Meet Klaus and Angelika Posselt, owners of the Tahtsa Group.

Although the Lakes District area has been their home for the past few decades, they both immigrated from Germany.

Klaus moved to Canada when he was 11 years old - in 1970 -, and Angelika came later, at the age of 22 - in 1981.

But their story begins even before they were born, since their mothers became close friends at the age of 17.

鈥淲e鈥檝e always known each other,鈥� described Angelika. 鈥淥ur families have always been friends.鈥�

When their very first company - Klaus Posselt Logging - was created in 1981, Klaus and Angelika had no idea how far their business ventures would take them.

鈥淲e started with a logging truck,鈥� said Angelica. 鈥淎nd that was it.鈥�

鈥淚t was never really my intent [to have a business for a long time],鈥� said Klaus. 鈥淚 thought I would do that for five years and go back to school鈥� but then school never happened.鈥�

The logging business began as a way to support Klaus鈥� family ranch, which was located in the Southside area at the time. Klaus said those days didn鈥檛 come without difficulties.

鈥淲e were trying to support the farm,鈥� said Klaus. 鈥淚t was extremely tight for money and we lived on nothing.鈥�

The Tahtsa Group today includes five different companies - located in 亚洲天堂 Lake, Houston, Clearwater and Vancouver Island - and employs approximately 130 people.

In 1990, the couple moved to the 亚洲天堂 Lake area and have remained here ever since. When asked why they chose to live here, Klaus and Angelika had a simple but genuine answer.

"This is home."

Klaus added that they saw plenty of opportunity in this area.

鈥淪omehow we thought we could make a difference in this community more than anywhere else in the world,鈥� said Klaus.

鈥淭here are lots of beautiful places in the world, but we decided that this area would suit us the best,鈥� he added. 鈥淭he longer you are in a certain area, the more likely you are to see opportunities there.鈥�

The couple said volunteering has made their time in 亚洲天堂 Lake much more meaningful. The overachieving couple somehow found time to volunteer in a number of organizations, including the 亚洲天堂 Lake Civil Air Search and Rescue, 亚洲天堂 Lake Rotary Club, Lakes District Airport Society, Lakes District Healthcare Advisory Committee, 亚洲天堂 Lake and District Chamber of Commerce, the 亚洲天堂 Lake Public Library, Land Resource Management Group and the Rural Post-Secondary Education Committee.

鈥淚f you don鈥檛 do that [volunteer], you鈥檒l have nothing here,鈥� said Klaus.

The couple was recently honoured with the lifetime achievement award, which is part of the 亚洲天堂 Lake business excellence awards.

鈥淲e felt very touched and honoured that they recognized and appreciated us.鈥�