Business excellence awards to be presented Monday night

The Caledon Business Excellence Awards and Gala Dinner Event, sponsored by RBC Financial and featuring keynote speaker Bob Willard will be this coming Monday (March 17) at the Royal Ambassador Banquet and Conference Centre.

All are invited.

The Business Excellence Awards are the cornerstone of the Caledon Chamber of Commerce's work, and celebrate the great work and substantial contributions of the business community in Caledon.

"The strength of our businesses strengthens our community," commented Kelly Darnley, president of the Caledon Chamber. "The Chamber wants to shine a light on organizations and individuals who deserve to be recognized for their excellence in business and community service and to do so in a room of their peers is a memorable experience."

The keynote speaker, Bob Willard, is a leading expert on the business value of corporate sustainability strategies. In the last five years, he has given hundreds of presentations to corporations, governments, academics, and nongovernment organizations on the bottom-line benefits of sustainability strategies based on his two books, The Sustainability Advantage and The Next Sustainability Wave, and his DVD, The Business Case for Sustainability. He worked 34 years with IBM Canada, is on the faculty of the Sustainable Enterprise Academy (SEA) at York University and is on the advisory board of The Natural Step Canada. See www.sustainabilityadvantag e.com for more information about him and his resources for sustainability champions.

The business of the year award recipient is selected by a committee of the Chamber. This award recognizes a business which has made significant, allencompassing contributions within Caledon. The recipient has demonstrated entrepreneurship, community spirit and social well-being.

This year's winner will join in good company with previous recipients, which include Fines Ford in 1992, The Toby Jug in '93, Garden Foods Ltd. in '94, Egan Funeral Home in '95, Cedar Hills Pontiac Buick Cadillac in '96, Cavalier Transportation Services in '97, Versatile Spray Painting in '98, Motorhome Vacations Canada in '99, Bolton Electric in 2000, Tim Hortons in 2001, Bel Air Lumber in '02, Silcotech North America Inc. in '03, Leisure Time in '04, Canadian Tire, Bolton in '05 and Paul Coffey's Bolton Toyota in '06.

New this year, Darnley said, is the presentation of the Legacy Award.

"This presentation reflects the service and contributions, including volunteer activities that have assisted the Caledon Chamber of Commerce," she remarked.

This award will be presented annually, at the discretion of the Chamber's Board of Directors when events or circumstances reflect service or contributions of an extraordinary nature.

The Caledon Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Town of Caledon and Husky in 2007 and created a new award in an environmental category. The Impact Award is given to a company which meets or exceeds the criteria in the areas of waste management, energy management and social responsibility.

This year's Master of Ceremonies will be Rick Sargent, of Radio Caledon - 102.7.

Tickets are $100 per person with a corporate rate of $900 for a table.

Contact the Chamber offices at (905) 857-7393 for more information.