This week’s issue of the Airdrie City View was an enjoyable one to work on. As you can imagine, most news shared these days by mainstream media outlets is negative. Journalists rarely get to write about positive stories during a week. As a community newspaper, we get to hear a lot more good news, but still, given the year we are all experiencing, those warm and fuzzy stories have not been as plentiful as in the past.
Here at Airdrie City View headquarters, we’ve had a couple of amazing weeks as we worked towards completing this Best of Airdrie Reader's Choice Awards special issue. We were privileged to hear from citizens about their favourite businesses and the people that make them wonderful. We were welcomed into businesses as we learned the reasons why they are beloved enough to the community to be voted among the "Best of Airdrie."
This is a really big deal for business owners and employees, not because of the recognition they receive but because of the confidence provided by knowing they are doing things right and their community appreciates the support they offer. One of the most enjoyable things I participated in was informing businesses they'd won a Best of Airdrie Readers' Choice Award. There was almost a sense of relief on the faces of many as these awards confirmed the businesses' importance to the community and lent encouragement to them striving forward.
As the theme song from the sitcom Cheers used to say, “You wanna go where everybody knows your name.” These business owners don’t just provide products and services in our community; they are our neighbours and our friends. Their children go to school with our children. Their families celebrate with our families in good times and mourn with our families in times of loss. They also return the support our families give them by contributing to our community so that our families might benefit.
This has been a very challenging year for our business community. They have endured unprecedented challenges from all sides. Not all have pulled through and many are still trying to catch up. But Airdrie is a community that looks after its own. With drive and determination combined with positive feedback and support from the rest of us, there is a bounce in business owners' steps again. There is a reason to break through obstacles.
I urge our readers to take a little extra time this week as you go through our pages. Look at each of the businesses we've highlighted and those that have won awards. If it’s a business you’ve never been to, visit and find out why they are among the best. If it’s a business you already frequent, congratulate them and encourage them to continue to work and maintain their level of excellence.
To all those that took the time to vote in the Best of Airdrie Readers' Choice Awards, thank you for supporting these outstanding people that support all of us. People like you, our engaged readers who understand the importance of shopping locally and lending moral support, are among the best of Airdrie.
