How the YK Chamber’s awards help build pride in the local business community

The 2014 YK Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards winners | Sponsored by the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce

Sometimes hearing something from your peers makes you take a moment and reflect. That’s exactly what the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Fire & Ice Business Awards Gala is all about.

Many businesses strive for greatness every day. But to receive an award confirming you’re on the right track is something special. “Businesses, large and small, are an important part of a healthy community,” says Deneen Everett, the chamber’s Executive Director. “We think taking time to recognize those doing excellent work is especially important.”

To give you an idea of what these awards meant to their recipients, here are reflections from three businesses. To nominate a business for this year’s awards, you can download an application form here. Applications can be emailed to: ExecutiveDirector@YKChamber.com.

Greg Nyuli and Darrell K. Beaulieu of DII proudly receive the Aboriginal-owned Business of the Year Award

Aboriginal-owned Business of the Year – Denendeh Development Corp.

“It was very surprising, we didn’t expect it at all,” says Darrell Beaulieu, DDC’s CEO, adding it helped raise the profile of his diversified company that operates in a number of industries, such as oil and gas, utilties, communications and real estate, to name a few. “Sometimes we’re so busy with our own businesses that we don’t realize the other busiensses that are out there, and what they’re doing and what they’ve accomplished.”

Mel Leonard accepts the Customer Service Award of Excellence for SSi Micro

Customer Service Award of Excellence – SSi Micro

“For SSi, winning this award is a highly appreciated affirmation by the Yellowknife business community for the dedication and truly caring nature of our front-line customer service team,” says David Veniot, the company’s manager of communications. “Our entire staff is so pleased that the Chamber of Commerce was able to publicly honour our company for something we have long taken pride in.”

Jeremy Bird and Laurie Sarkadi of EDGE

Breakout Business of the Year – EDGE YK magazine and EDGE Online

“Even before we won the award, we’d regularly receive feedback from readers and online subscribers who loved what we were doing,” says Jeremy Bird, partner in Verge Communications, which publishes the magazine and website. “But this award showed us the business community was also noticing the moves we’d been making, as well as the growth we’d experienced in such a short time.”

This year’s Business Awards Gala is happening October 23. Know a great Yellowknife business that deserves some recognition? Download an application form here and email nominations to executivedirector@ykchamber.com by September 18. Questions? Call 867-920-4944.

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