With the remarkable support of H.E. Patrick Van Gheel, Maxime Ramon and the Embassy of Belgium in Canada | Ambassade de Belgique au Canada | Ambassade van België in Canada, the BCBC was delighted to host the second edition of the BCBC Business Excellence Awards Gala on April 27th, 2023 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto, Canada.
A truly unique Belgian-Canadian evening celebrated Belgian business excellence in Canada, in addition to honouring the work of Canadian companies in Belgium. Belgian-Canadian business and diplomatic representatives enjoyed the finest of what Belgium has to offer – from #chocolates, to #beers, to #diamonds!
This year Members of the jury for the BCBC Business Excellence Awards have recognized the following companies and businesses:
Belgian Rising Star Award presented by Brad Campbell of Belgian chemical company Solvay, is: Cubigo, a leading Belgian technology company empowering senior living communities.
Belgian Company of the Year Award, presented by Christophe Vandewiele of Belgian-rooted investment house Degroof Petercam goes to two Belgian companies: Puratos – a Belgian bakery, patisserie and chocolate since 1919; and CTBW, Inc – a Belgian consulting firm dedicated to fostering business growth through strategic planning, technology, and design.
Canadian Company of the Year Award, presented by Cathy McCulloch of Dentons Canada- the global law firm, goes to 2 Canadian companies: North America’s oldest breweries and a strong ally in promoting Belgian beer and culture Molson Coors Beverage Company, and Eastern Canada’s largest port and Canada’s 2nd largest Port, the Port of Montreal / Port de Montréal.
Featuring for the first time the BCBC Taste of Belgium Award, Anne Popoff, VP of the BCBC and a strong advocate of Belgian taste in Toronto, presented the award to Aram Polybeer Ettibaryan and Ester Araskhanyan owners of PolyBEER, distributor of premium Belgian beers across the country and promoter of one of the most Belgian product that connects people.
Special shoutout to Wallonia’s MRC de Memphrémagog, Magog & Flemish-Canadian IDC Home Ltd. for making a great contribution to closer economic cooperation between #Canada and #Belgium.
In his comments, Xavier Van Overmeire, the President of the BCBC and partner at Dentons Canada noted that, through BCBC, we have been able to shine the light on the wonderful business success stories, each of one of which shows the strength of the relationship between Canada and Belgium.
BCBC recognized and thanked one person that has been another strong ally and supporter of the BCBC for the past 8 years. He is leaving Canada this summer so the BCBC wanted to acknowledge his work and dedication: Frank Murari, Trade Commissioner for Wallonia & Brussels here in Toronto.
Maxime Ramon, from the Belgian Embassy, said: “Frank, you have been attending and supporting almost all the events that the Chamber has organized, you have done an incredible job at promoting Wallonia, Brussels and Belgium here in Canada and we’d like to honour that. We would like to give you the BCBC Business Excellence Award Chocolate Statue, we felt that you were the right person to take it home this year.”
Congratulations to the winners of the 2 Air Canada business class tickets, the Hockey Platinum Tickets – sponsored by Molson Coors Beverage Company, and the natural fancy yellow diamond sponsored by Aarkish Diamonds Inc.
Special thank you to:
BCBC Business Excellence Awards Gala Grand Partners: Embassy of Belgium in Canada | Ambassade de Belgique au Canada | Ambassade van België in Canada, Dentons Canada, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Air Canada, RHEA Group and BDG & Associates;
Award Sponsors: Degroof Petercam, Solvay, and Dentons Canada;
Gala In-Kind Sponsors: Molson Coors Beverage Company , McClelland Premium Imports, Aram Polybeer, Barry Callebaut Group, Aarkish Diamonds Inc., Air Canada, The Belgian Chocolate Shop, Leonidas Port Credit, and VLAM.be
BCBC Private Partners: Port of Montreal / Port de Montréal, Actito, Air Canada, Alfid Services Immobiliers, ArcoInfo North-America, CBTW, Degroof Petercam, Dentons Canada, Desjardins Entreprises, Investissement Québec, Landmark Cinemas Canada, Mazars, Canada, McClelland Premium Imports, Manuchar Canada, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Nourish Food Marketing, Aram Polybeer, Puratos, Reynaers Aluminium Canada, Solvay, Theodorus Investment Funds, TRACTEBEL Engie and WRLWND.
BCBC Public Partners: Embassy of Belgium in Canada | Ambassade de Belgique au Canada | Ambassade van België in Canada, hub.brussels , Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), and Wallonia Export & Investment Agency.
See you next year!!!
The Awards pictures are here : https://lnkd.in/eJc9Vr2V
The Cocktail pictures here : https://lnkd.in/e99-uJ8Q
And finally the Photocall pictures here : https://lnkd.in/e2ZWeRzJ
