(File photo/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Mark of Excellence Awards

Humboldt Chamber of Commerce celebrating the best of local business

Sep 27, 2023 | 6:00 PM

The Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC) will soon be celebrating the best local businesses and entrepreneurs in and around the community.

On Thursday (Sept. 28) the organization will host the 2023 Mark of Excellence Awards.

“It’s just our celebration of business excellence,” explained Executive Director, Brent Fitzpatrick. “It’s a great evening of just saying, here are all these businesses that have excelled in their business, just doing what they do. Let’s give them some recognition and say, you’ve hit the top of the heap, you’ve done very well.”

Finalists for the awards have already been announced, and the winners will be notified at the event.

Humboldt has a regional chamber, therefore, finalists and winners may include businesses that aren’t necessarily within the city limits.

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“We are heartened to see that finalists represent not only a wider regional base but also a greater involvement in the important agricultural industry,” added Tammy Ward, HDCC president.

Award categories include Community Involvement, Community Merit, New Business, Marketing, Entrepreneur of the Year, Growth and Expansion, and Service.

Fitzpatrick explained that every award means a little something different for what businesses bring to the table.

“Community merit is nonprofit organizations that really do good work at helping our communities, while community involvement is profit organizations who do the same. New business is for companies that have arrived in the last couple of years, and marketing is getting the message out there.”

“Meanwhile, Entrepreneur of the Year is for people new to the business world or that specific field, growth and expansion is for those that have come a long way and are continuing to go somewhere, and service is who was the company that dealt the best with people on a most consistent basis,” he continued.

One last award is being presented at the event, however, it already has a winner, as there were no public finalists.

Eric and Ken Ruthven, operators of Kemway Lanes, have won the 2023 Hall of Fame award.

“They’ve been able to make a strong business and do great things for all aspects of our community, while still making a great business out of it. It’s that sort of diligence and forward thinking and just never taking your foot off the gas pedal that has made them a Hall of Fame recipient,” Fitzpatrick told northeastNOW.

“The Hall of Fame was started in 2011 and it simply looks at the people who made significant impacts on the business climate in our community. It really is a big notch in your cap to have that honour. These are people who have played an important part in the growth of our region.”

Award finalists include:

Spotlight Sport and Corporate Wear, Strueby Plumbing and Heating, Tim Hortons Humboldt, Bill Brecht Playground Upgrade, Carlton Trail College, Humboldt and Area Pride Network, Humboldt and District Community Services, Humboldt Soup Kitchen, On-Stage Dance Festival, Croptimistic Technology Inc./Swat Maps, Hair by Shelbey, Grid and Gertie Design Studio, Reel Attractions, Dixon Ag Performance Ltd., Breker-Kunz, Cat’s Creamery, Longhorn CrossFit, Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium Ltd., Pattison Ag, Canadian Tire, Danwheels Ltd, HSA, Humboldt Motors Body Shop, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Weber & Gasper.

The event will take place at the Uniplex beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for $60.00 apiece, or a table of 8 for $440.00. The Hon. Pamela Wallin will be a keynote speaker.

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news@northeastnow.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8