If you're looking for authentic, go no further than the Town of Nanton.

The town has established awards this year, called the Authentic Awards, to recognize people and groups that have served the local area well.

Davina Comstock with the Town says it's the first time they've done it.

"We put out to the public to nominate in eleven different award categories, and so after it was all said and done, the deadline came and went," Comstock says. "We received 77 nominations. The nomination committee was really happy about that."

She says now that they have the list whittled down they felt it would be good bring the residents the community and surrounding areas up to speed.

"Now that the finalists have been determined we wanted to put it out to the public and let people know that these are kind of the top choices that the people nominated and the nomination committee felt deserved to be recognized," Comstock says. "So the nomination committee will go back and they will vote on the award winners and so the award winners won't be announced, nobody will know, until September 18."

The event is being held at the Bomber Command Museum of Canada Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. It is a semi-formal event, cowboy boots are allowed, with live entertainment by Mariya Stokes.

Here's the full list of finalists:

Excellence in Business - Over 10 Employees
Mountain Top Foods Ltd.
Nanton Candy Store

Excellence in Business - 10 Employees and Under
Main Street Café
Nanton Drugs
Classic Rodeo
Waste Treatment Solutions

New Business/Entrepreneur of the Year
Fieldstones Roof top Espresso Wine Bar
Decidedly Fit

Excellence in Customer Service
Sweet Queen Burgers
ATB
Classic Rodeo Boutique
Because I Said So Coffee and More

Best in Tourism and Travel Experience
Bomber Command Museum of Canada
Nanton Candy Store
Museum of Miniatures

Event of the Year
Medicine Tree Ranch Rodeo
Canadian High School Rodeo Finals
Nanton Round Up Days

Employee of the Year
Warren Lenius
Jordan Glas
Davina Comstock
John Dozeman

Outstanding Youth of the Year
Paige Freeman

Service Group/Not-for-Profit of the Year
Nanton Animal Protection Society
Nanton Boosters Club
Nanton Promoters

Volunteer of the Year
Kim Williamson
Pam Woodall
Brett Colborne
Doug Wilson

Lifetime Achievement Award
Bob Evans
Diane Wilson
Lynne Maynard (nominated posthumously)

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