Meadow Lake business leaders honoured during Excellence Gala

It was an emotional night for attendees of the 2016 Business Excellence Awards Gala. More than 250 people packed the Meadow Lake Civic Centre Wednesday night to honour community business leaders.

This year, the community builder award went to the late Elaine Yaychuk. Accepting the award in her memory was long-time friend John Fingler who said Yaychuk was so humble she probably wouldn’t have accepted the award.

“She was fun loving, giving beyond anything you can believe. If you needed something done and called her, she would do it and if she couldn’t, she would find someone who could,” Fingler said.

In memory of Yaychuk and everything she did in the community, the community builder award was renamed the Elaine Yaychuk Community Builder Award.

“I’m impressed. She did a lot of work in the city for Kinsmen, Lions, minor ball. She did a lot with the Flying Dust First Nation and she was just an outstanding human being,” Fingler added.

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Donna Ritco, chamber administrator said Yaychuk was deserving of the award and regrets not being able to award her for everything she has done while she was alive.

“Elaine was the person who was the backbone of the community builder award. She kind of got it up and running, she had kept a lot of the information and she epitomized everything there is about the award so in honor of everything she has done for Meadow Lake and the Chamber we decided to change the name,” Ritco said.

The volunteer of the year award was expanded in 2016 to include organizations as well as individuals. 

This year’s winner, the Lions Club, boasts 32 members. Garry Stabbler, president of the club, said while he accepted the award the recognition belongs to everybody.

“I’m very proud but again I’m only one person that’s representing the whole club. I just happened to be the fortunate one to be President this year and accepted the award…But I’m accepting it for all 32 members,” he said.

Five businesses were up for small business of the year, the most nominees in any category. Taking home the honors this year was the Eatery on Main, owned by Haley Greenan.

“It’s really honoring to be awarded the small business of the year award. I just feel even though we keep doing what we’re doing whether we’re rewarded it’s just a nice pat on the back,” Greenan said after accepting the award.

Honors for aboriginal business of the year went to Tawaw Cabins, a resort located on Waterhen Lake.

Tawaw cabins is co-owned by Jim Norman, his son and former NHLer D.J. King. Norman was in attendance to accept the award and said his business is very honored and privileged to be named the best in their field.

This year’s business of the year went to Bliss Salon and Spa. Melissa Albright, co-owner of the salon, said she was surprised they won , but very grateful.

“It feels really good, I’m very excited about it and I can’t believe it actually happened to be honest,” she said.

The final category was an individual award, given to the person who showed exemplary customer service. Terry Alkestrup of Garfunkels Gourmet Grill was this year’s recipient and thanked her customers, saying the win is all thanks to them.

“It is amazing because I work so hard to make everybody happy, please everybody and by getting this it means that my customers appreciate me just as much as I appreciate them,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Without your customers you have nothing.”

cswiderski@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @coltonswiderski