ARTICLE
The rock stars of local business took center stage at the McIntyre Arena on May 11, joined by a crowd of more than 700 people in celebration of the 2018 Nova Business Excellence Awards. Hosted by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, the sold-out gala once again cemented its status as the largest business awards event in northern Ontario, with 16 local firms and entrepreneurs honoured across a range of categories. The concert theme of “Business Takes the Stage” was used throughout the evening to help showcase the many ways that entrepreneurs are Timmins’ unsung rock stars, said Jamie Clarke, president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce. “The Nova Awards are an important reminder of the many ways that our businesses work in harmony to make Timmins truly great,” said Clarke. “All of the entrepreneurs featured this evening, from the finalists to the recipients, truly deserve our applause, and it’s clear from tonight’s packed house that Timmins clearly agrees.” Chamber past president Art Pultz once again served as the event’s emcee and front man, marking the 15th time in the event’s 16-year history he has overseen the awards ceremony. Pultz helped to highlight the slate of more than 40 finalists who were honoured throughout the evening. The Nova Awards recipients were carefully selected from a record-breaking 160 nominations by a committee of six independent community judges. These judges determine the award recipients based on the quality of the submissions; to ensure the validity of the results, this is done without any input or influence from the Chamber Board of Directors or staff. This independence also helps to make the event one that truly belongs to the community, said Clarke. “They might not be putting out Top 40 hits or selling out cross-Canada tours, but we can clearly see from these honourees that Timmins’ business owners and entrepreneurs deserve just as much recognition, given the incredible things they do in our community. Each one helps make Timmins a better place to work, live, and play, and we’re thrilled to help shine a spotlight on their performance.” A photo gallery of the 2018 Nova Awards, spanning the finalists’ reception to the awards ceremony and post-event celebration, will be available at the Chamber’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TimminsChamber on Friday, May 11. The recipients of the 2018 Nova Awards, and those who accepted on their behalf, are as follows: BMT Insurance & Financial Services Business Contribution to the Community Award (1-5 Employees) Sponsored by BMT Insurance & Financial Services The Sandbox Kori Ferrigan, owner The Venture Centre Business Contribution to the Community Award (6-10 Employees) Sponsored by The Venture Centre Vets Taxi & Dispatch Services Inc. Rick Lafleur, president NorthernTel Business Contribution to the Community Award (11+ Employees) Sponsored by NorthernTel Discover Fitness with Kate Durst Inc. / Crossfit Timmins Kate Durst, owner, and Lisa Tremblay, manager of operations and personnel FNETB Best Place to Work Award Sponsored by the Far Northeast Training Board Great White North Technology Consulting Inc. Paul Brunet, CEO Collège Boréal Young Professional Award (Under 40) Sponsored by Collège Boréal Johny and Justin Bonney, Timmins Wake Park RBC Marketing Award Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank Holy Cow Indian Cuisine Terry McGaghran, owner National Bank Innovation Award Sponsored by National Bank EACOM Timber Corporation Marc Fleury, mill manager Northern College Service Excellence Award Sponsored by Northern College Miron-Wilson Funeral Home Michael Wilson, president and managing funeral director Caisse populaire Alliance New Business Award (Under 2 Years) Sponsored by Caisse populaire Alliance INEOS Calabrian Guy Graine, Canadian operations manager TD Bank Group Business of the Year Award (1-5 Employees) Sponsored by TD Bank Group Restore Physiotherapy Timmins Scott Alexander and Patricia Ferrari, co-owners Scotiabank Business of the Year Award (6-10 Employees) Sponsored by Scotiabank Radical Gardens Brianna Humphrey and Steve McIntosh, co-owners Kidd Operations Business of the Year Award (11+ Employees) Sponsored by Kidd Operations JTR & Custom Works Inc. Joelle Charbonneau, operations manager De Beers Canada Indigenous Partnership Award Sponsored by De Beers Canada NORCAT Ken Stewart, manager, training and development City of Timmins Non-Profit Organization Award Sponsored by the City of Timmins Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins Jennifer Vachon, executive director, and Eleanor Baccega, chair OPG Lifetime Business Achievement Award Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation GORF Manufacturing/Contracting Inc. Mark Norkum, president and CEO President’s Award Sponsored by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce Full Beard Brewing Co. Jonathan St-Pierre, founder and co-owner, and Benjie Potvin, brewery general manager and co-owner -30- About the Timmins Chamber of Commerce With 700 members, the Timmins Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest accredited chambers of commerce with distinction in northeastern Ontario. As the “Voice of Business in Timmins” since 1949, our advocacy and policy initiatives focus on ensuring a positive business climate in the City of Timmins. Contact: Nick Stewart Manager of Policy, Research and Communications Timmins Chamber of Commerce (705) 360-1900 policy@timminschamber.on.ca
The rock stars of local business took center stage at the McIntyre Arena on May 11, joined by a crowd of more than 700 people in celebration of the 2018 Nova Business Excellence Awards.
Hosted by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, the sold-out gala once again cemented its status as the largest business awards event in northern Ontario, with 16 local firms and entrepreneurs honoured across a range of categories.
The concert theme of “Business Takes the Stage” was used throughout the evening to help showcase the many ways that entrepreneurs are Timmins’ unsung rock stars, said Jamie Clarke, president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.
“The Nova Awards are an important reminder of the many ways that our businesses work in harmony to make Timmins truly great,” said Clarke.
“All of the entrepreneurs featured this evening, from the finalists to the recipients, truly deserve our applause, and it’s clear from tonight’s packed house that Timmins clearly agrees.”
Chamber past president Art Pultz once again served as the event’s emcee and front man, marking the 15th time in the event’s 16-year history he has overseen the awards ceremony. Pultz helped to highlight the slate of more than 40 finalists who were honoured throughout the evening.
The Nova Awards recipients were carefully selected from a record-breaking 160 nominations by a committee of six independent community judges. These judges determine the award recipients based on the quality of the submissions; to ensure the validity of the results, this is done without any input or influence from the Chamber Board of Directors or staff. This independence also helps to make the event one that truly belongs to the community, said Clarke.
“They might not be putting out Top 40 hits or selling out cross-Canada tours, but we can clearly see from these honourees that Timmins’ business owners and entrepreneurs deserve just as much recognition, given the incredible things they do in our community. Each one helps make Timmins a better place to work, live, and play, and we’re thrilled to help shine a spotlight on their performance.”
A photo gallery of the 2018 Nova Awards, spanning the finalists’ reception to the awards ceremony and post-event celebration, will be available at the Chamber’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TimminsChamber on Friday, May 11.
The recipients of the 2018 Nova Awards, and those who accepted on their behalf, are as follows:
BMT Insurance & Financial Services Business Contribution to the Community Award (1-5 Employees) Sponsored by BMT Insurance & Financial Services
The Sandbox Kori Ferrigan, owner
The Venture Centre Business Contribution to the Community Award (6-10 Employees) Sponsored by The Venture Centre
Vets Taxi & Dispatch Services Inc. Rick Lafleur, president
NorthernTel Business Contribution to the Community Award (11+ Employees) Sponsored by NorthernTel
Discover Fitness with Kate Durst Inc. / Crossfit Timmins Kate Durst, owner, and Lisa Tremblay, manager of operations and personnel
FNETB Best Place to Work Award
Sponsored by the Far Northeast Training Board
Great White North Technology Consulting Inc. Paul Brunet, CEO
Collège Boréal Young Professional Award (Under 40) Sponsored by Collège Boréal
Johny and Justin Bonney, Timmins Wake Park
RBC Marketing Award Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank
Holy Cow Indian Cuisine Terry McGaghran, owner
National Bank Innovation Award Sponsored by National Bank
EACOM Timber Corporation Marc Fleury, mill manager
Northern College Service Excellence Award
Sponsored by Northern College
Miron-Wilson Funeral Home Michael Wilson, president and managing funeral director
Caisse populaire Alliance New Business Award (Under 2 Years)
Sponsored by Caisse populaire Alliance
INEOS Calabrian Guy Graine, Canadian operations manager
TD Bank Group Business of the Year Award
(1-5 Employees)
Sponsored by TD Bank Group
Restore Physiotherapy Timmins
Scott Alexander and Patricia Ferrari, co-owners
Scotiabank Business of the Year Award
(6-10 Employees)
Sponsored by Scotiabank
Radical Gardens Brianna Humphrey and Steve McIntosh, co-owners
Kidd Operations Business of the Year Award (11+ Employees) Sponsored by Kidd Operations
JTR & Custom Works Inc. Joelle Charbonneau, operations manager
De Beers Canada Indigenous
Partnership Award
Sponsored by De Beers Canada
NORCAT Ken Stewart, manager, training and development
City of Timmins Non-Profit
Organization Award
Sponsored by the City of Timmins
Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins Jennifer Vachon, executive director, and Eleanor Baccega, chair
OPG Lifetime Business Achievement Award Sponsored by Ontario Power Generation
GORF Manufacturing/Contracting Inc. Mark Norkum, president and CEO
President’s Award Sponsored by the Timmins Chamber of Commerce
Full Beard Brewing Co. Jonathan St-Pierre, founder and co-owner, and Benjie Potvin, brewery general manager and co-owner
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About the Timmins Chamber of Commerce
With 700 members, the Timmins Chamber of Commerce is one of the largest accredited chambers of commerce with distinction in northeastern Ontario. As the “Voice of Business in Timmins” since 1949, our advocacy and policy initiatives focus on ensuring a positive business climate in the City of Timmins.
Contact: Nick Stewart Manager of Policy, Research and Communications Timmins Chamber of Commerce (705) 360-1900 policy@timminschamber.on.ca