On Friday, October 21, 150 plus filled the ballroom at the Fernie Best Western to celebrate the best in Fernie and announced the winners for the 2016 Community and Business Excellence Awards sponsored by CanAus Coal Limited. The evening started with welcomes from MP Wayne Stetski, Mayor Mary Giuliano, and Chamber President Sheila Byers.
Kelsey Ramsden, 2012 and 2013 female entrepreneur of the year, shared an inspiring message about Risk, the other four letter word. She inspired the audience to push through those little things holding you back. Following Ramsden key note, the awards were presented.
And the winners are:
Citizen of the Year
Laura Nelson
Volunteer of the Year
Karen Tse and Graeme Nunn
Spirit of Fernie
Outdoor Connections
Community Tourism Achievement
Fernie RV Resort
Outstanding Customer Service
Super 8 Fernie
New Business of the Year
Kettle Black Bartending
Entrepreneur of the Year
Marsha Churchill
Team of the Year
Mow and Snow – Landscape Team
Employer of the Year
A tie this year –
Ann’s Your Independent Grocer
Super 8 Fernie
Fernie Business of the Year
Isosceles Business Systems
People’s Choice Award
Three Sister’s Day Spa
Chamber Business Excellence
Capasiti Consulting
Community Leadership Award
Spa 901
Chamber Legacy Award
Evelyn Cutts
The Chamber of Commerce thanks the many businesses and individuals who helped organize and sponsor these awards including CanAus Coal Limited, Imagine Kootenay, Teck, Super 8 Fernie, East Kootenay Community Credit Union, FAR Summit Fund, Bridge Bistro, Island Lake Lodge, Nufloors, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Isosceles Business Systems, Castle on First, Soar Cycle Studio, Fernie Brewing Company, and Fernie Fix.
Congratulations to the finalists and winners. “The awards recognize the hard work put in day in and day out by Fernie business. It is great to take a moment and celebrate that effort and their success,” states Sheila Byers, Chamber Board President.
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce represents over 260 business in Fernie and the Elk Valley. Its mission is to strengthen commerce in the Fernie area and is guided by principles of membership, integrity, best-practices, business excellence, and non-partisanship. The Fernie Chamber of Commerce is “The Voice of Business in Fernie.”