Six outstanding Airdrie businesses will be recognized with 2017 Airdrie Business Awards.

Tara Levick of the Awards Organizing Committee says nominations for the awards, to be handed out at a gala at the Bert Church Theatre October 19th during Small Business Week, will open on May 1st and be accepted until July 31st. 

Levick says the awards recognize, celebrate and support business success in Airdrie, and she thinks there's an award to cover all of Airdrie business.  "Right down from the small emerging businesses that are less than 50 employees and in their first three years, right up to, new this year we've added a Business Legacy Award which is for a business that's been in Airdrie for at least 15 years."

Along with the Business Legacy Award, other awards up for grabs are the Airdrie Business Leader Award, Emerging Business Award, the Environmental Stewardship Business Award, the Winning Edge Award and the renamed Employer Excellence Award which was formerly called the Family Friendly Business Award.  

 "We switched this award up this year to really try and find those employers that are putting their staff first and are really the best place to work," explains Levick.

She says every award with the exception of the Business Leader Award can be self nominated and encourages anyone whose had a great experience at a business to nominate them.  She detailed the process once all the nominations have been received.  "You'll be sent a survey to the actual business. They fill that out, and this year, which is also new, the awards will be adjudicated off site.  In past years we've had selection committees each one different for each award.  This year the same three people will adjudicate all six awards."  

After the adjudication process, finalists will be announced at the start of September.  Levick says the organizing committee is excited for this year's event.

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