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Chamber presents excellence awards

The 79th annual Business and Community Excellence Awards were presented on Saturday evening
web1_170316-SUM-Todd-Laidlaw

It was a time to honour outstanding achievements in the community as the Summerland Chamber of Commerce presented its 79th annual Business and Community Excellence Awards on Saturday evening.

The awards ceremony was held in Centre Stage Theatre.

Chamber officials said online voting was close in many of the award categories.

For the third year in a row, True Grain Bread received the Business of the Year Award.

Todd Laidlaw, owner of the bakery, said the community has supported the bakery from the start.

“We’re very fortunate to have been embraced by the community of Summerland,” he said. “It really is Summerland’s bakery.”

The Kettle Valley Steam Railway received the Mayor’s Award of Excellence.

Announcing the award, Mayor Peter Waterman said the railway brings thousands of visitors into the community each year with its tourist train rides and train robbery events.

Ken Orford, general manager of the railway, said the railway had 31,600 riders last year.

“We’re providing something the tourists really enjoy,” he said. “Our staff and volunteers are doing it so enthusiastically.”

He added that the coming year, with Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations, could be a strong year for the tourist train.

Grant Stone, known as “the cowboy poet,” was named Citizen/Volunteer of the Year.

AWARD WINNERS

Business of the Year, sponsored by the Summerland Credit Union: awarded to True Grain Bread.

Citizen/Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by Nesters Market: awarded to Grant Stone.

The Mayor’s Award of Excellence, sponsored by the District of Summerland: awarded to the Kettle Valley Steam Railway Society.

Rising Star/New Business, sponsored by RBC Royal Bank Summerland: awarded to Main Street Yoga.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by IGA Summerland: awarded to Kari Harding of Rock Star District.

Professional Services Excellence, sponsored by Brown Benefits: awarded to the Summerland Credit Union.

Retail Excellence, sponsored by the Summerland Review: awarded to IGA Summerland.

Excellence in Customer Service, sponsored by Remax Orchard Country: awarded to Johanne Roy of Nesters Market Summerland.

Trade Services Excellence, sponsored by Alder Street Auto Body: awarded to Integra Tire Auto Centre.

Tourism and Hospitality Excellence, sponsored by Sumac Ridge Estate Winery: awarded to Zias Stonehouse Restaurant.

Excellence in Agriculture, sponsored by Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive Winery Association: awarded to LocalMotive Organic Delivery and Okanagan Crush Pad in a tie with What the Fungus.

Manufacturing/Industrial Excellence, sponsored by Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen: awarded to Backyard Beans Coffee.

Sustainability Leader, sponsored by SummerGate Winery: awarded to Okanagan Crush Pad.

Technology and Innovation Excellence, sponsored by Accelerate Okanagan: awarded to ET2media.

The Arts Award, sponsored by the Summerland Waterfront Resort and Spa: awarded to Maureen King.