CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce has put out the call for nominations for this year’s Awards of Excellence.
There are 15 categories and executive director Sally Litchfield says she hopes the nominations start pouring in.
“We have 20 nominations already. Last year we received 80 nominations so this year my lofty goal is 100,” she said.
Categories include:
– Agricultural/Business Award;
– Business of the Year;
– Citizen of the Year;
– Community Social Responsibility;
– Corporate Citizen of the Year;
– Cultural, Arts, Tourism Impact Award;
– Customer Service Excellence Award;
-Environmental Excellence Award;
– Employer of the Year;
– Not-for-profit or Charity Award;
– Tradesperson Award;
– Young Entrepreneur of the Year;
– Youth Citizen of the Year (formerly the Alvin Shortt Award);
– President’s Award; and
– 10-, 20- and 40-Year Long Service Awards.
“Winning is cool, but I think being nominated is really important,” Litchfield said.
“We want to do something special for all the nominees this year.”
The plan is for a hybrid gala on May 31, with an in-person gala at the GrandWay Events Centre in Elora.
Ticket price has not been set but it will include dinner and entertainment.
But the event will also be live-streamed and those who participate virtually can do so for free.
The in-person event will be built around capacity and what public health allows at the time, Litchfield said. But even at 50 per cent capacity, the venue can handle 150 people and that’s enough to make it special and worthwhile.
The live-streamed gala was well attended last year and they are keeping that component.
“We reached 5,000 people. Live-streaming allows a lot of people to attend, people who normally wouldn’t attend the gala, so we’re going to keep that aspect,” she said.
It’s been a challenging landscape for business owners these past two years.
To recognize that, the chamber is also recognizing 10-year-old businesses in the long service category and new businesses who marked their first anniversary in 2021.
“Anyone starting a business in 2020 deserves recognition,” she said.
The 2022 awards are for accomplishments in 2021. Anyone can nominate a business and businesses don’t have to be chamber members to be eligible.
Deadline for nominations is Feb. 25.
For further information on the gala, the awards, or to nominate a business, visit www.cwchamber.ca/events.
