Local businesses honoured at MBT Business Excellence Awards
By David Yin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
The Markham Board of Trade’s Business Excellence Awards returned to the Hilton on Nov. 27, awarding 14 companies and business leaders for their achievements throughout 2025.
Board CEO Chris Collucci hosted the event, with each Platinum and Aspie Award Sponsor presenting an award.
The winners are as follows: Business Employer of Excellence Award – Smith & Long, Community Relations and Cultural Enrichment Award – Fête Chinoise, Donald Cousens Conservation and Environmental Leadership Award – Macrotek, Entrepreneurship Award – Mimigo Canada, Food Service and Hospitality Award – Pears Restaurant, Global Business Excellence Award – Novo, High Quality and Service Award – Disano Sprinkler Design, Innovation Award – NordSpace, Markham Destination Ambassador Award – Go Place, and Women Led Business Award – SYC.
Khalid Usman won the Anthony Roman award, which celebrates business leaders for uplifting other companies and the greater community.
The Aspie Awards, which honour business leaders under 30, went to: Alice To – Startup Award, Shirley Lin – Community Involvement, and Benson Lau – Professional Excellence Award.
Collucci said the awards help showcase the strength of Markham’s business landscape.
“When you start a business, sometimes you feel like you’re in business by yourself,” he said. “And to be able to stand and be recognized on stage as among the best out of over 10,000 Markham businesses in a category, it’s just so meaningful.”
Deborah Lau-Yu, editor-in-chief at Fete Chinoise, said that winning this award coincides with the company’s 10th year of publishing stories for the Chinese Canadian community.
She added that she worked with several other winners, reflecting Markham’s vibrant and tight-knit business community.
“There are so many people in the world, and there are so many people in need of connection,” she said. “If you inspire someone – even if it’s just one person – that one person may go on to inspire another person. It’s like a chain reaction.”
Visit markhamboard.com for more details.
Photo: Bill Hutton from the Markham Board of Trade provides some opening remarks alongside board directors. (David Yin photo)