Awards of distinction honours local businesses

Winners of the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Business Awards of Distinction: Business to Business Award Canadian Retail Solutions – award received by co-owner Marlene Holman Community Leadership Award St. Albert Honda – award received by owner Ross Hodgins Ignite Award Da Vinci Gelato Originale – award received by owner Yvonne Irnich Young Entrepreneur Award Lotus Hair Design Studio – award received by owner Savannah O’Handley Marketing Award Cloud Nine Pajamas – award received by co-owner and manager of marketing Miranda Zechel Outstanding Customer Service Award Cerulean Boutique – award received by co-owners Kelsey Bulmer and Jill Bulmer Community Stewardship Award (New) Fraternal Order of Eagles – award received by president Lorraine Stevenson and past-president Peggy Kennedy Small Business Award Techni-craft Equipment Services Ltd. – award received by employee Oksana Stefanov Lynda Moffat Woman of Distinction Award (NEW) Heidi Fedoruk – Leading Edge Physiotherapy Chair's Award of Distinction Mike Howes – Sparklean DKI

It was an emotional moment for Heidi Fedoruk, co-owner of Leading Edge Physiotherapy, when Lynda Moffat smiled widely and handed her the Lynda Moffat Woman of Distinction award on Thursday. “I was bawling. I saw the award title and I thought ‘what a great idea. There are so many women in this community to honour’ and then when they said the name, I thought ‘oh that’s me’,” she said as tears welled in her eyes. The Woman of Distinction award was one of two new awards presented along with nine other awards at the Business Awards of Distinction ceremonies. Fedoruk, who started her business in 2008, is also the creator of St. Albert’s Cash Mob group. She says her love for her business is what differentiates it from others. “It’s easy to work hard if you’re loving what you do,” she says. This isn’t the first time the business has won a chamber award. Leading Edge Physiotherapy has also won the 2008 young entrepreneur of the year award, the 2010 marketing award and the 2014 community leader award. Leading Edge Physiotherapy offers physiotherapy, acupuncture, aquatic therapy, fracture and surgery recovery and much more. Fedoruk was awarded for her work in the business community. The award was named after Lynda Moffat, past-president and CEO of the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce. Moffat says she was excited to present Fedoruk the award. “She’s very deserving, she’s done so much and she’s so young,” Moffat says. “She mentors and trains students, she’s awesome.” Another notable award presented at the event was the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce's 2017 Chair's Award of Distinction. Mike Howes, president of Sparklean DKI, was presented the award by Brian Bachynski, chair of the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce and publisher of the St. Albert Gazette. The award is presented to a business that exhibits overall outstanding achievement and leadership in St. Albert, with an additional focus on community events locally and provincially. “It was shocking to hear I was nominated,” says Howes. Sparklean began in 1992 and offers restoration and cleaning services including: flood and fire restoration, asbestos treatment and carpet cleaning services. He says this is the first chamber award that the business has won. “I had no idea that I would have been chosen for the award, it was a big surprise.” When it comes to his work, Howes says he strives for excellence. “My dad always said, ‘it doesn’t matter what you are, you could be a basket weaver, just be the best one’,” he says. Chamber President and CEO Jennifer McCurdy says this year they received an overwhelming amount of nominations for the Ignite award category – something that she says speaks volumes to how St. Albert is handling the recession. The award is given to businesses that have been operating between one and three years. “A lot of businesses fail in that first, second and third year. So this is just recognizing the hard work that they’re doing,” she says. Yvonne Irnich, owner of Da Vinci Gelato Originale, took home the award. This is the first year the young business has won a chamber award, an honour she says is “exciting.” “My heart is still pounding,” she says after exiting the stage with her award. “It’s amazing, I’m totally overwhelmed and I’m really proud.” The business started in 2015 and offers made-from-scratch gelato. All of the gelato is gluten-free and the business offers over 120 flavours. Many other businesses were honoured with awards throughout the night. Listed above is the full list of winners.