Dukelow crowned Augusta’s top business

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MAITLAND – Dukelow Electrical was named Business of the year Friday, as Augusta Township held its annual Business Awards Breakfast at MERC Hall.

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“Today we are celebrating our local businesses,” said Augusta Township Mayor Jeff Shaver.

“These businesses are all equally important to our township. They provide services to our residents and other industries. They bring tourism to our township, and they continue to enhance our lives,” he said.

The 80-plus-one attendees were treated to a full breakfast and a full agenda that led to the awards for Agricultural Business of the Year, New Business of the Year, Business of the Year, and the Legacy Award.

The nominees for Agricultural Business of the Year were: Ashby Farms; Spot on Hoof Trimming and Heartbeet Farm.

The award went to Alain Pitre and Emily Robinson of Spot on Hoof Trimming. The young couple, who work together, Emily on the office side and Alain on the road trimming, were pleased to win.

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“We were not expecting to win,” said Alain.

“It’s a nice acknowledgement,” said Emily.

“I am very pleased with the introduction of the agricultural leadership award,” noted Judy Baril, the event organizer and a member of the economic development committee.

“I think that was a very important step for our community to add that as one of the awards. We call ourselves an agricultural community and we hadn’t honoured agriculture before. It’s so important that we have done that,” said Baril.

The two nominees for New Business of the Year were Creekside Kids Secondhand Store and Dairy Barn and Western Grill. The award went to Creekside Kids Secondhand Store, owned by Sarah Bell, who was not able to attend the event.

Nominees for Business of the Year were: Dukelow Electrical, a large family-owned electrical company, and Augusta Motors.

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The award went to Dukelow Electrical, owned by Troy Dukelow and Dan Beattie.

Augusta Motors, however, was presented with the Legacy Award acknowledging the automotive business’s 50 years of service to the community.

Dignitaries at the event included Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MP Michael Barrett and MPP Steve Clark, as well as United Counties mayors, including counties Warden Nancy Peckford.

The morning’s guest speakers were Pam Robertson, executive director of the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce, and Kevin Spencer, chairman of the South Grenville Chamber of Commerce.

Robertson said the Brockville chamber is there to build resiliency and support businesses.

“A healthy business means a healthy community,” she said. “When a member signs up, we ask them what they expect, as we don’t know. We want to hear from our businesses and know what their expectations are. Our mission is to support and enhance, to build a stronger economic community through proactive leadership.”

For his part, Spencer emphasized the importance of working together for growth.

“Without networking and collaboration, we go nowhere. Collaboration is how we grow. Equity, partnerships, sharing resources, creating a team across the board is key,” he said.

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