Nominations are Open Until Oct. 6
CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE NOMINATION FORM
Nominations in 14 award categories – include a whopping four new awards for 2023 – to celebrate businesses, organizations and individuals that shine in our communities are now open with the launch of the 2023 Spirit of Success Awards, hosted by the Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron.
Winners will be announced at the annual Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North Huron Spirit of Success Awards Gala on Friday, Nov. 10 at the White Carnation in Holmesville. Tickets are on sale now.
Click here to purchase tickets.
The 2023 Spirit of Success Awards give 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 14 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, Small Business Enterprise Centre New Business Award, Tourism Goderich Hospitality Business Award, Zehrs Goderich Retail Business Award, Huron County Economic Development Diversity Award, NEW: Bazinet Family Volunteer Award, NEW: Main Street Credit Union Excellence in Agribusiness Award, NEW: Berhan Immigration and Settlement Services Newcomer Award, and NEW: Huron County Economic Development Employer of Choice Award.
Nominations close Friday, Oct. 6 at 5 pm.
Once the nomination form is received, the nominee will be sent a short 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.
The nomination form, and awards categories and descriptions can be found below.
Tickets for 2023 Spirit of Success Awards Gala
Come join us in all the pomp and ceremony of the 2023 Spirit of Success Awards Gala, as we hand out 15 awards to businesses, organizations and people who shine in our community.
The gala will be held at the White Carnation in Holmesville on Friday, Nov. 10. Reception at 6 pm. Dinner at 7 pm.
Chef Noriel Abejaron is planning a creative buffet that will highlight seasonal foods in Huron County.
The evening will include a guest speaker, and comments from the award presenters and award winners.
This event is an opportunity to celebrate the business community and all that it does to enrich the lives of those who live in Goderich, Central and North Huron.
Tickets, $110 per person, can be ordered by clicking below:
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.
Country 104.9 Community Impact Award
Vote for your favourite event that has happened in the last 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 and 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.
NEW: Bazinet Family Volunteer Award
Volunteers are the lifeblood of any community, providing selfless service without monetary compensation that enhances the quality of life in the neighbourhoods where they live. Through this award, their work is celebrated with thanks and recognition. Volunteer work can include a variety of activities that take place occasionally over the course of a year, or a more consistent and sustained commitment, such as a weekly commitment to a specific cause. Volunteering benefits groups, persons or the community, and can either be mediated by organizations (formal volunteering) or can be direct help without the involvement of an organization or group (informal volunteering). Qualifying individuals of any age must live within the boundaries of the Huron Chamber of Commerce – Goderich, Central and North and be nominated for their volunteer work in the past 12 months. Political advocacy and lobbying work are not eligible.
NEW: Mainstreet Credit Union Excellence in Agribusiness Award
The award recognizes a person or business that demonstrates excellence in Innovation, Trailblazing and Community Involvement. Agribusiness is the business sector encompassing farming and farming-related commercial activities. It involves all the steps required to send an agricultural good to market, namely production, processing, and distribution. As such, the recipient can range from a farming enterprise through to a beverage and food producer and can include support organizations such as warehouses, wholesalers, processors and retailers. The recipient is an agricultural or agribusiness focused business that consistently demonstrates achievement in the area of their business focus. It has the characteristics of a successful business with diversification, innovation, sound business practices, workplace safety, and community involvement as part of their corporate identity. It shows leadership and outstanding achievement within their sector and has a propensity to continuous improvement. It shows a high level of care and concern for the community and has elements of social enterprise in their corporate culture.
NEW: Berhan Immigration and Settlement Services Newcomer Award
The award recognizes a Newcomer who demonstrates excellence in business. The Newcomer Entrepreneur Award recognizes an outstanding entrepreneur who was born outside of Canada and has started a successful business in the Goderich, Central or North Huron. This individual has overcome adversity, exhibits leadership both in their community and within their business, and has strong track record of business growth. The nominee must be a Newcomer to Canada within the past 10 years, operating a business in Goderich, Central or North Huron for a minimum of one year and a maximum of five years.
NEW: Huron County Economic Development Employer of Choice Award
This award celebrates an employer that offers an exceptional workplace for their employees in Goderich, Central or North Huron, and by doing so show leadership in talent attraction and retention. Employees are invited to nominate their employer. Consider any of the following: the quality of the physical environment of the workplace; the work and social atmosphere; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement.
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.
