The Carman & Community Chamber of Commerce handed out some hardware to locals at their annual Awards Gala Thursday night.

Executive Director Jodi Winkler says the evening saw roughly 100 Chamber members attend to support people like Lyle Myers, this year's Volunteer of the Year.

"He's a local man that used to be a teacher. He works with a run club in town with a group of kids that just run, and he trains them. He has a few success stories . . . and I believe he has about 15 kids now that he trains here in Carman."

She says the community nominated quite a few people, leaving the awards committee with lots of options before ultimately picking the four winners.

"They were very deserving, they were all in attendance, and had a good support group behind them."

Vanderveen Commodity Service Ltd., a grain broker in Carman was named Agricultural Business of the Year, and Tim Doerksen won out as Chamber Member of the Year.

Winkler says, "he was with Access Credit Union and he just retired this year, so he's probably been with the board of directors for the last 25 years I'd say? Maybe that's being generous."

The big winner of the evening was Michelle Kidd from KiDDance. She opened the first ever dance studio in town in, winning herself the Business of the Year award.

"She began under Golden Prairie Arts Council in 2014. After the first year they opened their own dance studio and then they outgrew that in one year, and now they've moved to their present location which is in the industrial park in Carman . . . They have an actual studio for the KiDDance and then the Carman Barre is a separate part of their business as well," she adds.

Barre fitness is a combination workout with ballet elements, pilates, low impact cardio, weights, mat work, and yoga. It has become so popular that Kidd opened another location in Winkler, both of which are the only locations in the Pembina Valley.

As well, there are approximately 130 full-time students that take classes throughout the week, not including smaller dance sessions and adult classes.

Winkler adds, "she does a very good job and I was happy that someone nominated her first of all, and secondly that the committee actually chose her to win because I think she's very deserving."