It was a full house at the Rusty Edge on Friday October 21, as the Fernie business community gathered to celebrate another year of success.
With hundreds of nominations across 12 categories, finalists turned out to recognise the contributions of each other and other Fernie businesses at the 2022 Fernie Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.
Pat Gilmar was recognised as Fernie’s ‘Citizen of the Year’ for his contributions to trail building around the community – trails like Hypervent which are today used by scores of locals and visitors alike.
“Thanks very much for this,” said Gilmar in remarks. “This surprised me … I was wondering why I was asked to come to dinner,” he said to laughs.
The Fernie Meat Market, owned and operated by Mark Brown until he sold the business, and sadly passed shortly afterwards in early 2022 was awarded the ‘Chamber Business Legacy’ award that is given to businesses that have been in operation for at least 10 years, and have made a long-lasting mark on the Fernie business community.
His wife, Tammy Bristle, was at the Business Awards, and in an emotional address thanked the community and said Mark would have loved to have received the award.
In other awards, the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre was recognised as Community Group of the Year, Drift and Sonder was named New Business of the Year, the Wapiti Music Festival won the Community Tourism Achievement Award, and Gearhub Sports was named as Employer of the Year.
The Fernie Fox Hotel won the Environmental Sustainability Award, Kurt Saari of Nevados was named as Businessperson of the Year, Spa 901 was recognized for Outstanding Customer Service, and the Fernie Brewing Co. won the Business Innovation Award.
Finally, OrganicTan Fernie was named as the People’s Choice, while Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory won Fernie Business of the Year.
The awards were sadly not graced by outgoing Fernie Chamber Executive Director Brad Parsell who was down with a cold, but he received a special award, the “Be Rad” award, for his service to the Chamber and the Fernie business community.
READ MORE: Nine winners announced at 2022 Sparwood Business Awards
scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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