Non-Profit of the Year was a strong category in the 36th annual Outstanding Business Achievement Awards (OBAAs), organized by the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.
Event Coordinator Nicole Crosby said of the 11 non-profits nominated this year, six finalists were submitted for the October 23 awards gala.
Nominees for Non-Profit of the Year include: Sarnia Legion Branch 62, Women's Interval Home of Sarnia Lambton, Huron House Boys' Home, Harmony for Youth, Habitat for Humanity Sarnia/Lambton, Literacy Lambton, St. Vincent de Paul Help Center Sarnia, Pathways Health Centre for Children, The Inn of the Good Shepherd, BGC Sarnia-Lambton, and Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile.
Crosby said in total, 129 nominations were received this year for the 12 award categories.
"We were down a little bit this year, not [by] a lot though," she said. "We usually average about 150."
Crosby said they saw a lot of first-time nominees.
"I think what's happened is it's gaining momentum and people are starting to realize you don't have to be that big business to win," she said. "We're starting to see a lot more of the smaller -- less than five employees being nominated for entrepreneur or small business."
Nominations closed on August 14.
Crosby said a company itself has to first accept the nomination and submit an application to complete the process.
"Once all of the companies have been submitted, we send the submitted applications to outside judges ... they cannot be affiliated with Sarnia-Lambton in any way," said Crosby.
Award recipients will be announced during the OBAAs Gala on Friday, October 23, at Four Points by Sheraton. The event is sold out.
The 12 award categories are Member of the Year, Non-profit of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Medium Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Excellence in Customer Service for an Individual, Young Professional, Innovation, Agri-business, Inclusivity and Green Business.
