Outstanding accomplishments in Estevan’s business community were saluted Friday night during the fifth biennial Estevan Business Excellence Awards, presented by the Estevan Chamber of Commerce.
Awards were handed out in 10 different categories during the evening, with the two biggest awards saved for last.
Josh LeBlanc won the Murray GM Business Leader of the Year Award, not only for his work at Coldwell Banker Choice Real Estate and at the Estevan Comprehensive School, where he teaches entrepreneurship, leadership and financial literacy, but for his efforts to promote the community and bring big events to Estevan.
LeBlanc stressed there are some amazing business leaders in the community who have won the award in the past, and he is honoured to be included in the list with them.
After thanking his family, those at Coldwell Banker, including his business partner Meigan Wilhelm, the people at ECS and the community as a whole, LeBlanc gave a call to action on the future of the city that earned a standing ovation from the crowd.
“It’s going to require all of us to think outside the box and all of us to participate, but I can’t think of a better community to tackle the challenge,” said LeBlanc.
He also paid tribute to the City of Estevan and city council, the local economic development committee and the Estevan Chamber of Commerce for their efforts to promote Estevan during a challenging time for the community. And he recognized Estevan MLA Lori Carr for her work to secure provincial coal transition funding for Estevan.
LeBlanc said it was important to get that message across.
“Tonight is a night of celebration. It’s something to basically celebrate what we’ve achieved so far in the past two years. There’s no doubt in my mind that the community is going to face some challenges here, and it’s time that we all come together and it’s time that we all work together to find some solutions to the challenges that are going to come before us.”
LeBlanc said he loves being involved with both the teaching and the real estate, and he enjoys bringing the big events to Estevan.
“Everything that I do, in terms of events and work and all of that, it’s not possible without the community,” he said.
Murray GM won the MNP Business of the Year Award. All businesses nominated for an EBEX award were eligible.
General manager Brad Pierson said it was an overwhelming feeling to win the award, and they were happy to win one earlier in the evening, the Inland Audio Visual Community Involvement Award. In his acceptance speech for the community involvement award, Pierson said he wished LeBlanc would have won, since LeBlanc was a finalist, but Murray GM was honoured to take home that prize.
“I think community involvement is something … where you have to have a focus,” said Pierson.
But he was even more surprised to win the Business of the Year recognition.
“It’s just a huge honour that Murray GM is thought of in that context to be business of the year,” said Pierson.
The awards reflect a team effort, he said, one that extends throughout the staff.
“There are so many people who don’t get any limelight. I just happened to be the one who had the nameplate behind my name that gets to stand up and accept these awards, or gets to be seen in the community.”
Pierson has long recognized the value of business in the community. The Pierson and Symons family was inducted into the Nick and Verna Morsky Estevan Business Hall of Fame in 2013.
“Our grandparents made us work,” Pierson said. “At the age of 12, we were called to the carpet and that was the time to work. We got a general vision, not only from my grandparents, but from my mother and father, to have a strong entrepreneurial spirit.”
Numerous other awards were handed out Friday night. The winners were:
- Dutch Media Growth and Expansion Award: Chamney Crushing and Paving for adding paving to their line of services and expanding their service area. Other finalists were Murray GM and Save the Stress Cleaning Services Limited.
- Access Communications Outstanding Service Award: A Loving Touch Florist for their willingness to serve their customers needs. Other finalists were Great Canadian Oil Change, Murray GM Estevan, Prairie Animal Health Centre of Estevan, and Save the Stress Cleaning Services.
- Community Futures Sunrise New Business Venture Award: Save the Stress Cleaning Service, which has grown to 16 employees and has experienced considerable growth since opening in 2017. Also nominated were Lemon Wedge Marketing Group and Thunder Oilfield Construction Ltd.
- Bear Claw Casino and Hotel Outstanding Employee Award: Kim Pastachak from Encompass Fitness Studio for her work ethic and commitment to clients. Also nominated were Collen MacMillan with the Estevan Family Resource Centre and Melanie Mantei with the Southeast College.
- SaskTel Diversity in the Workplace Award: JTK Food Services Estevan McDonalds, which has employees from around the world and also has employees with disabilities. Other finalists were Days Inne Estevan/Beefeater, Kelly Panteluk Construction Ltd. and Trent’s Tire.
- WorkSafe Saskatchewan Safety in the Workplace Award: TS&M Supply for the importance they place on safety in the workplace and mental health. Also nominated were Carson Safety Service Ltd. and Sawyer Safety Training and Consulting Ltd.
- Affinity Credit Union Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Nolan Tide of Tide Enterprises, which produces a zero spray landscape sprayer that attaches to the front of a zero turn mower; most parts are custom made and assembled in Estevan. The other candidates were Cristina Bohn from Save the Stress Cleaning Services; Danielle and Kyle McGillicky, Tyson McGillicky and Tatum Unger from Thunder Oilfield Construction; and Dr. Sarah Sliva from South East Eye Care.
- The other finalists for the Inland Audio Visual Community Involvement Award were Fresh Air Fitness/Run the Course/Coal Country Run; Mr. Mikes Steakhouse Casual; and Save the Stress Cleaning Services.
Also during the evening, Garry Hirsch of Hirsch Holdings Ltd. was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame, in honour of Hirsch’s success in business over more than 50 years.
The next edition of Southeast Lifestyles will have more on the Hall of Fame induction.
