After the COVID pandemic canceled the Excellence in Business Awards in 2020, the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce was excited to host the 2021 Excellence in Business Awards Friday, October 22, at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre.

With over 125 accepted nominations for the twelve awards categories, and over 16,000 votes from the public for the People’s Choice Awards, this year’s Gala was one of the most diverse in its 31 years of history.

The 35 award category finalists in the twelve awards categories, including the new Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the 15 People’s Choice Finalists, showcased the resiliency of the Cape Breton Business Community for the last 18 months. Without missing a beat, all these local businesses and business leaders demonstrated outstanding business excellence during a very turbulent time.

The following winners were judged the best in their categories by a panel of some of the top business minds across Cape Breton. This year, the Cape Breton Chamber of Commerce accepted a record 125 nominations for these twelve categories.

Beyond Borders Exporter of the Year Award sponsored by Nova Scotia Business Inc

• 45Drives

Innovation & Advancement Award sponsored by Membertou Development

• Protocase Inc.

Social Enterprise of the Year Award sponsored by CBU Shannon School of Business

• Breton Ability Centre

Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership

• Athar Ahmad – Mian’s Restaurant

Community Impact Award sponsored Award by Coldwell Banker

• Community Cares Youth Outreach

Charitable Committee or Organization of the Year Award sponsored by Colbourne Cares

• Hospice Cape Breton

Workplace Excellence of the Year Award sponsored by HOT 101.9

• NSCC – Marconi Campus

Jack Yazer Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by Sampson MacPhee

• Mariah Battiste – Sundaylace Creations & Bling

Rose Schwartz Female Business Person of the Year Award sponsored by Scotiabank

• Charlene Anderson – Charlene’s Nutrition Centre

Irving Schwartz Male Business Person of the Year Award sponsored by Nova Scotia Community College

• Bob Pelley – Innovacorp

New Business of the Year Award sponsored by Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce

• Island Folk Cider House

Business of the Year Award sponsored by Northern Contracting Limited

• NovaStream

In addition to the above winners of their respective categories, the public had the opportunity to vote on Cape Breton’s People’s Choice Awards. This year, the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce received over 16,000 votes from the public in the five award categories, all sponsored by Air Canada.

People’s Choice Awards sponsored by Air Canada Favourite Place to Shop in the CBRM

• Emerald Island Gift Shop

Favourite Place to Eat in the CBRM

• Commercial Street Deli

Favourite Community Project

• Coats for Kids

Favourite Thing to Do/Experience in the CBRM

• Two Rivers Wildlife Park

CBRM Citizen of the Year

• Alyssa Rose

The Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce is proud of each and every one of these businesses and business leaders, who contributed to the economic growth here in the CBRM and Cape Breton, as a whole. The economic future is bright here on Cape Breton, and we look forward to seeing the business opportunities that arise leading up to the 2022 Excellence in Business Awards.

Media Contact

Cameron MacDonald
Membership Relations & Communications Coordinator

902-322-2984