Dave Schneider, left, owner of Cliff Rose for Clothes, was chosen to receive the Lifetime Achievement Business Excellence Award by Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce president Blaine Stephan, who congratulated Schneider at the Lloyd Ex last Thursday night. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Nobody wins the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Business Excellence award in their first year of business, but that’s where it all starts.
That’s the case for Dave Schneider, a long-time owner of downtown’s Cliff Rose for Clothes, as the 2023 recipient of the coveted award at the Lloyd Ex last Thursday evening.
“I started in 1990 when Cliff gave me a call. I didn’t think I’d be here that long, but I’m still here 33 years later,” Schneider said.
Schneider was chosen as the recipient by chamber president, Blaine Stephan, as one of the president’s favourite annual roles.
“I didn’t have too much trouble to make this decision and I’ve kept it under wraps,” he told the audience.
“There’s been an impressive list of recipients over the last 20 years and I take pleasure in introducing you to this year’s recipient.”
Schneider’s name was revealed seconds later in a narrated video that captured the moment.
“Tonight, we gather to celebrate the man who seamlessly weaves the threads of business acumen and community, a man whose presence has profoundly touched the lives of many,” said the video.
Schneider and his wife, Angela, raised four daughters and he is the grandfather of eight grandchildren with a ton of relatives on hand for his big night.
“It’s great. I’ve got my daughters here. My dad came and my brother and sister-in-law came in from Saskatoon,” he said.
“Unfortunately, my wife’s not here, she’s got some pneumonia going on today, but it’s just great to have everyone here. We’re a big family. We’ve been here basically all our lives, so this is home for us.”
Schneider says it’s an honour and a little humbling to receive the award.
“I don’t know if you think you’re getting old because it’s a lifetime award, but it’s been a great life and I love to volunteer,” he said.
Schneider has a long history of volunteering for past and present organizations such as the Jr. B Bandits and Bobcats hockey teams, the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation, The Olive Tree, and the Fellowship Gospel Church, among others.
“It’s what the community does for us as well, like my family, my business— this community is giving all the time, so we have to give back as well,” explained Schneider.
When it comes to the business part, he said, “Like everyone else, we’re trying to get through what COVID brought on.”
“It’s an ongoing process all the time, but we have great supporters in this community.”
Schneider has also been grooming his daughter April Blythe to take over the business one day.
“She’s been working on off for about 10 years. She’s definitely in the plan to take over,” he said.
At one time, Schneider was a volunteer for Streetscape promoting downtown revitalization, which is making more headway today with ongoing road construction and improvements near his store on 50 Ave.
“It’s been long, but it’s something that needs to be done. The infrastructure is so old downtown; it just has to be done. We just have to be patient with it,” said Schneider.
