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.
Derek Kerwin, winer of the
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

Sustainability Award winner Eleathiea Semmens of Green Storage Orillia

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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

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