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Young Entrepreneur of the Year:
Marcos Illana-Mata of Bison LiquorsBison Liquors' philosophy is to offer premium quality products at affordable prices and aims to return as much support to their community and consumers by participating in community events, fundraisers, socials, as well as supporting other local charitable causes.
As a young entrepreneur Marcos began with a deep investigation of the market, competitor brands and the local spirits industry to uncover the solutions for their local consumers and has committed Bison Liquors operations to offering a quality product at prices that anyone would feel comfortable paying.
Marcos recognizes the difficulties and barriers young entrepreneurs may experience when trying to grow a business, and prides himself on ensuring each of his clients receives a personal visit from him each year to maintain strong relationships as his company grows. By using his creativity and desire to produce quality products, Bison Liquors has broken local records with the creation of 10 products and a number one rating in just three years of operation, fighting through a pandemic to success.
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Innovator of the Year:
San Vito Coffee HouseSan Vito Coffee House prides itself on being a gathering place for the old and young in west Winnipeg, where you’ll see friends and family, business leaders and politicians, and the west Winnipeg neighbours next door in a comfortable engaging environment.
When COVID hit the San Vito team pounded the pavement to promote their own city-wide deliveries and worked with private airlines to build and grow their airplane food service. They ran social media contests and created their famous Kitchen Karaoke, inviting customers and community members to their social media to lighten the day with some fun during a difficult time.
San Vito Coffee House makes being a socially conscious company a priority and commits to all cups, lids, and straws, being fully compostable despite the higher cost to their organization.
They are happy to say they don't take themselves too seriously, have a lot of fun, and can say their customers have truly become their friends.
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Non-Profit of the Year:
Community Ambitions Day Service Inc.Community Ambitions Day Service Inc provides support and job training to adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. They do volunteer work for businesses in the area including packaging, mailouts, folding, and prior to covid provided volunteers around the community in hospitals, care homes and fundraising events.
Community Ambitions has been providing exceptional care and service in west Winnipeg since 1982 and some of the individuals have been with the program since it began. Over the past year many successful partnerships with businesses in west Winnipeg have grown, in which the program’s participants develop and maintain new professional and personal skills.
COVID created many challenges over the last few years, but the amazing Community Ambitions Day Service staff have exercised creativity to support their individuals in meaningful and valuable ways, including virtual music therapy, movie parties, theme days, arts & crafts, exercise programs, special lunches, virtual bowling and online programming.
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Community Builder of the Year:
Peak of the Market Ltd.Peak of the Market’s facility has been located in west Winnipeg since 1960. A proud Winnipeg-based business for 80 years, Peak of the Market and their Grower partners have been growing and marketing fresh, high-quality produce for generations.
For countless years, Peak of the Market has donated fresh produce to Harvest Manitoba and other food banks across Canada and in the past five years, the value of the produce they have donated amounted to approximately $14 million dollars. Peak has committed to continue this level of contribution, through produce donations, over the next five years as well.
Most recently, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Peak of the Market have teamed up to package and deliver fresh produce to local, community service groups during the last week of every month, feeding almost 1,000 families in our community. Senior’s centres, 55 plus clubs, lower income housing groups, community kitchen programs, indigenous support groups, provincial and municipal newcomer groups and school programs are just a few of the service groups that have received Peak of the Market produce. Not only does this food go to support some wonderful groups, it also keeps food out of landfills, as eliminating food waste remains a priority for Peak of the Market.
Their Farm to School healthy fundraising program has run throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta including schools and daycares in west Winnipeg for the past 10 years resulting in over $200,000 being donated to schools and daycares in Manitoba.
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Business of the Year:
Dave's Quick PrintThroughout the pandemic and its challenges, Dave’s Quick Print has worked to maintain its workforce, added new equipment and revenue streams, continued to provide excellent customer service while quietly battling supply chain issues. They complemented their business with an online value proposition and committed to supporting and sponsoring local causes that aligned with their core values.
Dave’s Quick Print endorses that good communication and being transparent with their employees was key to maintaining their workforce. With sales and employment uncertain due to Covid, they utilized cross training, government programs, work sharing and even added an extra week of paid vacation to ensure their employees felt valued and supported.
Despite being impacted by supply chain issues and the shutdowns of many other businesses, Dave’s Quick Print felt it prudent to invest in new equipment to help them vertically integrate and bring more revenue to the company, as well as finding ways to minimize disruptions to their customers in a difficult time. They have also recently launched their online printing company WinnipegPrintShop.com – a company designed to allow local customers to “order online with a local flavour”.
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