The local business community was well represented on Wednesday, September 23rd at the Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre on the Olds College campus.
Ahead of the 2026 Business Awards Gala, the Olds & District Chamber of Commerce spilled the beans on who is up for this year’s honours during an evening of wings, meat balls, spring rolls and beverages.
The Business of the Year nominees are The Eye Wear House, Olds Community Pharmacy, Aurora Golf, Chef David’s Cacio e Pepe, and Dunrite printing.
Fast Horse Garage, McLaughlin Meats, and the Ramen Library are up for Best New Business.
In the Community Spirit Not for Profit category the nominees are the Olds Elks, and the Mountain View Emergency Shelter.
The Community Spirit for Profit category has two nominees – Frayed Knot Western Consignment and Royal LePage.
Just one nominee was submitted in the President’s Award category and that was A Gallery of Floors.
The People’s Choice Award has two designations. In the For Profit category the nominees are Mountain View Strength & Conditioning, Royal LePage, Otto’s Home Appliance, the Ramen Library, and Fast Horse Garage Doors. In the Not for Profit category, the lone nominee is the Olds and Area Pregnancy Support Centre.
McKenna Bauer and Talia Challoner – both from Advanced Telecom/Telus – along with Llewelyn Edward from Chef David’s Cacio e Pepe are the trio nominated for the Youth Employee of the Year award.
The Olds Chamber will kick off Small Business Week next month with a breakfast at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites on October 15th and then the 2026 Business Award Gala is slated to go on October 22nd at the Olds Royal Canadian Legion. More details and tickets are available on the Chamber’s website.
