Moncton Emerging Enterprise Award A Dream Come True For Whisky Maker
MONCTON – The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton recognized 10 companies from the region at its Business Excellence Awards on Wednesday.
Distillerie Fils du Roy, the maker of international award winner Gin Thuya, won the Emerging Business Award and the People’s Choice Award. Founder Sébastien Roy said it was a dream come true for him.
“The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Moncton is the biggest chamber of commerce in New Brunswick. So, for me it’s the biggest achievement in the business community,” he said after receiving the Emerging Business Award.
“It was a vision of a moment like that that I had a long time ago and this evening I had that moment. I feel very, very great. And it will show to smaller communities like where I come from that even if you live in a small province, in a small town, you can achieve big things even outside your community.”
Although he moved to the Acadian Peninsula a year and a half ago to be closer to his business operations, the Caraquet native had started his business from his Moncton home in 2011 with his mother. Production of Roy’s whiskeys and other liquor products began the year after.
Roy left a 17-year career in public service because he wanted his work to leave a lasting legacy for the province. With his business today, he sources ingredients from local farms to make liquor meant to be ready decades in the future.
“When my colleague left [his job in the public service], they changed the name on the door three weeks after. I said, is that what I want to do all my life? When it will be my turn to go, they will change my name on the door and that’s it. Whatever I give to the province will be gone,” he said.
“With my business, I’m creating things that probably will continue. I have a whisky that will be ready in 2038, some whisky in 2042. So even if I’m not there tomorrow, the product that I have created will continue.”
Seventy-one companies were nominated for the awards’ 11 categories this year and 32 businesses made it to the finals. Winners were chosen by a panel of five independent judges from the business community. The People’s Choice Award is determined by a public vote on the chamber’s website.
Other award recipients include:
- Young Entrepreneur: Sparkle Lifestyle and MediSpa
- Excellence in Business: Assumption Life
- Excellence in Business (Small and Medium Enterprise): Colliers International New Brunswick
- Innovation: EduCode Canada
- Environmental Excellence: Accor Hotels Global Reservation Centre
- Inclusive Hiring: Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA)
- Community Service: Medavie Blue Cross
- Non-Profit Organization of the Year: P.R.O. Jeunesse Dieppe P.R.O. Kids
- Healthy Workplace: Enbridge Gas New Brunswick
This year, the chamber also launched the Milestone Club to recognize members that have been long-time members of the organization. The inaugural inductees to the club include Assumption Life, Lounsbury Group of Companies, Medavie Blue Cross, Robert K. Buzzell, and the Times & Transcript, who have all been with the Chamber for 75 years and more.
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