PICTOU, N.S. — The 28th annual Business Achievement Awards were a success by any measure for the recipients of 12 awards, their supporters, or people just wanting to hear from Pictou County’s leading entrepreneurs.
The ceremony recognizing excellence in Pictou County’s business community was held at the deCoste Performing Arts Centre on the evening of Oct. 17.
“It’s been quite a ride, and we’re just getting started,” said Cathy Munro who received the New Business of the Year Award at the ceremony. Bramble Hill Farm, which was started by Munro as a homesteading project now grows and sells microgreen salad-mixes throughout the province and employs five people who Munro especially thanked.
“I’m very humbled,” she said.
Munro shared the award for New Business of the Year with designer Tabitha Coleman of Tabitha & Co, which Coleman started back in 2018 as a business which creates unique hand-crafted leather bags designed and made by Coleman right here in Pictou County.
“Anyone can come up with a great concept for a business plan, but it’s the support of many who can make it a success,” said Coleman upon receiving her award.
Before Munro and Coleman received their awards, the award for Small Business of the Year was announced for Our Turn to Cook, and its owner Brenda Kennedy.
Our Turn To Cook supplies individual meal kits for up to six people, as well as serving Viola’s Place and the Palliative Care unit at the Aberdeen Hospital and employs three people.
“I definitely couldn’t have done it on my own,” said Kennedy.
At the end of the evening, the Lifetime Achievement award was given out to the corporate director of Empire Co. Ltd, the Sobey Art Foundation and chair of Crombie REIT, the Sobey Foundation and Aberdeen Health Foundation board member, Frank C. Sobey.
List of all the award recipients for the 28th annual Business Achievement Awards 2019:
- Large Business – Sponsored by the Municipality of Pictou County
Recipient: Sullivan Fuels- Wade and Emily Sullivan
- Small Business – Sponsored by Michelin
Recipient: Our Turn to Cook- Brenda Kennedy
- Barrie MacMillan Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by Grant Thornton
Recipient: Bruce and Joyce Winmill
- Business Engagement – Sponsored by Northern Pulp
Recipient: The Hemlock Group
- Leadership in Business – Sponsored by Mac, Mac & Mac
Recipient: S.W. Weeks Construction
- New Business – Sponsored by Northern Opportunities for Business Limited
Recipient: Tabitha & Co- Tabitha Coleman, Bramble Hill Farm- Cathy Munro
- Community Partners – Sponsored by Sobeys
Recipient: Margie Grant-Walsh (Big Brothers Big Sisters) and Michelle Ward (Kids First)
- Export Achievement – Sponsored by NS Business Inc
Recipient: J.J. MacKay Meters- James MacKay
- Special Recognition- Sponsored by RBC
Recipient: The Bennett Family
- Women in Business- Sponsored by Centre for Women in Business
Recipient: Sherry Blinkhorn- Blinkhorn Real Estate
- Diversity in Business- Sponsored by Nova Scotia Works- Career Connections
Recipient: Glen Haven Manor
- Lifetime Achievement- Sponsored by Advocate
Recipient: Frank Sobey
