Nominations sought for Chamber awards

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce once again will be presenting deserving businesses and individuals with special awards next month.
Its ninth-annual business awards banquet, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23 at La Place Rendez-Vous, will recognize the achievement of local businesses and the contributions they make to the economic growth and prosperity of Rainy River District.
“Nomination forms are now available throughout the district, and this is a great way for people to acknowledge the hard work and commitment that the local businesspeople provide to the community each and every day,” said Chamber manager Dawn Booth.
“We can sometimes take things for granted and this is just one way that we can show our appreciation to them,” she added.
“I encourage everyone to pick up a form and nominate that business who continued to grow and prosper, or that individual who has shown you extra special customer service over the years.”
Booth said the nomination form is very simple, requiring only the name of the business or individual being nominated and their contact information, along with a brief description of why they deserve the award.
Any business in Rainy River District is eligible to be nominated, and businesses are encouraged to nominate themselves. The nomination deadline is Friday, Oct. 1.
As in recent years, the categories include Business of the Year (1-15 employees); Business of the Year (16+ employees); Employee of the Year (private sector); Employee of the Year (not-for-profit); and Entrepreneur of the Year.
Rounding out the categories are the Northwest Training and Adjustment Board Employer Champion of the Year Award; Abitibi-Consolidated Safety Award (business and individual); Customer Service (business and individual); and Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award.
Nomination forms are now available at various locations across the district (including the Chamber office at 474 Scott St.), on-line at www.fortfranceschamber.com, and in upcoming editions of the Daily Bulletin and Times.
Forms also have been faxed out to Chamber members, although you do not have to be a Chamber member to nominate a business or individual.
For more information, call Booth at 274-5773.
The 2003 Business of the Year award winners were Home Suite Home (1-15 employees) and La Place Rendez-Vous (16+ employees).
Linda LaRocque of Maurice Fillion, CA was named Employee of the Year (private sector) while Jane Johnstone (Ontario Travel Centre) was picked as Employee of the Year (not-for-profit).
The Northwest Training and Adjustment Board Award went to Envision North.
The Abitibi-Consolidated Safety Award (business) was handed out to George Armstrong Co. while Jeannette Cawston, co-ordinator of the 2002 World Health Organization conference here, received the Abitibi-Consolidated Safety Award (individual).
The Customer Service awards went to Gagné Pharmacy (business) and Karen Sockolotuk of Stan’s (individual). Meredith Croswell, owner of Scrap-A-Bit in Emo, was named Entrepreneur of the Year.
The winner of the Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award was Gord McBride.