The much-treasured Samuel McLeod Business Award (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

awards night

30th Samuel McLeod Business Awards set for Thursday night

Feb 24, 2021 | 2:00 PM

It’s what the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce calls the Grammys of the local business scene. While the pandemic played a major role in postponing the event last April, all will be revealed Thursday night when they celebrate the 2020 Samuel McLeod Business Awards (SMBA).

Not surprisingly, things will be very different for this, the 30th edition, of the popular show, which will happen with a much reduced human presence on the E.A. Rawlinson Centre stage, starting at 6:45 p.m. on the chamber’s YouTube channel. Up to 30 people only will be present in line with COVID protocols.

“We waited a while after postponing last April and still hoped it would happen,” chamber CEO Elise Hildebrandt explained to paNOW. “Then there was a time period [for a number of months] leading up to the provincial election [in the fall] meaning we couldn’t have some of our crown corporation sponsors speak.”

So, Hildebrandt said now is the time “to do the very best we can under the circumstances and give everyone in the region a chance to watch it.”

In recent weeks, all the finalists have been interviewed on video or will be live at the E.A. Rawlinson to accept their honours across the ten categories. Hildebrandt says no one has been told who the winners are.

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“No, I will not reveal this. I’ve held onto this for a whole year,” she said with a laugh. “We’re very excited, it’s the 30th annual awards and it’s a way of celebrating our business excellence in the region.”

Ready to honour: the chamber’s CEO Elise Hildebrandt shows off a Sam Mcleod award certificate (Submitted photo/PA and District Chamber of Commerce)

The SMBA is produced by the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce and presented by Sask Polytechnic. All applications are forwarded to the Prince Albert office for initial sorting and processing. Applications from each of the categories are then delivered to independent and anonymous judges.

The 2020 SMBA award finalists are as follows:

Business Transformation Award – Sponsored by Ministry of Trade and Export Development

• Gem Denture Clinic Inc
• Killarney Kastle
• Pine Industries Marketing Ltd/Sarcan

Community Involvement – Sponsored by Sasktel

• Prince Albert Winter Festival
• Uniglass Plus Ziebart
• Lake Country Co-op

Customer Service Award – Sponsored by RBC

• Candle Lake Resort
• Carlton Trail Hearing Clinic
• G & P Plumbing & Heating Inc.

Female Business Leader of the Year – Sponsored by Northern Lights Casino (SIGA)

• Carol Gregoryk – Saskatchewan Health Authority
• Mona Selanders – Coronet
• Shelley Gordon – 6th Ave Carwash & Uniglass Plus Ziebart

Male Business Leader of the Year – Sponsored by TD Bank

• Fred Matheson – Ted Matheson’s Men’s Wear
• Jim Southam – Prairie Cannabis
• Joe Weinrich – Riverside Dodge

Marketing – Sponsored by Loraas

• Candle Lake Golf Resort
• A. Rawlinson Centre of the Arts
• Prince Albert Winter Festival

New Venture – Sponsored by Conexus Credit Union

• Lake Country Co-op Wine, Spirts & Beer
• P. A. Wand Wash
• Prairie Cannabis

Non-Profit Organization Award – Sponsored by Affinity Credit Union

• Hope’s Home
• Prince Albert Kinsmen Club
• Prince Albert Indian Metis Friendship Centre

Young Entrepreneur – Sponsored by Community Futures

• Brock Walters & Cody Walker – Prairie Brothers Construction Ltd.
• Cody Demerais – Limitless Gear
• Jeremia Corrigal – Underground Performance Ltd

Business of the Year – Sponsored by Diamond North Credit Union

• G & P Plumbing & Heating Inc.
• Lakeland Ford
• Lehner Electric

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow