Businesses from St. Albert and Morinville have been selected as finalists for a handful of 2018 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction. Leading Edge Physiotherapy is up for two awards: the small business award and the women entrepreneur award. “I thought, wow that is just excellent,” said Grant Fedoruk co-owner of Leading Edge Physiotherapy in St. Albert. “This is an opportunity for us to tell about our amazing communities, and truthfully we aren’t where we are without the people who come to see us.” If selected as the winner, this will be the second award Heidi Fedoruk, co-owner and wife of Grant, has been awarded as a female entrepreneur. In October Fedoruk accepted the Lynda Moffat Woman of Distinction award at the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce Business Awards of Distinction. She said she was overwhelmed when she found out she was a finalist for the provincial award. “It’s kind of humbling to be singled out when it takes a village,” she said. “I was not surprised when we were up for the small business award, but to see my name listed for the small part I do is pretty humbling.” The Alberta Business Awards of Distinction recognize businesses across the province that have demonstrated outstanding achievement and contribution in their communities. 46 businesses have been selected as finalists across 11 award categories. The winners will be announced at the 2018 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction on March 2. Pleasant Homes in Morinville was announced as a finalist for the Indigenous Relations – Best Practices Awards of Distinction. Gary Hauk, managing partner of sales, said this is the first provincial award they’ve been nominated for when it comes to relations with the Aboriginal community. Pleasant Homes manufactures and services modular and mobile homes. Hauk said they base their business around relationships. “It’s about best business practices,” he said. “It’s something that we’ve focused on when the three partners got together. We decided that it was more than just about money, we are a people business so we have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.” Hauk said it’s been rewarding to work with Indigenous groups in the community. It was an exciting moment for the managing partner when he discovered the business was a finalist. “It’s kind of special, actually. It’s really thrilling just to be nominated for this award,” he said. The Morinville and District Chamber of Commerce nominated Pleasant Homes for the award. If the business were to win, Simon Boersma, chief business officer and partner of Pleasant Homes, said it would be a testament to the type of business they strive to provide. “It’s something that we can hang on the wall. We know we can keep moving forward with our business and it’s very enduring that our community, and the greater community of Alberta, thinks of us that way,” he said. Champion Petfoods is also up for an award. The business is a finalist for the Export Award of Distinction. In 2016 Champion Petfoods won the Marketing Award of Distinction and in 2014 it won the Export Award of Distinction. The Gazette reached out to the company for comment, but did not receive a response by deadline. The gala will take place on March 2 at the Renaissance Edmonton Airport Hotel. For tickets visit http://abbusinessawards.com/tickets/.
