Star Gazing at Chances

With a brand new convention hall as the setting, the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce introduced their Stars for 2007 on Saturday night.

The local businesses recognized in the course of Saturday’s gala ranged from clothing and food services to marine transportation, as the business class mixed with politicians and local residents at the new convention hall in the Chances Entertainment Centre.

While the attendess, sampled the fine fare of the Chances kitchen and waited for a chance to head upstairs and perhaps throw a few loonies at the video terminals, they saluted the following businesses for their achievements in 2007.

Rookie Business of the Year, sponsored by the Hecate Strait Employment Development Society, went to Anna's Couture.

Totem Press sponsored the Small Business of the Year award and was given to Adventure Tours/West Coast Launch.

The Northern Savings Credit Union was presented with the Community Living sponsored Community Involvement Award.

The Customer Service Award was awarded to the Crest.

The Prince Rupert and Hecate Strait Rotary clubs were named Non-Profit of the Year.

Charlotte Rowse was awarded with the City Ambassador Award.

The Looking Good Award, sponsored by RBC and Port City Ford went to Pizza Hut Prince Rupert.

The BDC sponsored Business of the Year was shared by Fairview Container Terminal Partners, CN Rail, Maher Terminals of Canada and the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

While the Newsmaker of the Year honours went to the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

The Daily News provided all the details from the red carpet to the almost after parties as part of their front page story in Monday’s paper.

CHAMBER HONOURS ITS STARS AT GLITZY AWARDS CELEBRATION
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Monday, January 28, 2008
Pages one and five

In what was called the equivalent of the Gemini or Academy Awards for Prince Rupert, 176 guests gathered in Chances's new lower-level convention facility for the Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards on Saturday night.

Attendees were informed Billy Crystal wasn't able to make it, and that Doug Kydd would have to suffice as the MC for the evening, just before Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Prystay began with a warm welcome.

"This is a celebration of our whole community of business, and what a community this is," said Prystay, who pointed out that winners could be drawn from chamber members and non-members alike. "We've really been tested over the last decade, and we've seen a very negative economy and yet we've hung on. We're believers. We know that when you have a community that is as naturally beautiful as this one, made up of doers and creative people who are willing to contribute, we cannot fail."

Mike O'Neill, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce District 13/14 Director also addressed the audience, reminding everyone that the 2008 B.C. chamber's general meeting would be happening in Prince Rupert.

"I've worked very hard to get it here, and there's lots of obstacles to overcome, but with the great facilities that we see here today and all of the wonderful things that are developing in Prince Rupert, I'm sure it will be an absolute success," said O'Neill.

Because it was the inaugural event for Chance's convention floor, Craig Briere was excited about being able to preview what the facility had to offer before the grand opening this weekend.

"Our staff have been working diligently over the past several weeks, and more particularly the past several days and hours to get this room ready for tonight," said Briere. "We're very proud and very pleased that you're able to join us at the facility tonight. This is a community in our estimation that has such a tremendous amount of potential and such a bright future, We're very proud to a part of the chamber and the business community."

After a meal and service that received such praise as "flawless" and "exceptional" from some attendees, it was time to find out who won.

Nomination forms for the awards were distributed throughout the business community, and finalists for the awards were chosen by votes from Chamber members.

Rookie Business of the Year, sponsored by the Hecate Strait Employment Development Society, went to Anna's Couture , while the Totem Press sponsored Small Business of the Year award was given to Adventure Tours/West Coast Launch . The Northern Savings Credit Union was given the Community Living sponsored Community Involvement Award, and the Customer Service Award was presented to the Crest Hotel by Brian Musgrave of Rainbow Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ltd. The Prince Rupert and Hecate Strait Rotary clubs were crowned Non-Profit of the Year by Lucy Mackey of TD Canada Trust, and Prince Rupert Port Authority President Don Krusel presented Charlotte Rowse with the City Ambassador Award. The Looking Good Award, sponsored by RBC and Port City Ford went to Pizza Hut Prince Rupert, and the BDC sponsored Business of the Year was shared by Fairview Container Terminal Partners, CN Rail, Maher Terminals of Canada and the Prince Rupert Port Authority. Finally, the Prince Rupert Port Authority was named Newsmaker of the Year.