Worthy salute

“And the Oscar goes to . . .”
Okay, okay. It’s not the glitz and glamour of the Academy Awards. But for the local business community, it’s the next best thing when the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce hosts its 19th-annual awards gala next Thursday night at La Place Rendez-Vous.
In a small town especially, the importance of a thriving business community cannot be understated. They pay taxes, employ people, and, of course, support a myriad of community events, causes, and teams through donations of cash and/or merchandise.
To see one night a year set aside to salute their contributions and efforts is commendable, and kudos to the local Chamber for not only starting this tradition but keeping it going for almost 20 years.
It’s a way to say thanks and congratulations on a job well-done to the owners who open their doors every day, the employees who serve us, the entrepreneurs who have faith in our community, and the volunteers who work so diligently behind the scenes.
This year’s nominees in the nine categories certainly represent a wide cross-section of businesses, both large and small. And with voting open to the public for the first time, the fact that more than 1,000 votes were cast indicates broad support for those up for awards and the annual gala itself.
Hopefully, that translates into a good turnout for the evening, which also is an major fundraiser for the Chamber of Commerce and the work it does.
No matter if you’re a famous actor, musician, or athlete, or the shopkeeper on your local main street, being recognized by one’s peers for outstanding work is a tremendous honour—and you can bet there will be more than a few bated breaths and sweaty palms when the winner of each category is announced next Thursday.
Good luck to all the nominees. But more important, thanks for all you do to make our community a better place to live.