ESTEVAN - JS TruckMart in Estevan is a finalist in two categories for the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce's Achievement of Business Excellence (ABEX) Awards.
JS TruckMart is up for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, as well as the Growth and Expansion Award. The company won both honours at the 2023 Estevan Business Excellence Awards last October; it was also named Business of the Year at last year's Estevan ceremony.
The ABEX Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award is presented to the business that has demonstrated outstanding achievement in fostering equitable, sustainable and measurable change.
Recognizing excellence in practices, events, applied research, policy, programs or other activities, this award highlights initiatives focused on traditionally under-represented groups such as women, visible/racialized minorities, Indigenous peoples, individuals with disabilities and the LGBTQ+ community.
"Encouraging the celebration of cultural differences, community relationship-building and substantial progress within organizations and the broader community, this award champions efforts to advance diversity and inclusion," the Sask. chamber states on its website.
Other finalists are Cat’s Creamery of Watson, Impact Energy Services (Rosetown), KDM Constructors (Yorkton) and Deloitte LLP (multiple communities).
The ABEX Growth and Expansion Award is presented to the business that has made significant changes in their business, resulting in growth or expansion. Growth may encompass increased revenue, market share or customer base, while expansion could be geographical reach, number or size of business locations, product lines or service offerings.
Recognizing achievements such as job creation and investments, this award highlights a business that has strategically evolved and positively impacted their community’s economic landscape.
Also a finalist is Three Farmers Foods, based in Saskatoon but named after three agricultural producers from the Midale area. Lake Country Co-operative Association (Prince Albert), MyKey Global Accommodations (Saskatoon) and Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies (Saskatoon) are the other finalists.
According to information provided at last year's Estevan business awards ceremony, JS TruckMart opened on Nov. 1, 2017, with three full-time employees, a small shop with two dismantle bays, a small warehouse and offices. Last year the company moved into a new building on Viking Avenue, adjacent to the Shand Access Road, with four dismantle bays, an inventory bay, two wash bays, a full shipping-receiving area and new office space.
The company has grown to over 30 full-time employees despite the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, rising interest rates, increasing business costs and a strained labour market.
Its employees have included students retired truck drivers and Filipinos. JS TruckMart has made accommodations for employees' religious beliefs, single-parenting challenges, language barriers and more.
Among the other finalists is PTRC Sustainable Energy in Regina, which has done extensive work in the southeast. It is up for non-profit impact award, which is a new category for 2024.
The 2024 ABEX awards will be handed out Sept. 21 at TCU Place in Saskatoon.
