Not-for-pro� t Organization Excellence: Agassiz-Harrison Lions Club; Agriculture & Agri-Food Innovation Excellence: The Farm House Natural Cheeses; Distinction in Hospitality & Tourism Excellence: Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Visitor Information Centre; Retailer Excellence: Agassiz Produce; Celebrating Culinary Excellence: The Black Forest Steak & Schnitzel House; Service Excellence: Muddy Waters Café & Espresso; People’s Choice: Agassiz Remedy’sRx Pharmacy; Harrison Agassiz Chamber Choice: Prospera Credit Union, Agassiz; Home-Based Business Excellence: Todd’s Signs

Retailers, restaurants, home-based businesses and not-for-pro� ts. All of these businesses and more were celebrated during the 2016 Harrison-Agassiz Business Excellence Awards on February 20th. The lively and entertaining evening at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, included � ne dining, 50/50 draw, DJ dance and of course, an outpouring of love and plenty of congratulatory wishes for the winners and nominees.

Remember, local business can only thrive with local customers. So The Observer would like to send out a big 'thank you' to all of you who nominated a business for their excellence. Each nominee was truly deserving of your support. And as you will read in the following pages, each of them is incredibly thankful for all of you, their loyal customers.

A winning evening…

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Formed over fifty years ago and made up of about forty community minded men and women, the Agassiz-Harrison Lions club would like to thank Business Excellence Awards voters for voting it the best non-profit of the year. Amongst other fundraisers, the group raises funds through the July car show on Pioneer Avenue and through Supervalu raffles. The group donates proceeds to community events such as the Mother’s Day pancake breakfast, Agassiz Parks and Recreation events, the museum and the Agassiz Scouts. In the past, they donated funds to furnish the children’s room in the library, to build the Agricultural Hall and purchase the ‘Jaws of Life’ for the fire department. Most recently, they awarded four bursaries to AESS graduates, as well as make donations to the Fraser Valley Healthcare Foundation and Honour House (which helps first responders and their families). The Lions live up to their motto, “We serve” through their endless dedication to the community and its people, while having fun too. “Lions smile 90 percent of the time,” said Lion Gerry Ruble. “They are too busy to mope!” If you would like to find out more about the Agassiz-Harrison Lions club email your name and phone number to ahlionstreasurer@outlook.com.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION EXCELLENCE AWARD

Lions serving for more than half a centuryBy Hunter Ramey

James Massie, Production Supervisor of Britco, Agassiz, presents Lion Mohamed Hasanine with

the Not-For-Profit Organization Excellence award.

Agassiz-Harrison Lions Club

award sponsored by:

In order to remain viable in an increasing global economy, George and Debra Boyes decided years ago to look at value-added opportunities for their small family Agassiz farm. The couple decided to combine George’s British Royal Agriculture College education and experience in dairy farming with the Swiss cheese making knowledge of Debra and make a go of it in business. The Boyes built their on-farm processing facility and began making cheese in May of 2004 under the name of The Farm House Natural Cheeses. “We changed our milking herd from the more common Holstein breed to heritage breed cows... whose milk has more components and flavour making it extra good for cheese making,” Debra said. They soon added goat’s milk products and then, last year, became a certified organic farm and creamery. The milk from the farm’s 65 cows and 130 goats is made into cheese, yogurt, fluid non-homogenized milk, and other dairy products. Though their product range boasts many awards over the years, the Boyes are more honoured by the fact that they contribute to the sustainability of their community and build lasting relationships as well.

AGRICULTURE & AGRI-FOOD INNOVATION EXCELLENCE

More flavour in this cheese

Erin Goosen of Tourism Harrison, accepted the award for Agriculture & Agri-Food Innovation

Excellence on behalf of The Farm House Natural Cheeses from Coun. Darcy Striker.

The Farm House Natural Cheeses

award sponsored by:

The Agassiz Harrison Museum would like to thank voters for their Business Excellence Award. The Museum opened thirty years ago after renovations made to the CPR station, originally built in 1893. “The rest, you could say, is history,” Judy Pickard said. “We are now about to celebrate our 30th season.” The museum is the perfect place for tourists and locals interested in their community, especially since the Visitor Information Centre moved to the museum in 2009. It is part of the Agassiz Harrison Historical Society, which has been around since the early 1980s (originally called the Harrison Lake Historical Society). Run by volunteers with a love for heritage, the Agassiz-Harrison Museum, a not-for-profit society, is a great learning experience for community and visitors. “All of our volunteers deserve huge applause for all of their generous time, knowledge and expertise,” Pickard said. In fact, she credits the success of the organization to the efforts of that volunteer base. During the summer months, approximately forty volunteers take shifts working in the Visitor Information Centre, gift shop and as tour guides.

DISTINCTION IN HOSPITALITY & TOURISM EXCELLENCE

Making history at the museumBy Hunter Ramey

Robert Reyerse, Executive Director of Tourism Harrison, presents the award for Distinction in Hospitality &

Tourism Excellence to Judy Pickard, manager of Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Visitor Information Centre.

Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Visitor

Information Centre

award sponsored by:

The Agassiz Harrison Museum would like to thank voters for their Business Excellence Award. The Museum opened thirty years ago after renovations made to the CPR station, originally built in 1893. “The rest, you could say, is history,” Judy Pickard said. “We are now about to celebrate our 30th season.” The museum is the perfect place for tourists and locals interested in their community, especially since the Visitor Information Centre moved to the museum in 2009. It is part of the Agassiz Harrison Historical Society, which has been around since the early 1980s (originally called the Harrison Lake Historical Society). Run by volunteers with a love for heritage, the Agassiz-Harrison Museum, a not-for-profit society, is a great learning experience for community and visitors. “All of our volunteers deserve huge applause for all of their generous time, knowledge and expertise,” Pickard said. In fact, she credits the success of the organization to the efforts of that volunteer base. During the summer months, approximately forty volunteers take shifts working in the Visitor Information Centre, gift shop and as tour guides.

DISTINCTION IN HOSPITALITY & TOURISM EXCELLENCE

Making history at the museumBy Hunter Ramey

Robert Reyerse, Executive Director of Tourism Harrison, presents the award for Distinction in Hospitality &

Tourism Excellence to Judy Pickard, manager of Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Visitor Information Centre.

Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Visitor

Information Centre

award sponsored by:

Recognition from the Chamber of CommerceThe 2016 Harrison-Agassiz Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards were once again a great success.

Thank you to Sonja, Michelle, Judy, Linda and Sarah for your hard work and enthusiasm. Your e� orts resulted in a wonderful evening of networking, � ne dining and honouring the excellence of local businesses.

A BIG thank you to the following:• Holly Tree Florist & Gifts, for the winners' beautiful � owers. • Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa, for the delicious meal as well as the generous grand prize package of an overnight accommodation in a Lakeview guestroom complete with couples massage, dinner at The Copper Room and breakfast the next morning.

To our sponsors, without you, this event would not be possible. They are:• Britco LP• District of Kent• Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce• Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa• HUB International Barton Insurance• Prospera Credit Union• RIMEX• Tourism Harrison• Village of Harrison Hot Springs

Winners of the 2016 Agassiz Har-rison Business Excellence Awards gathered after the ceremony at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, February 20. BU

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BUSINESSBUSINESSHARRISON-AGASSIZHARRISON-AGASSIZ BUSINESSfor Harrison-Agassiz Chamber Choice

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Your community credit unionHelping you with all your banking needs.

Personal banking Business banking Investment advice

Agassiz Branch1810 No 9 Hwy604.796.2202

prospera.ca

Your community credit unionHelping you with all your banking needs.

Personal banking Business banking Investment advice

Agassiz Branch1810 No 9 Hwy604.796.2202

prospera.ca

Thank you for your vote of con� dence.Your community credit union.

THANK YOUAgassiz & Harrison

for making thisaward possible!

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7266 Pioneer Ave. | 604.796.84447266 Pioneer Ave. | 604.796.84447266 Pioneer Ave. | 604.796.8444AGASSIZ PRODUCE

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

Thank youWe are honoured to receive

the Retailer Excellence Award! It is our pleasure to serve our community.

BUSINESSBUSINESSHARRISON-AGASSIZHARRISON-AGASSIZfor Retailer Excellence

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BUSINESSBUSINESSHARRISON-AGASSIZHARRISON-AGASSIZ BUSINESS20162016WINNER OF THE

A charming old-style sign on the side of the building says it all: “green grocer and fruiterer.” Located on Pioneer Avenue Agassiz Produce sells a mix of local and imported food, but puts an emphasis on stocking as many locally grown fruits and vegetables as possible. In fact, owner Jackie Greene supplies the store with her own family farm’s produce during the local growing season. Only when seasonal supply is short will customers see imports—and that’s to deliver variety. Greene said Agassiz Produce has weathered a few storms in the 10 years they’ve been in business, including the recent spike in vegetable prices that saw cauliflower costs among others go through the roof. But with a lifetime of produce experience behind her, the Abbotsford product knows how to shake off the challenges and succeed through “a lot of hard work and dedication.” Greene likes Agassiz and she tries to provide the same friendly atmosphere in her store that the people of the town exude themselves. “Our customers are happy with what we provide them,” she said.

RETAILER EXCELLENCE AWARD

Selling produce in a friendly atmosphere

Agassiz Produce

award sponsored by:

Jennifer Peters, Assistant Branch Manager and Cindy Helmer, Branch Manager from Prospera Credit Union, Agassiz, present Jackie Greene of Agassiz Produce with the Retailer Excellence

award.

After the awards presentation, guests kicked up their heels to AllTunes DJ Service.Photo: Peter “ALL REQUESTS” Graves

BUSINESSBUSINESSHARRISON-AGASSIZHARRISON-AGASSIZ BUSINESSfor Home-Based Business Excellence

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Thank you for nominating Todd's Signs forthe Home-Based Business Excellence Award.

Your continued support is appreciated.

W W W. T O D D S S I G N S . C O M

Your Independently Owned & Operated Local Drug Store O� ering You the Quality, Personalized Service that You Deserve!

7046 Pioneer Avenue, Agassiz | 604-491-1070 | www.remedys.ca

We are honoured to win � e Peoples Choice AwardNow let US treat YOU with our Customer Appreciation Week!

March 5-12

� ank you to everyone who voted!

• 10% OFF on all Front Store Items*• Refreshments all day• Draw for Vouchers from Heritage Cafe & Sushi Rest.

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The Business Excellence Awards committee, comprised of Chamber Directors, gather for a group photo before greeting guests.

The Harrison-Agassiz Chamber represents the business interests of two dynamic and di� erent communities: Harrison Hot Springs and the District of Kent. Harrison Hot Springs, a small village in the big outdoors, has been a premier resort destination for over a century and o� ers access to the largest fresh water lake in South Western BC. The District of Kent is the hub for agricultural activity in the Eastern Fraser Valley and is the "Corn Capital" of BC.

As the Voice of Business, the Harrison-Agassiz Chamber of Commerce has been serving the needs of the business community in the Kent District and Harrison Hot Springs for more than 25 years. They are a non-pro� t, non-government organization with nearly 100 members comprised of businesses, professionals and associations who have joined together for the purpose of promoting the civic, commercial and tourist interests of our community.

The Chamber o� ers a wide range of bene� ts including special rates for members at numerous businesses, including The Observer.

If you have any questions about the Harrison-Agassiz Chamber of Commerce, contact them by email at info@harrison.ca. You can also follow the Chamber on Twitter to stay current with what's happening in Harrison Hot Springs and Agassiz.

Joining the Chamber has bene� ts

Peter “ALL REQUESTS” Graves

When Vick Ghotra, Sunny Manihani, and their wives Kamal Ghotra and Kiran Manihani took over the Black Forest Steak and Schnitzel House four years ago, they were taking on over four decades of European foodservice history. “It’s so wonderful to run a business in such a small, tight-knit community,” Manihani said. “Sometimes at the restaurant, when it’s busy, customers already know each other and share their dining experiences together.” He added it’s also comforting to see how welcoming the locals are to visiting tourists in his restaurant, creating an inviting environment for everyone. The restauranteurs have been in the hospitality industry for the past 25 years and also own a couple of other German restaurants in New Westminster and Surrey, where they provide a similar European culinary experience to those communities. So what’s the recipe for creating multiple hits among the Valley’s euro-culinary o� erings? “The secret to our success is hard work, consistency, and passion for our trade,” Manihani said. And a top-selling German Schnitzel doesn’t hurt either.

CELEBRATING CULINARY EXCELLENCE AWARD

A European experience

Ian Maw, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, presents the Celebrating Culinary Excellence award to

The Black Forest Steak & Schnitzel House.

The Black Forest Steak & Schnitzel

House

award sponsored by:

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When they purchased Muddy Waters/Baskin Robbins in April of 2012, Richard Fife and Jenny Peters completely changed the menu, sourcing out local, organic food, and providing only homemade options. “Richard and I have been in the foodservice industry since we were both in our early teens,” Peters said. “Starting our own business was our dream.” The two bought the business from Peters’ brother, who founded Muddy Waters in 1994, because they “knew it was the only place for us.” “We absolutely love what we do, where we live, the people we work with and the community we serve,” Peters said. The restaurant gets a lot of local support, and Peters considers Agassiz Harrison to be a true community with business owners, friends and family all working together and looking after one another. And so for nearly four years the pair have been feeding the community in their own way. “We believe in real food, we want our customers to feel good after eating at our establishment,” Peters said.

SERVICE EXCELLENCE AWARD

Living their dreamMayor Leo Facio presents the award for Service Excellence to

Richard Fife and Jenny Peters of Muddy Waters Cafe & Espresso.

Muddy Waters Café & Espresso

award sponsored by:

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Nominee Trish Humeniuk of Matsel Hair

Studio and guest

Attendees celebrated the night inblack and white

Business owners, politicians, employees and

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Excellence Awards

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With a location in both Agassiz and Seabird, Mohamed Hasanine and Tareq Youssef provide a lot of help to the local community through their Remedy’sRx pharmacy businesses. “We consider ourselves lucky to be helping the Agassiz-Harrison and surrounding communities,” Hasanine said. “People are so friendly, appreciative and caring. We don’t think of it as just a “job”, we come here to meet with our customers…our extended family.” Their pharmacies provide more personal attention than the larger chain stores according to Hasanine. “Because we’re focused on building relationships with members of the communities in which our pharmacies reside, we’ve built a reputation for going above and beyond our customers’ every expectation,” he said. He and co-founder Youssef distinguish themselves by running a comprehensive pharmacy approach that is everything pharmacy related: prescriptions, home health products, Ostomy supplies, compounding, wound dressings and vaccination. They are not interested in the grocery bulk retail models that other companies settle with.  “We run a pharmacy only, where patients can talk to their pharmacist anytime with any health concern,” Hasanine said. “We are offering all of that and more since the first day we opened.”

PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD

A prescription for success

Agassiz Remedy’sRx

award sponsored by:

Owner and staff of Agassiz Remedy’sRx happily hold up their Peoples Choice Award, sponsored by RIMEX.

With a location in both Agassiz and Seabird, Mohamed Hasanine and Tareq Youssef provide a lot of help to the local community through their Remedy’sRx pharmacy businesses. “We consider ourselves lucky to be helping the Agassiz-Harrison and surrounding communities,” Hasanine said. “People are so friendly, appreciative and caring. We don’t think of it as just a “job”, we come here to meet with our customers…our extended family.” Their pharmacies provide more personal attention than the larger chain stores according to Hasanine. “Because we’re focused on building relationships with members of the communities in which our pharmacies reside, we’ve built a reputation for going above and beyond our customers’ every expectation,” he said. He and co-founder Youssef distinguish themselves by running a comprehensive pharmacy approach that is everything pharmacy related: prescriptions, home health products, Ostomy supplies, compounding, wound dressings and vaccination. They are not interested in the grocery bulk retail models that other companies settle with.  “We run a pharmacy only, where patients can talk to their pharmacist anytime with any health concern,” Hasanine said. “We are offering all of that and more since the first day we opened.”

PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD

A prescription for success

Agassiz Remedy’sRx

award sponsored by:

Owner and staff of Agassiz Remedy’sRx happily hold up their Peoples Choice Award, sponsored by RIMEX.

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The tables were elegantly set to re� ect the theme: “Celebrate the Night in Black and White”

The tables were elegantly set to re� ect the theme: “Celebrate the Night in Black and

The tables were elegantly set to re� ect the theme: “Celebrate the Night in Black and

Nominees and presenters network prior to the awards presentation

Lion Joey Ellis proudly holds up their award

for Not-for-pro� t Organization Excellence.

After working and learning the trade in a small sign shop in Chilliwack for a few years in the mid-80s, Todd Bazan thought it was time to set out on his own. With the blessing of his former employer, Bazan started Todd’s Signs in its original location in 1987 in Agassiz. “It was a slow start but over the past 29 years my clientele base has built up over and beyond my expectations,” he said. Since his business’ humble beginnings almost three decades ago, Bazan has moved several times and currently operates out of Harrison Hot Springs. Todd’s signs has adapted to the major changes in the sign-making industry, and produces all types of signage from wood and metal signs, decals, vehicle and boat lettering, illuminated signs—and even large billboards. “I enjoy working in the Agassiz Harrison area where I grew up and basically know everyone,” Bazan said. Though he likes the local feel, the entrepreneur has quite the reach with clients all over B.C. and Alberta.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD

A sign of the times

Barb Janzen from HUB International Barton Insurance, presents the Home-Based Business Excellence award to Todd Bazan.

Todd’s Signs

award sponsored by:

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Like many credit unions in BC, Prospera was founded by a small group of people in the community who couldn’t get what they needed within the traditional banking system. “What did they need? Credit. Or in more plain terms, money,” said Cindy Helmer, Agassiz branch manager. “Money to � nance their farms and their businesses, money to invest in their hopes and dreams and money to build a future for their families.” Those original members got creative and decided the best way to get the credit they needed was to pool their money together and start their own co-operative bank. Those deep Fraser Valley roots go back to the ‘40s and Helmer said her branch continues to be committed to the health and wellbeing of this community. “We live in a beautiful place where neighbours really care about one another and people help each other,” Helmer said. “We’re very happy to be recognized with this award.”

HARRISON-AGASSIZ CHAMBER CHOICE

Prospering in the Fraser Valley

Sta� from Prospera Credit Union, Agassiz were all smiles after they happily accepted the Harrison-Agassiz Chamber

Choice award.

ProsperaCredit Union

Agassiz

award sponsored by: