Nominees Announced: 2026 Business Excellence Awards Gala

• January 30^th, 2026
• Community

Kitchener, ON – The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce recognizes the outstanding achievements of businesses in our Region, at the 2026 Business Excellence Awards Gala, presented by Cowan Insurance Group. The Chamber recognizes members that, through their leadership and involvement, have made exceptional contributions to the betterment of our community.

A total of 14 awards will be handed out, and winners won’t be announced or notified until that evening.

Where: Bingemans, Marshall Hall
When: Thursday, March 12, 2026
Time: 5:00pm-9:30pm

For further information or to purchase tickets for this event please visit www.beagala.ca.

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The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the following nominees for the 2026 Business Excellence Awards in the following award categories:

 

New Business of the Year Award (Under 2 years)

Award Sponsored By: MAC LLP

• Bricks & Minifigs Kitchener Waterloo
• The Canadian Brewhouse
• D&D Smoked Eats
• Frontline Trauma Training Services
• HONEY Events + Design
• Puddles Swim School
• Ravenwood Tabletop
• Splitsville Bowl Waterloo
• Vestika’s Oddities & Wellness
• Yoni Mudra Art Gallery

 

Small Business of the Year Award (1-10 Employees)

Award Sponsored By: Gowling WLG

• FoodZen
• Iris HR
• Marycuterie
• Ultra Plumbing & HVAC
• Vanessa’s Cuisine
• Welcome Home Construction
• Worm Wrangler

 

Business of the Year Award (11-50 Employees)

Award Sponsored By: Miller Thomson LLP

• GSP Group
• H2R Business Solutions
• Tepperman’s Kitchener
• The Tone-Gar Group of Companies

 

Business of the Year Award (Over 50 Employees)

Award Sponsored By: University of Waterloo

• Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo
• Flanagan Foodservice Inc.
• Gore Mutual Insurance
• Josslin Insurance
• Larrek Investigations
• RideCo

 

Community Builder of the Year Award

Award Sponsored By: Heffner Lexus

• AMJ
• Cheryl Goetz of At Home Company
• Catalyst Commons
• Centre In The Square
• Cowan Insurance Group
• Durrell Communications
• Enova Power Corp.
• EmployNext Powered by Serco
• EY
• Kitchener Public Library
• MT Space (The Multicultural Theatre Space)
• The Social Snippet
• United Way Waterloo Region
• WRHN Foundation

 

Employee Engagement Award

Award Sponsored By: Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning

• Equitable
• Little Mushroom Catering and Dining Lounge
• Midtown Yoga + Pilates

 

Environment & Sustainability Award

Award Sponsored By: Enbridge

• Little Mushroom Catering and Dining Lounge
• Meal in a Jar
• VCT Group

 

Health and Wellness in the Workplace Award

Award Sponsored By: EY

• Cullen Nutrition Simplified, by Tanya Cullen
• Deloitte Canada
• Dillon Consulting Limited

 

Innovation Award

Award Sponsored By: Scotiabank

• Amplify Care
• Blackbridge Systems Inc.
• Complete Building Systems Inc.
• Creative Minds Accounting
• Demi
• Laleta’s Alterations Design and Custom
• Putt Social
• Subtly You Medical Spa
• Syed Clinic

 

Non-Profit/Charitable Award

Award Sponsored By: MTE Consultants Inc.

• Adventure4Change
• CMHA Waterloo Wellington
• Community Support Connections
• Creative Beginnings Childcare Centre
• Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region
• Family and Children’s Services Foundation
• Food4Kids Waterloo Region
• The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
• KITCHENER-WATERLOO ART GALLERY
• Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice
• Mamas for Mamas KW
• Parents for Community Living, KW Inc.
• Shelter Movers Southwestern Ontario
• Strong Start Charitable Organization

 

Service Excellence in Hospitality & Tourism Award

Award Sponsored By: Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University

• Bella Vista Catering and Events
• Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo
• Great Canadian Holidays and Coaches
• Holiday Inn Express & Staybridge Suites Waterloo-St. Jacobs Area
• Ink Den
• Murdoch Travel
• Stroll Walking Tours

 

Young Professional of the Year Award

Award Sponsored By: PwC

• Asma Alwahsh, Canadian Arab Women’s Association
• Kristina Bartold, The Social Snippet
• Kathy Dapal, KidsAbility
• Jacinta Grootjen, Primary People Group Inc.
• Kyle Lessard, KW Titans
• Emma Marriott, Iris HR
• Ryan Schinker, Real Broker Ontario
• Erin Seaton, Embark Physical Therapy & Wellness
• Samina Syed, Syed Clinic
• Gabi Underwood, Reis Informatica

 

Volunteer of the Year Award

Award Sponsored By: Bell Canada

• Special merit award, awarded without nominations

 

Michael R. Follett Community Leader of the Year Award

Award Sponsored By: Equitable

• Special merit award, awarded without nominations

 

The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce is the largest accredited chamber of commerce in Ontario. The Chamber is dedicated to enterprise productivity and regional prosperity. Since 1886, it has been the voice of business in the greater Kitchener Waterloo area.

 

For further information contact:

Carolyn Marsh, Director, Community Engagement & Strategic Programs
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
cmarsh@greaterkwchamber.com or 519-749-6052