The BBEX Awards will take place at the Capitol Annex in North Battleford this November. (Submitted Photo/Battlefords Chamber of Commerce)

By Josh Ryan

Business at the movies

BBEX awards to take place at Capitol Theatre

Sep 1, 2020 | 5:00 PM

After a difficult year, the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is looking to help businesses in the region celebrate by enjoying a unique night out at the cinema.

The 28th Annual Battlefords Business Excellence Awards (BBEX) will take place at the Capitol Annex on November 12, with a show adhering to social distancing by utilizing four theatre auditoriums. The awards are meant to highlight the work of businesses in the community, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are so pleased to recognize and honour the businesses and individuals who have made the Battlefords the place to be in business in 2020,” said Chamber Chair and BBEX committee member Harris Sutherland.

Businesses and individuals will be highlighted for resilience, community support, becoming everyday heroes and providing high quality customer service. The latter category is a more recent addition, the Heather Guthrie Customer Service Star Award. All winners will be taken from nominee’s that are selected by the public, can nominate an individual or business via form.

“It allows the community, and business community, to celebrate individuals in the business community that have gone above and beyond this year,” Chamber C.O.O. Linda Machniak said.

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This significantly different look for the event will have the awards streamed live from the foyer, onto each theatre screen.

“People in the theatres, it will be like they are watching a movie,” Machniak said. “But indeed, they will be seeing and hearing these great stories about the actual award recipients getting their awards that evening.”

The Capitol Theatre, which earned Business of the Year in 2019, uniquely works for the event with the Annex venue, in keeping the audience socially distanced. After the option to eat at local restaurants prior to the event, everyone will be limited to their theatre, which has designated directions, entrances and exits.

“The theatre is following the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan at 30 per cent capacity,” Machniak said. “So, we are working with them on that.”

“We’re going to make [the event] as touchless as possible and the crowds will not be mingling between each theatre.”

One of the biggest focuses from the Chamber is highlighting direct community impact. Machniak said there’s dozens of stories of businesses helping charitable organizations in the Battlefords and they hope that putting them in the spotlight will provide a boost.

“We know that it’s been a difficult time for many,” she said. “But the business resilience and support in the community, we think it’s important that we support that.”

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 25, which can be accessed from the chamber’s website.

“I’m hoping by the first week of October we’ll have the list of finalists in all of the award categories,” Machniak said.

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports