Jennifer Mawson, centre, and her dad Jay Mawson, left, both of Austin's Saddlery, and Gord Dobrowolsky from the award sponsor, Workers Compensation Board, who presented them the award at last year's BBEX ceremony. Austin's Saddlery was honoured with the BBEX Business of the Year Award. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

BBEX Nominations

Business awards open for nominations

May 3, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The nominations for the 30th edition of the BBEX are now open for submission.

“The members of the public can nominate a business or a person that they believe is deserving of one of the categories of the BBEX awards,” said Linda Machniak, of the Chamber of Commerce.

She explained that once they get the nominations, the chamber will send out to the nominees the actual application kit for them to complete for consideration for the awards in November. The process to nominate a business or individual is a straightforward process that includes the name of the nominee, contact information along with their personal identity.

“Then they have an opportunity to put in 1,000 words on why they think that person should be nominated in that category – now, they don’t have to go all that way – but if they want to share a story with us that’s awesome,” she said.

According to a news release, the deadline for nominations will be June 20 and the nominees have another month (July 25) to submit their application kits.

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“Anytime we get to celebrate positivity in the community is a really important thing I think for all of us,” Machniak said.

“Certainly, the business community in the Battlefords is amazing. We have really great businesspeople who contribute in the community, who do some really wonderful things and so we want to be able to share and celebrate.”

In 2022, the BBEX were cancelled due to COVID, so the team took the time to update and revamp the categories. As such, Machniak said that the categories that are open for nominations will include the New Business Venture Award, Micro Business Award, Heritage Award and this year, the Heather Guthrie Customer Service Star Award will honour the Individual / Employee.

(Submitted Graphic/Battlefords Chamber of Commerce)

“If somebody knows of an individual or employee at a business provides great service that’s who they should be nominating this year,” she said.

The event, which will be held November 7, may also have something extra special as it is the 30th celebration.

“We’re looking at lots of different things,” Machniak said, noting there will be a new award this year as their current purveyor will be stepping back.

“We’re working on what the award will be, we’re working on the decor, the theme, all of that stuff.”

As this will be a major milestone, there is one thing Machniak is looking forward to.

“I’m hoping we have some highlights or reflections on the 30 events that we’ve had in the past, so we’ll see where we end up.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattiosonmedia.com

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