Young Entrepreneur nominees from left: Crystal Dubeau (Mystical Creations); Scott Crawford (Pure Rock Landscaping); Isabelle Gagnon (Clinique Chiropratique du Pontiac) and Mishka Kucharik (Youth Entrepreneurship Development Officer).
Colleen McCauley
Young Entrepreneur nominees from left: Crystal Dubeau (Mystical Creations); Scott Crawford (Pure Rock Landscaping); Isabelle Gagnon (Clinique Chiropratique du Pontiac) and Mishka Kucharik (Youth Entrepreneurship Development Officer).
Colleen McCauley
MANSFIELD – More than 170 local business owners, presenters and supporters attended the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards Gala at Ferme Lavamia in Mansfield, October 25. According to the Chamber, the event publicly recognizes and highlights the outstanding achievements of businesses in our community.
“The number of nominated businesses far exceeds past years, alluding to the improved promotion of local enterprises,” said Ginger Finan, Business Coordinator of the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the presentation of the selected businesses, eleven enterprises were honoured with awards by their respective municipalities.
An independent panel of judges made up of representatives from the community reviewed 100 nominated businesses. From these nominees, three finalists were selected in each of nine categories, with the winner of each category being announced at the event: Young Entrepreneur – Scott Crawford of Purerock Landscaping; Self-Employed Business Person – Vaughan Bastien of Vaughan Bastien Tire Service; Small Business – Langford’s Grocery; Medium Business – R. Filion & F. Laflamme Pharmacy; Large Business – Giant Tiger; New Business – GELAM Riding Stable; Farm Enterprise – Willow Hollow Farm; Lifetime Achievement Award – R.H. Nugent Equipment Rentals (top photo); and the 2013 Feature Award for Tourism Businesses – Horizon X Rafting.
“The most important word I’ve heard here tonight, and I have heard it often, is ‘together.’ The business people of the Pontiac are the motors of our economy; we can go further if we go together,” said Stephane Labine, Director General of the Caisse populaire Desjardins de Fort-Coulonge.
Standing by their mission to “Think Global – Buy Local,” the Chamber used the services of local businesses for the entire event: Ferme Livamia prepared dinner; Martin Bertrand of Horizon X Rafting was the Master of Ceremonies; DJ Brad Summerfield of Soundzgood Music provided background tunes; House of Inspiring Flowers supplied the table centerpieces; Studio Colleen took pictures; the trophies were from Murray’s Sporting Goods; and program printing was completed by Imprimerie Plus.
