Economic development in the Paintearth County region was celebrated on Oct. 19.
Sponsored by Paintearth Economic Partnership Society (PEPS) and the Battle River Economic Opportunities Committee, the Town of Castor held it’s first annual business awards in a small luncheon ceremony held at the Battle River Innovation Centre (BRIC).
Businesses in the community were nominated in four separate categories: entrepreneur of the year, business resiliency, community attraction and business of the year.
The first award presented was the entrepreneur of the year plaque, awarded to Tammy Cooke and her business, the Stuffed Potato Co.
The second award was the business resiliency award, which was presented to Slam El-Jurdi, owner and proprietor of the White Goose Restaurant.
Rod Anderson and his team at Castor Food Town were awarded with the third plaque of the afternoon, as a major community attraction.
Finally, Patrick Kelly and his team at O.K. Tire Castor was awarded the plaque as the community’s business of the year.
All the prize winners received plaques and a gift basket of items including a tumbler and a jacket.
The winners of the four categories were chosen based on the number of nominations received, and, according to organizers, it was a tight race in a couple of categories.
Plans are already underway to bring the business awards back bigger and better in 2023.
The business award celebration was held in conjunction with Small Business Week, which ran from Oct. 16 to 22.
