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COLUMN: Neighbourly advice is most welcome

Western Wheel's annual Readers' Choice contest gives newcomer a head start on getting to know the town.
British Banger Co 0871 BWC
Tim Worsley's British Banger Company is a favourite of Wheel readers. (Brent Calver/Western Wheel)

Western Wheel readers definitely know what they’re talking about! 

As a newcomer to town, I’ve been paying close attention to the results of this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards as they provide a level of insight that would otherwise take years to accrue, and likely only after much trial and error. 

Many times over the last four months I’ve seen people reach out via the Okotoks Community Discussion Facebook group for recommendations from fellow Okotokians on everything from a good plumber to the best place to get your dog groomed. It’s a great forum as advice from neighbours can prove invaluable when you’re in search of a product or service — and thankfully there never seems to be a shortage of people willing to share opinions. 

I look at the Wheel’s Readers’ Choice Awards as a similar kind of exercise, on a far larger scale mind you, as it brings together the collective wisdom of the community on all things business. More than 100,000 votes were cast in this year’s edition in an effort to determine the best shops and services throughout the Foothills region. 

And I have to say that in my limited experience dealing with local businesses, Wheel readers have hit the nail on the head time after time. In our short time in the community, we have frequented several of the businesses that struck gold in the contest and I’ve got to say that we can see why they’re being recognized. 

My son bought a vehicle from Okotoks Ford this summer and the experience there, when compared to a pair of dealerships we dealt with in the city for a different brand, was a breath of fresh air. All the folks we encountered at Okotoks Ford were honest, straightforward and reliable, which certainly wasn’t the case at the other places. 

We’ve had equally good experiences with Simply Floors and Guns ‘n Hoses, both of which have come to do work on the house. We can see why Heartland Café receives accolades after enjoying lunch there and we’ve been back to the British Banger Company several times after tasting the meat pies. 

I’m not sure I can call myself a pizza connoisseur as I’m really just someone who firmly believes that any type of pizza brightens the day, but I do have to say the Hawaiian we ordered from Bravo Pizza earlier this month was as good as any I’ve had in a long time. 

I recognize that a contest of this nature isn’t necessarily a scientific exercise, and that there will always be some who will try to game the system for their own advantage, but for the most part it provides a pretty good snapshot of those businesses that have risen to the top in their respective fields. It’s also one of the few ways for independent businesses to be recognized, so it's not surprising that you see awards from past years proudly displayed in store windows or behind counters.  

It’s a long list of winners, to be sure, but I look forward to following the counsel of wise Wheel readers as I check out many of the others who have been tabbed as the Readers’ Choice. 


Ted Murphy

About the Author: Ted Murphy

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