Keeling named business person of year

A lifetime in the harness racing industry was recognized last night (Thursday) at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel.

Chuck Keeling, vice-president of racing operations at Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino, was named the Surrey Board of Trade’s Business Person of the Year at the 11th annual Surrey Business Excellence Awards banquet attended by more than 400 people.

Keeling took his first job at the Cloverdale horse racing facility at the age of eight, earning five dollars a day selling tickets. In 1996, he followed in the steps of his grandfather and father and assumed the reins of the family business, remaining at Fraser Downs following the company’s purchase by the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation in 2005.

In addition to his duties at Fraser Downs, Keeling is on the board of directors of the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation, and is involved with Greener Pastures, a non-profit group which rehabilitates and retrains retired racehorses.

The award was one of eight presented last night at the gala event.

Other award winners were:

• The Uptown GiftBox Company (one to five employees): Founded in 2006 by Gabrielle Durning, the company provides a gift service that goes beyond the usual gift basket. It has provided for major events such as the Canadian Country Music Awards.

• Honeybee Centre (six–20 employees: The commercial honey farm also doubles as a visitor attraction, and is the largest supplier of honeybee rentals for fruit pollination in Western Canada. It receives approximately 100,000 visits a year.

• Analytic Systems Ware Ltd. (21-and-over employees): Founded in 1967, the company’s power conversion products are designed to exceed international testing standards.

• Arts Council of Surrey (not-for-profit, budget under $500,000): Run by a full-time executive director and two part-time staff members, the Arts Council of Surrey is an umbrella organization offering support and creating opportunities.

• Surrey Food Bank (not-for-profit, budget over $500,000): Formed in 1983 to provide a temporary solution to a temporary problem, the Surrey Food Bank currently occupies a 7,000-square foot warehouse in Whalley, operating with a fleet of four vehicles, 100 volunteers and a staff of 11. It distributes approximately 2,000 food hampers weekly.

• Breakwater Marine (New Business of the Year): Co-founded by Fred Moore and Aaron Fell, the company emphasizes family fun in boating.

• Glen Chua, MLiTE Productions (Student Entrepreneur): MOONLiTE Productions was launched by Chua while he was still in high school, and has produces films which have been screened at film festivals across the country. The company includes young artists in make-up, special effects, music and sound. Chua attends SFU full-time, and still operates Moonlight.

+More Business Headlines
<Back to Mobile Edition