The Winkler Day Care Centre is the Not For Profit of 2018.

The winners for the 2018 P.W Enns Business Awards, presented by the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce, were recently announced, honouring five Winkler entrepreneurs and leaders in the non-profit sector.

Business Excellence Award - Winkler Veterinary Clinic
Business Builder Award - Heat Innovations Inc.
Customer Service Award - Other Brother Roasters
Not For Profit Award - Winkler Day Care Centre
Community Builder Award - Central Station Community Centre

Day Care Director Lenora Fassett says the award recognizes the important service they provide. The centre has been in service since 1974.

She notes children thrive in their environment because of the stability long-time staff provide with little turnover.

"We have well over 100 years of experience if you add everyone's years in the daycare here," she says. "The kids don't have a lot of changes come their way while their in our centre. We get to know the children really well."

Central Station Community Centre was named Community Builder of the year. "We were thrilled to win," Executive Director Bev Wiebe says, and thrilled to be recognized for their work in empowering people to live full lives.

Staff at Central Station seek to connect people with the services or agency they need

"It's a very ambitious goal," Wiebe admits, but says the award is affirmation the fruit of their vision has ripened. The Centre was created as a hub to connect people with community services and agencies.

"Not to replace the agencies, but to connect them... that's community building, tying the pieces together."

Central Station has also recently taken on responsibilities for a number of affordable housing properties in Winkler, connecting more local tenants of Manitoba Affordable Housing with the many programs and services they provide.

"It gives us a better understanding of what the needs are and we can focus our programming," Wiebe says.

The two non-profits will be honoured alongside three Winkler businesses: Winkler Veterinary Clinic, Heat Innovations Inc. and Other Brother Roasters.

Guest speaker Hayley Wickenheiser will also speak at the April 19 gala.

Winkler Chamber of Commerce President Kori da Costa explains the 2014 gold medal Olympian will be a perfect fit.

"It's a great time to promote women in business," da Costa says. "She is a great role model, I think she has a lot of motivational stories of overcoming obstacles business people may have, especially women with stereotypes."

Tickets are available at the Winkler Chamber of Commerce office.