Community members honored at Chamber Awards Gala
About 40 people representing organizations on the front lines through the Covid-19 pandemic were awarded the Whitefish Chamber's Great Whitefish Award on Thursday night at the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce's Awards Gala. (Photo courtesy of Thewmatt Photography)
The North Valley Food Bank won Business of the Year at the Whitefish Chamber Awards Gala. Eric Schmidt of First Interstate Bank presents Sophie Albert, NVFB executive director, with the award on Thursday evening at the O'Shaughnessy Center. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Cafe Kandahar head chef and owner Andy Blanton accepts the Tourism Business of the Year award presented by Whitefish Mountain Resort president Nick Polumbus at the Whitefish Chamber Awards Gala Thursday. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
City Councilor Ben Davis accepts the Citizen of the Year award from Katie Williams at the Whitefish Chamber Awards Gala Thursday. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Vance Watson gives a speech after being presented the Volunteer of the Year Award at the Whitefish Chamber Awards Gala Thursday. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Deborah Slone was awarded the Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award at the Whitefish Chamber Awards Gala Thursday. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish Chamber executive director Kevin Gartland presents at the Whitefish Chamber Awards Gala Thursday. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
Whitefish City Mayor John Muhlfeld speaks at the Whitefish Chamber Awards Gala Thursday. (Whitney England/Whitefish Pilot)
At a special evening full of reflection over the last few years and honoring those that kept the City of Whitefish safe, protected and functioning through the Covid-19 pandemic, several community members were honored with awards.
The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce held its annual Awards Gala on Thursday evening at the O’Shaughnessy Center in downtown Whitefish. It was the first time the Chamber had held the awards ceremony in over two years due to the pandemic.
The theme of the Awards Gala which also coincides with the Whitefish Winter Carnival theme was honoring the local first responders. The Chamber’s Great Whitefish Award, considered to be a kind of lifetime achievement award for someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the Whitefish community, was actually presented to a group of over 40 individuals all who represented organizations or businesses that were on the front lines during the pandemic. That included the Whitefish Fire Department, Whitefish Police Department, Logan Health — Whitefish, North Valley Food Bank, Glacier Restaurant Group and Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Throughout the night each essential business or organization was honored with a standing ovation as differing speakers referenced many contributions made to the town.
Additionally, there are five other awards presented each year.
The Citizen of the Year award was presented to Ben Davis
The Tourism Business of the Year is Cafe Kandahar.
The Business of the Year is North Valley Food Bank.
The Volunteer of the Year is Vance Watson.
The Chamber Ambassador of the Year is Deborah Slone.
