We couldn’t do what we do with the generous gifts of time and financial gifts we receive from individuals, businesses, foundations, service clubs, groups and more. The award we received this month is recognition for all of us and the work we’re doing to ensure young children learn to read. Thank you to our program partners, volunteers, donors, and community champions for making a difference in the life of a child.

On March 1, 2017 the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Excellence Awards Gala to celebrate Chamber members who have made exceptional contributions through their involvement in the community. This year’s event was attended by over 900 individuals from all areas of the business, government and the social sector across Waterloo Region.

Joining the Chamber of Commerce in 2016, Strong Start was honoured to have been nominated for the Business Excellence Award in the Non-Profit/Charitable category along with other amazing organizations including the Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region, Carizon Family & Community Services, The Delton Glebe Counselling Centre and the United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo & Area (soon to be United Way Waterloo Region Communities). We were even more humbled when we were selected as the winner of this year’s award, a true celebration of the impact improved literacy skills are having on children in the community.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce’s award selection committee for their time in reviewing all nominations, and MTE Consultants Inc. for sponsoring the Non-Profit/Charitable Award. We were truly heartened by this kind recognition.

For a list of all the Award categories and nominees for this event, we invite you to visit the Chamber’s website. For a list of all recognition Strong Start and its partners have received, we invite you to visit our Awards page.

Above photo (from left to right): Colette Moffat, Director of Program, Mark Hallman, Board Member, Caitlin Smith, Director of Operations, Machelle Denison, Executive Director, Christina Proctor, Development and Communications Officer, Steve Cameron, Board Member, and Keith Martin, Board Member take a group photo to celebrate this award in honour of Strong Start’s excellence in operations and impact at the Business Excellence Awards Gala.

The photo below shows Machelle Denison, Executive Director accepting the award on-stage from Paul Eichinger, Vice-President of MTE Consultants Inc. Please also
see Machelle Denison’s short acceptance speech in the video below.

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