Kingston Business Awards Nominees Revealed

The Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce has released the nominee list for the 2026 Kingston Business Awards, setting up a May 21 ceremony at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston. The chamber said the awards are presented by title sponsor MNP LLP and partner sponsor Enbridge Gas Inc. and will recognize businesses, entrepreneurs and community organizations across 10 categories. (kingstonist.com) The nominee list spans hospitality, social impact, new business, skilled trades, customer experience, arts and culture, employer of the year and business person of the year, among others. The chamber says the program is part of its effort to recognize business excellence and community service across Greater Kingston. (business.kingstonchamber.ca) ### Which organization is running the awards this year? The Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce is organizing the 2026 awards program, according to the chamber’s event page and nominee materials. The chamber says the awards are intended to honor businesses that show excellence, innovation, leadership and community impact in Greater Kingston. Karen Cross, chief executive of the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement published by Kingstonist that the awards are “the premier awards show” celebrating the local business community. Cross said the chamber is marking its 185th anniversary in 2026 and wants to use the event to celebrate Kingston’s business community. (kingstonist.com) ### How big is the 2026 nominee field? The chamber’s release, as reported by Kingstonist, lists 57 nominees across 10 award categories. Those categories include Hospitality, Social Impact, New Business of the Year, Entrepreneur, Skilled Trades, Customer Experience, Non-Profit, Arts & Culture, Employer of the Year and Business Person of the Year. (business.kingstonchamber.ca) The nominee roster includes Double Tree / Home2 Suites by Hilton Kingston & Ambassador Event Centre, Kebab 44, Kingston Burger Company and Qdoba Mexican Eats in Hospitality. The Social Impact category includes 98.3 FLY FM, CTS, Empire Life, Enabled Talent, St. Lawrence Youth Association, The Keep Refillery Kingston and Tomlinson Group. (kingstonist.com) ### Which names stand out in the individual and company categories? The Entrepreneur category includes André Dénommée of ADARE Property Management, Denise Bertrim of L’Amour Catering Kingston, Holly Ryan of Art by Holly Ryan, JC of LevelUp Barber Studio, Katrina Kryza of Thrifty Girl, Laura Campbell of Stride Academy and Martha Williams of Pedal Works Café & Studios. The Business Person of the Year category includes Maureen McCartney of Keller Williams Inspire Realty, Patrick Egbunonu of Informanos, Jonathan of JD Physiotherapy Clinics and Catherine Ballow of GS Manufacturing. (kingstonist.com) Employer of the Year nominees include BluMetric, CH Cleaning Services, Cityflats and Hülpr Inc., according to the chamber’s nominee page. (kingstoncc.awardify.io) Arts & Culture nominees include the Canadian Museum of Health Care, Cantabile Choirs of Kingston and SISTEMA Kingston, while the non-profit field includes Habitat for Humanity Kingston Limestone Region, Kingston Canadian Film Festival, Lionhearts, Ryandale Transitional Housing and Well Suited Kingston. ### What happens at the May 21 event? May 21 is the date set for the awards night, with chamber and venue pages listing programming from late afternoon into the evening. The chamber’s event calendar says the nominee reception starts at 5:30 p.m., cocktail hour begins at 6:00 p.m. and the awards ceremony and presentations start at 7:00 p.m. (kingstoncc.awardify.io) The Isabel Bader Centre listing places the event in the Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall. The chamber’s registration page says ticket prices are C$150 for members and C$175 for non-members, with admission including two drinks, passed hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and access to the ceremony. (kingstoncc.awardify.io) ### Where can readers find the full list before winners are named? The chamber has published the full nominee list on its awards site and event registration pages. The awards website says the program celebrates businesses that contribute to Kingston’s economic vitality, the city’s character and quality of life in the region. Thursday, May 21, 2026, is the next key date, when nominees, sponsors and guests are scheduled to gather at the Isabel Bader Centre and winners are set to be announced during the evening presentation. (business.kingstonchamber.ca) (kingstoncc.awardify.io) (queensu.ca)