The 2015 Airdrie Business Awards were presented before an energetic crowd at Bert Church Theatre on Oct. 22, recognizing a number of local businesses for their valuable contributions to the community.
“We are very pleased to see so many nominations coming in each year,” said Jayne Kirby, chair of the event’s organizing committee. “It means that many of our businesses here in Airdrie are doing very well. This is a great place to do business, and to live.”
Finalists were announced in September, after residents were given the opportunity to vote online. From there, Kirby said, selection committees evaluated each finalist to determine a winner in each of the three award categories – Eco Edge, Winning Edge, and Family Friendly.
“We get a great voter response, because everyone in the community knows about this program and there’s a lot of buzz about it each year,” said Kirby. “It’s great because we do want this to be the public’s vote, so we can all celebrate the best of Airdrie together.”
This year’s Eco Edge award received nine nominations, and was presented to Wendy Wiebe of The Hair Lounge. According to Wiebe, the salon has been able to reduce their cost of waste by 95 per cent over the last four years.
“The Hair Lounge has made a promise to protect our environment, and to help the beauty industry make a positive difference in reducing our environmental footprint,” she said at the ceremony. “We have committed to keeping Airdrie, and the world, beautiful.”
Crossfit 403’s Heather Crippen received the Family Friendly award, which received 29 nominations this year, representing 18 businesses. Kirby said the award recognizes local businesses who work hard to serve families, which is an “important demographic” within the community.
“My members make this gym what it is, and I’m so grateful to be a part of this community,” Crippen said. “I was given a lot, growing up, and I’m thankful to be able to give it back.”
The Winning Edge award received 28 nominations representing 22 businesses, and was awarded to Lorelei Talbot with Astoria Asset Management. Talbot shared a number of stories from her work in property management during her speech.
“We talk about strengths in business being how you’re organized, or you can coordinate, but your strengths are really about who you are – and that’s my staff,” she said. “They are very, very strong, and they inspire me every day.”
The Business Leadership Award, which recognizes an individual who demonstrates “exceptional long term vision, leadership and commitment to building both business and the Airdrie community” was awarded this year to financial advisor Derek Lalonde.
In addition to his work at Edward Jones, Lalonde has been an active member of the community as past director of the Airdrie Rotary Club, director with the Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Airdrie and District Foundation, and sponsor chair for the Airdrie Business Awards.
Lalonde thanked his team at Edward Jones and his family for all their support and motivation.
“I am truly honoured by this, and overwhelmed that the community of Airdrie would pick me,” he said. “I feel the only way to be truly satisfied is to believe we do great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do – and I love what I do. And because I’ve found something I love to do, I feel like I never have to work a day in my life.”
