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Lacombe Chamber Gala on Oct. 21 to feature a ‘James Bond’ theme

Tickets are selling quickly for the organization’s signature event, staff say
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Jeff Hanger, executive director of the Lacombe & District Chamber of Commerce, is excited to see plans for the upcoming annual gala coming together so well. Mark Weber/Lacombe Express

The Lacombe & District Chamber of Commerce Business and Community Awards Gala is right around the corner, and organizers are thrilled with how plans have taken shape for the signature event.

Set for Oct. 21 at the LMC, this year’s Gala will follow a James Bond theme, said Jeffrey Hanger, the Chamber’s executive director. Guests will have to wait for the big day to see exactly how that will unfold, but Hanger couldn’t be happier with how momentum continues to build overall.

“I have wonderfully creative people who are running with this, who are creating images and logos as we speak,” said Hanger.

“I’m excited - we are one month out, and we have a lot of things in place already.”

There is a wide range of awards to be handed down including the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the New Business of the Year Award, the Home-based Business of the Year Award, the Small Business of the Year and the Large Business of the Year to the Agricultural Business/Organization of the Year and the Not-for-Profit of the Year Award.

There is also the Citizen of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lacombe Ford is the title sponsor for this year’s Gala.

As to this year’s finalists, they include (for the Customer Service Award) - Jonathan Luscombe, Milly Oak Café & Catering; Gina Gallardo, Lacombe A&W and Jeff Pollard, Nowco Home Hardware.

To date, there is no sponsor yet for this particular award, Hanger said.

Finalists for the Young Entrepreneur Award (sponsored by Jo(e) Social Media) are Reuben Span, R&J Recycling; Savannah Severin, Sasart and Mackenzie Sundrol, Skin design artist.

For the 2022 Non Profit of the Year Award (sponsored by Sunny 94), the finalists are the Team Jigger Foundation, the Lacombe & District Historical Society and Lacombe Regional Tourism.

For the Citizen of the Year Award (sponsored by the City of Lacombe), the finalists will be announced early in October.

Finalists for the Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by AFSC) will be announced in early October as well.

Finalists for the Business Customer Service Award (sponsored by Echo Lacombe) include A&W, Milly Oak Café & Catering and the Co-op Liquor Store.

Finalists for the Home Based Business Award (no sponsor as of yet) include The Spaw Holistic Inc. and Images of Beauty Esthetics.

For the New Business Award (sponsored by Burman University), the finalists are Clive Pharmacy, Milly Oak Café & Catering and RAE’VeN Apothecary.

Finalists for the Agricultural Business/Farm Family of the Year Award (sponsored by Lacombe County) will be announced at the Gala.

For the Small Business of the Year (sponsored by Lacombe Express/Black Press Media), the finalists include Milly Oak Café & Catering, Stingel Contracting, Balanced Health & Wellness and the Co-op Liquor Store.

For the Large Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Fortis Alberta), the finalists are Dancers Edge Studio, MNP and LA Carpet and Tile.

In the meantime, Hanger encourages folks to purchase Gala tickets soon, as they are going fast.

They are available for $75 a piece (or $500 for a table of eight), he added.

He’s also getting the word out about the Lacombe & District Chamber of Commerce 2022 Passport to Christmas program.

“This year, we are happy to be teaming up with Sunny 94 and Echo Lacombe,” noted a release. The way it works is that for every $10 spent at your business, the customer receives a stamp on their passport. Each passport can be dropped off at draw boxes at the participating businesses to be entered in draws for ‘Lacombe Bucks’.

Lacombe Bucks can then be spent at any of the vendors in the program.

The program runs from Nov. 12 through to Dec. 24, and the grand prize will be drawn on Dec. 31.

“During the 2021 event, Passport to Christmas confirmed that $3,390,300 was spent at the 75 participating businesses,” he said.

Also coming up is Small Business Week (Oct 16-22), and Hanger said a number of local events including breakfast meetings will be held throughout the week to celebrate. See the website at www.lacombechamber.ca for complete details.

“It’s all exactly what the Chamber should be doing - we are exactly where we should be - creating opportunities for people to network, creating opportunities for people to learn, and celebrating the wonderful businesses and people we have here, and just being part of the community.

“The plan is to continue the great work the Chamber has always done.”

Visit www.lacombechamber.ca for more information about the upcoming Gala or Passport to Christmas, or find them on Facebook for the latest updates.

Gala tickets can also be purchased by calling 403-782-4300 or through Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.ca/e/lacombe-chamber-of-commerce-2022-awards-gala-tickets-419843432007.



Mark Weber

About the Author: Mark Weber

I've been a part of the Black Press Media family for about a dozen years now, with stints at the Red Deer Express, the Stettler Independent, and now the Lacombe Express.
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