KAWARTHA LAKES-The Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce & presenting sponsor Cogeco held the 2021 Award of Excellence on Friday, November 12th at Celebrations in Lindsay, with support from multiple local sponsors.
More than 50 people were in attendance at the Chamber’s annual awards event that honours local businesses, showing that it is more important than ever to celebrate our local business community and volunteers. Nominations are judged by a panel outside of our community, composed of Chamber of Commerce professionals across North America.
Police officer Jon Perrin won the Citizen of the Year award, sponsored by IG Wealth Management, at the 2021 Awards of Excellence on Friday night. Perrin and his wife, Jennifer, have established a non-profit called the Twisted Trauma Foundation, which works to improve mental health support locally.
Perrin, who himself lives with PTSD after experiencing work-related trauma while on the job, was visibly moved by the show of support for his work with the standing ovations he received, one while he made his way to the stage and the second just prior to saying a few words of appreciation. Perrin noted that the amazing support of his wife Jennifer has everything to do with him receiving such an honour and credited the award to her as well.
The Business Leader of the Year award, sponsored by Cogeco, was given to Diane Steven, manager at the municipal Kawartha Lakes Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (KLSBEC). The centre helps business start-ups and existing businesses by assisting with business plan development, regulations and licensing, training, market research, marketing, financial and cash flow development, and expansion. Steven has been the manager at the KLSBEC office since it began nearly 20 years ago. 7 of the 15 award winners on Friday evening have been clients of Steven’s.
This year the Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Stewart Morrison Insurance, was the newest award category. Marlene Morrison Nicholls was proud to present the award to the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team’s Executive Director, Aasif Khakoo. The LDCC was one of the first organizations in our area to recognize the importance and need for educating our community about the benefits of welcoming diversity in our region. Morrison Nicholls and then-president Mike Perry were instrumental in creating this program
The 2021 Awards of Excellence Winners:
Agriculture Excellence
Sponsor: LDCC
Mariposa Woolen Mill
Arts & Culture Excellence
Sponsor: LDCC
Kawartha Art Gallery
Customer Service Excellence
Sponsor: CIBC
Fresh FueLL
Diversity & Inclusion Excellence
Sponsor: Stewart Morrison Insurance
City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team
Employer of the Year
Sponsor: Cogeco Your TV
Pinchin Ltd.
Health & Wellness
Sponsor: RBC
Kawartha Care Wellness
Innovation Excellence
NanoNation Canada
Kawartha Lakes Food Source
Marketing Excellence
Sponsor: Bounce Radio
Matty G Digital Marketing
Media Excellence
Sponsor: Ward Legal
Lindsay Advocate
New Business of the Year
Sponsor: Lindsay Advocate
Browning Reptiles
Not for Profit Excellence
Sponsor: LDCC
Kawartha Lakes Food Source
Tourism Excellence
Sponsor: LDCC
Days Inn Lindsay
Youth Excellence
Sponsor: Flato Developments
BGC Kawartha Lakes Youth Warehouse
Business Leader of the Year
Sponsor: Cogeco
Diane Steven
Citizen of the Year
Sponsor: IG Wealth
Jon Perrin
