Business Excellence

I had a chance to attend the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards for the very first time. It’s always interesting to step outside the comfort zone of your own business community to see how other areas celebrate their local success stories. Every community exhibits its own unique sense of pride when it comes to the businesses and volunteers that define and set it apart.

Held at Cranberry Resort’s increasingly popular and aesthetically pleasing Bear Estate, it was a sold out affair with as many as 85 silent auction items up for bid, a delicious meal and awards in 12 categories. Congratulations to our sister site, http://www.mycollingwood.ca for nominations in 3 of them including Small Business Owner of the Year, Innovative Business and Business of the Year. The team was in great spirits and even let me take a group shot... (left to right above: Jessie, Dan, Tara & Julie). After winning no less than 9 awards at this annual event since the launch of mycollingwood.ca in 2005, I suppose it was time to let someone else win. And some very deserving businesses walked away with the hardware.

Now back to the Sound where the Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its 2010 Business Awards. Online nominations are now being accepted and more details will soon emerge at http://www.oschamber.com.