The big winner of Thursday night's Small Business Award of Distinction was still feeling a little shaky after the ceremony.
Tammy Wilde of Tudor Glen Veterinary Clinic received the award at the Small Business Awards of Distinction gala presented by the St. Albert & District Chamber of Commerce.
The annual event celebrates the work, commitment and passions of St. Albert businesses.
Wilde said her clinic has become more involved in the community in recent years. Somewhere between hosting its second Poopathon, collecting 100 kilograms of dog poop in the community, and looking after people's pets every day, the business must have left a big impression, she said.
"You always hope that you come out on top and that the work you've done on your business is appreciated," she said. "I feel I am taking all the glory but then it's really (my staff) that stand behind me the most."
Huge success
The small business awards of distinction night was a huge success, said chamber chair Paul Quantz.
Not only did the chamber receive the most nominations to date, with 42 businesses competing for eight awards. But it was also close to selling out the venue for the awards night, the Arden Theatre, which can accommodate up to 300 people, he said.
"It will be hard to top a year like this," he said.
Quantz also honoured one business with the Chair's Award of Distinction.
The award is presented to a business that embodies and exhibits overall outstanding achievement and leadership, and ongoing commitment to community events locally and provincially.
This year, it was presented to Rob and Karen Chiasson, owners of the city's four McDonald's restaurants.
Karen was recently appointed to the board of directors for the chamber, he said. And Rob made national headlines with his research and stance on the temporary foreign worker issue and Alberta's labour shortage, he said.
"They just dove right into the community," he said. "They are fairly new in the community and immediately set up to change the face of their restaurants and became involved in the community without any hesitation."
The Chiassons were certainly taken by surprise by the award.
Both said they had an incredible three years in the community since they bought the restaurants in 2011. But none of their success would be possible without the support of the community and the team they employ, they said.
"You have to invest a lot of time and energy and take care of your people most importantly because they take care of your customers," said Rob Chiasson. "We are very fortunate we have a very incredible team of people."
Other awards
Abdallah Jiwa and his wife Almas once told a customer to take her pants back to the store because they did not look nice on her. The woman went back to the store, bought new pants and returned to their business with flowers.
That's why honesty is a cornerstone for Sturgeon Professional Dry Cleaners, said Jiwa whose business won the award for outstanding customer service on Thursday.
"Those are the things that make us feel that, yes, we did the right thing," he said.
Lindsay James and Lisa Huskins, who represented the staff at Leading Edge Physiotherapy on Thursday, felt just as honoured.
The business won the Community Leadership Award of Distinction, a new award that is presented to an organization that has proven itself as a community leader.
"I think as Leading Edge we are a humble organization and we are very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of tonight," said James. "We definitely foster an environment and a culture of giving back to the community and being a part of the community."
Another relatively new award – the Ignite Award of Distinction was introduced last year – was presented to Nora Furber of Monjeloco Jeans. The award is given to a small business that is in its first three years of business and has demonstrated itself as the most dynamic start-up.
Furber said the award not only honours her and her staff but also the many women her business supports, who make her jeans in Colombia.
"Just to know that Canada accepted our jeans … it's my win and my girls' win," she said.
Other winners that night were Darel and Kelly Baker with Keldar Leadership for the Business-to-Business Award of Distinction. Christine Rawlins took home the Marketing Award of Distinction for her business Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club.
Tyson Nouta received the Youth Work Experience and Apprenticeship Award for his work at St. Albert Transmission, while Kelsey Bulmer received the Young Entrepreneur Award of Distinction as co-owner of Cerulean Boutique.
The ceremony also marks the end of St. Albert's small business week, which ran from Oct. 8 to Oct. 16.
