The Portage and District Chamber of Commerce held its Best Business Awards Gala last night in Portage la Prairie celebrating 130 of the Portage Chamber of Commerce. Among the many awards presented, the Long Term Achievement Business Award went to Western Bearing and Auto Parts. Founder Ian Borland says the business has grown since its inception.

"We've been at it for 50 years plus. And I started it with a big staff of me, myself and I, and then it worked from there. We're up to 22 staff now, probably going to get more."

Executive director Erin Miller and the Board of the Portage District General Hospital Foundation won the Outstanding Not For Profit Award, and she says they're honoured to receive an award like this seeing as there are so many great organizations in our community.

For the first time ever, the Chamber presented two Citizen of the Year Awards, and the recipients were Preston Meier and Hazen Barret.

Barret says the honour was, "Very surprising, quite an honour, and so many of the things that they gave me credit for up there, there were so many other people whose ideas were involved in that."

Meier says, "It's pretty cool to be a part of that. But it's really not about me. It's about not only the volunteers that have supported Portage in the past, and in the present, but of course the ones in the future that will make Portage a much better place to be."

The Outstanding Small Business Award went to Bill's Sticky Fingers. Founder Bill Protopapas says it feels good to win, and he has to thank his customers for their loyalty, their staff, and his wife who stood behind him through every problem they faced. He said he could never win such an award without them all.

Youth Volunteer of the Year award went to Donovan Hillman, who says you don't think about this when you go to volunteer, seeing as you want to go out and help. But to win an award makes you feel more humbled and that much more honoured to be part of the community spirit of Portage.

The Arts and Cultural Person of the year went to Yvette Cuthbert.

The Sports Person of the year was Hans Stasiuk.

Outstanding Contribution to the Community By A Business Award went to three businesses, including Mil-Jeanne's Flowers & Axcenz, Solomon's Home Garden Gift and Schapansky Florist. Kyle Pettinger of Mil-Jeanne Flowers & Axcenz says, "I'm still sort of surprised by it all. It's a good feeling, but honestly when you're surrounded by everyone here contributing to the community in their own ways, whether it's by volunteering or their own business, it's a pretty heart warming feeling that you're just surrounded by wonderful people with all the right goals in mind, It's amazing to see what everybody can do when they put their minds to it and they put their bodies behind it."

President of Portage and District Chamber of Commerce Dave Omichinski says there was a nice turnout, and it's always a great event. The volunteer awards segment of the evening demonstrated the level of how those who won weren't doing what they have done for self-interest. He says they're doing it from a community perspective.  It's heartfelt and so nice to be able to recognize them.  Omichinski says the Best Business portion of the night was also great. Small businesses are the drivers of our economy. He explains there's more of an employ base from small businesses across Canada than from large businesses. He explains that's a fact and is what drives our economy. So, to recognize those successes like we have last night, and to see how proud these folks are in what they do well, simply makes it another great evening.