Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant announced the finalists for the 42nd annual Business Excellence Awards during an event at the Rope Factory on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
In a statement released last Tuesday night, Joy O’Donnell, President of the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant, said the awards are about recognizing the work of businesses and organizations making an impact in the local community.
“The Business Excellence Awards are an essential part of the business environment in Brantford-Brant,” she said. “Our finalists represent the best of the business community and we thank each of our sponsors and our community partners who make the Awards possible. They highlight the incredible contributions of organizations to the vibrancy and growth of Brantford-Brant.”
As part of the awards process, each finalist will receive four months of profile and brand development, and a custom two-minute video profile highlighting their achievements and success.
This year, there are five awards and a total of 15 finalists.
The finalists nominated for the Waterous, Amey, Hitchon Company of the Year Award include: Hotline Apparel Systems, Tenaxx Logistics and Gem Electrical. The award recognizes exceptional business achievements, high standards of employee relations, a strong corporate philosophy and making a positive impact in the community.
The finalists nominated for the Enterprise Brant Entrepreneur of the Year Award include: Julia and Jessica Surette of Brave Waves Swim School, Paula Arruda and Pamela McCann Lopez of 123 Supplies, and Jacob Tiffin of Protection Security Investigations. The award recognizes an individual(s) who has operated a business at their own financial risk for over three years, has demonstrated exceptional business achievements, product innovation and growth in sales, employment, and leadership in community relations.
The finalists nominated for the Bell Community Builder of the Year Award include: Jaycee Homes Brantford, Brantford Blessing Centre and the Brant United Way. The award recognizes an organization whose initiatives demonstrate sustained and long-term commitment to improving the quality of life of the community.
The finalists nominated for the OLD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award include: Contact Brant, YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford and the Grand River Community Health Centre. The award recognizes organizations that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to creating workplaces that are inclusive, respectful and reflective of the community they exist in.
And finally, the finalists nominated for the City of Brantford Industrial Award include: BML Multi-Trades Group Ltd., GrandBridge Energy and Synergy MouldWorks Inc. This inaugural award was created through a partnership between the City and the chamber of commerce, and recognizes the outstanding contributions to the growth, innovation and sustainability of the industrial sector, with a special emphasis on the support of skilled trades.
The winners of each award will be announced at the 42nd annual Business Excellence Awards Gala on Thursday, May 7, 2026. During the event, the Chamber will also present the David Baxter Memorial Award for outstanding individual achievement. Named after a long-time Chamber volunteer, and honours a lifetime achievement in the business community in Brantford-Brant.
David Prang, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant, said that the Chamber was overall pleased to once again be recognizing the efforts of local businesses, entrepreneurs and organizations.
“We’re excited to be able to showcase some of the work that’s being done in the community,” he said. “All of our finalists and nominees, they love the work they’re doing, they love the community that they live in, and they just want to make it better. So being able to celebrate that is very rewarding.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
