Cranbrook Husky wins top award

Kathleen and Tom Payette are proud winners of Husky's Standard of Excellence Award 2011. —

Marie Milner photo

It may be the discipline of their shared military background that made it possible for Kathleen and Tom Payette to dramatically improve their newly acquired Husky Travel Centre—a three-component business with a gas bar, convenience store and restaurant—in less than a year. The improvements won them Husky Canada’s Standard of Excellence Award for 2011.

It may be the discipline of their shared military background that made it possible for Kathleen and Tom Payette to dramatically improve their newly acquired Husky Travel Centre—a three-component business with a gas bar, convenience store and restaurant—in less than a year. The improvements won them Husky Canada’s Standard of Excellence Award for 2011.

When the Payettes arrived in Cranbrook from Maple Ridge, B.C., the Husky restaurant was closed, the convenience store was failing, and the premises needed to be spruced up. With the help of Kathleen’s extended family, the Dodgsons, the Payettes reopened the restaurant and quickly improved the business of the travel centre to its present award-winning state. Between the two Husky stations that the Payettes own in Cranbrook, they employ about a dozen Dodgson family members. Though the couple were concerned about balancing family and work relationships, this has proved to be a non-issue: the family members are deeply invested in making the business a success.

The Payettes are justifiably proud of the business turnaround, and of the award. They invite travellers and East Kootenay residents to drop in any time to fuel up, and between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. to sample the restaurant’s menu, including heart-healthy options designed by Chef Doug. I can personally vouch for the key lime pie.