The Maple Leaf Motel named Business of the Year in awards ceremony
Nov. 26, 2022
Professional photos from the event will be posted as they arrive.
GODERICH – The Maple Leaf Motel in Goderich won the top award at the 2022 Spirit of Success Awards Gala, an annual business awards event hosted by the Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron last night.
“The application for the award was so genuine and so cheerful, it felt real,” said the judges, in their decision. “While they are new to the community, they honour the history of the business and its location. They are problem-solvers.”
The Maple Leaf Motel, located on Victoria Street in Goderich, is managed by Iqbal Shaukat & Tahseen Tahira.
The community has offered up a record 92 nominations of businesses, organizations and individuals for 11 sponsored awards. Nominations included organizations that run events that make an impact in the community, young people with the courage to start businesses, businesses that provide stellar service and give back to the community and other criteria of excellence.
Other awards winners were:
Compass Minerals Environmental and Sustainability Award – Meeting Place Organic Farm;
Goderich Signal Star Community Impact Award – The Alexandra Rose Long Table Dinner 2022;
John C. Grace Young Entrepreneur Award – Sydney Pollock of Blake Street Bakery;
Downtown Goderich BIA Award – Ontario Consolidation Services;
Huron County Economic Development New Business Award – Eat Local Huron;
MicroAge Basics Service Award – Coldwell Banker All-Points Festival City Realty, Goderich;
K2 Wind Ontario Technology / Manufacturing Award – Calhoun Super Structure;
Tourism Goderich Hospitality Business Award – The Maple Leaf Motel;
Zehrs Goderich Retail Business Award – Chuck’s Roadhouse; and
Huron County Diversity Award – Bayfield Berry Farm.
“As I listened to the long list of nominees and winners announced tonight, it occurred to me that they all have a number of strengths. They have resilience. They have worked through a really tough couple of years without compromise. They have pushed back. They have started businesses in the midst of a pandemic, evolved with rapid change, responded to market needs. And as if that weren’t enough, they all want to have a hand in creating a better community. As a Chamber of Commerce, we are here to support those efforts,” said Jennifer Verdam-Woodward, who is chair of the Huron Chamber of Commerce.
This event is co-sponsored by Libro Credit Union and Zehrs Goderich. Awards are sponsored by Artech Signs and Graphics. Entertainment is sponsored by Community Futures Huron. Media sponsor is Blackburn Media Inc. Decoration sponsor is Jodi Snell of Royal LePage Heartland Realty in Goderich.
2022 Spirit of Success Award Categories
Nominations now closed for 2022 Spirit of Success Awards
UPDATED Nov. 21, 2022
GODERICH – Nominations are now closed for the 10 award categories for businesses, organizations and individuals that shine in our community, with the winners recognized at the annual Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron Spirit of Success Awards Gala.
The sold out event will be held Friday, Nov. 25 at the Knights of Columbus Centre in Goderich. Catered by Part II Bistro.
This event gives the community the opportunity to nominate leading businesses that provide stellar service, individuals who provide leadership in the business community, and other criteria of excellence are outlined in the nine sponsored award categories: Compass Minerals Environmental and Sustainability Award, Downtown Goderich BIA Award, Goderich Signal Star Community Impact Award, John C. Grace Young Entrepreneur Award, K2 Wind Ontario Technology/Manufacturing Award, MicroAge Basics Service Award, Huron County Economic Development New Business Award, Tourism Goderich Hospitality Business Award, Zehrs Goderich Retail Business Award, and Huron County Economic Development Diversity Award.
“It’s been three years since we’ve been able to host this gala event in person and we’re ready. We’re ready to celebrate good news, to celebrate leaders and contributors who make our communities so great,” says Heather Boa, who is operations manager of the Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron.
Award category criteria and nomination forms are available online at huronchamber.ca/2022-spirit-of-success or by emailing info@huronchamber.ca
Any business within the boundaries of Goderich, Central and North Huron is eligible for nomination in the Spirit of Success Awards. Members or non-members are welcome to participate.
Nominate yourself, nominate that business you’ve relied on, nominate an event you attend every year, but please nominate.
Nominations close Friday, Oct. 14 at 5 pm.
Once the nomination form is received, the nominee will be sent an application for review by a panel of three judges. Judges will also select the top business from all nominations to be named the Huron Chamber Business of the Year.
This event is co-sponsored by Libro Credit Union and Zehrs Goderich. Awards are sponsored by Artech Signs and Graphics. Entertainment sponsored by Community Futures Huron. Media sponsored by Blackburn Media. Decorations sponsored by Jodi Snell, Royal LePage Heartland Realty, Wingham.
Compass Minerals Environmental and Sustainability Award
This award category praises the accomplishments made by implementing sustainability measures. It seeks to shine a light on the organization’s efforts to preserve our planet. Awarded to a business or organization that has:
- Been in operation for a minimum of two consecutive years
- Made an outstanding commitment to sustainable development
- Self-initiated environmental actions and programs beyond legislative requirements
- Found energy or waste efficiencies
- Provided environmental stewardship, education, or innovation in the past year
Goderich Signal-Star Community Impact Award
Vote for your favourite event that has happened in the past 12 months.
This could be a sport event, a fundraising event, a festival – whatever was special.
This could have been organized by a group, or an individual.
Your nomination must have made a positive impact on the community.
John C. Grace Young Entrepreneur Award
An entrepreneur aged 30 or younger, who owns or manages a business or manages staff, and has been successful in meeting goals and objectives of the business, and have earned the respect of peers and employees with their management skills, have received a nomination.
Downtown Goderich BIA Award
This award is presented to a service or not for profit business establishment in the Downtown Goderich BIA district that enhances the quality of life and/or health and/or welfare of our community, by offering professional service in the field of financial, health and wellness, educational or welfare assistance.
Huron County Economic Development New Business Award
New Business to the area that opened within the last 18 months and in operation for minimum of six months, that: Provides excellent customer service; Provides support and training to staff & employees; and Is community-minded and supportive.
MicroAge Basics Service Award
(This award is for non-retail, non-hospitality businesses.) Demonstrates excellence in customer service leadership on a consistent basis. The business & staff go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction with their service/ product. Recognizes and rewards employees with positive incentives for providing excellent customer service.
K2 Wind Ontario Technology / Manufacturing Award
Awarded to a business or organization that has improved performance, increased customer/client satisfaction, or enhanced public awareness through the use of innovative products, processes or communication technologies.
Tourism Goderich Hospitality Business Award
A hospitality sector business that demonstrates excellence in customer service on a consistent basis. Community minded and supportive. Always creates a special customer experience.
Zehrs Goderich Retail Business Award
A Retail sector business that demonstrates excellence in customer service on a consistent basis, is community-minded and supportive, and always puts the customer’s needs first.
Huron County Economic Development Diversity Award
The Diversity Award recognizes a business or organization that embraces, celebrates and applies holistic inclusion and participation of a diverse people making the workplace a better environment in which to work, and the community a better place in which to live, work and raise a family.
Huron Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award
This award is given to the top overall business from all categories, as chosen by the judges.
