The Minto Chamber of Commerce held its first (annual) business achievement awards Thursday evening, May 14, at the Pike Lake Golf Resort.
The purpose of the awards is to recognize the organizations and businesses in Minto “who impact our community,” said chamber president Glen Hall. “There is more to living in Minto than just working; the businesses and organizations who are recognized… realize that.”
The Larry Grummett Insurance Business Community Service Award was presented to Evergreen Variety, for demonstrating “good social responsibility and corporate citizenship.”
C&M Seeds/Palmerston Grain was presented with two of the four awards: the Harry Stone’s Employer Excellence Award, for the business demonstrating excellence in employee relations, and the Wightman Telecom Business Innovation Award, for the business that has demonstrated innovation in business practices, the environment, products or services.
There were seven nominees for the Harriston Home Hardware Outstanding Organization Award; the winner was the Harriston and District Horticultural Society. This was the second year for this particular award. In 2009, in celebration of the Minto Chamber of Commerce 10th anniversary, the first Outstanding Organization Award was presented to a group that has had a significant impact on the community of Minto. The award was shared by the Clifford Food Bank, the Harriston Food Bank and the Palmerston Food Bank.
Guest speaker at the awards evening was John Thompson, who discussed “service to community”. He retired after over 28 years with the United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area (as CEO) and continues to serve his community in a leadership role.
Included in his presentation was a comment on the compulsory 40 hours of volunteer service, seen by some as an oxymoron. Thompson regards it as a way to “light the flame and get them (students) involved in the community.”
Among the quotes on volunteering he explored was the “Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Awards
This year, the chamber commissioned four trophies from a local artisan, Michael Shannon, of Bevelled Edge Blade and Blacksmith. Each trophy is unique, a work of art in its own right, and will be displayed for a year. The winner’s name will be engraved on it. The winner will also receive a plaque to keep.
Shannon established the business in 2003. A coal-fired forge, anvil and hammer are the tools used to create his art, through both ancient and modern methods.