Benjamin Segobaetso – Local Journalism Initiative
Published online October 7, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
What began in June with a simple question – Who are your favourite businesses, services, professionals and organizations in the Pontiac? – ended with a celebration at the 12th annual Pontiac Journal Readers’ Choice Awards. The process began June 15, when the Journal invited readers to nominate and vote for their favourites.
Ballots came in across categories ranging from favourite restaurants and tradespeople to artists, retailers, tourism businesses and community organizations. This year also brought new categories into the competition, including Best visual artist, Best Musician, Best Indigenous Business and Best Market.
By the time voting closed, more ballots had been cast than the previous year.
Next, the votes were then counted and the top three nominees notified, setting the stage for bringing the finalists together and revealing the winners, which happened at the Pontiac Conference Centre in Fort-Coulonge, on September 22, where invitees gathered to find out how Pontiac residents had voted.
Retired Pontiac Journal general manager Lynne Lavery hosted the ceremony, with Suzanne Dazé assisting with the French-language presentations. At the heart of the evening were the award presentations. Nominees were voted on in 33 separate categories, divided by
6 sections: Food, Professionals, Trades, Shopping and Activities, plus a Miscellaneous section which recognized Community Organizations in each geographic area of the Pontiac. There was also a Best New Business award in this section.
There were also two Feature categories: Best Long Standing Business (over 25 years) and Business with the Most Overall Votes. Those two awards included a framed certificate and a trophy.
The businesses and individuals recognized stretched across the Pontiac, with winners from Shawville, Mansfield, Fort-Coulonge, Campbell’s Bay, Chapeau, Waltham, Otter Lake, Bryson, l’Île-du-Grand-Calumet, Thorne and L’Isle-aux-Allumettes.
Several newly introduced categories brought new distinctions and winners to the awards.
L’Artisan in Waltham became the winner of Best Indigenous Business, while the Chapeau Farmers’ Market captured Best Market. Dale Shutt won the Best Visual Artist’s award, and Ben Chabot won Best Musician; both are from l’Île-du-Grand-Calumet. Maisons Modèles in Quyon was named Best New Business.
In the Best Community Organization awards The Chapeau Lions Club took first place in Upper Pontiac, L’Entourelle won in Central Pontiac, and the Shawville Recreation Association took the honour in Eastern Pontiac.
Presenting the Tourism and Recreation award, MRC Pontiac representative Stephanie Hébert Potter told attendees that tourism and recreation businesses play an important role in connecting visitors with the region while helping residents appreciate what exists in their own communities.
“Whether you are welcoming visitors from near and far, creating opportunities for adventure and discovery, or helping residents enjoy their own backyard, your work leaves a lasting impact and helps build pride in our region,” she said.
Presenting the award for Best Longstanding Business, recognizing businesses that have operated in the Pontiac for 25 years or more, SADC Pontiac Director General Rhonda Perry said the organization takes pride in having supported the Readers’ Choice Awards throughout their 12-year history.
Perry also highlighted the work at SADC Pontiac, saying its board members and staff work to ensure local businesses have access to the support they need to grow and thrive.
The importance of supporting local businesses was also emphasized by Caisse Desjardins des Rivières de Pontiac General Manager Stéphane Labine who presented the Best Professional award.
Labine said Desjardins derives gratification in working closely with businesses throughout the region, providing financial assistance and advice to help them manage their operations and pursue opportunities for growth.
The comments from the three regional organizations underscored a broader theme of the evening: that the success of local businesses is closely connected to the organizations, institutions and customers that support them.
The evening culminated with two special distinctions. The feature category,
Best Long-standing Business, attracted more than 40 nominations, with Shawville Auto Service emerging as the winner; they had also won for Best General Mechanic / Garage.
Pontiac Home Bakery received a final special honour for collecting the most votes overall during the 2026 Readers’ Choice competition.
The awards also came during a milestone year for the Pontiac Journal itself.
Founded by Fred Ryan in 1987 to serve the region’s English and French-speaking communities, with a free distribution model, the newspaper is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Lily Ryan took over as publisher in 2014 and she publishes three other community newspapers from an office in Aylmer.
The ceremony was supported by Caisse Desjardins des Rivières de Pontiac, SADC Pontiac, MRC Pontiac, Promutuel Assurance Vallée de l’Outaouais, the Pontiac Conference Centre and CHIP 101.9 FM.
