The local business community was honouring their own last night (Thursday) during the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce Evening of Excellence awards gala.

The event is the highlight of Business Week.

Small business of the year honours go to Burrows Country Store and Garden Centre in the 6-15 employee category and Parkside Animal Hospital in the 1-5 employee category.

Ontario Northland won the business of the year award in the 16 plus employees category.

Sugar Daddy Cupcakes and Catering captured the new business of the year award.

Thomas Brown of Curvefront Digital Marketing was named top young professional.

The North Bay and Area Community Foundation won the award for not for profit of the year.

“Business week isn’t only about supporting the local businesses. It’s a time to celebrate and encourage business successes,” stated Chamber Board Chair Brad Gavan.  “Behind every business in our region, there is a story worth knowing; we just wish we could celebrate all the nominees with awards, each and every day throughout the year. Small business (less than 100 employees) is an integral part of the economy as it makes up 98.2% of all businesses in Canada.”

There were 40 nominations in the six categories this year.

 

Photo Submitted: Business of the Year (16+ employees): Presented by Sandy McDonald of Bell to Dennis Higgs, VP of Rail Mechanical and Remanufacturing and Corina Moore, President and CEO of Ontario Northland.