Eagle Lodge won the award over fellow nominees Battlefords Animal Hospital, Bernier Construction and Design Ltd., Brio Boutique and Dairy Queen.
Despite the fact that Gold Eagle Lodge has received its share of honours over the years, including a recent Tourism Saskatchewan award for excellence, general manager Malcolm Anderson made it clear that winning was still not old hat for him.
"I've always been a competitor," said Anderson. "And I love it, and I love succeeding, and I then I love looking at the next goal ahead of me, because you can't just become complacent."
Anderson pointed to cleanliness and customer service, particularly personalized service, as crucial for convincing guests to return, and says he and his staff continuously attend courses to improve themselves and bring new ideas to the job.
