FILE PHOTO - Bad Tattoo Brewing Company
Image Credit: Bad Tattoo Brewing Company
November 22, 2021 - 3:01 PM
The Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is staying with its decision to give a Penticton business owner who defied public health orders a Business Leader of the Year award.
Lee Agur was declared the 2021 Business Leader of the Year three months after announcing his establishment Bad Tattoo Brewing would defy the province's vaccine mandate. One month after declaring his business would not be requiring guests to be vaccinated, Agur changed his mind and decided to enforce the vaccine mandate. He also said he would be stepping down from management “for a while.”
READ MORE: Entrepreneur who defied public health order named Penticton's Business Leader of the Year
The award judges decided to stay with their decision based on research and discussions they had with finalists, said Diane Kereluk, chamber executive director, in a press release.
The business organization had invited community leaders to help select the award winners.
"Judges review all the nominations and spend considerable time researching each one, including reviewing websites, social media, reviews, etc. They select their top three finalists in a category. The judges then conduct a lengthy interview with each of the finalists before deciding who the winner is in the category," reads the Chamber press release.
"We are committed to maintaining the integrity and democratic nature of our selection process. The judges brought forward to the chamber their recommendation for the recipient of the Business Leader of the Year award, this was prior to the PHO vaccine passport requirement. The judges then revisited their recommendation subsequent to the implementation of this new PHO and Mr. Agur’s announced position and quick reversal."
The chamber also felt the need to show tolerance when a business leader makes a mistake.
"To allow one mistake, which was corrected by Mr. Agur, to overshadow all the significant contributions he made during the year for our community would not be compassionate and caring,” said Chamber president Jonathan McGraw, in the release.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2021