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(Updated 8:30 a.m., Jan. 18)
Local
entrepreneurs fêted at 11th Annual Business Excellence
Awards
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online
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Orleans Autopro owners Ben Lalonde poses with
his wife Jamie after being named Business
Man of the Year at the Orleans Chamber of
Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Fred
Sherwin/Photo
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The
Orléans Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business
Excellence Awards Thursday night, honouring area businesses
and business leaders in eight different categories.
The
Awards were the culmination of a process that began in
November with the first round of voting for Chamber members
in their relevant categories. Business Person of the Year
and Small and Large Business of the Year were open to
non-members. The top four vote-getters in each category
were named finalists and the winners were announced during
the gala.
The
first award of the night went to Cody Party Rentals for
Retail Business of the Year, which beat out J.A. Laporte's
Flowers and Nursery, Sobey's Trim and Innes and Quilty
Pleasure.
The
award for Restaurant of the Year went to Boston Pizza,
which beat out Cedar Valley Restaurant, Cuisine &
Passion, and Café Latte Cino. The East Ottawa Resource
Centre picked up the award for Community Non-Profit Organization
of the Year, beating out the AOE Arts Council, Contact
North and the Rotary Club of Orléans. And Deborah
O'Connor from the law firm Nelligan, O'Brien, Payne picked
up the first individual award of the evening for Professional
of the Year.
The
Community Service Business of the Year went to Kelly Funeral
Homes. Ace Body Shop owner Lionel Laurin received the
award for Sales and Service Business of the Year. Dave
Chadala from the Ottawa Senators picked up the award for
Arts, Leisure and Recreation Business of the Year, and
Marc Morency won the award for Financial Services Person
of the Year.
Jason
Bellefleur from the Family Physiotherapy Centre recieved
his second award in as many years. After being named Young
Business of the Year last year, Bellefleur picked up the
award for Healthcare Professional of the Year.
"This
one is really special because it's really about my profession
and what I do," said Bellefleur.
Cuisine
& Passion owner Marc Miron won his second award of
the night for Small Business of the Year, and Paul Rushforth
from Paul Rushforth Realty was also a double recipient
for Realtor of the Year and Business of the Year.
Finally,
the award for Business Person of the Year went to Ben
Lalonde from Orleans Autopro who beat out Bellefleur and
Sobey's owner Allan Foget for the distinction.
Lalonde
started the family-run business with his wife Jamie six
years ago. They have seven employees and plan to open
a second location next month.
"Honestly,
I was very surprised. I didn't think we'd win especially
being in the automotive industry," said a surprised
Lalonde who plans to give the award a place of honour
in the front of his shop.
The
Business Excellence Awards are a celebration of success,
perseverance, a commitment to quality service and customer
satisfaction. More than 250 businesses were nominated
for the awards and more than 2,500 people voted for their
favourite.
Many
of this year's runners up left the ceremony renergized
and motivated to do even better in the months ahead and
return next year for one of the prizes.
(This
story was made possible thanks to their generous support
of our local business partners.)
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