The stars of Thunder Bay’s business community were honoured during the 29th annual Business Excellence Awards last night – which recognizes their efforts to grow our economy and provide excellent service to the area.
The awards were presented by Chamber staff at the Community Auditorium, with the night sponsored by Bell Canada.
Things began by honoring Uli Walther, who was the president of GRK Fasteners for over 33 years. Uli and his family immigrated from Germany to start GRK’s operations in Canada in 1990, selling the company in 2011. It later relocated from Thunder Bay to Chicago by 2014.
Mr. Walther was awarded with the Charles J. Carter Lifetime Business Achievement Award – given to a member or past member to recognize their high standards of excellence in business, community service and volunteer work with the chamber.
A long list of businesses were provided with a variety of awards throughout the night, including those for green energy initiatives, the work of not-for-profit organizations, customer service and business excellence awards, among others.
Maintair Aviation Services Ltd. & Partners was the one lucky business to make two trips to the podium, as they were honoured with the Game Changer Award along with Thunder Bay’s Community Economic Development Commission and the City of Thunder Bay.
Owner of Maintair Aviation, Sean Davies, was also named the Business Person of the Year for 2023. The business provides best in class handling services for regional, national and international airlines, with four locations in Ontario, one in Manitoba and one in New Brunswick.
2023 award winners include:
Honourary Membership – Hanna Pattyson
Charles J. Carter Award – Uli Walther
Clean, Green and Beautiful – Pinetree Catering
Looking Good – Memorial Home Building Centre
Not for Profit Excellence – Our Kids Count
Quality of Life – Dew Drop Inn Thunder Bay
Customer Service – ITEC 2000 Equipment Inc.
New Business Excellence – Lakehead Beer Company
Business Excellence (Small) – Sail Superior
Business Exellence (Medium) – KBM
Business Excellence (Large) – Half-Way Motors Group
Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Carolyn Mancuso, Ignite Behabour Consulting Inc.
Game Changer – Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission / City of Thunder Bay / Maintair Aviation Services Ltd. & Partners
Business Person of the Year – Sean Davies, Maintair Aviation Services Ltd.
