Sponsored Awards

In an effort to recognize the valuable contributions businesses make to the economy of Sault Ste. Marie, the Chamber of Commerce initiated its awards program. These awards are designed to recognize businesses who have made or are still making contributions, which enhance our business community.

Entrepreneur / Business of the Year Award
Sponsored by: Palmer Construction Group Inc. in Memory of Mike Rainone
This award recognizes an entrepreneur or business owner who successfully demonstrates a progressive attitude towards employee relations, a positive public image, and a reputation for excellence in customer service and contributions to the community.

Recipients:
1993 - Algoma Physical Rehabilitation Clinic
1994 - H.R.Lash Ltd.
1995 - Good Old Dad Food Products
1996 - The Trading Post
1997 - M & M Meat Shops
1998 - Gino Sartor – Sar-Gin Developments (Sault) Ltd.
1999 - Splashback…Division of Wendy M. Harrison Entertainment Co. Inc.
2000 - Matt Lawless – Canadian Tire Store
2001 - Steve & Kelly Rome - Rome's Independent Grocer
2002 - Dan Castellani – Ricardo's Big Slice Pizza
2003 - Jeff Elgie/Lou Derrer - Lucidia Studios
2004 - ASCU Community Credit Union Ltd.
2005 - Brian Tremblay - Brian Tremblay Photography
2006 - Andre Riopel - Back in Motion
2007 - Achieve Fitness For Women
2008 - DOI - Dumanski Office Interiors
2009 - ATS

Business Development Award
Sponsored by: Business Development Bank of Canada
The Business Development Award is presented to a business, which demonstrates or contributes towards job creation and general growth within the community.

Recipients:
1993 - Brooks Marketing
1994 - Healthwares Medical Centre
1995 - Maple Leaf Home Centre
1996 - MicroAge Computers
1997 - New North Greenhouses
1998 - Main Filter & Supply/Filtrec North America
1999 - Hi-Tec Security And Investigations
2000 - SSM Online Inc.
2001 - Lyons TIM-BR Mart
2002 - Algoma Insurance
2003 - Algoma Tubes Inc.
2004 - McDougall Fuels Ltd.
2005 - Eazy Express Inc.
2006 - The Steamy Bean Coffee Co. Ltd.
2007 - Island Springs Golf Resort
2008 - Northside Toyota
2009 - Soo Foundry & Machine, Ltd.

Marketing Award
Sponsored by: Algoma Office Equipment
This award recognizes a business, which demonstrates a superior and novel Marketing strategy to attract new business and retain repeat business through the creative use of limited resources.

Recipients:
1993 - Christie Camper Sales
1994 - Algoma Furniture
1995 - David Ellis Architect
1996 - Mio’s Furniture Fashions
1997 - Searchmont Resort
1998 - Errington’s Wilderness Islands
1999 - Experience North Adventures
2000 - Brian Tremblay Photography
2001 - Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
2002 - Upstairs At Romes
2003 - Algoma's Water Tower Inn
2004 - Algoma University College
2005 - Loplops Lounge
2006 - Sault Area Hospital Foundation
2007 - Achieve Fitness For Women
2008 - Downtown Association
2009 - City Meat Market

Service Sector Award
Sponsored by: Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area
This award is presented to a government department or non-profit organization, which has demonstrated a willingness to go beyond the normal call of duty in assisting businesses in their dealings with that government department or organization.

Recipients:
1993 - Brian Irwin
1994 - Queenstown Association
1995 - Don Redmond
1996 - Alexander Henry Co-op Placement Program
1997 - Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association
1998 - Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
1999 - Public Works &Transportation, Landfill Operations
2000 - Sault Ste. Marie Transit
2001 - Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department
2002 - Canada Post Corporation
2003 - Ministry of Northern Development & Mines
2004 - John Howard Society of SSM & District
2005 - Lung Association
2006 - Destiny Sault Ste. Marie
2007 - Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie & District
2008 - Business Development Bank of Canada

Customer Service Award
Sponsored by: Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area
This award goes out to a business, which raises customer service to new standards of excellence & is a model for other businesses in the community to follow.

Recipients:
1993 - Stone’s Office Supply Ltd.
1994 - Aladdin Carpet Cleaning
1995 - Show Stoppers Rental Centre
1996 - M & M Meat Shops
1997 - CAPCO Landscaping
1998 - Dr. Kent Floreani Orthodontist
1999 - Superior Travel Centre
2000 - Verne's Hardware
2001 - Sault Ste. Marie Duty Free Store
2002 - Lamon's Printing
2003 - Canadian Tire
2004 - Holiday Inn Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront
2005 - Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre
2006 - McClelland-Johnstone Ltd.
2007 - Downtown Association
2008 - Johnson's R.V.
2009 - Soo Mill Buildall

Environment Awards
Sponsored by: Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation
The Environment Awards honour businesses that have made a difference in making our environment better, whether it is through reduction of pollution or waste, energy efficiency, new environmental or energy technology applications, best practices, or introducing an innovative program that reduces waste in our city. There were previously two categories for these awards; the first, for businesses with over 50 employees, the second, for businesses with under 50 employees. Beginning in 2008 only one award was presented.

Recipients:
Over 50 Employee Category
1996 - Wardlaw Fuels
1997 - White Pines Environmental Club
1998 - ASCU Community Credit Union & Algoma Central Corp.
1999 - St. Marys Paper Ltd.
2000 - G-P Flakeboard Company
2001 - Great Lakes Power Ltd.
2002 - SSM Special Household Waste Depot
2003 - Algoma District School Board
2004 - Great Lakes Forestry Centre
2005 - Ontario Forest Research Institute
2006 - PUC Services Inc.
2007 - Community Living Algoma

Under 50 Employee Category
1996 - Clean North/Naturally Green
1997 - Sault SCUBA Centre
1999 - Meakin Forest Enterprises Ltd.
2000 - Lemieux Haul-Away & Composting
2001 - And-Son Contracting/Waste Knot
2002 - Clergue Forest Management
2003 - Prescription Centre
2004 - Upper Lakes Environmental Research Network (U.L.E.R.N.)
2005 - Sault Ste. Marie Disposal
2006 - Andre Riopel - Back in Motion
2007 - Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie & Area

2008 and afterward
2008 - Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology
2009 - Essar Steel Algoma Inc.

ATHENA Award
Sponsored by: Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology
This award introduced in 2000 celebrates the potential of women as valued members and leaders of the community and recognizes those who support them. The ATHENA Award honours individuals who strive toward the highest levels of professional accomplishment….women and men who excel in their chosen field have devoted time and energy to their community in meaningful ways and who also open paths so that others may follow. ATHENA recipients must meet each of these three specific criteria. They must a) Assist women in reaching their full potential, b) Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession and c) provide valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.

Recipients:
2000 - Dianne Marshall
2001 - Rosemary O'Connor
2002 - Carmela Novello
2003 - Candy Mitchell
2004 - Ella-Jean Richter
2005 - Antoinette Blunt
2006 - Mary Ellen Szadkowski
2007 - Jody Rebek-DiCerbo
2008 - Katherine G. MacRae
2009 - Marnie Stone

Community Capacity Building Award
Industry Canada FedNor
This award will be introduced in 2001 and presented annually to an organization that has demonstrated an exceptional ability to compete globally through innovation, telecommunications or trade.

Recipients:
2001 - J.F. Fitzpatrick Industries Inc.
2002 - U.L.E.R.N. (Upper Lakes Environmental Research Network)
2003 - North Shore Industrial Wheel Manufacturing
2004 - G-P Flakeboard Company
2005 - Lucidia Studios
2006 - Manna International Inc.
2007 - Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre
2008 - Forest BioProducts Inc.

Safe Work, Sound Business Award in Honour of Don Watson
Sponsored by: Sault Ste. Marie Safe Communities Partnership
This award recognizes a business that uses a safe work management system. Participates in workplace and/or community injury prevention programs and has exceptional good injury frequency and injury severity performance.

Recipients:
2001 - G P Flakeboard Company
2002 - McDougall Fuels
2003 - PUC Services Inc.
2004 - Boniferro Mill Works Inc.
2005 - Algoma Health Unit
2007 - Paul Davis Systems Sault Ste. Marie
2008 - Lyons TIM-BR Mart
2009 - Soo Foundry & Machine, Ltd.

The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Award series includes several prestigious awards made to exemplary individuals who have made significant contributions to the community as a whole. The Chamber sponsor these awards.

Paul Dalseg Community Achievement Award
The Paul Dalseg Award recognizes a businessperson in Sault Ste. Marie who has demonstrated exemplary interest in the community, and in so doing, has made a major, outstanding and unique achievement or contribution to the life of the community. It is intended to recognize the leadership and community-mindedness of businessmen and women. Initiated in 1991, it is appropriate that this unique award be dedicated to Paul Dalseg, who while operating one of the city's most successful retail and service operations, was also an outstanding example of a businessperson's dedication to their community.

Recipients:
1991 - George Shunock
1992 - Frank Sarlo
1993 - Ian, Lynn & Simpson Hollingsworth
1996 - Rosemary O’Connor
1997 - Don Watson
1998 - Peter Vaudry
1999 - Ken Lajambe
2000 - Russ Ramsay
2001 - Mike McEwen
2002 - Jack Purvis
2003 - Gerald Nori
2004 - Dr. Celia Ross
2005 - Vic Fremlin
2006 - Don Mitchell
2007 - Dr. David Walde
2008 - John Hollingsworth
2009 - Jim Hilsinger

Skipper Manzzutti Award for Business Achievement
Named after one of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce’s dedicated past presidents, Captain Feliciano “Skipper” Manzzutti, this award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding business achievement within the past year or number of years. Like the individual to whom the award has been dedicated, the yearly recipient of the Skipper Manzzutti Award for Business Achievement possesses exemplary entrepreneurial and community-minded achievement.

Recipients:
1985 - Dan Alexander
1986 - George Masters
1987 - J. J. Hilsinger
1988 - Howard Tishman
1989 - Wayne Prouse
1990 - Frank Lajambe
1991 - Frank Prouse
1992 - Sam Biasucci
1993 - Frank Palumbo
1994 - Tony Ruscio
1995 - Doug Sykes
1996 - Brian & Debbie Brooks
1997 - Vic Fremlin
1998 - Ben Pino
1999 - Alan Jones
2000 - Jim Fitzpatrick
2001 - Richard & Rodger Rosset
2002 - Rob Cohen
2003 - Jim Boniferro
2004 - Denis Turcotte
2005 - Kelly & Steve Rome
2006 - Jack Purvis
2007 - Darren McDougall - McDougall Fuels
2008 - Gary Dumanski - DOI
2009 - John Martella - Green Circle Environmental Recycling Inc.

Volunteer of the Year Award
As a volunteer-based organization, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce depends on individuals who are willing to donate their time to special projects, events or programs they believe will benefit the business community as a whole. Initiated in 1985, the Volunteer of the Year Award is given annually to recognize an individual whose time commitment and contributions to the Chamber over the years or during the past year has been outstanding.

Recipients:
1985 - Darlene Parr
1985 - Joanne Fleming
1985 - Wayne Prouse
1986 - Don & Judy Carrie
1986 - Barry Magill
1987 - Maureen Acheson
1987 - Andy Mantha
1987 - Bill Curtis
1987 - Hugh MacDonald
1987 - Jack Boushear
1988 - John Wilson
1988 - Ron Pihlaja
1988 - SSM Ambassador Corps
1989 - Maureen Topp
1989 - John Offidani
1991 - Maryon Young
1992 - Ken Lajambe
1993 - Art Taylor
1993 - Bonnie Loubert Brown
1994 - Kevin Dane
1994 – Brian Irwin
1994 - Suzanne Thompson
1995 - Michael O’Connor
1996 - Rod Goodall
1997 - John Massa
1998 - Richard Ciotti
1999 - Tom Kowaleski
2000 - Susan Tagliabracci
2001 - Gary Myers
2002 - George Johnstone
2003 - David Cook
2004 - Paul R. Hawn
2005 - Aldo Greco
2006 - Ben Pascuzzi
2007 - SSM Ambassador Corps
2008 - Jeff McWhinney
2009 - Bill Shepherd

President’s Award
Initiated in 1982, the President’s Award recognizes someone who makes an exceptional effort, which goes above and beyond the call of duty in any area of business and community development. Selected by the Past President of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, this award is not necessarily given annually.