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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Two Yellowknife businesses and one Yellowknife artist were honoured last week for their accomplishments.

The honour came from the Conseil de developpement economique des Territoires Nord-Ouest (CDETNO).

Doug Ritchie, far left, and Daryl Dolynny, owner of Shoppers Drug Mart, far right, accept awards from the Conseil de développement économique des Territoires Nord-Ouest at the organization's first NWT Francophone Entrepreneurial Awards, held last week. Pierre Lepage, middle, served as host of the event. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

CDETNO, which supports French-language businesses throughout the NWT, held its first NWT Francophone Entrepreneurial Awards on Tuesday, March 10.

The gala, which took place in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly and was attended by around 50 people, including Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Bob McLeod, began as the last flickerings of daylight pierced the windows of the hall.

"Francophones have been contributing to our economy for over 300 years, so I believe that this event is long overdue," said McLeod at the outset of the ceremony.

The ubiquitous Pierre Lepage, who catered the event, doubled as host of the awards ceremony. The awards were given based on economic performance and community contributions.

Danmax Communications, which provides security systems and telecommunications service, won the prize in the specialized services category.

While president Micheline Levesque was not in attendance, Lepage praised Danmax for lending equipment to community events and for its green practices. The company promotes the use of solar panels for communications systems and offers a recycling service for batteries.

The winner of the commercial services category was Daryl Dolynny, owner of Dolynny Pharmacy Holdings Ltd. and Shoppers Drug Mart, whose new and considerably larger store opened on 49 Street last September.

"This is totally unexpected," said Dolynny, who was nevertheless quick to add that French is his mother tongue.

Longtime Yellowknife resident France Benoit, whose new documentary, One River, Two Shores: Reflections on the Mackenzie Gas Project, recently screened at a film festival in Montreal, took home the award for Artistic Business.

At the time of the awards, Benoit was on a flight back to Yellowknife, coming off yet another film festival. Her husband, Doug Ritchie, accepted the award on her behalf.

Other Yellowknife nominees included Arctic Farmer Landscaping and Nursery and Diamond Drycleaners.

Businesses that went home empty-handed were still praised. CDETNO commended Arctic Farmer for diversifying its line of services.

"Its activities include a garden boutique, selling firewood, snow removal services and the opening of the tire shop Tire Craft," said Lepage.

Dominique Cousineu, owner of Diamond Drycleaners, which plans to purchase a portable dry cleaner that uses carbon and creates less emissions, received a special mention by Lepage.

"He was the first customer who got engaged in my restaurant in the first week I opened L'Heritage Restaurant," said Lepage.

The winners received a glass plaque created by Yellowknife artist Rosalind Mercredi and engraved by Yk Glass Recyclers Co-operative Ltd.