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Windsor Chamber Business Excellence Awards’ Winners 2020-2021

The Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of its ‘Business Excellence Awards’, presented by Windsor Star.

A total of 12 Awards were presented on Thursday May 20, 2021 in a virtual format, broadcast to local Cogeco subscribers on YourTV and also on YourTV’s YouTube channel.

The 30th Anniversary of the ‘Business Excellence Awards’ (BEAs) were initially scheduled as an in-person event on May 21, 2020, but were postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions on indoor gatherings.

Amongst the many highlights of this year’s BEAs is Farrow, who received the Believe Windsor Essex Award sponsored by WFCU Credit Union for their ongoing support and commitment to many charities and projects in our region, including the Riverside Miracle Park. This marks the third ‘Business Excellence Award’ for the family-owned customs brokerage, who also captured the Large Company of the Year Award in 2011 and the Company of the Year Award in 2002.

Dane Fader, Owner and Founder of GreenerFarms, a local full-circle farming operation, becomes the only ‘second generation’ BEA winner, following in his mom’s path. Dane won the inaugural Green Innovation Award, while Julie was awarded the Small Company of the Year trophy in 2019 for Head of the Class Education Centre.

The complete list of 2020-2021 ‘Business Excellence Awards’ winners, and category sponsors, is below.

This year’s virtual format featured a Stay At Home Ticket Package that included a $100 dining voucher from a choice of 17 restaurants, a Johnson Insurance BEA Gift Bag filled with goodies from local sponsors including EPIC Wineries, an Official Program printed by Windsor Star and access to the live stream. Local restaurants received close to $40,000 in support through the purchase of gift cards for take-out and delivery orders.

The Awards broadcast followed a similar format to when the event is held in-person, including descriptive videos of the three Finalists in each Award category, produced by Media Street Productions (the complete list of Finalists can be found at www.windsoressexchamber.org) . A BEA Committee member personally, and safely, delivered the trophy at the winner’s viewing location.

The theme of the broadcast was ‘The Early Evening Show with Gordon Orr’. This was the fourth time the CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island has MC’d the BEAs. The schedule of rebroadcasts will be posted soon.

The ‘Business Excellence Awards’ are organized by a volunteer committee consisting of community leaders and Chaired by Jason Toner, Director of Marketing and Communications at Tourism Windsor Essex. Chamber of Commerce staff are also involved in planning and executing the event.

The mandate of the Business Excellence Awards is to continue the tradition of honouring business and professional achievements in Windsor Essex on an annual basis. The BEAs are ‘The Premier Business Event of the Year’, recognizing successful businesses and people and the contributions they make to the growth and prosperity of our economy. This recognition is especially important during the coronavirus pandemic, while businesses continue to face unique challenges to their operations.

Planning for next year’s ‘Business Excellence Awards’, scheduled for May 19, 2022, will begin right away. Nominations in all Award categories will open late Summer/early Fall through the Chamber’s web site. A volunteer group of independent BEA Judges will be assembled at that time.

The Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce, presenting sponsor Windsor Star, the individual Award Sponsors, Event Supporters, BEA Committee, Judges and everyone involved in the 30th anniversary of the ‘Business Excellence Awards’ congratulates this year’s outstanding winners.

2020-21 Award Winners

• ATHENA Leadership Award – Sponsored by Bell
  Marlene Corey, YourTV
• Believe Windsor-Essex Award – Sponsored by WFCU
  Farrow (Award presented to Chairman and CEO Rick Farrow)
• Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by Grant Thornton
  Michael Difazio, Owner, Michael Difazio Reclaim Artistry
• Green Innovation – Sponsored by University of Windsor and University of Windsor Alumni Association
  GreenerFarms
• Large Company of the Year – Sponsored by St. Clair College
  Cavalier Tool and Manufacturing
• Mid-Size Company of the Year – Sponsored by RBC
  Brave Control Solutions
• New Company of the Year – Sponsored by Enbridge
  Plant Joy
• Pillars of our Community – Sponsored by Motor City Community Credit Union
  Canadian Mental Health Association, Windsor-Essex County Branch
• Professional of the Year – Sponsored by TD Commercial Banking
  Janice Kaffer, President and CEO, Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare
• Small Company of the Year – Sponsored by Families First
  Colasanti Controls
• Tourism and Hospitality Award – Sponsored by Caesars Windsor and OLG
  North 42 Degrees Estate Winery
• Young Professional of the Year Award – Sponsored by Libro Credit Union
  Dr. Maxwell Abraham, Owner, Abraham Orthodontics