The Orillia District Chamber of Commerce (ODCC) is virtually hosting their annual Business Achievement Awards on Thursday night.
Awards will be handed out to recognize the efforts and successes during the year 2020 for businesses and organizations in Orillia, Oro-Medonte, Ramara, and Severn Townships as well as Rama First Nation.
The virtual event will be hosted by Alison Braun, owner of EarthTreks and 100th Monkey Productions, and Jordan Rossman, a real estate agent with the Rossman Team. Almost 100 local businesses and organizations have been nominated for various awards.
Despite having to move to a virtual platform, ODCC First Vice President and Chair of the Business Achievement Awards event, Nathan Housser, says it’s important that the show goes on.
“It’s important every year to honour our local businesses for their efforts and the success they have had. This year was even more important with all the change and adapting they had to do,” he said.
“This event is a way to give back to this community, a way to recognize local businesses, and it also gravitates to sponsors who have gone above and beyond for our membership and the community.”
Housser notes this year's Business Achievement Awards will be the first time ever the event features a virtual component.
“We’ve never done it like this before, so a lot more planning went into doing the virtual event. In the long run, I think it’s going to be a great event, and I’m quite excited about it,” he said.
“We have great hosts, Jordan Rossman and Alison Braun, so it’s going to be a good night. Short and sweet, but it still recognizes all our great local businesses.”
The virtual format is something that could return for future Business Achievement Award galas, Housser says.
“Next year we hope to get back in person, but I think even in future years there will be a video portion of the event. It’s a great way to get sponsors involved and share our award winners as well,” he said.
ODCC executive director Allan Lafontaine says the chamber is doing what all businesses are doing - adapting.
“If you look around our community, nobody else is throwing in the towel, everybody is adapting, pivoting, and changing, so we have to change our ways too,” he said.
Lafontaine says hosting the event will help lift spirits during the current Simcoe Muskoka grey zone restrictions, which are financially straining a lot of local businesses.
“There are many businesses who have changed to curbside pick-up, business owners and employees (are) working more hours and doing whatever it takes so when this is over they are here and in place, so we do need to celebrate those good things that have happened,” he said.
The virtual Business Achievement Awards will open Thursday night for networking from 6:30-7 p.m., and the awards gala will get underway at 7. Everybody is welcome to join, even if they are not a member of the ODCC, and guests are encouraged to dress up as if the event is taking place in person.
To register for the event, click here.
