Duane Hicks
The stars may have been out in Hollywood on Sunday for the Academy Awards, but district businesses were in the limelight a few nights earlier for the 16th-annual Bell Business Awards banquet.
Nick Beyak of Sunset Country Ford Sales Ltd. was named Entrepreneur of the Year.
Beyak, who took over ownership of the dealership in January, 2011, said he sees a bright future for local business.
He conceded there’s been a lot of talk of tough economic times, but he did a lot of homework before coming back to Fort Frances and found there’s hundreds of millions of dollars in this community.
“Northwestern Ontario’s been ‘dying’ for 10 years since I’ve working up here, and it’s not dead,” Beyak noted.
“It’s alive and well.
“As I said, there’s so much money around here that we can all take advantage of provided we can have a good product and good service,” added Beyak. “I see nothing but an unbelievably bright future.
“So I hope you feel the same way, and have a great evening.”
Beyak thanked his staff, specifically operations manager Terry Mueller, for making the past year “a great year,” as well as his wife, Claire, for supporting him.
Other nominees for Entrepreneur of the Year included Dean Bethune and Todd Bruyere (Saulteaux Consulting & Engineering), Travis Glowasky (Studio Gibbous), Dawn Gustafson (LifeTime Smiles Preventive Oral Health Care), Naicatchewenin Development Corp., and Erin Wood (Simplicity Professional Hair and Body Care).
Meanwhile, Gillons’ Insurance was named Business of the Year Award (16+ employees).
Ted Fitzgerald, who accepted the award by Simeon Nussbaumer of Bell Aliant, thanked whoever nominated Gillons’, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Bell for putting on the banquet, and congratulated all of the other nominees and winners of the evening.
Fitzgerald said he spoke on behalf of the staff at Gillons’ “because truly those are the people that make the company what it is today,” and who will endeavour to continue to improve that level of service into the future.
Also nominated for that award were Ainsworth, the Fort Frances Times, and Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc.
Betty’s of Fort Frances was named Business of the Year Award (1-15 employees).
Other nominees for that honour included Chown and Botsford Dentistry, Emo Feed Service, Lakeland Personnel, Simplicity Professional Hair and Body Care, and The UPS Store.
The Safety Award (Business or Individual), presented by Jordie Rheault of Ainsworth Engineered Canada, was given to the Town of Fort Frances.
“The Town of Fort Frances always has the safety of its residents as a major priority, and we feel safety is an area that must be dealt with proactively,” said Coun. Andrew Hallikas, who accepted the award on the town’s behalf.
“Safety is a major concern in all initiatives that the town undertakes,” he stressed.
“It is not possible to have good quality of life without the safety of all being taken into account in our community.”
Coun. Hallikas said the new wildlife fencing at the airport, the community safety zone in the west end of town, and improvements to certain watermains to keep the quality of water potable were a few of the town’s safety-related ventures in the past year.
He added the town has several partners in safety, including the OPP, Safe Communities Rainy River and District, both school boards, the Northwestern Health Unit, and fire department, among others.
Other nominees for the award were Leon DeGagne Ltd. and Lakewood Tire.
The Town of Fort Frances Accessibility Award, presented by Coun. Hallikas, was given to Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc.
The Rainy River District School Board also was nominated for that award.
Gaby Hanzuk, who has been involved with Special Olympics for 25 years, was honoured with the Tony Beyak Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award.
“If I had to say thank you to all the people who support [Special Olympics], I’d have to say thank you to the hundreds of volunteers that make me look great,” Hanzuk said after accepting the award from Nick Beyak, son of the late Tony Beyak.
Hanzuk thanked her husband and children, who put up with 25 years of her volunteering with Special Olympics, meaning they spent a lot of without her, she added.
“The friends that I met along the way, the long-time friends, are amazing and irreplaceable,” she noted.
Hanzuk sees the 50 or so athletes she’s worked with over the decades as extensions of her family, adding she has to give credit to her dear friends, Roz Calder and Ellen Caul.
“I never want to be a Special Olympics volunteer without the two of them because they are my right hand, my left hand, and they’re part of heart.
“I want to say thank you to them.”
Other nominees for that award included Chad Canfield, Rochelle Mosbeck, and Joelle Paull.
Jeff Savage of BDO Canada LLP was named Employee of the Year, receiving the award from Marlene Deschamps of the Westend Weekly.
Savage thanked Jon Evans, Marie Allan, and Forch Mauro at BDO for giving them the opportunities they have, giving special thanks to Evans, calling him “the best mentor that a person could wish for.”
He recalled that he started working at BDO six years ago straight out of university and they have given him opportunities to succeed, providing him with the resources to graduate and become a designated chartered accountant.
Savage also appreciated the relationships he has built up with clients over the years, and gave heartfelt thanks to his fiancée and family for their support as he worked his way through the designation process.
The other nominees for that award included Brenda Allan (CIBC), Anne-Marie Armstrong (Métis Nation of Ontario), Heather DeGagne (Shoppers Drug Mart), Duane Hicks (Fort Frances Times), Judy Kielczewski (Betty’s), Tana Mann (CIBC), and Linda Meadwell (93.1 The Border).
This year’s Business Woman of the Year Award went to Erin Wood of Simplicity Professional Hair and Body Care.
“First of all, it is an honour just to be nominated, but I am going to thank my staff because without them, I wouldn’t have the salon I have today,” Wood said after receiving her award from Heather Johnson of the local Business Women’s Network.
She also thanked her family and friends, as well as her clients “because they continually support me and my salon every day.”
Others nominated for that honour included Shanda DeGagne-Begin (Leon DeGagne Ltd.), Lillian Gerley (The UPS Store), Lisa Jodoin (Scentsy), Kathy Judson (Re/Max Realty), and Cecile Lavigne (Squeek E Kleen).
Tannis Drysdale was honoured with the James Paul Award this year—a rare award given to individuals or businesses for their outstanding contribution and years of dedication to the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce.
“Thank you so very much for the award,” said Drysdale, who was presented the award by Chamber president Mark Caron.
In addition to being Chamber of Commerce president in 1997 and Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce president in 2002 and 2003, Drysdale’s advocacy for not only Rainy River District, but Northwestern Ontario, has been reflected in the numerous boards and organizations she’s been part of over the years, noted Caron.
These include the Rainy River Future Development Corp., Northwestern Ontario Development Network, Fort Frances council, Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, Junior Achievements, Northern Ontario Parks Board, the Northern Ontario Grow Bonds Corp., and the Ontario Forestry Coalition.
Drysdale also remains keenly interested in politics, has managed several campaigns at several levels, and recently was elected to a provincial board of a political party as vice-president responsible for Northern Ontario.
But more specifically, her work for the local Chamber of Commerce is the main reason she is deserving of the James Paul Award, stressed Caron, adding “this work with the Chamber of Commerce has shown that the spark of entrepreneurship and the spirit of business is alive and well in Northwestern Ontario.”
Drysdale has sat on every Chamber committee at one time or another, and helped out with everything from the home and leisure show, “Quest for the Best,” and kids’ activities for the Little Amik Winter Carnival.
“During difficult times, she’s returned to the board and helped dig our organization out of the red,” noted Caron, adding only Drysdale could make Chamber dollars to become a reality and then convince local banks into buying them.
Caron also said Drysdale has developed so many valuable business contacts, she is the “go-to person” and “truly the premiere business advocate for Fort Frances and all of Northwestern Ontario.”
Customer Service Award (Individual) was given to Laurie Webb-Brown of Tim Hortons.
“I take pride in what I do. I love my job and I love seeing everyone every day,” said Webb-Brown, who was handed the award by Laureen Vandetti of Good Impressions Printing.
“Thank you so much,”
Other nominees for that award included Andrea Avis (Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre), Nisa Blase (Dairy Queen), Krista Kellar (Citi Financial), Steve Lenart (Bell Aliant), Sandra McNay (Masquerade Rentals), and John Pierce (Fort Frances Times).
Fort Frances Dental Centre was honoured with the Customer Service Award (Business).
“I have to say that not many people have a special mind like myself, and actually enjoy not only going to the dentist but having work done,” said Fort Frances Dental Centre manager Sherry Lessard, who received the award from Chris Benz of TD Canada Trust.
“There’s not many of you out there so for us to get this award, we’re going to remember this forever,” she added.
“It’s a great, great accomplishment, not only winning but being nominated—we are going to celebrate this with our staff at a later time.
“Thank you to our patients for entrusting us to your personal space,” said Lessard, eliciting more than a few laughs from the crowd.
Also nominated in that category were Boston Pizza, Sunset Country Ford Sales Ltd., and Webb’s Wholesale.
The Small Business Trainer of the Year award went to M.L. Caron Electric.
Other nominees in that category included ACO Electric, Ryan Mason Contracting, Rusty Myers Flying Service, and World of Water.
Computer business SKS Unlimited, owned by Steve Sinclair, was granted the Home-Based Business Award, which was given out for the first time this year.
“I really don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting this,” admitted Sinclair.
“My customers are more than just that. They’re people I respect,” he stressed.
“I try to meet their needs.
“I am just so touched that they would nominate me,” Sinclair added. “I am even more touched—well, I am sure if you talk to any of them, they would say I am touched,” he joked.
“It’s just a real honour to receive this award. I am glad it’s a double-door so my head will fit through as I am going out.
“This is something I will cherish for a long time,” continued Sinclair. “And it will be a goal to provide even better service to my customers.
“That’s what I provide—service—and without them I wouldn’t have a business.
“Here’s looking to the future.”
Also nominated for that award were It’s All in the Details (Stephanie Logan), Inga Design (Inga Friesen), Kirsty’s Intergalactic Daycare Service (Kirsty Sinclair), Scentsy (Connie Hendrickson), and Scentsy (Lisa Jodoin).
More than 150 people attended the gala last Thursday at the Adventure Inn, which was emceed by Dr. Bruce Lidkea of Lidkea Optometry, the 2011 Business of the Year (1-15 employees).
Dave Ashworth, of Musik by Dave, provided musical entertainment, including a song about event sponsors, sung to the tune of Dr. Hook’s “The Cover of the Rolling Stone.”
