By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on July 6, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its Lethbridge Business Awards which will be presented Oct. 19 at the Coast Lethbridge Hotel. Nominations are being accepted in various categories with a form available on the Chamber website at http://www.lethbridgechamber.com/awards The chamber will be handing out awards in 11 categories. Here’s a look at the list with synopses from the Chamber website: * Best Creative Marketing Strategy: This award recognizes a business that has successfully crafted an unique, captivating, and unforgettable marketing campaign, demonstrating their ability to stand out in a competitive market and leave a lasting impact on their audience. It celebrates the company’s innovative approach and highlights their achievement in capturing attention, generating interest, and effectively promoting their products or services. • Business Legacy: This award honours a business or individual with a remarkable track record of over 20 years in business, whose exceptional endeavors have resulted in extraordinary contributions that have positively impacted the Lethbridge community in distinct and significant ways. Serving as an inspirational role model, this award recognizes their outstanding achievements, highlighting their lasting legacy and the profound difference they have made to the local community’s well-being. This award may be issued posthumously. • Community Business Leadership: This esteemed award is bestowed upon a business or individual who exemplifies exceptional leadership and deserves commendation for their significant contributions towards enhancing the community. Going above and beyond their regular operations, this exemplary business or person sets an inspiring example for others seeking to make a positive difference in Lethbridge, serving as a beacon of inspiration and a catalyst for transforming the city into a better place for all. • Excellence in Customer Service: This award is dedicated to a business that consistently delivers an exceptional customer service experience. Through their unwavering commitment to excellence, this business champions a culture that embodies professional high standards, surpassing customer expectations at every turn. Their relentless focus on customer satisfaction sets them apart, making them a shining example of outstanding service and a benchmark for others in the industry. • Innovation and Technology: This award recognizes a business that has demonstrated remarkable innovation by either producing or creating a unique technology that has had a transformative impact on their business operations. Through their pioneering efforts, this business has successfully introduced an innovation that has positively influenced their operational efficiency, productivity, or overall performance. Their ability to embrace and implement cutting-edge solutions sets them apart as a trailblazer in their industry, deserving recognition for their valuable contributions to the realm of technology and business advancement. • Spirit of Reconciliation: This award is dedicated to an organization that has made a significant and positive social or economic impact in the Lethbridge community through their commitment to reconciliation. By actively promoting and fostering reconciliation efforts, this organization has played a pivotal role in bridging divides, fostering understanding, and creating a more inclusive and harmonious community. Their initiatives and actions have not only contributed to social cohesion but have also brought about tangible economic benefits, showcasing their dedication to building a stronger, more equitable Lethbridge for all. • Outstanding employer: This prestigious award is bestowed upon an employer who consistently cultivates a positive employee culture within their organization. This business prioritizes continuing education, fostering employee growth and development, promoting a healthy work-life balance, and recognizing and celebrating success as a cohesive team. By nurturing an environment that values and supports its employees, this exceptional employer creates a workplace where individuals thrive, contributing to a motivated, engaged, and fulfilled workforce. Their commitment to cultivating a positive employee culture sets them apart as an exemplary model for other businesses, highlighting the significance of investing in their employees’ well-being and professional development. • Young Business Professional: This award is dedicated to recognizing a successful Young Business Professional who is 35 years old or younger, and who has displayed exceptional leadership qualities, a fearless attitude towards taking risks, and remarkable achievements in the field of business. This individual serves as a role model, exemplifying the drive, ambition, and innovative thinking necessary for success at a young age. Their notable accomplishments and contributions highlight their ability to navigate the business landscape with distinction, making them a deserving recipient of this recognition and an inspiration to aspiring young professionals. • New Business of the Year: This award recognizes a business that, despite being in operation for less than three years, showcases immense potential for future success. This exceptional business has already made a significant impact in its short existence, exhibiting remarkable qualities such as innovation, adaptability, and a promising business model. With a clear vision, strong foundation, and a track record of early achievements, this business exemplifies the qualities necessary to thrive in the long term, making them a deserving recipient of this award and a noteworthy prospect for future accomplishments. • Business of the year: This prestigious award is dedicated to recognizing the outstanding business of the year in Lethbridge. This exceptional business distinguishes itself through its unwavering commitment to performance excellence, consistently delivering exceptional results and surpassing industry standards. In addition to its exceptional achievements, this business embodies the spirit of the Lethbridge business community, embracing collaboration, innovation, and community engagement. Through its exemplary practices and contributions, it serves as a shining example as a convener, catalyst and champion for the growth and success of the local business landscape, deserving the highest accolades for its remarkable accomplishments. • People’s Choice: This award is presented to the business that emerges as the ultimate winner among all the nominees for Business of the Year, determined through a comprehensive online and ballot voting campaign. This process ensures that the recipient of this award has received widespread recognition and support from the community, with their customers, peers, and the general public affirming their exceptional qualities and achievements. Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 28