REAP honours local businesses

For years, REAP Business Association has been drawing attention to the good its members do in the community and for the world.

This August, REAP found another way to share the stories of its more than 100 members and celebrate these conscientious companies with the introduction of the first Be Local Awards. First Calgary Financial and Community Natural Foods, both proud REAP members, jumped onboard as event sponsors for the fledgling awards.

“It’s about celebrating and recognizing the contributions of our local businesses to a vibrant and resilient city and to improving Calgarians’ quality of life,” says Stephanie Jackman, founder and president of REAP Business Association.

Calgarians were encouraged to go onto the REAP website until Oct. 31 to show their support for these businesses by voting for their favourite micro, small, medium, large and non-profit REAP businesses — companies are separated based on the number of employees they have.

The businesses with the most online votes in each category at the end of October were named the first Be Local Awards winners.

At the same time, REAP also celebrated members with the creation of three partner awards.

Member businesses could apply for one of these awards by answering questions regarding their contributions in various areas, and REAP partners then decided on the winners.

Winners will be celebrated at a private REAP gala at River Café.

“(The gala) allows our members to come together to celebrate all of the great impacts they are having in the city,” says Jackman.