Some of the town's brightest lights were honoured in a well-attended gala celebration at the Innisfail Legion on Oct. 19.
Awards were presented by the Town of Innisfail and the Innisfail Chamber of Commerce.
While the second annual Gala Award Evening pinpointed some key players in the community life of Innisfail, Mayor Jim Romane also thanked the countless volunteers who go unrecognized for their contribution to the town.
“Without your tireless commitment to your individual causes, your determination, your integrity, your heroism and your quest for excellence Innisfail would not be the successful and sustainable community that it is today,” he said.
Karen Hunter, director of the Business & Agriculture ATB Financial Mountain View Hub, said all the nominees for Small Business of the Year were deserving.
“You know I wish I could give an award out to every one of your guys tonight,” she said of the contenders, including Sundance Realty & Management Inc., Innisfail Subway, Tom Lindl Guitar & Entertainment and Central Alberta Co-op. “You really, really support the youth in the community and the less fortunate.”
The winner was announced as Tom Lindl, who hadn't even prepared a speech because he hadn't expected to win.
“I'm totally astounded right now,” he said. “I started with really nothing but an idea.”
Jolene Bjarnasson and Grant Blake took a break from catering the event itself to hand out the Business Contribution Award to Central Alberta Co-op, which they had won the previous year.
“They have 175 plus employees between Innisfail and Spruce View,” Bjarnasson said. “They're a major community sponsor of various events at the golf course, Daines Rodeo, Country Music Picknic, sports teams, food bank, service clubs and much more. They donated $50,000 back to the community in 2010.”
The Farm Family Award was presented by Doug Bos, Innisfail Chamber of Commerce president to the McLerie Family who raised $22,000 for the Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer from their steer sales.
“Besides consistently upgrading their farm they take time to volunteer with school functions, 4-H, with the Sundre Rodeo and Race Committee,” Bos said.
The Customer Service Award, presented by Kerry Towle, MLA Innisfail/Sylvan Lake, went to Best Bet Paint and Body Ltd.
“It is a family-run business that's been operating in Innisfail for over 20 years,” Towle noted. “No matter how busy they are each and every customer comes first.”
Town Community Service Awards went to Darius Ramrattan for Male Athlete of the Year, Mackenzie Ramsell for Female Athlete of the Year, Innisfail Peewee Cyclones for Sports Team of the Year, Rick Blais who received the Coach Recognition Award, Lawrence Gould who received the Community Cultural Award, Trey Christensen and Sierra Copeland who received the Leaders of Tomorrow Award, Kari Fox who received the Mayor's Reconition Award, Danny Groeneveld who received the Community Builder Award and David Layden who received the Citizen of the Year Award.
The town award winners were announced prior to the ceremony.
