Sarah Budd, former CEO of Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, was named citizen of the year at the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism’s 21st Annual Awards of Excellence on Thursday night (October 28).
Budd was one of 11 recipients announced during a livestreamed virtual awards ceremony hosted by Deb Crossen, Wendy Smith, and Cindy Windover, with the recipients accepting their awards in pre-recorded videos.
Budd led Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region — a non-profit organization that builds affordable homes — for almost 15 years, overseeing the organization’s inclusion of the City of Kawartha Lakes and the County of Haliburton in its service area, the expansion from one ReStore to three ReStores, and Habitat for Humanity Canada’s first-ever multi-residential development at Leahy’s Lane in Peterborough. She left the organization in October.
The other recipients included Beachwood Resort (outstanding business achievement), Kingdon Timber Mart Lakefield (commercial development or renovation), Buns & Sweets (customer service excellence), The Grape and Wedge (entrepreneur innovation), Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (not-for-profit excellence), Lockside Trading Company (retailer of the year), Hendren Funeral Homes (service sector excellence), and Burleigh Falls Inn & Suites (tourism/hospitality excellence).
Retired farmer and long-time volunteer Harry Pearson received the lifetime achievement award, and Indigenous entrepreneur Mallory Graham (owner of Tribal Trade in Curve Lake First Nation) received the young professional award.
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism — which represents businesses and organizations in Curve Lake First Nation and many rural municipalities of Peterborough County, as well as some in the City of Peterborough — will be merging with the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce next year into a single organization, under the proposed name Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
VIDEO: 21st Annual Awards of Excellence – Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
In the past, both chambers have hosted their own annual business excellence awards (with the Peterborough Chamber having announced the winners of its excellence awards last week), so it’s likely there will be a new consolidated awards ceremony in 2022.
Here is a complete list of all the finalists and recipients of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism’s 21st Annual Awards of Excellence:
Citizen of the Year
Sponsored by Herod Financial Services
- Sarah Budd
Lifetime Achievement
Sponsored by Herod Financial Services
- Harry Pearson
Young Professional
Sponsored by Community Futures Peterborough
- Mallory Graham
Outstanding Business Achievement
Sponsored by County of Peterborough
- Beachwood Resort – Recipient
- Central Smith Creamery
- Kawartha Lakes Construction
Commercial Development or Renovation
Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank
- Kingdon Timber Mart Lakefield – Recipient
- BALL Real Estate Inc., Brokerage Apsley
- Cambium
Customer Service Excellence
Sponsored by CIBC Mobile Advice & Commercial Banking
- Buns & Sweets – Recipient
- Computer Garage
- Style Boutique
- Village Pet Food & Supply
Entrepreneur Innovation
Sponsored by Shop The Lake
- The Grape and Wedge – Recipient
- Coco Cakes
- Living Local Box
Not-for-Profit Excellence
Sponsored by Darling Insurance
- Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre – Recipient
- Lakefield Farmers’ Market
- Peterborough Public Health & Peterborough County/City Paramedics
Retailer of the Year
Sponsored by Nexicom
- Lockside Trading Company – Recipient
- Lakefield Flowers & Gifts
- Tragically Hipp Fashion Gallery
Service Sector Excellence
Sponsored by ISL Insurance Brokers
- Hendren Funeral Homes – Recipient
- Apsley Dental
- Kawartha Lakes Construction
- Strexer Harrop & Associates
Tourism/Hospitality Excellence
Sponsored by Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development
- Burleigh Falls Inn & Suites – Recipient
- Lang Pioneer Village Museum
- Old Bridge Inn & Restaurant
- The Village Inn
