We're pleased to present more of our profiles of the 2011 Winning Edge Award nominees!

Grace Family Dental - Eco Edge Award & Family Friendly Business Award nominee

Grace Family Dental is nominated for both the Eco Edge and Family Friendly Business awards. This general dentistry practice was established in the Dickson Crossing complex in 2010. Dr. Quoc T. T. Quach and his team of five employees offer restorative and cosmetic dentistry, dental hygiene, extractions, general orthodontics, root canal therapy, patient education and children’s dentistry. Quash was grateful to be nominated.


The office embraces eco-friendly practices by using a dry dental vacuum pump instead of a wet one to conserve water consumption, using digital computer software to eliminate paper charting, using digital radiography instead of traditional x-rays to eliminate the need for lead foil and silver-containing radiographic fixer solution, which can leach lead and silver into the water system, having an amalgam separator installed in the suction lines to prevent mercury from going into the water system, and using reusable stainless steel high-and-low-volume suction tips as an alternative to disposable plastic.

www.gracefamilydental.ca

Kick it to the Curb - Eco Edge Award nominee

Carolyne Christie and son Josh meet Airdrie's recycling demands

Owner Carolyne Christie established Kick it to the Curb in 2011. This recycling business offers both commercial and residential pick-up services. They offer affordable choices for residents and businesses to effectively contribute to environmental awareness and serve a wide variety of customers from single dwelling residences and multi-unit housing complexes to restaurants, hair salons, business offices, and medical facilities.

They also provide the pick-up of used clothing and books for donation at the Airdrie Recycling depot. Although they haven't been in business long, their customer base continues to grow at approximately 5% monthly, as Airdrie continues to grow and residents and businesses learn that there are affordable service options available. Christie says taking home a Winning Edge award or even being nominated may bring potential clients to a business but for her, it's more about helping the community.

Kick it to the Curb currently serves over 380 businesses and residences, diverting well over 10,000 kg of paper, plastics, cardboard, tin and glass from landfills monthly and transporting them to various recycling facilities. In September, Kick it to the Curb donated $400 from beverage containers collected to the Airdrie Boys and Girls Club's 2011 Haunted House. They also hold an Annual Christmas Food Drive to benefit the Airdrie Food Bank.
www.kickittothecurb.ca