Chamber Awards Night
By John Swartz
The Orillia District Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Achievement Awards Thursday evening at the Orillia Opera House.
There were 41 businesses and individuals nominated for awards in 15 Categories. There were several new awards categories this year. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award was given to Grace Schofield of Pocket Skate and Vintage. Her award was presented by sponsors Mark and Blake Fletcher of Cloud Gallery and Mary Louise Noce of Georgian College.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner Grace Schofield, flanked by Mark Fletcher (Cloud Gallery), Mary Louise Noce (Georgian College and Blake Fletcher. Cloud Gallery also won the Small Business of the Year Award.
Chris Bellchambers Hats Off Award
Also new, the Diversity and Inclusion Award went to Bent Law Legal Services. The Not for Profit / Charitable Organization Award was given to Hospice Orillia, and the Employer of the Year award was received by De Palma and Associates Legal Services.
The renamed Chris Bellchambers Hats Off Award, given to an individual who makes an outstanding contribution to the community was given to Derek Kerwin of Men In Kilts for his charity work. He created a fund, Sentinel Canada, which is used to help abused and bullied children.
McLean and Dickey Insurance, founded in 1922 picked up the Milestone Award (formerly the Longevity Award) in the category with the most nominations.
Other award winners are:
Business Growth Award De Palma and Associates Legal Services Services
Innovation Award Awake
Customer Service Award Will Marshall Insurance Brokers
Sustainability Award Green Storage Orillia
Strengthening Orillia and Lake Country Award McLean and Dickey Insurance
Entrepreneur of the Year Award Dawn Nita, DWN Craft Chocolatier
Small Business of the Year Award Cloud Gallery
New Business of the Year Award Paper Planes Play Café
Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award Paris Vision Care
Approximately 100 people attended the ceremony.
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia) Main: Kim Stevenson, Linda Ashby, Stephanie O’Halloran, Danielle Tisi and Cat Van Arem of McLean and Dickey Insurance at the 2023 Chamber of Commerce Awards night
