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Businesses honoured at Chamber awards

While business people from the Tri-Cities were honoured at this year's Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, it was an inanimate object that stole the show.

While business people from the Tri-Cities were honoured at this year's Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, it was an inanimate object that stole the show.

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay and Celebration was named newsmaker of the year, in recognition of the importance the Games had on the local business scene.

Living, breathing entrepreneurs were also rewarded at the event, as nominees were narrowed down in the five other categories, including business of the year, small business of the year, not for profit of the year, business leader of the year and Chamber member of the year.

Mike Hind, the executive director of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, said the event was a success and that all the nominees did a good job of representing their community.

"I think all of the personalities that won it have given back to the Tri-Cities as a whole," he said. "That is what we look for - businesses that are involved in the community and give back. All the nominees have done that."

Al Gagnon and Ray Mattinson accepted the business of the year award for their work with the Tri-Cities Thrifty Foods, located in Coquitlam and Port Moody.

Me-N-Ed's Pizza won the small business of the year award, which was presented to owners Brooke Scott and Cris and Richard Florian while the not for profit of the year award went to Place des Arts and was accepted by Joan Roberts.

The business leaders of the year award went to Layne Magnuson of Metro Motors and Doug Morneau of Rhino Marketing, both of whom are from Port Coquitlam.

Greg Garrison won the award for chamber member of the year for his work at Mardon and Garrison Insurance.