FAQs
What are the 9 OABE categories?
How many award trophies are given out?
Who is eligible to win an OABE?
Who is not eligible to win an OABE?
How is a business nominated for an OABE?
Does one have to obtain a company’s permission before nominating them?
What if I am not certain about the appropriate category?
What does a nominated company have to do to participate in the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence?
When are the Awards presented?
What are the partnership opportunities associated with the OABE and the Gala Dinner and Ceremony?
How do I get tickets?
What are the 9 OABE categories?
1. Oakville’s Small Business of the Year - This award recognizes a business of up to approximately 20 full time equivalent employees that primarily serves Oakville and the surrounding area. Nominees will be assessed based on:
- Business growth
- Profile/Reputation
- Innovation
- Investment in the business
- Business Practices
2. Oakville’s Large Business of the Year - This award recognizes a business of more than 20 employees that primarily serves the provincial, national and international markets. Nominees will be assessed based on:
- Business growth
- Profile/Reputation
- Innovation
- Investment in the business
- Business Practices
3. Oakville’s Professional Services Provider of the Year - This award recognizes a person or employee team with a professional designation or whose practice is regulated by a provincial, federal or regulatory body. Nominees will be considered from the following professional categories:
- Legal
- Accounting
- Engineering
- Medical or Dental
- Financial
4. Oakville’s Restaurateur of the Year - This award recognizes a restaurateur with an establishment in Oakville that is open to the public. Please note that this is a business award and not a food award. Nominees will be assessed on:
- Growth
- Profile/Reputation
- Attraction of visitors
- Innovation
- Investment in the business
- Business Practices
5. Oakville’s Hospitality & Visitor Attraction of the Year - This award recognizes a business that attracts visitors to or hosts visitors in Oakville. Please note that this category does not include restaurants; see Restaurateur of the Year category. Nominees will be assessed based on:
- Growth
- Profile/Reputation
- Attraction of visitors
- innovation
- Investment in the business
- Business Practices
6. Oakville’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year – This award recognizes an individual who owns a business in Oakville and is 35 years of age or under (as of December 31, 2012). The nominee will be judged on:
- Entrepreneurship
- Growth
- Leadership
- Innovation in business pursuits
- Business Practices
Nominees for this category must have been in business for 24 months (as of December 31, 2012)
7. Oakville’s Community Builder of the Year - This award recognizes a business that has, over a period of time, demonstrated exemplary business practices and dedicated involvement in the community. The nominees will be judged on:
- Commitment to corporate social responsibility
- Community Engagement
- Environmental Stewardship
- Local Sourcing
- Employee Engagement
- Business Practices
8. Oakville’s Employee of the Year – This award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an employee or employee team. The nominee(s) exemplify the business’ brand and culture and consistently exceed expectations. (Please note: the nominator must be an owner or employee of the business for which the nominee is employed. The NOMINATOR will be required to provide details and specific examples to support the nomination). Nominees will be assessed based on an inspiring story.
9. Oakville’s Business Icon Award
This award recognizes a prominent Oakville business which is highly regarded in the business community. The nominee must be:
- Headquartered and operating for a minimum of five years in Oakville
- Have a national or international profile
- Provides significant local employment opportunities
- Makes a substantial contribution to the social and economic well-being of Oakville
- Recognized as a leader in its field
The recipient of this award will be determined solely at the discretion of the OABE committee.
How many award trophies are given out?
Trophies are awarded to the winners of each category. The Judges select qualified nominees in each category. Of the qualified nominees, one is selected as the excellence winner. The Judges reserve the right to allow for a category tie or to designate a large and small winner in a category when appropriate. In these cases an additional award is presented.
Who is eligible to win an OABE?
This competition is open to Oakville businesses that have not won in any category in the last 5 years. The business must be physically located in the Town of Oakville. The Judges are looking for excellence in business, not the size of the business.
Who is not eligible to win an OABE?
These are business awards. Therefore the competition is not open to governments, associations, centres or organizations which operate on a not-for-profit basis. Businesses that have won an OABE in the past five years are not eligible to win in the same category. The competition is also not open to the Judges or their employers, to members of the OABE Organizing Committee or their employers, or to or to the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Oakville West or Board of Directors of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce or their employees.
How is a business nominated for an OABE?
Typically a customer or a supplier nominates a firm they recognize as excellent. Sometimes Oakville businesses self nominate if they feel they have succeeded and excelled and possibly many in Oakville are not aware of them. Neither nominees nor nominators need be Rotary Club members or Chamber of Commerce members.
What if I am not certain about the appropriate category?
The Judges reserve the right to move a nomination to a more appropriate category.
What does a nominated company have to do to participate in the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence?
All eligible nominees will be contacted and invited to qualify for the award competition by submitting information for the Judges’ consideration. The Judges do not probe commercially sensitive information, but ask nominees general questions.
Does one have to obtain a company’s permission before nominating them?
Not necessarily. Businesses are usually honoured and flattered to be nominated by their customer or suppliers even without consultation. However, you might want to tell them as a courtesy. Most people like to know they are appreciated. In any event they may choose to have their nomination withdrawn.
When are the Awards presented?
The Gala Awards Dinner for the 18th Oakville Awards for Business Excellence will be held March 27, 2013 at the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre (at Bronte Road and Wyecroft Rd.).
What are the partnership opportunities associated with the OABE and the Gala Dinner and Ceremony?
Partnerships are still available for this year’s Oakville Awards for Business Excellence (OABE) ... a joint project of the Rotary Club of Oakville West (RCOW) and the Oakville Chamber of Commerce. Please contact John Sawyer at (905) 845-6613 ext. 202. .
How do I get tickets?
How do I get tickets to the 18th Annual Gala Award Dinner Event on March 27th, 2013?
Watch the web site and the Oakville Beaver for details and order forms.
