Former MLA of Lloydminster-Vermilion, Dr. Richard Starke has been honoured with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce.
At the Business Excellence Awards Gala held on Thursday, Oct. 30 at the WLS Convention Centre at the Lloyd Ex, Starke, in his acceptance speech, reflected that everything he has done has been a team effort.
However, he noted what he termed a slow and gradual decline in decency in society.
The former veterinarian added that in his work, he felt that animals do a better job at being human than people do.
“When did it become okay to act that way towards other people,” Starke queried. “Let’s make a conscious effort to be more human – to be more decent.”
He called on the audience to be kinder in dealing with people, as he quoted former federal NDP leader Jack Layton from a letter written in 2011. At the time Layton was dying of cancer. Starke said Layton’s words resonated with him.
“Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful, and optimistic. And we’ll change the world,” said Starke as he quoted Jack Layton in his last letter to Canadians.
In and evening filled with glitz, glamour and the accolade of the glass trophy the Chamber championed local businesses for their contributions, including the full slate of nominated finalists.
Full list of recipients:
- Entrepreneur of the Year – Gmack Oilfield
- Workplace Excellence Award- Servus Credit Union
- Integrity Award- Transition Health and Wellness
- Startup Business of the Year – Summit Sport Performance & Vision Training
- Customer Service Award- Guardian Plumbing & Heating
- Non-profit of the Year- Lloydminster Rescue Squad
- Small Business of the Year- Pet Planet
- Community Champion Award- Classic Oilfield
- Downtown Business of the Year- Furniture Gallery
- Think Lloyd First Ambassador Award- Michelle Benning – Fort Pitt Development
- Business Woman of the Year- Performance Business Consulting- Nina Ellis
- Business of the Year- Lloydminster & District Co-op
