Outstanding effort deserves recognition, and on Saturday, the community took time to honour hard work and dedication.
The Summerland Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Community Excellence Awards are a way to showcase businesses, organizations and individuals who are making an extra effort.
Many people and businesses were nominated for the awards, but only 16 awards were presented. (There was a tie in one of the 15 categories.)
The award winners have demonstrated an ongoing level of commitment to their work. Many have been involved for years, working to develop reputations as innovators, leaders in their fields or providers of quality work.
This emphasis on quality has not gone unnoticed. These businesses receive repeat customers and have earned reputations for doing good work.
Businesses and service providers in Summerland take their responsibilities seriously.
Our local businesses face challenges as they compete with larger businesses from larger communities, as well as from online merchants and service providers from out of town and sometimes from outside of the country.
Businesses need to earn the support of their customers every day, and the only way to do this is to provide the best possible products or services.
The awards recipients have demonstrated how to do this. They have worked hard to go above and beyond what would normally be expected.
And their examples should serve to inspire others.
High quality work, exceptional service and long-time efforts serve to benefit the entire community.