Chamber honors outstanding businesses, individuals

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Published May 10, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read

Brantford Chamber of Commerce
Local businesses, organizations and individuals were recognized for their contributions to the community at the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant Business Excellence Awards Gala held Thursday. Those who were honored and presented awards at the event include: Beth Luciani of Brant United Way; Lucy Marco, Grand River Council on Aging; Allan Lovett of Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon; Garnet Lasby, Massilly North America; Don Williamson, Oak House Benefits; Sara McLellan, Enterprise Brant; Lillian Lauritzen, Bell Canada; David Van Kooten, Organized Kaos; Karen Smiley, OLG; Natasha Dobler, Nova Vita Domestic Violence Services, Rino Bidenti, BDO, Rebecca Jamieson, Chris Rayfield, president, Chamber of Commerce; and Karen Adams, Conestoga College. Submitted

Businesses, individuals and organizations were honored for excellence at a special gala held Thursday night.

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Massilly North America was presented with the Waterous, Holden, Amey, Hitchon Company of the Year award at the 40th annual Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Business Excellence Awards.

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Massilly, which manufactures metal caps for the food and beverage industry at its plant on Elgin Street, has been growing since arriving in Brantford from Mississauga more than 10 years ago.

The other two companies of the year finalists were Mitsui High-tec (Canada) Inc. and Tigercat Industries Inc.

The Enterprise Brant Entrepreneur of the Year award was awarded to Don Williamson of Oak House Benefits. Finalists in the entrepreneur of the year category included Tyler Schneider of Guru Training Centers Brantford, and Candace Huntley of SongBird Marketing Communications.

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The OLG Diversity, Equity & Inclusion award was presented to Nova Vita Domestic Violence Prevention Services. The finalists included Child and Family Services of Grand Erie and Contact North.

Following is a list of the remaining award winners:

  • The Bell Community Builder Award: Winner Organized Kaos; finalists; Joshua Wall of The Crew Real Estate; BioPed Footcare Brantford.
  • The Brant United Way presented the Not-for-Profit Resilience and Business Acumen Award: Winner Grand River Council on Aging. Finalists: SOAR Community Services; Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Grand Erie, Halton & Hamilton.
  • David Baxter Memorial Award for Individual Outstanding Achievement, presented by Conestoga College: Rebecca Jamieson, of Six Nations Polytechnic.

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Established in 1985, the business excellence awards gala is the chamber’s first annual event.

Initially, one award was presented to one company.

The award criteria expanded in 1990 to include smaller companies.

The categories were changed in 1996 to include a company award as well as an entrepreneur award. These categories, combined with the community builder and individual outstanding achievement awards, more appropriately reflect the chamber’s membership profile.

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award was introduced in 2022 and the Not-for-Profit Resiliency and Business Acumen Award was added in 2023.

More than 280 people attended Thursday’s ceremony at TownePlace Suites by Marriott Brantford and Conference Centre.

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