WHALE COVE - Whale Cove resident Stanley Adjuk received the Business of the Year Award from the Kivalliq Chamber of Commerce in March for successfully operating his freight hauling business in the community.

"Every year we give out three awards, the first one is Business of the Year Award, and that's the one that was awarded to Stanley Adjuk for his business in Whale Cove," said KCC president Ellie Cansfield.

Cansfield said Adjuk won the award for successfully launching Stanson General Contracting, largely because of the difficulties associated with operating a business in such a small community.

"He's a new business and he stuck with it, it's often difficult, especially in a place like Whale Cove. It's a long haul between the community and the airstrip," she said. "It's a small community so that means the revenue base is relatively low.

"To continue to start a business shows hope for the future and an investment in the community."

Adjuk said he started his business about three years ago and named it Stanson after his first name and his two sons. His eldest one helps him operate the company.

Adjuk said he didn't anticipate winning this year's award.

"I was surprised, I didn't expect anything," he said. "We do the airlines here and do the freight from the airport to here, it's a small business."

Adjuk attended the awards banquet at the Wild Wolf Cafe in Rankin Inlet during the annual chamber of commerce meetings where he received his certificate. Cansfield said the KCC was pleased to present Adjuk with his award.

"He started off a new business and he successfully ran it, and we were happy he managed to survive," she said.