The Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Excellence Awards on Saturday, April 20, at the St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino. Kyla Cornish and D'arcy Kennedy served as Masters of Ceremonies, The Good Ol' Goats (sponsored by Pacific Coastal) provided entertainment, lights and sound by PB Pro Audio. Around 200 people enjoyed the famous Asian feast and took in the ceremony.
• Spring Honda won the awards for Customer Service Excellence and Business Person of the Year. Mary Quinn, representing the Banking Association of Cranbrook, presented the latter award to David Spring and Corey Spring.
• Kootenay Granite won for Most Improved Business. Keith Powell of Koocanusa Publications presented the award to Rick Klassen.
• Living Stones Developments won for Company of the Year (16-plus employees). Allyson Blake of St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino presented the award to Dennis Hockley.
• The Cranbrook Farmer’s Market took Tourism Excellence Award, presented by the College of the Rockies. Douglas McLachlan of COTR presented the award Jody Murdoch and Erna Jensen Shill of the Farmer’s Market Society.
• Sweet Gestures Chocolate Shoppe won the award for Company of the Year (1-15 employees), represented by Deb Smithurst and Michelle Shypitka. The award was presented by the Downtown Business Association, represented by Laurie Goodlad of Muriel and Jane’s General Store and Janice Sommerfeld of Snap.
• Core Fitness won Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, presented byJanice Alpine of Community Futures. Christie Kennedy and Marsha Blom of Core Fitness accepted.
• MJ’s Floral Design won Marketer of the Year Award, presented by the Kootenay Advertiser. Darcy Wiebe of the Advertiser presented to Robyn Hansen and Becky McArthur of MJ’s.
• The Good Ol’ Goats won the award for Newsmaker of the Year (sponsored by the Cranbrook Daily Townsman and the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group).