The Airdrie Chamber of Commerce hosted its Airdrie Business Awards gala on Oct. 21, and Happy Paws Veterinary Clinic took home the coveted Business of the Year award.
2021 marked the 23rd year of the Airdrie Business Awards, which are an annual recognition of the city’s top businesses, according to the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce. This years’ winners were announced at a gala at the Bert Church LIVE Theatre on Oct. 21.
“This is such a special event for the Airdrie business community, and we could not have done it without the amazing support of our sponsors and the tremendous efforts of our chamber team,” said Marilyne Aalhus, executive director of the Chamber, in a press release. “The chamber is so proud of all the finalists and winners, and we were elated to celebrate so many amazing businesses this year.”
During the gala, nine awards were given out to the winning businesses’ representatives.
When accepting the Business of the Year Award, Dr. Erin Heck, who started Happy Paws six years ago, thanked her team of staff, her parents, and her family. She also thanked the community for continuing to trust the clinic with their pets.
After the ceremony, Heck said she was excited and exhausted after winning the award.
“I’m just excited and grateful for everyone who was nominated and for my team,” she told the Airdrie City View.
In six years, Happy paws grew from a start-up veterinary clinic with two employees to an 18-person team in a 1,500-square-foot building that is soon set to go undergo an expansion process.
“Our day-to-day is listening and communication with people, and helping them through challenging times with their pets,” she said. “I think my team are the heroes of this award – they have worked tirelessly through this pandemic.”
From six years ago to now, as Heck and her team work on constructing a new building, she said the purpose of the clinic will always be to help people keep their pets healthy so they can live long and happy lives.
As she and her team took home the night’s biggest award, she credits the atmosphere and sense of community the team has built at the clinic, along with the hard work that goes into the business’ operations, for the success.
“We have a focus on our team culture that creates a good energy in our clinic that resonates with the pets and our clients,” she said. “It has just kind of snowballed into a really beautiful thing. People are ultimately trusting us with one of their most important family members, and it is a huge honour.”
Another local company that took home an award was Funky Petals, a local florist business that won the Emerging Business Award.
Patricia Duggan, who runs Funky Petals, said she has been feeling overwhelmed with all of the recognition the business has received during its first year of business in Airdrie.
“It has been really incredible for us,” she said.
Funky Petals officially opened in June this year, meaning the entirety of the business’ lifespan has been during the COVID-19 pandemic. Duggan said while she had no idea what would expect due to the pandemic, she and her team just continued to move forward and hope for the best.
“I don’t know if the pandemic has hurt us or helped us because we just started, but it has been going great,” she said. “The city of Airdrie has just been so supportive right from the beginning.”
As for other awards doled out on Oct. 21, Tires on the Run won the Airdrie Business Leader Award, Airdrie Music Lessons won the Employer Excellence Award, and the Fountain of Youth Esthetics & Spa won the Exemplary Service Award.
Airdrie Family Eye Doctors took home the Greatest Impact Award, Shoplift Deals took home the Innovation Award, Balzac Craft Brewing Company won the Community Attraction Award, and Central Health Chiropractic & Wellness Clinic won the Legacy Business Award.
Jordan Stricker, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @jaystrickz
