OUT and ABOUT with Seeker Chick Mai-Liis attended the 2025 Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce 38th Annual Business Excellence Awards and 54th Citizen of the Year. The event took place at the Best Western Inn in Cornwall on Friday, November 6th with the title sponsor being Cogeco. This was a glamorous event MCd by Bill Halman and organized and decorated so professionally by Angela Bero, Ross Butterworth and Jacob Pilon from the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. As stated by the Chamber, this is an event, ” Recognizing the businesses, visionaries, and community pillars driving regional growth and leadership” and the Cabaret Room at the Best Western was certainly full from wall to wall!
Words of welcome came from Mayor Justin Towndale, MP Eric Duncan via video but unfortunately the video wasn’t working but we all know that Eric would have attended in person if he could have) MPP Nolan Quinn and Chamber President Eric Tremblay. Sponsors were thanked and these included the Title Sponsor Cogeco, Reception Sponsor Kawartha Credit Union, the Location Sponsor Best Western and the Community Sponsor St. Lawrence College plus the award sponsors who will be each mentioned as presentors of each Award. A very special mention was made about Karine Parthenais, a wonderful and always smiling, positive member of Cornwall’s business community who passed way too young.
The presentation of the Awards then commenced while a wonderful three course meal was being served.
The first Award presented was “The New Business Award” presented by Cornwall SDG Business Advisory Centre and the nominees were: Relove Dress Rental, See Way More and Filion Awards and the winner was … Relove Dress Rental.
Next was the “Tourism Excellence Award” presented by Cornwall Tourism and the nominees were: Devfest, Loulou Lavender and Mohawk Journeys and the winner was … Devfest.
Then we had the “Inclusion and Diversity Award” which was presented by Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien and the nominees were: Adaptt Apparel, Seaway Valley Community Health Centre and Seaway Valley Soccer Club and the winner was … Seaway Valley Community Health Centre.
The “Entrepreneur of the Year Award” was next, presented by Choose Cornwall and the nominees were Aquaomega, Play It Again Sports and Viva Cancun and the winner was … Play It Again Sports.
This was followed by the “Small to Medium Business Award” presented by ACC Futures and the nominees were: Au Vieux Duluth, Crush Lane and Welch LLP and the winner was … Au Vieux Duluth.
Next we had the “Community Impact Award” presented by Desjardins and the nominees were: Amy Malyon, New Normal and Nurse Next Door and the winner was … New Normal.
Then we had the “Young Professional Award” presented by the Eastern Ontario Training Board where the nominees were: Harbers Greenhouses, S.V. Meat Cutting Institute and The Noveltea Co. and the winner was … S.V Meat Cutting Institute.
The “Environmental Impact Award” presented by Cornwall and District Real Estate Board was next and the nominees were: Pure City Project and Transition Cornwall+ and the winner was … Transition Cornwall+.
The “Large Business Award” presented by McDougall Insurance & Financial followed and the nominees were: Bourgon Construction, Longevity Acrylics Inc. and St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation and the winner was … Longevity Acrylics Inc.
There was then a special mention about the prestigious “She Inspires Award” that was presented earlier this year in March at the “International Women’s Day High Tea – Spill The Tea” event organized by the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce and the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre. The recipient of the award was Debbie Fortier the former Executive Director of Maison Baldwin House.
We then came to the “2025 Lifetime Achievement Award” presented by MNP. As stated by the Cornwall Chamber and Area Chamber of Commerce, “The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on the Cornwall and Area business community. These remarkable professionals have not only achieved long-term success in their respective fields, but they have also made profound contributions to the community as a whole. Through their dedication, expertise, and commitment, they have helped shape an environment conducive to growth, prosperity, and an improved quality of life for all residents.
The recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Award” is someone whose belief in Cornwall and its surrounding areas is unwavering, someone who has contributed both time and knowledge to foster an atmosphere of collaboration and positive change. They are a beacon of excellence in business and community leadership, embodying the values of innovation, resilience, and civic engagement” and the recipients of this Award for 2025 … were Leslie and Kevin Ouderkirk, owners of Kids Korner, a Toy and Baby Boutique here in Cornwall.
Finally came the moment that I’m sure everyone was waiting for, the presentation of the “2025 Citizen of the Year Award” presented by The Cornwall & Area Chamber of Commerce. As stated by the Chamber, ” The Citizen of the Year Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service to the community, making a positive and lasting impact through volunteer work, leadership, or other forms of civic engagement” and the recipient of this prestigious award for 2025 … went to Kim Baird who was recognized for her 40 plus years of volunteering, a journey which began with her mother in law introducing her to volunteering through their local church and has continued with her volunteering for the Kinette Club and Knox Church as well as working with many many fundraising projects including raising funds to end Cystic Fibrosis. When I asked Kim to describe in one work how she felt when she found out that it was her who was receiving the 2025 Citizen of the Year Award she replied, “Flabergasted” as well as honoured and humbled.
Congratulations to Kim and all the Award recipients and also to everyone who was nominated for any of the Awards, you are all winners in my eyes!
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