Former Altona Mayor Melvin Klassen has been selected as the Altona and District Chamber of Commerce's 2018 Citizen of the Year.

Klassen spent 16 years as the town's Mayor, following a 34-year teaching career, 29 of which were in Altona. He's also one of four founders of Altona Minor Baseball, spent 16 years as Altona Credit Union President and 6 years as a Director with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities.

As for the business awards, Buffalo Creek Mills will receive the Business Excellence Award for 11 employees or more, and CrossFit Outland will receive the Business Excellence Award for 10 employees or less. 

(L-R) Grant Fehr (Director of Sales & Purchasing) & Ryan Penner (CEO)

Buffalo Creek Mills started operation in 2014 with 2 employees and has expanded over the past five years to 21 employees. The oat processing company buys oats throughout Western Canada, and mills them to provide oat groats for human consumption, pet foods, bird foods and feed markets throughout Mexico, the United States and Canada. In the last year, the company has constructed a new pellet mill that produces compact oat pellets to the feed and bio-fuel industry, in addition to installing
equipment to double production capacity.

CrossFit Outland was started in 2015 and has grown from a 600 square foot gym to a 4,100 square foot healthy living facility. CrossFit Outland is a fully coached fitness centre that provides a place for all people and fitness levels to get stronger, improve their health.

Meanwhile, Ben Dueck has been chosen as the 2018 Volunteer of the Year. Dueck has served on a variety of boards over the years including Gardens on Tenth and Access Credit Union. He played a role in the creation of Access Field and continues to volunteer in helping with day to day maintenance tasks.

Jossie Yan has been picked for the Youth Recognition Award. The grade 12 student at W.C. Miller Collegiate is President of the Student Council, Co-Chair of the 2019 Grad Committee, the Youth Representative on Altona Town Council and is also a member of the school band.

The Altona and District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence and "Of the Year" awards will be handed out during its annual awards banquet April 18th at the Rhineland Pioneer Centre.