With Small Business Week now taking place, a local company has been acknowledged with a rather big award. 

Spotlight Sport and Corporate Wear, along with owners Mike and Shannon Yager, were awarded the Community Involvement Award at the ABEX Awards in Saskatoon on October 19th.

"We're a small business, and small businesses need support from other businesses and communitty members in order to survive. Without that we wouldn't have the ability to give back, participate, and do fundraisers. It's huge to get that support from the community on a regular basis, said Spotlight Co-owner, Mike Yager. "Small business is what drives economies. It's proven in a city like Humboldt, it's proven in larger cities and across Canada. It's small business that maters. When you get that support from your community, it's just natural to find a way to support back."

The ABEX awards celebrate excellence in all areas of business across the province of Saskatchewan. Celebrating the winning of their award still came with some shock to the Yagers.

"Obviously we were excited and honoured to be recognized at that capacity. When they were running the slide shows of each business, you get your butterflies. We were up against so many fantastic businesses on the provincial level. When our name was called, there was a little bit of disbelief, and then it was, wow, we accomplished this."

Yager believes one of the main contributors towards the recognition, was a t-shirt fundraiser that raised $300,000 for the HumboldtStrong Community Foundation.

"Everyone knows the work we did with the HumboldtStrong Community Foundation with the t-shirt fundraiser. That was a cornerstone and a building point upon the award being given to us. Although we've always been community-minded. We always served on boards and participated in fundraisers. There were lots of factors that had a lot to do with that, but of course, we know the lead of the charge was that fundraiser we did."

The award was presented on the eve of Small Business Week, which runs from October 20th to 26th.

"We are honoured to be the recipient of this award. We wish to thank each business, each person, and each organization that has supported us for the past 12 years. They've enabled us to be able to earn this award by constantly giving to our community."