Duane Hicks
In a prelude to Valentine’s Day, district businesses were feeling the love during the 20th annual Rainy River District Business Awards last night at La Place Rendez-Vous.
Cloverleaf Grocery won the prestigious Business of the Year Award at the event.
Also nominated for that award were New Gold, CIBC, Hyatt’s Manion Lake Camp, and Betty’s of Fort Frances.
Carl’s Eatery won Customer Service Award (Business).
Also nominated for that award were 4 Your Pets, CIBC, Curves, Odawayigamig, RBC, and Resolution Vapes.
The Customer Service Award (Individual) went to Travis Chabot (Chabot’s All-Season Repair).
The 10 other nominees for that honour were Bethany Friesen (Gillons’ Insurance), Chef Carl Scott (Carl’s Eatery), Curran Strachan (CIBC), Curtis Carlson (Sunny Cove Camp), Darlyss Krienke (Rusty Myers Flying Service), Deb Zimmerman (Tompkins Hardware), Heather Armstrong (Celeste’s), Paula Jensen (Shear Serenity), Ramiro Matias (Sunset Medical), and Shelly Matias (RBC).
Christina Kantor (Suds & Tubs Laundromat/Mekong) was honoured with the Employee of the Year Award.
Alex Andrushuk (Curves) also was nominated for that award.
Meanwhile, Donna Lowey (Lowey’s Greenhouse & Market Gardens) was named Business Woman of the Year.
Other nominees alongside her were Teresa Hazel (Copper River Inn), Inga Friesen (Merge2), Jess Comeau (807 Grafix), Jennifer Horton (Curvy Chick), Angel Andrushuk (Curves), and Pamela Williams (4 Your Pets).
Pamela Williams (4 Your Pets) was voted as Entrepreneur of the Year, beating out Josh Leatherdale (Cheers U Brew) and Brian and Pia Beers (H2O 2 GO).
Stained Glass By Nichole (Nichole Lowey) won the Home-Based Business Award.
Merge2 (Inga Friesen) and 807 Grafix (Jess Comeau) also were in the running for that honour.
The Small Business Trainer of the Year Award went to M.L. Caron Electric Ltd, beating out Green’s Brand Source.
And finally, John Beaton was honoured with the Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award.
Also nominated for that award were Irene Laing and Leslie Feaver Danielson.
Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce second vice-president Paul Pirie (Tamarack Legal Services) also presented Travis Glowasky of Studio Gibbous with a special award to show their appreciation for his countless hours of volunteerism for, and die-hard dedication to, the Chamber over the years.
For a second year, the public voted for awards online. Nearly 1,600 votes were cast, compared to 1,021 last year.
The awards gala was emceed by Melanie Williams of Party Rock DJ Services, and featured pink and white Valentine’s Day decor by Gibson Design and a delicious dinner.
“The Wonderist” (Chris Funk), who has been featured on the TV show, “Penn & Teller Fool Us,” wowed the full house with his stage magic.
