Chamber honours its dedicated businesses

November 11, 2015 · 0 Comments

Lilly Vona, family and friends joined in celebrating their People’s Choice Award at the King Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala last week. Mark Pavilons, editor of the King Weekly Sentinel who sponsored the award, made the presentation.

Photo by Andrea Renshaw

By Mark Pavilons
Business in King Township is wonderful.
With that sentiment, the King Chamber of Commerce honoured a handful of local businesses during the annual Business Awards Gala, held at Nobleton Lakes last week.
Robin Priestly, the Chamber’s secretary-treasurer, called it a gathering of all leaders, noting local business investment is important to the municipality’s growth and sustainability. The abundance of talent and experience present in the banquet hall that night was simply amazing.
Tom Allen, Chamber president, said the turnout and climate in King shows great confidence in doing business here. The Chamber provides a number of events for its members to network and share connections. As well, the Chamber has stepped up its advocacy and lobbying efforts this year and is providing input into the Township’s Official Plan review process. A board member also went to Ottawa to attend the Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM to gather information on pertinent issues. All of this is to ensure a thriving business climate locally.
“I’m amazed at the variety and quality of businesses collaborating with one another,” Allen said. “Hats off to all of you.”
Priestly also lauded the partnership between the Chamber and Township of King, particularly Jamie Smyth, the economic development officer.
King is an “amazing place to have a business,” she said.

Awards

Mike Foley presented the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Kelly Foley of Brownsville Junction Ltd.
Kelly Foley has lived in the Township of King all her life. In 1985 she decided to leave her occupation to help her father David Bachly develop and build Brownsville Junction, a popular plaza located in Schomberg. As property manager of Brownsville Junction Kelly tries to bring in businesses that provide character and a service to the local community. She is always encouraging young entrepreneurs to seek out and follow their dreams to fruition. Brownsville Junction is a proud member of the King Chamber of Commerce and believes that you always benefit from contributing to the local community.
Mark Pavilons, editor of the King Weekly Sentinel, presented the People’s Choice Award to Locale in King City.
The category is open to the public for nominations and the business does not have to be a member of the Chamber.
Lilly Vona, her husband and three sons love King. When Lilly first walked into the Crawford Wells Building years ago, she knew it was the perfect place for her next restaurant. It would be years later that she would opened. Lilly’s vision was clear from that first visit. As a restaurateur and caterer, she wanted to open a “locale” in her own neighborhood that offered not only a gathering place but quality driven Italian focused cuisine. Locale started as a take-out and catering kitchen before renovations to the main building began. Locale isn’t just a place to eat food and leave. You can enjoy dinner or just drinks in the upstairs lounge where old Italian movies are playing. They offer excellent live entertainment in lounge and also on the patio. Another fact that many people may not know is that Locale is housed in a charming 150-year-old building.
Jim Kassam of King Automotive Repair Service, presented Excellence in a New Business Award to Nobleton Guardian Pharmacy.
Kashif Sharief graduated from the University of Zimbabwe in 2000 after initially studying in South Africa, he worked as a community pharmacist and then as a hospital pharmacist before moving to England. After working for a chain and then independent pharmacy for four years he moved to Canada and worked as an overnight pharmacist, and then a relief pharmacist with Shoppers Drug Mart in Aurora. He became a pharmacy manager and then took over his own Shoppers Drug Mart in Orangeville in 2012.
When the opportunity arose to own his own pharmacy with his colleague Gurpreet Lall in Nobleton, the two leapt at the chance and opened Nobleton Guardian Pharmacy.
It has been an eventful path but he is proud to be part of the Nobleton community having grown up in a small town himself, and especially to be a member of our Chamber of Commerce. The pharmacy store is steadily growing and both gentlemen are extremely grateful for the support and guidance of our established business peers in the Nobleton community.
Mayor Steve Pellegrini helped present the Sustainable King Award to this year’s recipient, Kingbridge Centre.
This business participates in environmental leadership on a personal and/or professional ongoing basis and shows a commitment to the environment through their actions and ongoing efforts to educate, inform, and lead by example demonstrating environmental leadership and responsibility.
Kingbridge is a unique residential Conference Centre and full-service hospitality venue designed specifically for leaders who want to work with their teams to expand their thinking and inspire change. They created a specialized place where the focus is solely dedicated to meeting and learning. We realize that off-site meetings are a big investment to organizations, which is why we take responsibility for the total meeting experience.
Retired co-founder of Boston Scientific and owner, John Abele’s lifelong passion for understanding how mind set and group behavior can help build cultures, designed Kingbridge to be a place where the next level of human interaction, collaboration and learning can emerge.
Kingbridge provides a multi-layered approach to catalyze learning. Through workshops, weekend retreats, interactive experiences, places for contemplation and spaces to connect with nature, we offer the perfect environment for curious individuals to gather to explore ideas, inspire innovation and gain insight into the powers of the human potential.
Seneca College sponsored the Excellence in Large Business Award, which was presented to RBC Royal Bank, King City. Always active in the local community, Raffaele is currently an active member of the King City BIA and strong supporter of the Canadian Cancer Society, giving his time to local fundraising events.
Raffaele currently lives in Toronto with his two daughters, Stefania and Arianna.
RBC Royal Bank opened its doors in King City on April 29, 2013. Since then, RBC has been very active in the King City community, participating in many community activities like the King City Street Festivals, Christmas in King City, and by sponsoring local events including the King City Christmas Skating Day and the King City Family Day Skate. In addition to that, RBC has been active in the community promoting Children’s Mental Health initiatives, including RBC Run for the Kids and Mental Health Symposium at Seneca King Campus.
Sean Stephens of Tree Frog presented the Excellence in Small Business Award to Country Zen Yoga, accepted by Ashely Ward-Williams.
Country Zen Yoga is a charming studio located in Schomberg, founded by Ashley and Erin Ward-Williams, sisters, business partners and best friends. The studio opened in March 2012 and has grown and flourished over the years, providing the community with a warm welcoming space to explore the practice of yoga.
The studio gives back by supporting local initiatives throughout the year with public events, classes “by donation” and random acts of kindness.
Together the owners have thousands of teaching hours under their belt and have studied with world-renowned teachers from India to Los Angeles, California and continue to grow as students themselves.