Glenda Elkow is this year's recipient of the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
Elkow accepted the honour at the Chamber's Business Excellence Awards at the WLS Convention Centre on Oct. 24.
"It's an amazing honour. I'm really grateful to be given the award," said Elkow who lives on a farm close to town with her husband, Terry.
"You go through life and you do what you do. You do what you think is right at the time —it's not really for any recognition."
As the presiding Chamber president, Donna Schellenberg proudly chose Elkow for the award.
"Every president has different parameters they choose. This is amazing as it really highlights a big variety of lifetime contributors to our community," explained Schellenberg.
"There's been an impressive line-up of recipients over the last 20 years and I take great pleasure in introducing you to this year's recipient."
The Chamber's video, shown to the audience, profiles Elkow as a volunteer, businesswoman, farmer, wife and community builder.
Over the years, Elkow has volunteered in various ways and sat on multiple boards.
She actively participates in the Alberta Elk Commission, Canada’s Cervid Alliance (elk), Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce, Lloydminster Rotary Club, Nelson Group Inc., and the RJ Nelson Family Foundation, among others.
Elkow is the daughter of the late local business icon, Ray Nelson.
She began her business career at Nelson Lumber Company in 1979 as a home improvement sales rep and quickly advanced to become the floor covering manager.
Elkow was named senior vice president in 1998 and became co-chief executive officer in 1999. She also found the time in 1985 to become the owner, operator and president of Buns Master Bakery.
Since 1996, Elkow has helped her husband run their Elk Country farm and is well-known for her advocacy in the elk industry.
"I spent about 15 years working on provincial and national elk boards to help change regulations and make improvements," she said.
"When we first started, the government regulations were literally smothering the industry," she said.
She recalled they couldn't cross the border from Alberta to Saskatchewan with elk or put down an injured animal without getting permission from the provincial government.
"It took almost seven years, but we got most of our issues resolved and new legislation passed to seal that deal. There's still a lot of work to do, but now it's someone else's turn," said Elkow.
Giving back is in her family's DNA.
"The community has been very good to our family and the surrounding areas. We make a pointed effort to make sure we give back," said Elkow in the video.
She was also the first elected woman councillor to serve the County of Vermilion River from 2000 to 2013.
Elkow says her life to date has been quite a journey, with more community involvement to come.
"Border Paws is one of the main boards I am on right now," she said.
She also told the audience, she took pilates at Schellenberg's To The Core Pilates & Nutrition business for a farming injury and joked she deserves gold stars for her dedication.
"This award is the highlight of my life, but it's not going to get you off the hook for my well-deserved gold stars," Elkow told Schellenberg at the podium.
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