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Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, October 27, 2016 | 22 BUSINESS Chamber awards given to local businesses Winners chosen from a record number of 55 nominations for 11th annual event Ali Raza aliraza@yrmg.com Who calls the town Slowville nowadays? At the 11th annual Business Recognition Awards on Oct. 19 at the Stouffville Legion, the Stouffville Chamber of Commerce showed that growth in the town is anything but slow. With a record number of 55 nominations, it was a reminder that business is more than just alive and well in the town of 44,000, but it's slated for unprecedented growth. The five award categories were: best new business, best small business, best large business, best Steve Somerville/Metroland to former Sun-Tribune editor Jim Mason for his 34 years of service in the community. Mason also served as MC for the evening. McLean Renovations was awarded best small business, Care and Share Thrift Shop was awarded best not-for-profit, Main Street Bakehouse was awarded best new business, and King Cole Ducks Ltd. was awarded best large business. The entrepreneur of the year award was given to Tanis Emmett from Tanis Emmett Wedding Style. Emmett had just opened the second location of her bridal store in Stouffville earlier this year and was ecstatic upon receiving the award. "It's pretty exciting," she said. "We've been working really hard this year. We do 1,200 brides annually, as well as their families; people come from all over, Toronto, Mississauga, international clients." "We're pretty excited to be growing here," Emmett replied when asked about her business's expansion in Stouffville. The nominees were judged through independent panelists from Seneca College: Katrina Greaves, Ankie Yip and Fatema Somji. The judging process gave nominees a chance to present their case as to why they deserved the award through 10-minute interviews. The evening was attended by Mayor Justin Altmann, Oak-Ridges MPP Helena Jaczek, town councillors and chamber members. Altmann noted that Stouffville was the second fastest-growing community in Ontario and third fastest in Canada. Tanis Emmett and Agata Gilbert of Tanis Emmett Wedding Style Atelier receive the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Stouffville Business Awards, hosted by the Stouffville Chamber of Commerce at the Royal Canadian Legion hall Wednesday. They are greeted on stage by host Jim Mason, chamber president Danny Huang and WhitchurchStouffville Mayor Justin Altmann. not-for-profit and entrepreneur of the year. Honorary recognition was given to Schell Lumber for its longest uninterrupted membership in the chamber and 100 years of operation in Stouffville, and Canadian-made Solid Wood Furniture & Upholstery Bedroom | Dining Room | Upholstery | Entertainment | Office MAxxMAR ON All Almira Fine Furniture Upholstery Sale Save Up to 25% on Custom Orders! Select Floor Models Up to 50% Off! Sale Now! BlIndS 4747 Highway 7 East, Markham 905.477.5524 | www.almira.com SAVE to FALL SAVINGS Special Fall Savings Event Pricing + Up to $500 MAIL-IN FACTORY REBATE October 6 - 23 40% 50% FREE SHOP-AT-HOME SERVICE! www.sunshade.ca 1.800.883.1699 Markham/Unionville 905.475.2323 4450 Highway 7 5688 Main St., Stouffville · 905-640-1424 · www.betzpools.com