April 16, 2009

Oakville Awards for Business Excellence

Oakville Today 

 

At a gala celebration at the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre on April 2, almost 400 of Oakville’s business community gathered to shine the spotlight on this year’s winners of the 14th annual Oakville Awards for Business Excellence.

The awards recognize local businesses for the invaluable contribution they make to the community’s economic development. Six local businesses were awarded the prestigious trophies, recognizing business excellence amongst a variety of levels of enterprise in Oakville. This year’s winners are:

Entrepreneur of the Year:
Company of Women
In the judges’ words: Anne Day is recognized as a gifted person with crystal clear vision and drive. A person with empathy for all and an ability to get most everything done with love, efficiency and flair.

This award was presented by Frank Apa, President, Lexus of Oakville, Platinum Sponsor.
Runner Up for Entrepreneur of the Year: Laser Networks.

Large Company of the Year:
Freeze Dry Foods

In the judges’ words: A proven needed business that has grown internationally and sustained itself profitably for more than 40 years.

Small Company of the Year:
N2 Ingredients

In the judges’ words: N2 Ingredients is a strategically managed high growth company in the organic ingredients field.
Runner Up for Small Company of the Year: Cameron’s Brewery

Professional and other
Service Provider of the Year:
Home Instead Senior Care

In the judges’ words: An extraordinary successful franchise which provides innovative senior care and services.
Runner Up for Professional and other Service Provider of the Year: Growth Advisors Inc.

Restauranteur of the Year:
Oliver’s
In the judges’ words: Oliver’s offers sustained excellence and tradition in Oakville, plus true cuisine excellence.

Environmental Leadership:
Fifth Light Technology
In the judges’ words: A unique high tech company, growing with the need for energy distribution efficiency and conservation.

The Oakville Awards for Business Excellence is jointly presented by The Rotary Club of Oakville West and The Oakville Chamber of Commerce. This annual event has always been a fundraiser, where all the proceeds go towards helping youth realize their dreams and be the best they can be. The disbursement of OABE funds touches many Rotary and Oakville youth programs. This year’s recipients will include:  

  • The Oakville Awards for Academic Excellence (scholarships and bursaries to graduating students of Oakville’s public and Catholic high schools)
  • Kerr Street Ministries
  • Oakville Youth Development Centre
  • Grade Three Dictionary Program
  • Camp Enterprise
  • Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
  • Sheridan College (this year’s “new” scholarship will recognize a student who has demonstrated excellence in terms of volunteer work within the college)

To date, more than $350,000 in funding has been donated toward, and invested into the futures of, deserving Oakville youth.

This year’s awards program had many sponsors, including Lexus of Oakville as its Platinum Sponsor; CIBC and the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre as Diamond Level Sponsors, and SnapOn Tools of Canada, Virox Technologies and Cogeco Community TV as Gold sponsors. Their support is greatly appreciated.