SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife's only co-operative grocery store and a long-time employee of First Air were the winners at the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce 63rd annual awards banquet, held on Friday at the Explorer Hotel.

Kim Poulter, promotions and sales co-ordinator for First Air since 1994, was awarded the Business Person of the Year award by the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce on Friday night. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

First up was the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op, which won the Business of the Year Award. Manager Ben Walker and president Mark Needham accepted the award, given out by former chamber president Jon Jaque.

Walker said those unfamiliar with the store shouldn't be fooled by the name.

"We are a co-operative, and some people said to me earlier, 'It's kind of a socialist thing,'" said Walker, addressing those assembled "We think of it as ultimately different than that. We believe that we are, like you, the ultimate in free enterprise because we are owned by shareholders that are Yellowknifers. We ask for no breaks from government and no quarter from our competitor. And we're glad you recognized that."

Last year the co-op gave back $1.2 million in payments generated from gas rebates and sales to its members, and "we hope to see that rise to $1.5 million this year," added Walker.

"We are 58-per cent owned by people of Yellowknife or the Northwest Territories, which I think makes us, I think, a very Northern company. We're not owned by people in Calgary or Toronto."

The store is looking to branch out by continuing to form partnerships like the one it has with Coyote's Bar & Grill, where co-op members can receive discounts, but the store's scope is aimed beyond Yellowknife, as well.

According to Jeff Kincaid, the co-op's business development manager, the store now has partnerships with hotels in Vancouver, Edmonton and High Level, with another deal expected to be finalized with a Calgary hotel this month.

"We're trying to add value to being a Co-op customer," said Kincaid.

The second honouree was Kim Poulter, the promotions and sales coordinator for First Air and a well-known volunteer among several Yellowknife organizations.

Poulter was clearly moved by the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd as she made her way to the stage.

"It's not too often people surprise me, and I am in shock," she said.

"This is fabulous and I'm getting it for absolutely no reason - I just do what I like to do. I love working at First Air and I love giving back to the community."

Poulter came to Yellowknife in 1977 to be with friends, quickly finding a job as a hairstylist at Northern Flair in the Yk Centre Mall.

In 1984, she survived an accident on an Edmonton train bound for Calgary that claimed the lives of most passengers - an experience that cemented her positive attitude, said Poulter.

"I focus on the good. I lived.

"What could be better than that?" she said.

Poulter, who was recently elected president of the Rotary Club and gives time to Special Olympics NWT and the NWT Sport and Recreation Council, said she loves her job because the company believes in employees who give their time outside of work.

"They are a good corporate citizen and they support my volunteerism," she said.