Local companies feted at Excellence in Business awards ceremony
The Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrated local companies at its 29th annual Excellence in Business awards gala on Thursday evening.
Presented during small business week, the awards recognize outstanding quality, innovation and professionalism at both large and small companies within the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
The following is the list of award winners and finalists in their respective categories from the gala ceremony held at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre:
• Business of the Year: M.E.T.I (Maritime Environmental Training Institute);
finalists were Black Spoon Bistro, City Print+, Highland Arts Theatre
• Rose Schwartz Female Business Person of the Year: Valerie Sampson, owner of RE/MAX Park Place; finalists were Jen Maher of Island Chiropractic, Sherry Finney of Escape Outdoors, Yellowdog Studio, Higher Grounds Café and The Cellar Bar
• Irving Schwartz Male Business Person of the Year: Robert Sampson, partner at law firm Sampson McPhee; finalists were Craig Boudreau of J. Francis Investments, Gary Chant of MECO Construction
• New Business of the Year: Anchored Ideas Ltd.; finalists were Higher Grounds Café and The Cellar Bar, The Mermaid Kitchen, Portside Beer Garden
• Jack Yazer Young Entrepreneur
of the Year: Meghan Finney, owner of La Quaintrelle, part owner of Escape Outdoors, and partner at Higher Grounds Café and Cellar Bar; finalists were Alison Harvey of Paramount Pharmasave, Brian Howley and Melissa MacDonough of Cabot Physiotherapy, Emily Pelley of Subway restaurants
• Beyond Borders Export Business of the Year: Advanced Glazings; finalists were Copol International, Lisa Young Lee
• Innovation and Advancement Award: A Better Bite Community Kitchen; finalists were Live Ship Logistics, Health Outcomes Worldwide, Advanced Glazings
• Social Enterprise of the Year: Crossroads Cape Breton; finalists were A Better Bite Community Kitchen, Haley Street Adult Services
Centre Society
• Community Impact Award: Flavor Creative Catering and Fine Foods; finalists were Sydney Credit Union, Governor’s Pub and Eatery, Sydco Fuels Ltd.
• Workplace Excellence Award: Copal International Ltd.; finalists were Breton Brewing Co., New Dawn Homecare, Nova Scotia Community College Marconi campus
People’s Choice Awards:
• Favorite Place to Dine: Flavor Group of Restaurants
• Favorite Place to Shop: Charlene’s Nutrition Centre
• CBRM Ambassador: Michelle Wilson
• Best Effort to Improve the CBRM: Sydney Waterfront District Association
• Best Community Project: Lumière Art-at-Night Festival