2021 BOB Award winners have been announced. (File photo/paNOW)

By paNOW Staff

celebrating the best

BOB Awards recognize the best in Prince Albert and area

Nov 27, 2020 | 8:37 AM

The community has spoken. With over 230,000 votes submitted online, the 2021 Best of the Best (BOB) Awards have been decided.

As has become customary over the past seven years, paNOW readers have shown tremendous interest in recognizing the greatest businesses, people, places, events and things in Prince Albert and area.

“We are thrilled that so many people took the time to cast ballots for their favourite teachers, cultural events, non-profits or for any of the 250 categories we had this year,” said paNOW online sales manager Marlene Stene.

With more than 30,000 nominations, the competition can be tight, but Stene said the voting process which is held over the course of three weeks, helps to separate the best from the rest.

“The BOBs started in 2014. Jim Pattison Broadcast Group (JPBG) saw it as a way to recognize local businesses for their hard work and dedication and rather than us pick the winners, it means more to the recipients knowing that they were selected by the general public and those who voted based on their own personal experiences,” Stene said.

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Winners from some of the most popular categories this year include:

Best Teacher Elementary: Mme Caissey Fetch

Best Teacher Secondary: Victor Thunderchild

Best Boss: Richard Ahenakew/Northern Lights Casino

Best Community Event: Give A Little Life Day

Best Cultural Event: Prince Albert Ukrainian Dance Festival

Best Not-for-Profit and Place to Work: KIN Enterprises Inc

Best Citizen (7 years in a row) Malcolm Jenkins

Best New Business: Limitless Gear Clothing

Best Local Band: Constant Reminder

Best Police Officer: Jason Stonechild

“It’s always exciting to see new nominees and new winners, but it’s also exciting to see repeat winners,” said Tyler Kinash, JPBG sales manager. “Malcom Jenkins, local philanthropist, and owner of Canadian Tire has won the Best Citizen category seven years in a row and for good reason. It’s a clear indication of their commitment to the community and the public recognizes that through their votes.”

In past years, winners of the accolades have been announced at a glamorous gala at the Art Hauser Centre’s Ches Leach lounge while being ushered down a red carpet to their place in the spotlight. Due to pandemic restrictions, there won’t be a gala this time, but recipients will be emailed BOB Award certificates they can display in their businesses or show off to friends online.

Whether the category was best new business or best community event, Kinash said this year’s BOB Awards will hold even more importance because of the way everyone has had to adapt during the pandemic.

“There have been businesses in our communities who have had to completely change the way they do things to survive. People have faced changes too – teachers have had to shift to new ways of learning online. Everyone has shown resilience and recognizing some of the best brings positivity and pride to our community,” Kinash said.

A full list of the 2021 BOB Award winners can be found here.

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panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow