The 2017 Readers' Choice Best in Business Awards Show: Recap

The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

February Issue 112

www.thenewsyneighbour.com

Article Provided By: Kyle Penn of Ink Slinger for The Newsy Neighbour Magazine

Recognizing a Year’s Worth of Local Business Excellence

The stage was set; the honourees were in attendance, the crystal trophies glittered, all lined up and ready to be presented to deserving businesses and individuals – it was the 2017 Reader’s Choice Best in Business Awards!

Back for a second year in the wake of an incredibly successfully event in 2016, the awards show had grown exponentially in size and ambition over the intervening 365 days. Moving from the Strathmore Travelodge over to the Civic Centre in order to accommodate the expanded guest list, it was immediately clear just how much bigger the Awards Show had got. There were over 80 categories of nominations, and more than 40 tables full of the brightest entrepreneurs and business owners from the Strathmore, Langdon, and Chestermere areas. 

Celebratory bunches of balloons were stylishly peppered throughout the banquet hall, contributing to the jubilant and congratulatory atmosphere. A silent auction was set up on one side of the room, with all items and prizes donated by local businesses. On the other end of the hall, Legends Kitchen and Bar was serving up refreshments, while also hard at work cooking up a buffet-style meal that looked like it stretched on for about a mile. While it seemed to take a good long while for our table’s number to get called to grab some food, we’ll chalk it up to the fact that the plates we saw returning from the buffet line were piled high with some of the best-smelling, tastiest-looking food we’d seen in a long while. Once we got there ourselves, we all heartily agreed: Legends had knocked it out of the park.

Following the meal was the entertainment, and it did not disappoint. Local Okotoks musician Samm Smith kicked the evening off with three brilliantly-performed songs, including a stirring rendition of The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather,” giving us all a preview of what we can expect when she appears on the upcoming season of The Voice.

After Smith came the awards segment of the evening. Even with the vast number of categories and nominees, Aleesha and Denise were able to keep the presentations light and fun, announcing the Gold Winners by including their businesses within an anecdotal skit, and deftly balancing an efficient pace of presentation while being sure to give each winning business a moment in the spotlight. 

Comedian Matt Billon took the stage following the awards presentations, and brought home some big chuckles as he joked about his opinions regarding Strathmore, married life, and the popularity of Truck Nutz on Alberta roads. The room roared with laughter during his generously long act, and he set the stage perfectly for New Soul Duo, who took to their instruments and played a series of fun, danceable tunes to carry the night to its conclusion.

In all, the 2017 Reader’s Choice Best in Business Awards Show was an unmitigated, absolute success. The performances were great, the food was top-notch, and everyone present was in high spirits. More than that, though, is what the Awards Show did for the community. Once again, it brought business owners and entrepreneurs together from all industries and walks of life to celebrate what makes Chestermere, Langdon, and Strathmore so great. It shone a bright spotlight on local commerce, and reminded everyone that the hard work and long hours they had put into their businesses had paid off, and that the community recognized them for their efforts and everything they’d worked hard at over the past year. Lastly – and perhaps, a little selfishly – it gave us at The Newsy Neighbour a chance to communicate, face-to-face, how much love and respect we have for each and every reader of our magazine, and to thank all of the people and businesses who make what we do possible.

“This event is incredibly close to my heart,” Aleesha intimated to the gathered audience as the evening closed out, “[It] is only possible because of the amazing community we live in, and the incredible businesses that help make Langdon, Strathmore, and Chestermere the remarkable places that they are.” Truly, she spoke for all of us at the magazine when she delivered that message. On behalf of The Newsy Neighbour, we’d like to extend our deepest thanks to everyone in Chestermere, Langdon, and Strathmore for making the 2017 Reader’s Choice Best in Business Awards a smashing success. We couldn’t have done it without you. Congratulations once more to all the award winners and nominees – we can’t wait to do it again next year!