Award Category | Award Winner | Organization |
Ambassador of Service | Tamiko Corlazzoli | Rim Rock Casino |
Business Excellence | Daniel Russell | Canadian Maritime Engineering |
Business Investment | Greg Willmon | Lady Rose Marine Services |
Chamber Award | Lori Kerr | Coastal Community Credit Union |
Citizen of the Year | Colin Minions | Bread of Life |
Communications Award | Darran Chaisson | Chaisson Creative |
Community Events Award | David Michaud | Alberni Valley Bulldogs |
COVID Resiliency Award | Carol-Anne Zanette | Steampunk Café |
COVID Resiliency Award | Jessica Philpott/Tatiana Masa | The Power of Three |
Customer Service | Scott Peterson | Graywater Mini-Excavator Service |
Façade Improvement | Chris Pouget/Alicia Puusepp | Riverbend Café |
Gilliam Trumper Memorial Youth Award | Rave Sutherland | ADSS |
Gilliam Trumper Memorial Youth Award | Isha Rai | Special mention |
Green Award | Bill Collins | Cascadia Seaweed |
Health and Wellness Award | Bouchra Savard | West Coast Fitness |
Inclusive Employer Award | Kayley Pitts | Boston Pizza |
Rising Star Award | Bill/Natasha Dennis | Billybeauty Mktg |
Tourism and Hospitality Award | Peter Mugleston | Alberni Valley Tourism |
Visionary Award | Coleman RV and Campground | |
Volunteer of the Year | Joe Van Bergen | Sproat Lake Regatta |
Women of Influence Award | Natasha Marshall | Tseshaht First Nation |
Women of Influence Award | Kathy Krznaric | Retired - Little Bavaria |
2022 Community and Business Excellence Awards Winners
Member Spotlight
Murray Lawlor
In1993, Murray started Coombs Country Candy in the Emporium in Coombs on Vancouver Island, another market-like location. Murray operated this site for 15 years. In 1994 Murray and his wife Lenore bought their current location in Port Alberni. This location was purchased as it was a deserted gas station and is strategically located on the route past Cathedral Grove and to Vancouver Islands Long Beach. Murray ran both locations for a number of years and since 2013 has concentrated his efforts on the Port Alberni location only.
Murray has taken his act on the road and cooked at many exhibitions and trade shows in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island for exposure and public/customer loyalties.
Murray sold the Coombs Country Candy store in 2020 to Community Futures and is now enjoying retirement and is looking forward to giving back to the community by his directorship in the Alberni Chamber of Commerce.