A local business has been honored with a Northern Pride award from the Northern BC Tourism Association.
Crystal Cabin Gallery in Tlell was chosen from three finalists at the recent annual general meeting of the association. The award recognizes a product or service which encapsulates the diversity and significance of the northern experience.
"We're really happy to win, because it's usually someone on the mainland who gets it," says Dutes Dutheil, co-owner of the gallery.
"They acknowledged we are in an isolated geographic area where it is a challenge for us to market our product and we have successfully done it," he said.
Crystal Cabin sells museum-quality Haida prints, masks, jewellery and argillite carvings. Mr. Dutheil and his wife, Laura, are both artisan gemstone jewellers and make fine gold and silver jewellery for the store.
Island scenic stone, something that is exclusive to the islands, is one of the unique products available at the store. Located outside the store, the Tlell stone circle is an interactive mineral display of the geologic history of the islands.
Mr. Dutheil attended the recent annual meeting of the tourism association in Dawson Creek and accepted the award in person.