CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce has announced the nominees for this year’s Awards of Excellence, along with its plan for an in-person gala.
“Our goal is, as always, to recognize our nominees, sponsors, and winners to the best of our ability, with a reach that extends to the far corners of the CW community and beyond,” stated chamber general manager Sally Litchfield in a press release.
“We’re returning to in-person with a big splash, but we’re also keeping some of the elements that we added over the past two years through our pivot.”
The event, which takes place May 31 at the GrandWay Events Centre in Elora, will be in-person and livestreamed this year. Online viewing will be free.
Ashley-Ann Maginnis, chair of the adjudication committee, said 96 nominations were submitted this year – “the highest amount we’ve ever received.”
After duplicate nominations were whittled down and some nominees decided not to stand, there are 66 nominations in 11 categories:
- Agriculture-Agri-business – Lau-tea-da Lentils, Lighthouse Lemonade, Thatcher Farms, and Wilton Consulting Group;
- Business of the Year – Ambiances Gourmandes, Centre Wellington Dental, Centre Wellington Remedy’s Rx, Colleen Hardie RMT, CW Racquets, ETP Canada, It’s a Beautiful Life Boutique, JR Security Solutions, Mantech, My Next Promo, Seasons Home and Gift, Shift Family Health Centre, The Scented Market, Violet and Ash Candle Co., and Wightman Telecom;
- Citizen of the Year – Kristen Drexler, Neil Dunsmore, Garth Green, Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy, and Peter Skoggard;
- Community Social Responsibility – 100 Women Who Care Centre Wellington, Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora, and The Elora Mill;
- Corporate Citizen of the Year – Ecclestone Financial Group, Infinity Marketing and Design, and The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs;
- Cultural, Arts, Tourism impact – Elora Community Theatre, Elora Distilling Company, The Elora Singers, and The Friendly Society;
- Customer Service Excellence – 7 Seas to See Travel, Centre Wellington Remedy’s Rx, Elora Physiotherapy, ETP Canada, Fergus Educational Services, Refreshed and Refined Interiors, St. Andrew Pharmacy, and The Scented Market;
- Employer of the Year – BLR Drafting & Design, Centre Wellington Remedy’s Rx, Dr. Maura McKeown and Associates, Fergies Fine Foods, Motion Electrical Contracting, Nicole Drake Wright Your Fairy Godmother, and RLB Chartered Professional Accountants;
- Envrionmental Excellence – 3 Beets to the Winds Farm, Fusion Thetics, Skyline Group of Companies, and Spiral Farms;
- Not for Profit – 2nd Chance Fergus, Centre Wellington Rotary Club, Community Resource Centre, Elora Centre for the Arts, and Wellington Pregnancy Care Centre;
- Tradesperson – Jonathan Parkinson – Parkinson Plumbing Ltd., Natalie’s Painting, and Ray Sullivan – Sullivan Plumbing and Heating;
- Young Entrepreneur – JR Security Solutions, Nathan Skoufis, and Parkinson’s Plumbing Ltd.; and
- Youth Citizen of the Year – Abby Graham, and Tori Lawson.
Nominees are recognized for accomplishments achieved in 2021.
The awards will also recognize businesses that have been in business locally for 10, 25 or 40 years and those that opened during the pandemic.
The gala is slated to run from 5:30 to 10pm on May 31 at The GrandWay Events Centre. Tickets are $75 plus HST. Call 519-843-5140 x222 to order.
The livestream link will be updated on the chamber website closer to the event.
For more information, visit www.cwchamber.ca/events. Email events@cwchamber.ca with questions.
