The South Cariboo’s 2019 Business Excellence Awards winners and Citizen of the Year were announced on March 7 at the 100 Mile House Community Hall, following dinner and a performance by Canadian comedian Cory Mack.
Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett was the presenter for the Citizen of the Year Award and read passages about each nominee before handing out a certificate for their nomination. “Each and every one of you, are winners,” said Barnett, before revealing the award winner, Ron Lister.
Lister has lived in the South Cariboo for 26 years and began volunteering a week after his arrival in the area. He’s known for forming the Canim Lake Volunteer Fire Department and being a deputy chief with the Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department as well as being a member of the Forest Grove Lion’s club.
“It’s honour to be nominated,” said Lister. “It had nothing to do with whether I won or not, it was the honour of being nominated that meant the most more than anything.”
The other nominees for the Citizen of the Year were: Jamie Hughes-Rywaczuk and Mal Wood.
“Everybody does what they are going to do,” said Lister. “Volunteers are the people who keep this town going. I started because I wanted to meet people. The people are great and it’s the people who make this community work.”
The following nominees and winners (in bold and italic) of the 26th Annual Business Excellence Awards are as follows:
1) Community Impact Business Excellence Award:
South Point Resort on Canim Lake
Blissed Out Yoga
Ultimate Promotions
100 Mile Free Press
2) Greatest Improvement in 2019 Business Excellence Award:
Red Rock Grill
108 Golf Resort
Farrier Pub
Napa/ Exeter Forest and Marine
3) Tourism Business Excellence Award:
South Point Resort on Canim Lake
100 Mile Nordics
Mt. Timothy Ski Resort
108 Heritage Site
4) Best Marketing and Promotion Business Excellence Award:
Sweet Lavations
Freeline Signs and Graphics
Mr. T Contracting
100 Mile Free Press
5) Professional Services Business Excellence Award:
Orville Backhoe and Septic
CIBC 100 Mile House
Four Cedars Massage and Wellness
Northern Lights Tanning
6) Best Home Based or Online Business Excellence Award:
Jewel of the Mile Skin Work
Milly and Me Handcrafted Pet Products
Stone Bear Gallery
Sweet Lavations
7) Best New Business in 2019 Business Excellence Award:
Fraser and Pine Design Co.
CJD Custom Metalworks Inc.
Jewel of the Mile Skin Work
South Point Resort on Canim Lake
8) Non-profit Organization Excellence Award:
100 Mile and District Historical Society
Loaves and Fishes
Age-Friendly Society of the South Cariboo
100 Mile Nordics
9) Youth Sports and Recreation Business Excellence Award:
Raven Youth Activity Centre
South Cariboo Rec Centre
Mt. Timothy Recreational Resort
Educo Adventure School
10) Resource-Based Business Excellence Award:
New Era Falling and Forestry Ltd.
Big Rock Ranch
Rod Dillman Contracting
McNeil and Sons Logging Ltd.
12) Age-Friendly Business Excellence Award:
South Cariboo Rec Centre
Carefree Manor
Sunshine Senior Services
100 Mile Free Press
11) People’s Choice Business Excellence Award:
Century Home Hardware
Midori Day Spa
Blissed Out Yoga and Fitness
Milly and Me Handcrafted Pet Products
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