SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Yellowknife business community got a chance to shine at the annual Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala last Friday.

Co-owners of NWT Brewing Co. Fletcher and Miranda Stevens accept the Small Business of the Year Award. - Jessica Davey-Quantick/NNSL photo

Around 220 people attended the awards at the Explorer Hotel, to see which of the 30 businesses nominated would walk away victorious.

While the event celebrated 70 years of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, it was actually only the third time they've done an awards this way. Previously, the Chamber had hosted an afternoon president's ball and annual general meeting.

"We made the switch, mostly ... to not only to recognize businesses in the nine different categories, but also increase the prestige of the event," said Deneen Everett, executive director of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the chamber nominated their peers within the community, and then the chamber narrowed the list down to the final nominees. But the final awards are decided by an external committee, said Everett.

"We try to keep it transparent and very much away from the Yellowknife chamber, so I don't pick the winners," she said, adding one of the chamber's board members is directly involved in the awards committee, with the rest made up of community business leaders.

Wallbridge Law won the Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Award, with Crowe MacKay LLP winning the Community Impact Award. Award Communications was named Breakout New Business, and First Air won the award for Corporate Business of the Year. Workplace Health and Safety went to Gahcho Kue Mine, which officially opened its doors last month. Quality Furniture won the award for Customer Service, and the NWT Brewing Co. won the Small Business of the Year Award.

A new, surprise award, for Chamber Member of the Year went to Northern Security Services. Leah Sulyma of BBE Expediting walked away with the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

"It is truly an honour to be recognized," she said, while accepting her prize. "The world has changed. The world needs entrepreneurs. The North needs entrepreneurs."

Politicians from both the city and the territory agree.

"We're in a very exciting time," said Mayor Mark Heyck in his opening speech, adding the city has been engaged in a number of initiatives, including the #shopyk program and Small Business Week, which started on Monday, to support local business.

"Without the dedication and drive of Yellowknife business owners, our great territory and this great city would be a very different place," said MLA Robert C. McLeod, who attended the event on behalf of the premier. "The continued diversification of our economy will help support our small business community find growth and continued success."

Everett said events like the awards can help highlight the successes of local business, and promote what Yellowknife has going for it.

"People may not know the outstanding things that our business community does, and this is a great way to shine a bit of light on that," she said.

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