People can vote on chamber’s business awards

By Rob Vogt – Local Press Writer
The Claresholm and District Chamber of Commerce is recognizing outstanding businesses, with its awards.
This year, everyone can vote for their favourite in a number of categories with the winners to be announced at the chamber’s Christmas party on Dec. 5.
Voting opens Oct. 17 and runs until Nov. 5, in the following categories:
Chamber business of the year
• Consistently exhibiting outstanding service and/or products;
• Strong commitment to community involvement;
• Conducting business in the Claresholm area;
• Operating for more than two years;
• Must have a current chamber membership.
– Willow Creek Quilts;
– Extreme Beauty and Aesthetics by Gen;
– Santanna Thom – Century 21;
– Claresholm Local Press;
– Studio Om Lila;
– Kustra Insurance and Investments – The Co-Operators.
New business award
• Consistently exhibiting outstanding service/products;
• Strong commitment to community involvement;
• Been in operation for less than two years;
• Open to all businesses, no membership required, conducting business within the Claresholm area.
– Blessings Consignments;
– Pizza Hut;
– And Kitchen;
– New Fox Diner;
– Kilts and Cables;
– Prairie Home Decor.
Most improved property
• Improvements made to building (interior, exterior), yard, etc. within the last 12 months’
• Open to all businesses, no membership required, conducting business within the Claresholm area.
– Shell;
– Kustra Insurance and Investments – The Co-Operators;
– Claresholm Inn;
– Foothills Ford;
– BMO.
Best home-based business
• Consistently exhibiting outstanding service/products;
• Strong commitment to community involvement;
• Open to all businesses, no membership required, conducting business within the Claresholm area.
– Shen’s Home-Baked Goodies;
– 7th Street Sweets;
– Studio Om Lila;
– Smig’s Plumbing;
– Cookie’d Claresholm.
Best hospitality business
• Consistently exhibiting outstanding service/products;
• Strong commitment to community involvement;
• Open to all restaurant, accommodation, catering, food-related businesses, no membership required, within the Claresholm area.
– Mary’s Catering;
– Casa Roma;
– Roy’s Place;
– Putters;
– Antree.
Best agricultural business
• Consistently exhibiting outstanding service/products;
• Strong commitment to community involvement;
• Open to all agriculture-based businesses, no membership required, conducting business within the Claresholm area.
– UFA;
– Willow Creek Ag Society;
– Bishoff’s;
– Brandt Tractor;
– South Country Co-Op.
Customer service award
• Exhibits excellent service that goes beyond customer expectations;
• Employers/employees meet and greet customers with a warm reception and offer assistance;
• Empowers employees to be customer focused;
• Stands behind products and services offered;
• Open to all businesses, no membership required.
– Extreme Beauty and Aesthetics by Gen;
– Shell;
– Ashtine Cleaning;
– Willow Creek Quilts;
– Shen’s Home-Baked Goodies.
Individual customer service award
• Exhibits excellent service that goes beyond customer expectations;
• Meets and greets customers with a warm reception and offer assistance;
• Is customer focused;
• Stands behind products and services offered;
• Open to all individuals, no membership required.
– Manpreet – Shell;
– Krissy Slettede – Tom Harris Cellular;
– Brandy McLean – Claresholm Local Press;
– Suzie Nash – IGA.
Community involvement award
• Makes a difference in the community;
• Takes positive action to invest in the community;
• Exceptional performance in supporting the whole community;
• Volunteers time and gives back to the community (employees and/or equipment at events);
• Visible at and/or enhance and encourage events;
• Open to all businesses, no membership required.
– Shell;
– Santanna Thom – Century 21;
– Claresholm Local Press;
– Your Dollar Store with More;
– Active Balance Yoga and Wellness;
– Needham Trucking;
– The Attic by Lauren Billey Creative.
Anyone interested in voting can visit the Claresholm and District Chamber of Commerce website at claresholmchamber.ca.