Lindsay Chamber’s ‘awards of excellence’ recognizes leaders in community
Janet Di Bello wins business leader of the year, Beth Wilson citizen of the year
The Lindsay & District Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Awards of Excellence Gala this past Saturday at Victoria Park Armoury in Lindsay.
The sold-out event recognizes businesses, leaders, charitable organizations and individuals who excelled in business or made significant contributions to the community.
This year was a special and emotional year as a new category was added to the awards, the Linden Lighthouse Award. This award is inspired by the late Linden Mackey who died in May last year at 59.
Mike Puffer, Linden Mackey Legacy Fund advisor and director of the Kawartha Community Foundation, said the friends of Mackey, who established the fund in his memory, were thrilled to be able to present the initial legacy award at the recent awards gala.
“The recipient honoured with the award, Sheila Caron, has exhibited qualities throughout her career that are perfectly aligned with the intent and spirit of Linden and the award,” said Puffer. “Sheila is deeply committed to aiding vulnerable individuals and her work reflects a belief that a compassionate, community-based response makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
There was also a video tribute to the late Rick Harding and his wife Rose Janchevsky who were prominent business leaders in the community who passed away from a motorcycle accident last summer.
Chamber executive director and organizer of the gala, Terry Guiel, felt this year’s gala will be remembered as both touching and strongly community centric.
“My heart is grateful that we could use our annual business awards to recognize two of our…most known and loved leaders.”
Guiel said Mackey was the epitome of what a business leader is “and what it looked like to truly love your community, while Rick was all that as well but with a big dose of humour, eccentricity and vibrance that made him a local legend.”
The winners of the 2026 Awards of Excellence are as follows:
Employer of the Year: At the Core Home Health
Board Member of the Year: Shirley Norman
Give Back: Jami Joy – Secret Santa for Seniors
Arts & Culture: The Grove Theatre
Customer Service: Days Inn and Suites
Design: Home by Tim & Chris
Diversity & Inclusion: Kawartha Lakes Pride
Health & Wellness: Nurse Next Door
New Business: Hope Valley Healing
Marketing: LP Movers
Rebrand: Kindred Coffee
Non-Profit: Five Counties Children’s Centre
Tourism: Globus Theatre
Social Butterfly: Loaded Spud Potato Bar
Skilled Trades: Dyson Alarm Tech Systems
Rising Star: Riz Digital01
Employee of the Year: Dawn Cox (McDonald’s)
Legacy Leader: Nicki Dedes
Volunteer of the Year: Angus McNeil – Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Business Leader of the Year: Janet Di Bello
Citizen of the Year: Beth Wilson
In future years, the Linden Mackey Legacy Fund will recognize and celebrate individuals, community groups, and organizations that go above and beyond to make a positive impact in their communities. Through the annual Linden Lighthouse Legacy Award, the fund will shine a light on local leaders who demonstrate generosity, inclusion, and a spirit of neighbourliness, as well as support initiatives that promote mental health and overall community wellbeing.
