Calgary – The 2011 Calgary Choice Awards Winners were announced on Friday Sept. 30 at the Awards Gala held in the Palomino Ballroom at the BMO Centre Stampede Grounds. Over 300 nominees and guests attended this event. Recipient of a 2011 Calgary Choice Award included:

• 2011 Best Employer (over 30 employees) – CaVaBien Hair Studio and Day Spa

• 2011 Best Employer (under 30 employees) – Kahane Law Office

• 2011 Best Home Builder – Hunter Residential Development

• 2011 Best Independent Business – Stir Crazy Family Fun Centre

• 2011 Best Media Personality – Danny Kid Virgin Radio/Astral Media

• 2011 Best Medical and Health Care – Sierra Dental Studio

• 2011 Best New Business (under 2 years) – Papa Chocolat

• 2011 Best Nightclub/Bar/Pub – Hudson’s Downtown Calgary

• 2011 Best Transportation Provider – WestJet

• 2011 Best Venue/Tourist Attraction – Calgary Zoo

• 2011 Best Arts and Culture – Glenbow Museum

• 2011 Best Auto Service – Bonavista Truck & Auto Service

• 2011 Best Casual Dining – Meez Fast Home Cuisine

• 2011 Best Children’s Retail – Stir Crazy Family Fun Centre

• 2011 Best Eco-Friendly Product or Service – Calgary Gluten Free Store

• 2011 Best Fining Dining – La Casa D’Italia

• 2011 Best Fitness – Calgary NW Fit Body Boot Camp

• 2011 Best Hotel/Inn – Fairmont Palliser

• 2011 Best Retail Experience – SHE Apparel

• 2011 Best Spa/Beauty – CaVaBien Hair Studio & Day Spa

Public nominations of Calgary and surrounding area businesses for the third annual 2011 Calgary Choice Awards were held March 1, 2011 – April 30, 2011 on the official Calgary Choice Awards website at www.calgarychoiceawards.ca . Over three hundred and fifty companies were nominated.

The official 2011 Nominees were posted on May 30 at www.calgarychoiceawards.ca and the public was invited to vote online May 30 – Sept. 1, 2011 for their favorite businesses in twenty Categories. Each nominee was notified and given the responsibility to promote themselves to clients and contacts to garner votes. In 2009, total votes received were 1200, in 2010, 5000 and this year, a staggering 15, 665 votes were registered during the public voting period.

MediaWorks Corp produced the star studded red carpet Awards Gala held on Friday, September 30, 2011 in the Palomino Ballroom at the BMO Centre (Calgary Stampede Grounds). Gala included a photoshoot on the red carpet, live music, canapés and a Death by Chocolate. Leslie Horner and Kevin Becker from Up! 97.7 FM were the emcees for the evening. Each winner was presented with a “gold star” trophy, in each of the 20 categories at the Gala. Media, local celebrities and over 300 guests walked the red carpet and were on hand to celebrate in the festivities.

The Calgary Choice Awards was established to bring together businesses, media and the public to celebrate excellence and recognize businesses for distinction in a variety of categories while at the same time supporting Green Learning Foundation, a registered charitable organization devoted to children’s education.

For additional information about the Calgary Choice Awards call (403) 245-6693.

Dress: Formal ( Black tie optional)

7:30 -

• Doors Open

7:30 – 8:30 -

• Cocktails and Canapés
• Silent Auction Open
• Red Carpet Photoshoot with Perry Thompson Photography

8:30 -

• Welcome by host Jill Belland City TV/BT TV
• First 10 Awards categories announced

9:00 -

• Live Auction with Tyler Rosehill Olds Auction Mart & Rosehill Auction Services

9:20 Break

9:40 -

• Silent Auction Bidding
• Last 10 Awards categories announced
• Live Music by Alittle Voodoo
• Silent Auction Bidding
• Death By Chocolate Desserts

10:45 – Silent Auction Closes

11:30 Gala ends

Kelly Doody, Columnist
Calgary Sun

Neal Irvine
Up 97.7 FM

CALGARY CHOICE AWARDS – NOMINATIONS

CCA Nomination Press Release – Feb. 28, 2011