The area’s longest-running businesses will be in the spotlight when the Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce holds its 2023 Business Celebration Gala next month.
Set for Friday, March 3 at Sprung Instant Structures in Aldersyde, the event will not only recognize businesses that have stood the test of time but also feature a James Bond-themed cocktail party and fun money casino.
“With the chamber turning 50 this year, with that we’re looking to celebrate business longevity and resilience at our gala,” said executive director Dawn LeMaistre. “We’re going to be recognizing some businesses that have been around the block a time or two.”
LeMaistre said the chamber received lists from both the Town of Okotoks and Foothills County in an effort to identify long-running businesses to be recognized at the gala, although the names of those operations won’t be revealed quite yet.
“It will be a bit of a surprise for the evening but it’s safe to say that it will be a pretty incredible list of businesses that we will be celebrating,” she said.
Fittingly, Sprung Instant Structures, which has been in the area for 133 years, making it the longest-running business, is playing host to the gala and is a key sponsor for the evening. Sprung has grown to have offices around the globe, having built more than 12,000 structures in over 100 countries worldwide.
The gala is expected to become an annual event where every year another segment of the business community will be celebrated. It will mark the first time the chamber has come together to celebrate business excellence since the fall of 2019.
This year’s event will have a James Bond theme, complete with a martini ice sculpture and an iconic Aston Martin where guests can have their photos taken. Everyone in attendance will get a bundle of fun money to play roulette, blackjack and other casino games.
Tickets, which are $85 for chamber members and $95 for non-chamber members, can be purchased at okotokschamber.ca.
The chamber has several other events on its calendar, including a luncheon featuring Okotoks Mayor Tanya Thorn on Feb. 15, the Okotoks Trade & Lifestyle Show on April 1 and 2, and a golf tournament in June.
