Kitchener, ON – On Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025, the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 Small Business Awards, presented by BDC. More than 60 small businesses were nominated across 7 award categories, which culminated in an exceptional celebration during BDC Small Business Week.
Ian McLean (President & CEO, Greater KW Chamber) hosted the evening’s celebrations with nearly 200 guests, including business owners, dignitaries, and community leaders. The event was hosted at 2 local venues, with the Reception at THEMUSEUM, followed by the Formal Awards Show at Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts.
Small Businesses were not only recognized across the award categories but were also featured as Event Partners. Small businesses like The Dessert Artist, The Lord of the Tacos, Fo’Cheezy, Marycuterie, and more provided food to guests throughout the evening. The Awards themselves were also handmade by a local artist, at Blown Away Glass Studio.
The evening’s final award presentation, for the “Exceptional Small Business of the Year Award”, was presented to Vanessa’s Cuisine. This award is unique, as it’s open to public voting – showcasing the incredible impact that the business has in the community, and the respect they have from their customers and peers.
The event was presented by BDC during BDC Small Business Week – a celebration of entrepreneurship that BDC has organized for 45 years.
| Award Category | Winner |
| Service Excellence Award | Food4Kids Waterloo Region |
| Event Impact Award | Last Minute Galley |
| Skilled Trades Award | JJMFG Contracting Inc. |
| Employer of the Year Award | Fo’Cheezy Food Trucks |
| Solopreneur of the Year Award | Reimagine Leadership |
| Entrepreneur of the Year Award | INKDEN |
| Exceptional Small Business of the Year Award | Vanessa’s Cuisine |
Service Excellence Award
Winner: Food4Kids Waterloo Region
Food4Kids Waterloo Region is dedicated to setting the standard for exceptional service in addressing childhood hunger in Waterloo Region. Founded in 2016, the organization has grown from delivering just 17 food packages to now supporting over 1,300 children each week, providing three meals a day and snacks during weekends and school breaks.
Food4Kids Waterloo Region is driven by a small but mighty team of just five staff members, supported by a dedicated network of volunteers. Their work is hands-on and multi-faceted: fundraising, organizing events, coordinating with schools and social workers, advocating for children in need, and delivering food directly to homes and backpacks.
Through their tireless efforts, Food4Kids Waterloo Region exemplifies service excellence, operational efficiency, and an unwavering commitment to one of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Event Impact Award
Winner: Last Minute Gallery
Last Minute Gallery’s The Art Experience has grown from a passion project into a dynamic platform that celebrates creativity and fosters community connection in Waterloo Region. Founded by Precious Julius, the small but dedicated team of only four staff members works tirelessly to bring the event to life, from coordinating emerging artists and curating interactive art installations, to managing live painting sessions and musical performances.
Since its first edition in 2023, which welcomed just 30 attendees, the event has expanded, with the 2024 edition more than tripling in size from the year prior, and providing opportunities for five emerging artists to showcase, sell, and share their work. The Art Experience transforms ordinary spaces into living, evolving galleries, inviting the community to actively participate in the creative process and leaving a lasting impact on both artists and attendees. Last Minute Gallery continues to empower and amplify emerging artists, while helping break down the barriers that often limit access to traditional galleries – proving that even a small grassroots art organization, can make a big impact through events.
Skilled Trades Award
Winner: JJMFG Contracting Inc.
JJMFG Contracting Inc. has quickly become a leader in the skilled trades, providing exceptional painting and renovation services across Southern Ontario. Founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife team Josh Gibson and Becky Schuster, the company has grown from a one-man crew into a full-service operation, serving homeowners, realtors, and builders with a focus on craftsmanship, integrity, and client satisfaction.
JJMFG Contracting has had exponential growth with an over 40% revenue increase in the past year, but they also remain dedicated to youth development and community impact. They have inspired newcomers and BIPOC youth through speaking engagements at the KAIROS Trades Workshop. They have also leveraged their business expertise to support local programs, sharing industry knowledge, creating mentorship opportunities, and building pathways for youth to explore careers in the skilled trades. They continue to demonstrate how a skilled trades business can combine operational excellence with meaningful community involvement.
Employer of the Year Award
Winner: Fo’Cheezy Food Trucks
Fo’Cheezy Food Trucks has grown from a single truck in 2013 to a fleet of five, doubling its staff over the past year, and has become a leader in the local food truck industry. What sets them apart is their people-first culture: employees receive competitive wages, full benefits, hands-on training, and clear opportunities for growth. Staff are supported, celebrated, and empowered to develop their skills, which has helped the team thrive, and has also positively impacted their employment retention.
Fo’Cheezy also plays a leadership role in the industry, mentoring other food truck operators through the OMG Food Truck Collective and sharing best practices in licensing, operations, marketing, and business development. By combining strong workplace culture with mentorship and industry leadership, Fo’Cheezy Food Trucks sets itself apart as an employer where employees succeed, the industry grows, and the community benefits from high-quality service.
Solopreneur of the Year Award
Winner: Reimagine Leadership
Julie Dupont founded Reimagine Leadership in 2021, and in just a few years, she has achieved remarkable growth, ten-fold revenue increases, 15 clients served in 2024 alone, and over 2,500 leaders trained across eleven countries. Her programs have delivered measurable results. She has supported her clients with millions of dollars in client savings, promotion of 75 emerging leaders, and global implementation of her leadership initiatives, earning two national training excellence awards.
As a solopreneur, Julie combines expertise with a contagious enthusiasm that keeps clients coming back. She builds workplaces that are more productive, collaborative, and fulfilling, helping leaders gain confidence and improve communication and engagement across their teams.
Beyond business success, Julie volunteers as a literacy educator, provides pro-bono career coaching to women facing homelessness or other challenges, leads local professional coaching networks, and hosts free leadership workshops that empower leaders to create positive change within their organizations.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Winner: INKDEN
Jenna Marry, founder of INK DEN, has turned personal adversity into a thriving and impactful business. After surviving domestic violence and financial abuse, she rebuilt her life while raising three daughters.
Launched after five years of saving, sacrifice, and hands-on work, she founded INK DEN, a tattoo and piercing studio that pushes the boundaries of the industry. Jenna pioneered joint ownership for her artists, promoting equality in the workplace, and established ethical, trauma-informed, and gender-affirming services that prioritize client safety and dignity.
In 2024, INK DEN made history with the launch of Ink Nite, Canada’s first tattoo event of its kind, combining live tattooing, music, community art, and education—creating a movement and setting a new standard for the industry. The studio has also consistently impacted the community through fundraisers, local collaborations, and support for marginalized clients.
Exceptional Small Business of the Year Award
Winner: Vanessa’s Cuisine
The winner of this category was determined solely on public voting, acknowledging the devotion that they have to their customers, and the appreciation their customers have for them. We are thrilled to recognize Vanessa’s Cuisine, this year’s winner of the Exceptional Small Business of the Year Award. Their innovative spirit and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction has truly set them apart, making them a beloved gem in our community.
