The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has announced the nominees and finalists for the 2025 Peterborough Business Excellence Awards, with kawarthaNOW a finalist in two categories.
“The Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce are so excited to recognize excellence in the business community,” says Brenda Whitehead, who joined the chamber as its new president and CEO earlier this month after serving as the CEO for the Port Hope and District Chamber of Commerce for over seven years.
“These awards are a true demonstration of businesses, organizations, and individuals who help make the Peterborough Region a great place to live, work, and enjoy. We congratulate every nominee and can not wait to celebrate the 2025 recipients.”
Businesses were nominated in 14 categories, with three finalists selected in each category from all the nominees in that category. The nominees and finalists in each category are listed in alphabetical order below, along with the nominees for 4-Under-40, Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year, and Business Citizen of the Year.
Local Focus
- Charlotte Products Ltd – Finalist
- Community Pin
- Duff Acres
- Heeling Souls K9 Training
- kawarthaNOW – Finalist
- Lakefield Farmers Market
- Moving Media Canada
- OmniWorx Design – Finalist
- Peterborough Axe Club
- Sanctuary Flower Fields
- Splash Pool & Spa
- Summer Soul Yoga & Wellness
Entrepreneurial Spirit
- BALL Real Estate
- Black Rock Developments
- JMD Hospitality – Finalist
- Kawartha Family Chiropractic
- Moon & Bloom
- Pawz & Company
- Peterborough Axe Club – Finalist
- Shelby-Leonard Watt
- Shelbys Legendary Shawarma
- Splash Pool & Spa
- Sweet Fern Floral Studio
- The Wellness Project
- Wild Rock Outfitters – Finalist
Health & Wellness
- Cormack Chiropractic Care
- Dr. Meagan McLaren/Health Foundations – Finalist
- Dr. Nicole Loucks/Kawartha Family Chiropractic – Finalist
- Ewyn Studios
- Five Counties Children’s Centre – Finalist
- Jodi-Lee Nutrition & Wellness
- K9 in Motion Wellness
- Kawartha Hypnosis
- Kawartha-Haliburton Children’s Foundation
- Moon & Bloom
- Stonehouse Holistics
Commercial Development or Renovation
- Black Rock Developments – Finalist
- East City Dental – Finalist
- Fire Station 2
- Forest Hill Lodge – Finalist
Skilled Trades
- Black Rock Developments – Finalist
- Cardinal Home Services – Finalist
- Just Spray It – Finalist
- Peterborough & the Kawarthas Home Builders Association and Ralph’s Paving Ltd
Retail
- Couture Candy
- Dan Joyces Retailing Limited – Finalist
- Hard Winter Bakery
- Millbrook Mercantile
- Monaghan Lumber – Finalist
- SOS Save Our Soles
- The Neighbourhood Vintage
- Wild Rock Outfitters – Finalist
Micro Business
- A River of Yarn
- Blackwood Developments
- Charlotte Jewelers Ltd
- Couture Candy – Finalist
- Linklater Administration
- Matthews & Associates
- Meg Nimigon Training
- Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association – Finalist
- Smash Courts – Finalist
- Team Fido Dog Training
Professional Services
- Baker Tilly KDN LLP
- EarSense Audiology & Hearing Aids
- Harbr Human Resources
- Kawartha Drainscape – Finalist
- Matthews & Associates – Finalist
- Nurse Scrap Metal
- OmniWorx Design – Finalist
- Passageway Law LLP
- Securities Canada Inc
- Splash Pool & Spa
Customer First
- Black Rock Developments
- Green Street
- Monaghan Lumber – Finalist
- Paris Marine – Finalist
- Peterborough Museum & Archives
- Shelby’s Legendary Shawarma
- Smash Courts
- SOS Save Our Soles
- Sweet Fern Floral Studio
- Trent Valley Honda – Finalist
- Village Pet Food & Supply
Tourism
- Egan Houseboat Rentals – Finalist
- Friends of Hope Mill and the Forest Hill Lodge
- Sanctuary Flower Fields – Finalist
- Shorelines Casino Peterborough – Finalist
Hospitality
- Agave by Imperial – Finalist
- Fees Landscaping
- Hanoi House
- Kawartha Gymnastics – Finalist
- Millbrook Mercantile – Finalist
- The Imperial Tandoor
- The Vine
Marketing and Promotion
- Aaron Robitaille Design
- Be Your Brand Phillip Jolicoeur
- EcoVue Consulting & Services
- Frolic Design
- Harmony for Healing
- kawarthaNOW – Finalist
- Otonabee Conservation
- Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation – Finalist
- PTBO Home, Garden & Cottage Show – Finalist
Not-for-Profit
- Canopy Support Services
- Five Counties Children’s Centre – Finalist
- Kawartha Gymnastics
- Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Foundation – Finalist
- Lakefield Youth Unlimited
- Ontario Wastewater Association
- The Peterborough Humane Society – Finalist
- YWCA Peterborough Haliburton
Employer of the Year
- BDC
- Charlotte Products Ltd – Finalist
- EcoVue Consulting Services
- Extreme Clean Professional Services
- My Broadcasting Corp
- Pawz & Company
- Peterborough Humane Society – Finalist
- Ricart Branded Promo & Apparel
- Securities Canada
- Trent Valley Honda – Finalist
As well the nominees and finalists for the 14 award categories, the chamber has announced the nominees for 4-Under-40 in Memory of Kathy Windrem (Adeilah Dahlke, Alexis Mills, Amy Muir, Angelique Vasilaros, Ashley Bonner, Ian Marshall, Meagan McLaren, Megan Flemming, Michael Riseley, Rebecca Schillemat, and Toria Silvera), the nominees for Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year (AAA Best Driver and Sammy’s Braids), and the nominees for Business Citizen of the Year (Drew Merrit, Lesley Heighway, Monika Carmichael, Shelby Leonard-Watt, and Tammy Blair).
The nominees and the finalists will be recognized and the award recipients revealed at the 23nd annual Business Excellence Awards event, which is set for Wednesday, October 22. Details, including location and ticket prices, will be announced at a later date.
For more information about the 2025 Business Excellence Awards, visit pkexcellence.ca.
