Staff
Whether they’ve been on stage before or are new the spotlight, some local businesses are getting primed for the 14th-annual Bell Business Awards coming up this Saturday at the Adventure Inn here.
This year’s gala drew a total of 56 nominees, a couple of which were nominated in more than one category.
The nominees for Business of the Year (1-15 employees) include Causeway General Insurance, Kathy’s Catering, Northern Lights Credit Union, Northridge Funeral Home, and The UPS Store.
“It’s a great honour to be nominated, and we’re all very appreciative of the time somebody took to write out an nomination,” said Marla Thomson, branch manager of the Northern Lights Credit Union here.
“It’s nice to be recognized for what we do in this community for financial services. . . .
“It’s an honour to be recognized, and if we do win, it’s a bonus,” she added.
Thomson noted the Northern Lights Credit Union (the local branch and its counterparts elsewhere in the region) was nominated for Business of the Year (16+ employees) back in 2000, but that year the honour went to Gillons’ Insurance Brokers/Holmlund Financial Services.
Thomson, who served on the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce executive for several years, has been to Chamber awards quite a few times and said the gala is a worthwhile event.
“They can be fun, and sometimes they can be quite touching when you listen to the speeches of the people who win,” she remarked.
“Me and some my staff are definitely going to be attending.”
“We were pretty excited about [the nomination],” echoed Pam Buttner of Causeway General Insurance, adding Causeway hasn’t won a Chamber award in recent memory.
Meanwhile, the nominees for Business of the Year (16+ employees) include B93•FM/Northwoods Broadcasting, MacDonald Motors, RBC Bank, and West End Motors.
Entrepreneur of the Year nominees include Richard Bruyere (Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services), Pat Gartshore (Gartch’s Pub), Cheryl and Gary Gauthier (Harris Hill Resort), Vanessa Hebert (Solutions Bookkeeping Services), Blair and Donna Lowey (Lowey’s Greenhouse), Karen Melanson (Northern Frenchy’s), and Bev VanDrunen (ICS).
Good Impressions, Pharmasave, Ken and Laurie Pentney (Spruce Greek Golf Course), Cindy Allan and Debbie Perusse (Celeste’s Beauty Salon), and Kyle Glowasky (Kyle Glowasky Contracting) are up for the Small Business Trainer of the Year award.
Nominees for Business Woman of the Year include Tess Coish (Tess’ Kitchen), Lori Delbo (CEO Space Inc.), Tonia Dolph (Northland Kitchen & Design), Heather Johnson (RBC), Jennifer Krag (Moss Yoga & Barnswallow Photography), Jackie Lampi-Hughes (Energy Fitness), and Sandra McNay (Masquerade Decorating).
Bearskin Fort Frances, Boston Pizza, Lowes Furniture, and Tim Hortons have been nominated for Customer Service (Business).
“Being open for only a short period of time, and the fact customer service is very important to us, it is a very big honour for Elizabeth and I to have Boston Pizza nominated,” said Dale Fortes, who is co-franchisee of BP Fort Frances along with wife, Elizabeth Leishman-Fortes.
Those nominated for Customer Service (Individual) include Shari Humphrey (Jayne’s TLC), John Pierce (Fort Frances Times), Tyler Doerkson (A Buck or Two), Judy Webster (RBC), Michelle Elias (RBC), Joanne Bliss (RBC), Richard Bliss (Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board), Doug Anderson (Betty’s), Ben Dobransky (Lowes Furniture), and Bev VanDrunen (ICS);
Employee of the Year nominees include Grace Angus (RBC), Ryan Hood (Canada Safeway), Heather Johnson (RBC), Al McManaman (FFHS), and Laurie Witherspoon (Town of Fort Frances).
The Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year nominees include Jack Hedman (Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters) and John Pierce (youth hockey and soccer).
Nominees for the Safety Award (Business/Individual) include Canadian Tire, Hugh Dennis (Rainy River District Victim Services), Bill Gushulak (Fort Frances General Supply), and Dan McCormick (Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board).
And those nominated for the Accessibility Award include Joyce Cunningham (Fort Frances Public Library), Betty-Anne MacKintosh (Supervised Access Program), and Brenda Tullio (The Ear Clinic).
Tickets for the gala, which cost $45 each, are available at the Chamber office (474 Scott St.) Parties can reserve tables of eight.
Cocktails are at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30.
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce president Harold Wilson will emcee the evening, with the “Fort Harmonies” slated to entertain.
There also will be a silent auction featuring items donated by local businesses.
Anyone who has not donated an item, but wishes to do so, should give Chamber manager Anthony Mason a call at 274-5773.
