Business achievement awards: London airport chosen as corporate icon

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Not just a place to grab a flight for a getaway, London International Airport plays a critical role in the city’s business scene.

That role, from receiving and shipping goods for London industries to leasing industrial space, is being honoured by the London Chamber of Commerce business achievement awards, to be held Wednesday.

The airport has been named winner of the 2024 corporate icon award as an outstanding contributor to business success in London.

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“The success of the airport is central to the development of London as an international city,” said Graham Henderson, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce.  “It has been working under incredibly difficult conditions; it was nailed by the pandemic but reinvented itself. It has made itself relevant.” 

Along with a role in receiving and shipping cargo, the airport works with both Western University and Fanshawe College in pilot training programs, offers maintenance programs, has an aircraft manufacturer and a jet fighter school on site, provides space for an industrial development and has commercial businesses.

“The icon award is selected by the board, but when they were named I thought it was perfect,” Henderson said.

Though the icon winner is named in advance, winners in large, medium and small business categories will be named at the ceremony Wednesday at RBC Place London, the convention centre.

“I applaud the chamber for thinking outside the box and selecting an organization that is different, that others may not think” contributes to business, said Scott McFadzean, airport chief executive.

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The airport essentially shut down during the pandemic and has been rebuilding its service ever since, he said. 

“Coming out of the pandemic, we really tried to reinvent ourselves and what we mean to the community, developing the airport not just for passenger service but as a hub for cargo, medical transportation, land development, aviation academia and flight training,” McFadzean said.

The airport has also hosted several charitable events.

The list of nominees in large, medium and small business categories is a diverse mix of what makes up London business and industry, Henderson said.

The chamber has six other award categories with several nominees in each: agribusiness, environmental leadership, excellence in people and culture, innovation, manufacturer and nonprofit categories.

“We have included businesses that are not necessarily mainstream. We aimed for diversity of sectors and what London’s business scene really looks like,” Henderson said.

One large business nominee that may raise eyebrows is McDonald’s, the fast food company. The chain is not a local business but has franchises owned by London businesspeople, he said.

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“McDonald’s has shown an interest in the chamber and has worked very hard to raise its profile in the community,”

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Large business category

Labatt Breweries of Canada

• One of Canada’s founding businesses dating back to a single small brewery founded by John Kinder Labatt in London in 1847 where the brewery still stands. The company now has more than 3,600 employees and brews more than 60 beers at 10 breweries across Canada.

McDonald’s London

• The global fast food giant has roots in London. The company first came to London in 1968 and the McDonald’s at Oxford Street and Wonderland Road was the second to open in Canada.

Magil Construction Canada Inc.

• A privately owned construction firm founded in 1946. It specializes in pre-construction, construction management, design-build and general contracting.

MTE Consultants

• MTE has provided engineering consulting services for 35 years. The company has 450 staff working in civil, structural, environmental and geotechnical engineering, building and environmental science, and surveying.

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Medium business category

London Brewing Co-operative

• Ontario’s only independent, certified organic craft brewery and sources local ingredients. The company is one of two worker-owned co-operative breweries in Ontario and is an active member of the Canadian Worker Co-op Federation.

Mr. and Mrs. Bao Restaurants Inc.

• Specializes in Asian fusion comfort food

Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc.

• An award-winning architecture firm based in downtown London. Established in 1984, the business has a 40-year history of providing professional design services. 

Orca Intelligence 

• A modern day freight audit organization 

 Small Business Category

 London Bicycle Café

• Founded in 2017, it employs five full-time and five part-time workers. The cafe integrates coffee, art, food, transportation and space for a community of citizen-cyclists. 

Sidetrack Café

• An independent espresso café and tea shop in the Wortley Village neighbourhood in Old South. 

Sparks Marketing Communications

• A London-based marketing communications business that has been in business 30 years, working with brands such as Maple Leaf Foods, Hudson’s Bay Co. and Lindt.

Waseer Law Office

• A London law firm with more than 17 years of experience 

Other business award categories: Nominees in each category

• Agribusiness
• Environmental leadership
• Excellence in people and culture
• Innovation 
• Manufacturer 
• Nonprofit 

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