Much of the suspense had already gone out of the 21st annual Battlefords Business Excellence (BBEX) Awards.
The lone Business of the Year candidate, Nutec Embroidery Ltd. o/a Nutec Embroidery Arrow Trophies Signs of the Times, had been announced as the recipient weeks earlier.
It was almost a bonus for Nutec to win any more awards, but as it turned out, owner Peter Frey also accepted the Customer Service Award on behalf of his business. They beat out two other finalists, Advancing Pet Products and Doug's Paint Shoppe, in that category.
"We're very proud to get it," said Frey to reporters on accepting the Customer Service Award. "My staff strives to do the best that they can, and customer service is of the utmost importance."
As for the Business of the Year award, "it's a great feeling to be honoured by the business community, and recognized for all the work that we do and my staff does."
The other winners in the other categories were as follows:
In the Community Contribution category, awarded to a business demonstrating support of recreation, amateur sports, arts and culture and charitable groups, the winner was Canadian Tire North Battleford, with owner Brett Payne on hand to accept the award for his business. The other finalists were Battlefords North Stars Hockey Club, Lakeland Veterinary Services P.C. Ltd., Lifetime Fitness and Splish Splash Auto RV and Pet Wash.
In the Micro Business Award, going to a small business or home office of fewer than five employees, Warne Photography was the recipient. Warne Noyce and Paula Moon accepted the award for the business. The other finalists were Ironclad Safety Ltd. and Realty Solutions AKL Ltd.
This year the Marketing Award went to Rayburn Dental Studio. Dr. Sherry Rayburn accepted the award for her business. The other finalists were Gold Eagle Lodge and Lifetime Fitness.
Ironclad Safety Ltd. took the New Business Venture Award, awarded to a new business operating for more than one year but less than three years as of Dec. 31, 2013. Terry Massett and Dave Shipston were on hand to accept the award. The other finalists were Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium Inc. and Ventures West Charters Ltd.
Finally, the Heritage Award, recognizing pioneer and cornerstone business leaders in the Battlefords demonstrating excellence over an extended period of time, went to Battlefords Trade and Education Centre. They had been announced as the recipient for 2014 weeks earlier.
BTEC chair Julian Stelmaschuk accepted the Heritage Award on behalf of the organization, whose mission is to support those with disabilities to achieve independence and quality of life.
The organization, located at 702 - 102nd St., has been actively working towards replacing their current aging facility with a new one at the corner of Railway Ave. and 105th Street, with hopes for a sod-turning next year.
"The BBEX committee recognizes that people with disabilities are part of the community," said Stelmaschuk. "They need to have all the kinds of things the rest of us have and a facility, which we are working on at the present time, is a step in that direction."
Overall, nominations were down from previous years' events, particularly given that last year had been the 20th anniversary BBEX event and the year before had been the first ceremony at the Dekker Centre.
