Business Excellence Awards 2010 by Agassiz Harrison Hope Observer

AGASSIZ-HARRISON OBSERVER – Thursday, March 4, 2010

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Forevergreen Tree Services Forevergreen Tree Services are honoured to thank their clients & the Chamber for their support & for nominating them in the

Business of the Year New Business of the Year & Home Based Business of the Year categories for the Business Excellence Awards 2010. See you next year! (604) 845-8249

The Agassiz - Harrison Mills Circle Farm Tour would like to thank the community for their support in making our self guided agriculture tours/businesses so popular! Winning the

Green Excellence Award makes it all even more worthwhile!

Farm House Natural Cheeses The Amrein-Boyes family & their staff wish to thank everyone for their support & helping them earn the

Agricultural Excellence Award for 2010. They look forward to serving you well into the future! 5634 McCallum Road, Agassiz (604) 796-8741

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Awards set high standards for 2011 The recent Business Excellence Awards that was held at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, Thursday February 18th, was an incredible success and truly set the bar for the future. The Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Agassiz Harrison Observer to honour the many organizations and business leaders exemplifying high standards of service and innovation. This year marked the inaugural Awards night with over 150 local residents in attendance. The awards are a direct result of an initiative led by The Observer and The Chamber to recognize worthy recipients from the business community. With more than a thousand nominations made by readers of The Observer, the final job of the Business Excellence judges was extremely difficult.

During the month preceding the event, a team of local judges examined all of the nominations and the completed criteria submitted by the nominees. On average three finalists were selected and the results were released during the evening of the event. This special edition showcases all of the winners including a list of all finalists who reached the final selection procedure. Twelve worthy recipients were presented with top honours in their various categories. The top two awards of the evening were presented to the ‘Business of the Year’ and ‘New Business of the Year’. The former award was presented to Agassiz Produce for their excellence in customer service and product availability, and the latter was presented to Oasis Coffee and Bistro for their Continued on page 26

AGASSIZ PRODUCE We all would like to thank our customers & the Chamber of Commerce for their support & for awarding us

Business of the Year! 7266 Pioneer Avenue, Agassiz (604) 796-8444

Thank you to all of our customers for their support & encouragement over the past 8 years. Lynda & Dan: Winners of the

Thank you to our loyal clients & the Chamber of Commerce for making us the

Home Based Business of the Year Award

winner 2010! Brenda, Fred & Girls

6116 Golf Road, Agassiz, BC (604) 796-9871

Customer Service Excellence Award 1756 No 9 Hwy. Agassiz, BC (604) 796-2611

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A well-deserved pat on the back

ow do you spell excellence? Just ask the winners of the inaugural Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Twelve businesses and individuals were given the honour on February 18, at a gala awards ceremony and dinner at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa. Remember to take the time to visit the winners, and all of the other local businesses in the year to come as a way to further support local business. And be sure to nominate your favourite businesses in next year’s awards. And the winners were: • Business of the Year: Agassiz Produce • Non profit/Service Excellence: Harrison Festival Society • Customer Service Excellence: Modern Tire & Towing • Green Excellence: Circle Farm Tour • Agricultural Excellence: Farmhouse Natural Cheeses

• Employee of the Year: John Zuidhof • Employer of the Year: Michelle Mailhot, Agassiz Subway • Public Safety Individuals of the Year: Kent-Harrison Search & Rescue • New Business of the Year: Oasis Coffee & Bistro

• Home Based Business of the Year: The Back Porch • Casual Dining Excellence: Cookin’ Kim’s Country Cafe • Fine Dining Excellence: The Black Forest Restaurant

Super Valu, nominated in the

Winner of the

Casual Dining Excellence Award Cookin Kim’s Country Cafe, would like to thank all of their clientele for their support & for bringing their appetites in on a daily basis! Bon appetit!

Super Valu, nominated in the

Customer Service Excellence Customer Service Excellence award category award category

wishes to thank the community

105-196 Esplanade, Harrison Hot Springs (604) 796-2229

wishes toongoing thank the community for their support & their for awesome their ongoing support & their staff for helping them awesome staff for helping them continue with their excellent continue with their excellent customer service! customer service!

PICTURE THIS!

A specialcongratulations congratulations toto Bev, A special Bev, for being nominated in the for being nominated in the

Did you see a photo in the paper you would like to own? How about a photo you saw taken by Observer staff that did not show up in the newspaper? Now you can buy that photo directly from our website. Go to:

www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/ ahobserver and click on ‘Photo Gallery/ Buy Photos’ on the right hand side of the web page.

Check it out today, exclusively on the Agassiz-Harrison Observer website.

Employee of Employee of the theYear Year category category and fordeserving deserving to and for tobe bethere! there!

The Observer Agassiz

Harrison

7024 Agassiz 7024Cheam, Cheam, Agassiz (604) 796-9040 (604) 796-9040

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Business of the Year Award This business will have outstanding characteristics in performance, leadership, innovation, management, marketing and customer service.

AGASSIZ PRODUCE Finalists in this category were:

• Pioneer Motors • Agassiz Produce • Video Station

Sponsored by Kelly Parent accepts the Business of the Year Award on behalf of Agassiz Produce, presented by Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce president Robert Reyerse.

Local produce store the cream of the crop

gassiz Produce is more than just a fresh fruit and vegetable market. It’s a place where you know you can find just what you’re looking for. Whether you are searching out the perfect plum or the sweetest berries, you’ll be sure to find it at Agassiz Produce. While they strive to keep their shelves stocked with produce from around the world, they also help promote local produce, and local farming.

“We carry as much local produce as we can,” owner Jacquie Greene says. In addition to their fine produce, they also are a great place to shop for seasonal plants. If you’re looking for a spring flower this month, for example, you may want to stop and see what she has to offer. This bustling market carries a number of everyday cooking ne-

cessities, from eggs and dairy, to whole grains and desserts. They have been doing business in Agassiz for many years and they offer quick, courteous service and gladly offer bulk produce orders during canning season. Greene and her staff have sponsored many local fundraising projects including the Agassiz elementary secondary school’s

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newspaper, the Agazine. They also donate to the Olive Branch, a free dinner for the needy held by local churches once a week. “We donate on a weekly basis to that,” Greene says. They also sponsor a soccer team each year, to help promote active living. They keep their produce fresh, their prices competitive and their smiles ready. Congratulations to Agassiz Produce on being named Business of the Year!

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New Business of the Year Award Awarded to a business that has been newly established for less than 3 years. This business will have shown leadership in the community, and good use of marketing to introduce themselves.

OASIS BISTRO Finalists in this category were:

• Oasis Coffee & Bistro • Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory • Forevergreen Tree Services

Sponsored byy Claudette and Kerry Krahn, owners of Oasis Coffee and Bistro, accepted their award for Best New Business, sponsored by the Executive Hotel.

New business served up with a smile

t’s hard to be the new kid on the block. But there’s one sure fire way to fit in — offer up delicious goodies. Oasis Bistro has taken that credo to heart, and worked their way into the hearts, and bellies, of locals. When they set out to open up shop at the corner of Pioneer Avenue and Hwy. 7, they had three objectives. “First, it is to offers customers excellent food and beverages at a fair cost while receiving amaz-

ing service,” owner Claudette Krahn says. “Next is to give our staff a positive and supportive environment in which to grow their skills and be recognized for their hard work. Finally, it’s to be contributing members of Agassiz and be actively involved in it as a thriving community when the opportunity arises.” Even as new business own-

ers, Claudette and her husband Kerry have reached out to help the community. They volunteer their time and knowledge, leading a cooking class at the Agassiz Community Centre. They also provide space on their walls for local artists. Watch out for information on their newest service, a dinner club that offers a five-course

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meal, once a month. The first was held on Valentine’s Day and more are sure to come. The Krahns thanked their loyal customers for taking the time to nominate them. “We are just so honoured and excited to have been nominated,” Claudette said. “We love this town and the fact that (our customers) have been loyal and recognized our hard work.” Congratulations to the Krahns and their staff for being named the New Business of the Year.

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Green Excellence Award Recognizing a business that displays environmental responsibility, encourages the sustainable use of renewable resources and/or the protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

CIRCLE FARM TOURS Finalists in this category were:

• Agassiz Recycling Centre • HHS Resort & Spa • Circle Farm Tour • District of Kent

Sponsored by Debra Amrein-Boyes and Trudie Bouchard accept the Green Excellence Award on behalf of the Circle Farm Tour, presented by Rob Sciotti, owner of A&W Restaurant.

Circle Farm Tour fosters agri-tourism growth

gassiz and Harrison Mills are farming communities, through and through. They’re closely knit, rely on one another and support each other in their strive for excellence. And the Circle Farm Tour exemplifies excellence. From planning, marketing and execution, the Circle Farm Tour works to draw interest to small niche markets in the area. It promotes healthy liv-

ing, and brings interest to the agri-tourism sector. The Agassiz Harrison Mills Circle Farm Tour was the first of six regional tours, connecting similar areas between Langley and Chilliwack. Locally, businesses involved are Limbert Mountain Farms, Farm House Natural Cheeses, The Back

Porch, Canadian Hazelnut, Fraser River Lodge, Kilby Historic Site, Agassiz-Harrison Museum, Tulips of the Valley and Sparkes Corn Barn. They’ve been working together since 2003, winning a B.C Tourism Industry Award in 2007 for their marketing campaign. The number of travelers to

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the area, searching specifically for agri-tourism, eco-friendly shops and services and organic products is increasing steadily. Circle Farm Tour recognizes that trend, and is fostering growth by supporting small agri-based businesses. And in the end, they’re bringing our community’s farming roots into the here and now. Congratulations to Circle Farm Tour for winning the Green Excellence Award.

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Customer Service Award Celebrating the best in customer service, customer retention and customer relationship management.

MODERN TIRE & TOWING Finalists in this category were:

• Agassiz Deli • Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory • Agassiz Dollar Store - Bev • Modern Tire & Towing

Sponsored by Fred and Brenda Major accept their award for Customer Service Excellence, presented by Harrison Hot Springs Mayor Ken Becotte.

Modern believes in “doing it right”

hen it comes to safety on the road, your vehicle needs to be in top-notch shape. And to get it there, you need a top-notch crew of servicemen and women. That’s where Modern Tire and Towing excels. They’ve been the tried, tested and true shop in Agassiz since 1946. Along the road there have been many changes, and the new-

est owners to share in that legacy are Fred and Brenda Major, along with their two daughters, Amber and Melissa. They are committed to maintaining Modern Tire’s tradition of offering honesty, integrity and a strong work ethic to their clients. And by doing those simple

but important things, they show their commitment to a small town lifestyle. They are constantly keeping staff on their toes with friendly competitions and upgrades to training. Of course, what tire shop could resist supporting the local Agassiz Speedway? Other local

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causes they have supported included the AESS dry grad and the 4H club. There’s a simple way to sum up all they do, in and out of the shop: “We believe in doing it right,” they say. And that truly is the winning spirit. Congratulations to Modern Tire and Towing Ltd. for your Customer Service Excellence Award.

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Non-Profit/Service Association of the Year Award This award recognizes the organization making a significant difference in our local community in terms of fundraising & the number of local people affected.

HARRISON FESTIVAL SOCIETY Finalists in this category were:

• Agassiz Harrison Community Services • HHS Pre-School • Harrison Festival Society

Sponsored by Ed and Phyllis Stenson, of the Harrison Festival Society, with their award for Non-Profit Association of the Year.

Standing ovation for a first-class festival

or 32 years, the Harrison Festival Society has been breathing life into the community. They’ve brought culture from all corners of the globe —and specifically from across Canada — to the small but mighty Harrison Memorial Hall. And each summer, when the beach fills with music, laughter, colours and crafts, residents can thank

the society and its 150 volunteers. The society’s director, Phyllis Stenson, says they are committed to bringing their audience “the best Canada and the world has to offer, while remaining accessible and inclusive.” They’ve certainly done

so in years past, and hope to continue that mandate into the future. This year, they’ve already announced concerts by the Pine Leaf Boys, Mighty Popo, Fathead and John Mann. And the 32nd Annual Harrison Festival, July 10 to 18, 2010, is sure to delight lo-

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cals. Beyond being a mainstay for residents, thousands of tourists flock to the area specifically to take in local hospitality and culture during the festival. For those reasons and more, we give a standing ovation to the Harrison Festival Society on winning the Non-Profit/Service Excellence category. Here’s to another 32 successful years.

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Agriculture Excellence Award Awarded to an agriculture based business that demonstrates excellence and quality in their products and services.

FARM HOUSE NATURAL CHEESES Finalists in this category were:

• Limbert Mtn. Farms • Treeline Nursery Randy & Donna Chiasson • Farm House Natural Cheeses

Sponsored by Mayor Lorne Fisher presents the Amrein-Boyes family of Farm House Natural Cheeses with the Agricultural Excellence Award, sponsored by the District of Kent.

Family farm epitome of farming excellence

he Farm House Natural Cheese is part of a small family dairy farm in lush green Agassiz. Surrounded by stunning mountain scenery, happy cows graze the fields to produce the rich fresh milk used for the cheeses made in their onfarm facility. The entire Amrein-Boyes family is involved in the work on the farm, from daily milking and barn chores, to hay-

making and field work, and of course, to cheesemaking. Debra Amrein-Boyes is one of 12 persons in western Canada and the U.S. who has been inducted into the prestigious French Cheese Guild, the “Guilde des Fromagers Confrerie de Saint-Uguzon”, which recognizes those who protect and continue the

tradition of cheesemaking around the world. She is constantly striving to perfect a variety of cheeses, from Country Blue Stilton to Peppercorn Goat Gouda. On their own, and through the Circle Farm Tour activities, they are teaching their customers from far and wide about the wonders of cheese, how it’s

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made, and what it can really taste like. “We value the relationships built along the way-with nature, with the animals, with each other and ultimately with the customer who takes some of our handcrafted cheese home with them,” they state. Congratulations to The Farm House Natural Cheeses, for being awarded the Agricultural Excellence Award.

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Employer of the Year Award Awarded to an employer who has a high degree of support for their staff and a pleasant, safe work environment.

MICHELLE MAILHOT Finalists in this category were:

• HHS Resort & Spa • Cookin’ Kim’s Country Cafe • Jim Allenby • Michelle Mailhot MOTIVE REPAIR & S UTO ER A VIC RT E E P

Sponsored by Fred Major of Modern Tire and Towing presents the Employer of the Year Award to Michelle Mailhot, of Agassiz Subway.

7 DAYS A WEEK

An employer exceeding expectations

hat makes a good employer? Is it staff benefits? A good working atmosphere? Maybe it’s simple recognition of a job well done. For the staff at Agassiz Subway, owner Michelle Mailhot is all that and more. They gladly nominated her for Employer of the Year, based on her dedication to her staff. But judges also knew they had a winner when Mailhot

used her nomination response to nominate an employee, returning the favour. “I would like to tell you a little bit about Krystyna Schmidt,” she wrote. “In my opinion, Krystyna is by far the most worthy recipient of (the Employee of the Year award). She is an enthusiastic and energetic team player. The

loyalty of a person like her is priceless and something you find in very few employees. Whether you choose her or not, she truly is my Employee of the Year in every sense of the word.” With a nomination like that, it’s no wonder her staff loves her. Mailhot also serves her community as a volunteer

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member and acting treasurer for the Agassiz Harrison Community Services board of directors. As a business, Agassiz Subway chooses to sponsor several local causes, including Children’s Day at the Harrison Festival, dragon boating, Kent Raceways, AESS, and the Agassiz Children’s Soccer Association, to name a few. Congratulations to Michelle Mailhot on your Employer of the Year award.

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Employee of the Year Award Awarded to an employee who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and loyalty, and who excels in their job responsibilities.

JOHN ZUIDHOF Finalists in this category were:

• Bev Sergeant - Super Valu • Krystyna Schmidt - Subway • Debra Brown Goli’s Beauty Salon • John Zuidhof

Sponsored by

Impeccable service makes for fine dining

he location isn’t all that makes this dining establishment well worth the drive. Wherever you may be traveling from, near or far, you’ll be rewarded with a fine dining experience. Jean-Claude Courbet and his loyal staff offer a wonderfully romantic ambience. And the setting of the restaurant itself was

the original inspiration for this venture, so many years ago. Situated right on the beach at Harrison Hot Springs, the Black Forest Restaurant offers German specialties such as their delicious steak and schnitzel.

Implementing a dinner special for the loyal locals is one such way that they are keeping in touch with their community, along with being supportive in many fundraising opportunities. The Black Forest Restaurant has long been

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complimented on their impeccable service, which to them is second nature. And when enjoying an evening out in such an idyllic setting, it’s easy to see why this business was singled out for a dining award. Congratulations to the Black Forest Restaurant for winning The Fine Dining Excellence Award.

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Public Safety Individual Excellence Award Awarded to an individual in the Police, Fire, Ambulance, or Search & Rescue departments who have demonstrated selflessness & bravery in extenuating situations.

KENT-HARRISON SEARCH & RESCUE Finalists in this category were: Sponsored by

• Agassiz RCMP • HHS Fire Department • Kent-Harrison Search & Rescue Ag assiz Y Harr ison

Jessica Murdy, editor of the Agassiz Harrison Observer, presents the Kent-Harrison Search and Rescue with the Public Safety Individual Excellence Award.

Hats off to Search and Rescue

ent-Harrison Search and Rescue is made up of many devoted volunteers. They give their own time freely, often away from their families, to serve their community. Like many rescue people, they jump out of bed all hours of the night. They miss meals and birthday parties. They trek into areas where others lost their way. And they do it for no pay.

These are individuals who, once they’ve employed their learned skills during a search, are also able to bring the individuals to safety whenever possible. Sometimes this is not always the case, and rescue attempts become recoveries. But their skills have enabled our commu-

nities to know that we can rely on them. And now, through acknowledging them with this award, we have a chance to thank them for what they do. They are often thrown into stressful and emotional situations, and are expected to act with strength, courage and grace.

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They also work closely with, and aid and assist other emergency workers, including police, fire and ambulance. This is just a little way to say thank you for everything you do, even though it often involves putting you in harm’s way. Congratulations to the KentHarrison Search and Rescue on being awarded the Public Safety Individuals of the Year award.

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‘Spectacular evening’

Seven strategies for success

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fresh ingredients and daily homemade fare. The entertainment during the Awards night was nothing short of fabulous. Jane Perrett, treated the audience to a number of arias including a selection from Carmen. Ms. Perrett set the tone of excellence with her amazing vocal performance prior to the commencement of the award ceremony. It must also be noted that two awards presented during the evening were not focused on business recognition, but service to the community. The ‘Not for Profit’ award was conferred on the Harrison Festival Society and Kent Harrison Search and Rescue was acknowledged with the ‘Public Safety Individuals Award’. This was truly a spectacular evening with much praise for the well deserved business leaders who work so hard for you, the residents of Agassiz and Harrison. Please take the opportunity to congratulate the many esteemed award winners as you frequent them over the coming days and weeks.

No one has ever said being in business was easy. But there are some ways to make the best of your business. Here are seven strategies for success to keep in mind as a business owner, or even as someone considering starting up a company. These strategies were compiled from several thriving businesses throughout the lower mainland. 1. Structure your business environment in a way that helps you focus on what you enjoy. 2. Employ the best talent possible. 3. Use smart retention strategies to keep that talent. 4. Turn to feedback mechanisms, including customer, partner and employee surveys to continuously improve the way you do business. 5. Drive your business by the numbers and maintain a firm understanding of the numbers in relation to revenue growth and the bottom line. 6. Set goals and deliver results, while constantly measuring performance. Most importantly, don’t procrastinate. 7. Understand that taking work-free vacations, exercising and finding time to have fun all impact success. Keep in mind that, if you are operating a small business, you’re in good company. About 80 per cent of businesses in the lower mainland have five or less employees. And 24 per cent of those same businesses are start-up companies.

- Andrew Franklin, publisher of The Agassiz Harrison Observer

Thank You The Harrison Agassiz Chamber together with The Agassiz Harrison Observer would like to thank the many individuals and organizations that made the Business Excellence Awards such a success. Without our Award Sponsors this event would not have been possible. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the many businesses who provided prizing for the Haiti Relief Fundraiser along with the 40 people who kindly purchased the tickets. All monies raised will be directed towards Haiti Relief projects.

Minute with M a Merchant! H Here is a great way tto advertise your b business & also s share a little of y your history. You w will have a space reserved for you every second week with one chance to ha ea have an editorial of your business & a photograph. This page will be eye catching & informative so that readers will come to rely on this page for ways to contact you.

In a nutshell:

Award Sponsors

• The Harrison rrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce • Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa • Village of Harrison Hot Springs • A&W Restaurant, Agassiz • The District of Kent

• Prospera Credit Uni Union • Modern Tire & Towing • The Agassiz Harrison Observer • The Executive Hotel • The Agassiz Liquor Store • The Harrison Lake Poker Run

Additional Thanks To: • Bouquets & Floral Arrangements By: Sandy Lance of Holly Tress and Gifts • Freelance Photography By: Vicky Walker • Ian Maw & His Staff from Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa • Vocalist Jane Perrett

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This feature runs for 4 months, twice monthly • Each ad will be a business card size PLUS!..... FREE colour! and don’t forget... • One 1/4 page editorial w/ photo (regularly worth $299 at no charge) I’m looking forward to helping you promote your business & to remind our residents to continue to shop local, because we have it all!

Give me a ring! Chris Blank 604-796-4301 ads@ahobserver.com

Minute with a Merchant