2121STST Annual Annual BusinessBusiness ExcellenceExcellence AwardsAwards 10.8.1510.8.15 PRESENTED BY Message from the President Celebrating 60 Years It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade’s 2015 Business Excellence Awards. Our Annual Business Excellence Awards provide a platform to celebrate outstanding businesses and individuals in Ajax and Pickering and to give them due recognition for a job well done. Truly, it is no small thing to be singled out for recognition by one’s peers so all of the nominees have very good reason to be proud. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude on behalf of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade’s board of directors to our independent panel of judges who had the daunting task of selecting tonight’s winners. Although they evaluate the submissions on a strict and rigorous set of criteria, I do not envy their job. An evening such as this would not be possible without the For the past 60 years, the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade has been the valuable support of our sponsors. The generosity of each of these vehicle through which local businesses connect, cooperate, and create partners is vital to the success of the occasion and I offer my opportunities for growth and success. sincere gratitude on behalf of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade for their commitment. Since its inception, this organization has been dedicated to the development of our community and the enhancement of our local economy. For over two decades now, we have gathered to recognize businesses and individuals that demonstrate excellence in their The first incarnation of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade began in the business operations every day. This year, we gather to celebrate hopeful era of poodle skirts, soda fountains and drive-in restaurants that emerged out of the not just the accomplishments of an impressive group of nominees ashes of the Second World War, a war in which Ajax played a key role as a centre of munitions but the 60th anniversary of the organization itself, an anniversary manufacturing. we share with the Town of Ajax. The Corporation of the Town of Ajax was founded in 1955 following the dissolution of the Enjoy the evening and thank you for joining us for this celebration Improvement District of Ajax. That same year, of excellence in business and 60 years of service to Ajax and a group of interested business people who Pickering. realized the need for a Chamber of Commerce within the new town came together to make it a reality. Denise Jones, CPA, CA Collins Barrow Durham The first recorded executive meeting of the Ajax 2015 Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade President Chamber of Commerce was held on February 26, 1955 and on October 25th of the same year, the newly formed chamber held its inaugural Greetings dinner and charter night in the original Recreation Centre, then known as Rotary Hall. It soon became apparent that the Ajax Chamber of Commerce would play an essential role in the success of the new municipality. The Ajax Chamber of Commerce would experience ups and downs throughout the 1960s and, in 1966 construction began on Pickering Nuclear. Despite Over the years, this board has stood out among its peers in the Chamber movement winning the promise of jobs and economic growth, all was numerous awards for the Eco Business Program, business directory, advocacy work on not well because membership numbers started to transportation and the outstanding contribution of some of our key people. decline by the end of that decade. Today the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade employs a staff of five employees and is located in The situation looked so bleak that in 1970, the executive informed the membership of its Pickering Village, Ajax at the corner of Old Kingston Rd. and Elizabeth streets. intention to disband the Ajax Chamber of Commerce due to the decline in membership and active The membership continues to grow and we host in excess of 50 events every year. member involvement. From teletype machines, to faxes, to email, to a state of the art responsive design mobile friendly It was a classic case of not appreciating what you have until it’s gone because the Chamber was web site, the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade has grown with this community and changed with revived in 1973. It didn’t hurt that the commissioning of Pickering Nuclear A Station between 1971 the times. One thing that hasn’t changed is our focus on our members and making their goals, our and 1973 gave the local economy a much-needed shot in the arm. goals. The Ajax Chamber of Commerce grew rapidly after this revival and in November 1978, the group Today’s Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade not only continues to provide a setting for local businesses to expanded to include the businesses of the then Town of Pickering and thus the Ajax-Pickering connect, we also bat above our weight, advocating for our members locally and in Queen’s Park and Board of Trade was born. Ottawa through the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on the Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Ajax and matters that mean the most to their businesses. Pickering continued to grow at an ever-increasing We are proud of the work we’ve done together and the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade looks forward pace and various members of our business community to the next 60 years of working for you and your business. stepped up to volunteer their time by serving on our council and committees. In 1994, the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade hosted its First Annual Business Excellence Awards in order to provide the local businesses of Ajax and Pickering with a platform for much-deserved recognition. The board has hosted the Business Excellence Awards every subsequent year and, last year marked 20 years of celebrating excellence in business. Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Business Excellence Winners 1994 – 2014 1994 JPM Antrum John McLellan Contracting A Decade of Accolades AEG Sorting Systems Inc. Mapleridge Mechanical Holmes & Brakel Business Interiors Eco-Tec Inc. Ryder Logistics 2011 MacLean Hunter Cable TV Ajax Since we celebrated our 50th Anniversary a decade ago, we’ve accumulated accolades and 2002 Rand Electric The Minacs Group Ajax Animal Hospital Search Engine People reached milestones. Some achievements that make us particularly proud include: PaintPlas (1989) Inc. Compu-Image Inc. Eco-Tec Inc. Pronto Auto Repair Dealerships 2006 400+ Members Copper Kettle Chocolate Company Jack McGinnis 1995 Konica Business Technologies Canada 2012 Bayly Communications Inc. 2007 Chamber Executives of Ontario - Best Directory KX 96FM New Country Square Footage Custom Kitchens Fasson Canada Inc. & Bath Inc. The Shandex Group (Sales) 2007 500+ Members For You Two Maternity EMC Power Canada Ltd. Lenbrook Group of Companies 2003 Volkswagen Group Canada Inc. Mason Windows Ltd. Hepcoe Credit Union 2009 Local Business Award from City of Pickering 2013 Nokia Products Ltd. Holmes and Brakel Business Interiors The Mount Everest Indian Restaurant Messier-Dowty Inc. 2009 Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada (CCEC) Executive of the Year presented to 1996 John McLellan Contracting Inc. Keyscan APBOT Executive Director Kathy McKay Alderbrook Industries Ltd. Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility Nokia Products Ltd. Clearnet Inc. RBRO Solutions Inc. Ontario Power Generation 2009 600+ Members Innovative Awards Inc. ECOexecutives at the Toronto Zoo Re/Max Quality One Ltd. 2004 2010 Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) Chair’s Award for our Eco Business program Simcoe Engineering Group Inc. Metal Form Products 2014 Val Marshall Travel Pickering Photo Ltd. Cup Cakes Canada 2010 OCC Richard A. Dolphin Award for Volunteerism presented to former President and 1997 Veridian Corporation Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre Government Relations Committee Co-Char Joan Wideman of the Lenbrook Group Chrysler Canada Ltd. Ajax Trim Plant 2005 EnviroDad.com Howard Marten Co. Ltd. The Callery Group 2011 Environment Award from City of Pickering Hubbell Canada LP The Black Dog Pub Business Person of the Year Inotek Signs The Shandex Group (Truck) 2004 Stephen Barry, Sure-Fit Canada Lone Star Café (Pickering) 2011 Durham Business Times - Readers’ Choice Award for Best Networking Group in Durham 2006 2005 Dr. Gary Polonsky, University of Messier-Dowty Inc. Ontario Institute of Technology VoicePath Convergence 2011 Environment Community Award from the Town of Ajax 1998 Purdue Pharma 2006 Joan Wideman, Lenbrook Group of Companies Binns Designer Kitchens Inc. First Durham Insurance and Financial 2014 Canadian Chamber Competition Bronze Award | The Voice of Business Dutchmaster Nurseries Limited 2007 Patrick McNeil, 2007 Ontario Power Generation and Drew Chemical Limited Dr. Phillip (Rocky) Simmons, 2015 Durham Environmental Advisory Committee | Irene Kock Education/Communication Award IPM Hose & Fitting Proforma Synergy Eco-Tec (TIE) Binns Kitchen + Bath Design Manpower Services 2008 Anna Diduca, 2015 Ontario Chamber of Commerce Burnie Gillespie Memorial Award for excellence in chamber McDonald’s Restaurants Nelson Industrial Inc. Neighbours, Pickering management and outstanding commitment to the community through volunteer service 2008 2009 Kirsten Schmidt-Chamberlain, 1999 Durham Hospice Awarded to APBOT Executive Director Kathy McKay Cassidy and Co. Architectural WordSmith Media Technologists Inc. Hilton Garden Inn Toronto/Ajax 2010 Lorelei Hepburn, Environmental Factor DuPont Canada Inc. Target Recycling Services Inc. Dynamic Images Advertising Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility 2011 Jeff Quipp, Search Engine People McEachnie Funeral Home 2012 Kevin Mallory, Hubbell Canada LP 2009 Prudential Achiever Real Estate Pickering Audio Visual 2013 Don Lovisa, Durham College Spherion Workforce Architects Scientists in School 2014 Allan Arsenault, Pickering Town Centre and Tribute Communities 2000 Ashmeed Khan, Minuteman Press (TIE) Bramic Creative Business Products Ltd.