It’s easy to assume that running a business in Squamish is easy and lucrative, especially when you see the owners serving lineups of customers, seemingly raking in cash.
But, as the winners of this year’s Squamish Chamber of Commerce awards can attest, business is anything but easy. Few careers are as dependent on creativity, dedication and perseverance, even in booming Squamish, where entrepreneurs work long hours and innovate to serve customers well.
Ask Thor Froslev of the Brackendale Art Gallery, which started with an idea in 1969 and, almost 50 years later, still keeps him working long hours, booking musicians and other acts, selling tickets and bringing in customers. Froslev won Citizen of the Year in recognition of the cultural hub he created within his community.
Nesters Market, which won two major awards, is another example of serving customers well, far beyond selling them organic apples and bread. Store manager Sean Daly and his staff of 140 work to sponsor almost every community group and sports team whose representatives walk through the door. Daly won Business Person of the Year, while Nesters won the Service Excellence Award for Large Business.
The Service Excellence Award for Small Business went to Sea to Sky Air, which aims to show tourists and their local hosts “the sheer beauty” of the Coast Mountains, local lakes and Howe Sound from the air. Sales and marketing manager David Eastwood’s enthusiasm is contagious.
And it’s difficult not to be charmed by the owner of G-Van Catering, Gregg Van Hierden, who admits he became a chef because he wanted to meet girls in cooking class and, decades later and happily married, is still toiling in a kitchen. He won the Innovation Award because of his efforts to find new ways to serve customers, including cooking gourmet meals to pick up and enjoy at home in lieu of takeout.
Kelly Woods and John McLellan of Gillespie’s Fine Spirits, whose liquors are winning awards and who have formed a partnership that goes far beyond business, won the Green Award. Like Froslev and his wife Dorte, they work long hours together – so no “date nights” are required.
The chamber awards also recognized non-profit organizations, including the Squamish Helping Hands Society, which shelters the homeless and aims to help them get permanently off the streets. Nearby at the Foyer Gallery, curator Toby Jaxon’s passion for the arts is evident as she provides up-and-coming artists a place to shine.
Squamish is fortunate to have such dedicated entrepreneurs and community leaders. Our town is better because of them.
– Editor Christine Endicott
