Altona Chamber names 2024 award recipients

The Altona and District Chamber of Commerce has selected the recipients of its 2024 business awards. 

The Business Excellence Award with eleven (11) employees or more will be presented to Sun Valley Co-Op Ltd. 

Coffee anyone? (Supplied)

Sun Valley Co-Op has been in operation since 1931 with a long and remarkable history. There are 10 locations made up of Gas Bars, Home Centres, Bulk Petroleum, Cardlocks, Carwash, and Food Stores operating out of Altona, Morris, St Jean, Dominion City, and Emerson. In Altona, there has been significant upgrades and renovations to the grocery store and gas bar. They support the community through donations, volunteerism efforts, capital investments, employment of over 150 staff, providing quality products and services, and returning millions of dollars to over 8,000 members since the co-op was formed.

The Business Excellence Award with ten (10) employees or less will be presented to Agassiz Massage Therapy. 

Brittany Dyck and Andrea Bergman

Agassiz Massage Therapy is a small health care clinic that offers Massage Therapy, Physiotherapy and Acupuncture services. The business opened on April 18, 2022, with one massage therapist. In just two years, they have grown to support three staff members with medical specialties that complement each other. Agassiz Massage Therapy has supported the Kiddie Sunshine Centre and programs at Ecole Parkside School and W.C. Miller Collegiate. They also continue to support hospital activity books for kids and look forward to mentoring massage therapy students in the future.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award will be presented to Sarah Braun. 

Sarah Braun.

Sarah Braun is the owner of Springtide Wellness, a provider of therapeutic and wellness services that promote health and wellbeing, including reflexology, massage therapy, chiropractic, and esthetic services. She is recognized for her impressive employee quality growth, marketing strategies, expansion ideas and her overall contribution and impact on the community. Sarah is all about employee satisfaction and proud of her employees. She feels that building up her team will allow them to grow the business.

The Non-Profit of the Year Award will be presented to The Community Exchange. 

Volunteers whip up a batch of chili for one of The Community Exchange's hot lunches

The Community Exchange’s vision is to build community connections through gatherings around food, learning from and with each other and creating a community resource hub. The Community Exchange works with eighteen local businesses and organizations who use the space or work together with them to create meaningful programming. Some of these programs include monthly community dinners, games night, English Café, Share the Warmth Project, Community Shop, and Food Rescue Program.

The awards will be presented at the Chamber's annual gala happening Thursday, April 18th at the Rhineland Pioneer Centre.

With files from the Altona and District Chamber of Commerce