Ruby Awards celebrate best in business
One woman’s story of her journey through illness and heartbreak to business success prompted a heartfelt standing ovation at the annual Welland-Pelham Chamber of Commerce awards Friday.
Lisa Allain of Welland, who founded Talent 2 Design a year ago in July as a hobby, earned the Venture Niagara award and a lot of admiration at the Ruby Awards presentation, held at Lookout Point Golf and Country Club in Fonthill.
“I didn’t expect a year ago to be here,” said Allain, after accepting the award. “I’m just humbled and thankful to be here.”
Allain started the business, which involves making specially designed edible pieces of art, after a shattering series of events. She started her career as a nurse, but had to go through two years of rehabilitation after being thrown through a windshield in a motor vehicle accident. She then began suffering headaches and doctors discovered she had a brain tumour. While her physical ailments afflicted her, her marriage fell apart. On top of that, she was unable to retain her nurse’s licence.
Despite all that, the 34-year-old mother of three children maintained a hopeful outlook and found a new path forward through her kitchen. Allain’s Talent 2 Design business is based on her getting to know the client — she makes edible treats specially designed for her customers.
“Out of my kitchen, I love what I do and here I am,” Allain, who is now cancer-free, said in response to questions posed by the awards night MC Kevin Jacobi before a packed hall.
The Venture Niagara award is presented to a woman who has owned the same small business for a minimum of one year. Judges consider a number of factors in which the nominee has moved forward to achieve business success.
Business of the Year was awarded to MiniWarGaming Inc.
Dave Nordquist, a partner in the business, which is located in Welland’s old city hall on East Main Street, says the wildly popular gaming world has been around for decades but is heading in new directions with the advent of social media and the internet. The business’s online component includes 268,000 YouTube subscribers from around the world and the business produces 18 to 20 videos weekly.
“This is a hobby, a form of escapism,” he said. “Some people collect cars.”
Jacobi congratulated all the nominees, noting they had “already won” just being recognized through the nomination.
That was a theme picked up by Pelham Mayor Dave Augustyn, Welland Mayor Frank Campion and Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey.
The awards night included 45 nominees in nine award categories.
Chamber chairman Mike Knapp said the awards are a display of the “outstanding talent” and numerous success stories that can be found within the Welland and Pelham business communities.
Mary Dolan, a long-time volunteer with the Kacey-Lynn Memorial Jamboree group, won the Mary Anne Christoff Community Service Award and Textile Waste Diversion founder Daniela Siggia won the Business Initiative Award.
Youth Citizen of the Year Ward winner Julia Labicciosa, from E.L. Crossley Secondary School, summed up the nominees and award-winners feelings when she told the crowd: “I don’t think any of the nominees think we’re anything special — we do it because we love to do so.”
Ruby Award Winners 2017
Employee of the Year - Joseph Pimentel, Modern Vision Family Fitness Centre Mary Anne Christoff Community Service Award - Mary Dolan Youth Citizen of the Year - Julia Labicciosa, E.L. Crossley Secondary school Age-Friendly Business Award Welland Public Library, Seaway Mall Branch Venture Niagara Award - Lisa Allain, Talent 2 Design
RBC Financial Group Small Business Award - Textile Waste Diversion RBC Financial group Business Initiative Award - Lucas Spinosa, The Black Sheep Lounge Stuart Cumming Memorial Award of Merit - Ken Elder Business of the Year - MiniWar Gaming Inc.