“The Saskatchewan tech sector is strong, agile and growing and this is reflected in the group of ABEX finalists this year. It’s fantastic to see new and traditional companies adopting innovative, Saskatchewan-made technology,” said Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.
 
Since 1984, the ABEX Awards have been celebrating the achievements of the Saskatchewan business community. As the largest and longest-running business awards program in the province, the ABEX Awards have seen first-hand the resilience and innovation of Saskatchewan businesses in tough economic times and through boom times.
 
This year, the ABEX Awards will once again be celebrating Saskatchewan business excellence with an awards gala on October 19 at TCU Place in Saskatoon.
 
ABEX applicants are independently judged by a group of business experts who review the quality of the application and supporting documents, including a Safety Plan. The Safety Plan is an important aspect of each application, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board is the Safety Partner for the ABEX Awards.
 
The ABEX Awards are also an important event for students. Nutrien sponsors the Next Generation of Saskatchewan Leaders at the ABEX Awards and this sponsorship makes it possible for high school and university students to attend the Awards Gala and connect with Saskatchewan business leaders.
 
In the Community Involvement Award category, sponsored by Cogent Chartered Professional Accountants LLP, the finalists are: Fitness 2J2, Prairie Sky Recovery Centre Inc, Spotlight Sport & Corporate Wear, The Foggy Lemon Development, and Unity Credit Union.
 
In the Export Award category, the finalists are: Industrial Machine & Manufacturing Inc, sMedia, Temple Audio Design, and Watercycles Energy Recovery Inc.
 
In the Growth and Expansion Award category, sponsored by PFM Capital Inc., the finalists are: Avana Enterprises, Gravelbourg Mustard, Sperling Silver Distillery, Sveinco Developments Ltd, Unity Credit Union, and Vendasta.
 
In the Innovation Award category, sponsored by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the finalists are: 7Shifts Restaurant Scheduling, Territorial, Lumeca, Road Coffee Inc., SkillShark Athlete Evaluations, and Sperling Silver Distillery.
 
In the Marketing Award category, sponsored by Handy Special Events, the finalists are: 7Shifts Restaurant Scheduling, Escape Manor Regina, Federated Co-operatives Ltd, Lumsden Florist etc., Spotlight Sport & Corporate Wear, and Vendasta.

In the New Venture Award category, sponsored by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development, the finalists are: Bravo Dance Co, Greenwave Innovations Inc, Hugr by Territorial, Intelliconn, Mo’ Solar Company, and Sherpa.
 
In the Service Award category, sponsored by the World Trade Center at Prairieland Park, the finalists are: Complete Technologies Outsourced IT Ltd, CRAVINGS maternity-baby-kids, ESTI Consulting Services, Kindersley Transport Ltd, Saskatoon Fire & Flood, and Two Fifty Two Boutique.
 
In the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award category, sponsored by Cameco, the finalists are: Alisha Esmail – Road Coffee Inc, Andrey Olinov – Complete Technologies Outsourced IT Ltd, Brodie Johnston – Flash Electric, Chelsey Harder – Passions Beauty Studio, Jennifer Denouden – Avana Enterprises, and Utsang Desai and Khyati Desai – Sai-Ganesh Enterprises Ltd.
 
The Priority Focus Award, sponsored by Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, is presented to a business that has gone above and beyond in demonstrating business excellence in an area that is in line with a select Saskatchewan Chamber policy priority. This year the focus is on Indigenous Engagement. The finalists are: Clarence Campeau Development Fund, Fitness 2J2 Ltd, Greenwave Innovations Inc, JNE Welding Ltd, and Ray Gosselin Architect Ltd.
 
Five additional awards will be awarded at the ABEX Gala: the prestigious Business Leader of the Year Award, sponsored by the University of Regina; the Community Leader of the Year Award; the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame; the Roger Phillips Chamber Builder Award; and finally the ABEX Business of the Year sponsored by David Aplin Group.
 
The ABEX Awards, presented by Conexus Credit Union, is a celebration of the ingenuity and success of Saskatchewan businesses. Tickets are available online at www.saskchamber.com.