TRURO, NS
A Japanese and Thai restaurant that opened in Truro last year ago has been named New Small Business of the year by the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce.
The honour goes to YOKA Sushi, which is the Walker Lofts building on Prince Street.
“The quality of the applications was excellent,” said chamber president Alex Stevenson. “However, there can only be one winner in each category and the decisions were difficult.”
Awards were handed out in seven categories and the recipients will be honoured at this year’s Small Business Week Award Luncheon on Wednesday at the Best Western Glengarry on Willow Street.
Guest speaker for the event will be Heather Coulombe, of the Farmer’s Daughter Country Market, in Whycocomagh.
The business offered free land in return for employment at their store last year and received 200,000 emails in reply.
To reserve seats at the luncheon, contact the chamber by calling 902-895-6328 or by email [email protected].
Seats cost $25 (plus tax) for chamber members and $35 for non-members.
The chamber is also kicking off a series of Small Business Week activities with a Women in Business Breakfast today at the Holiday Inn from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
Guest speakers include Miriah Kearney, founder and CEO of My Home Apparel, and Stephanie Jones, owner of McDonald’s restaurants.
This event is offered to all businesswomen in the community at no cost. Registration is required.
On Tuesday, Patterson Law’s Truro Business law practice group will present Building Business Success in partnership with the chamber. The event is designed to bring together key business leaders to both celebrate this area’s economic success and to provide business owners at all stages with tools to build a foundation for sustainable growth.
The panel presentation session will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marigold Cultural Centre. There is no charge for the event and a complimentary lunch and refreshments will be provided.
RSVP by emailing [email protected] .
On Thursday, a member’s networking night will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Marigold.
The last event of Small Business Week on Friday will be Live & Work, an event designed to allow businesses to participate in an initiative to build the vibrancy of the region and reach out to a future workforce.
To participate, businesses are asked to register with the chamber as a Live and Work location willing to open their doors to visitors on the event day.
Contact the chamber for further info.
The 2017 award recipients are:
New Small Business of the Year – YOKA Sushi
YOKA, located in the Walker Lofts building at 911 Prince Street, specializes in authentic Japanese and Thai cuisine. It opened on Sept. 10, 2016 and features and all-you-can-eat menu, sushi bar and a large selection of vegetarian dishes.
Small Business Achievement – S. Sorenson Electric Ltd.
Sorensen is a privately held electrical contracting company in Truro with a staff of approximately 29 employees.
Small Business Innovation – Tobias Portraiture
Tobias Portraiture, at 20 Inglis Place, Truro, features a portrait artist and master photographer who has served businesses and consumers for 22 years.
Export Achievement – My HOME Apparel
Located at 131 the Esplanade, Truro, My HOME boasts of high-quality apparel that can be washed and worn over and over again. All shirts are designed and hand-printed in the Truro studio. The business donates five per cent of its profits to homelessness initiatives across Canada and in the past two years has donated more than $20,000 to the cause.
Excellence in Community Development – The Nook & Cranny –
As well as being a restaurant and pub, the Nook & Cranny at 627 Prince St., Truro, is also on-site brewery that produces three lines of its own craft beer.
Small Business Growth – Berry’s Furniture
Berry’s Furniture at 87 Robie Street, Lower Truro, was started almost 60 years ago by Don Berry’s parents Alex and Emma Berry. What began as a small second-hand furniture store has grown into a 50,000 square-foot retail site. As well, in March, 2017, a second, 27,000 square-foot store opened in Elmsdale;
Agriculture/Agri-Small Business – Truro Agromart Ltd.
Truro Agromart Ltd., at 547 Onslow Rd., is a member of the Agromart Group and in addition to supplying products and services to the agricultural sector, it also supplies products and services to lawn and garden customers, turf growers, golf courses, forestry, industrial accounts and government.
