While “honoured” to be named Highlander of the Year, David Zilstra said one of his big takeaways from the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce awards Oct. 20 was the youth entrepreneurial spirit.
“It was inspiring to see,” said The Haliburton Echo and Minden Times publisher, who currently sits on three boards and is a member of the Rotary Club of Haliburton.
Zilstra added he could not count how many hours he had committed to community service over the years, but does it out of love of the Highlands.
“It’s about making this a better place to live, work, and play,” he said.
He congratulated all of the nominees and winners, the young entrepreneurs in particular.
Zilsta is currently on the board of the Haliburton BIA, Highlands Summer Festival and the Haliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation, as well as being an active Rotarian.
“I get involved partially because of my work,” he said, adding, “I have a unique ability in my role at the papers to help other people as well, that I’m not on the boards of.”
For example, he said it was through his connection to former Times publisher, Jack Brezina, that he got involved with the Highlands Summer Festival. In addition to the board, Zilstra enjoys acting. He works with downtown Haliburton businesses so it was a natural to join the BIA board.
I like events, and putting on events, and I’ve been doing that my whole career. Putting on an event from start to finish, I enjoy doing that type of thing, it’s fun, and that’s how I get involved. Same with the hospital foundation, I like to focus on a task that needs to be done, and you just go from there and you roll from item to item.”
The young entrepreneur theme played out throughout the awards ceremony. Jason Bradley of Haliburton County Chiropractic and Rehabilitation said he and partner Kassie Wright had come to cheer on young, new entrepreneurs so were surprised to win the customer first – business award. They were voted best new business and young professional of the year at the 2018 awards.
Rebecca Neave of Beauty Basics by Amy won the customer first-employee award.
The audience heard that when a long-time client could no longer drive to the shop, Neave took it upon herself to pick her up for appointments and drive her back home and that the woman had become family.
Business woman of the year award-winner Brandi Hewson of Kohara + Co told young entrepreneurs in the room she had been working 14 years to get her business to where it is today. She said people had tried to talk her out of it. She wished those just starting out “good luck” and encouraged them “to keep at it.”
But it wasn’t all about the youth movement with veteran Highlands businesspeople also being honoured on the night. For example, Sylvia Holland of Wind in the Willows Spa won the business achievement category. She’s been at it for more than 30 years, telling the audience she first joined the chamber in the early 80s. She said community service is part of her life and it has been rewarding. “I’m very happy and very glad to be able to do what I do.”
