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Chamber announces 2005 Business Achievement Awards When lifelong Acton resident Marie Vickery entered the doors of the Acton ...is Kristine Cieslok, owner of Blue Branch of Halton Hills Public Library to start her new job in February of 1983, she had no Springs Spa and Salon, 9 Mill St. E., Acton. Moving to the Acton area from Los inkling she'd still be there 23 years later-- more importantly still Angeles, a few years enjoying her job ago, Cieslok had owned while doing it. seven spa and salon In that time, thoubusinesses in the past, sands of Acton chiland as there was no dren have listened to facilities in Acton, she stories read by decided to pursue her Vickery, have receivdream. ed help finding inforIn a whirlwind renomation for school vation that only lasted projects, made crafts 30 days, Cieslok had her and developed a place of business open respect and love for November 15, 2003. the Acton library. "We've never looked Halton Hills back," said Cieslok, "No Public Library regrets, only good things have happened. Marie Vickery of the Acton branch of Director Jane DiaIt all exceeded any of the Halton Hills Library is the manti said, "Many agree that their visit our expectations." Employee of the Year. to the Acton Branch is Employing a staff of seven full-time people, Cieslok also brings in greatly enhanced by the way Marie interacts contract people on occasion to cover special with them each time they arrive. Many children burst into the library calling her name, events or unique needs. In addition to offering a service that hoping she will be there to greet them." Vickery said, "I've never thought of `allows women to feel good about themdoing anything selves' Cieslok Business Achievement Awards banquet different, of not also gives back at North Halton Golf and Country Club, liking my job. I to the communiFebruary 24, come to work ty.Hosting Tickets are $75 per person, every day and numerous events call the Chamber of Commerce, take great satisin aid of the 905-877-7119 faction in doing it, Breast Cancer seeing the chilAwareness, as dren learn, develop and enjoy their visits here. To be recognized is wonderful, but the satisfaction of what I do each day is my real reward." With the announcement from the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce, the list of recipients of the 2005 Chamber of Commerce Business Achievement Awards has been released. town)" said Cieslok, "I think I have a pretty good job here, helping make people look beautiful. Employee of the Year Entrepreneur of the Year Mary Shier (Limehouse Kiln Society), Cathy Wilson (Millennium Garden), Marsha Batchelor (Kiln Society), and Joe Brooks (hall board), members of the Limehouse community, which was selected for the Civic Pride Award. · During a meeting of the hall board, a group of individuals discussed improving the swampy bush area at the entrance to Limehouse Public School-- the Limehouse Millennium Garden committee was formed in 2000. Through a grant from the Shell Evergreen Foundation, the group built a garden, complete with flowerbeds, decorative stones/rocks and the elimination of a wetland area that was a natural breeding ground for mosquitoes-- a West Nile Virus threat . · The final group that contributed to the improvement of Limehouse village is the Limehouse Kiln Society. Longtime residents Mary Shier and Marsha Batchelor were concerned about the ongoing degradation of the historic lime kilns in the village which Shier referred to as the village's `last hold on history.' In 1999, the Society formed and through local donations, a provincial heritage grant and later a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the group was able to restore the original power magazine (originally used to store blasting materials,) and have started the ball rolling for future restoration to continue, furthering enhancing and beautifying the village of Limehouse. Business of the Year nominees are... Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce 2005 Business of the Year awards will take on a new format this year. Instead of the winning business being announced in advance of the awards dinner, the top three nominations will be announced, and the winning business will be recognized at the awards banquet. Nominations for the Halton Hills Business of the Year for 2005 are: Halton Hills Speech Centre, MacMillan's Gourmet Frozen Foods and Vision 2000 Travel Group. Halton Hills Speech Centre Under the leadership of president Karen MacKenzie-Stepner, Halton Hills Speech Centre is located at 211 Guelph Street, Suite 5, and has been in business in town for 11 years. The practice has grown from a private practice with two speech pathologists to its present size of 22 speech pathologists specializing in various areas, as well as five staff members. "It feels good to be nominated," said MacKenzie-Stepner, "I asked myself `what did we do to deserve this? Here at the Speech Centre we all do something we love, and that's often reward enough. To be nominated? Well that's such a surprise-- a very nice surprise though." MacMillan's Gourmet Frozen Foods Operating from their Highway 7 location west of Acton, MacMillan's Gourmet Frozen Foods, owned and operated by Roy and Lynda Martin, has been in business for more than 22 years. "It's great to be nominated," said Roy Martin, "We work hard and try to do our best, and when someone notices it and nominates us, then it's that much better. I'm quite pleased." MacMillan's services a large area, throughout the Greater Toronto area and part of their recognition come from their fund-raising program in schools across the province. Vision 2000 Travel Group Opening in Georgetown in 1976 as Roos Travel, Vision 2000 Travel Group has been in business serving Halton Hills residents since that time. Now located at 328 Guelph Street in Georgetown, the company employs 14 full-time employees as well as nine outside employees. "I feel so privileged to have been chosen," said manager Herma Buchanan, "It was such a nice feeling to tell the staff of the nomination, and they felt good because our customers have noticed what we do, and are appreciative." Photos and story by Ted Brown well as sponsoring The Weekend to End Breast Cancer, Cieslok has also more recently held a fashion show in aid of Families of SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). In addition, Cieslok also donates to local causes and takes part in promoting local events like Leathertown Festival in August, and donations to the Acton skateboard park. "I'm here to stay and to give back (to the Civic Pride Award The Limehouse Community is the recipient of Civic Pride after the community was applauded for its transformation of the village, through the three community volunteer groups, who orchestrated the beautification of the village: · The Limehouse Community Hall Board was formed in 1996 for the operation and maintenance of the Memorial Hall. After extensive renovations, the hall has been the hub of the village, with the building being used regularly for family gatherings, public meetings, euchres and Kristine Cieslok, owner of Blue Springs Spa and Salon, 9 Mill St. E., coffee house Acton is the Entrepreneur of the Year. nights.