Meet the 2019 Western Winners – Canada’s Newly Recognized Pet Community Leaders

Take the time to congratulate your colleagues on their amazing win.  Summaries below were provided by nominators.  Remember to watch for the next round of Canadian Pet Community Award nominations coming in June!

Independent Retailer Award: Meghan Huchkowsky of Doodle Dogs
Doodle Dogs is a retail store in Calgary, Alberta, who caters to the dogs of the community and beyond, with their physical store and online store. Meghan Huchkowsky is a co-owner and co-founder of the store and is loved by many in the Calgary pet community. “Their community involvement and how great they are to every single person who walks into the store!”.  Congratulations to Meghan Huchkowsky and Doodle Dogs! It is independent retailers like you who make all the difference!

Chain Store Retailer Award: Karima Jivraj of Bosley’s by Pet Value (New Westminster)
Karima Jivraj is the owner of the Bosley’s by Pet Value New Westminster location. Voters raved about Karima’s dedication to charity, the community, excellent customer service and the well-being of animals. “It is increasingly difficult to find success in specialty retail surrounded by aggressive competition in the way of big box giants such as Walmart, Costco and Loblaws. Karima understands this and through her incredible list of local store events, she stands out amongst the list of retailers trying to battle the giants.” Congratulations to Karima! Thank you for continuing to strive to provide the best customer service possible for the furry friends in your community!

Manufacturers Sales Representative Award: Chad McMillian of Open Farms
Open Farm is a family business with the mission to create highly nutritious pet foods, while simultaneously driving positive change in the industry. Chad McMillian is a sales representative in the West who has been a great asset to Open Farms. “As a retailer, Chad has really helped us work on building Open Farms as a brand. He is a wealth of knowledge, and always available. He has provided support and promos to help us educate our staff and customers to make Open Farm a go-to brand in our store.” Congratulations to Chad McMillian on winning this award! Your hard work and dedication make all the difference.

Distributors Sales Representative Award: Brenda Hredil of Kane Veterinary Supplies
Kane Veterinary Supplies is a Canadian wholesale distributor and manufacturer agent with the mission of providing excellence in distribution of the highest quality, cutting edge, value-laden products to the Canadian pet, agricultural and equine markets across the country. “Brenda has been one of the cornerstones to the success of our business. Brenda has always been there for us. From a quick telephone call to ask how we’re doing to sharing pictures of her kitty cats, our relationship with Brenda has grown stronger and stronger and it’s been a delight to watch her grow and succeed in her role at Kane.” Congratulations to Brenda Hredil! Your hard work and dedication are immensely valuable to our industry.

Thank you to all the businesses who took the time to submit their nominations, and congratulations to the winners! Dedicated and passionate people like you are what make our industry so special. We look forward to receiving the next round of nominations starting in June for the Quebec, Ontario and Maritime regions.