The twentieth annual Battlefords Business Excellence Awards arrived only days before the fifth anniversary of Malcolm Anderson's arrival in the Battlefords.
Anderson, general manager for Gold Eagle Lodge, had good reason to celebrate last Tuesday at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts. His hotel had just won Business of the Year at the annual awards ceremony.
The category featured a particularly impressive list of nominees in 2013 including Bridges Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd., Cash and Carry Lumber Mart o/a Home Hardware Building Centre, Grit Industries Inc. and McGuffy's News Inc.
It was yet another in a long list of honours for Gold Eagle Lodge recently. Just the year before they won a BBEX Award in the customer service category.
This year, the business had been nominated as an ABEX Award finalist in the Service category, and was been announced as a finalist in the Canadian Tourism Awards.
As for why they've been so successful at BBEX, Anderson could not quite put his finger on it. "If I knew what the secret was I would be selling it on a street corner tomorrow morning," he said.
However, he does believe the success is due to their staff, as well as the commitment from the ownership made up of the First Nations that are part of Battlefords Tribal Council.
Anderson particularly credited Russ Brown, chief operation officer of BTC, for his encouragement. "He's always pushing. He always wants a little more," said Anderson.
That's a message Anderson said he has been able to take back to his associates. "We want to give more. We're not happy being on the sidelines. We want to be right in there satisfying the guest whenever possible."
Gold Eagle Lodge was not the only BBEX award winner receiving recognition from elsewhere. The recipient in the Heritage category, Anderson Pump House Ltd., was recently announced as the inductee into the ABEX Hall of Fame.
The North Battleford based business had its roots when Howard Kirby started his career in the water business with Anderson Drilling. Anderson Pump House Ltd. Has now been in operation for 30 years and both Howard and Sharon Kirby were there to accept the Heritage Award for the business, which has grown to be one of the largest water system suppliers in the province.
"We've been lucky enough to create a company with a great bunch of staff," said Kirby.
"We've carved out a niche in the water systems business and we've been relatively successful, and the Battlefords has been a great place to do business."
He also called the ABEX hall of fame honour a "very humbling award especially when I've looked at the lists of businesses who've received that award in the last 20 years."
Other award winners at Tuesday night's gala were as follows:
In the Community Contribution Award category, Battlefords and District Co-operative Ltd. took the BBEX Award. The award was accepted by the new General Manager at the Co-op, Mike Nord. Other nominees were Battlefords Animal Hospital, Northern Nurseries, NuFloors, and Nutec Embroidery/Arrow Trophies/Signs of the Times.
In the Micro Business category, Mawson Saddlery operating as Austin's Saddlery won the top honour. The business is a western retail store offering a varied inventory of items as well as boot and saddle repair. Other nominees were Colleen's Customized Business Service, Collins Electric, Indulgence Studio and Learning Adventures Toys and Games.
In the Marketing Award category, Fisher's Drug Store won in a category that included Brio Boutique, Northern Nurseries, Oil Can Charlie's Ltd., and Splish Splash Auto, RV and Pet Wash.
For New Business Venture the award went to Carpet Superstores, opened in 2010, who recently moved to the former Battlefords Supercycle location in the north end. Other nominees were Brio Boutique and Snap Fitness.
In the Customer Service Award category, Second 2 None Catering took home the BBEX award. Other nominees were Bridges Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd., McGuffy's News Inc., Splish Splash Auto RV and Pet Wash, and Sunshine Law.
