The Strathmore Wheatland Chamber of Commerce (SWCC) is back this year with the SWCC Business Awards and is accepting nominations for 2021.

"We do have 13 categories that people can nominate people in or businesses in. Nominations can be submitted at theswcc.ca/beas," explains Hayley Poirier a Director with the SWCC.

The awards were successfully held 100 per cent virtually last year, and this year the team will be running a hybrid event both in-person and virtually.

"People that are winning an award will be invited that day as well as one guest, and anybody who's presenting an award. We will also have people able to watch virtually."

Poirier went on to express how important it is for people in Strathmore and Wheatland County to nominate their favourite local business, especially after the year they have had, noting that some businesses, unfortunately, were not able to remain open.

Nominations will be accepted until December 30th with each category again this year being judged by a panel of community members outside of the chamber organization, "We've decided that it's so important to have an unbiased judging panel so that businesses feel like the hard work that they have put in can be recognized in such a way that feels fair to everybody," explained Poirier.

One of the awards given out each year is to recognize a non-profit organization in the community, and in past years the SWCC has had a fundraising effort throughout the night with the donations going to the winner of the Non-Profit Award. Poirier expressed excitement along with the chambers' to get to do this again and be able to offer support to another organization.

The awards will be held live on January 28th at the Lakes of Muirfield Golf Club, nominations can be submitted at theswcc.ca/beas.