How the Halifax Business Awards showcase our city’s best
It is that time of year again! The Halifax Chamber of Commerce Business Awards are right around the corner, and you can learn about each finalist from every category in this month’s issue of Business Voice.
In 2021, Easter Seals Nova Scotia was a finalist in the Not-for-Profit Business of the Year category. After the difficult year of the pandemic, it was both a boost to our staff morale and public relations efforts. In the months preceding the awards, we were able to share our work with the Chamber and its’ membership, which opened many doors for us into the business community.
In a difficult time of uncertainty, it was uplifting to see not only our good work being shared but that of our fellow nominees—all of whom were leaders in their own non-profit sphere. The Awards were virtual that year, but we held our own viewing party right here at our Centre with tasty treats provided by the Chamber. We did not win the Award that night, but after a tough year, we won in so many other ways, and we have never looked back.
In 2023, I was named as a finalist for Business Leader of the Year, which was a total but delicious surprise to me. The weeks leading up to the Awards gala were fun, engaging, and gave me the opportunity to connect with other amazing leaders in Halifax.
To my total surprise, I won the award. Without an acceptance speech in hand (I was not expecting to win), I regaled the audience, dressed in their finest duds, with a story about me trying to find a strapless bra via a pencil case as homage to my personal mantra of “just be you.” I think that speech gave me more notoriety than anything else I had ever done in my life.
The Business Awards are my favourite event delivered by the Chamber. It gives us all a glimpse of the world-class talent, ingenuity, innovation, and sustainability found in every corner of our business community right here in Halifax.
Over the years, I have been introduced to start-ups, entrepreneurs, changemakers, multi-faceted businesses and industries I never knew existed. These finalists deserve to be highlighted, and I know they inspire others in the business community. I appreciate the diversity and commitment to inclusion in every nominee. I love how their work and talent are put in the spotlight and celebrated—often to a level difficult for smaller organizations to reach with limited budgets.
I make a point every year to put forth a nomination in every category. The process is easy and gives a little lift to each nominee knowing that their work is appreciated and valued. Such a small gesture can go a long way in the world of business and social impact work. Trust me on that.
