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Chamber fetes city's top businesses

Sudbury's Rematech Industries got to cap off its 50th year in business with a Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce Bell Business Excellence Award for the company of the year.
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Adam Ball, founder of Crossfit Sudbury, received the Business Startup award on Tuesday night at the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce Bell Business Excellence Awards. Photo by Jonathan Migneault.
Sudbury's Rematech Industries got to cap off its 50th year in business with a Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce Bell Business Excellence Award for the company of the year.

The company, which manufactures conveyor belts and rubber-moulded products, primarily for the mining sector, was one of 10 businesses recognized at the awards ceremony Tuesday night.

“This is just perfect timing to get a business award,” said Yvan Beljo, Rematech's president.

Beljo started with the company in the late 1960s, and later worked his way to a management position before buying a share of the company. His son, Ivo Beljo, is Rematech's vice-president.

“We think it's great how Sudbury is so connected and so innovative,” said the younger Beljo, commenting on the local business community.

It's businesses like Rematech — and the other nine enterprises awarded — that keep the city's business community thriving, healthy and hiring, said David Boyce, chair of the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce.

“It is people like those who we acknowledge tonight, who's drive, dedication and big thinking creates a network of business people that we should be very proud of,” Boyce said in his opening remarks at the ceremony Tuesday.

Sherri Tomchick, CEO of Plan A Health Care Staffing Solutions Inc., was recognized as entrepreneur of the year, and also commended Sudbury's business community.

“Being part of the business community in Sudbury is so rewarding for so many reasons,” Tomchick said. “There's always somebody there willing to help.”

On May 1, 2014, won the people's choice award, and $25,000 in services for start-ups, at NORCAT's Sudbury Pitch event.

At that event she was recognized for her second venture, Plan A Scheduling Solutions, a software package that allows health care sector clients to more easily schedule staff.

Dave and Kielyn Marrone received the award for small enterprise of the year for their unique travel and tourism company, Lure of the North.

Founded in November 2011, Lure of the North organizes traditional winter excursions, with snowshoes, wood stoves and tents through the Northern Ontario wilderness.

“I don't think there's another company that travels into the remote locations like we do, striking camp and moving every day,” Dave said. “We get to see some pretty amazing terrain a lot of people don't get to see in the summer, let alone the winter.”

Kielyn said she was honoured Sudbury Tourism nominated them for the award. The recognition showed there hard work was paying off, she said.

Taylor Marshall, the founder of Marshall Yardworks, said his award for young entrepreneur of the year came as a big surprise.

“I wasn't expecting it,” he said. “I don't do anything to be recognized.”

Marshall started the lawn care company in 2008 when he was only 19. He had trouble finding a summer job, when he was a mine engineering student at Laurentian University, and decided to start his company instead of working for someone else at minimum wage.

After two years the company grew beyond a summer job. Marshall dropped out of university and devoted himself to his business full-time.

“I don't have any regrets,” he said. “I'm very happy to be doing what I'm doing.”
The company has 15 to 20 employees during the peek season, and Marshall recently purchased the Sudbury Weed Man franchise, which includes an additional 25 employees counting the sales team.

The Business Excellence Awards winners:


Chair’s Award – Robert Brown Jewellers (Sponsored by Greater Sudbury Development Corporation)
Company of the Year – Rematech Industries (Sponsored by Northern Ontario Business/Northern Life)
Service Excellence – O.C.P. Group of Companies (Sponsored by Scotiabank)
New Venture – The Plus Factor (Sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group)
Business Start Up – CrossFit Sudbury and Real Life Health (Sponsored by Laurentian University)
Entrepreneur of the Year – Sheri Tomchick, Plan A Health Care Staffing Solutions (Sponsored by RBC Financial Group)
Small Enterprise – Lure of the North (Sponsored by Regional Business Centre)
Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Taylor Marshall, Marshall Yardworks (Sponsored by BMO Bank of Montreal)
Innovation – Rock-Tech Sales and Service (Sponsored by Cambrian College/ NORCAT)
Hospitality – Imperial Fireside Inn/Sudbury Inn (Sponsored by Northern Credit Union)

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Jonathan Migneault

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