ELORA – The annual Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce Awards of Excellence Gala, presented by OLG, was to be held earlier this year in May.
While initially the plan was to postpone into the fall, it is still unclear whether a gala-style event will be acceptable at that time.
The chamber developed a plan to bring the Awards of Excellence Award Show to the Centre Wellington community, drive-in movie style, on July 23 from 8pm to 11pm, in the Grand River Raceway parking lot.
“Because the adjudication process was complete in early March, we found ourselves sitting on a list of winners’ names, and are excited to have found a creative way to finally announce these to the community in what we hope is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Katie Giddy, chair of the adjudication committee.
Thorough precautions will be in place, including drive thru registration, parking every other space, limiting capacity to 90 vehicles, and having attendees remain in their vehicles at all times.
To inquire about availability and tickets email events@cwchamber.ca.
“While we will miss the usual networking element of this popular event, we hope to engage attendees in new and unique ways as we gather at a distance and celebrate the successes of the Centre Wellington business community,” said Sally Litchfield, event planner with the Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce.
The adjusted version of this event would not be possible without the support of the volunteer committee, key partners from the community including OLG, the Grand River Agricultural Society and The Grand at 101, and specialty sponsors Burke’s Tent Rental’s, Mallot Creek Group, Motion Electrical Contracting, RLB, Skyline Group of Companies, and the Township of Centre Wellington.
This year’s nominees include:
Agriculture – Agri-Business: award sponsored by Grand River Agricultural Society
– Best Baa Dairy Limited
– Uprooted Farm
Business Beautification: award sponsored by Heritage River
– Elements Casino Grand River
– Inner Joy Getaways Inc.
– Karger Gallery
– Mallot Creek Group
Business of the Year: award sponsored by RBC
– ONE AXE Inc.
– Optimum Integrative Health Centre,
– RLB LLP
Citizen of the Year: award sponsored by the Township of Centre Wellington
– Joe Van den Borre
– McKim Ecclestone
– Neil Armstrong
Community Social Responsibility: award sponsored by The Ostic Group
– Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington
– Optim Financial Solutions
– Pinetree Pet Resort
– Save Our Water
Corporate Citizen of the Year: award sponsored by SV Law
– Nicole Drake Wright
– Skyline Group of Companies
Cultural, Arts, Tourism Impact: award sponsored by EFG Inc.
– Highland Pines Campground
– Inner Joy Getaways Inc.
– The Grand at 101.1 FM
Customer Service Excellence: award sponsored by Baker Tilly
– Burke’s Tent Rentals
– Canadian Tire Store – Fergus
– Dar’s Country Market
– Drexler Travel
– Elora Physiotherapy
– Nicole Drake Wright
– Optimum Integrative Health Centre
– Refreshed and Refined Staging and Design
– Remedy’s RX
– Shortreed Auto Centre Ltd
Environmental Excellence: award sponsored by TD Bank
– Jefferson Elora Corporation
– Nicole Drake Wright
– ReStore Fergus (Habitat for Humanity)
Not for Profit: award sponsored by Highland Pines
– Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington
– Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games
– Portage – Elora
Skilled Trades or Professional: award sponsored by Wightman
– Ken Ferrier – The Travelling Handyman
– Mark Martin Complete Home Exteriors
Young Entrepreneur: award sponsored by Bensol Consulting
– Ashton Martin
– Fresh Box Market
Youth Citizen of the Year: award sponsored by Rotary Club Fergus Elora
– Abigail Taylor
– Rachel Routly
