Barrie business awards:Barrie business community honoured at awards gala as Chamber marks 100 years
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Staff, October 25, 2026
The Barrie Chamber of Commerce celebrated both the achievements of the local business community and a major milestone in its own history Friday night, as more than 320 business leaders, entrepreneurs, community partners and dignitaries gathered at Liberty North for the sold out 2026 Barrie Business Awards.
The annual awards gala recognized businesses, organizations and individuals whose leadership, innovation and community contributions have helped strengthen Barrie’s economy.
It also served as the Chamber’s centennial celebration, with the organization founded in 1926.
Among the top award recipients was Garaga, which received the Mayor’s Economic Development Award. Other winners included Safer Spaces | Gilbert Centre, honoured with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award; White Tuque, recipient of the Business Growth Award; and Hardwood Ski and Bike, which earned the Hospitality & Tourism Award.
Community Builders was recognized with the Manufacturing, Engineering & Construction Award, while Busch Systems received the Sustainable Impact Award and Bradford Greenhouses took home the Marketing & Promotions Award.
Several individual and community-focused honours were also presented throughout the evening. Kelsea Dale of Royal Paws received the Young Professional Award, Gillian Vincent of BMO Private Wealth was named Employee of the Year, and Mary Anne Denny-Lusk of Barrie Housing earned the Arch Brown Entrepreneur Award.
Rivendell Books was recognized with the Small Business Award, Nuleaf Veterinary Group received the New Business Award, and Roberts Complete Auto Care captured the Service Business Award.
The gala also highlighted the contributions of the non-profit sector, with Barrie Families Unite receiving the Not-for-Profit Award and Bertram Construction earning the Pay It Forward Award for community involvement.
The evening’s Roaring Twenties theme paid tribute to the Chamber’s founding era, with black-and-gold décor, art deco-inspired accents and warm lighting transforming Liberty North into a celebration of both the past and future of business in Barrie.
A coordinated lighting presentation served as one of the night’s signature moments, as points of light appeared throughout the room before guests joined in a toast to the Chamber’s next century of service to the community.
As part of the centennial celebration, there was a tribute reflecting on the Chamber’s history and recognizing the entrepreneurs, business leaders and community partners whose efforts have helped shape Barrie over the past 100 years.
Barrie Business Awards 2026 winners
Mayor’s Economic Development Award: Garaga
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award: Safer Spaces | Gilbert Centre
Manufacturing, Engineering & Construction Award: Community Builders
Business Growth Award: White Tuque
Pay It Forward Award: Bertram Construction
Hospitality & Tourism Award: Hardwood Ski and Bike
Sustainable Impact Award: Busch Systems
Marketing & Promotions Award: Bradford Greenhouses
Not-for-Profit Award: Barrie Families Unite
Young Professional Award: Kelsea Dale, Royal Paws
Small Business Award: Rivendell Books
Employee of the Year Award: Gillian Vincent, BMO Private Wealth
New Business Award: Nuleaf Veterinary Group **
** Note: GV Grad Becky Bartley is one of the founding owners of Nuleaf, 80 Bradford Street, Barrie, ON
Service Business Award: Roberts Complete Auto Care
Arch Brown Entrepreneur Award: Mary Anne Denny-Lusk, Barrie Housing