Winners of the 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Awards Announced

TORONTO, Nov. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - Last night, hundreds of business leaders gathered in downtown Toronto to celebrate the accomplishments of nine outstanding Ontario businesses at the 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Awards.

Hosted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Ontario Business Achievement Awards is the most recognized industry gala in the province with the single focus of celebrating business success. For over 30 years, businesses have been awarded for their achievements in areas including sustainability, innovation, and exporting. 

"Our winners are making a positive economic and social impact here in Ontario and abroad," says Allan O'Dette, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. "They are demonstrating why Ontario is the best place in the world to do business, work, and live. We're proud to honour their achievements."

The 2014 Ontario Business Achievement Award winners are:

S.C. Johnson and Son (Brantford) - Community Builder Award, Sponsored by Desjardins Group
S.C. Johnson and Son is being recognized for making community investments that are yielding significant social returns. Over the past 10 years, S.C. Johnson's contributions worldwide have exceeded $210 million.

Baanto International (Mississauga) - Ontario Going Global, Small Business Award, Sponsored by the Government of Ontario
Baanto International is being honoured for successfully implementing an export strategy that is positively affecting the company's bottom line. Baanto International is the company behind a unique and patented position sensing technology called ShadowSense™.

Kii Naturals/Shashi Foods (Vaughan) - Ontario Going Global, Medium Business Award, Sponsored by the Government of Ontario
With over 400 items in their product offering, strong export ties with the US, the Caribbean, and South America, and a social media strategy to help educate Ontarians on how to live a well-balanced lifestyle, Kii Naturals and Shashi Foods is a big success story for medium-sized business engaged in exporting.

Megleen operating as Tim Hortons (Toronto) - Ontario Leader in Accessible Employment Award, Sponsored by the Government of Ontario
Mark Wafer, owner and operator of seven Tim Hortons franchise locations in the Scarborough area, is being recognized for creating an accessible work environment, recognizing the positive contributions of persons with disabilities, and promoting the development of an inclusive workplace culture for all.

WebSan Solutions (Toronto) - Service Excellence Award, Sponsored by Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
Toronto's WebSan Solutions is being honoured for demonstrating that dedication to customer service can lead to demonstrable business success. WebSan offers their clients lifetime support and extensive training on their software through online course instruction and tutorials.

Hydro Ottawa (Ottawa) - Skills & Training Award, Sponsored by Drake International
Hydro Ottawa has being awarded for the proactive approach it is taking to ensure that the company can benefit from a steady supply of apprenticeship candidates to replace its retiring workforce. In partnership with Algonquin College, Hydro Ottawa offers a unique two-year diploma program to train the next generation of highly-skilled Power Line Technicians.

You.i (Ottawa) - SME Excellence Award, Sponsored by RBC Royal Bank
Ottawa's You.i is being awarded for driving innovation in Ontario. Over the span of six years, the company has emerged as the go-to user-interface engine for some of the world's biggest names in video and TV technology.

Kruger Products (Mississauga) - Sustainability Award, Sponsored by Progressive Waste Solutions
Kruger Products is being recognized for its Sustainability 2015 initiative. Through this initiative, Kruger has made an open commitment to achieve nine improvements to their environmental footprint, against which the company is annually reporting its progress.

Teqtronix International (Markham) - Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Sponsored by Colleges Ontario
Entrepreneur Adel Babataher has been honoured for building a unique and game-changing venture. His company, Teqtronix, is behind the premium phone accessories brand Strong n'Free, as well as Matrix Audio, one of the world's premier portable speaker brands with distributors in over 30 countries.

SOURCE: Ontario Chamber of Commerce

For more information or to schedule an interview with an award winner, contact: Michelle Kelly, Communications Coordinator, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, E: [email protected], T: 416.482.5222 ext. 2410