Submission:

To begin your application process, please provide concise details for each requirement as it relates to your organization in the space provided. All fields are required. If you have extra material (marketing plans/images) that does not fit into the space provided within the form, and you would like the judges to consider, please email it to:

Vitor Brumatti
Communication, Events & PR
vitor@kingstonchamber.ca

1. Hospitality Award

This award recognizes the active role of the nominee in the development of the local hospitality industry and providing services for diverse populations. The nominee demonstrates innovative practices and marketing initiatives in the Greater Kingston area.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has an active business in Greater Kingston area for a minimum of three years.
  2. Nominee is in the hospitality sector.
  3. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept the nomination.
  4. Nominee must not have won in the same category in the past three years.

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Business Viability (40%) – How has the nominee adapted to remain viable? (Describe new products, services, or job creation initiatives).
  • Customer Service/Quality (30%) – What product and/or service initiatives has the nominee undertaken to deliver customer satisfaction and inclusion? (Describe how customer satisfaction, service and quality improvements are measured. Provide customer testimonials and/or results from customer satisfaction surveys).
  • Employee Relations/Retention (15%) – How has the nominee provided job opportunities and demonstrated positive employee relations? (Describe employee growth, development initiatives and summarize the results).
  • Community/Charitable Involvement (15%) – What activities has the nominee been involved in to help make the Greater Kingston area a better place to live, work and do business? (Describe volunteerism, leadership in community affairs, and involvement in fundraising or community activities).

2. Social Impact Award

This award recognizes a socially responsible organization and its employees that returns value to the community by supporting charities, educational and other community groups (outside of normal business/organization's activities). The business demonstrates a commitment to corporate social responsibility and fostering an inclusive environment that positively impacts our community.

This award recognizes a socially responsible organization and its employees that returns value to the community by supporting charities, educational and other community groups. The business demonstrates a commitment to corporate social responsibility and fostering an inclusive environment that positively impacts our community.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has an active business in Greater Kingston area for a minimum of three years.
  2. The business' corporate culture reflects an emphasis on community involvement and/or volunteerism.
  3. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept the nomination.
  4. Nominee must not have won in the same category in the past three years.

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Community/Charitable Involvement (50%) – What has the nominee done to positively effect and return value to the community? (Describe any initiatives or activities related to social responsibility, charity work, volunteerism, and supporting local).
  • Company Values (30%) – How have these practices been aligned to the organizations overall strategic goals and their values? Does the company have an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy?
  • Environmental Initiatives (20%) – Describe how this organization creates value for its operation and community by respecting the environment and reducing environmental impact.

3. New Business of the Year Award

This award recognizes a new business that demonstrates proactive and innovative leadership within their business or industry. The business has shown commitment to ensure customer satisfaction and practices good corporate citizenship.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has had an active business in Greater Kingston area for a minimum of 18 months and no more than three years.
  2. Nominee is not an expansion of an existing business, a business name change or a new location of an existing firm.
  3. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept nomination.
  4. Nominee must not have won in the same category in the past three years.

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Business Viability (45%) – How has the nominee adapted to remain viable? (Describe new products, services, or job creation initiatives).
  • Customer Service/Quality (35%) – What product and/or service initiatives has the nominee undertaken to create customer satisfaction, inclusion and build customer relationships since creation? (Describe how customer satisfaction, service and quality improvements are measured. Provide customer testimonials and/or results from customer satisfaction surveys).
  • Community/Charitable Involvement (20%) – Is the nominee engaging in and/or encouraging community involvement in its new business? (Describe any initiatives or activities related to volunteerism, leadership in community affairs and employee involvement in fundraising or community activity).

4. Young Entrepreneur Award

This award honours the contributions that young entrepreneurs make to the Kingston business community and the local economy. Nominees must be aged 18 to 40 and be the owner of a business located in the Greater Kingston area.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has had an active business in the Greater Kingston area for a minimum of 18 months and no more than three years.
  2. Nominee is under the age of 40.
  3. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept the nomination.
  4. Nominee must not have won in the same category in the past three years.

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Leadership and Business Acumen (50%) – How has the nominee provided job opportunities, demonstrated positive employee relations, and delivered customer satisfaction? What innovations has the nominee introduced to their business? Provide examples of the nominee's business leadership and the resulting success.
  • Customer Service/Quality (30%) – What product and/or service initiatives has the nominee undertaken to deliver customer satisfaction and inclusion? (Describe how customer satisfaction, service and quality improvements are measured. Provide customer testimonials and/or results from customer satisfaction surveys).
  • Community/Charitable Involvement (20%) – What activities has the nominee been involved in to help make Greater Kingston a better place to live, work and do business? (Describe volunteerism, leadership in community affairs, and promotion of employee/company involvement in fundraising or community activity).

5. Skilled Trades Award

This award recognizes a company in the skilled trades sector that demonstrates outstanding leadership and acts as an ambassador to increase the sustainability and promotion of skilled trades, fostering an inclusive environment and addressing equity in the industry. The business promotes careers and skilled trades education to diverse audiences.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has an active business in Greater Kingston area for a minimum of three years.
  2. Nominee is in the skilled trades sector.
  3. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept the nomination.
  4. Nominee must not have won in the same category in the past three years.

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Supporting Skilled Trades (40%) – How has the business demonstrated a commitment to helping shape a new perception of the skilled trades and, in turn, helping to close the skills gap?
  • Customer Service/Quality (35%) – What product and/or service initiatives has the nominee undertaken to create customer satisfaction, inclusivity and build customer relationships since creation? (Describe how customer satisfaction, service and quality improvements are measured. Provide customer testimonials and/or results from customer satisfaction surveys).
  • Community/Charitable Involvement (25%) – Is the nominee engaging in and/or encouraging community involvement in its business? (Describe any initiatives or activities related to volunteerism, leadership in community affairs and employee involvement in fundraising or community activity).

6. Customer Experience Award

This award recognizes a business that demonstrates outstanding dedication and achievement to service excellence, customer/guest satisfaction and embracing diversity. The nominee demonstrates a consistent commitment to delivering products, services and/or information that satisfies its customers by exceeding their expectations and is a leader in providing exceptional customer service.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has had an active business in the Greater Kingston area for a minimum of three years.
  2. The nominee can provide up to 10 testimonials from customers dated within the last two years.
  3. Businesses entering this award should be able to demonstrate their commitment to customer service.
  4. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept the nomination.

Nominee must not have won in the same category in the past three years

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Service Standards (35%) – How has the nominee demonstrated a commitment to exceptional service standards that consistently exceed customer/guest expectations? What is unique and/or exceptional about the business with respect to customer service? (Describe proficiencies in meeting or exceeding the changing needs of customers/guests).
  • Training/Development (35%) – How has the nominee preserved their high service standards and created a customer-centric and inclusive culture? (Describe effective staff and team member training and development initiatives geared towards customer satisfaction).
  • Business Acumen (15%) – Excellence in customer service should be part of the ethos of the nominee's business. How has the business benefitted from putting the customer central to everything they do?
  • Testimonials/Examples (15%) – Provide specific examples or customer testimonials that demonstrate customer experience success.

7. Non Profit Award

This award recognizes a organization and its employees that returns value to the community by supporting charities, educational and other community groups (outside of normal business/organization's activities). The business demonstrates a commitment to corporate social responsibility and fostering an inclusive environment that positively impacts our community.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has an active business in Greater Kingston area for a minimum of three years.
  2. The business' corporate culture reflects an emphasis on community involvement and/or volunteerism.
  3. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept the nomination.

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Community/Charitable Involvement (50%) – What has the nominee done to positively effect and return value to the community? (Describe any initiatives or activities related to social responsibility, charity work, volunteerism, and supporting local).
  • Company Values (30%) – How have these practices been aligned to the organizations overall strategic goals and their values? Does the company have an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy?
  • Environmental Initiatives (20%) – Describe how this organization creates value for its operation and community by respecting the environment and reducing environmental impact.

8. Arts & Culture Award 

This award celebrates an individual, ensemble or organization's outstanding artistic achievements in a variety of creative, applied, and fine art genres. They have made a significant contribution to Kingston's art and culture scene, while creating access and inclusion to arts and culture.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has had an active business in the Greater Kingston area for a minimum of three years.
  2. Nominee is a Kingston-based artist, creative, arts group, arts organization, or arts-related business.
  3. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept the nomination. 
  4. Nominee must not have won in the same category in the past three years.

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Commitment and Quality (30%) – How long has the nominee been involved in the arts and culture and what is the quality of their output? Is their work considered professional and has its value been recognized through employment, contracts, sales, funding, sponsorships, donations, inclusivity and/or investment?
  • Creativity and Innovation (30%) – Has the nominee demonstrated creativity and innovation related to their work? Have they changed how the arts and culture are perceived and valued through their efforts, by their audiences, clients, funders, peers and/or the broader public?
  • Sustainability and Impact (30%) – Is the work of the nominee financially sustainable and has it made a positive impact on the Kingston community? (Describe any initiatives or activities related to public engagement, increased access and/or supporting local).
  • Profile (10%) – What is the nominee's profile locally as well as outside Kingston? Has the nominee received any recognitions and/or awards that have helped raise their profile as well as the profile of arts and culture in Kingston?

9. Employer of the Year

This award honours a business that has made a commitment to foster employee engagement, promotes work life balance, is committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills and views, and generally offers an exceptional workplace for their employees.

Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has had an active business in the Greater Kingston area for a minimum of three years.
  2. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept the nomination.
  3. Nominee must not have won in the same category in the past three years.

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Workplace Culture/Environment (50%) – How has the nominee shown a commitment to a healthy work environment and a focus on an inclusive, diverse workplace culture? (Describe practices that benefit employees physically, intellectually and/or emotionally).
  • Employee Relations/Retention (30%) – How has the nominee provided job opportunities and demonstrated positive employee relations? (Describe employee growth, development, competitive employment packages, and summarize the results.)
  • Employee Recognition/Development (20%) – What types of employee recognition and reward programs has the nominee implemented? How has the nominee demonstrated a commitment to providing professional development and/or advancement opportunities?

10. Business Person of the Year

This prestigious award recognizes a local business person who has demonstrated a continued passion for excellence/leadership and creates and implements programs/activities to foster an inclusive work environment. This individual has shown commitment to local economic development.

​Eligibility Requirements:

  1. Nominee has had an active business in the Greater Kingston area for a minimum of three years.
  2. Nominee is the owner/manager of the business.
  3. If nominated by a third party, nominee must approve and accept the nomination.
  4. Nominee must not have won in the same category in the past three years.

Submission (500 Word Minimum)

  • Leadership/Business Acumen (60%) – What has the nominee done to provide job opportunities, demonstrate positive employee relations and deliver customer satisfaction? What creative innovations has the nominee introduced to their business? And what steps have they taken to foster and inclusive work environment? Provide examples of the nominee's business leadership and the resulting success.
  • Community/Charitable Involvement (40%) – What activities has the nominee been involved in to help make the Greater Kingston area a better place to live, work and do business? (Describe volunteerism, leadership in community affairs, and promotion of employee/company involvement in fundraising or community activities).