The 19th annual Airdrie Business Awards took place at Bert Church Theatre on Thursday, October 20.

With up to 200 people attending, the event celebrated businesses around the community and also awarded the final nominees for various awards.

Among members of Airdrie Economic Development, Mayor Peter Brown was also in attendance to pass along his encouragement to Airdrie businesses.

"I can tell you it's tough out there. But they're surviving. They're working a little bit harder, their staff are working a little bit harder and I'm here to say thank you for keeping up the fight."

Each business was nominated and went through a judging process until finalists were chosen for the event.

"Each member of the judging panel individually reviewed and scored each of the nominees using a predetermined weight evaluation form and then the score of each judge was added together," said Kent Rupert, team leader of Airdrie Economic Development.

The awards given were the Emerging Business Award given to Push Cycling Studio Inc., the Environmental Stewardship Business Award given to Good Earth Coffeehouse, the Family Friendly Business Award given to The Pink Wand Cleaning Services, the Winning Edge Award given to Budget Blinds, and the final award of Airdrie Business Leader, which was given to Al Jones. 

"The energy, the money, the commitment, the volunteerism of our business community that set fire to this place... It brings it alive! And that is the most exciting part of my job, is to see people coming together to help someone who needs it," said Mayor Peter Brown.