This year’s Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce Mark of Excellence Awards will be making a return to a live venue, the Humboldt Uniplex on Thursday, Sept. 28, and that’s exciting news for the business community. Particularly excited are the nominees for this year’s categories, putting a shine on the excellence of Humboldt and area businesses. Those in attendance will share an added treat with a very special guest speaker.  

“For this year, we are pleased to be able to have the Hon. Pamela Wallin as our keynote speaker at the event,” said Chamber of Commerce President Tammy Ward. “She is a very well-respected senator from our area of the country. Her message will be one of resilience. After the past two years, resilience is something we all have had to embrace,” added Ward. 

Pamela Wallin hails from Wadena and has had a long and varied career in the public eye, including her high-profile career in journalism. Chamber Executive Director Brent Fitzpatrick joins Ward in her enthusiastic endorsement of this year’s guest speaker.  

“When the idea for her as a speaker originally came up, it was because of what she has come through in recent times,” explained Fitzpatrick, “She underwent a lot of scrutiny and came through on the other end true to herself and true to why she’s in that job.” 

The nominees for this year’s Mark of Excellence Awards represent various communities, interests and demographics, and that’s an encouraging sign of a robust regional business community, says Ward.  

“Because we are a regional Chamber of Commerce, we are heartened to see that finalists represent not only a wider regional base, but also a greater involvement in the important agricultural industry.” 

It’s a sentiment echoed by Director Fitzpatrick. 

“What we look at this year in our nominees and finalists is this great diversity that includes agriculture and local manufacturing. It’s just a wonderful group of finalists.” 

In addition to the nominees for the Mark of Excellence Awards, the Chamber has announced the winner of the Hall of Fame Award for 2023, Eric and Ken Ruthven, operators of Kemway Lanes. A release from the Chamber noted, “Their community involvement through that organization for nearly 4 decades made a significant impact to our community and we thank them for that.” 

The Mark of Excellence Awards are slated for Thursday, September 28 at the Uniplex.  Tickets are available through the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce office. 

This year’s nominees for the Mark of Excellence Awards are: 

Community Involvement 

  • Spotlight Sport and Corporate Wear 

  • Strueby Plumbing and Heating 

  • Tim Hortons Humboldt 

Community Merit 

  • Bill Brecht Playground Upgrade 

  • Carlton Trail College 

  • Humboldt and Area Pride Network 

  • Humboldt and District Community Services  

  • Humboldt Soup Kitchen 

  • On-Stage Dance Festival 

New Business 

  • Croptimistic Technology Inc./Swat Maps 

  • Hair by Shelbey 

Marketing 

  • Grid and Gertie Design Studio 

  • Reel Attractions 

Entrepreneur of the Year 

  • Dixon Ag Performance Ltd. 

  • Hair by Shelbey 

Growth and Expansion 

  • Breker-Kunz 

  • Cat’s Creamery 

  • Danwheels Ltd. 

  • Longhorn CrossFit 

  • Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium Ltd. 

  • Pattison Ag 

  • Spotlight Sport and Corporate Wear 

Service 

  • Canadian Tire 

  • Danwheels Ltd 

  • HSA 

  • Humboldt Motors Body Shop 

  • Reel Attractions 

  • Shoppers Drug Mart 

  • Strueby Plumbing and Heating 

  • Weber & Gasper 

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