What are the Halifax Business Awards?

The Halifax Business Awards is a night of celebration for the local business community. The Awards recognize the entrepreneurs, the leaders and the innovators. It's a night of shining the spotlight on our thriving business community.

The judging committee receives hundreds of nominations throughout the year and then has the difficult task of narrowing it down to 35 finalists.

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Who can be nominated?

Any business owned and operated within Halifax can be nominated for the Halifax Business Awards! Chamber membership is not required or considered during the application process. See the full list of eligibility criteria by category here.

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Who are the judges?

The Halifax Business Awards uses an independent volunteer judging committee made up of five (5) local business and community leaders across industries to ensure fairness, integrity and transparency.

The Committee is comprised of a Chair (2-year term; max 2 terms), and four (4) other judges (2-year term; max 2 terms). The Halifax Chamber strives to ensure the members of the Judging Committee reflect the diversity of the local business community.

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What are the judges looking for?

The Halifax Business Awards judging committee is looking for well deserving businesses that represent Halifax's ideals of hard work and innovation. All submissions are ranked on a scale from 0-20. Each category has a specific set of questions relevant to the category. Nominees have the option of submitting two reference letters and one page of accolades to offer additional context and support for submissions, but are not necessary.

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How can I write a winning application?

Submissions for the 2025 Awards close on September 13, 2024.

To learn how to write your submission, read our helpful guide here!

In partnership with RBC, we hosted 3 Submission 101 Workshops this spring!

Watch the virtual workshop recording HERE

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Have more questions?

Read our FAQ's page or contact Emma Menchefski at emma@halifaxchamber.com.

Meet some of our past winners and finalists!

• 2024 Halifax Business Awards Winners & Finalists

  NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Dada Dunia

  Finalists: Lignum Immigration Services, Sprout Dwellings, Fully Align Studio, Mauya The Fine Arts Tribe
  
  SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
  

  Winner: Flenjor Foods

  Finalists: Alliance World Transport, iPlume Writing Inc., PowerUp Leadership, Indigevisor Ltd.
  

  EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: NOVONIX

  Finalists: Stalwart Metals International Inc., Intuity Performance, Site 20/20, Flying Fresh Air Freight

  NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
  

  Winner: Commissionaires Nova Scotia

  Finalists: St. John Ambulance, GEO Nova Scotia, Shelter Movers Nova Scotia, Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation

  INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Nova Graphene Inc
  
  Finalists: BATLX, Fem Entity, Graphite Innovation and Technologies Inc., I'm Canada Media
  
  BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
  
  Winner: Good Robot Brewing Co.

  Finalists: Remember When Homecare, Rafflebox Technologies, Cabco Communications Group, CBCL

  BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
  

  Winner: Bradley Daye - Placemaking 4G

  Finalists: Bradley Farquhar - Purple Cow Internet, Connie McInnes - RStudios, Colleen O'Toole - Lighthouse Transportation Inc., Ghada Gabr - Shoppers Drug Mart

• 2023 Halifax Business Awards Winners & Finalists

  NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
  

  Winner: ESG Partners

  Finalists: Indigenous Treaty Partners, Chapman Family Law, QuickFacts Inc., Simply Good Form Inc.
  

  SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Placemaking 4G

  Finalists: Simply Go Natural Cosmetics, Art Pays Me, Joyful Sounds Music Studio, Taya Ties
  

  EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Nautel

  Finalists: CloudKettle, First Catch Fisheries, Solid State Pharma Inc., Outdoor-Fit Exercise Systems
  

  NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank

  Finalists: Spencer House Seniors Centre, The PREP Academy, VON Greater Halifax, reachAbility
  

  INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Impactful Health Research and Development

  Finalists: Elevate & Explore Black Nova Scotia Inc., Proege Elite Training, Nothing Cleaner by AquaNaka, ROCK Networks
  

  BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
  

  Winner: Cyclesmith

  Finalists: Milk Moovement, CGI, Northern Business Intelligence, Enginuity Inc.
  

  BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Joanne Bernard - Easter Seals Nova Scotia

  Finalists: Andrew Doucet - rcs Construction, Rod Kerr - Kerr Group, Chantal Davie - VON Greater Halifax, Tia Upshaw - Canadian Blk Women in Excellence Society

• 2022 Halifax Business Awards Winners & Finalists

  NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Natural Butter Bar

  Finalists: Eunoia Lifestyle Shop Inc., Jo to the Web Solutions, Taya Ties, The Highlander Spa

  SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Delectable Desserts Inc.

  Finalists: Couryah Inc., Lumi Studios Media, Red Ear media, Temi Bakes

  EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Focal Research Consultants

  Finalists: Admiral, AquaClean, CGI, Smart Income

  NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Kids Help Phone

  Finalists: Alice House, Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia, Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic, St. John Ambulance

  INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: CarbonCure Technologies

  Finalists: CacheFlo, Clean Valley CIC, Side Door, Smarter Spaces

  BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Precision BioLogic

  Finalists: Morris East Restaurant + Wine Bar, Parkwood Home Care, The Village Veterinary Group, WLWP Wealth Planners | iA Private Wealth

  BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Kathleen Jay - Maplewave

  Finalists: Ann-Marie Flinn - Champion Foundational Change Agency, Rebecca Cable-Munroe - Admiral, Paul Empey - Precision BioLogic, Tia Upshaw - Top Notch Cleaners & Blk Women in Excellence Society

• 2021 Halifax Business Awards Winners & Finalists

  NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Purple Cow Internet

  Finalists: Bloxo Inc., Little Eden Bakery and Cafe, Premier Accounting & Tax Inc, Verge Technologies

  
  

  SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: The Rounds

  Finalists: BeResponsive Media, Cyclesmith, RHAD Architects, Solid State Pharma Inc.

  
  

  EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: First Catch Fisheries Co. Ltd

  Finalists: Admiral Insurance, Beaumont Exhibits, b4, CGI

  
  

  NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: United Way Halifax

  Finalists: Adsum for Women & Children, Easter Seals Nova Scotia, Feed Nova Scotia, Solutions for Kids in Pain

  
  

  INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Oberland Agriscience Inc.

  Finalists: Eadie Technologies Inc, Enginuity Inc, Nxtgen Care, Silverback VR (Silverback Productions Inc)

  
  

  BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Winner: REDspace Inc.

  Finalists: Iron Dog Inc., Spirit Spa, Storm Insurance Group, The Old Triangle Irish Alehouse

  
  

  BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  Winner: Matt Symes - Symplicity Designs

  Finalists: Lorelei Burgess - Oxford Learning, Mathew Benvie - Evolve Fitness, Tanya Sieliakus - HR pros Inc., Tisha Parker Kemp - shiftED Academy

• 2020 Halifax Business Awards Winners & Finalists

  NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: HFX Wanderers FC

  Silver: Ring Rescue Inc.

  Bronze: threesixfive

  Finalists: Bar Kismet, Greywave Senior Care Consulting

  
  

  SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Made With Local

  Silver: SONA

  Bronze: Preserving Traditions

  Finalists: Monk Renovations, The Flag Shop

  
  

  EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Northern Business Intelligence

  Silver: Outdoor Fit Exercise Systems

  Bronze: Site 2020

  Finalists: G.M. Applied Technologies, Triple Maple Trading Co. Limited

  
  

  INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
  

  Gold: Precision BioLogic

  Silver: Saute

  Bronze: Air Realty

  Finalists: Junk Works Halifax Inc

  
  

  BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Davis Pier

  Silver: FBM Architects

  Bronze: Wilsons Security

  Finalists: Home Instead Senior Care

  
  

  BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Roger King - Supplement King

  Silver: Karim George - InTouch Communications

  Bronze: Sherry Willison - Junk Works Halifax Inc

  Finalists: Mathew Benvie - Evolve Fitness, Paul Tordon - Apex Tire Services

• 2019 Halifax Business Awards Winners & Finalists

  NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Compass Distillers

  Silver: Vandal Doughnuts

  Bronze: Nanuk Technologies

  Finalists: New Scotland Brewing Co., Tart & Soul Cafe

  
  

  SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Totally Raw Pet Food

  Silver: Appili Therapeutics Inc.

  Bronze: New Scotland Clothing Co.

  Finalists: Obladee, A Wine Bar, Pineapple Bytes Inc.

  
  

  EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: REDspace Inc.

  Silver: Moog Focal Technologies

  Bronze: Novonix

  Finalists: First Catch Fisheries Co. Ltd., InterTalk Critical Information Systems

  
  

  INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
  

  Gold: InterTalk Critical Information Systems

  Silver: Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc.

  Bronze: Athletigen Technologies Inc.

  Finalists: BBD Thermal Remediation, TruLeaf

  
  

  BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Mezza Lebanese Restaurant Group

  Silver: Bishop's Cellar

  Bronze: VistaCare Communications

  Finalists: Armco Group of Companies, Minuteman Press

  
  

  BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Joyce Carter - Halifax International Airport Authority

  Silver: Tony Nahas - Mezza Lebanese Restaurant Group

  Bronze: Myrna Gillia - Aqualitas

  Finalists: Joe McGuinness - Legendary Hospitality Group, Karim George - InTouch Communications

• 2018 Halifax Business Awards Winners & Finalists

  NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Appili Therapeutics Inc.

  Silver: Halifax Distilling Co.

  Bronze: The Barrington Steakhouse & Oyster Bar

  Finalists: J Farwell Sailing Co, Sattva Boutique

  
  

  SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: AeroVision Canada Inc.

  Silver: WeUsThem

  Bronze: BlueLight Analytics

  Finalists: Quantum Communications, Twirp Communications Inc.

  
  

  EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: InterTalk Critical Information Systems

  Silver: BlueLight Analytics

  Bronze: VERB Interactive

  Finalists: b4Checkin, World Link Food Distributors Inc.

  
  

  INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
  

  Gold: Nautel

  Silver: Squiggle Park

  Bronze: BlueLight Analytics

  Finalists: Third Wave Consulting, Afishionado Fishmongers

  
  

  BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: PAVIA Gallery - Espresso Bar & Cafe

  Silver: Archway Insurance

  Bronze: Home Instead Senior Care

  Finalists: InterTalk Critical Information Systems, Mezza Lebanese Kitchen

  
  

  BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Dave O'Connor - GLOW The Event Store

  Silver: Joe Metlege - Templeton Properties

  Bronze: Tony Nahas - Mezza Lebanese Kitchen

  Finalists: Martina Kelades - Life Out Loud, Ross Argante - Integrated Staffing Limited

• 2017 Halifax Business Awards Winners & Finalists

  NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: SayleSafety Inc.

  Silver: Good Robot Brewing Company

  Bronze: Beaumont & Co.

  Finalists: Halifax Paper Hearts, Signature Health

  
  

  SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Stone Hearth Bakery

  Silver: House of Auto Details

  Bronze: Monk Renovations

  Finalists: Aerobics First Ltd., Black Star Wealth Partners

  
  

  EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Nautel

  Silver: BlueLight Analytics Inc.

  Bronze: Carsonexports Worldwide Auto Sales

  Finalists: CarbonCure Technologies, Spa Springs Mineral Water Company Ltd

  
  

  INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
  

  Gold: Metamaterial Technologies Inc

  Silver: Stone Hearth Bakery

  Bronze: CBWES Inc.

  Finalists: BlueLight Analytics Inc., Modest Tree

  
  

  BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc.

  Silver: Sport Wheels Sports Excellence

  Bronze: The Berkeley Retirement Residences

  Finalists: Bedford Eye Care, Chef Abod Cafe & Catering

  
  

  BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  Gold: Jennifer Gillivan - IWK Health Centre Foundation

  Silver: Starr Dobson - Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia

  Bronze: Allan MacIntosh - Marco

  Finalists: Dianne Hamilton - Pete's Frootique, Leanne Andrecyk - ZedEvents