Business Awards 2023
Thank you for your interest in the 2023 Business Awards!
The 2023 awards are, once again, proudly presented by RBC.
Gala Event
2023 was a big year, and we plan to celebrate in style at the St. John's Board of Trade 2023 Business Awards Gala!
With our membership thriving, another awesome year of business growth, and a new award category, our Business Awards are back and better than ever. Please join us at the Delta on November 23rd for an evening of music, networking, and celebration.
Businesses can complete one application package for each award they are applying for (or nominating another business for). Businesses can apply for a maximum of two awards per year.
Applications Due: September 19th
2023 Award Categories
Opportunity Seeker Award
Is your business an innovator? Strategic thinker? See’s opportunity where others see obstacles? Is creativity and ingenuity at the heart of what you do? Maybe you deployed new ways to communicate and connect with your customers, or you were able to build new relationships with market segments that you didn’t connect with before. Perhaps you established or enhanced a stellar communications, sales, and/or marketing strategy or invested on an idea that is now starting to show profit.
If this sounds like your business, we want to hear your story! Please tell us how you believe your out-of-the-box thinking sets your business apart from others when seeking opportunities.
Boundary Pusher Award
This award celebrates those businesses that think differently. A “boundary pusher” means you’re the type of business who isn’t afraid to take a risk or two to stay competitive. You’re the bold business that everyone is paying attention to and trying to figure out that secret sauce – a dash of courage, leadership, and some uncertainty (just the way you like it!).
If you tend to operate your business differently, we want to hear from you. Whether you pivoted to focus your business in a different direction, or if you expanded, altered or changed your offering, including your products and/or services, please tell us how you applied a new or unexpected way of thinking to the way you do things and inspire others (staff, colleagues, partners, etc.) to do the same.
Service Star Award
This award celebrates a service-based business who is best in class when it comes to building new connections and enhancing existing relationships with customers this past year (September 2022 to September 2023). Tailoring your business to see customer service as the cornerstone of performance is how you’ve differentiated yourself and created a strong brand image that keeps that customer coming back for more.
You’ve found ways to launch new service offering(s), developed a new or innovative way to reach customers and you take pride in how you positively and effectively approach challenges your customers face (constantly instilling that service standard pride in others). Whatever the specific circumstance, if you switched things up to better serve your customers, this is the award for you.
Community Champion Award
Two awards will be given in this category: One award for businesses with 20+ employees and one award for businesses with less than 20 employees.
Giving back to your community is part of your business’ DNA. If you found a great way to support your community, this is the award for you.
You’re the business that cares. From pitching in to help neighbours to supporting philanthropic and/or social causes that caused you to launch new business initiatives, the Community Champion of 2023 celebrates a business that has made outstanding contributions to the community through donations, time, effort and/or other means.
Business Builder Award
This award is about reaching new heights! Did your business experience an increase in demand for your product(s) and service(s)? Did you see a significant growth in sales, market share, or team this past year (September 2022 to September 2023)? The Business Builder of 2023 will be a business that made outstanding leaps in success and growth to their bottom line and as a result, built a stronger presence in the market.
Culture Creator Award
This award recognizes the role that people play in your business, and those businesses who create a space where everyone gets to be themselves, where hard work and commitment are recognized, and where corporate culture is central to the overall vision.
If you have taken steps to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace, have a corporate culture initiative that is second-to-none, or can show that who you are and how you manage has helped you achieve your vision, this award is for you.
In short, the Culture Creator of 2023 will be a business that shows exemplary performance in living their values. They will have a corporate culture that is welcoming, diverse, inclusive, inspiring, positive, and healthy, because investment into your people is worth celebrating!
Leading the Way: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Award
This award celebrates businesses who fully believe that Diversity, Equity Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) is not just a box to tick, but an element that brings tremendous positive impact to the landscape of their business, their employees, community, and the world. It’s for the business that isn’t afraid to embrace change, have candid conversations around the importance of improving DEIB and who are firmly committed to standing in solidarity with those who are underrepresented.
Demonstrating a commitment to DEIB in the workplace (from September 2022-September 2023), the business who receives this award will be recognized as one who has made significant efforts throughout the year to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for people from all backgrounds. This award is open to businesses that solely focus on promoting DEIB within the community, as well as businesses that are making strides to promote and create policies to increase DEIB within their community and workspace.
Past Winners
We are so proud of our 2022 and 2021 winners! As you will see, they are businesses big and small, all making a big impact in our business community!
2022 Award Winners
Opportunity Seeker: Piatto Pizzeria + Enoteca
Boundary Pusher: Port of Argentia
Service Star: Catalyst Health Solutions
Community Champion (20+ employees): Deloitte
Community Champion (1-19 employees): Newfoundland Growlers
Business Builder: Fort Amherst Healthcare
Culture Creator *NEW*: CoLab Software
Business Resilience Award: Studio VERSŌ
2021 Award Winners
Opportunity Seeker: Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra
Community Champion (20+ employees): Harvey’s Home Heating
Community Champion (1-19 employees): The Shop, SALT
Service Star: Avalon Laboratories
Business Builder: Saltwater Designs
Boundary Pusher: DF Barnes
Business Resilience Award: Alderwood Estates
Contact
Have questions? Don’t be stuck! Please contact Shanelle to help you navigate the process.
Shanelle Clowe
Manager of Communications
sclowe@bot.nf.ca
The St. John’s Board of Trade is happy to support and discuss accommodations for your submission. If you would like to discuss an arrangement, please reach out.