Millarville society nominated for chamber award

A century-old Foothills organization is in the running for an Alberta Chamber of Commerce award of distinction.
The Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society is one of four finalists among 17 submissions for the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction’s Community Attraction Award.
Society executive director Lisa Lloyd said she’s honoured by the nomination.
“It’s gives us some validation that a lot of the volunteers who are helping us at these events that they’re doing this for a cause that’s being recognized,” she said. “It’s not just our local community that feels there’s value in it. Alberta as a whole can see the efforts we all put in to try to keep our agricultural history and world alive.”
Lloyd said it was after filling out forms to attend the chamber’s March conference on management and leadership in Calgary that she was asked if the Millarville Racing & Agricultural Society would accept the nomination.
It was the first time she learned of the awards.
“It’s specific to businesses that offer community events that support local communities and draw in the surrounding community,” explained Lloyd. “It deals a lot with bringing people together in a social setting.”
The society has about 110,000 people go through its gates annually at the Millarville Racetrack for its rodeos, races, half marathon, fairs and farmers’ market.
“We’ve been around for over 100 years and get people out and face to face,” Lloyd said of the society. “That’s what we strive for.”
Lloyd said the society aims to gets people back to their roots – particularly when it comes to agriculture in rural Alberta.
“What we do here at the site is a strong indicator that the community still likes to see and be involved in activities that are agriculturally supported and come from our history,” she said. “All of us have a part of us that wants to remember where we came from and not forget our roots and what created Alberta. It’s always nice to go back to grandma and grandpa’s house. The Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society has that feel to it that you’re going back to where you came from and where your roots are.”
Lloyd will participate in a face-to-face interview with the judges panel later this month before the winners are announced March 1 during a ceremony in Edmonton.
Jillian McGuire, Alberta Chamber of Commerce events and corporate relations manager, said the awards provide recognition to businesses and organizations that otherwise don’t get any.
“It’s not about the big guys, it’s about the small mom and pop shops getting their names out there too,” she said. “We felt the community attraction award incorporates small communities all over Alberta.”
The other finalists are Bashaw Meats and Sausage, Bear Creek Folk Music Festival in Grande Prairie and Freewill Shakespeare Festival in Edmonton.
Among the criteria for the award is nominees must enhance the quality of life for and attract people to the community, promote and add vibrancy to the community’s well-being, health and development, demonstrate long-term community engagement, attract and retain staff and volunteers, showcase the region through marketing, events and programs and promote cultural activities, tourism and sporting events.
To learn more about the chamber’s awards go to abbusinessawards.com