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Peter Aylen of Absorbent Products better be handy with a hammer and saw — after Saturday’s annual Business Excellence Awards, he’s going to need a new trophy case.
“I just might do that,” he laughed when it was suggested he’ll have to get building.
Aylen had just collected two of the most prestigious of the 16 awards handed out at the 24th annual soiree, hosted by the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce and co-sponsored by TD Canada Trust.
Not only was Absorbent Products, which employs about 50 people, named winner of the Manufacturer Award, but it picked up the trophy for Business of the Year.
Just a week ago, the company — which mines and produces a variety of products for both the retail and industrial markets — had been named one of the top 25 exporters in the province, and earlier in the year won a prestigious mining sustainability award.
“This year’s selection was tough,” said Phil Lindsay of Community Futures Thompson Country, sponsor of the Business of the year category. “It was really tough,” he said before announcing Absorbent Products as the winner.
“This really is a great honour,” said Aylen in accepting the award. “We really appreciate this. This is really quite something.”
A little less composed was Doug Wittal, named Business Person of the Year. Wittal, a contractor and a partner in the Sedric’s theme park project, gave an emotional acceptance speech in which he insisted he “was just not in their league,” referring to fellow nominees Mark Brown of Northern Trailer and Frank Luciani of Inland Glass.
“I just never expected to win,” he said, but added, “We have the most incredible team behind our company. I just attribute it to the great people in Kamloops.”
The President’s Award, selected by chamber president Leslie Brochu, went to former chamber head Brant Hasanen, who remains active in the B.C. chamber as well as sitting on the local chamber’s policy committee.
“I think the most important thing about it,” Hasanen said in reference to the chamber and other community groups, “is that it is volunteer.”
More than 300 attended the awards in the Thompson Rivers University Grand Hall.
“It was an exciting night for everyone,” said Brochu. “Every year we see new businesses and new business leaders come to the forefront in the business community. It’s a pleasure to be able to showcase them in this way.”
Nominations were received from Kamloops residents for 213 local businesses among a record total of 329.
Three finalists in each of 14 categories were selected by a committee of 40 local business organizations and leaders.
Winners were chosen by chamber members who voted online from the list of finalists.
Business of the Year Award winner was decided by the chamber’s board of directors from the nominees for the other awards.
