Lakeland Ford's managing partner Scott Newsom, left, and general manager Brad Thibaudeau with their Sam Mcleod honours (submitted/PA and District Chamber of Commerce)

By Glenn Hicks

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The managing partner of Prince Albert’s top company says the prospects facing all businesses were scary when COVID arrived on the scene almost a year ago but he and his colleagues have been focusing on offering excellence each day at a time.

While challenges still exist, Scott Newsom with Lakeland Ford, says the future has never been brighter for the local business community.

Newsom was speaking after being named winner of the 2020 Samuel McLeod Business of the Year award at the annual chamber event Thursday night. It’s the second time in five years his business has won the prestigious honour and the third time in the award’s 30-year history.

“It really is a great honour, and while we get recognized for different things in the course of our business, the Samuel McLeod award is among the biggest honours we like to receive,” he told paNOW. “It shows our impact. We are a very community-driven business and we like to support a number of initiatives.”

Newsom said every business has had to face the pandemic as something they’ve never seen before and try to take things in their stride while offering a safe environment for customers and staff.

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“We’re trying to be the best we can each and every day. Last March, it came as a shock to realize we were going to be, if not shut down, then very limited in the way we run our business. That’s a scary thing…we have 65 to 70 people employed with us. But we’re weathering the storm and doing the best we can each day for our customers in the city and from the North.”

He admits while some clients have adapted to the challenging times and are comfortable coming into the store, others may not be, but he’s confident good times are ahead.

“I’m bullish on the future of Prince Albert. We have so many big things coming down the pipeline,” he said, referring to the many construction projects that are in the works such as the hospital expansion as well as the arena and aquatic centre.

”I don’t think it’s ever been brighter for our business community. Keep in mind we do have to get past this point in COVID, but once we break through the other side, our community is going to really flourish.”

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow