Corporate Volunteer Award of Excellence

SMALL BUSINESS CATEGORY

Rucka's Store Ltd. (Nampa)

Rucka's Store Ltd. is a second-generation family business, operating in the Village of Nampa since 1953. Since its opening, the business has always been there for the community, either through donations to the local clubs and organizations like Early Intervention Program, Nampa Minor Hockey, Nampa Municipal Library, FCSS, Nampa Figure Skating Club and Nampa Drop In Centre just to name a few, or through numerous hours of owners and staff volunteering for FCSS, School Enhancement Society, Curling and Lions Clubs, Harmon Valley Agricultural Society, Catholic Women's League and many others.

Crystal Clear Electronics (Niton Junction)

Crystal Clear Electronics is another family business with contributions throughout Yellowhead County, according to their fellow community members, that are "out of all proportion". Not only are the donations incredibly generous, from bringing doughnuts to the police station (just because) to substantial monetary contributions to various community events, to numerous items donated for auctions and fundraisers, but the spirit in which they are given is equally generous. Yellowhead Central Santa's Anonymous, Niton Central School, Fulham and Edson schools, Carrot Creek Community Association, local 4-H club and Volunteer Fire Department are just a few organizations that benefit greatly from their giving of time, goods and services.

MEDIUM BUSINESS CATEGORY

Keith Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd. (Okotoks)

For almost two decades Keith Pontiac Buick has exemplified the definition of workplace volunteering. Some of the projects have been short but, in other cases, staff members have quietly volunteered for years for the same community organizations. Keith's volunteers have for many years helped build the social fabric of the Okotoks area by participating on Community Boards and leading many local organizations and associations. Amongst them: Town of Okotoks Board, Okotoks Chamber of Commerce, Curling Club, Soccer Association, Okotoks & District Food Bank, Foothill Hospice Organization, EMS volunteers, Kids Cancer Care, Minor Sports and many-many others.

Stony Plain Co-op Ltd. (Stony Plain)

Stony Plain Co-op is celebrating its 60th Anniversary in business this year providing not only services, but community support to residents and nonprofit groups in Stony Plain and surrounding communities. The staff is encouraged and allowed flexibility in their work schedules in order to be involved with volunteer events and activities that enhance the community. It is hard to find a local organization that didn't receive support from this business at one point or another: Stony Plain Youth Centre, Good Samaritan Society, West View Health Centre, Meals on Wheels, Christmas Hamper, local 4-H clubs, Minor Sports, Crime Prevention initiatives, the RCMP Positive Ticketing Program, Helmets for Kids among many others. This business exemplifies the philanthropic and volunteering spirit of the community.

LARGE BUSINESS CATEGORY

Capital City Savings (Edmonton)

Capital City Savings invests significant time, energy and money to enhance the quality of life for everyone in the communities. It's been estimated that employees donate a total of 2800 hours of volunteer time annually. Capital City Savings invested in more than 500 local community organizations in 40 locations throughout north central Alberta just last year alone. Organizations that have benefited from this exemplary corporate citizenship include Bowl for Special Olympics, Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation, Chrysalis Annual Klondike Breakfast, Christmas Bureau of Edmonton, United Way/Catholic Social Services, Children's Ability Fund, Leduc Black Gold Special Needs Rodeo, Edmonton Community Loan Foundation, Partners in Education and many-many others.

Enbridge Inc. (Calgary)

Enbridge has a longstanding tradition in Alberta for supporting community and voluntary initiatives spanning key areas of health, education, social services, environment, volunteer resources, civic leadership and arts and culture. They support over 250 community organizations in the province. Amongst them: YMCA Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta Heart Institute, Kids Kottage Foundation, United Way, Aspen Family and Community Network Society, Fort Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, Alberta Ballet, Calgary Opera, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, Volunteer Calgary, Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation and the list goes on. In addition to the company's community investments, they also encourage their employees to give of their time, leadership and skills to various community initiatives.