The more things change, the more they stay the same.
That could be the reigning motto for Pique’s Best of Pemberton readers’ poll. Year after year, we see many of the same faces atop their respective categories. Heck, Bob Menzel has won Favourite Pembertonian so many times now, we might as well name the whole dang award after him.
And maybe that’s fitting for a community that in so many other ways is changing at breakneck speed. As Pemberton’s population continues to grow as more young families look to the Spud Valley to set down roots, it’s comforting familiarity that most readers yearned for in this year’s survey.
That’s not to say there aren’t several notable exceptions. Beloved plant-based haven, The Hwy. Café, returned after its inaugural year in Best of Pemberton to dominate several food categories, for instance. But for the most part, this year’s survey reads like a warm hug from a longtime friend. And considering all the division and uncertainty that has seemed to exemplify goings on in the wider world over the past year or so, maybe that’s just what Pemberton needs right now.
Quintessential Pemberton
Favourite Neighbourhood
1. Pemberton Meadows
2. The Glen
3. Mount Currie
Most Desirable Amenity Missing from Pemberton
1. Swimming pool
2. More restaurants
3. TIE: Ice rink and cinema
No. 1 Reason We’re Not Like Whistler
1. Sense of community
2. Small-town feel
3. Less touristy
News Story of the Year
1. Pemberton’s Trinity Ellis and Ethan Hess at the 2022 Olympic/Paralympic Games
2. Pemberton’s population growth
3. Pair of Pemberton developments propose hundreds of new homes
Best Environmental Initiative
1. Integration with Lil’wat/N’Quatqua to learn from traditional knowledge
2. Salmon restoration
Favourite Volunteer
1. Graham Turner
2. Karen Tomlinson
3. Garth Phare
Favourite Pembertonian
1. Bob Menzel
2. Anna Helmer
3. John Dingle
Media, Arts & Culture
Favourite Artist/Artisan
1. Painter Vanessa Stark
2. Painter and multimedia artist Levi Nelson
3. Painter Karen Love
Favourite Photographer
1. Anastasia Chomlack
2. Toshi Kawano
3. Amie LeBlanc
Favourite Band/Musician
1. Dakota Pearl
2. Grateful Greg Reamsbottom (of the Hairfarmers)
3. The Spiritual Warriors
Favourite Writer
1. Lisa Richardson
2. Anna Helmer
3. Yvonne Wallace
Which Local Event are you Most Looking Forward to Returning this Year?
1. Slow Food Cycle
2. Barn Dance
3. Farmers’ Market
Food and Drink
Favourite Overall Restaurant
1. The Hwy. Cafe’
2. The Pony
3. Mile One Eating House
Best Value
1. The Hwy. Cafe’
2. TIE: Mile One Eating House and Grimm’s Gourmet and Deli
3. A Chef’s Life
Best Breakfast
1. The Hwy. Cafe’
2. North Arm Farm
3. Blackbird Bakery
Best Coffee
1. Mount Currie Coffee Co.
2. Blackbird Bakery
3. The Hwy. Cafe’
Best Plant-based Menu
1. The Hwy Cafe’
2. Stay Wild Natural Health
3. A Chef’s Life
Best Takeout
1. The Hwy. Cafe’
2. Mile One Eating House
3. Backcountry Pizza
Best Burger
1. Mile One Eating House
2. The Hwy. Cafe’
3. The Pony
Best Dessert
1. The Hwy. Cafe’
2. Blackbird Bakery
3. The Pony
Best Beer Selection
1. The Beer Farmers
2. The Pony
3. Mile One Eating House
Best Service
1. The Hwy. Cafe’
2. The Pony
3. Mile One Eating House
Best Patio
1. Fescue’s at Big Sky
2. The Hwy. Cafe’
3. The Beer Farmers
Sports and Recreation
Favourite Golf Course
1 Big Sky Golf Course
2 Sunstone Golf Club
Favourite Bike Trail
1 Cream Puff
2 Radio Tower
3 Overnight Sensation
Favourite Hiking Trail
1 Lumpy’s Epic
2 Tenquille Lake
3 Joffre Lakes
Favourite Lake to Visit
1 Birkenhead Lake
2 Gates Lake
3 Anderson Lake
Favourite Winter Adventure Activity
1 Cross-country skiing
2 Backcountry skiing and snowboarding
3 TIE: Snowshoeing and snowmobiling
Favourite Summer Adventure Activity
1 Mountain biking
2 Backcountry hiking
3 Boating
Favourite Athlete
1 Paralympic sit-skier Ethan Hess
2 Mountain biker and BMX rider Lucas Cruz
3 Olympic luger Trinity Ellis
Business Services
Favourite New Business
1 The Cheese Pusherman Roadhouse
2 Daisy Lane Acres
Favourite Tourism Operator
1 Beer Farmers
2 Copper Cayuse Outfitters
3 Laughing Crow Organics
Favourite Farm
1 North Arm Farm
2 Laughing Crow Organics
3 Helmer’s Organic Farm
Favourite Wellness/Fitness Service
1 Village Yoga
2 Local Motion Therapy
3 Ivy Esthetics
Favourite Hotel or B&B
1 Joffre Creek Cabins
2 Pemberton Valley Lodge
3 The Log House Inn
Favourite Building or Construction Company
1 Fitzgerald Building Company
2 BC Passive Haus
3 New Leaf Contracting
Best Wedding Venue
1 North Arm Farm
2 Riverlands Red Barn
3 Big Sky Golf Club
Favourite Gas Station
1 Pemberton Petro-Canada
2 Lil’wat Gas Station
3 AC Gas
Favourite Realtor
1 Danielle Menzel
2 Katelyn Spink
3 Lisa Hilton
