The Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce has announced the finalists for their Annual Business Achievement Awards. During the month of February the Chamber accepted nominations from Chamber members and the general public. The top three in each category have been named as finalists.
The award recipients will be announced at the Chamber Awards Gala on Saturday, April 28, at the 60th Anniversary and Business Achievement Awards Gala. Planning Committee Chair and UOVCC Board President Maria Morena-Church, says the gala is the premier business event of the year.
“We once again have received some excellent nominations which, speaks volumes to the quality of businesses and community leaders we have in the Upper Ottawa Valley,” she said. “Those who have been selected as finalists should be very proud and we are all very excited to see who the award recipients will be at this year’s gala.”
This year’s event combines the 60th Anniversary of the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Annual Business Achievement Awards. It will include some new categories of awards as well.
There will be 13 awards plus the Lifetime Achievement Award handed out that evening.
Nominees for Small Business of the Year are Das Studio, The Sutherland Team and Valley Smokehouse.
Large Business of the Year nominees are Giant Tiger Pembroke, Hyska’s YIG and Murphy Ford.
Das Studio, John A Butler Photography and Paperback Events vie for the Creative Services Award.
Nominated in the Professional Services category are Dwight Montgomery, Northern Credit Union and The Sutherland Team.
In the Excellence in Agri-business, Farming or Rural Achievement category the 3 finalists are, BMO – Bank of Montreal, Hugli`s Blueberry Farm and Kula`s Permaculture Farm.
The Excellence in Construction and Trade has Alair Homes Renfrew, Greenwood Paving and TCB Construction as the finalists.
The following categories are all new for this year. In the Excellence in Food, Wine or Hospitality category we have Janna`s Gallery Café, The Nook and Ullrich`s.
The 3 finalists in Excellence in Tourism, Events or Promoting category are Ottawa Valley Craft Beer Festival, Pembroke Business Improvement Area and the Upper Ottawa River Race and Paddle Fest.
Algonquin College, Jeanne-Lajoie and Valour are all finalists in the Excellence in Education category.
Employee of the Year category has Elissa Rosene, Emma Pesme and Jessica Videto competing to see who will become the first recipient of this award.
Best Community Impact Award has Pembroke Business Improvement Area, Robbie Dean Family Counselling Centre and Tammy Blackmore as the 3 finalists.
Crazy Beautiful Dresses, Discount Car & Truck Rentals and Ottawa Valley Apparel are vying for the Customer Focus Award.
Our last new category is Start Up Superstar and has as its finalists Anna`s Lingerie and Swimwear, Sugar Society and Wilkie`s Fresh Bake Bread.
Our big award of the evening is the Lifetime Business Achievement Award. It is presented to a person or people who have been involved in business for a minimum of 25 years, a proven commitment to doing business in the Upper Ottawa Valley, shown dedication to their employees and broader community, has demonstrated business leadership and sound business practices and has been recognized by their industry/colleagues or governing body. This year’s recipients are Gerald and Ron Tracey of the Eganville Leader.
The event will be held at the Rankin Culture and Recreation Centre and will start at 5:30 pm with cocktails (cash bar) and hors d’oeuvres catered by The Kitchen Eatery & Catering Company. A 3 course served dinner with wine will be at 6:30 pm. The awards ceremony will start after dinner. The awards presentation will be taped by YourTV and re-broadcast at a later date on the community television station throughout Renfrew County.
Tickets can be purchased on-line through the UOV Chamber of Commerce website at www.uovchamber.com . The cost of tickets are: $105 (hst included) for Chamber Members, their spouses/partners and staff. The cost for non-Chamber businesses or the General Public is $120/person (hst included). For additional information call the Chamber office at 613-732-1492.
