From the Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce:
Long-time business owners were the big winners at the 2019 Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.
The winners were announced Thursday evening (Oct. 24) at a sold-out gala emceed by Wade Cleveland at the Yarmouth Mariners Centre.
“We received more than 200 individual nominations this year for a widely-diversified range of business categories,” says Angie Greene, President of the Chamber of Commerce, “our judges had ten difficult choice to make.”
In the end, the judging panel not only chose a winner but also honorable mentions in the 10 categories.
“All the businesses nominated were very worthy,” Greene says. “It’s wonderful to see that so many entrepreneurs have chosen southwest Nova Scotia as the place to do business.”
The Chamber introduced two new categories this year with Heidi Kenney Hair Studio and Spa winning the first Artisan Business of the Year and long-time business owner Roland Fitzgerald of Topline Industrial Sales winning the inaugural Business Leader of the Year.
Other winners are: BraMac Plumbing and Heating — Business of the Year (1-10 employees); A. F. Theriault Shipyard – Large Business of the Year; D’Eon Oyster Company — Export Achievement Award; Coastal Financial Credit Union — Community Impact Award; Ritchie Hopkins — Customer Service of the Year; Chelsey Belliveau Photography — Rising Star of the Year; Denise Alison — Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Argyler Lodge – Tourism Business of the Year.
Following is the complete list of winners and runners-up:
Small Business of the Year
Winner: BraMac Plumbing and Heating
Honourable Mentions: 340 Automotive, Perky Owl, It’s a Ruff Life K9 Services
Large Business of the Year
Winner: A. F. Theriault Shipyard
Honourable Mentions: C.M. Optical. JACMAR Enterprises – McDonalds Yarmouth
Rising Star of the Year
Winner: Chelsey Belliveau Photography
Honourable Mention: The Lobster Trap Company
Export Achievement Award
Winner: D’Eon Oyster Company
Honourable Mentions: Tri-Star Industries, Ocean Pride Fisheries
Customers Service Award
Winner: Ritchie Hopkins
Honourable Mentions: Sweeney’s Funeral Home, Evangeline Animal Hospital
Community Impact Award
Winner: Coastal Financial Credit Union
Honourable Mentions: Yarmouth Lifeskills , Mile East Productions
Business Leader of the Year
Winner: Roland Fitzgerald
Honourable Mention: Gilles Theriault
Young Entrepreneur Award
Winner: Denise Alison
Honourable Mentions: Julie Mood, Fahad Michael Achkar
Tourism Business of the Year
Winner: Argyler Lodge
Honourable Mention: Deep Sky Eye
Artisan Business of the Year
Winner: Heidi Kenney Hair Studio and Spa
Honourable Mentions: Danielle Mahood Art, Jenesis Interior
