A business that has long been a fixture in downtown Morden was honoured at the Morden Chamber of Commerce awards gala last Thursday.
Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Manitoba CEO Ron Gauthier, (far left) and Morden Chamber president Tyler Schroeder (far right) with Tim Shantz, Ashley Froese, and Jared Hildebrand of Morden Physiotherapy
The Business Excellence Award went to The Brick as the finale of a program that included a number of other previously announced award recipients.
What is today The Brick is a business that has a long history in Morden, having been formerly known as McCaughans for many years.
The location was cited for their commitment to service and teamwork, and it was noted as well that despite being part of a large national chain, it is still very much a locally operated business that is committed to the community, including through the support of various organizations and charities.
Co-owner Randy Unger stressed the award really goes to all of their employees.
“They’ve built such a good rapport with all of the customers and come to the table every day and treat everybody equally … and with the service that they deserve,” he said.
Also nominated was Chicken Chef, which was cited not just for great food but for outstanding service and strong community involvement, and TJ Auto Repair, which was cited for its reliable service, skilled workmanship, and putting customers first.
Another business that has been a fixture in Morden for six decades and is into a third generation of being family owned and operated received a special Lifetime Achievement Award at the gala.
“I would not be standing up here today if were not for the hard work and commitment [of our staff],” said Scott Fehr of Fehr Glass and Aluminum. “I owe a deep debt of gratitude to my team, whose hard work and dedication made this possible.”
Fehr said it has been rewarding and that he is thankful to have the family legacy behind him.
“Over the years, I’ve learned that it takes a huge commitment to run a successful business … it has been a privilege to work alongside of so many talented people, and we will continue our journey to grow what my family started.”
Decor Cabinets also received special recognition with an Innovation Excellence Award in recognition of their expansion, investment in training, and developing staff and the professionalism that the team consistently demonstrates (see story on Pg. 7).
CEO Stan Pauls said that standing still isn’t an option for the company.
“Innovation is never about technology for technology’s sake. It always starts somewhere else,” he noted. “We learned from companies that were doing things way better than us … and we asked ourselves a simple question: why not here? So we invested in new technology, but more importantly, we invested in our people.”
Lisa Dyck and Heidie Janzen of Shear Bliss were honoured with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The duo credited their staff, past and present, for the company’s success, as well as its customers.
“Our business thrives on the loyalty and dedication of our clients and the community of Morden who have supported us throughout our journey,” Janzen stressed.
Morden Physio received the business Community Builder Award, and therapist Ashley Froese commented on the importance of being able to play a vital role in supporting the health and wellness of the community
“We pride ourselves on being involved in the community and are really thankful for a lot of staff who believe in that as well,” she said. “We consider it a privilege and an honour to be in this business community and to be working along so many great like-minded businesses with the Morden Chamber of Commerce.
South Central Cancer Resource received the non-profit Community Builder Award.
“It’s such an amazing honour, and we accept it on behalf of every volunteer, supporter and board member,” said program resource coordinator Naomi Fehr. “This award isn’t just about what we’ve done; it’s about why we do it … thank you for trusting us, for believing in us.”
Finally, James Steedsman received the individual Community Builder Award.
The longtime manager of Giant Tiger was cited as an individual and through his business for never hesitating to support organizations and events in the community.
“The significance of this is not lost on me,” said Steedsman, who accepted his award with a video address. “I’m very humbled.
“You don’t do what you do for any kind of recognition … you do it because you love your community,” he said, emphasizing that he wanted to give back support to a community that has given so much to him.
“It just shows you what a great, great community we have,” said Steedsman, adding a note of appreciation for the chamber. “You’ve done a tremendous job in representing our business community.”
