The Economic Developers Association of Manitoba (EDAM) recently held their fifth annual Manitoba Economic Development Awards at the EDAM Fall Forum in Virden. At the event, Joel Lemoine of Ste. Agathe took home a major award.
EDAM is a non-profit organization formed in 1993 to provide professional development and networking opportunities, promote the profession, and influence public policy.
“These past couple years have included making adjustments and pivoting,” said Tyler King, EDAM chairperson. “Economic development professionals across the province have proven to be resilient, they deserve to be recognized. Congratulations to all the nominees.”
In 2017, EDAM hosted their first awards ceremony. They presented awards in two categories and were so pleased with the response they received that they decided to add two more categories in order to honour more members who deserved recognition.
The Award of Distinction is given to an individual who has worked in the field of economic development for more than five years and whose accomplishments make a significant contribution to the field and demonstrate exceptional best practices.
This year, Joel Lemoine of Ste. Agathe took the prize. Also nominated was Tammy Dziadek of Gimli.
Another award, the Economic Development Project of the Year, is intended to recognize a municipality, town, group, or committee that has created a project in the last 18 months that has had a significant, long-term economic impact.
The award ultimately went to the Boyne Lodge Personal Care Home in Carman, but a beloved local project was nominated: the Friendship Trail in St. Adolphe, which was represented at the event by Lesley Gaudry.
Also nominated was the Treasures of the Dawson Trail (Richer), the RM of Pipestone Skate Park (Reston), the Uptown Emporium (Flin Flon), the Side Hustle Microgrant Program (Grandview) and the EDP Covid Support-19 Support Funding.
Awards were also given to recognize Economic Development Marketing Excellence and the year’s Rising Star.
In the Rising Star category, which celebrates an individual who has worked in the field of economic development for less than five years and whose accomplishments have made a significant contribution to that field and demonstrated exceptional best practices, the winner was Chantelle Parrott of Beausejour.
And finally, for Economic Development Marketing Excellence, the award went to Prairie Gateway Tourism’s regional brand launch, from Virden and RM of Wallace Woodworth.