On January 23rd, 2010 GROWTH Alberta hosted the Fifth Annual GROWTH Alberta Business Awards Gala! The event was well attended with sixteen businesses being recognized for excellence.

GROWTH Alberta extends congratulations to our 2009 Business Excellence Award Winners, recently recognized at our Business Awards Gala at the Westlock and District Community Hall on January 23rd, 2010.

The Gala was a wonderful evening of celebration, with nearly 260 people present to recognize this year's award winners.

Guests were welcomed with warm and encouraging remarks from GROWTH Alberta Chair, Pamela Marriott (also Mayor of the Town of Swan Hills), and Master of Ceremonies, Clayton Jespersen (Chairman of Pembina Hills Regional School Division) provided direction and humour for the evening.

Following a delicious buffet dinner and enjoying the ambiance only live music provides, guests at the Gala had the chance to watch video profiles of all sixteen Business Awards winners. After each video, winners were presented with a plaque commemorating their award, and a congratulatory scroll from the Honourable Ken Kowalski, MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of five special awards.
GROWTH Alberta would like to extend a very special congratulations to:

• Erdmann's Gardens and Greenhouses who were named Business of the Year for their continued growth and success in the region.
• Jubilee Farms was presented with the Economic Contribution Award recognizing the number of jobs the farm provides locally, the economic impact of the farm in the region and being good corporate citizens.
• Assiniboine Valley Oilfield was recognized for all of the community projects the family has been actively involved with over the years with the Community Service Award.
• The Inspired Ingenuity Award was given out this year to three deserving owner/managers of Westlock car dealerships because of their unique approach to marketing and cooperative participation in local fundraising.  Brown's Chrysler, Westlock Ford and Westlock Motors received special recognition.
• The Flower Shoppe in Barrhead was selected by the audience attending the Gala as their Audience Favourite for the year!

GROWTH Alberta would like to thank everyone who attended the Gala on January 23rd, and the great number of behind-the-scenes people who helped to make the 2009 Awards Program a success.  Look forward to the video postings soon!