Peter and Tina Neufeld of Riverdrive Mall won the Ambassador Award. Left-right are Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner, Peter Neufeld, Tim Neufeld, and Town of Peace River Councillor Shelly Shannon.
Emily Plihal Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Peace River & District Chamber of Commerce held its annual Davis Awards on Jan. 25 to recognize outstanding businesses in the region.
“Small businesses are the backbone of small communities like ours, so it is important to recognize both their achievements and the role that those businesses play in shaping our region,” says chamber manager Reilly Bassendowski.
“We had about 160 people in attendance to celebrate businesses in the Peace River region.”
The Chamber strives to recognize the efforts of local businesses through the Davis Awards night. This year’s theme was Inspiring Success.
This year’s winners include: Outstanding Customer Service – Riverjoy Dental; Community Impact – Rotaract Peace River; Young Entrepreneur winner – Danielle Nagy of Timeless Rejuvenation; Marketer-of-the-Year – Emily Marshall of Frexy; Business-of-the-Year, one to nine employees – Heart and Soul Photography; Business-of-the-Year, more than 10 employees – Peace Valley Inns; Business Leader-of-the-Year – From Canadian Tire, Christine Slabbert; and President’s Davis Award winner – Peace River Broadcasting.
“Businesses are initially nominated by the public,” explains Bassendowski. “Nominated businesses can choose to move forward in the nomination process by filling out a questionnaire that is then graded by a panel of anonymous (non-chamber affiliated) judges. The judges’ scores determine who the finalists and the winners are.”
She says there is a lot of behind the scenes work businesses do, including hiring staff, trying to overcome staff shortages, dealing with equipment upgrades or failures, expenses, the bottom line and keeping the lights on and the doors open. The businesses who exemplify these traits deserve to be recognized.
“Recognizing businesses through the Davis Awards provides public recognition for not only the winners but the finalists and nominees achievements as well,” she says.
“If we can recognize and boost awareness of local businesses, we can in turn promote more people to shop local which is advantageous for our region as a whole,” she adds.
equipment upgrades or failures, expenses, the bottom line and keeping the lights on and the doors open. The businesses who exemplify these traits deserve to be recognized.
“Recognizing businesses through the Davis Awards provides public recognition for not only the winners but the finalists and nominees achievements as well,” she says.
“If we can recognize and boost awareness of local businesses, we can in turn promote more people to shop local which is advantageous for our region as a whole,” she adds.
Photographs courtesy of Photos by Lori of Peace River
Steward Burnett, left, of the Town of Peace River, was nominated in the Marketer-of-the-Year category. Accompanying him is Melody Teddy.Peace River Broadcasting, won the President’s Award. Accepting the award is Jon Bibiy, left, assistant general manager. Presenting the award is Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner.Peace Valley Inns won the Business-of-the Year – Over 10 Employees category. Above, left-right, are Brandon Huberts and Allain Robichaud, of Peace Valley Inns, and Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner. Other award nominees in the category included Board ‘n’ Barrel and Lyle’s Trucking.Heart & Soul Photography won the Business-of-the-Year Award – Under 10 Employees. Above, Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner, left, presents the award to Heart & Soul owner/photographer Amy Plocica. Other nominees in the category included Chapel of Memories and Peace River Brewing.Emily Marshall, left, of Frexy, won the Marketer-of-the-Year Award. Presenting the award is Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner.Danielle Nagy, right, of Timeless Rejuvenation, won the Young Entrepreneur Award. Above, she receives the award from Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner. Other nominees included Mainstreet Men’s Wear & Dad’s and Lad’s Ltd., and DDM Yard Works/Dads Rads and Repair.Peace River Value Drug Mart was a nominee in the Outstanding Customer Service Category. Left-right are Value Drug Mart staff Mike Kinshella, Karen Kinshella, Lisa Lefebvre, Nikki Phillips, Michelle Daub, Sue Jung, Pat Kinshella, Vanda Kinshella, Laurie Horosko, and Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner.Denzel Dye-Majgaard, left, of DDM Yard Works/Dads Rads and Repair, receives his award for being nominated in the Young Entrepreneur category Above, he receives his nomination from Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner.Chapel of Memories was a nominee in the Business-of-the Year – Under 10 Employees category. Above, Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner, in back, presents the award. In front, left-right, are Remi Tardif, owner/Funeral Director, Stacey Romanko, administration, Ben Williams, Funeral Director, Bernada Clark, reception, and Madison French, administration.Lyle’s Trucking was a nominee in the Business-of-the Year – Over 10 Employees category. Above, left-right, are Lowell Thompson, son of Lyle Thompson, Lyle’s Trucking, and Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner, presenting the award.Christine Sabbert, right, of Canadian Tire, won the award for Business Leader-of-the-Year. Presenting the award is Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner. The other nominee in the category was Riverjoy Dental.Peace River Rotaract won the Community Impact Award. Left-right are Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner, presenting the award, Rotaract executive member Joel Mengel, Rotaract executive member Tyler Dupuis, Rotaract president Louise McDonald, Rotaract vice-president Conner Fitchie, and chamber board member Brandon Huberts. Other nominees in the category included Avenge Energy and Obsidian Energy.Riverjoy Dental won the Outstanding Customer Service Award. Left-right are Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce president Layne Gardner, presenting the award, and Riverjoy Dental staff including Tori Monfette, RDH, Shandi Morar, Administration/RDA, Dr. Meurant Aspeling, Dentist, Chantiele Fortin, RDH, and Shay Glebe, RDA. Missing are Shelbie Ruel, Manager/RDA, and Jeandre Chayba, RDH. Other nominees in the category included Blue Ice Mechanical Ltd. and Peace River Value Drug Mart.
