The evening’s Master of Ceremonies, Michelle Aitkenhead, RBC.
Ralph Fehr, CEO, Elias Woodwork & Manufacturing, 2019 Outstanding Large Business Award winner and inspirational speaker!
(Top right) Cheers to a double-header for Farmery Estate Brewery: Outstanding Small Business and Business of the Year! From left: Paul Holden, MCC Board Chair; brothers Lawrence & Chris Warwaruk, Farmery Estate Brewery; Dave Angus, President, Johnston Group; Chuck Davidson, MCC President & CEO. (Below right) “Start-up of the Year” Hailey Jefferies, president & founder, Prairie Fava Ltd., and husband Cale Jefferies.
they can add to their credentials the distinction of Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Start up the Year. Chuck Davidson, Manitoba Chambers of Commerce President and CEO, says it’s stories like these that make the awards such a privilege to confer. “Manitoba is rich in so many ways because we are diverse – economically and culturally – we are abundant in resources, and we are supportive of one another in business,” says Davidson. “The awards give us a chance to acknowledge our colleagues who are shaping the future of our province – and we get to recognize community champions who work hard every day to enhance our way of life.” And once again, this year’s nominees were exceptional. “Choosing finalists and award recipients is so challenging for our selection committee and jury panel because we receive many excellent submissions,” Davidson adds. “We are genuinely thankful to be able to discover Manitoba business success stories and to share them.” The year’s big winner was Outstanding Small Business, Farmery Estate Brewery – also crowned Business of the Year – an announcement that appeared to stun brothers and co-founders Chris and Lawrence Warwaruk. Neepawa-based Farmery is one of just a handful of estate breweries in all of North America with deep Manitoba roots, borne out of a tough history of family farming.
“We owned a little pub and restaurant on Winnipeg’s Osborne Street once upon a time. We launched our craft beer while we still operated that place, and although we closed the restaurant and thought about going west at one point, we are so glad we didn’t,” says Chris. “We are still a small operation, but we are doing so many different things. We grow prairie crops like hops and barley, we brew beer and non-alcoholic beverages, we process crops into products like flour and pancake mix, and we host tours of the estate.” Every year, Farmery welcomes approximately 20,000 tourists, meeting people from all over the world. Although they credit receiving Travel Manitoba’s Star Attraction designation as their big break, the bottom line is that Farmery has innovated, creating a unique destination product in a rural area, and invested in their local community. That same powerful drive and determination seems to fuel all our award recipients. “Manitobans are enterprising and resilient, and there are countless stories of entrepreneurs, large companies, and agencies making an impact and driving growth. And sometimes, they’re doing it very quietly,” says MCC Board Chair Paul Holden, President and CEO of the Education Canada Group. “When you hear the stories behind the leaders and discover how these brilliant folks have made their mark, it is a reminder of the strength and potential of our business sector.”
WINTER 2019
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