Oxford Is Represented At Innovation Awards

Tuesday, 19 February 2019 06:43

The 2018 Innovation Awards will be happening next month and three of Oxford County's businesses have been nominated.

OXFORD COUNTY - Three businesses from Oxford County are among the finalists for the 2018 Innovation Awards.

The Wildwood Conservation Area in St.Mary's and Tillsonburg's Ottercreek Woodworks are up for the Innovative Experience of the Year.

Manager of Tour and Development for Ontario Southwest Joanne Wolnik says it's great to see these businesses represent Oxford County.

"It really goes to show how much great stuff is happening in Oxford County. Certainly there's some champions across the region but it really goes to show we've got some great people here. You look at the things that the Conservation Area is doing and some entrepreneurs, it's really powerful what a few people can do with some great ideas and a lot of work behind them."

Emily Chandler is a Communications & Research Assistant for the Upper Thames Wildwood Conservation Area, who was involved in the project and she says it's exciting to be nominated.

"It's exciting. It's nice to be recognized for what we think is a pretty unique experience that we've added to the Wildwood Conservation Area."

Also, Ingersoll's #sollgood Social Market is another business representing Oxford County. They're a finalist for the Innovator of the Year award. Wolnik says the business is successful in their community.

"Two female entrepreneurs, Lisa Dube from Dwell Urban Boutique and Cindy Walker from Chocolatea, both in Ingersoll, they created this really cool night market that happens in downtown Ingersoll. It's bringing people out on to the streets into the downtown and just bringing a spotlight to Ingersoll in general, so they're doing some really neat stuff to just bring the downtown to life."

The award ceremony will take place during the 8th annual Ontario’s Southwest Tourism Conference at the Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn and Conference Center in London between March 5th to 6th.

The winners will be announced on March 6th.

If anyone is interested in registering and buying tickets for the event, it is $125.00 for two days and the prices will increase to $150.00 starting on Feb 18th. People can register online.