The 2022 Elkford Business Awards took place on Saturday (Oct. 22), with six winners announced from a pool of 85 nominees.
The gala-style event was held at the Community Conference Centre and ran from about 5 p.m. to midnight, offering dinner, drinks and dancing on top of an award ceremony. It was the first time the business awards were held in person since 2019 due to the pandemic.
Shawna Bryant, vice president of the Elkford Chamber of Commerce, said she was “really excited to be able to see a great turnout, to be back in person, because it’s been a couple of years, so that’s really nice.”
“And just an amazing crowd that are really excited to see who wins,” she said.
Winners were announced in six categories, and are as follows.
Business of the Year went to Legacy Ford Elkford, sponsored by Rocky Mountain Radiators.
Industrial Business of the Year went to Nightcrawler 4x4, sponsored by Teck.
Small Business of the Year went to The Bath Shack, sponsored by SMS Equipment.
Customer Service of the Year went to Kootenay Market, sponsored by North Coal.
Non Profit of the Year went to The Biking Club, sponsored by East Kootenay Community Credit Union.
Volunteer of the Year went to Len Gostick, sponsored by Women’s Enterprise Centre.
Gostick said a few words after the announcement of his win.
“I love this town,” he said.
“I was raised here, I raised my kids here, my grandkids are being raised here, and hopefully I can retire and they can bury my bones here.
“Elkford’s got so many volunteers and so many organizations and small businesses that, we’re truly a very lucky community.
“We’re only 3,000, but wow, this is quite an honour.”
Bryant said the business community in Elkford is ‘very active’ and ‘very strong,’ and that they’re working on growing it.
“Economic development is a huge stride for us this year… we’re going to be pushing it even more.”
She said she hopes people come back every year to the business awards, saying they’re going to “keep on doing it bigger and better every year.”
“I’m really excited to be able to see what 2023 brings us.”
READ MORE: Pat Gilmar named Citizen of the Year at Fernie Business Awards
READ MORE: Nine winners announced at 2022 Sparwood Business Awards
@fishynewswatch
josh.fischlin@thefreepress.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.