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Kick start your morning with helpful news and Oakville Beaver | Thursday, May 25, 2023 | 28 Weather, transit, school bus cancellations and delays - our news team serves up daily updates to accompany your morning coffee. Get it delivered right to your inbox weekdays by 7 a.m. @idenatton.com € 8 : 3 £& information to plan your day. IBNEWS LOCAL BUSINESSES RECOGNIZED AT OAKVILLE AWARDS FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com Some of Oakville's most innovative businesses and successful entrepreneurs were recognized at the 28th akville Awards for Business Excellence (OABE) on Wednesday, April 26. The sold-out event, which was held by the Oak- Chamber of Com- merce and the Rotary Club of Oakville West, attracted a crowd of 475 to the Oak- wie Conference Centre. he award recipients in- + Reuni mn Coffee Roast- ers, which received the RBC Large Business of the Year Awai + Wellness for the Body, which received the O'Con- nor MacLeod Hanna Pro- fessional Service Provider of thes Year Award. drianne Fekete of Star Quanity Private Inves- tigators, who received the Cogeco of A total of 475 peopl d the 28th for Business Excellence. which received the Busi- ness Icon Award. ABE are dedicat- ed to recognizing exempla- ry models of excellence and community service by Oakville 's businesses. Kerry Colborne, chair of the judging committee, noted that all the finalists the abil- David Lea/Metroland Awards would not amount to any- thing, but that she would be fine as long as she mar- ried rich and had some kids. “Those words fuelled me and continues to fuel me to this day because re- jection truly is redirec- tion,” she said. the Year Award. + Ultimate Pool 5 which received the Hender- son Partners LLP Mid-Size Business of the Year Award. liso Restaurant, which received the Visit Oakville Tourism Excel- lence of the Year Award. + Socce: x World, which sources service, Shaostey of the Year Award. ie Spot Carpet cleantne, which received the KPMG Small Business of the Year Award. + Rebecca Pointon of SPINCO Oakville, who re- ceived the Young Profes- sional or Entrepreneur of the Year Award. + The Oakville Commu- nity Foundation, which re- ceived the Bell Community + Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides, which received the CN Charity or Not. For-Profit Excellence ward. + Siemens Canada, ity to pivot on a dime, adapting to the changing world around them. Wellness for the Body Owner Jennifer Lickver called her win a "bit ot a shock" wouldn't have been able Me do it without her team. "Ithas been 17 ‘years an and it has been kind "You start as a small business, tad we've ridden the roller-coaster. People say second place is a good place to be because you are pretty proud of where you and you have some- place else to go. I think win- ning here tonight and fi- nally being on top... it's not so bad." Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner Adri- anne Fekete of Star Quality Private Investigators said that at 14 she was told she couldn't do things because of her gender and at 17 was told by her guidance coun- cillor she was not smart, ‘My rted my dreams and hn Teould dean: heart to regardless oe gene . It's so important to belie in an children to- day. It will make such a positive impact on who they, will become tomor- eke te said that at 19 she opened her first business and sold it five years later and then at 24 opened a public relations company that serviced such clients as the Rolling Stones, U2, World Wrestling Enter- tainment, and oeunate Fighting Championshij She said she ultimately became the first woman in Canada to own a fully li- censed private investiga- tion and security agency. At the conclusion of the evening, Oakville Cham- ber President and CEO Frances Fournier congrat- ulated all award recipients. “The passion that you guys bring to our commu- nity is amazing,” she said.