By Greg Nikkel
Pharmasave emerged with top honours at the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 annual WEYBEX Awards gala on Friday evening, as they were named Weyburn鈥檚 Business of the Year as well as the winner of the Golden Service Award.
鈥淲e鈥檙e shocked,鈥� said managing partner Krista Missal after receiving the top overall award along with fellow managing partner Laura Resler. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so proud of our team. It鈥檚 a really good feeling to be recognized. We鈥檙e just so honoured, it鈥檚 amazing to get this award.鈥�
In receiving the Golden Service Award earlier, Missal said, 鈥淭his award doesn鈥檛 just belong to us, but to our staff. It鈥檚 a pleasure coming to work every day. Also we need to thank your customers. It鈥檚 a pleasure to be in service to such a great community.鈥�
The Golden Service Award recognizes a business that consistently demonstrates outstanding customer service and/or hospitality.
The overall award of Business of the Year was chosen from winners of each category other than the Hall of Fame inductees, and goes to the business that exemplifies entrepreneurial spirit and has demonstrated outstanding achievement and commitment to excellence and quality in their field.
The company was judged according to their growth, use of capital investment, exports, job creation, stability and community involvement.
The Business Leader of the Year was Don Bell of Souris Valley Industries, who with sons Dustin, Mike and Luk took over that company in 2005 and has achieved growth both in sales and in size.
The growth has included landing a large contract to supply precast concrete to the new Mosaic Stadium in Regina, with 500 truckloads making their way there from the Weyburn plant.
鈥淚鈥檝e lived in Weyburn all my adult life,鈥� said Bell, noting that since he and his family purchased Souris Valley Industries 10 years ago, he鈥檚 had his sons come on board to work with him in building up and running the precast concrete plant.
The plant expanded from 23,000 square feet to 43,000 square feet.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been very educational. Weyburn has been an awesome place to do business in. We are extremely proud to label our products as coming from Weyburn, and they鈥檙e shipped through the province now,鈥� said Bell.
The award for new or expanded business went to Blue Earth Environmental, owned by Rose MacInnes.
The business opened in 2013 with residential blue bin recycling.
It now includes commercial services, a 鈥済ot junk鈥� collection service and two second-hand retail locations in downtown Weyburn.
McInnes said the support of the community has been strong, and she values the relationships she has with such agencies as the Family Place, through which she is able to help those who are in need.
The Community Involvement Award went to Pet Valu, owned by Chad and Melanie Ror.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so honoured to be named to this award. This means more to us than anything. We believe a huge part of the business is being involved with the community of Weyburn,鈥� said Melanie.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 do this without our community. We appreciate that so much, and the staff plays a really huge role in what we do.鈥�
She related how with the recent fires of Fort McMurray, she got a call from a staff member asking what the store was going to do.
鈥淚t may seem like a simple gesture, but to me it was a huge affirmation that they are as much into helping the community as we are,鈥� said Melanie.
There were six inductees to the Business Hall of Fame, one of the largest groups ever inducted at these awards, including Cogent CPA, Ron鈥檚 the Work Wear Store, Fletcher Funeral Chapels, Prairie Sky Co-operative Association, the Ken and Marlene Hillstead Group of Companies and the Weyburn Red Wings hockey club.
The award is presented in recognition of pioneer and cornerstone businesses and business leaders who have demonstrated excellence over an extended period of time and whose business has contributed to the economic well-being of Weyburn and immediate area.
