Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Awards
Press Release
May 11, 2026
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – It was a celebration of innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship, as the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce (SSMCOC) handed out its Outstanding Business Achievement Awards on May 7th at the Quattro Hotel & Conference Centre.
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank the event’s presenting sponsor, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). The Chamber also thanks media sponsor, Sootoday.com and photography sponsor, Kevanna Fine Photography.
“This event is about more than awards,” noted SSMCOC president, La-Na Fragomeni as she addressed Thursday’s audience of almost 250. “It’s about recognizing the people and organizations who go above and beyond — those who innovate, create jobs, support their neighbours, and help shape the economic future of our region. It’s about celebrating the determination it takes to run a business, especially in times of uncertainty, and the leadership it takes to grow and adapt.”
“In communities like ours, businesses are not just economic drivers — they are the backbone of who we are. They sponsor our events, employ our residents, mentor the next generation, and invest in our future,” she added.
Awards emcee Tim Murphy echoed Fragomeni’s sentiments, adding praise for local businesses’ resiliency during the last year and commending shoppers for helping keep business local.
“It’s been a challenging year… No kidding!” said Murphy, in a brief break from character in what was an otherwise lighthearted and fun awards presentation. “But once again Sault Ste. Marie has proven it is resilient. Bridge traffic remains down but our elbows remain up. ‘Shop local, visit local, vacation local’… I really think, it’s working. I admire all of you for maintaining the economic veracity of this city through your endeavors.”
The recipients of this year’s SSMCOC Outstanding Business Achievement Awards are:
Brokerlink Sault Ste. Marie was awarded this year’s Community Investment Award sponsored by Rogers Communications. This award highlights outstanding community service and investment. The recipient puts the community first, by contributing to the well-being of the community as a whole, through initiatives such as sourcing products and / or services locally, retailing / utilizing local products, employment growth, and supporting the community from a charitable aspect.
Lock City Monuments was presented with the Employer of Year Award sponsored by Sault College Employment Solutions. This award recognizes an employer that creates an outstanding workplace culture by supporting employee growth, well-being, and engagement through initiatives like mentorship, professional development, and recognition programs. Open to businesses of all sizes in Sault Ste. Marie, this award focuses on leadership and workplace environment rather than salary, benefits, or pensions.
Algoma Power Inc. was awarded the Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award sponsored by Tenaris. The award recognizes an organization that has taken actionable overt steps to be part of the solution to complex societal issues. By embracing the principles of environmental, social, and governance, they set criteria used to evaluate their organizations commitment to sustainable operations by measuring environmental impact and mitigating future environmental risks.
interCultural Avec Immigration (iCA) was presented with the Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award sponsored by Algoma University. This award recognizes a business or organization that embraces, celebrates and applies holistic inclusion and participation of a diverse workforce, making the workplace a better environment in which to work, and the community a better place in which to live, work and grow.
The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre was the recipient of the Excellence in Innovation & Technology Award sponsored by PUC Services, which recognizes a business that has successfully incorporated a new idea, technology, device or method and / or has utilized the application of better solutions to meet new requirements, internal needs, or market needs.
Stefano Narducci and Nick Chiarot of Northern Snow were presented with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by EAZY Express. The Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes an individual or individuals in Sault Ste. Marie who have shown exceptional vision, leadership, and innovation in building and growing a successful business. This award celebrates those who have taken risks, overcome challenges, and demonstrated resilience in bringing their entrepreneurial ideas to life. The recipient(s) will have made a significant impact on their industry or community through job creation, market growth, and a commitment to excellence.
Studio Dance Arts was the recipient of the Downtown Business of the Year Award sponsored by SK Group Inc. The Downtown Business of the Year Award recognizes a business that is invested in the downtown business community and contributes to Downtown Sault Ste. Marie. This award honors their commitment to running a business in the heart of our city and their role in creating a vibrant downtown.
K9 Mobile Nails & Grooming received the New Business of the Year Award, sponsored by KPMG LLP. The New Business of the Year award recognizes a business that has been in operation for no less than 1 year and no more than 3 years, that has demonstrated strong potential via growth, innovation, and leadership. Additionally, the business has demonstrated a culture of risk-taking and trailblazing and has positioned itself to achieve similar successes in the future through new or innovative product or service, quality of merchandise/ customer service, job creation, growth potential, and market served.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) was awarded the Excellence in Customer Service Award sponsored by Tenaris. This award showcases a business or organization that places the customer experience at the heart of their business strategy and builds a sustainable culture of customer service within their organization.
NATT Safety Services was the recipient of the Indigenous Business of the Year Award sponsored by Tenaris. This award is presented to a business which has a minimum of 51% Indigenous or Metis ownership or can demonstrate 51% Indigenous or Metis management and staff. Businesses to be considered have distinguished themselves by fostering growth, innovation, marketing strategy, and consumer excellence, while showing leadership and dedication to the preservation of Indigenous or Metis culture, values and identity.
Harvest Algoma was awarded the Charity or Non-Profit of the Year Award sponsored by Dumanski Office Interiors / Compass Imaging. This award recognizes and rewards excellence and innovation among non-profit organizations resulting in significant social impact within Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma district. Qualifying businesses are non-profit or registered charitable organizations that have two primary goals: to achieve social and/or cultural and economic outcomes, as well as to generate sufficient cash flow to continue to support their causes.
Community Living Algoma was presented with the Leader in Accessibility Award sponsored by Arthur Funeral Home – Barton & Kiteley Chapel. This award recognizes an organization that shows leadership in integrating and providing accessible and barrier-free working conditions for employees and accessibility in customer service. This business or organization values the contributions of persons with disabilities and promotes the development of an inclusive workplace culture.
The Chamber presents three Business of the Year awards each year. These awards are based on a holistic picture of business. Businesses to be considered have distinguished themselves by fostering growth, innovation, marketing strategy, and consumer excellence in their sectors. The three award categories are Small Business, Medium-Sized Business, and Large Business.
The Business of the Year Award – Small Business sponsored by the Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area was presented to Safe Haven Sault Ste. Marie.
The Business of the Year Award – Medium-Sized Business sponsored by Northstar Consulting was presented to the Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre.
The Business of the Year Award – Large Business sponsored by Scotiabank was presented to S & T Group.
Launched in 2023, the Chamber presents two Economic Impact Awards each year… the first is presented to an individual, the second is presented to a business. These awards are sponsored by and presented in consultation with Algoma Steel and recognize an individual and a company/stakeholder that has made significant contributions to the economic vitality of Sault Ste. Marie in terms of capital investment, job creation and facility expansion.
Jasmyn Rowley of Sootoday and Village Media was presented with the Economic Impact Award for an Individual. She was recognized for her commitment to creating meaningful, long lasting and positive change in the communities that Village Media serves and for her leadership in the news organization’s Community Cares team, spearheading efforts like their Random Acts of Kindness, 12 Days of Christmas, and more recently the launch of their GoodWorks program and GoodMakers recruitment efforts.
The Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club was recognized for the long-term economic impact that they have had on our community. While rallying a strong sense of community pride, the Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club is also a strong economic driver for the community’s downtown businesses and for our largest community centre, the GFL Memorial Gardens. The Club takes part in numerous community initiatives such as the Bell Celebrity Skate which raises much-needed funds for local youth projects and teams.
Local entrepreneur, Jeff DiCorpo of Northern Superior Brewing Co., Northern Powertrain, Miss Marie Sault Lock Tours, and more recently known for his successful relaunch of our local double decker tour bus, was presented with the Skipper Manzzutti Award for Business Achievement. Named after one of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce’s dedicated past presidents, Captain Feliciano “Skipper” Manzzutti, this award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding business achievement within the past year, or number of years. Like the award’s name-sake, the recipient of this award has set a high standard for exemplary entrepreneurial and community minded achievement.
Don Mitchell was presented with the Chamber’s Volunteer Achievement Award. As a volunteer-based organization, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce depends on individuals who are willing to donate their time to special projects, events or programs they believe will benefit the business community as a whole. The award recognizes an individual whose time, commitment and contribution to the Chamber over the years has been outstanding. Mitchell has served two terms as Chamber of Commerce president and served as interim CEO in 2024. Today, Chamber staff and Board members know that they can still benefit from his shared insights and guidance when required. He is recognized for his many years of commitment to helping drive economic development in the community and across Northern Ontario through roles with the Chamber, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, and the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation.
Local Lawyer, Carlo Spadafora of Spadafora Johnson Lepore LLP was presented with the Paul Dalseg Community Achievement Award. Like its namesake, the Paul Dalseg Award recognizes a businessperson in Sault Ste. Marie who has demonstrated exemplary interest in the community, and in so doing, has made a major, outstanding and unique achievements or contributions to the life of the community. It is intended to recognize the leadership and community-mindedness of businessmen and women. A past president of the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, Spadafora is well known for his commitment to the community and to groups including the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Family Services Foundation, and the Sault Youth Soccer Club.
Stefano Narducci of Northern Snow, was also awarded this year’s SSMCOC President’s Award. Initiated in 1982, the President’s Award recognizes individuals who make an exceptional effort, going above and beyond the call of duty in any area of business and community development. The recipient of this award is chosen by the Chamber’s Past Immediate President. Narducci was recognized for the successful business growth of Northern Snow and his cross ventures into business-2-business software, trades and outdoor apparel, and social media branding.
About the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization comprised of 500+ businesses and agencies in Sault Ste. Marie and has been serving the needs of this community since 1889. The Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce will lead the way as the voice of business, advancing economic prosperity for its membership and the business community. Learn more about the SSMCOC at www.ssmcoc.com
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SSMCOC Media Contact:
Don Ferguson
Director of Operations and Policy
Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce
E-mail: don@ssmcoc.com
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