OLDS — Despite the raging pandemic, the Olds & District Chamber of Commerce’s annual Small Business Awards Banquet is still slated to occur as an in-person event Oct. 20 at the Olds College Alumni Centre, organizing committee chair Murray Elliott says.
A final decision on whether to go ahead with it will be made by Oct. 13, he said during an interview.
Due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions, those planning to attend will have to provide proof vaccination to those at the door, Elliott noted. Masks must also be worn.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Supper is expected to begin at about 6:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony is expected to begin at about 7:30 p.m.
Entertainment is slated to be provided by the Didsbury Jazz Ensemble.
Tickets are available via Eventbrite. To get them, Elliott recommends clicking on: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2021-small-business-awards-tickets-178871739187?aff=ebdssbdestsearch.
He noted this year, ticket prices have been cut down from the regular $65 each to just over $50 each, "to try to help our beleaguered businesses.”
“It is a highlight of the year and I think business people deserve a night out together,” he said.
Six awards will be presented.
The chamber is re-introducing its business ethics award which this year will be sponsored by a local business.
The others are the peoples’ choice, business of the year, the president’s award, community spirit, and youth employee of the year.
This year, chamber members are encouraged to nominate businesses they think should win awards via the chamber’s Facebook account. Or, they can scan QR codes for them in an ad on page 70 of the Oct. 5 edition of The Albertan.
