2026 Nominees
New Business of the Year Award (Under 2 years)
Award Sponsored By: MAC LLP
- Bricks & Minifigs Kitchener Waterloo
- The Canadian Brewhouse
- D&D Smoked Eats
- Frontline Trauma Training Services
- HONEY Events + Design
- Puddles Swim School
- Ravenwood Tabletop
- Splitsville Bowl Waterloo
- Vestika's Oddities & Wellness
- Yoni Mudra Art Gallery
Small Business of the Year Award (1-10 Employees)
Award Sponsored By: Gowling WLG
- FoodZen
- Iris HR
- Marycuterie
- Ultra Plumbing & HVAC
- Vanessa's Cuisine
- Welcome Home Construction
- Worm Wrangler
Business of the Year Award (11-50 Employees)
Award Sponsored By: Miller Thomson LLP
- GSP Group
- H2R Business Solutions
- Tepperman's Kitchener
- The Tone-Gar Group of Companies
Business of the Year Award (Over 50 Employees)
Award Sponsored By: University of Waterloo
- Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo
- Flanagan Foodservice Inc.
- Gore Mutual Insurance
- Josslin Insurance
- Larrek Investigations
- RideCo
Community Builder of the Year Award
Award Sponsored By: Heffner Lexus
- AMJ
- Cheryl Goetz of At Home Company
- Catalyst Commons
- Centre In The Square
- Cowan Insurance Group
- Durrell Communications
- Enova Power Corp.
- EmployNext Powered by Serco
- EY
- Kitchener Public Library
- MT Space (The Multicultural Theatre Space)
- The Social Snippet
- United Way Waterloo Region
- WRHN Foundation
Employee Engagement Award
Award Sponsored By: Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
- Equitable
- Little Mushroom Catering and Dining Lounge
- Midtown Yoga + Pilates
Environment & Sustainability Award
Award Sponsored By: Enbridge
- Little Mushroom Catering and Dining Lounge
- Meal in a Jar
- VCT Group
Health and Wellness in the Workplace Award
Award Sponsored By: EY
- Cullen Nutrition Simplified, by Tanya Cullen
- Deloitte Canada
- Dillon Consulting Limited
Innovation Award
Award Sponsored By: Scotiabank
- Amplify Care
- Blackbridge Systems Inc.
- Complete Building Systems Inc.
- Creative Minds Accounting
- Demi
- Laleta's Alterations Design and Custom
- Putt Social
- Subtly You Medical Spa
- Syed Clinic
Non-Profit/Charitable Award
Award Sponsored By: MTE Consultants Inc.
- Adventure4Change
- CMHA Waterloo Wellington
- Community Support Connections
- Creative Beginnings Childcare Centre
- Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region
- Family and Children's Services Foundation
- Food4Kids Waterloo Region
- The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
- KITCHENER-WATERLOO ART GALLERY
- Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice
- Mamas for Mamas KW
- Parents for Community Living, KW Inc.
- Shelter Movers Southwestern Ontario
- Strong Start Charitable Organization
Service Excellence in Hospitality & Tourism Award
Award Sponsored By: Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University
- Bella Vista Catering and Events
- Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo
- Great Canadian Holidays and Coaches
- Holiday Inn Express & Staybridge Suites Waterloo-St. Jacobs Area
- Ink Den
- Murdoch Travel
- Stroll Walking Tours
Young Professional of the Year Award
Award Sponsored By: PwC
- Asma Alwahsh, Canadian Arab Women's Association
- Kristina Bartold, The Social Snippet
- Kathy Dapal, KidsAbility
- Jacinta Grootjen, Primary People Group Inc.
- Kyle Lessard, KW Titans
- Emma Marriott, Iris HR
- Ryan Schinker, Real Broker Ontario
- Erin Seaton, Embark Physical Therapy & Wellness
- Samina Syed, Syed Clinic
- Gabi Underwood, Reis Informatica
Volunteer of the Year Award
Award Sponsored By: Bell Canada
- Special merit award, awarded without nominations
Michael R. Follett Community Leader of the Year Award
Award Sponsored By: Equitable
- Special merit award, awarded without nominations