THE TIMES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012
A13
TheChamberVoice
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 11
THE AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER OF THE ABBOTSFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
DECEMBER 2012
– CHAMBER VOICE
Chamber staff (left to right) Meredith Miller, Carole Jorgensen, and La Vonne Bandsma enjoyed the fruits of their labour while honouring Abbotsford’s business leaders at November’s Excellence Awards.
17th Awards better than ever before Magical night for all
A
bbotsford’s business elite were honoured at the 17th annual Business Excellence Awards at Tradex recently. A total of 530 guests attended t h e Nov. 2 1 g a l a t o s e e 9 0 nominees vie for awards in 11 different categories. The crowd was entertained by the popular Business in Black dance troupe and later entranced by Shawn Farquhar – a two-time world champion of magic.
2012 Business Excellence Awards winners include: Home Based Business Excellence - Perfect Sense Events & Balloon Supply Retailer Excellence - Strung Out On Beads Manufacturing & Production Excellence - Vitalus Nutrition Inc. see WINNERS, page A14
– JEAN KONDA-WITTE/TIMES
Despite economic challenges, Abbotsford Mayor Bruce Banman was optimistic about the city’s future at the annual mayor’s lunch Wednesday at the Ramada.
Mayor challenges business Agriculture and aerospace: our largest economic drivers
ROCHELLE BAKER Abbotsford Times
A
fter a year at the helm, Mayor Bruce Banman evaluated his inaugural term and focused on the city’s future in step with the business community when speaking at the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday. Banman used the annual mayor’s lunch to express his admiration of Abbotsford’s business community and emphasize that the sector was invaluable in driving not only the local economy but also the city’s quality of life. “I have visited your farms, I have visited your stores, your construction yards, and your companies. “I’ve seen the pride you feel when you showcase your products and when you succeed in the market,” said Banman. Banman highlighted some of the city’s top priorities going into the future, including creating a strong economy, sustainable infrastructure, a good transportation system and safe communities that support a diverse, inclusive and healthy
population and an educated work force. Despite economic challenges, Banman said he was optimistic about Abbotsford’s future. Banman stressed the need to continue to develop a diversified economy while still recognizing the agriculture and aerospace sectors as some of Abbotsford’s largest economic drivers. There are numerous signs that the business community is thriving, with new construction projects, including the new Sandman Inn and High Street Shopping Centre being constructed in the Mount Lehman interchange area at a combined total of more than $110 million. However, the mayor conceded that the most persistent challenge in his first year in office has been attempting to resolve taxpayers’ dollars being spent on Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre operations and the Heat hockey team. “In the future, we cannot continue to allocate taxpayer dollars toward endeavours that do not serve our community as a whole,” said Banman,
adding the city couldn’t do it alone and challenged the business community to help turn the situation around. “This single most proactive thing you can do to help this community right now is to invite your customers, your business associates, your friends and family to attend a fabulous night of hockey . . . By bringing success to our team, we bring success to our city.” Allan Asaph, executive director of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, said the business community will likely rise to the challenge, adding the Chamber’s annual mayor’s lunch is a good way for city hall to report on past activities and update members on initiatives as they affect the business community. “The Abbotsford Chamber enjoys a good working relationship with the city,” said Asaph. “We don’t always agree on every issue, but we do try to collaborate to ensure we make the city aware of the concerns and input from local business.”
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