That was one of 10 awards handed out at the Digby and Area Board of Trade business awards on May 31.
“We have so much to celebrate here in Digby, the achievements accomplished by so many of our community members are continuing to define Digby as a great place to not only conduct business but also to make our home,” said Karen Enright, president of the Digby and Area Board of Trade.
Special guests for the evening included the keynote speaker, Lena Diab, Minister of Immigration, MLA Gordon Wilson, Gilles Babin, regional business development advisor with NSBI, Warden Linda Gregory and Mayor Ben Cleveland with their councillors. Minister Diab also presented honorariums to John and Andrea Hakim in appreciation for their work with and support of refugee families in the Digby area.
Community Contribution Award – Evelyn and Leo Zakhour
Evelyn and Leo Zakhour have run a very successful business in Digby for 25 years now.
They have always been extremely community minded and give gift certificates for free pizza to every worthy cause that asks, from schools and youth groups to benefits and fundraisers.
When Digby welcomed the first Syrian family, Evelyn and Leo were there to help them settle in, providing translation assistance and help finding cultural foods and supplies to make them more comfortable in their new home.
Before the recent renovations to the Pizza Shop, the high regard in which Digby holds the Zakours could be seen on the wall of pictures that marked the accomplishments of Digby’s youth from proms, sports victories, wedding and new babies.
Our community is richer for having the Zakhours as a part of it and they are truly deserving of the Community Contribution Award.
Hospitality and Tourism Excellence Award - Lavena Crocker
Lavena Crocker of Lavena’s Catch in Freeport is the 2016 recipient of the Hospitality and Tourism Excellence Award.
Lavena’s Catch is a business that truly optimizes the saying “Build it and they will come”.
Freeport is not around the corner for most of us and yet Lavena’s Catch enjoys one of the largest customer draws in the area. Their freshly prepared meals, location overlooking Grand Passage, and ambiance have all hit a home run with locals and tourists alike.
Some of their past awards include:
- 2015 Local Favourite by “The Culture Trip”
- 2015 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor
- Recommended in 2010 – 2012 “Where To Eat in Canada”
- 2013 Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction by “Talk of the Town News”
- featured in Saltscapes Food and Travel Guide and on Lynn Crawford’s Pitching In on the Food Network
Tourists’ comments on TripAdvisor speak volumes about the great hospitality at Lavena’s.
The staff at Lavena’s Catch are friendly, knowledgeable about the area and extremely helpful to visitors seeking advice and recommendations - this attitude is the cornerstone of hospitality and tourism excellence - it not only brings people to our area but it also keeps them here for a longer stay.
Lavena Crocker and her team have developed a fantastic recipe for success and the Digby Area Board of Trade are happy and proud to award Lavena’s Catch with the 2016 Hospitality and Tourism Excellence Award.
Ian Russell Entrepreneur Award – Manzer Apiary
Brian and Owen Manzer have created the "better beehive" which reduce bee losses and increase crop yields.
This innovative creation directly addresses an issue that beekeepers and everyone who eats food in North America are facing.
Without bees and other pollinating insects, our food crops are at risk.
The Manzers' new beehive was recognized by the Innovacorp I-3 Technology start up competition as being a viable hive to help bees survive and overwinter safely.
The world in which we live would not exist without entrepreneurs and the inventions that they create and develop.
It is with great pleasure that the Digby Area Board of Trade presents the Ian Russell Entrepreneur Award to Manzer Apiary.
Customer Service Award – Royal Eatery, Annapolis Royal Golf Club
The definition of customer service is: the act of taking care of the customer’s needs by providing and delivering professional, helpful, high quality service and assistance before, during and after the customer’s requirements are met.
It takes a great deal of effort to perform customer service well.
The Royal Eatery dining room at the Annapolis Royal Golf Club does just that and, in fact, they have gone one further step by identifying what it is that the customers want and perhaps need.
Firstly, they provide wonderful food in a lovely location. Secondly, they have identified a niche market in providing celebration dinners for special calendar days including Robbie Burns, Valentines Day, St. David’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, St. George’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Victoria Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, St. Andrew’s Day, Christmas and New Years all with special menus.
Apart from those, the Royal Eatery also offers three Cuban Box deck BBQ’s and several curry buffets throughout the year.
The Royal Eatery is open year round providing a great option for off-season dining.
The Royal Eatery at Annapolis Royal Golf Club is a most deserving recipient of the Customer Service Award.
Environmental Service Award - Terry Thibodeau
The Municipality of the District of Digby brought Terry on board a number of years ago when they recognized, what many consider the next “industrial revolution”.
Terry’s first task was addressing the mink industry challenge of disposing of farm waste and he met that challenge head on, working with South West Eco Energy to design the anaerobic digester in Weaver Settlement.
The digester extracts methane gas, primarily from mink manure from area mink farms, but it also digests compost from municipal green bins.
The power generated is now being sold to Nova Scotia Power.
Terry is working hard to make the Digby area the “greenest region” in Nova Scotia and there is no denying his passion for making change.
Business Excellence Award – Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa
The Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa received the 2016 Business Excellence Award from the Digby Area Board of Trade.
This iconic property has been part of the Digby landscape for over 100 years. Throughout that time it has been a major employer in the area and has continued to delight locals and tourists alike with its accommodations, dining and golf options.
People, process and product are the three cornerstones of a successful enterprise and The Digby Pines excels at all three.
They have been the recipient of many accolades and awards including these recent ones:
2015 Best Places to Stay and Play in Atlantic Canada Runner Up
2015 Best Places to Work in Atlantic Canada
2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Winner
2014 Best Places to Work in Atlantic Canada
2014 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Winner
2013 Best Places to Work in Atlantic Canada
2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Winner
2012 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Winner
2013 New Castle Hotels and Resorts Named TOP 101 Companies in Atlantic Canada
The Pines is a major employer in our area, employing up to 150 people in peak season, and makes an unrivalled contribution to Digby and area.
The Digby Pines draws a constant flow of tourists and visitors to our area which provides a steady contribution to the bottom line of the whole area and having this resort in our backyard is certainly a benefit to those who reside here.
For these many reasons, the Digby Area Board of Trade is happy to present the 2016 Business Excellence Award to The Digby Pines.
Export Achievement Award - D.B. Kenney Fisheries
Brier Island is a perfect location for seafood facilities like D.B. Kenney Fisheries, nestled as it is between St. Mary's Bay and the Bay of Fundy, both ideal locations to source fresh lobster, scallops, and ground fish such as halibut.
Founded in 1977, and based in the village of Westport, D.B. Kenney harvests and transports local seafood to domestic and international markets, and in doing so it generates business for many local fishermen and their crews.
D.B. Kenney Fisheries has a very diverse set of facilities.
The main operation in Westport consists of two state of the art lobster pounds and a very modern fish processing plant. The company also has a cold storage facility in Tiverton on Long island, located right on the water where they can store the product or supply the fisherman with what ever bait products they need.
D.B. Kenney Fisheries harvests and internationally markets some of the best scallops in the world from the Bay of Fundy, along with live Lobster from St. Mary's Bay and the Bay of Fundy.
Fresh Day Boat Halibut are also caught from St. Mary's Bay and Bay of Fundy, and popular periwinkles are picked from the clean shores of Brier Island.
The waters around Brier Island are known to have some of the best lobsters, scallops and ground fish in the world and the fishing industry is the driving economic force in southwestern Nova Scotia.
Our area's global reputation depends making sure these products stay fresh and are able to be effectively shipped around the world, and its success has a lot to do with the excellent experience and marketing savvy of local companies like D.B Kenney Fisheries.
And for these reasons the Digby and Area Board of Trade is delighted to honour this company with our 2016 Export Achievement award.
Rising Star Award – Michael Carty Photography
This year’s Rising Star Award goes to a deserving young entrepreneur who serves on the Board of Trade executive.
Michael Carty is an artist in his own right. He transforms people’s dreams into print reality. His camera is the tool of his trade but his talent is his unbridled vision.
He is owner operator of Michael Carty Photography and has quickly become known as a man who has the special eye required for outstanding photographs. Michael’s passion is contagious and his clients become equally as excited about the creative process as he is.
Area Ambassador Award – Paul Gidney
The Area Ambassador Award is new for 2016.
The Digby Area Board of Trade added the award to recognize businesses or individuals in our area that feel an overwhelming pride of place.
This award is for people who are so happy to have made their life here in the Digby area that they can’t help but shout about it. This award is not meant to be given to a business or individual whose job it is to promote our area but it is meant to go to someone whose spirit moves them to sing the praises of their home.
The first ever recipient of this new award is a person who lives and works in Digby but also travels outside of our area and country to compete in their chosen sport.
While travelling, Paul Gidney never loses the opportunity to tell people about where he’s from, where his home is and how proud he is of Digby.
When standing on the medal podium at many of his power lifting competitions, Paul unfurls the Town of Digby flag, not the Canadian or Nova Scotia flag but Digby.
Paul is an incredible ambassador for Digby and area and the Digby Area Board of Trade is happy to present Paul with the first ever Area Ambassador Award.
Lifetime Achievement Award - Roberta Journeay
Roberta Journeay has spent a lifetime pursuing and achieving her thirst for knowledge and sharing her wisdom and experience with her community.
Roberta is a shining example of the impact newcomers bring to our Nova Scotia communities.
Raised in the Peace River District of northern B.C., Roberta came to Nova Scotia and attended Teachers College.
She spent 28 years as an elementary school teacher in Digby County, and twenty years during that time driving back and forth from her home in Weymouth to attend Acadia and Dalhousie Universities.
In 1995 Roberta received her third degree from Acadia, her Master of Education in Counselling.
She also completed the University's Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees, as well as the Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University.
In 1998 Roberta retired from teaching and became active in municipal politics. She was elected to council in the fall of 2000 and accepted appointments to the Library Board, the Digby and Area Learning Association, Waste Check, Tideview Terrace and the Weymouth Board of Trade during that time.
Having satisfied her curiosity about the workings of government, after one term she embarked on yet another life adventure.
For the next six years she annually worked six-month terms in Thailand as a teacher, including time with Korean refugees along the Thai-Burmese border.
Returning full time to residency in Digby County she continued to apply her indefatigable energies to local causes.
She currently serves two days a week with the Tri-County Women's Centre; volunteers as the “book lady” with the Bethany Bargain Bin; serves as a member of the Board of Directors of of the Women's Institute of Nova Scotia; continues her long relationship with the Weymouth Historical Society where she is a regular feature at the Society's “Tea Days” during the summer.
And then there's the annual Canada Day entertaining of staff and guests from Tideview Terrace.
Every year for 37 years she hosts the Journeay tradition of transporting seniors to Weymouth where they watch the Canada Day parade from the rustic grandeur of Roberta's veranda.
The tradition began in 1980 when her sister-in-law Katherine was a resident of Tideview Terrace, and one she and her family continue to honour to this day.
She says it's one of the high points of her year...and that's saying something considering all the many good works that continue to fill her life.
Given her active role in community support and ongoing curiosity about the world and how she can help make it a better place, it may be premature to give this award to Roberta now.
Roberta is recognized and appreciated by her community as an educator, political activist, international humanitarian and volunteer extraordinaire.
Therefore it gives the Digby and Area Board of Trade great pleasure to present Roberta Journeay with our 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.
That was one of 10 awards handed out at the Digby and Area Board of Trade business awards on May 31.
“We have so much to celebrate here in Digby, the achievements accomplished by so many of our community members are continuing to define Digby as a great place to not only conduct business but also to make our home,” said Karen Enright, president of the Digby and Area Board of Trade.
Special guests for the evening included the keynote speaker, Lena Diab, Minister of Immigration, MLA Gordon Wilson, Gilles Babin, regional business development advisor with NSBI, Warden Linda Gregory and Mayor Ben Cleveland with their councillors. Minister Diab also presented honorariums to John and Andrea Hakim in appreciation for their work with and support of refugee families in the Digby area.
Community Contribution Award – Evelyn and Leo Zakhour
Evelyn and Leo Zakhour have run a very successful business in Digby for 25 years now.
They have always been extremely community minded and give gift certificates for free pizza to every worthy cause that asks, from schools and youth groups to benefits and fundraisers.
When Digby welcomed the first Syrian family, Evelyn and Leo were there to help them settle in, providing translation assistance and help finding cultural foods and supplies to make them more comfortable in their new home.
Before the recent renovations to the Pizza Shop, the high regard in which Digby holds the Zakours could be seen on the wall of pictures that marked the accomplishments of Digby’s youth from proms, sports victories, wedding and new babies.
Our community is richer for having the Zakhours as a part of it and they are truly deserving of the Community Contribution Award.
Hospitality and Tourism Excellence Award - Lavena Crocker
Lavena Crocker of Lavena’s Catch in Freeport is the 2016 recipient of the Hospitality and Tourism Excellence Award.
Lavena’s Catch is a business that truly optimizes the saying “Build it and they will come”.
Freeport is not around the corner for most of us and yet Lavena’s Catch enjoys one of the largest customer draws in the area. Their freshly prepared meals, location overlooking Grand Passage, and ambiance have all hit a home run with locals and tourists alike.
Some of their past awards include:
- 2015 Local Favourite by “The Culture Trip”
- 2015 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor
- Recommended in 2010 – 2012 “Where To Eat in Canada”
- 2013 Award for Excellence in Customer Satisfaction by “Talk of the Town News”
- featured in Saltscapes Food and Travel Guide and on Lynn Crawford’s Pitching In on the Food Network
Tourists’ comments on TripAdvisor speak volumes about the great hospitality at Lavena’s.
The staff at Lavena’s Catch are friendly, knowledgeable about the area and extremely helpful to visitors seeking advice and recommendations - this attitude is the cornerstone of hospitality and tourism excellence - it not only brings people to our area but it also keeps them here for a longer stay.
Lavena Crocker and her team have developed a fantastic recipe for success and the Digby Area Board of Trade are happy and proud to award Lavena’s Catch with the 2016 Hospitality and Tourism Excellence Award.
Ian Russell Entrepreneur Award – Manzer Apiary
Brian and Owen Manzer have created the "better beehive" which reduce bee losses and increase crop yields.
This innovative creation directly addresses an issue that beekeepers and everyone who eats food in North America are facing.
Without bees and other pollinating insects, our food crops are at risk.
The Manzers' new beehive was recognized by the Innovacorp I-3 Technology start up competition as being a viable hive to help bees survive and overwinter safely.
The world in which we live would not exist without entrepreneurs and the inventions that they create and develop.
It is with great pleasure that the Digby Area Board of Trade presents the Ian Russell Entrepreneur Award to Manzer Apiary.
Customer Service Award – Royal Eatery, Annapolis Royal Golf Club
The definition of customer service is: the act of taking care of the customer’s needs by providing and delivering professional, helpful, high quality service and assistance before, during and after the customer’s requirements are met.
It takes a great deal of effort to perform customer service well.
The Royal Eatery dining room at the Annapolis Royal Golf Club does just that and, in fact, they have gone one further step by identifying what it is that the customers want and perhaps need.
Firstly, they provide wonderful food in a lovely location. Secondly, they have identified a niche market in providing celebration dinners for special calendar days including Robbie Burns, Valentines Day, St. David’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, St. George’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Victoria Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, St. Andrew’s Day, Christmas and New Years all with special menus.
Apart from those, the Royal Eatery also offers three Cuban Box deck BBQ’s and several curry buffets throughout the year.
The Royal Eatery is open year round providing a great option for off-season dining.
The Royal Eatery at Annapolis Royal Golf Club is a most deserving recipient of the Customer Service Award.
Environmental Service Award - Terry Thibodeau
The Municipality of the District of Digby brought Terry on board a number of years ago when they recognized, what many consider the next “industrial revolution”.
Terry’s first task was addressing the mink industry challenge of disposing of farm waste and he met that challenge head on, working with South West Eco Energy to design the anaerobic digester in Weaver Settlement.
The digester extracts methane gas, primarily from mink manure from area mink farms, but it also digests compost from municipal green bins.
The power generated is now being sold to Nova Scotia Power.
Terry is working hard to make the Digby area the “greenest region” in Nova Scotia and there is no denying his passion for making change.
Business Excellence Award – Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa
The Digby Pines Golf Resort and Spa received the 2016 Business Excellence Award from the Digby Area Board of Trade.
This iconic property has been part of the Digby landscape for over 100 years. Throughout that time it has been a major employer in the area and has continued to delight locals and tourists alike with its accommodations, dining and golf options.
People, process and product are the three cornerstones of a successful enterprise and The Digby Pines excels at all three.
They have been the recipient of many accolades and awards including these recent ones:
2015 Best Places to Stay and Play in Atlantic Canada Runner Up
2015 Best Places to Work in Atlantic Canada
2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Winner
2014 Best Places to Work in Atlantic Canada
2014 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
Winner
2013 Best Places to Work in Atlantic Canada
2013 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Winner
2012 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Winner
2013 New Castle Hotels and Resorts Named TOP 101 Companies in Atlantic Canada
The Pines is a major employer in our area, employing up to 150 people in peak season, and makes an unrivalled contribution to Digby and area.
The Digby Pines draws a constant flow of tourists and visitors to our area which provides a steady contribution to the bottom line of the whole area and having this resort in our backyard is certainly a benefit to those who reside here.
For these many reasons, the Digby Area Board of Trade is happy to present the 2016 Business Excellence Award to The Digby Pines.
Export Achievement Award - D.B. Kenney Fisheries
Brier Island is a perfect location for seafood facilities like D.B. Kenney Fisheries, nestled as it is between St. Mary's Bay and the Bay of Fundy, both ideal locations to source fresh lobster, scallops, and ground fish such as halibut.
Founded in 1977, and based in the village of Westport, D.B. Kenney harvests and transports local seafood to domestic and international markets, and in doing so it generates business for many local fishermen and their crews.
D.B. Kenney Fisheries has a very diverse set of facilities.
The main operation in Westport consists of two state of the art lobster pounds and a very modern fish processing plant. The company also has a cold storage facility in Tiverton on Long island, located right on the water where they can store the product or supply the fisherman with what ever bait products they need.
D.B. Kenney Fisheries harvests and internationally markets some of the best scallops in the world from the Bay of Fundy, along with live Lobster from St. Mary's Bay and the Bay of Fundy.
Fresh Day Boat Halibut are also caught from St. Mary's Bay and Bay of Fundy, and popular periwinkles are picked from the clean shores of Brier Island.
The waters around Brier Island are known to have some of the best lobsters, scallops and ground fish in the world and the fishing industry is the driving economic force in southwestern Nova Scotia.
Our area's global reputation depends making sure these products stay fresh and are able to be effectively shipped around the world, and its success has a lot to do with the excellent experience and marketing savvy of local companies like D.B Kenney Fisheries.
And for these reasons the Digby and Area Board of Trade is delighted to honour this company with our 2016 Export Achievement award.
Rising Star Award – Michael Carty Photography
This year’s Rising Star Award goes to a deserving young entrepreneur who serves on the Board of Trade executive.
Michael Carty is an artist in his own right. He transforms people’s dreams into print reality. His camera is the tool of his trade but his talent is his unbridled vision.
He is owner operator of Michael Carty Photography and has quickly become known as a man who has the special eye required for outstanding photographs. Michael’s passion is contagious and his clients become equally as excited about the creative process as he is.
Area Ambassador Award – Paul Gidney
The Area Ambassador Award is new for 2016.
The Digby Area Board of Trade added the award to recognize businesses or individuals in our area that feel an overwhelming pride of place.
This award is for people who are so happy to have made their life here in the Digby area that they can’t help but shout about it. This award is not meant to be given to a business or individual whose job it is to promote our area but it is meant to go to someone whose spirit moves them to sing the praises of their home.
The first ever recipient of this new award is a person who lives and works in Digby but also travels outside of our area and country to compete in their chosen sport.
While travelling, Paul Gidney never loses the opportunity to tell people about where he’s from, where his home is and how proud he is of Digby.
When standing on the medal podium at many of his power lifting competitions, Paul unfurls the Town of Digby flag, not the Canadian or Nova Scotia flag but Digby.
Paul is an incredible ambassador for Digby and area and the Digby Area Board of Trade is happy to present Paul with the first ever Area Ambassador Award.
Lifetime Achievement Award - Roberta Journeay
Roberta Journeay has spent a lifetime pursuing and achieving her thirst for knowledge and sharing her wisdom and experience with her community.
Roberta is a shining example of the impact newcomers bring to our Nova Scotia communities.
Raised in the Peace River District of northern B.C., Roberta came to Nova Scotia and attended Teachers College.
She spent 28 years as an elementary school teacher in Digby County, and twenty years during that time driving back and forth from her home in Weymouth to attend Acadia and Dalhousie Universities.
In 1995 Roberta received her third degree from Acadia, her Master of Education in Counselling.
She also completed the University's Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees, as well as the Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University.
In 1998 Roberta retired from teaching and became active in municipal politics. She was elected to council in the fall of 2000 and accepted appointments to the Library Board, the Digby and Area Learning Association, Waste Check, Tideview Terrace and the Weymouth Board of Trade during that time.
Having satisfied her curiosity about the workings of government, after one term she embarked on yet another life adventure.
For the next six years she annually worked six-month terms in Thailand as a teacher, including time with Korean refugees along the Thai-Burmese border.
Returning full time to residency in Digby County she continued to apply her indefatigable energies to local causes.
She currently serves two days a week with the Tri-County Women's Centre; volunteers as the “book lady” with the Bethany Bargain Bin; serves as a member of the Board of Directors of of the Women's Institute of Nova Scotia; continues her long relationship with the Weymouth Historical Society where she is a regular feature at the Society's “Tea Days” during the summer.
And then there's the annual Canada Day entertaining of staff and guests from Tideview Terrace.
Every year for 37 years she hosts the Journeay tradition of transporting seniors to Weymouth where they watch the Canada Day parade from the rustic grandeur of Roberta's veranda.
The tradition began in 1980 when her sister-in-law Katherine was a resident of Tideview Terrace, and one she and her family continue to honour to this day.
She says it's one of the high points of her year...and that's saying something considering all the many good works that continue to fill her life.
Given her active role in community support and ongoing curiosity about the world and how she can help make it a better place, it may be premature to give this award to Roberta now.
Roberta is recognized and appreciated by her community as an educator, political activist, international humanitarian and volunteer extraordinaire.
Therefore it gives the Digby and Area Board of Trade great pleasure to present Roberta Journeay with our 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.
