Shell Canada

Award: Manufacturer/Resource Industry Award

This award is a new award this year and recognizes the business that has demonstrated excellence in their operations in a number of areas such as innovation, environment, community relations and human resources. They are also viewed as a leader in business excellence. Shell Canada has demonstrated effective communications through their many open houses and direct presentations to municipal councils. They are a member of NRCAER, have participated in the Chamber’s annual trade show, and has regular meetings with their neighbours. They are actively involved in the registered apprenticeship program and with universities and colleges with work experience programs. They are actively involved in many associations, North East Capital Industrial Association, NRCAER, Alberta Professional engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists to name a few. This company believes that it is only as successful as the communities in which it operates in – their employees live in our communities and they feel they as a company should give back to those communities. Sponsored by Dallas Kristiansen of Custom Mortgage Solutions Inc.

Sobey’s Station Square

Award: Service Award

This is also a new award and is presented to a business that has provided exceptional customer service by consistently offering a high quality of assistance to all customers or by going above and beyond the call of duty to provide service to a customer in extenuating circumstances. You can see Lesley at almost any event in and around Fort Saskatchewan including bingos, casinos, cooking hot dogs at the Farmers Market, selling tickets at the trade show or hanging out downtown at Twice but Nice. Sobey’s Station Square has a customer service promise that they empower their staff with and that promise is “we will make it right”. Their managers set the standard and example of this for all their staff to follow. When asked to give an example of how they go above and beyond they citied many example. Such as: their free delivery to seniors and customers who are not able to get out of their residences; or that staff has delivered items that customers have inadvertently left behind, and they provide extra customer care for customers that are doing functions they are unfamiliar with. Their mantra is “we are a part of our community”. They have shown that with raising over $50,000 for Campers for Hampers and over $150,000 for STARS air ambulance. Sponsored by Daniel Tchir of Integrity Land Inc.

Sweet Beginnings

Award: New Business of the Year

This award is presented to a business that was started within the last 2 years and has shown positive performance in terms of current or expected profitability. Sweet Beginnings has experienced phenomenal growth, over 300%. This has been achieved by their commitment to excellence and a desire to provide their clients with a superior level of service and a high quality product at an affordable price. They endeavour to turn an ordinary event into something extraordinary. They do this by providing their clients with exceptional service. They have also teamed up with other local businesses such as Superior show Services, Balloon Magic, B&L Bakery and Chocolates by Terry. Their repeat customers and word of mouth referrals in just a small time of being in operation, shows that this is a business on the grow. Sponsored by the City of Fort Saskatchewan Economic Development Board.

Home Hardware Building Centre

Award: Retailer / Franchise of the Year Adward

This is a new award and is presented to a retail/franchise business that has demonstrated excellence in business operations in a number of areas such as marketing, sales, client service, human resources etc., and is viewed by peers as being a leader in business excellence. Home Hardware Building Centre has seen a 28% growth in the last 3 years. They have added 8,000 sq. ft. of product area and increased their items stocked by 2,000. They have set goals, performance measures and have a solid training plan for their employees. In fact of the 14 items judged under the business overview, this business could say yes to all of them. They actively support the community with sponsorship to the Boys and Girls Club, Ducks Unlimited, not to mention the various youth programs in baseball, hockey, ringette, lacrosse, and soccer; in excess of $25,000 a year is contributed to these programs. They also never hesitate when a group comes in looking for a silent auction item.

Custom Mortgage Solutions

Award: Home Based / Entrepreneur of the Year

The home based /entrepreneur of the year award is presented to the business that has demonstrated excellence in the quality of services and products supplied, as well as exemplary initiatives in business with the potential for future business growth. Custom Mortgage Solutions has seen steady growth in the 4 short years that it has been in operation growing by 10 fold. This is a business that relies very heavily on customer satisfaction to generate referral business, and that referral business is what is driving the growth for this home based entrepreneur. To date this business has supported 21 different groups and organizations with donations both in cash and in time. The owner of this business is very actively involved in the Chamber , is an official city ambassador, a member of the community advisory panel for Agrium, Sherritt and Westaim.

Ed Sperling

Award: Volunteer of the Year/Recognition

This award is presented to an individual that has shown exceptional service by volunteering and significantly contributing to the chamber of Commerce and the community in general. Ed Sperling has been an active member of the Chamber for the past 5 years. Holding many positions on the executive, we won’t name them all or that will give it away too early! They believe that you have to maintain a positive, constructive approach to everything you do, and they have brought that attitude to the Chamber. Ed has been involved with the replacement hospital committee, the Josephburg Agricultural Society, has been a united way leader for 9 years, has been a member of DOW Chemicals grants committee, just to name a few. Sponsored by the Royal Bank Business Banking.

Roland’s Jewelry

Adward: Small Business of the Year

The small business of the year award is presented to a business that has demonstrated excellence in business operations in a number of areas such as marketing, sales, client service, human resources etc., and is viewed by peers as being a leader in business excellence. Roland’s Jewelry has grown by 25% in the last 2 years. They have focused on bringing in new lines of product which has helped them grow the geographical area that they serve. Word of mouth has helped to advertise their product and services far and wide. This business supports the fire department, organizations from ringette to hockey to golf and the fish and game association. This is a long standing business in our community – 58 years to be exact and now boasts 3 generations working in the store. Sponsored by ATB Financial.

Ino Mussio and Cindie Hughes, Sobeys Station Square

Award: Terry Douglas Award of Excellence

This award was created in 2006 and named after Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Past President Terry Douglas. This prestigious award is given to an exemplary individual who has made significant contributions to Fort Saskatchewan as a whole. Terry came to Fort Saskatchewan in 1987 and took over the Canadian Tire Store. He immediately doubled the size of the store and added 10,000 new items to the shelves. Being a person who gets involved in his community, Terry joined the Chamber and soon was elected to the Board of Directors. He moved up to President of the organization in 1992. During his presidency he was instrumental in The Chamber securing a long term lease with the City of Fort Saskatchewan to move our office to the CN Station. A location that we are happy to say is still our home. Terry owned a business that relied heavily on the youth population of Fort Saskatchewan to run his business. He also understood the importance of education and therefore developed the criteria for the Chamber’s first Scholarship Award, a program that ran successfully for a number of years. Terry’s business success was recognized by the Chamber in 1992 when he received the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award. Outside of his business and Chamber responsibilities, Terry was involved in such organizations as the Kinsmen Club, Crimestoppers and Duck’s Unlimited. Terry was always available for sponsorships and donations where and when needed. For instance, Canadian Tire generously donated all of the paint products for the restoration of the CN Station. The Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Terry Douglas’s outstanding interest in and contribution to the life of our community. As such, the award which recognizes exceptional achievement above and beyond the economic contributions made by the successful operations of a business, it is not necessarily given out each year. This award will be selected by the Chamber’s Executive Committee.