Celebrating Small Business Week
Business Ethics Award Winner - Auto-Star Compusystems Inc.
Sponsored by BBB serving Southern Alberta and East Kootenays
Auto~Star began as a home-based business by two brothers in Medicine Hat in 1978 and incorporated as Auto~Star Compusystems Inc. in 1982. Today, the company has grown to become a successful business that employs 30 skilled residents of Medicine Hat, with 4 additional employees working across Canada. Auto~Star is a software developer that creates retail solutions for pharmacy, hospitals, grocery, and nutrition retailers across Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean. Each day over 30,000 users log into and process nearly ten million dollars of transactions through their software. Their customers include many businesses in Medicine Hat, every province in Canada, every State in the USA and many others around North America and beyond.
Community Attraction Award Winner – SixOneSix Entertainment
Sponsored by Medicine Hat Accommodation Association
SixOneSix Entertainment is a locally owned and Operated Entertainment Centre located in Medicine Hat's Downtown Core. They Provide 13,000 Sq ft of fun for all ages and abilities. They are Medicine Hat's First and Only place to try Virtual Reality, Free Roam VR & Axe Throwing. SixOneSix is also the only Mobile Axe Throwing Trailer with 8 targets.
Community Involvement Award Winner – Chat 94.5 (Wild 94.5) - A Division of Pattison Media
Sponsored by IG Wealth Management
Today's Country CHAT 94 5 is Medicine Hat's Country Station! They're anchored by the sound of mornings in Medicine Hat "Jesse & Lance". They're committed to elevating the community of Medicine Hat in every way. If it's happening here, they want to help make it as big and successful as possible!
Customer Service Award Winner – Hiebert Cabinets and Fine Woodwork
Sponsored by Brokerlink
Founded by John Hiebert in 2004, Hiebert Cabinets is made up of a small team of designers and craftspeople in the heart of southern Alberta. Hiebert Cabinets design and build beautiful cabinets that reflect your one-of-a-kind style. Whether your goal is to remodel your kitchen, put in built-ins, or build new, they can make your vision come alive.
Diversity Award Winner – The Post Thrift Store - Canadian Mental Health Association
Sponsored by CORE Association
The POST is a second-hand thrift boutique operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association - Alberta Southeast Region. All sales revenue at The POST stays in our community, supporting programs and services offered by the CMHA-ASER. Your generous donations are gratefully received and handled with care by all The POST staff and volunteers. You're invited to our bright and spacious downtown store to explore our constantly changing inventory. You never know what treasures you'll find.
Global Growth Award Winner – Methanex
Sponsored by South Country Co-op Limited - Food, Gas & Agro
Methanex is the world’s largest producer and supplier of methanol to major international markets in North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and South America. Headquartered in Vancouver, Methanex operates production sites in Chile, Egypt, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, United States and Canada. They operate a commercial-scale methanol production plant in Medicine Hat. Their operations are supported by an extensive global supply chain of terminals, storage facilities, and transportation networks. They safely and reliably deliver on their brand promise “The Power of Agility®” every day by adapting and responding to their customers’ needs and creating and capitalizing on opportunities in the marketplace.
Leading Edge Award WInner – T.R.A.D. Worm Industries Ltd.
Sponsored by ATB Financial
TRAD Worm Industries is an innovative agricultural company that specializes in a natural and regenerative approach to reclaim and revive our earth, while effectively diverting organic landfill material and reducing environmental pollutants. TRAD utilizes advanced vermicomposting technology to commercially produce a green product called Worm Castings. Castings provide the ability to omit the use of and dependence on synthetic fertilizers and increase naturally occurring beneficial properties required for long-lasting optimal growth. Founded by a micro-biology enthusiast, TRAD is committed to providing superior quality soil amendment that is natural, biologically diverse, and safe.
Marketing Award Winner – Brost Developement Inc.
Sponsored by Nimble - A Division of Pattison Media
Brost Developments is a family-based team of professionals connected by a passion for innovative design and unmatched attention to detail. They are extremely passionate about building and renovating homes that are as unique as the people who live in them.
Mentorship Award Winner – Root Cellar - Food & Wellness Hub
Sponsored by Pritchard & Co. Law Firm LLP
The Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub believes that hunger exists in the community and that the community has a responsibility to address this food insecurity in a manner ensuring the availability, accessibility and adequacy of food. The Root Cellar Food and Wellness hub is the next step in the evolution of a strong and sustainable city. Their mission is to build community by improving the lives of all community members through the power of local food.
New Business of The Year Award Winner – TruMe Whole Health
Sponsored by Johnston Morrison Hunter (JMH) & Co. Professional Corporation
TruMe Whole Health is an inclusive company, empowering people to take transformative actions that promote a whole health lifestyle. They focus on sugar free low-carb options, without artificial colors or sweeteners, no preservatives or stimulants in our products. TruMe have now launched 29 products and are found across Canada and USA in just a year and a half!
Small Business of the Year Award Winner – Safety Buzz Campus
Sponsored by BDC
Safety Buzz Campus’s business is safety, and they love what they do! Safety is more than a legal requirement; it is a cultural endeavor for business and individuals to live healthy and protected lives. They understand not every company has the internal manpower or expertise to manage a safety program and training so they can provide the expertise both at their campus or onsite at their client’s facilities.
Young Entrepreneur Award Winner – Back Alley Fitness
Sponsored by Scotiabank
Back Alley Fitness is a locally owned strength and fitness facility, offering group classes, 24h open gym access, nutrition coaching, personal training and competitive powerlifting. Their goal is to provide the best quality fitness instruction and foster a community of people, ‘the BAF Family’, who are as passionate about improving their lives as BAF are about providing a space to do that. They believe no one should go through life without knowing the strength and the beauty their body is capable of, so they aim to provide the most welcoming atmosphere in Medicine Hat to every person who walk through their doors.
Large Business of the Year and Award of Excellence Winner - Big Marble Farms Inc.
Sponsored by Grant Thorton LLP & Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce
Big Marble Farms is a second-generation family-run greenhouse and packhouse operation, with 79 acres of on-farm acreage. They supply long English cucumbers, mini cucumbers, tomatoes on the vine and beefsteak tomatoes to customers throughout Western Canada. Big Marble Farms also represents the Red Hat Co-op and their family of growers in the produce industry, managing all sales, marketing, and advertising initiatives on their behalf. With nearly 200 acres of local greenhouse production under the Big Marble brand, and their ability to produce year-round, they are re-inventing the greenhouse industry in Alberta and on the Prairies.
Fuelling Our Small Business Community
Statement from Medicine Hat Chamber President Scott Lehr
"We are proud to recognize our business community during small business week, kicking things off with our Annual Business Awards on Friday, October 14th, hosting over 300 attendees and highlighting Medicine Hat’s amazing business community. We have been fortunate enough to host events in person again with a renewed excitement from our community to attend, re-connect and experience something new.
We are also pleased to see the support of our local business community with consumers prioritizing local. We've emphasized this with our "Stories" series and allowing consumers to see the reasons it's important to support local through the stories behind the businesses, along with our Local First initiatives. We encourage our community to experience all that our local businesses have to offer and enjoy the experiences of local shopping, events, and connecting again at the different local attractions and gathering places and reigniting the passion and reasons that we choose this community to live, work and play. We recognize there are challenges still as we move into recovery, and some businesses are still facing obstacles on a day-to-day basis, but there is a sense of optimism as we move forward."
Why You Should Support Local First
- 4.6 X More Impact created by local businesses
- 96% Of All Business Is Small Business in our region
- Only 50% Of Small Businesses survive past 5 years
There is so much more to supporting local than just shopping. Hiring, contracting, promoting or visiting local keeps money in OUR community and contributes to the vitality of our region. Now more than ever, supporting our local business community is about creating relationships, providing us with a more caring, connected and resilient community. These relationships are what provides you with more customized and personalized experience because these are your friends, neighbours, coaches, service providers and colleagues.
A podcast about the stories that have shaped our business community and continue to shape our lives within the community.
Stories that Shape our Community is a reminder of the importance of putting local first and the positive impact it has on shaping our communities – now and into the future. The episodes will give listeners an inside perspective on the “Why” behind these local businesses. There is no “one size fits all” approach in business and these stories will highlight those who shape our community in business and ideally help other businesses who find themselves in similar situations. Our local business owners and their teams will share their stories, showcasing the resiliency and positive impacts they make to help shape our community.
Learn More About the Stories that Shape or Community and Our Neighbourhood
Through photography and videography, we have shared stories of local heroes that have helped shape our community through their business efforts and collaborations. We have highlighted best practices by showing what they have done to strengthen their business and become more resilient. We hope others can use these tools from which to learn.
The Seek Rural series uncovers some unique and interesting businesses in the surrounding rural communities that may not be commonly known. The videos and photos allow you a sneak peek which I am sure will convince you that a visit to explore them more is well worth it.
The Step-up-to-the Plate series takes you through a journey of diverse businesses and organizations that support the food value chain from producers, agri-food processors and suppliers to restaurants and cafes. We believe you will see the economic opportunities in the food supply chain showcased in this series.
Events for Small Business
Thinking Big, Supporting Small: Fuelling Business Decisions with Data
Using the Canadian Chamber’s Business Data Lab’s latest outcomes and BDC’s recent data analytics, this session will focus on how data can reinforce entrepreneurs’ abilities to recover and grow their businesses.
Our guest speakers will discuss how small business has been affected by the pandemic and how they can use data to pivot to survive. We will also host a post-discussion Q & A session with participants.
How to succeed in today’s economy: A roadmap for SMEs
October 18th, 1PM
Join Pierre Cléroux, BDC’s Chief Economist, for a live analysis of the Canadian economy and an overview of the main strategies you can use to maintain a competitive edge in the face of rising prices, supply chain disruptions and persistent labour shortages.
Angel Investing 101 - Rural Investor Education Series
OCT 17–20, 7–9 PM.
Learn to confidently approach an early-stage founder whose company you really believe in, and secure yourself an investment that could change your life and your community, no matter how small your cheque.
This series is for aspiring angel investors and Alberta-based freelancers looking to consult for equity. Angel Investing 101 is an introductory course taught by a former VC fund manager, lululemon executive and M&A Attorney. And bonus, she's also from the prairies (Winnipeg, Manitoba!) Only a few seats left. This course begins tonight (October 17 at 7 PM).
Angel Investing 101 regularly costs $500. This course is fully funded, so we can offer it free. However, seats are limited, and only a few remain open. Sign up now: https://classrebel.com/rural-investor-education-series/
Enriching Your Small Business
Contact JoAnne Letkeman, Exclusive Chamber Group Advisor, 403-504-2166 ext 1.
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