The Portage la Prairie Chamber of Commerce Business Awards were handed out last night at the the Glesby Centre. The awards night is an evening to celebrate local businesses and the impact they make on our community.

Six awards were handed out to local industry in an effort to recognize the work and dedication that goes into making a business work.

The IANE (Inter-Provincial Association of Native Employment) Best Business Award was presented to the Portage Friendship Centre. Executive Director Shirley Bernard says it was fantastic to receive the recognition.

"It's awesome, a once-in-a-lifetime thing," says Bernard. "It's quite exciting. We were excited when we received the call saying we were nominated. And then to win it, we are through the roof. The staff are excited it's because of them, our volunteers and our board that this has happened."

Emilie McKinney took home the IANE Spirit of Growth Award. Natalie Foidart is Emilie's mother and says Emilie manufactures jingles for jingle dresses used in traditional Indigenous dances.

"Nobody in North America was making them," says Foidart. "Emilie found that it wasn't right that they were being made overseas. She wanted to bring the authenticity back to this product which is an Indigenous product."

The award for Outstanding Not-for-Profit was won by the Portage Animal Welfare Society or PAWS.

KF Aerospace picked up the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community by a Business. Site Manager Peter Fedak says it's great to be recognized in this way.

"It's fantastic. I'm a real proud supporter of everything that goes on in Portage la Prairie," says Fedak. "It's great to have the support of KF Aerospace and the management team to get some of these things done. I'm proud to receive the award but also to be able to do it as well as looking forward to continue on."

Oustanding New Entrepreneur was won by Kenny's K9 and Kennedy Guy received the award, saying it's great to receive it.

"It's amazing," says Guy. "I never thought this would be possible so I'm really honored to receive it."

The final award of the evening was for Outstanding Business of the Year. The award was presented to Cobalt Industries and Owner Clint Taylor talks about the big accomplishment.

"It's pretty exciting," says Taylor. "It was a great feeling to be nominated for it and it's amazing to win it."