A scene from the ABEX business awards in 2018. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce)

By Derek Craddock

ABEX AWARDS

P.A. businesses nominated for 2022 ABEX Awards

Aug 31, 2022 | 5:00 PM

A couple of Prince Albert businesses are thrilled to be named finalists in this year’s ABEX Awards.

On Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce announced the finalists for this year’s awards along with the recipients of two special awards.

Pet Planet Prince Albert has been nominated for the Service Award while Korycki Mechanical is a finalist in the Young Entrepreneur of The Year category.

Lee Penner is co-owner of the Pet Planet store and said it was a bit of a surprise when he found out they were nominated. Penner was at a trade show in Las Vegas when he got the news, testing out new products for the store.

“I was 2,500 km away, bringing in product exclusively for the Prince Albert market. Obviously very humbling to be nominated for that category as well.”

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Meanwhile, Taylor Korycki who owns Korycki Mechanical was overwhelmed with the honour.

“I didn’t know what to say. I feel like my services have been widely recognized in Prince Albert. We started in the basement of my house and now we’re a team of six.”

Penner and Korycki said it means a lot to their business to be recognized with Penner adding the recognition goes to show how valuable past and present staff members have been to them.

“We wouldn’t be where we are without our staff and the training programs that we offer, and their input is so valuable and leading the direction to where we are.”

In Korycki’s eyes, it’s the support of the community that has helped them grow as a business and be where they are today.

“It means my business is on the right track to reaching my goals personally and professionally. I feel like our impact is very strong in our community and we’re doing a great job of keeping my clients happy.”

Seven categories of awards will be presented at the ABEX awards along with two special honours. Valerie Sluth, founder and CEO of Praxis Consulting, will be given the 2022 ABEX Business Leader of the Year award while Eric Dillon, former CEO of Conexus Credit Union, will be named Community Leader of the Year.

The awards gala is scheduled to take place on Nov. 5 at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock