Ladysmith residents paid tribute to the contributions of local businesses, employees, volunteers and entrepreneurs Saturday, Feb. 23 at Aggie Hall.
More than 150 members of the community gathered at Aggie Hall Saturday night for the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce 2012 Spirit of Ladysmith Community Awards ceremony.
Spirit of Ladysmith awards were presented to recipients in 10 distinct categories as follows.
Business of the Year awards were handed out in three categories based on the number of staff members they employ.
Uforik Computers received the award for businesses staffed by one to five employees, sponsored by the Bastion Law Group. For the six-through-20-employees category, sponsored by Take 5 Publications, the award went to In The Bean Time Café. And Ricky’s All Day Grill was selected as Business of the Year for businesses staffed by 21 or more employees, sponsored by Robson O’Connor.
Spirit Awards for Service Employee of the Year were bestowed on recipients in three categories. Paul Hamlyn of Bouma Meats received the award, sponsored by the Ladysmith Chronicle, for businesses with one to five employees. The Chronicle’s own Colleen Wheeler received the award for businesses with six through 20 employees, sponsored by Western Forest Products. Natalie Short of 49th Parallel Grocery received the award, sponsored by the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, for businesses staffed by 21 or more employees.
Ladysmith’s Volunteer of the Year Spirit Award, sponsored by Jill Dashwood of Coast Realty, went to Jack and Cora Maier.
Willow Hartig and Mike Rankin of the Mid-Isle Soccer Club accepted the Spirit Award for Not-for-Profit Organization, sponsored by 49th Parallel Grocery.
Janice Peters, owner of the Ladysmith Health Food Store and Step This Way, received the 2012 Spirit Award for Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ladysmith.
Lastly, Cameron Manns received the 2012 Youth of the Year Spirit Award, sponsored by Vancouver Island Insurance Centre.
Award winners received a mounted print of a painting of Ladysmith produced by Leona Petrak and printed by Brad Grigor of Turning Point Arts.
The Spirit of Ladysmith Community Awards, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, recognizes achievement and leadership by individuals and organizations for making an impact in and around Ladysmith.