The Weyburn Chamber of Commerce announced more details on Monday of its new Weybex Awards, to be presented on Friday, June 18, at McKenna Hall.

C of C president Ian Carleton said six categories of excellence have been created. It's a way to celebrate business in Weyburn and the immediate area, he said.

"These esteemed awards give our community a chance to support and recognize business excellence," he said.

"Our award sponsors were eager to get behind this high profile event, which will showcase some of the very best in the Weyburn business community. We expect many nominations and a successful awards evening of recognition and celebration."

The chamber will recognize the Business of the Year, Community Involvement, New or Expanded Business, and a Business Hall of Fame individual. The Golden Spike and Golden Service awards will also be presented at the Weybex event.

Both Chamber and non-Chamber members are eligible for nomination.

Winners will go on to compete for awards in Regina.

Carleton said the Business of the Year competition will be open to all businesses that have operated in Weyburn for at least three years, as of Dec. 31, 2003.

The award will go to the business that exemplifies spirit and has demonstrated outstanding achievement and commitment to excellence and quality in their field. Candidates will be judged according to growth, use of capital investment, exports, job creation, stability and community involvement.

The Weyburn Co-op will sponsor the Business of the Year award.

The Community Involvement Award will go the business that demonstrates outstanding performance in its contribution to recreation, amateur sports, arts and culture, education, charitable or non-profit groups and business development/promotion of the city, through time and/or financial support. Judging will take into account the relative size of the business.

SaskEnergy will sponsor the Community Involvement award.

The New or Expanded Business Award will go to a business that was established or expanded within the past two years, that has demonstrated exceptional performance in terms of expansion into a new product, service, or line of business, or the creation of new marketing and/or jobs. Judging will take into account the relative size of the business.

Sunrise Community Futures will sponsor the New or Expanded Business award.

The Business Hall of Fame award is designed to recognize pioneer and cornerstone business leaders who have demonstrated excellence over an extended period of time and whose business has contributed to the economic well-being of Weyburn and immediate area.

The business must have been in continuous operation for at least 15 years but does not need to be currently operating in order to be eligible. An individual who has owned/operated several businesses over a minimum of 15 consecutive years will also be eligible.

Perfect Inns will sponsor the Business Hall of Fame award.

Two existing awards, the Golden Spike and Golden Service awards, will be sponsored by EnCana and Cogent Business Consulting, respectively.

The Golden Spike recognizes someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the community in the past year. Golden Service recognizes a local business that consistently demonstrates outstanding customer service and/or hospitality.

Nomination forms for all awards are available from the Chamber of Commerce until the deadline closes on Friday, May 14.