Jill Kelly, owner of Red Bicycle Communications, accepts the Small Business of the Year award at last year’s Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Kelly also announced the new award for women which is being added this year. Geoff Lee File Photo
The first Women in Business award to be presented at this month’s Business Excellence Awards, hosted by the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce, is starting to generate a buzz.
There are seven women-led businesses nominated for the award, the most in any category, with the winner to be named on the evening of Oct. 20 at the WLS Convention Centre.
“There probably should be eight, there probably should be more,” said Chamber president, Jody Herbus.
The new Women in Business category was introduced a year ago by Red Bicycle Communications, which is also sponsoring the inaugural award.
“That’s long overdue. Everyone in Lloydminster knows how important women in business are,” said Herbus.
The businesses up for the award are Nouveau Laser & Aesthetic Centre, Lash Lounge – Kim Newsted, Brixton Shoes, Performance Business Consulting, To The Core Pilates & Nutrition, Brandi Hofer artist, Can-Do Auto & Lube.
Herbus says the list “really shows and highlights in Lloydminster there’s a lot of women that are really helping to lead our economy.”
The Chamber has also posted the full list of category nominees on its website including awards for small business of the year, customer service, diversity, employer of the year, integrity, entrepreneur of the year, community spirit, and downtown business of the year.
In keeping with the rules, nominees must be a member or future members of the Chamber.
The winners of special core awards for business of the year, lifetime achievement, Think Lloyd First ambassador and non-profit of the year, will be announced at the event.
“It is a big evening. We’re expecting to have a great evening to celebrate local business during Small Business Week in Canada,” said Chamber executive director, Teri-Lynn MacKie.
Herbus will emcee the event once again and cites a recent U.S. study that he says applies to all of North America, reporting 47 per cent of business revenue is generated by small businesses.
“That’s a pretty incredible number,” he said, noting it shows the small business is the backbone of our economy.
Macki notes that all of the Chamber awards are also sponsored by a small business.
“We’re excited with the sponsors that have shown their support for our business awards,” said MacKie.
“Cansafe is our presenting sponsor, Red Bicycle Communications is our wine sponsor, Nordic Systems is our dinner sponsor, It’s Time Promotions is our ceremony sponsor and McCaw Funeral Services is our floral sponsor.”
