Community, collaboration and resilience were recurring themes at last night’s 134th Business Excellence Awards.
For the first time since 2019, an in-person ceremony was held to hand out the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce honours.
Anne Coulter was named Citizen of the Year, and says everybody has a role to play in making a community great.
“The main thing, I think, is have fun, and when it stops being fun, do something else,” Coulter said. “There’s something for everybody, there’s some place in this community that could use you, and I think we just have to look”
Lisa Lester-Evers accepted the award for Corporate Citizen of the Year for Four Diamond Events. specializing in event coordination and at the Chatham Armoury.
“During the pandemic, I really honed in on working on myself and my mindset and just having a positive outlook. That’s how you’re going to connect with other people in a better way, to understand where they’re coming from, and I think it makes our community better as a whole.”
Maria Whitall was the night’s youngest honouree, receiving the award for Youth Entrepreneur following her second season of operating Ohana Ice, a food truck specializing in Hawaiian shaved ice and cotton candy.
She encourages other young people to consider being their own boss.
“Think outside the box, that’s where the magic happens.”
Other recipients honoured in Wednesday night’s ceremony at the Bradley Convention Centre include Curtis Lemieux as Young Entrepreneur, Tiffany Cunningham as Young Business Individual, Robb Nelson as Entrepreneur of the Year, and the annual business awards went to Mallory Law and Maple City Homes.
The event was filmed by YourTV Chatham-Kent, and will air Thursday, October 27 at 7pm.
