VIDEO: COVID controversy erupts over Penticton's 'Business Leader of the Year' selection

The Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce finds itself under fire after a controversial selection for 'Business Leader of the Year'.

Their selection: Lee Agur. The owner of Penticton-based, Bad Tattoo made headlines in September for refusing to follow public health orders requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination.

Robyn Smuin is a member of the Penticton Chamber and she's livid.

"To get an award of business leader of the year?", asked Smuin, who co-manages Ascend Salon. "When all these other businesses have worked so hard to follow the mandates. I don't even know. It's bizarre."

Smuin felt strongly enough to write a letter to the editor of the Penticton Western News.

"Business Leader of the year?! They must be joking," it begins.

And Smuin has been surprised by the response.

"Didn't realize it was going to blow up the way it did," she told KelownaNow.

"So far everybody who's reached out to me has been saying, 'Yeah! What's this about?'"

Monday afternoon, the chamber issued a news release, offering an explanation for their decision.

And it was pointed out that a detailed selection process was all wrapped up before the Public Health Order requiring vaccine passports came into place.

“We gave the judges in this category an option to revise their decision,” said Diane Kereluk, Executive Director.

“After much discussion, the judges decided to stay with their decision based on all the research and discussions they had with the finalists”.

The chamber president suggested that changing the selection would undermine the judging process.

"To allow one mistake, which was corrected by Mr. Agur, to overshadow all the significant contributions he made during the year for our community would not be compassionate and caring,” said Jonathan McGraw.

Smuin considered cancelling her membership in the Chamber of Commerce but stopped short of that because the business she manages depends on the insurance plan.

But she remains bewildered.

"What kind of a message is that sending to the community?' she wonders. "What does that say about us? It kind of speaks collectively for everyone, when that's not what everyone thinks, at all."

The Chamber is hoping that the message it sends is one of compassion at a divisive time.

"We need to show tolerance when a fellow business leader makes a mistake," said McGraw.

Bad Tattoo's Lee Agur, is not offering any comment.