2021 CIGBA/DCI Star Awards Honour Past, Present and Future Legacies

”Our industry relies on the efforts of our members and partners everyday, and I am proud to work with an amazing group of professionals that are passionate about the work they do supporting their teams and communities they serve,” says Barry Lanteigne, DCI/CIGBA President and Director of Operations, “I would like to give special shout out to all the members and partners that submitted nominations, and thanks to our events committee for selecting the winners! I look forward to seeing everyone in person in 2022!”

Taking the Partner of the Year category was CJR Wholesale Grocers, with members noting that they were the go-to partner to help them during the pandemic. After assisting a hungry shoplifter, Mike Williamson of Central Fresh Market and his team took home the category of Retailer of the Year. Continuing with member success, the new and upcoming Elora store ‘The Geddes Street Market’ took the award in Innovation with their new store concept, while DCI Partner, Jamieson Wellness took the award for Social Responsibility after assisting a mother of two kids with a rare disease that demanded a high supply of their vitamins, sourcing product from across the country and shipping them to her – free of charge. This year, the Leader of the Year award pluralized to become Leaders of the Year, after the joint nomination of Tom Shurrie and Gary Sands took the category win for their effective advocacy and representation of independent grocers at government level. Finally, the most prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award went to Steve Sharpe of Sharpe’s Food Market for his decades of service in the independent grocery industry and for being a staple in his community.

The CIGBA/DCI Star Awards Gala is part of the annual CIGBA/DCI Business Summit where independents learn, engage, network and celebrate the industry nationwide. For more information, please go to: www.cigba.ca.