Seasonal flavour added local shine to a soiree celebrating all the excellence in substance, service and style that businesses from Rossland, Trail and the Beaver Valley have to offer.
Fifty businesses were up for a Business Excellence Award this weekend during the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce’s third annual event, this year held in the Fruitvale Memorial Hall.
Ten winners were named and one “secret” award presented during the gala that featured a seasonal menu by Chef John Premier, of Rossland’s Premier Chef Services. Chef John’s four-course menu highlighted vegetables like heirloom tomatoes, mixed greens, red curry squash, fresh herbs and cabbage — all sourced from mere kilometres down the road at Earthy Organics on Columbia Gardens Road — so the meal itself echoed the Chamber’s mission of shopping and showcasing the stellar tastes of “local.”
Even for the third course, duck two ways, the chef forewent the more traditional port cherry glaze and kept the menu neighbourly by making a savoury plum sauce with fruit picked from a Rossland tree.
“When it comes to vegetables and produce, the fresher the better,” Premier said. “So the more local the fresher it is, and John [Abenante, owner Earthy Organics,] just does amazing things at his farm … I like to support him as much as possible, and organic, local, delicious — you can’t go wrong there.”
As 180 guests dined and were serenaded by Kootenay talent in the Clinton Swanson Trio, chamber president Doug Jones introduced local business leaders who named the winners in 10 categories and presented trophies handcrafted by “Mofab” also known as Moustache Metalworks of Rossland.
One Rossland business also got to take home one of those awards.
The Red Pair Shoe Store won the Customer Service Award.
“This is a business that has consistently provided superior customer service and is known to go above and beyond for their customers. They demonstrate a consistent adherence to the highest quality service and support for their customers. They have product knowledge, take pride in their service and exceed customer [expectations],” Jones explained before the award was given out.
Stephanie Robinson, the owner of the Red Pair, said it felt awesome to win the award.
“I appreciate that people view me as somebody that’s able to give them great customer service and it’s humbling,” she said.
Robinson opened the store eight years ago and said the business has not finished growing.
“Every year it just gets a little bit bigger and bigger,” she said. “It’s getting to a point now that I may have to start bringing in more variety because I’ve gotten to a point where people are now asking for more men’s stuff and men’s stuff has always been a very small part of my business, so I might have to expand that.”
The Red Pair serves not only local customers from the Kootenays, but has also become a destination for tourists.
“I’m actually shocked sometimes the amount of people that approach me and say, ‘I’m from’ — like as far away as Toronto — ‘and I wait to come every season, because we come every winter’ — or every summer or whatever the case may be — ‘I wait to use my shoe dollars in your store.’ And that just blows me away,” said Robinson.
Dan Ashman from AM Ford took home the Business Person of the Year Award; Selkirk Security Services was named Employer of the Year, and Kenny White of Kenny White Contracting was presented with the Emerging Entrepreneur Award.
Other chamber nods included the Retail Service Award to Fruitvale’s Country Roads; John Abenante’s Earthy Organics receiving the Go Green Award; MIDAS Fab Lab receiving the Community Impact Award; the Tourism Award to the Trail Smoke Eaters; and Scott Emery, City Centre Chiropractic, for Excellence Under 40.
David Abenante of Elite Physiotherapy was given two top honours, the Professional Service Award and the “Secret” Award, which acknowledges a business that received the most overall votes and the most favourable comments.
“We are honoured to be recognizing some of the best businesses in the Lower Columbia,” said Audry Durham, executive director of the chamber, mentioning the chamber added 70 new members this year. “These businesses have been the foundation for our communities and are a big part of what attracts newcomers to our area.”
Following the chamber’s first time “Healthy Lifestyles Expo” in the spring, the fall focus has shifted to weighted concern recently brought forward by the small business community.
“Our first business luncheon was a sold out event and it was evident one of the biggest issues our members are facing is the proposed Small Business Tax Changes,” Durham said. “We are ramping up our advocacy efforts around Greater Trail, the province and the country as Chamber of Commerce and Boards of Trade are working to gather their member’s feedback on what is said to be the biggest change to small business tax in over 50 years … The Federal Government’s proposed tax changes, currently being discussed in Ottawa, could see major changes for small businesses across the country.”
With files from Chelsea Novak
