Vauxhall and District Chamber of Commerce announces Business and Volunteer of the Year Awards

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Vauxhall Advance

By Heather Cameron
Vauxhall Advance
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On November 23, the Vauxhall and District Chamber of Commerce and Vauxhall Ag Society announced the winners of the Business and Volunteer of the Year Awards during the Vauxhall Ribfest event.

“The Ag Society put on another amazing event for the community,” said Kimberly Cawley, Mayor of Vauxhall. “It was well attended, great donations towards the silent auction, and the food was excellent.”

The award for Volunteer of the Year, Mayor Cawley says, went to Dorthea Mills.

“Dorthea has been well known in our community for many years, always willing to lend a hand. I remember her efforts on the Friends of the Pool group that fundraised to build Vauxhall’s new outdoor pool, writing a song to help raise awareness,” said Cawley. “She is also a strong presence at 4-H events and 4-H volunteer activities. This past summer the Ag Society, she put a call out for volunteers for the Canada Day demolition derby. Dorthea with several other key volunteers stepped up and organized the derby, and despite the rainy weather, we had an awesome turnout. We don’t thank our volunteers enough, so this award was a perfect way to say, ‘Thank you!’”

Cawley says the award for Business of the Year went to Nonna’s Pizzeria. Due to the weather, however, the owners of Nonna’s Pizzeria, Ron and Melissa Mercado, were unable to attend the actual ceremony and received their award separately from the chamber’s Shelley Mehlhaff later.

“Ron and Melissa of Nonna’s have shown great perseverance as they took ownership of their restaurant three short months before COVID restrictions were put in place,” said Cawley. “They managed to continue operating during shutdowns, getting creative and selling items like build your own pizza kits. Any time you go into Nonna’s, you’re greeted with Melissa’s warm and welcoming smile and service that is second to none.”

Cawley also expressed thanks to the Vauxhall Ag Society and the Vauxhall Chamber of Commerce for their continued work in supporting the community of Vauxhall.

“A great big thank you to the members of the Vauxhall Ag Society for continuing to pour themselves into our community and thank you to the members of the Vauxhall and District Chamber of Commerce,” said Mayor Cawley. “We often take for granted the effort it takes to put together an event like Ribfest. On behalf of the Town of Vauxhall, thank you for all you do for the community! We appreciate you all!”