The Parkland Ambulance team poses for a picture. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Local leaders

Parkland Ambulance named Business of the Year

Apr 12, 2025 | 9:55 AM

For over 50 years, Parkland Ambulance has served Prince Albert and the surrounding area, so it seems almost appropriate to see the organization named Business of the Year.

Trevor and Coralee Dutchak also won the award for Business Leader of the Year.

The 2024 Samuel McLeod Awards Gala, hosted by the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, was held Friday night at Plaza 88. During his acceptance speech, Trevor acknowledged their dedicated team members who, in some cases, have been employed for 15, 25, and 38 years.

“If you look after your team, you look after their family, they can look after the people in our community. Prince Albert has been an amazing community. And that’s why we feel so important for us to get back to Prince Albert’s community,” he said.

Mind the potholes

Pothole repair underway in Prince Albert

5h ago

Crash near Muskoday bridge sends 35-year-old man to hospital

5h ago

Fresh coat of paint

Anti-Graffiti program returns Wednesday

7h ago

Also among the recipients was Bison Ridge Farms, who received both the Young Entrepreneur Award and the Marketing Award. Denver Johnson said the awards are a huge honour.

“The business community in Prince Albert is full of amazing people, and we’re really passionate about our community, and so to be honored in this way is really exciting for us,” he said.

Johnson then noted the business was born out of a passion for farming, for livestock and for a feeling of being meaningful in the community.

“If we can help people all along the way, that’s really what matters to us. So the end goal, I wouldn’t say is where we are now, but it’s just the journey along the way.”

Denver and Becky Johnson accept their Young Entrepreneur Award. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

The award for Best Indigenous Business was presented to Vermette Wood Preservers. Reflecting back on when his father started the business, Perry Vermette noted they’ve been employing Metis and First Nations people for 53 years. 


“They’re young when they start with us [and] after a while, they get a work ethic and they move on. And that’s the success is when you can take an individual that’s young and put the thought in them that I can be better.
And when they go out and they become better, that’s what it’s worth.”

Perry Vermette. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Based on Vermette’s proven track record, Perry was asked what advice he would offer other business owners.

“I hope a lot of young people say, hey I want to be that entrepreneur, and I want to employ people, doesn’t matter who. I want to employ people and change lives and I feel that’s what we do as entrepreneurs”

Other award winners included:

Micro Enterprise of the Year – Cradled Wellness

Non-profit of the Year – Prince Albert Co-operative Health Centre

New Venture – Holiday Inn

Community Involvement – Lake Country Co-op

Customer Service – Korycki Mechanical

Business Transformation – Embrace Orthodontics

Legacy award – Byron Guy (Harold’s Family Foods)

Scotiabank won the Diversity in the Workplace Award, which was sponsored by TD Bank. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

—

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social