STARSTRUCK Bill Wittman, the winner of the 2015 Christmas Star Shopping Spree (pictured with Susan Clovechok of the CVCC), gestures at his pile of new possessions just in time for Christmas thanks to the $1,000 he won by shopping local in this years contest.Photo by Dean Midyette
By Dean Midyette
Pioneer Staff
Bill Wittman of Juniper Heights, the first person to be hired at Canadian Tire, is the winner of this years Christmas Star Shopping Spree.
The contest was supported by the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce (CVCC), Imagine Invermere, the Columbia Valley Pioneer and 32 participating retailers from Fairmont to Radium.
Said Eden Yesh of Imagine Invermere: Imagine Invermere is proud to support our local economy with residents supporting our local businesses.
First on Bills itinerary was Windermere with stops at the Family Pantry for some Christmas and New Years libations and at the Windermere Valley Golf Course for green fee passes for 2016. Turning north, Bill visited the Radium PetroCan for some gas cards before heading back to Invermere to purchase new tires at Canadian Tire, a wine kit at the Back Door Wine
Cellar, groceries from Sobeys and Valley Foods, with bedding and some other smaller items being purchased at
Red Apple. Over 5,200 entries were received over the five weeks the contest ran.
This is the most fun Ive had all year! said Bill.
The Shopping Spree is part of the annual Shop Local initiative championed by the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce, which encourages people to support local business throughout the year.
Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to all participating retailers, said CVCC executive director Susan Clovechok.
