The BBEX Awards are back in-person this fall. (file/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Format shift

BBEX Awards returns to in-person this November

Jun 25, 2022 | 12:00 PM

Nomination season for the 2022 Battlefords Business Excellence (BBEX) Awards is here.

The 28^th edition of the annual event is set for Nov. 9 at the Dekker Centre, which will see the awards return to a gala format. BBEX Committee Co-Chair Dana Rissling noted the excitement of everyone involved to have the event in person again.

“The Committee, myself and Chamber staff have been busy planning and are looking forward to an evening of celebrating the Battlefords and the people who make our business community such a success,” she said.

Battlefords Chamber of Commerce COO Linda Machniak added to that excitement for the format return. The awards are meant to highlight vision, generosity and excellence showcased in the business community over the past year.

“The committee asked to go back to in-person,” Machniak said. “All things being equal, that’s the plan, we’re having a banquet.”

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Among several elements of revamping for the program is a new Member’s Choice Award, voted on exclusively by Chamber members for special recognition.

“When you get recognition from you peers, it’s a bit different than getting it from the public or an anonymous just,” she said.

Other changes include an impact award, the reintroduction of the Young Entrpreneur Award and a shift to the Heather Guthrie Customer Service Star Award. Machniak said they’re making sure to differentiate between an individual or employee winner and a business owner.

“We decided to do one or the other each year,” she said. “So this year, it will be the individual or employee covered and next year will be the business owners.”

Another addition this year is an Agriculture and Agri-Business Award Machniak said the event hasn’t had a strong Ag. focus before, even though there have been some awards that were more tailored towards the industry.

“I’m hoping this one takes off, because we all know that agriculture is a mainstay of the economy of our region,” she said.

The deadline for submissions from the public is July 29, where businesses and nominees will have until Agust 19 to submit the completed nomination kits provided by the Chamber.

Local leader conversation to return

The Chamber also announced this week that they will be bringing back Power Hour on Sept. 16.

The inaugural event that took place just before the pandemic featured the two mayors, two regional chief and the local members of the provincial legislature and federal parliament. Machniak said that was the first time those people were on stage together and, importantly, not in a political forum featured in election cycles.

“There’s so many files that cross through multiple levels and jurisdictions,” she said. “Having all those people there to answer questions was important.”

The Battlefords – Lloydminster MP Rosemarie Falk will be unable to attend this year.

More information on the BBEX Awards and Power Hour is available at the Chamber website.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW