An Alberta-based hotel chain with a location in Humboldt is up for multiple Saskatchewan Achievement in Business Excellence (ABEX) awards.
Canalta Hotels, based in Drumheller, Alberta, have locations in Humboldt, Melfort, Tisdale, Weyburn and Moosomin in Saskatchewan, has been nominated for three ABEX awards, including the Growth and Expansion Award, the New Venture Award and the Service Award.
"It's amazing," said Maxine Tebbe, general manager of the Canalta Hotel in Humboldt.
Canalta Humbldt was nominated for two Mark of Excellence Awards from the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce last spring. They were up for the Service Award, and for the New Business Venture award.
"For the company to be nominated provincially... it's overwhelming,' Tebbe said.
Canalta has only been in Saskatchewan for three years, she continued.
"And already we're being recognized for everything we're doing."
The Humboldt location of Canalta, which has 86 rooms, just celebrated the anniversary of its opening in August, and were nominated for the local awards in their first five months of operation, which Tebbe indicated was unexpected.
"We were still trying to get trained," she smiled.
But everyone locally and in the chain is excited about the ABEX nomination, she indicated.
"It's totally a motivational boost for everyone," she said. "It shows we're doing something right."
Canalta is planning on opening three more locations in the province next year, she added - in Shaunovan, Melville and Esterhazy.
Finalists for the 10 ABEX award categories were announced on September 30. Winners will be announced at the ABEX awards dinner in Saskatoon on November 19.
The ABEX Awards were established 28 years ago to celebrate the achievements of private sector businesses in Saskatchewan. Since then, they have become the largest private sector business awards in the province with increasing numbers of business leaders attending the Awards each year.
The ABEX Awards are open to any private sector business registered to operate in Saskatchewan regardless of size, location or industry.
A full listing of the 2011 ABEX award finalists is as follows:
The Marketing Award: Century 21 Diamond Realty, Humboldt; Bath Fitter, Saskatoon; Gold Eagle Casino, North Battleford; Refresh Inc., Saskatoon; Triple 4 Advertising Ltd., Moose Jaw.
The Growth and Expansion Award:Canalta Hotels, Drumheller; Golden Band Resources Inc., Saskatoon; Gyro Productions Inc., Regina; Magna Electric Corporation, Regina; North Ridge Development, Saskatoon.
The New Venture Award: Canalta Hotels, Drumheller; Digital Skies Billboard Network, Regina; EcoLibra Systems Inc., Saskatoon; TJ's Pizza, Melfort; Zoom Zoom Groom Ltd., Regina.
The TIA New Saskatchewan Product Award: EcoLibra Systems Inc., Saskatoon; Onagon Interactive Inc., Regina; Sprossil Industries Inc., Regina; Text2Car, Saskatoon.
The Service Award: Border Line Feeders Inc., Ceylon; Canalta Hotels, Drumheller; Essence Organic Hair and Day Spa, Regina; Impact Construction Inc., Dalmeny; Terry Ortynsky's Royal Ford, Yorkton.
The Export Award:Crestline Coach Ltd., Saskatoon; Partners in Motion, Regina.
The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Tyler Boyd - Boyd Excavating Ltd., Pilot Butte; Brent Gedak - Brent Gedak Welding Ltd., Estevan; Timothy Martin & Abbey Dolney - Mint Holdings Inc., Regina; Nathan Wilhelm - Wilhelm Construction Services Ltd., Estevan; Justin Yawney - Yorkton Plumbing and Heating Ltd., Yorkton.
The Aboriginal Business Partnership Award: Canada North Environmental Services, Saskatoon; Neechie Gear, Saskatoon; Points Athabasca Contracting Limited Partnership, Wollaston Lake; Triple 4 Advertising Ltd., Moose Jaw; Tron Power Inc., Saskatoon.
The Environment Award: Koenders Windmills Inc., Regina; Canada North Environmental Services, Saskatoon; LK Auto Collision Ltd., Regina; Stantec, Regina; VerEco Homes Inc., Saskatoon.
The Community Involvement Award: Knight Archer Insurance, Regina; Neechie Gear, Saskatoon; Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, Saskatoon; Stantec, Saskatoon; W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Home, Moose Jaw.
The Business Leader of the Year Award: To be announced.
2011 Hall of Fame Inductee: To be announced.
