Downtown Kingston! announces 2020 Award Winners
The Downtown Kingston! BIA has announced the 2020 Downtown Kingston! Award Winners
Businesses and Downtown Kingston BIA! Members were asked to nominate other businesses or themselves for the Downtown Kingston 2020! Awards, Downtown Kingston! said in an email to Kingstonist. There were several nominations for each award category. Each nomination was reviewed by the Member Services Committee and Downtown Kingston! Staff, who then deliberated and selected Award Winners for each category.
“The Downtown Kingston Awards recognize downtown businesses that have made a significant contribution to creating a healthy, vibrant, and unique downtown community,” said Kelsey Harrison, Projects Manager, Communication & Engagement for Downtown Kingston! “With all the hardship’s businesses have faced this year in the face of a pandemic, it is especially important to celebrate our businesses accomplishments. We want to extend a big congratulations to all our nominees and a special congratulations to our award winners this year!”
The categories and winners are listed below:
Environmental Sustainability: Awarded to a business that demonstrates a steadfast commitment to reducing their environmental impact and energy consumption. Winners are committed to environmental sustainability, going above and beyond to improve their businesses’ practices with the local and global community in mind.
2020 Winner: Miss Bao
Miss Bao operates within a sustainability-based model of zero-waste. The restaurant implements the 7 R’s of sustainability, which are: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot, with the larger goal to inspire environmentalism within the community.
Exceptional Sidewalk Presence: Awarded to a business that goes above and beyond to make their storefront and environs (window displays, sidewalk etc.) aesthetically appealing as well as clean and safe. This includes the storefront, outdoor space including extended patio space, display window and the visible interior space.
2020 Winner: Tango Nuevo
Tango Nuevo had a beautiful and innovative extended patio this summer that welcomed many visitors into Downtown Kingston! Not only did they create a COVID-19 safe atmosphere on their extended patio, but made it aesthetically pleasing to customers and people passing by as well. Tango Nuevo also worked with their neighbouring businesses on cooperative displays.
Outstanding Marketing & Communications: Awarded to a business that has a successful marketing/communications strategy and is actively engaged in social media. This may involve a commitment to engaging customers via social media and using various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to promote themselves and the downtown community.
2020 Winner: Olivea
Olivea was presented this award for how they pivoted with creative marketing and promotions that they have continued throughout the pandemic.
Community Engagement: Awarded to a business that is involved with community outreach, works with community groups and/or charities and is actively engaged in downtown programs and events that help draw more people to the downtown area. Award winners’ business practices focus on community over competition for the betterment of the downtown community.
2020 Winner: Stone City Ales
Stone City Ales was given this award for meaningfully contributing to the Black Lives Matter fundraisers happening globally by amplifying Black voices, supporting Black owned businesses, and contributed to the struggle against racism through fundraising.
Award winners were acknowledged at Downtown Kingston!’s AGM which took place on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. The winners will receive media recognition and will be recognized with a plaque to display in their businesses.