Frontenac County 1st Annual Business Awards winners announced at Campfire Business retreat

The 2022 Frontenac Campfire business retreat was held October 20. The Frontenac County Campfire Business Retreat and 1^st Annual Business Awards presentations were held on Thursday, October 20 at RKY Camp in Central Frontenac.

The event, organized and hosted by the Frontenac County Department of Economic Development, began with a casual conference that included campfire chats about tourism experiences, digital wayfinding, and small-business finance. There were opportunities for business operators and entrepreneurs to network and reconnect in person. The afternoon was followed by a networking reception and announcement of the business awards.

“Entrepreneurs in Frontenac have a strong history of working together to attract new customers and investment to the area,” says Richard Allen, Manager of Economic Development for Frontenac County. “The retreat and awards is just one way we hope to further encourage that tradition and celebrate their successes. Congratulations to all the award winners and nominees, and thank you to everyone who attended the retreat.”

The 1^st Annual Business Awards nominations opened in September and closed on October 12. Thirty-nine Frontenac businesses were nominated across five categories.

Award winners Mike Hage and Nawar Hage (Myers Cave Resort & The Red Barn Zone), Mark McCrady and Becky Williams (Maple Ridge Farm), Kim Perry and Dave Perry (Food Less Travelled).

Congratulations to the five 1^st Annual Business Award winners for 2022:

• Ambassador of the Year Award - Food Less Travelled
• New Business Award - Nordic Resorts (Red Barn Zone)
• Partnership and Collaboration Award - Maple Ridge Farm
• Sustainability Award - Limestone Creamery
• Women-Led Business Award - Hinchinbrooke Hills Farm
  Congratulations to all the Frontenac business operators who were nominated:

Ambassador of the Year

• The Rise Farm
• WA Robinson Asset Management
• Food Less Travelled
• Pharmasave Inverary
• Hunter's Creek Golf Club
• Branded to Film (B2F)
• Lavalees Cookery
• The Frontenac News

New Business

• Hinchinbrooke Hills Farm
• The Red Barn Zone
• Rob's Excavation
• Nordic Resorts Inc.
• Finnegans General Store

Partnership and Collaboration

• Springwood Cottage Resort
• Maple Ridge Farm
• Back Forty Artisan Cheese
• Branded to Film (B2F)

Sustainability

• Myers Cave Resort
• Frontenac Outfitters
• Long Road Ecological Farm
• Limestone Creamery
• Harlowe Green
• Red Dragon Studio & Gift Shop
• Back Forty Artisan Cheese

Women-Led Business

• Hinchinbrooke Hills Farms
• Lavalee's Cookery
• Harlowe Green
• The Red Barn Zone
• Woodland Priestess
• Canadian Handywoman
• Suzy Lamont Photography
• Sydenham County Cafe
• Roving Dental Hygiene
• Cheesecakery Bakery

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a business in Frontenac County. You are truly remarkable.

The 2nd Annual Business Awards are already being planned for 2023.