The Mel-Bex Award winners (minus Citizen of the Year Kerrie de Gooijer) (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

Mel-Bex Awards

Local businesses celebrated at Mel-Bex Awards

Mar 25, 2024 | 9:47 AM

Melfort’s business community was honoured on Saturday with the Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce Mel-Bex Awards.

The awards celebrate local businesses and their successes.

The Business of the Year (16 and Over Employees) was Melody Motors.

Melody Motors took home the Busienss of the Year – 16 or More Employees award (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

Golden Grain Bakery won the Business of the Year (15 and Under Employees) award.

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Dress Well with Gisele took home the Property Appearance Award.

Dress Well with Gisele won the Property Appearance Award. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

The Community Involvement – Non-Profit Award went to the Melfort and District Museum.

Melfort & District Museum won the Community Involvement Award (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

The Community Involvement – Business/Corporate Award was won by Realty Executives Gateway Realty.

Realty Executives Gateway Realty (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

RJ’s Urban Garden Café won the Customer Service Award, and George Home Hardware took home the Heritage Award.

RJ’s Urban Garden Cafe (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

The Junior Citizen of the Year, Josey Hovdestad, was also given her award at the event, while Kerrie de Gooijer, the Citizen of the Year, was also honoured but was unable to attend.

After the awards ceremony was over, event MC Amanda Perrot hosted a quick panel discussion about the challenges and rewards of being a small business.

Award winners held a short panel discussion after the ceremony. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

When asked about the largest challenges of the last four or five years, all business award winners pointed to the effects of COVID, ranging from laying off staff to re-hiring staff and navigating disrupted supply chains.

Perrrot then asked the business award winners who supported them through the highs and lows of owning a business. The most common answers were family, friends, and customers.

Comedian Kelly Taylor closed out the evening with jokes ranging from life in Saskatchewan to life on the road as a comedian.

Comedian Kelly Taylor (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

This is the first time the Mel-Bex awards were held in six years.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK