Bringing businesses together: Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce hands out Business Excellence Awards

Nearly 100 people gathered in the Marigold Cultural Centre Oct. 16 to celebrate of a business community that continues to thrive within Truro and Colchester County.

Every year, small businesses and organizations within the county are recognized through an award show hosted by the Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce. However, this year was a little different.

Alongside the family restaurants, single-digit employee shops, and self-made artisans were bigger businesses. Owners who employ dozens of people in their operations. It was a change that came with a new name for the former Small Business Awards, now dubbed the Business Excellence Awards. This evening would be their inaugural showcase.

Lexie Jasiewicz, the chamber’s executive director, explained this came from an idea to better foster relationships and potential collaborations amongst business owners.

“We wanted to get our small businesses, medium businesses, and our large businesses all in the same room,” she said. “We wanted to be able to celebrate them all at one time.”

“We wanted our small businesses to be able to connect with larger businesses,” Jasiewicz continued. “Be able to network, make partnerships, to be able to grow, and as well as for our large businesses to see the small businesses (and medium businesses) in the community, and see the success that’s coming.”

It was also a way to include awards typically reserved for the chamber’s annual gala in a new and exciting format, one that includes small businesses. These awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Business Excellence Award.

“We decided to rename from Small Business Awards to the Business Excellence Awards to better reflect the business community as a whole, and who we want to celebrate,” Jasiewicz said.

Among the winners were Sizzle & Spice, a family owned restaurant serving Indian cuisine with locations in Truro and New Glasgow. The business began as a takeout operation in Truro Heights, later establishing a dine-in establishment on Prince Street.

The mother-son owners of Sizzle & Spice walked away with the Newcomer Business of the Year award, recognizing the efforts they made in establishing their business within Colchester and beyond, with plans announced to establish locations in Amherst and Sydney.

“This award means a lot to me,” said co-owner Aryan Bajaj. “Sizzle & Spice was built on a really simple idea to make everyone feel (at) home.

“We came here as newcomers and this town welcomed us. We’re really proud of this community, and we promise to keep cooking with you.”

Another winner of the night was the Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre, which walked away with the Tourism Business of the Year award. Manager Heather Stevens accepted the award alongside her team. Stevens said the centre brings in over 7,000 guests every year by tour bus alone.

“I am so excited we got this Tourism Business of the Year award,” said Stevens. “I mean, there was a lot of work going into (the Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre), but it comes with my team, too, right?

“You have to have a good team,” Stevens reiterated. “People that are, you know, in it to win it. They’re good people and without them, we wouldn’t be where we are.”

Jasiewicz considered the first Business Excellence Awards to be a resounding success. There were hiccups – her teammate and co-organizer Chelsea Weatherbee had to sub in for Jasiewicz’s MC duties the day of the event due to a sudden illness – but it also allowed the chamber team to get a sense of what worked with this new awards show.

“Everyone was there with celebration in mind, with community in mind, with business in mind,” said Jasiewicz. “Walls were down. People were celebrating, they were connecting, and you know, stayed after the event to talk even more and build more of those partnerships. So, yeah, I think the event went really well.”

Jasiewicz thanked her staff for their work and dedication to bringing this year’s event to life, as well as the chamber’s board of directors and sponsors.

“We’re so lucky and so happy to have the support that we do from our staff, board, sponsors, award winners, attendees, and we’re really happy to be able to continue to do it.”

The Truro and Colchester Chamber of Commerce presented its Business Excellence Awards on Oct. 16. The winners were:

Agricultural Business of the Year – Millen Farms.

Tourism Business of the Year – Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre.

Newcomer Business of the Year – Sizzle & Spice.

Export Achievement of the Year – Kohltech Windows & Entrance Systems.

Excellence in Community Impact & Inclusion – Jeff Deuville Electric.

Workplace Achievement Award – Victoria Lomond.

Small Business of the Year – Redefined Aesthetics.

Medium Business of the Year – Ocean Sonics.

Large Business of the Year – Casey Concrete.

New Small Business of the Year – Horse Thief Vineyard.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Ron Smith.

Business Excellence Award – McDonalds.