Quinte Business Achievement Awards Mark 30 Years With 17 Winners

The Quinte Business Achievement Awards handed out 17 trophies on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Legacy Events in Belleville — the 30th consecutive year the region has honored its top businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs.

The milestone gala drew business and community leaders from across the Bay of Quinte Region. Organizers framed the evening as a celebration of three decades of recognizing excellence in business, entrepreneurship and innovation — and of the people whose work, in the event's words, helps make the Bay of Quinte one of the best places to live, work and invest.

Committee Chair Jill Raycroft set the tone for the night. "The Quinte Business Achievement Awards are an opportunity to recognize the incredible businesses and entrepreneurs who make our region such a great place to live and work," Raycroft said. "Celebrating 30 years of the QBAA is a significant milestone, and we are proud to honour the people and organizations whose hard work, innovation, and community involvement continue to move our region forward."

That quote carries the event's core argument: the awards measure more than revenue. Each recipient was recognized for business growth, local employment, innovation and community involvement — four yardsticks the QBAA has applied across three decades.

Who won in 2026?

The winners span retail, manufacturing, trades, tourism and the not-for-profit sector:

• Retail Business of the Year: Fawn Over Market
• Hospitality Business of the Year: Barbacoa Boyz
• Tourism Business of the Year: Black Bear Ridge
• Regulated Professions Business of the Year: Diamond Physiotherapy
• Specialized Services Business of the Year: Quinte Canine
• Trades / Construction Services Business of the Year: Crozier Heating
• Manufacturing Business of the Year: Chemelex
• Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Briana Godden
• New Business of the Year: Travelling Dental Hygienists
• Not-for-Profit of the Year: The Children's Safety Village
• Tech Sector Business of the Year: IAMSAR
• Business Person of the Year: Jamie Troke
• Agribusiness Business of the Year: The Campbell's Orchards
• Health and Wellness Business of the Year: studio pec
• Sustainability Award: Owl Grove Roses
• Trailblazer Award: The Bunkie Company
• Business Excellence Award: Kerr Sprinkler Systems Inc.

The list reads like a cross-section of the regional economy. A manufacturer (Chemelex) sits alongside a mobile dental hygiene startup (Travelling Dental Hygienists), a rose grower (Owl Grove Roses) and a children's safety charity (The Children's Safety Village).

What does 30 years of the QBAA actually measure?

The organizing body positions the awards as a longitudinal record of the Bay of Quinte business community — the dedication, talent and collaboration that, in its telling, define the region and strengthen its economy year after year.

That framing matters for a region competing for investment and talent. Three decades of sustained recognition signals an institutionalized business community, not a one-off promotional exercise. The QBAA's stated mission — recognizing businesses that make the Bay of Quinte a place to live, work and invest — puts economic development at the center of a celebration.

The 2026 gala also carried a built-in succession story. Young Entrepreneur of the Year Briana Godden and New Business of the Year Travelling Dental Hygienists represent the pipeline the awards are designed to surface, while Business Person of the Year Jamie Troke and Business Excellence winner Kerr Sprinkler Systems Inc. represent the established tier.

What comes next?

Organizers closed the evening by thanking nominees, sponsors, judges and community partners, crediting their continued support with ensuring the region's business achievements are recognized and celebrated for years to come. The commitment signals a 31st edition — and with it, another annual benchmark for who is building the Bay of Quinte economy.