Dinners, deals and devils

JAMES O'CONNOR/BRANDON SUN Enlarge Image

Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Cam Clark, right, poses with Business Person of the Year, Borden Hadley, at Thursday night’s 129th annual chamber dinner at the Keystone Centre.

The 129th annual Brandon Chamber of Commerce Dinner was memorable for a number of reasons.

Enlarge Image

Master of ceremonies at the Brandon chamber’s dinner, Dianne Buckner — host of CBC’s “Dragons’ Den” reality TV show — poses with Brandon Sun managing editor James O’Connor and his wife Jodi at Thursday night’s event. (SUBMITTED)

Arrivals to the gala inside the gussied-up UCT Hall at the Keystone Centre were able to stroll in without heavy overcoats due to record-setting warm weather.

Inside, the 520 guests included the regular assortment of local movers and shakers in business and politics, but also featured Timothy Cipullo, the U.S. consul and principal officer based in the consulate in Winnipeg.

He spent a good chunk of time speaking about American politics with Brandon Mayor Shari Decter Hirst. When I nudged into the conversation, I tossed in a few bombs about the self-destructing Republican party.

And they laughed ...

As guests slurped cream of porcini mushroom soup with taragon crème fraiche, later followed by salad with prosciutto wrapped asparagus, ice wine sorbet and braised beef short rib with a stuffed prawn, and finishing with three kinds of crème brûlée, they were charmingly entertained by the erudite Dianne Buckner.

The host of CBC’s "Dragons’ Den" and former host of Venture had plenty of advice to offer the business crowd, who, for the most part, paid attention.

It seems that some of the better refreshed guests preferred to carry on their own conversations as Buckner spoke. A bit rude, I say.

But I digress.

The highlight of the night was clearly the selection of award winners.

You see, the Brandon chamber — and chambers of commerce across North America — have traditionally been a fairly staid, button-down lot.

Their presidents have been bankers, real estate developers or traditional businesspeople — mostly men — who chose bankers, real estate developers or traditional businesspeople as their award winners.

But take a gander at who won what Thursday night:

• Business Person of the Year: Borden Hadley has been at the helm of his family-owned trucking business, Smooth Freight Ltd., for the past 25 years. Its charming motto is "Knock your socks off service."

And Hadley comes across as a genuine family man who also has a desire to help the community through his work with Westman Dreams for Kids.

He is a character whose selection is worthy, but just a bit unexpected.

• Business Excellence Award (15 employess or less): D&B Sprinklers installs and services underground irrigation systems in Brandon and the surrounding area.

In 2011, the company celebrated its 30th year in business. It’s run by Todd Gudz and Jeff Fawcett — the latter who is arguably the most colourful councillor that we currently have at city hall.

• Business Excellence Award(more than 15 employees): B.O.B. Headquarters on 18th Street is owned by Bob and Kim Richot and has been in operation in Brandon since 1996.

While they market themselves now as "one of Canada’s largest and well-known wholesale distributors of lifestyles products," it started out as a small head shop on 10th Street.

I applaud the Brandon chamber for having the guts to think outside of the box and realize that the business world isn’t all about banking, building and big business.

And to offer an honour to a successful and high-profile business that was once shunned by parents and studied closely by police in this city truly shows how far the chamber has matured.

DINNER CRUMBS

Two men share Quote of the Night honours:

• While at the podium receiving his award, Fawcett went "off script" and said: "I was nervous before I came up here, but then I sat down with the next recipient, and now I’m super relaxed."

A wave of giggles swept over the crowd.

• While at the podium auctioning off the major prize package of eight seats in the Canad Inns box at the MTS Centre for the March 28 NHL game between the Jets and the New York Rangers, Noah Njegovan quipped: "I know you’re in a room filled by mostly Conservative supporters, but now I’d like you to spend like NDPers."

And belly laughs boomed throughout the hall.

For the record, the Jets package was purchased for $3,500 by lawyer Derek Cullen of Meighen Haddad.

IN OTHER NEWS

I saw Brandon West Progressive Conservative MLA Reg Helwer at the dinner.

The subject of his new household mailer out of party headquarters lambasting the NDP for its (expected) poor fiscal management came up.

I noted that while the brochure looked great, the front cover — featuring anti- NDP headlines from newspapers — only had clippings from the Winnipeg Free Press and Winnipeg Sun.

Geez, I thought we also had our fair share of anti-NDP headlines in recent times, perhaps we have moved to the left as some critics claim.

THE NDP SUCK AND have PROBABLY LIED TO YOU

There you go. For the next brochure.

But really, the Progressive Conservatives under leader Hugh McFadyen repeatedly warned Manitobans that there was something fishy about the province’s books during last year’s general election campaign, but the electorate chose to ignore those warnings and will have to live with the smell of the upcoming provincial budget.

Now rumours have the deficit screaming up to as high as $2 billion — many times more than what the NDP told Manitobans during the election — but official figures peg the shortfall as "only" around $1.12 billion.

"The lies Greg Selinger and the NDP told last fall about Manitoba’s finances continue to unravel," the PC party says in its new literature. "During the release of their third quarter financial results they admitted their deficit for this year has exploded to over $1 billion. At the same time, Greg Selinger is on course to add $2.18 billion — yes that is billion with a ‘b’ — to Manitoba’s provincial debt this year.

"Money Manitoba families will have to pay back in the form of increased taxes, cuts to frontline services, or both."

But Manitobans still voted for the NDP, falling for spending promises that will now never happen and silly allegations that McFadyen was going to sell Manitoba Hydro.

"The truth is," say the Tories, "that Greg Selinger cannot manage the budget, and we are all paying the price. He spends the money, and sends you the bill."

It’s a shame the Tories weren’t given a chance to show what they could have done to prevent us from getting into this mess — and to find the most effective way to get the province back on track.

THINK BEFORE YOU HIT "SEND"

• ONE RECENT WEEK: "Mr. James O’Connor, I think that you are very sleazy for a number of reasons.

"You used to work with and for Mr. Toews and then you throw him to the wolves, as well.

"Where is your loyalty and your integrity, Mr. O’Connor?

"I understand that your first wife ran a massage parlour.

"I have heard many questionable details and comments about her business.

"Would you like it if someone threw your divorce papers, from your first wife, onto Twitter?

"How about, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?’

"I totally disagree with your viewpoint, Mr. James O’Connor. Some Brandon Sun readers have expressed that the Brandon Sun should think about perhaps looking for another managing editor.

"Several individuals who read the Brandon Sun have told me that they have become quite disgusted with your viewpoint lately and that they have chosen not to read Our View or your (columns) any longer."

• THE NEXT WEEK: "Mr. O’Connor, I apologize if I offended you. I was just trying to make a point and draw a comparison to your views regarding Mr. Vic Toews and Twitter displaying his divorce online, etc.

"Again, I am sorry and I apologize if I hurt your feelings. I just figured that IF you could dish it out, that you should also be prepared to take it as well. I didn’t mean to be mean and insensitive but you have been that way to myself also through the pages of the Brandon Sun newspaper."

I suggest this person get some professional help. Really. The smear she issued and then tried to wipe up is pure bunk. But that’s just an example of some of the junk that hits my mail.

WHY WE EDIT SOUND OFF

Here’s an edited Sound Off submission that was gassed: "I have had enough of the lies and deceit from our politicians. How much more do they think they can get away with? How many more lies? How much more deceit? All in their favour of course. What happened to being elected for the betterment of the community as a whole. These are your close friends, James. Nice!"

What rot.

Lies, lies and more lies.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition March 17, 2012