Page 2 - Brandon SUn - 2021 Readers Choice
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2 2021 ReadeRs’ choice awaRds The BRANDON SUN n Thursday FEBruary 25 2021
n
Annual awards net record number of votes
By TyleR claRke
This year’s Westman Readers’
Choice set a new record, netting a to-
tal of 198,168 votes.
“I’m not surprised,” Brandon Sun
publisher Jim Mihaly said, adding the
newspaper’s annual effort has sharp-
ly grown in prominence during every
one of its five years.
From the inaugural 2017 event’s
8,788 votes to last year’s 94,937, West-
man has been taking notice.
The awards’ 100 categories have
been switched up a great deal over
the course of its five years to narrow
in on what readers are most interest-
ed in, Mihaly said, adding voters plug
in their own answers rather than rely
on pre-determined options, which
keeps the effort firmly in the com-
munity’s hands.
Among the most popular competi-
tions in each year’s event is the “Best
Pizza Shop” category, for which Pizza
Express has retained gold four years
running.
That was until now, with Fast Fired
by Carbone bumping the longtime
Brandon institution to second place.
Fast Fired opened at Brandon’s
Corral Centre in 2018 and is format-
ted as a “build your own” pizza shop,
where customers select toppings and
watching staff build their pizza in
front of them.
Upon learning they placed in the
top three alongside Pizza Express
and Marino’s Pizza, owner Jayson
McCallum said he was honoured to The crew at Fast Fired By Carbone prepare pizzas during a grand opening event at their Corral Centre location in 2018. (File)
be included.
“They’re some good people to be “Trustworthiness is a significant this year to make it a greater priority. Senkbeil is a lawyer by trade, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brandon
in the running,” he said, adding there virtue in our work, so if you get noted Alongside a special focus on which uses her skills in a social justice ca- case worker Karra Burney said it’s
are also other great pizza joints in for that it would be appreciated,” he businesses and public figures excel pacity by volunteering her time to nice to see her organization receive
Westman worthy of recognition. said. in the public’s eye, Westman Readers’ help people with their legal ques- recognition from the community.
“We try to make the best pizza ev- This year’s three finalists for “Best Choice also shines a light on unsung tions through organizations like Se- They currently link approximately
ery day, so we’re pretty happy.” Use of Taxpayers’ Money” — road heroes less likely to seek the spot- niors for Seniors and the Women’s 100 youths throughout Westman
The COVID-19 pandemic has been repairs, bike paths and schools light. Resource Centre. with elder role models, and said their
a “rough battle” that has carried — didn’t come as a surprise to Chrest, Stacy Senkbeil, this year’s “Most Her role as chair of the Brandon efforts have proven particularly rel-
some lows, but McCallum said things who said the public has made it clear Dedicated Volunteer,” is one such Neighbourhood Renewal Corpora- evant throughout the pandemic.
appear to be picking back up. that infrastructure should be among community steward. tion’s board — an organization man- “Even in a normal year, we bring
McCallum, perhaps best known in elected officials’ top priorities. After learning she placed in the top dated with helping the community’s those kids a chance to have that one-
Brandon for his Smoked & Sauced Further, he said the ever-popular three alongside the Waves of Hope most vulnerable citizens — also on-one relationship,” she said. “It’s
and Poutine King food trucks, be- activities of walking and biking have Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat aligns with her social justice inter- a program that brings out the best
came owner of Fast Fired last year. been made all the more important Team and Big Brothers Big Sisters of ests. in every child we can help through a
Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brandon, she said she was honoured She also heads Zumba classes at volunteer.”
named this year’s most trustworthy during which most other activities to be in their good company. the YMCA and sits on the Brandon Mihaly said Westman Readers’
politician, said Westman Readers’ outside of the home have been can- “I think it’s an honour to even have Regional Health Centre Foundation’s Choice will continue to remain fluid
Choice is an effort he looks forward to celled or disallowed. my name written once on a nomi- board. moving forward, and that sugges-
every year. Seldom at a loss for words, He personally resides near a bike nation, let alone make it into a top “I would love to say that it’s selfless, tions for category additions or sub-
he said he’s thankful to have the com- path that runs along 34th Street, and grouping,” she said, adding she has but it’s not because I get immense tractions can be made at any time by
munity’s confidence alongside other has “never seen so many people us- great respect for not only the orga- satisfaction out of helping my com- email at opinion@brandonsun.com,
finalists Len Isleifson and Reg Helwer ing the paths as this year.” nizations she was paired with, but munity,” she said, adding she has with “Readers’ Choice” in the subject.
— Progressive Conservative MLAs for The City of Brandon always makes countless other groups and people in volunteered since she was a kid and
their respective Brandon East and an effort to clear paths of snow, but the community working hard to im- has always viewed it as a moral obli- » tclarke@brandonsun.com
Brandon West constituencies. Chrest said they’ve worked extra hard prove things. gation. » Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
THANK YOU
to the people of Westman
for voting
Maxim Truck & Trailer
in Brandon one of the
BEST HEAVY DUTY TRUCK CENTRES
in the area, two years in a row!
BRANDS WE
Thank you!
CARRY INCLUDE:
To everyone who GOLD
voted for us in the Best Heavy Duty
Truck Centre
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Best Coffee Shop
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Brandon, MB
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