Gala event for fifth annual show set for March 27 at Algonquin Theatre

Officials with the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce are thrilled at the number of nominations received for the fifth Annual Bell Business Excellence Awards.  

“The response has been overwhelming. I’m so impressed with the business community and customers who support each other,” said chamber president Simon Bevan. “The willingness to recognize those who excel in areas such as customer service, community pride and economic enhancement is exactly what the awards are all about.”

The chamber received 135 nominations, the second-most the awards program has ever received.  

Bevan said now that the nominations have closed, the selection committee can begin the judging process.  

An independent panel comprised of local business people will complete the judging of the nominees in each award category. No member of the panel will have a direct familial or financial involvement with any of the finalists selected.

The judging panel will complete its deliberation and select an award recipient in each category.

Due diligence may include an interview and/or site visit. The decisions of the judges are final and will be communicated to the chamber’s general manager for purposes of finalizing award arrangements only.

The Business Excellence Awards is a program created to recognize business individuals and companies who have set standards and demonstrated achievements that have contributed to the prosperity and business development in Huntsville and Lake of Bays.

“The selection committee’s decision will remain confidential until the evening of the Bell Business Excellence Awards Gala on Thursday, March 27 at the Algonquin Theatre, where the award recipients of each category will be announced,” said Kelly Haywood, chamber general manager.

She also stated that the People’s Choice Award recipient will be chosen by a ballot vote by the gala attendees from all of the businesses that have been nominated in the 10 other award categories. Ballots will also be available for advance voting for the community at large at the chamber office, located at 8 West Street North, on Tuesday, March 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

 The nominees are as follows:

Company of the Year (0-5 employees) sponsored by Dreams Becoming Reality Marketing: ABC Scrap With Me; Brendish Computers; Cash-A-Cheque; Dwight Public Library; Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites; Invisible Fence Brand of Muskoka; Jane Marshall Flowers; Lee's Huntsville Esso; Portage Inn; Sheepstrings; Shelly Schedewitz - Sutton Group Muskoka Realty Inc.; Soapstones Handcrafted Soap and Skincare; Starshine Video Productions; Sunset Inn Motel; The Artsy Pear; The Big Bead; The Bookcase; Water's Edge Vacation Rentals.    

Company of the Year (6-30 employees) sponsored by TD Canada Trust: A&W Restaurant; Aroma Dining & Drinks; Best Western Muskoka Inn; Home Town Twins Pizza; Huntsville Home Hardware; KB Wood Products Ltd. / Wm. Nunn Woodworking; Lovegrove Construction & Design; Near North Business Machines; On the Docks Pub; Reflections of Muskoka; Seven Main Café & Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co.; That Little Place By the Lights; The Nutty Chocolatier.

Company of the Year (31+ employees) sponsored by 105.5 Moose FM Huntsville: Canadian Tire, MBRP Inc; Price Chopper; Robinson’s Independent Grocer; W. Robert Hutcheson Sand & Gravel Ltd.

Business Community Involvement sponsored by The Town of Huntsville’s economic development committee: Brent Stapleton - Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate; Doug Sullivan - The New Bickley Ford; John Burnside - King William Group/Thomas Cook Travel; Kelly Holinshead - The Shutterbug Gallery; Webster’s FoxPoint Enterprises.   

Business Leader of the Year sponsored by Assante Wealth Management: Will Gibson-TD Canada Trust; Jeff Suddaby - 3 Guys And A Stove; Ken Moser - Canadian Tire; Anne Larcade - Sequel Hotels and Resorts; Debbie Knobelsdorf - Westside Fish & Chips Family Restaurant.

Community Organization of the Year sponsored by Deerhurst Resort: Animal Shelter of Huntsville; Chrysalis; Community Living Huntsville; Huntsville Community Policing; Huntsville Festival of the Arts; Kirk Evans Memorial Foundation; The Salvation Army.       

New Business of the Year sponsored by Muskoka Futures: Farmer's Daughter Muskoka; Gemini Hair Studio & Day Spa; Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites; La Dolce Vita Trattoria; Northern Disposal & Sanitation.

Professional Business of the Year sponsored by Algonquin Animal Hospital: Drs John & Sharon Koncan; Duncan Ross Architect; Kenneth Donald & Associates; Maplewood Chiropractic; Marie Poirier Planning Association; Muskoka Animal Hospital; Scott Morrison - Century 21 Cottage Country Realty Inc.; Scotiabank Huntsville; Shelly Schedewitz - Sutton Group Muskoka Realty Inc.

Service Business of the Year sponsored by Saunders and Associates: Ahimsa; Algonquin Animal Hospital; BIG Print & Lamination Co. Inc; Blain Smith - Canadian Tire Auto Service; Cavalcade Color Lab; Clarke's Auto; Coffee Cabin; Cottage Country Flowers; Dreaming in Chocolate; Family Place Restaurant & Pizza; FITT Gym & Personal Training Studio; Seven Main Café & Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co.

Tourism Business of the Year sponsored by BDO Dunwoody LLP: Best Western Muskoka Inn; Delta Grandview Resort; Paddlefoot; Rock Ridge Recreational Park.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Algonquin Theatre box office at 789-4975. Tickets are $45 plus GST and include the TV Cogeco red carpet reception, Spencer's Tall Trees cocktail party in Partners Hall and awards gala, hosted by Huntsville’s own Ron Gostlin and featuring fabulous entertainment. Limited seating is available.