Employees at Hope’s Blue Moose Coffee House received a little Christmas bonus in December, through Murray Mazda’s Local Legends program.
Local Legends is a nationwide initiative of Mazda Canada, intended to restore community spirit by recognizing small-town heroes and hidden gems.
Between Nov. 4 and 18, 2021 people were able to nominate businesses for a cash award of $2,500.
Chilliwack-based Murray Mazda chose Blue Moose Coffee House in Hope and Cookie’s Grill in Chilliwack.
“Both of them have pivoted so many times with the pandemic and the flooding and everything else that they’ve gone through,” said Murray Mazda’s marketing manager Kristie Baouya. “They’ve had to change the way they serve their customers, going from dining in to takeout and back, with all the enhanced cleaning measures too. They’ve had a hard time, they’re both pillars of their communities and worthy of a little extra support from us.”
Blue Moose owner Wes Bergmann took the cash and split it among his staff of 12, saying it was an easy decision and very well deserved.
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“They’ve been coming here and while it’s not so bad now, initially during the pandemic they put up with a lot of stuff,” he said. “They’re great. They’re resilient. They’re tough and I think they’re very generous and giving as well. It hasn’t been the easiest couple years for them, but like the song says, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’”
Blue Moose was nominated in large part for the way the business ‘gives back’ to the community, contributing to fundraisers, hosting live events and providing a place where people can just come and hang out.
“Giving back to the community is just the right thing to do,” Bergmann said. “When I opened 21 years ago, my business plan included a set of values that I wrote down, and I live by those values. It’s part of doing what’s right and not just thinking of yourself, and for me the biggest part of that has always been my employees and looking after them.”
Like many business owners who quietly do good things, the Bergmanns (Wes and wife Teri) don’t do anything for recognition, but it’s nice when it comes.
“It was humbling to be recognized,” Bergmann said. “Usually when we give money for something, we say ‘don’t tell anyone’ because it’s not about that. If there’s a need out there then we want to give, and we don’t want the spotlight. But it was nice.”
For more info on Mazda Local Legends, visit murraymazda.ca/about-us/mazda-local-legends/